Objectives: Early diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) amyloidosis and the establishment of appropriate treatment and follow-up strategies remains challenging. This study aimed to elucidate the endoscopic characteristics and clinical courses of patients with isolated UGI amyloidosis. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 11 patients diagnosed with isolated UGI amyloidosis at Chonnam National University Hospital and Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital. None of the patients exhibited systemic involvement or multiple myeloma. Clinical data, including endoscopic features, presenting symptoms, and outcomes such as disease progression and mortality, were analyzed. Results: The cohort included seven males (63.6%) and four females (36.4%), with a median age of 72 (37–82) years. Isolated gastric amyloidosis was identified in four patients, and five patients had disease confined to the duodenum. Two patients (18.2%) presented with gastric or duodenal involvement. Endoscopic findings were heterogeneous, with diffuse yellowish linear lesions being the most frequently observed in four patients (36.4%). Histopathological analysis revealed AA amyloidosis in three patients, whereas five patients exhibited only amorphous deposits without amyloid A, amyloid P, or light chains. Six patients (54.5%) were asymptomatic at diagnosis, whereas gastrointestinal bleeding was observed in two patients (18.2%). Only one patient (9.1%) experienced disease progression that necessitated systemic chemotherapy. The mean follow-up duration was 20 months, and the 3-year mortality rate was 9.1%. Conclusions Isolated UGI amyloidosis is a heterogeneous condition that can be easily misdiagnosed. Familiarity with the characteristic endoscopic features and natural disease course is essential for appropriate management.

PURPOSE: This study examined the relationship of the nutrition of rice and the positive evaluation of the rice-based meal with the food consumption habits, physical and emotional health status, and learning efficacy of 601 middle and high school students in Jeonju area. METHODS: The participants were divided into two groups using cluster analysis in that the participants belonging to the upper groups had a center score of 46.86 (n = 348), while the people belonging to the lower group had a center score of 36.89 (n = 253). Statistical differences were tested for all the relationships between the physical and emotional healths symptoms and learning efficacy between the groups at the α = 0.05 level. RESULTS: Significant differences in the physical self-evaluated symptoms were observed in all five items in each cluster (p < 0.05). In the case of the emotional health status, nine out of 10 items showed significant differences between the groups. Similarly, significant differences in all five items in learning efficacy questionnaire were noted (p < 0.05). Positive attitudes of the parents toward having breakfast also showed significant differences among the groups. CONCLUSION: The nutrition of rice and a positive evaluation of the rice-based meals significantly affect the physical and emotional health status and learning efficacy of juveniles. These findings can be used as baseline information for promoting nutrition education, particularly rice-based breakfast.
Adolescent ; Breakfast ; Education ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Learning ; Meals ; Parents

The original version of this article contained errors in authorship and funding acknowledgment.

The purposes of this study were to determine phenolic compounds and to evaluate antioxidant activities of plums (Soldam, Oishiwase and Formosa). Soldam contains the highest amount of total phenolics among cultivars (Formosa: 4.0%, Oishiwase: 3.3%, Soldam: 6.4% for total phenolic) as well as the total flavonoids of which constituents were mainly myricetin and anthocyanidin. The antioxidant activities were measured by DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging, and SOD-like activities. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of Korean plum extracts (200 microg/mL) showed more than 43%, and the Soldam turned out to be the highest : ID50 value: 160-177 microg/mL for Formosa and Oishiwase; 58-64 microg/mL for Soldam. The ABTS radical scavenging activity of Korean plum extracts (200 microg/mL) was found to be more than 50%. The SOD-like activity of Korean plum extracts (200 microg/mL) showed more than 70%. Among three kinds of cultivars, Soldam had the highest antioxidant activity. The nitrite scavenging activity of Soldam was 61.5%, which is the highest, compared with that of the other cultivars, about 50%. From these results, Korean plums turned out to be phytochemical rich fruit as well as to show high antioxidant activities.
Anthocyanins ; Benzothiazoles ; Flavonoids ; Fruit ; Phenol ; Prunus domestica ; Sulfonic Acids ; Taiwan

BACKGROUND: Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extract is used as a traditional herbal medicine. The efficacy of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extract is known for antioxidative activity, antiinflammation effect, antibacterial effect, inhibitory effect of melanin synthesis, sun protection effect, antiallergy effect, and etc. OBJECTIVE: We confirmed the cell viability or inhibitory effect of melanin synthesis in HaCaT (human keratinocyte cell line) and B16F10 (murine melanoma cell line) cells and the skin safety test through a clinical test (dermal irritation study) for Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extract, according to the extraction methods. METHODS: We checked the cell viability, using MTT assay and inhibitory effect of melanin synthesis in B16F10 cells or HaCaT cells for thirty one Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extract, according to the extraction methods. Then, we evaluated the skin safety for selected eight Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extract through a primary dermal irritation test. RESULTS: Among the thirty one Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extracts, according to the extraction methods, we selected eight Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extracts that were not detected with cell toxicity in HaCaT cells and B16F10 cells, and could have inhibited the melanin synthesis in B16F10 cells. The selected eight Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extracts identified the skin safety through a primary dermal irritation test. CONCLUSION: We expect clinical trials for whitening efficacy based on inhibitory effect of melanin synthesis and human skin safety for Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extracts.
Cell Survival ; Herbal Medicine ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Melanins ; Melanoma ; Scutellaria ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; Skin ; Solar System

A novel synthetic hexapeptide (SFKLRY-NH2) that displays angiogenic activity has been identified by positional scanning of a synthetic peptide combinatorial library (PS-SPCL). This study was carried out to investigate the irritation of the SFKLRY-NH2 on the skin. The tests were performed on the basis of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) guidelines. In results, cell toxicity is not appeared for SFKLRY-NH2 in HaCaT cells and B16F10 cells. SFKLRY-NH2 induced no skin irritation at low concentration (10 microM), mild irritation at high concentration (10mM). We consider that this result is helpful for saying about the safety of SFKLRY-NH2 in clinical use.
Korea ; Oligopeptides ; Peptide Library ; Skin ; United States Food and Drug Administration

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory response on LPS and IFN-gamma induced Macrophage Raw 264.7 cells was secreted NO (nitric oxide) and PGE2 (prostaglandin E2) though expression of iNOS and COX-2. And many pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6 etc.) was secreted on LPS and IFN-gamma induced Macrophage Raw 264.7 cells, too. Atopy dermatitis was inflammatory skin disease with pruritus, xeroderma and specific eczema. OBJECTIVE: We sought to effect of anti-inflammation and skin hydration of AF-343 on Macrophage Raw 264.7 cells and NC/Nga mice with Atopic Dermatitis. METHODS: The immune response of Raw 264.7 cells were induced by LPS and IFN-gamma. Then LPS and IFN-gamma induced Raw 264.7 cells was measured NO, PGE2 production after treatment of different concentrations for AF-343. The related genes (iNOS, COX-2) for NO, PGE2 production were detected using Western blot in LPS and IFN-gamma induced Raw 264.7 cells after treatment of different concentrations for AF-343. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were detected, too. NC/Nga mice as Atopy dermatitis model was induced atopy dermatitis. Then NC/Nga mice with atopy dermatitis were performed oral administration of AF-343 for 1weeks. After oral administration of AF-343, TEWL was measured on skin tissues of NC/Nga mice with atopy dermatitis according to whether were performed oral administration of AF-343 or not. And pro-inflammatory cytokines and IgE was measured in serum, protein of skin tissues of NC/Nga mice. Skin tissues of NC/Nga mice were performed H&E staining, immunohistochemical staining for PCNA, Involucrin and filaggrin. RESULTS: LPS and IFN-gamma induced Raw 264.7 cells was decreased NO, PGE2 production in dose-dependent after treatment of different concentrations for AF-343. The expression level of iNOS, COX-2 protein was decreased in dose-dependent, too. The related pro-inflammatory cytokines in media with LPS and IFN-gamma induced Raw 264.7 cells were decreased after treatment of different concentrations for AF-343. TEWL level of NC/Nga mice skin (back, ear) with atopy dermatitis according to whether were performed oral administration of AF-343 or not was decreased in NC/Nga mice with atopy dermatitis group was performed oral administration by AF-343. When NC/Nga mice group with atopy dermatitis was performed oral administration by AF-343, induced pro-inflammatory cytokines and IgE expression in serum, protein of back, ear skin tissues of each NC/Nga mice group was decreased. H&E stained Skin tissues of NC/Nga mice was confirmed that thickness of epidermis, dermis were decreased in NC/Nga mice group with atopy dermatitis was performed oral administration by AF-343 than NC/Nga mice group with atopy dermatitis. The expression of PCNA, involucrin and filaggrin were decreased in NC/Nga mice group with atopy dermatitis was performed oral administration by AF-343 than NC/Nga mice group with atopy dermatitis as results of immunihistochemical staining using specific antibodies such as PCNA as cell proliferation marker, involucrin and filaggrin as keratinocytes differentiation markers for skin tissues (back, ear) of NC/Nga mice. CONCLUSION: We confirmed effect of anti-inflammation and skin hydration of AF-343 on Macrophage Raw 264.7 cells and NC/Nga mice with Atopic Dermatitis. In conclusion, AF-343 is expecting as therapeutics for atopic dermatitis.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Antibodies ; Antigens, Differentiation ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Proliferation ; Cytokines ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermis ; Dinoprostone ; Ear ; Eczema ; Epidermis ; Ichthyosis ; Immunoglobulin E ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-6 ; Intermediate Filament Proteins ; Keratinocytes ; Macrophages ; Mice ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Protein Precursors ; Pruritus ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Taraxacum

