No abstract available.
Growth Hormone*

Ginsenosides are the major components of ginseng, which is known to modulate blood pressure, metabolism, and immune function, and has been used to treat various diseases. It has been reported that ginseng and several ginsenosides have immunoregulatory effects on the innate and T cell-mediated immune response. However, their effects on the humoral immune response have not been fully explored. The present study examined the direct effects of red ginseng extract (RGE) and ginsenosides on mouse B cell proliferation and on antibody production and the expression of germline transcripts (GLT) by mouse B cells in vitro. RGE slightly reduced B cell proliferation, but increased IgA production by LPS-stimulated B cells. Furthermore, ginsenoside Rg1 and 20(S)-Rg3 selectively induced IgA production and expression of GLTalpha transcripts by LPS-stimulated B cells. Collectively, these results suggest that ginsenoside Rg1 and 20(S)-Rg3 can drive the differentiation of B cells into IgA-producing cells through the selective induction of GLTalpha expression.
Animals ; Antibody Formation ; B-Lymphocytes* ; Blood Pressure ; Cell Proliferation ; Ginsenosides ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunoglobulin A* ; Metabolism ; Mice* ; Panax

Estrogens are commonly used in gynecologic area, such as oral contraception, hormone replacement therapy, and in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. Although estrogen is a common cause of acute drug-induced pancreatitis, there has been paucity of report in Korea. Clinical course of estrogen-induced acute pancreatitis is usually mild to moderate, but fetal case can occur. In addition, there can be a latency from the first administration to the symptom. Therefore, physicians should consider the possibility of the disease when a woman taking estrogen or previous history of taking estrogen presents with acute abdominal pain. Here, we report a case of estrogen-induced acute pancreatitis that occurred during the preparation for embryo transfer.
Abdominal Pain ; Contraception ; Embryo Transfer ; Estrogens ; Female ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Korea ; Pancreatitis*

We investigated the migration of endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) toward an infarct lesion in a photo-thrombotic stroke model. The lesions produced by using rose bengal dye (20 mg/kg) with cold light in the motor cortex of Sprague-Dawley rats were also evaluated with sequential magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from 30 minutes through 8 weeks. Migration of NSCs was identified by immunohistochemistry for nestin monoclonal antibody in the lesion cortex, subventricular zone (SVZ), and corpus callosum (CC). The contrast to noncontrast ratio (CNR) on MRI was greatest at 12 hours in DWI and decreased over time. By contrast, T1-weighted and T2-weighted images showed a constant CNR from the beginning through 8 weeks. MRI of the lesional cortex correlated with histopathologic findings, which could be divided into three stages: acute (edema and necrosis) within 24 hours, subacute (acute and chronic inflammatory cell infiltration) at 2 to 7 days, and chronic (gliofibrosis) at 2 to 4 weeks. The volume of the infarct was significantly reduced by reparative gliofibrosis. The number of nestin+ NSCs in the contralateral SVZ was similar to that of the ipsilateral SVZ in each group. However, the number of nestin+ NSCs in the ipsilateral cortex and CC increased at 12 hours to 3 days compared with the contralateral side (p<0.01) and was reduced significantly by 7 days (p<0.01). Active emigration of internal NSCs from the SVZ toward the infarct lesion may also contribute to decreased volume of the infarct lesion, but the self-repair mechanism by endogenous NSCs is insufficient to treat stroke causing extensive neuronal death. Further studies should be focused on amplification technologies of NSCs to enhance the collection of endogenous or transplanted NSCs for the treatment of stroke.
Cold Temperature ; Corpus Callosum ; Emigration and Immigration ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intermediate Filament Proteins ; Light ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Models, Theoretical ; Motor Cortex ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; Neural Stem Cells ; Neurons ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rose Bengal ; Stem Cells ; Stroke ; Transplants

Hypoxia-ischemia leads to serious neuronal damage in some brain regions and is a strong risk factor for stroke. The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effect of tanshinone I (TsI) derived from Danshen (Radix Salvia miltiorrhiza root extract) against neuronal damage using a mouse model of cerebral hypoxia-ischemia. Brain infarction and neuronal damage were examined using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining, hematoxylin and eosin histochemistry, and Fluoro-Jade B histofluorescence. Pre-treatment with TsI (10 mg/kg) was associated with a significant reduction in infarct volume 1 day after hypoxia-ischemia was induced. In addition, TsI protected against hypoxia-ischemia-induced neuronal death in the ipsilateral region. Our present findings suggest that TsI has strong potential for neuroprotection against hypoxic-ischemic damage. These results may be used in research into new anti-stroke medications.
Animals ; Brain ; Brain Infarction ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Fluoresceins ; Hematoxylin ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; Mice ; Neurons ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Risk Factors ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; Stroke ; Tetrazolium Salts

To investigate the intestinal absorption of a fibrinolytic and proteolytic lumbrokinase extracted from Eisenia andrei, we used rat everted gut sacs and an in situ closed-loop recirculation method. We extracted lumbrokinase from Eisenia andrei, and then raised polyclonal antibody against lumbrokinase. Fibrinolytic activity and proteolytic activity in the serosal side of rat everted gut sacs incubated with lumbrokinase showed dose- and time-dependent patterns. Immunological results obtained by western blotting serosal side solution using rat everted gut sacs method showed that lumbrokinase proteins between 33.6 and 54.7 kDa are absorbed mostly by the intestinal epithelium. Furthermore, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometric analysis of plasma fractions obtained by in situ recirculation method confirmed that lumbrokinase F1 is absorbed into blood. These results support the notion that lumbrokinase can be absorbed from mucosal lumen into blood by oral administration.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Endopeptidases ; Intestinal Absorption ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Oligochaeta ; Plasma ; Proteins ; Rats

