No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a common causative agent of genital ulceration and can lead to subsequent neurological disease in some cases. Here, using a genital infection model, we tested the efficacy of vinegar-processed flos of Daphne genkwa (vp-genkwa) to modulate vaginal inflammation caused by HSV-1 infection. Our data revealed that treatment with optimal doses of vp-genkwa after, but not before, HSV-1 infection provided enhanced resistance against HSV-1 infection, as corroborated by reduced mortality and clinical signs. Consistent with these results, treatment with vp-genkwa after HSV-1 infection reduced viral replication in the vaginal tract. Furthermore, somewhat intriguingly, treatment of vp-genkwa after HSV-1 infection increased the frequency and absolute number of CD3-NK1.1+NKp46+ natural killer (NK) cells producing interferon (IFN)-gamma and granyzme B, which indicates that vp-genkwa treatment induces the activation of NK cells. Supportively, secreted IFN-gamma was detected at an increased level in vaginal lavages of mice treated with vp-genkwa after HSV-1 infection. These results indicate that enhanced resistance to HSV-1 infection by treatment with vp-genkwa is associated with NK cell activation. Therefore, our data provide a valuable insight into the use of vp-genkwa to control clinical severity in HSV infection through NK cell activation.
Animals ; Daphne* ; Herpesvirus 1, Human ; Inflammation ; Interferons ; Killer Cells, Natural* ; Mice ; Mortality ; Simplexvirus ; Therapeutic Irrigation ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: Percutaneous fine needle aspiration biopsy is known to be a useful diagnostic method for the diagnosis of various pulmonary diseases. Its diagnostic yield is high, and it is safe, but complications such as pneumothorax can occasionally occur. We reviewed the complications arising after needle aspiration biopsy and analyzed the risk factors of pneumothorax. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records and radiographic studies of 157 patients with various pulmonary diseases who underwent needle aspiration biopsy of the lung between 1990 and 1996 were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical features, treatment, and courses of complications were reviewed, and risk factors of pneumothorax such as depth and size of lesion, diameter of needle, number of punctures, and obstructive pulmonary abnormalities were analyzed. RESULTS: Complications occurred in 40 of 157 cases (25.5%), namely pneumothorax in 26 (16.6%), hemoptysis in 11 (7%), hemothorax in two (1.3%), and recurrence of malignancy at the site of aspiration in one (0.6%). When the patients were divided into three groups according to depth of lesion, there were significant difference in the incidence of pneumothorax ; the results were as follows : less than 2cm, 12.9% ; between 2 and 4cm, 24.1% ; and larger than 4cm, 57.1% (p<0.05). In pulmonary function testing, FVC (forced vital capacity) of patients with pneumothorax was less than that of patients without (2.6+/-0.9L vs 3.1+/-0.8L, p<0.05), but FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second), FEV 1% (percentage of predicted FEV1), FEV1/FVC,and FVC%(percentage of predicted FVC) were not different between the two groups. The incidence of pneumothorax in patients with pleura-attached lesion (9%) was lower than that of those with non-attached lesion (26%, p=0.01). The age of patients, size of lesion, diameter of the needle, guidance methods and number of aspirations showed no significant relationship with pneumothorax. CONCLUSION: In needle aspiration biopsy of the lung, depth of lesion and passage of a needle through aerated lung are significant risk factors of pneumothorax.
Aspirations (Psychology) ; Biopsy* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Biopsy, Needle ; Diagnosis ; Hemoptysis ; Hemothorax ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung Diseases ; Lung* ; Medical Records ; Needles ; Pneumothorax* ; Punctures ; Recurrence ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors*

PURPOSE: To classify perivascular change in the celiac trunk and SMA occurring in pancreatic disease and toevaluate its significance in differential diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 73 patients with pancreaticdisease (42, acute pancreatitis; 14, chronic pancreatitis; 17, panreatic cancer) abdominal CT findings wereretrospectively reviewed. We defined " infiltration" as linear or irregular density and "thickening" as presenceof a soft tissue mantle surrounding the vessel, and statistically evaluated the usefulness of these factors forthe differential diagnosis of pancreatic diseases. RESULTS: In 13/42 cases of acute pancreatitis (31%), 4/14 ofchronic pancreatitis (28.6%), and 6/17 of pancreatic cancer (35.3%), periceliac infiltration was observed; thefrequencies were not statistically significant (p=0.916). Peri-SMA infiltration was demonstrated in 9/42 of acutepancreatitis (21.4%), 4/14 of chronic pancreatitis (28.6%), and 5/17 of pancreatic cancer (29.4%); again, thesefrequencies were not statistically significant (p=0.758). Thickening of the celiac trunk and SMA was observed onlyin pancreatic cancer, in 3/17 (17.6%) and 7/17(41.2%) cases, respectively, with statistical significance (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Thickening of the celiac trunk and SMA is a valuable finding in the differential diagnosis ofpancreatic inflammatory disease and pancreatic cancer. When applied to the differential diagnosis of pancreaticdisease, perivaseular change should be classified as either infiltration or thickening.
