Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are known to have bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects. The present study highlights the extracellular synthesis of AgNPs and its antibacterial properties. The AgNPs were synthesized using Pseudomonas sp. THG-LS1.4 strain which had been isolated from soil. The AgNPs werecharacterized by field emission-transmission electron microscopy (FE-TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD),Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and particle size distribution (DLS). The AgNPs displayed maximum absorbance at 412 nm and were irregular in shape ranging from 10 to 40 nm. The XRD spectroscopy results demonstrated the crystalline nature of nanoparticles. The AgNPs showed antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida tropicalis, Vibrio parahaemolyticus,Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Furthermore, the AgNPs were also evaluated for their increased antibacterial activities with various antibiotics against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella enterica. Additionally, AgNPs showd biofilm inhibition activity. The biosynthesized AgNPs were found to be a potent agent against tested pathogens. More importantly, we highlight the applications of AgNPs as an antimicrobial agent.

A spontaneous rupture of the kidney due to a metastatic choriocarcinoma, which is associated with a normal pregnancy, is very rare. A 33-year-old female patient presented with sudden colicky right flank pain on the 5th day after a Cesarian Section. An abdominal CT scan showed evidence of a right renal rupture with a perirenal hematoma. Under the impression of a spontaneous rupture of right kidney, an exploratory laparotomy with a radical nephrectomy was performed. The pathologic findings revealed a renal parenchymal rupture due to a metastatic choriocarcinoma.
Adult ; Choriocarcinoma* ; Female ; Flank Pain ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Kidney* ; Laparotomy ; Nephrectomy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy* ; Rupture ; Rupture, Spontaneous* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

We report a Korean family in which the interaction of a triplicated alpha-globin locus and a heterozygous beta-thalassemia gives rise to a clinical phenotype of thalassemia intermedia. The propositus, a 36year-old woman, was evaluated because of moderately severe chronic anemia. Molecular analysis revealed heterozygosity for a single beta-thalassemia mutation, IVSII-1 (G->A). Additionally, she was found to have co-inherited a triplicated alpha-globin gene (alphaalpha/alphaalphaalphaanti3.7). In contrast, her brother heterozygous for the same triplicated alpha-locus and beta-thalassemia was clinically normal, suggesting that the delicate balance between alpha- and beta-chains is controlled by other currently not identified factors. Thalassemia intermedia due to co-inheritance of alphaalpha/alphaalphaalphaanti3.7 and IVSII-1 (G->A) was rare, and in Korea, this patient is the first case of thalassemia intermedia attributable to this combined abnormalities.
alpha-Globins* ; Anemia ; beta-Thalassemia* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Phenotype ; Siblings ; Thalassemia*

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder occurring in the gastrointestinal track. However, the efficacy of current therapeutic strategies has been limited and accompanied by side effects. In order to eliminate the limitations, herbal medicines have recently been developed for treatment of IBD. Peuraria Lobata (Peuraria L.) is one of the traditional herbal medicines that have anti-inflammatory effects. Bioavailability of Peuraria L., which is rich in isoflavones, is lower than that of their fermented forms. In this study, we generated fermented Peuraria L. extracts (fPue) and investigated the role of fPue in inflammation and intestinal barrier function in vitro and in vivo. As the mice or intestinal epithelial cells were treated with DSS/fPue, mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines was reduced and the architecture and expression of tight junction proteins were recovered, compared to the DSS-treated group. In summary, fPue treatment resulted in amelioration of DSS-induced inflammation in the colon, and the disrupted intestinal barrier was recovered as the expression and architecture of tight junction proteins were retrieved. These results suggest that use of fPue could be a new therapeutic strategy for treatment of IBD.
Animals ; Biological Availability ; Colitis* ; Colon ; Cytokines* ; Dextran Sulfate* ; Dextrans* ; Epithelial Cells ; In Vitro Techniques ; Inflammation ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Isoflavones ; Mice ; Pueraria* ; RNA, Messenger ; Tight Junction Proteins