BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Early in inflammation, adhesion occurs between leukocytes and endothelium where selectins bind to sialyl Lewis x(Sle,) and related oligosaccharides. We tested glycerrhetinic acid(GA), msjor anti-inflammmatory component of licorice, for its ability to inhibit selectin-mediated adhesion of human eosinophils and neutrophils in vitro. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Neutrophils and eosinophils were isolated by density grsdient centrifugation and eosinophils were further purified by immunomagnetic negative selection. Adhesion to unstimulated or IL-1 p-stimulated(5ug/ml, 4-6hr, 37C) umbilical vein endothelial monolayers was tested under static or rotating conditions, where adhesion is E- or L-selectin dependent, respectively. P-selectin-dependent adhesion was tested on immobilized platelets treated with or without TPA(10-7M, 10mins, RT). Stimulus-induced adhesion was always at least four-fold higher than without stimulus, and selectin dependence was confirmed with specific blocking monoclonsl antibody RESULT: All three kinds of selectin-mediated eosinophil and neutrophil adhesion were inhibited by GA and they were reversible without affecting viability. CONCLUSION: The ability of GA to interfere with the selectin mediated adhesion may contribute the one of the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effects by licorice.
Centrifugation ; Endothelium ; Eosinophils ; Glycyrrhiza* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-1 ; L-Selectin ; Leukocytes ; Neutrophils* ; Oligosaccharides ; Selectins ; Umbilical Veins

No abstract available.
Edema* ; Eyelids* ; Lip*

In asthma, eosinophil roles as main end inflammatory effector cell, but neither the activation process nor the stimuli of that is known clearly, yet. Even though allergic asthma is IgE-mediated type I hypersensitivity disease, it is not clear whether there is FcepsilonRI on the surface of eosinophil like mast cell or basophil which is activated through the FcepsilonRl bridging with sensitized allergens. In this study, we speculate if there's FcepsilonRI on the eosinophil, sensitized allergen activates it like mast cell in allergic asthmatics, and with this result we can find out one of the stimuli of eosinophil in asthma and can suggest the possibility of the existence of FcepsilonRI on the eosinophil. We did direct stimulation of the house dust mite -sensitized astknatics'purified peripheral blood normodense eoisnophils with Dermatophagoides pteronyssiuns. Then we measured the LTC4 and ECP from the supernatant by RIA kit and observed the morphological changes with electron microscopy. There was neither increase in LTC4 and ECP level nor the morphological changes in asthmatics. And there were no significant differences in both LTC4, and ECP level, and morphologic changes between asthmatics and controls. We would summerize that house dust mite dose not dirctly activate eosinophil from house dust mite-sensitized asthmatics and couldn't find out the possibility that there's FcepsilonRI on the surface of eoslnophils. But no exitstence of FcepsilonRI on the eosinophil is the indirect evidence, so from now on we try to find more direct evidence of that by blotting.
Allergens ; Asthma ; Basophils ; Dust* ; Eosinophils* ; Humans* ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate ; Leukotriene C4 ; Mast Cells ; Microscopy, Electron ; Pyroglyphidae*

PAF itself induces the non-specific bronchial hyperreactivity(NSBH) in asthma. NSBH induced by PAF is nearly as same as that by the sensitized allergen inhalation even though PAF never provokes the late asthmatic response. Usually the amount of allergen for BPT inversely correlated with the severity of asthma, but in PAF, nothing was clarified about that, yet. usually eosinophil is the main effector cell in PAF-induced NSBH. So we want to declare whether PAF inhalation affects the NSBH differently according to the severity of asthma or not in this study and eosinophil is the main effector cell in asthmatics. Single dose PAF(400microgram/microliter) inhalation challenge was done by the Cockcroft' s method but that of methacholine by Chai's method before and after PAF until NSBH returned the basal value. From that, we calculated PC20. Also we checked the eosinophil and platelet count in peripheral blood before and after PAF until those returned the baseline. All these were done in two groups, mild asthmatics and moderate asthmatics classified by the PFT and their PC20. The Bronchoconstriction started at the 3 minutes after PAF inhalation and then relieved completely 30 minutes after inhalation but in mild asthmatics bronchi constricted much more than moderate asthmatics. The fall of NSBH also persisted much longer in mild asthmatics. But the decrease in peripheral eoslnophil counts was nearly same in both groups. None of asthmatics showed the changes in platelet counts in peripheral blood. The degree of bronchoconstriction and decrease in eosinophil counts didn't have any correlation with the persistence of the NSBH. Taken together, PAF inhalation affected the NSBH inversely according to the severity of asthma in this study but eosinophil might not be the only effector cell in PAF-induced NSBH.
Asthma* ; Bronchi ; Bronchial Hyperreactivity* ; Bronchoconstriction ; Eosinophils ; Inhalation* ; Methacholine Chloride ; Platelet Count