Diagnosis, Differential* ; Humans ; Mesenteric Arteries* ; Pancreatic Diseases* ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Pancreatitis ; Pancreatitis, Chronic ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Larrea nitida is a plant that belongs to the Zygophyllaceae family and is widely used in South America to treat inflammatory diseases, tumors and menstrual pain. However, its pharmacological activity remains unclear. In this study we evaluated the property of selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) of Larrea nitida extracts (LNE) as a phytoestrogen that can mimic, modulate or disrupt the actions of endogenous estrogens, depending on the tissue and relative amount of other SERMs. To investigate the property of SERM of LNE, we performed MCF-7 cell proliferation assays, estrogen response element (ERE)-luciferase reporter gene assay, human estrogen receptor (hER) binding assays and in vivo uterotrophic assay. To gain insight into the active principles, we performed a bioassay-guided analysis of LNE employing solvents of various polarities and using classical column chromatography, which yielded 16 fractions (LNs). LNE showed high binding affinities for hERalpha and hERbeta with IC50 values of 1.20x10(-7) g/ml and 1.00x10(-7) g/ml, respectively. LNE induced 17beta-estradiol (E2)-induced MCF-7 cell proliferation, however, it reduced the proliferation in the presence of E2. Furthermore, LNE had an atrophic effect in the uterus of immature rats through reducing the expression level of progesterone receptor (PR) proteins. LN08 and LN10 had more potent affinities for binding on hER alpha and beta than other fractions. Our results indicate that LNE had higher binding affinities for hERbeta than hERalpha, and showed SERM properties in MCF-7 breast cancer cells and the rat uterus. LNE may be useful for the treatment of estrogen-related conditions, such as female cancers and menopause.
Animals ; Breast Neoplasms ; Chromatography ; Dysmenorrhea ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Genes, Reporter ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Larrea* ; MCF-7 Cells* ; Menopause ; Phytoestrogens ; Plants ; Rats* ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Response Elements ; Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators ; Solvents ; South America ; Uterus* ; Zygophyllaceae

We investigated the effect of tilianin upon inducible nitric oxide synthesis in the plasma of low-density lipoprotein receptor knock-out (Ldlr-/-) mice fed with high cholesterol diet and in primary peritoneal macrophages of Ldlr-/- mice. High cholesterol diet induced nitric oxide production in the plasma of Ldlr-/- mice. Tilianin reduced the level of nitric oxide (NO) in plasma from Ldlr-/- mice induced by the high cholesterol diet. Tilianin also inhibited the NO production from the primary culture of peritoneal macrophages treated with lipopolysaccharide. The inhibition of NO production was caused by the suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene expression in peritoneal macrophages isolated from Ldlr-/- mice. Moreover, tilianin inhibited the transcriptional activation of iNOS promoter that has NF-kappa B binding element. Thus, these results provide the first evidence that tilianin inhibit iNOS expression and production of NO and may act as a potential anti-inflammatory agent.
Tyrosine/analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Tissue Distribution ; Sinus of Valsalva/metabolism/pathology/ultrastructure ; Receptors, LDL/*genetics ; Promoter Regions (Genetics)/drug effects ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/*metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/biosynthesis/blood ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; Mice, Knockout ; Mice ; Male ; Inflammation/metabolism ; Glycosides/*pharmacology ; Flavonoids/*pharmacology ; Down-Regulation/drug effects ; Atherosclerosis/metabolism ; Animals