No abstract available.
Meningitis, Aseptic*

Carnosol is a phenolic antioxidant present in rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). It is known for anti-inflammatory effects, analgesic activity and anti-cancer effects. However, no study has been dedicated yet to its effect on atopic dermatitis (AD). Here, we show that carnosol effectively inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) generation and expression of inflammatory marker proteins (iNOS and COX-2) in RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, carnosol effectively inhibits the phosphorylation of STAT3 and DNA binding activity in RAW 264.7 cells. Pull down assay and docking model analysis showed that carnosol directly binds to the DNA binding domain (DBD) of STAT3. We next examined the anti-atopic activity of carnosol (0.05 μg/cm²) using 5% Phthalic anhydride (PA)-induced AD model in HR1 mice. Carnosol treatment significantly reduced 5% PA-induced AD like skin inflammation in skin tissues compared with control mice. Moreover, carnosol treatment inhibits the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in skin tissue. In addition, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and Immunoglobulin-E in blood serum was significantly decreased in carnosol treated mice compared with those of 5% PA treated group. Furthermore, the activation of STAT3 in skin tissue was decreased in carnosol treated mice compared with control mice. In conclusion, these findings suggest that carnosol exhibited a potential anti-AD activity by inhibiting pro-inflammatory mediators through suppression of STAT3 activation via direct binding to DBD of STAT3.
Animals ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; DNA ; Inflammation ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; Phenol ; Phosphorylation ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Serum ; Skin

PURPOSE: This study was conducted for the purpose of a structural model analysis of family health of women who came to Korea for being married to Korean men. METHODS: The data were collected from 260 immigrant women at multicultural centers located in C and B cities from May 10th to 30th, 2012. The variance analysis on the samples was conducted by using the maximum likelihood minimization function with AMOS 7.0. The fitness was evaluated by means of the SRMR, RMSEA, CFI, and TLI with a 90% confidence interval. RESULTS: First, immigrant women's self-esteem and acculturative stress were found to have significant direct effects on their family health. Second, their self-esteem and acculturative stress have direct effects on their marital adjustment. Third, their marital adjustment was found to have significant direct effects on their family health. Forth, immigrant women's Korean language ability was found not to have significant direct effects on their marital adjustment and family health. CONCLUSION: In order to enhance the family health of immigrant women, it is necessary to develop and apply nursing programs in consideration of immigrant women's self-esteem, marital adjustment and acculturative stress.
Aminopeptidases ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Family Health ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Language ; Marriage ; Models, Structural ; Negotiating ; Porphyrins ; Social Adjustment ; Transients and Migrants

Due to considerably high degree of sequence homology between bacterial and human heat shock proteins (hsp), it has been widely thought that this protein might be involved in autoimmune disease mechanisms in humans.To elucidate how stress proteins contribute in the immunopathogenesis of periodontitis, the present study was performed to evaluate the T cell immune responses specific to Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) heat shock protein (hsp)60 and T-cell epitope specificities for P. gingivalis hsp60 in periodontitis. Anti-P. gingivalis IgG antibody titers were elevated in all patients. We could establish P. gingivalis hsp-specific T cell lines from the peripheral blood of periodontitis, a mixture of CD4+ and CD8+ cells. Of 108 overlapping synthetic peptides spanning whole P. gingivalis hsp60 molecule, ten peptides with epitopes specifities for T-cell were showed. Interestingly, ten epitopes were also identified as T-cell epitopes in the present study as well as B-cell epitopes in periodontitis. Therefore, all the ten representative epitopes were designated as common T-and Bcell epitopes for periodontitis. It is critical in developing a peptide vaccine strategy for potential prevention of periodontitis. It was concluded that P. gingivalis hsp60 might be involved in the immunoregulatory process of periodontitis with heat shock protein specificities.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Cell Line ; Epitopes ; Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte ; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte* ; Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Hot Temperature* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Peptides ; Periodontitis* ; Porphyromonas gingivalis* ; Porphyromonas* ; Sensitivity and Specificity* ; Sequence Homology ; T-Lymphocytes*

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is usually managed pharmacologically. It is not uncommon for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to suffer from PHN. It is difficult to prescribe a sufficient dose of anticonvulsants for intractable pain because of the decreased glomerular filtration rate. If the neural blockade and pulsed radiofrequency ablation provide only short-term amelioration of pain, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) with a low level of evidence may be used only as a last resort. This study was done to evaluate the efficacy of spinal cord stimulation in the treatment of PHN in patients with CKD. METHODS: PHN patients with CKD who needed hemo-dialysis who received insufficient relief of pain over a VAS of 8 regardless of the neuropathic medications were eligible for SCS trial. The follow-up period was at least 2 years after permanent implantation. RESULTS: Eleven patients received percutaneous SCS test trial from Jan 2003 to Dec 2007. Four patients had successfully received a permanent SCS implant with their pain being tolerable at a VAS score of less than 3 along with small doses of neuropathic medications. CONCLUSIONS: SCS was helpful in managing tolerable pain levels in some PHN patients with CKD along with tolerable neuropathic medications for over 2 years.
Anticonvulsants ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Health Resorts ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Diseases ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Pain, Intractable ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Stimulation