PURPOSE: To compare duloxetine with placebo for the treatment of Korean women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a phase 3, double-blind, stratified, randomized, parallel, placebo-controlled, multi-center study investigating efficacy and safety of a of duloxetine compared with placebo in the treatment of SUI. After a 2-week no-drug screening period, women ages 29-69 were randomly assigned to placebo (n=60) or duloxetine (n=61) as 40mg twice daily for 8 weeks followed by a 2 week no-drug period. Women were seen at 4-week intervals. The primary efficacy variable was percent change in incontinence episodes frequency (IEF)/week. Secondary variables included percent change in, changes in Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QoL) total and 3 sub-scale scores, and Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) ratings. Safety was evaluated by treatment emergent adverse events (TEAE), discontinuations due to adverse events, vital signs measurements, and clinical laboratory tests. RESULTS: There were statistically significant improvements with duloxetine compared with placebo in IEF (duloxetine baseline 16.4IEF/wk, endpoint 7.7IEF/wk, median percent reduction=50.0% vs placebo baseline 13.3IEF/ wk, endpoint 8.8IEF/wk, median percent reduction=37.1%, p=0.033), and avoidance and limiting behavior subscale (p=0.006) in I-QoL. TEAEs were reported significantly more often in the duloxetine group compared with the placebo group (82.0% vs 31.7%; p<0.001); common AEs (>or=5% in duloxetine-treated subjects and p<0.05) were nausea, dizziness, anorexia, fatigue, lethargy, abdominal discomfort, and constipation. Discontinuation rates because of AEs were 34.4% for duloxetine and 8.3% for placebo. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide evidence for the safety and efficacy of duloxetine for the treatment for Korean women with SUI.
Anorexia ; Constipation ; Dizziness ; Fatigue ; Female ; Humans ; Lethargy ; Mass Screening ; Nausea ; Quality of Life ; Urinary Incontinence* ; Vital Signs ; Duloxetine Hydrochloride

Objective: Comprehensive understanding of polyenvironmental risk factors for the development of psychosis is important. Based on a review of related evidence, we developed the Korea Polyenvironmental Risk Score (K-PERS) for psychosis. We investigated whether the K-PERS can differentiate patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) from healthy controls (HCs). Methods: We reviewed existing tools for measuring polyenvironmental risk factors for psychosis, including the Maudsley Environmental Risk Score (ERS), polyenviromic risk score (PERS), and Psychosis Polyrisk Score (PPS). Using odds ratios and relative risks for Western studies and the “population proportion” (PP) of risk factors for Korean data, we developed the K-PERS, and compared the scores thereon between patients with SSDs and HCs. In addition, correlation was performed between the K-PERS and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Results: We first constructed the “K-PERS-I,” comprising five factors based on the PPS, and then the “K-PERS-II” comprising six factors based on the ERS. The instruments accurately predicted participants’ status (case vs. control). In addition, the K-PERS-I and -II scores exhibited significant negative correlations with the negative symptom factor score of the PANSS. Conclusion The K-PERS is the first comprehensive tool developed based on PP data obtained from Korean studies that measures polyenvironmental risk factors for psychosis. Using pilot data, the K-PERS predicted patient status (SSD vs. HC). Further research is warranted to examine the relationship of K-PERS scores with clinical outcomes of psychosis and schizophrenia.

Methods: The study involved 226 people who participated in the Korean Early Psychosis Cohort Study, and we divided the participants into two groups according to the degree of trauma.Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) were compared at the start of the study and at 12 months after the treatment using paired t-test and repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: At the beginning of the study, there was no significant difference between the two groups. But after 12 months of treatment, the high trauma group showed less improvement in PANSS negative score, general psychopathological score, total score, and SOFAS than the low trauma group. Conclusion In patients with early psychosis and at least moderate severity of premorbid trauma, negative symptoms, general psychopathological, and social and occupational functional improvements after treatment are less.

PURPOSE: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in biological fluids are potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and assessment of urological diseases such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa). The aim of the study was to identify and validate urinary cell-free miRNAs that can segregate patients with PCa from those with BPH. METHODS: In total, 1,052 urine, 150 serum, and 150 prostate tissue samples from patients with PCa or BPH were used in the study. A urine-based miRNA microarray analysis suggested the presence of differentially expressed urinary miRNAs in patients with PCa, and these were further validated in three independent PCa cohorts, using a quantitative reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction analysis. RESULTS: The expression levels of hsa-miR-615-3p, hsv1-miR-H18, hsv2-miR-H9-5p, and hsa-miR-4316 were significantly higher in urine samples of patients with PCa than in those of BPH controls. In particular, herpes simplex virus (hsv)-derived hsv1-miR-H18 and hsv2-miR-H9-5p showed better diagnostic performance than did the serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test for patients in the PSA gray zone. Furthermore, a combination of urinary hsv2-miR-H9-5p with serum PSA showed high sensitivity and specificity, providing a potential clinical benefit by reducing unnecessary biopsies. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that hsv-encoded hsv1-miR-H18 and hsv2-miR-H9-5p are significantly associated with PCa and can facilitate early diagnosis of PCa for patients within the serum PSA gray zone.
Biomarkers ; Biopsy ; Cohort Studies ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Herpes Simplex ; Humans ; Microarray Analysis ; MicroRNAs* ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Simplexvirus ; Urologic Diseases