Recently, we found that the Korean traditional medicine could enhance the expression of some cytokine in murine bone marrow cell culture. To understand the mode of actions of the traditional medicine, we examined the pattern of protein phosphorylation in bone marrow cells treated with Korean traditional medicine. When bone marrow cells were treated with Korean traditional medicine, the phosphorylation of p45, p50, p84/p91 kinase was observed, and gene expression of TPO and SCF was related to p45 and p91. It had been reported that TPO, SCF, IL-3 and GM-CSF gene expression transmits signal through the JAK-STAT pathway. Molecular involvement of JAK-STAT in signal induced by Korean traditional medicine was analyzed by anti-JAK and anti-STAT-1 Ab. To analyze the transcriptional factor that promotes the cytokine gene expression by the stirnulation of Korean traditional medicine, GAS and NF-B binding activity was analyzed by EMSA. We found the increase in NF-B at SMT and BHT. Therefore, we conclude that the cytokine gene expression induced by Korean traditional medicine was mediated by the JAK-STAT pathway and by the combination of GAS and NF-kB.
Bone Marrow Cells ; Butylated Hydroxytoluene ; Gene Expression ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Hematopoiesis* ; Interleukin-3 ; Medicine, Korean Traditional* ; Medicine, Traditional ; NF-kappa B ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; Signal Transduction

The Korean traditional medicinal (KTM) herbs such as Angelicae gigantis, Rehmannia glutinosa, Paeoniae lactiflora, Cnidii officinale, Salviae miltiorrhizae, and Millettia reticulata, and prescribed formula Samultang, and Bohyultang improve the function of the hematopoietic system and nourishing the body to promote health. However, there are limited scientific background on the mode of action of these medicine. To understand the diverse actions following traditional medicine stimulation, we determined the production of hematopoietic cytokine, thrombopoietin, stem cell factor, and interleukin-3 (IL-3) in KlM treated bone marrow cells. When bone marrow cells were treated with KTM, the expression of hematopoietic cytokine were increased in RT-PCR and ELISA analysis. Furthermore, when the bone marrow cells were separated into adherent celis and suspension cells and were treated with KTM, we found the increase of TPO gene expressions in suspension cells. Meanwhile, other hematopoietic cytokine gene expression in bone marrow cells was higher as whole than when adherent cells and suspension cells was separated. Therefore, we could know the interaction of two cells that increases the cytokine expression. These results suggest that KTM has hematopoietic effects through increasing the production of cytokine.
Angelica ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression ; Hematopoiesis* ; Hematopoietic System ; Interleukin-3 ; Medicine, Korean Traditional* ; Medicine, Traditional ; Millettia ; Paeonia ; Rehmannia ; Salvia ; Stem Cell Factor ; Thrombopoietin

No abstract available.
Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome* ; Male

No abstract available.
Bilirubin* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Osmolar Concentration* ; Specific Gravity*

No abstract available.
Meningitis, Aseptic*

We report a case of disseminated calcific cysticercosis of brain, accompanied with marked hydrocephalus. Histopathologically, the calcific spots consisted of mummified scolex and bladder of cysticercus cellulosae with a diffuse calcification, but no area of cystic change were noted. Surrounding brain tissue showed a dense fibrous reaction and gliosis with little foreign body reaction.
Brain* ; Cysticercosis ; Cysticercus ; Foreign-Body Reaction ; Gliosis ; Hydrocephalus ; Urinary Bladder

BACKGROUND: Dopamine receptors have been regarded as a strong candidate involved in etiology of schizophrenia and a target for various antipsychotic drugs. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether dopamine D1 receptor(DRD1) gene polymorphisms would predict the treatment response to antipsychotics in schizophrenia. METHOD: One hundred thirty-four schizophrenic patients, who met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia were entered into a 48-week study. The psychopathology of the patients was assessed at baseline, 12th, 24th, 48th weeks of treatment by PANSS. Responders were defined by a 20% of the reduction in total PAnSS score at end point. The genomic DNA fragment corresponding to nucleotides of dopamine D1 receptor gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR). RESULT: Neither allelic frequencies nor genotypes for dopamine D1 receptor differed significantly between responders and non-responders. Also, there was no difference of changes of PANSS scores among three genotype groups of the dopamine D1 receptor. CONCLUSION: Allelic variation in the dopamine D1 gene is not associated with individual differences in antipsychotic response.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; DNA ; Dopamine* ; Genotype* ; Humans ; Individuality ; Nucleotides ; Psychopathology ; Receptors, Dopamine ; Receptors, Dopamine D1* ; Schizophrenia

No abstract available.
Neuroblastoma*

BACKGROUND: Cicletanine bydrochloride is a newly developed anti-hypertensive agent. The presence of a furopyridine group characterizes its uncommon chemical structure as an antihypertensive molecule. This clinical trial was performed to confirm the efficacy and safety of cicletanine for the treatment of hypertension as a monotherapy. METHODS: In order to investigate the efficacy and safety of oral cicletanine, a now class of antihypertensive durgs, the furopyridines, on essential hypertension, a single daily dose of 50mg to 100mg cicletanine was administered in 46 hypertensive patients with diastolic blood pressure in the range of 95mmHg-115mmHg. The patients were asked to cut off other anti hypertensive agents for 10 weeks prior to this clinical trial. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured every 4 weeks. The complete blood count, blood chemistry done by SMA-12, serum electrolytes and urinalysis were performed at the 12th week of therapy. RESULTS: 1) Baseline blood pressures after 2 weeks of placebo at sitting and standing positions were 158.7+/-16.1/102.9+/-6.2 and 148.7+/-14.5/102.7+/-6.7mmHg, respectively. The overall slope which represents the tendency of blood pressure decline over the treatment period with cicletanine for all the patients in each position are as follows ; -0.726(SE : 0.150) for sitting systolic blood pressure(BP), -0.390(SE : 0.080) for sitting diastolic BP, -0.214(SE : 0.183) for standing systolic BP and -0.341(SE : 0.139) for standing diastolic BP. 2) The slope of sitting systolic BP line in cicletanine 100mg treated group was significantly stiffer than that of cicletanine 50mg treated group(-0.445 vs -1.021, p=0.0336). 3) There were no significant interval changes in heart rate over the treatment period. 4) There were no significant interval changes in blood chemistry, electrolytes, hematologic findings and urinalysis over the treatment period. 5) Several side effects were observed in six patients(epigastric discomfort in 4, easy fatigue and insomnia in one patient, respectively). CONCLUSION: Treatment with cicletanine was well-tolerated and the incidence of side effects was relatively low. Because of its unique anti-hypertensive mechanism and moderated antihypertensive effects, cicletanine may be well suited in the treatment of hypertension combined with other classes of antihypertensive agents.
Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Cell Count ; Blood Pressure ; Chemistry ; Electrolytes ; Fatigue ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Urinalysis