The anti-inflammatory effects of an ethanol extract of Angelica gigas (EAG) were investigated in vitro and in vivo using croton oil-induced inflammation models. Croton oil (20 microgram/mL) up-regulated mRNA expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-I and COX-II in the macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7, resulting in the release of high concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). EAG (1~10 microgram/mL) markedly suppressed croton oil-induced COX-II mRNA expression and PGE2 production. Application of croton oil (5% in acetone) to mouse ears caused severe local erythema, edema and vascular leakage, which were significantly attenuated by oral pre-treatment with EAG (50~500 mg/kg). Croton oil dramatically increased blood levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and PGE2 without affecting tumor-necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and nitric oxide (NO) levels. EAG pre-treatment remarkably lowered IL-6 and PGE2, but did not alter TNF-alpha or NO concentrations. These results indicate that EAG attenuates inflammatory responses in part by blocking the COX-PGE2 pathway. Therefore, EAG could be a promising candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Angelica/*immunology ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Cyclooxygenase 1/genetics/*immunology ; Cyclooxygenase 2/genetics/*immunology ; Dinoprostone/genetics/immunology ; Inflammation/drug therapy/enzymology/*immunology ; Interleukin-6/blood ; Macrophages ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Nitric Oxide/blood ; Phytotherapy/*methods ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Plant Roots/immunology ; RNA, Messenger/chemistry/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood

Surgical skill and strategy for the correction of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) have improved and resulted in satisfactory outcomes. However, prematurity and low birth weight continue to remain risk factors for poor outcomes. We present a case of a 2,150 g neonate born with TOF, in whom palliation was achieved with right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) stenting. Seventy-seven days after the procedure, stenosis of RVOT below the stent was identified. At that time his body weight was 4.9 kg and total corrective surgery was deemed feasible. Eight months following surgical repair, the patient remained well without medical intervention. RVOT stenting may be a viable interim procedure while waiting for a low birth weight neonate born with TOF and prostaglandin E1 dependency to reach optimal weight to undergo corrective surgery.
Alprostadil ; Body Weight ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dependency (Psychology) ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Risk Factors ; Stents ; Tetralogy of Fallot ; Ventricular Outflow Obstruction

PURPOSE: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been considered a biochemical marker for myocarditis in Kawasaki disease. We performed this study to determine its quantitative significance. METHODS: We attempted to correlate log-transformed BNP concentrations (log-BNP) and clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic variables in 81 children with Kawasaki disease. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the variables independently associated with log-BNP concentration. RESULTS: Serum C-reactive protein level (P<0.0001), serum alanine aminotransferase concentration (P=0.0032), white blood cell count (P=0.0030), and left ventricular mass index (P=0.0024) were positively related with log-BNP, and hemoglobin level (P<0.0001), serum albumin level (P<0.0001), Na+ concentrations (P<0.0001), left ventricular fractional shortening (P=0.0080), and peak early diastolic tissue velocity of the left ventricular basal lateral segment (P=0.0045) were negatively related to the log-BNP concentration. Multiple regression analysis showed that serum albumin concentration (R2=0.31, P=0.0098) and left ventricular mass index (R2=0.09, P=0.0004) were significantly associated with the log-BNP concentration. CONCLUSION: Elevated BNP levels during the acute phase of Kawasaki disease may be attributable to cardiac dysfunction associated with the increase in left ventricular mass, and log-BNP concentration may be a quantitative biochemical marker of myocarditis in Kawasaki disease.
Alanine Transaminase ; Biomarkers ; Brain ; C-Reactive Protein ; Child ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Linear Models ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; Myocarditis ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Plasma ; Serum Albumin

Anti-inflammatory effects of Houttuynia cordata supercritical extract (HSE) were investigated in a carrageenan-air pouch model. HSE (200 mg/kg, oral) suppressed exudation and albumin leakage, as well as inflammatory cell infiltration. Dexamethasone (2 mg/kg, i.p.) only decreased exudation and cell infiltration, while indomethacin (2 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced exudate volume and albumin content. HSE lowered tumor-necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and nitric oxide (NO), as well as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Dexamethasone only reduced TNF-alpha and NO, while indomethacin decreased TNF-alpha and PGE2. The suppressive activity of HSE on NO and PGE2 production was confirmed in RAW 264.7. These results demonstrate that HSE exerts anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting both TNF-alpha-NO and cyclooxygenase II-PGE2 pathways.
Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/*pharmacology ; Carrageenan ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dexamethasone/pharmacology ; Dinoprostone/metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/*pharmacology ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Indomethacin/pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/*drug effects ; Therapeutic Irrigation ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism