BACKGROUND: Cordyceps militaris have been reported to modify the immune and inflammatory responses both in vivo and in vitro. Macrophages play important roles in the innate immunity through the phagocytosis of antigens. This study examined the effects of Cordyceps militaris on the activation of murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells and primary macrophages. METHODS: The components contained in culture broth of Cordyceps militaris were purified by propyl alcohol extraction and HP 20 column chromatography to CMDB, CMDBW, CMDB5P, and CMDB25P. The amounts of nitric oxide (NO) were determined by using ELISA, Griess reagent respectively. The amounts of some cytokines were determined by using ELISA, western blot, and RT-PCR. The expression levels of cell surface molecules (ICAM-1, B7-1 and B7-2) were measured by flow cytometric analysis. RESULTS: All the components of Cordyceps militaris produced significant amounts of NO. In particular, CMDB produced much more NO in RAW 264.7 cells and primary macrophages than other fractions of Cordyceps militaris. CMDB increased significantly the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, and IL-6 dose-dependently in RAW 264.7 cells. Examination of the gene expression level also showed that the enhanced production of cytokines was correlated with the up-regulation of i-NOS expression, cycloxygenase (COX)-2 expression, IL-1beta and IL-6 expression, and TNF-alpha expression on the expression of mRNAs by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Western blot analysis also confirmed that CMDB enhances the expression level of these cytokines. CONCLUSION: These results show that CMDB stimulates the production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines and can also up-regulate the gene expression levels in macrophages.
1-Propanol ; Blotting, Western ; Chromatography ; Cordyceps* ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression ; Immunity, Innate ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Macrophages* ; Nitric Oxide ; Phagocytosis ; RNA, Messenger ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Up-Regulation

PURPOSE: As medicine has progressed, the human average lifetime has increased. Thus the number of geriatric patients has increased and, in particular, the number of older drivers has increased. Mortality rates for older trauma patients are higher than those for any other age group, but little research has been done about the severity of injuries to older patients involved in vehicle accidents. This study evaluated a number of factors and correlations involving old driver trauma patients. METHODS: We prospectively analyzed clinical information on 155 trauma patients over 65 years of age who were involved in vehicle accidents and visited the emergency department of Chosun University Hospital between Jan 2007 and Aug 2008. The following variables were examined for their ability to predict severity of injury: age, gender, vital signs, and mechanism of injury along with the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), and the Injury Severity Score(ISS). We divided the ISS scores into three groups: mild (1~8), moderate (9~15), and severe(above 16). RESULTS: Most cases involved men (94.2%), and a majority involved agriculture (65.8%). The most common vehicle was the motorcycle (48.4%), and 51 (32.9%) patients were drunk at the time of the accident. Many had acquired their driver's licenses more than 30 years earlier (40.7%), and almost all of the patients (81.9%) never wore any safety devices. The patients who had multiple underlying diseases, coupled living type, low blood pressure at admittance, and more time since they had acquired their licenses scored higher on mean ISS than the other cases. CONCLUSION: Old trauma patients had more longer admission days, had longer recovery times, and received more expensive treatment. For the same level of trauma, they took longer to heal than younger patients and experienced higher rates of mortality. Therefore, when the old driver trauma patients visit the emergency department, doctors need to perform more careful studies and provide a higher level of critical care. To lessen the number of old driver trauma patients, we should educate older drivers about safe driving methods and about the use of safety device, and we should enforce traffic laws and laws about drinking and driving.
Abbreviated Injury Scale ; Agriculture ; Critical Care ; Drinking ; Emergencies ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Jurisprudence ; Licensure ; Male ; Motorcycles ; Prospective Studies ; Protective Devices ; Vital Signs