Natural killer (NK) cells specifically lyse cancer cells or infected cells and play important roles in immune surveillance against tumor and infection. Probiotics, live bacteria and their metabolic products beneficial to humans, are reported to modulate NK cell activity and result in the prevention of tumor development. In this study, we examined the effect of metabolic products of strain Bacillus subtilis AK, selective strain from Bacillus subtilis natto, (EMBSAK) on NK cell activity. NK cell activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was enhanced in 50% of the rats orally inoculated with EMBSAK. In the experiments using EMBSAK-containing product, SARABAGAN, increasing frequency of NK cell activation was observed in volunteers as dose depending manner. These results suggested that supplemental intake of EMBSAK enhanced NK cell activity and indicated the possible utility of EMBSAK as complementary and alternative medicine, although susceptibility is individually various.

Postherpetic neuralgia(PHN) can be extremely debilitating condition. Treatment protocols for PHX may vary from center to center, such as conservative and intensive supportive therapeutic regimens, for example, oral medication, cutaneous nerve stimulating therapy, even acupuncture and hypnotherapy have been stressec In spite of all these measures, some 15% of PHN suffers gain little or no ra lief. Anecdotal reports have suggested that low level laser therapy(LLLT) is effective in the relief of various types of neuralgia. Rased on these, we were interested to apply LLLT for crucial condition of PHN. This is a prelirninary clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of LLLT in the treatment of the pain for well established and unrelieved PHN. In order to get more accurate result, subjective and objective criteria. were applied. The cases who showed the effectiveness in criteria of Excellent were 6/20(30 %) the cases who showed the effectiveness in criteria of Good were 3/20(15%), and the cases who showed the effectiveness in criteria of Fair were 3/20(15%). So the total cases who showed onset of the effectiveness of LLLT were 12 out of 20 cases(60%).
Acupuncture ; Clinical Protocols ; Humans ; Low-Level Light Therapy* ; Neuralgia ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic*