Nitric oxide (NO) is mainly involved in brain ischemic damage to elucidate the protective mechanism of NO pretreatment on ischemic-induced cytotoxicity. This study was investigated whether NO pretreatment inhibits the increase of iNOS expression by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) combined phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) via regulating NF-kB activation in C6 glial cells. C6 glial cells with LPS and PMA for 72 hours markedly induced NO, but sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (100 nM) pretreatment before exposure of LPS and PMA significantly supressed NO production, iNOS expression and NF-kB activation by LPS and PMA. In addition, LPS and PMA treatment for 72 hours induced severely cell death and LDH release from cell into media in C6 glial cells. However SNP pretreatment before treatment of LPS and PMA significantly protected LPS and PMA induced cytotoxicity. Treatment with LPS and PMA induced caspase 3 activation follewed by chromosomal condensation, and fragmentation of nuclei in C6 glial cells. SNP pretreatment before exposure to LPS and PMA supressed caspase 3 activation and inhibited chromosomal condensation and fragmentation of nuclei. From these above results, it is suggest that the protective effects of SNP pretreatment against LPS and PMA induced cytotoxicity may be mediated by inhibiting the expression of iNOS via regulating NF-kB activation.
Brain ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Death ; Neuroglia ; NF-kappa B ; Nitric Oxide* ; Nitroprusside

During inflammation of the colon, cells of the gut mucosa produce or express numerous inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1 beta), and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). These mediators have been implicated as contributory factors to the inflammatory process, which results in colitis during inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Rebamipide is an anti-gastric ulcer drug with anti-inflammatory properties in vivo and in vitro. The effects of Rebamipide on IBD have not been largely evaluated. Therefore, this study investigated the potential of Rebamipide to regulate the production of inflammatory mediators such as TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and ICAM-1. Mice with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis (IBD animal model), were treated intrarectally with 2 mM Rebamipide. Body weight, macro- and micro-histological scores, and activity were evaluated. As an index of tissue edema, the thickness of the colonic wall was measured between the serosal surface and the luminal surface of the mucosa. TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and ICAM-1 were detected by immunohistochemical staining. Rebamipide treatment of mice exhibiting TNBS-induced colitis dramatically improved the clinical and histopathological findings of inflammation. In addition, Rebamipide suppressed TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and ICAM-1 expression in TNBS-treated animals. Taken together, these findings suggest that Rebamipide is a potential therapeutic agent for treating patients with IBD.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Colitis ; Colon* ; Down-Regulation* ; Edema ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1* ; Interleukin-1beta ; Mice ; Mucous Membrane ; Phenobarbital ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha* ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: This study was design and performed for evaluations of resent clinical pattern of bronchiolitis caused by RSV infection with children under 2 year of age for 5 years, who were admitted to pediatric ward. METHODS: The inclusion criteria of the patients were children under 24 month-of-age, clinical manifestations of lower respiratory tract infection, and RSV antigen that was detected by a direct immunofluorescence test from the nasal secretions. The additional laboratory and simple chest X-ray findings were reviewed from the medical records of children who were admitted Wonkwang university hospital from Jan. 1999 to Dec. 2003. RESULTS: In the 5 year study duration, 127 patients were enrolled and outbreak of RSV bronchiolitis took place in 2001. The 80 cases(63 percent) of RSV infection were concentrated in later autumn and winter. Number of the cases show coughing were 120(94.5 percent), but rale was audible in 78 cases(61.4 percent). Dyspnea, wheezing, and intercostal retraction were noticed in 27(21.3 percent), 21(16.5 percent), and 4(3 percent) cases respectively. The most common chest X-ray finding was hyperinflation of the lung that was noticed in 110 cases(86.6 percent). Care with mechanical ventilator for more than 2 days required in 5 cases. CONCLUSION: Lower respiratory tract infection by RSV was common in late autumn and winter season but year-round infection was noticed. The severity of RSV respiratory tract infectiontakes in some degree a grave course. So we suggest that population-based surveillance of acute respiratory infection due to RSV is necessary for assessment of prevalence and epidemiology of this disease.
Bronchiolitis ; Child* ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Epidemiology ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Humans ; Lung ; Medical Records ; Prevalence ; Respiratory Sounds ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses* ; Respiratory System* ; Respiratory Tract Infections* ; Seasons ; Thorax ; Ventilators, Mechanical

We have reviewed the medical records of 4 pregnant patients with concomitant acute leukemia at our institution in conjunction with determining the delivery process in order to reduce complications associated with the delivery. Of the 4 patients, three cases were diagnosed as acute leukemia and the other as myelodysplastic syndrome. One experienced an incomplete abortion at gestational age of 10 weeks, after remission induction chemotherapy. The remaining three patients made delivery at full term by Cesarean section. Our observation indicated that Cesarean delivery was advisable for these three patients. Most of the patients had thrombocytopenia or anemia. Before the Cesarean section or dilatation or evacuation, transfusion was undertaken to prevent hemorrhage or severe anemia. In the cases of refractoriness to blood transfusion, a greater amount was transfused. After Cesarean section, some complications were reported such as fever, delayed wound repair, and vaginal bleeding. Based on the our observations, we are of the opinion that pregnant women with acute leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome can be managed even in those cases where the state of leukemia is not in complete remission or chemotherapy-induced cytopenia is. And the proper measures are timely undertaken to prevent complications associated with delivery.
Abortion, Incomplete ; Anemia ; Blood Transfusion ; Cesarean Section ; Dilatation ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Fever ; Gestational Age ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Leukemia* ; Medical Records ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Remission Induction ; Thrombocytopenia ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Wounds and Injuries