BACKGROUND: Inactivation in p53 tumor suppressor gene through a point mutation and deletion is one of the most frequent genetic changes found in human cancer, with 50% of an incidence. This high rate of mutation mostly suggests that the gene plays a central role in the development of cancer and the mutations detected so far were found in exons 5 to 8. Mutation of p53 locus produced accumulation of abnormal p53 protein, and negative regulation of cell proliferation and transcriptional activation as a suppressor of transformation were lost . In addition, inhibition of its normal cellular function of wild-type by mutant is an important step in tumorigenesis. METHOD: 4 colon cancer cell lines (SNU C1, C2A, C4, C5) were examined for mutation in exons 5 to 8 of the p53 tumor suppressor gene by PCR-SSCP analysis and expression pattern by western blotting and immunoprecipitation. p53-mediated transactivation ability were examined by CAT assay and base substitution of p53 in SNU C2A cell were detected by DNA sequencing. RESULTS: 1) SNU C2A cell and SNU C5 cell were detected mobility shifts each in exon 5 and exon 7 of p53 gene by the PCR-SSCP method, implicating being of p53 mutation. 2) 3 colon cancer cell lines (SNU C1, SNU C2A, SNU C5) expressed wild type and mutant type p53 protein. 3) In northern blot experiment, SNU C2A and SNU C5 cell expressed high level of p53 mRNA. 4) Results of p53-mediated transactivation in colon cancer cell lines by CAT assay represented only SNU C2A cell has transcriptional activity. 5) DNA sequencing in SNU C2A cell showed missense mutation in codon 179 of one allele, histidine to arginine and wild type p53 in the other allele. CONCLUSION: Colon cancer cell lines showed correlation with mutation in p53 gene and accumulation of abnormal p53 protein. Colon cancer cell SNU C2A retained p53-mediated transactivation as heterozygous p53 with one mutant allele in 179 codon and the other wild-type allele.
Alleles ; Animals ; Arginine ; Blotting, Northern ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinogenesis ; Cats ; Cell Line* ; Cell Proliferation ; Codon ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Exons ; Genes, p53 ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Histidine ; Humans ; Immunoprecipitation ; Incidence ; Mutation, Missense ; Point Mutation ; RNA, Messenger ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Transcriptional Activation

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic brackets bonded to zirconia surfaces using three different zirconia primers and one silane primer, and subjected to thermocycling. METHODS: We designed 10 experimental groups following the surface treatment and thermocycling. The surface was treated with one of the following method: no-primer (NP), Porcelain Conditioner (PC), Z-PRIME Plus (ZP), Monobond Plus (MP) and Zirconia Liner Premium (ZL) (n=20). Then each group was subdivided to non-thermocycled and thermocycled groups (NPT, PC, ZPT, MPT, ZLT) (n=10). Orthodontic brackets were bonded to the specimens using Transbond(TM) XT Paste and light cured for 15 s at 1,100 mW/cm2. The SBS was measured at a 1 mm/min crosshead speed. The failure mode was assessed by examination with a stereomicroscope and the amount of bonding resin remaining on the zirconia surface was scored using the modified adhesive remnant index (ARI). RESULTS: The SBS of all experimental groups decreased after thermocycling. Before thermocycling, the SBS was ZL, ZP > or = MP > or = PC > NP but after thermocycling, the SBS was ZLT > or = MPT > or = ZPT > PCT = NPT (p > 0.05). For the ARI score, both of the groups lacking primer (NP and NPT) displayed adhesive failure modes, but the groups with zirconia primers (ZP, ZPT, MP, MPT, ZL, and ZLT) were associated with mixed failure modes. CONCLUSIONS: Surface treatment with a zirconia primer increases the SBS relative to no-primer or silane primer application between orthodontic brackets and zirconia prostheses.
Adhesives ; Dental Porcelain ; Orthodontic Brackets* ; Prostheses and Implants

PURPOSE: Because of recent global and domestic issues regarding the safety of food, there is growing concern over food safety and interest in the country-of-origin for food ingredients from restaurants. This study was conducted to reveal the influence of consumer level of knowledge and awareness regarding restaurants and the country-of-origin labeling. METHODS: To accomplish this, a primary survey of adults aged over 20 years old was conducted to measure customers' knowledge regarding country-of-origin labeling for restaurants. Respondents were then divided into a lower group and an upper group based on their level of knowledge to evaluate significant differences between groups. A total of 437 of 460 questionnaires were analyzed. RESULTS: The average knowledge score regarding country-of-origin labeling for restaurants was 6.3 out of 10. Additionally, there were significant differences between the lower and upper group in terms of the final education level and occupation. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to develop guidelines and public relations for country-of-origin labeling of restaurants.
Adult ; Education ; Food Safety ; Humans ; Occupations ; Public Relations ; Restaurants* ; Surveys and Questionnaires