Colorectal lymphomas constitute 10~20% of gastrointestinal lymphomas and arerelatively rarer than lymphomas which involve stomach or small intestine. Rectal lymphomas compose fewer than 1% of malignant rectal tumors. Although there are several case reports and reviews about non-Hodgkin lymphoma associated with primary lung cancer in Korea, the case of synchronous double cancer of rectal lymphoma and primary lung cancer was not reported yet. We report a case of synchronous double primary cancer of rectal lymphoma and squamous cell carcinoma of lung in 71-year-old man who presented with incidental right upper lung mass.
Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Humans ; Intestine, Small ; Korea ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin* ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Stomach

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a Pholiota adiposa extract on fat mass in hyperlipidemic mice fed on a high-fat diet. The water extracts from P. adiposa (ASI 24018) were not affected in the total triglyceride contents and epididymal fat mass in mice fed on a high-fat diet, but the retroperitoneal fat mass decreased significantly. This result suggests that the P. adiposa extract may be a potential candidate for use as a functional food that can act as a prophylactic against hyperlipidemia. However, the P. adiposa extract showed no effect in the total triglyceride contents and epididymal fat mass.
Animals ; Diet, High-Fat ; Functional Food ; Hyperlipidemias ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Mice* ; Pholiota* ; Triglycerides ; Water

This study was carried out to develop specific primers for PCR detection of Phellinus linteus. Diverse genomes of 15 Phellinus spp. including five Phellinus linteus isolates were fingerprinted by Primer Universal rice primer (URP)1F. The URP-PCR pattern differentiated P. linteus isolates from other phellinus spp. A polymorphic band (2.8 kb), which is unique for P. linteus isolates, was isolated and sequenced. Twenty four-oligonucleotide primer pairs were designed based on information of DNA sequence. The primer set (PLSPF2/PLSPR1) amplified single band (2.2 kb) of expected size with genomic DNA from seven Phellinus linteus, but not with that of other Phellinus species tested. The primers could be used identically in both DNA samples from mycelium and fruit bodies. This specific primers could offer a useful tool for detecting and identifying P. linteus rapidly.
Base Sequence ; Dermatoglyphics ; DNA ; Fruit ; Genome ; Mycelium ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*