We experienced a cose of occupational asthma induced by the tobacco leaf in 49-year old man. He has worked at the Korean Tobacco and Ginseng company for 23 years but suffered from the intermittent mild wheezing and dyspnea since 6 years ago. He has not involved in the process making the tobacco directly, but just managed it at the storage barn. He showed a whole negative reaction to 55 inhalant allergens(Bencard, UK) and the allergen extracted from the yellow Korean tobacco leaf, but showed the dual asthmatic respose to the allergen bronchial provocation test with it. His basal PC is 6.35 mg/ml with methacholine inhalation challenge. Now he changed the workplace far away from the barn at the same company and is treated with bronchodilator and anti-asthmatic inhaler.
Asthma, Occupational* ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Methacholine Chloride ; Middle Aged ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers ; Panax ; Respiratory Sounds ; Tobacco*

No abstract available.
Autoantibodies* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Administration of hepatitis B vaccine has played a major part in the management of public health in this country. There were many researches to assess the immunogenecity, safety, long term effectiveness, dose, and route of administration of hepatitis B vaccine. But there was lack of validation of the recommendation that hepatit.is B vaccine should be administered in adults with negative HBsAg and AntiHBs, in an endemic area with high prevalence of HBsAg. Authors tried to establish a proper candidate for hepatitis B vaccination evaluating viral markers of hepatitis B in adults vaccinated. METHODS: 172 hepatitis B vaccinated subjects(35.0%) were drawn from 491 adults who have visited at health care center, Asan Kangnung Hospital from April 1st to May 31th, 1997. They were asked designed questions about the beginning year, frequency of vaccination, and the presence of family members with HBsAg in a direct line. RESULTS: Of the subjects(172), 2.3% were HBsAg(+), 63.4% AntiHBs(+), 68.6% AntiHBc(+). Among the HBsAg(-) adults(149) who had been vaccinated more than three times, 70.4%(105) were AntiHBs(+), of whom 66.6%(70) were AntiHBc(+) and 29.6%(44) were AntiHBs(-), of whom 56.8%(25) were AntiHBc(+). In the subjects(20) with family history of HBsAg, 80% were AntiHBc(+), which is higher than 61.2% in the group(129) without family history. Among the HBsAg(-) and AntiHBc(-) adults(54) who had been vaccinated more than three times, AntiHBs(+) group was not significantly differnt from AntiHBs(-) group in comparison of age and years after initial vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: The two thirds(68.9%) of vaccinated subjects showed AntiHBc(+), which means reflection of previous exposure to Hepatitis B virus. Accordingly, vaccination is not thought to be required for these. Consequently, all individuals are thought to have to be pretested for the presence of AntiHBc as well as HBsAg and AntiHBs in Korea.
Adult* ; Biomarkers ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Delivery of Health Care ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens* ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Korea ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; Vaccination

