alpha-Curcumene is one of the physiologically active components of Curcuma zedoaria, which is believed to perform anti-tumor activities, the mechanisms of which are poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of the apoptotic effect of alpha-curcumene on the growth of human overian cancer, SiHa cells. Upon treatment with alpha-curcumene, cell viability of SiHa cells was inhibited > 73% for 48 h incubation. alpha-Curcumene treatment showed a characteristic nucleosomal DNA fragmentation pattern and the percentage of sub-diploid cells was increased in a concentration-dependent manner, hallmark features of apoptosis. Mitochondrial cytochrome c activation and an in vitro caspase-3 activity assay demonstrated that the activation of caspases accompanies the apoptotic effect of alpha-curcumene, which mediates cell death. These results suggest that the apoptotic effect of alpha-curcumene on SiHa cells may converge caspase-3 activation through the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c.
Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; Caspases ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Curcuma* ; Cytochromes c ; DNA Fragmentation ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND: The number of migrant workers, especially undocumented, has been increasing in Korea since late 1997. This study was conducted to evaluate the health status of those in Korea. METHODS: In June to November 2000, general health examinations and medical check-up were provided freely to undocumented migrant workers in Gyeonggi province. Total 580 migrant workers participated in this examination. RESULTS: 1. The number of examinee with abnormal results was 176 (30.3%), and hypertension (29.2%), abnormal liver function (13.4%) and abnormal chest X-ray finding (4.3%). 2. The prevalence rate of symptom is 77.2% and the most common symptom was back pain, followed by epigastric pain and joint pain. 3. The frequency of clinical diagnosis classified by physician was most common in hypertension (29.2%), followed by low back sprain/strain (7.4%), gastritis or peptic ulcer (7.4%), myofascial pain syndrome (6.4%). 4. The frequency of abnormal results in undocumented migrant workers was, compared with documented migrant industrial trainees significantly higher in HIV-Ab (+), hypertension and anemia, and compared with domestic workers, higher in hypertension, anemia and pulmonary disease. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that when compared with domestic workers, the number of undocumented migrant workers with abnormal results was not significantly higher, except for hypertension, anemia and pulmonary disease. But measures for infectious disease (including AIDS) transmission and development of work-related or chronic diseases by poor working condition and increased length of stay must be considered, including health management system such as periodical health examination.
Anemia ; Arthralgia ; Back Pain ; Chronic Disease ; Communicable Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Gastritis ; Gyeonggi-do* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Liver ; Lung Diseases ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes ; Peptic Ulcer ; Prevalence ; Thorax ; Transients and Migrants*

Background: In 2018, the government increased the fee for the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) image deciphering services of the external hospital to discourage the redundant MRI scan and to induce appropriate use of the MRI services. It is important to evaluate the effect of the policy to provide the basis for establishing other MRI-related policies. Methods: The healthcare data of the patients who had brain MRI scans were organized by episode and analyzed using the panel study in order to find out the effect of the MRI-related policy on the substitution effect and the medical expenses. Results: As a result of the increase in the fee of deciphering the MRI image, there has been an uplift in deciphering the MRI scan of the external hospital. It implies that more hospitals chose to use the MRI scan taken by other clinics or hospitals, rather than the MRI scan taken at their own facilities. Conclusion The research results imply that a policy that facilitates the exchange of the medical image data between the hospitals is needed in order to establish an efficient management system of the healthcare resources. Such improvement is expected to reduce the social cost and contribute to the stability in the finance of national health insurance.