In this study, we have successfully established a high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method for the quality assessment of Actinidiae Fructus Vermicultus, known as Mokcheonryo(ja) in Korea. This is the dried vermiculate fruit of Actinidia polygama and A. kolomikta, as stipulated by the Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia (KHP). However, the Korean herbal market often witnesses the inclusion and distribution of ‘Mihudo’, an alternative herbal product sourced from the dried fruits of A. arguta, belonging to the same botanical genus. This confluence has raised substantial apprehensions concerning the veracity of quality. In response to this concern, we have meticulously developed an HPTLC analytical methodology capable of differentiation between Mokcheonryo and Mihudo by exploiting their distinct chemical profiles. We identified umbelliferone as a key marker compound for Mokcheonryo and quantified the content of umbelliferone in each sample using a TLC scanner. Throughout this study, we confirmed distinct fingerprints for Mokcheonryo and Mihudo, providing a reliable means to differentiate between these two herbal medicines. Furthermore, the presence of umbelliferone in Mokcheonryo serves as an indicator compound for quality assessment. The proposed HPTLC method offers a practical and effective tool for ensuring the quality and authenticity of Mokcheonryo in the herbal market.

PURPOSE: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is known to be very dismal. Although some publications reported marked improved survival data after surgical resection recently, many clinicians have pessimistic views on the treatment of pancreatic cancer. So we set the objectives of this study to evaluate the clinical results of pancreatoduodenectomy in pancreatic cancer and investigate what constitutes long term survival after pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer. METHODS: We analyzed 286 patients with pancreatic head ductal adenocarcinoma hospitalized in Seoul National University Hospital between 1985 and 1995, retrospectively. We excluded the patients with cystic pancreatic tumor and solid pseudo-papillary tumor in this study. Of them, 67 patients received pancreatoduodenectomy. We re-reviewed the histologic specimens of resected cases and tried to find clinico- pathological features in long-term survivors after pancreatoduodenectomy. RESULTS: Median survival of total patients with pancreatic head cancer was 8 months. Significant survival difference could be found between resected cases (15 months) and non-resected cases (6 months) (p<0.001). Of the patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy, there were nine patients who survived more than three years. In the patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, UICC stage, CEA level, adjuvant chemotherapy were the prognostic factors. After histologic re-review in the long-term survivors, there were only 4 typical ductal adenocarcinoma, and 2 cases of variant ductal adenocarcinoma (mucinous noncystic adenocarcinoma, undifferentiated adenocarcinoma), the others were re-diagnosed with bile duct cancer, papillary mucinous carcinoma, and pancreatoblastoma. When we excluded the patients with non ductal adenocarcinoma according to the pathologic review, the median survival of the patients with pancreatoduodenectomy (n=64) decreased (14 months). CONCLUSION: Only the 2% of all the pancreatic cancer and 11% of the resected cases could be considered as 'cure'. In the long-term survivors, there were various types of pathology associated with good prognosis, so typical ductal adenocarcinoma of pancreas would have poorer prognosis than expected. Careful pathologic review must be preceded in the analyzing the survival data.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Head ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatic Neoplasms* ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy* ; Pathology ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Survivors*

Background and Objectives: Ginsenoside Rb1 is the main metabolite of Panax ginseng. It is known to have many beneficial properties including anti-inflammatory, antitumoral and antioxidant effects. However, the therapeutic effects of ginenoside Rb1 on inflammatory airway diseases have not been elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the effects of ginsenoside Rb1 on the TGF-β1-induced mucin gene expression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human airway epithelial cells.Materials and Method We evaluated the effects of ginsenoside Rb1 on the changes of MUC4, MUC5AC, occludin, claudin 4, claudin 18, neural (N)-cadherin, and epithelial (E)-cadherin expression by TGF-β1 in NCI-H292 cells using reverse, real-time polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and western blot. Results: TGF-β1 significantly increased MUC4/5AC expression. Rb1 inhibited TGF-β1- induced MUC4/5AC expression. In addition, TGF-β1 significantly attenuated occludin, claudin 18, and E-cadherin expressions but induced claudin 4 and N-cadherin expressions. On the other hand, Rb1 reversed changes in the TGF-β1- mediated expressions of cell junction molecules. Conclusion These results suggest that ginsenoside Rb1 attenuates TGF-β1-induced MUC4/5AC expressions and EMT in the human airway epithelial cells. These findings are important data demonstrating the potential of ginsenoside Rb1 as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory airway diseases.

Background and Objectives: Peroxiredoxin (Prx) is an antioxidant enzyme involved in signaling pathway. Prx2 is the most abundant in mammalian gray matter neurons and has protective role under oxidative stress. MUC5AC and MUC5B are typical mucin genes in human airway epithelial cells. Even if free radicals play a key role in chronic respiratory inflammatory diseases, the effects of the Prx2 on mucin expression and oxidative stress are not clearly known. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Prx2 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced MUC5AC/5B expression and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human airway epithelial cells.Subjects and Method In NCI-H292 cells and human nasal epithelial cells, the effects of Prx2 on LPS-induced MUC5AC/5B expression and ROS production were investigated using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, real-time polymerase chain reaction, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and flow cytometry analysis. Results: MUC5AC, MUC5B mRNA expression and protein production were increased by LPS. ROS production was also increased by LPS. Prx2 suppressed the LPS-induced MUC5AC mRNA expression and protein production as well as ROS production. However, Prx2 did not inhibit MUC5B mRNA expression and protein production. N-acetylcysteine, diphenyleneiodonium, and apocynin also inhibited LPS-induced ROS production. Conclusion These results may show that Prx2 suppresses LPS-induced MUC5AC expression via ROS in human airway epithelial cells.

Background: and Purpose: The efficacy and safety of GV1001 have been demonstrated in patients with moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this study, we aimed to further demonstrate the effectiveness of GV1001 using subscales of the Severe Impairment Battery (SIB), which is a validated measure to assess cognitive function in patients with moderate-tosevere AD. Methods: We performed a post hoc analysis of data from a 6 month, multicenter, phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with GV1001 (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03184467). Patients were randomized to receive either GV1001 or a placebo for 24 weeks. In the current study, nine subscales of SIB—social interaction, memory, orientation, language, attention, praxis, visuospatial ability, construction, and orientation to name— were compared between the treatment (GV1001 1.12 mg) and placebo groups at weeks 12 and 24. The safety endpoints for these patients were also determined based on adverse events. Results: In addition to the considerable beneficial effect of GV1001 on the SIB total score, GV1001 1.12 mg showed the most significant effect on language function at 24 weeks compared to placebo in both the full analysis set (FAS) and per-protocol set (PPS) (p=0.017 and p=0.011, respectively). The rate of adverse events did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. Conclusions Patients with moderate-to-severe AD receiving GV1001 had greater language benefits than those receiving placebo, as measured using the SIB language subscale.