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between coffee consumption and bone status (bone mineral density and bone metabolism-related markers) according to calcium intake level in Korean young adult males. Healthy and nonsmoking males (19-26 years, n = 330) participated in this study. Anthropometric measurements, dietary habits, and nutrient intakes were surveyed. Bone status of the calcaneus was measured by using quantitative ultrasound (QUS). Bone metabolism-related markers including serum total alkaline phosphatase activity (TALP), N-mid osteocalcin (OC), and type 1 collagen C-terminal telopeptide (1CTP) were analyzed. The subjects were divided into two groups based on daily calcium intake level: a calcium-sufficient group (calcium intake ≥ 75% RI, n = 171) and a calcium-deficient group (calcium intake < 75% RI, n = 159). Each group was then further divided into three subgroups based on daily average coffee consumption: no-coffee, less than one serving of coffee per day, and one or more servings of coffee per day. There were no significant differences in height, body weight, body mass index, energy intake, or calcium intake among the three coffee consumption subgroups. QUS parameters and serum 1CTP, TALP, and OC were not significantly different among either the two calcium-intake groups or the three coffee consumption subgroups. Our results may show that current coffee consumption level in Korean young men is not significantly associated with their bone status and metabolism according to the calcium intake level.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Body Height ; Body Weight ; Calcaneus ; Calcium* ; Coffee* ; Collagen Type I ; Energy Intake ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Male* ; Metabolism ; Miners ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 ; Osteocalcin ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult*

The purpose of this study was to assess the sugars contents of home meal replacement (HMR) products currently sold in Korea. This study surveyed and examined the sugars contents in 835 popular HMRs (294 ready-to-eat foods; RTE, 499 ready-to-cook foods; RTC, 42 fresh-cut vegetables; FCV) through the nutrition labels. The average price, weight and energy content of 835 HMR products were 3,917.5 Korean won, 336.0 g, and 522.7 kcal, respectively. The sugars content per product was significantly higher in the RTCs (13.4 g) and RTEs (10.3 g) than that in the FCVs (4.2 g) (P＜0.001), and the percentage of energy from sugars was 9.7% for the RTEs, 10.2% for the RTCs, and 8.7% for the FCVs without any significant difference. The sugars contents of 9 RTE types were in the order of side dishes (34.3 g), sunsik (22.5 g) and hamburgers (12.1 g) per package. The percentage of energy from sugars was highest in side dishes (28.1%), followed by kimchi (24.9%), sunsik (17.2%), and hamburgers (10.6%). Among 14 RTC types, the sugars contents were in the order of hot dogs (52.9 g), tteokbokki (30.4 g) and noodles (21.2 g) per package. The percentage of energy from sugars was the highest at 22.9% for sauces, followed by side dishes (17.3%), porridges (14.4%), instant stews (14.3%), and hot dogs (13.1%). Strategies and practices are needed to reduce the sugars contents of HMR producers and the sugars intakes of HMR consumers.

Objectives: Bone health in early adulthood, as individuals approach peak bone mass, plays a critical role in preventing osteoporosis later in life. This study aimed to investigate the associations between lifestyle and dietary factors, anthropometric measurements, and urinary bone resorption markers in young adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 100 healthy Korean adults (50 men and 50 women) in their 20s and early 30s. Bone mineral density (BMD), anthropometric measurements, dietary intake (24-hour recall), and urinary bone resorption indicators (deoxypyridinoline and N-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen) were analyzed. Variables were compared between the osteopenia and osteoporosis groups (OSTEO group: 30% men and 60% women) and the healthy control group. Results: Men in the OSTEO group were significantly taller than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Women in the OSTEO group had significantly lower body weight and body composition (muscle and body fat) than those in the normal group (P< 0.01). Men in the OSTEO group had a significantly higher intake of animal calcium (Ca) than those in the normal group (P < 0.05). Women in the OSTEO group had significantly higher dietary fiber, vitamin A, Ca, plant Ca, and potassium intake than did those in the normal group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in caffeinated beverage consumption, eating habits, or urinary bone resorption indicators between the OSTEO and control groups of either sex. Conclusions In our study of young South Korean adults, we observed low bone density levels, with particularly low BMD in taller men and underweight women. We found a higher nutrient intake in the OSTEO group, indicating the possibility of reverse causality, a phenomenon often found in cross-sectional studies. Therefore, there is a need to further elucidate dietary factors related to osteoporosis in young adults through prospective cohort studies involving a larger population.