Objective: The hippocampus is thought to be a vulnerable target of microwave exposure. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) acted as a fate regulator of adult rat hippocampal neural stem cells (NSCs). Furthermore, we investigated if 20E attenuated high power microwave (HMP) radiation-induced learning and memory deficits. Methods: Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal controls, radiation treated, and radiation+20E treated. Rats in the radiation and radiation+20E treatment groups were exposed to HPM radiation from a microwave emission system. The learning and memory abilities of the rats were assessed using the Morris water maze test. Primary adult rat hippocampal NSCs were isolated in vitro and cultured to evaluate their proliferation and differentiation. In addition, hematoxylin & eosin staining, western blotting, and immunofluorescence were used to detect changes in the rat brain and the proliferation and differentiation of the adult rat hippocampal NSCs after HPM radiation exposure. Results: The results showed that 20E induced neuronal differentiation of adult hippocampal NSCs from HPM radiation-exposed rats via the Wnt3a/β-catenin signaling pathway in vitro. Furthermore, 20E facilitated neurogenesis in the subgranular zone of the rat brain following HPM radiation exposure. Administration of 20E attenuated learning and memory deficits in HPM radiation-exposed rats and frizzled-related protein (FRZB) reduced the 20E-induced nuclear translocation of β-catenin, while FRZB treatment also reversed 20E-induced neuronal differentiation of NSCs in vitro. Conclusion These results suggested that 20E was a fate regulator of adult rat hippocampal NSCs, where it played a role in attenuating HPM radiation-induced learning and memory deficits.
Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Ecdysterone/pharmacology* ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Male ; Memory Disorders ; Microwaves ; Neural Stem Cells/physiology* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; beta Catenin/metabolism*

The herbs of Lamium takesimense Nakai (Lamiaceae) is used to treat spasmodic and inflammatory disease. The four polar compounds, ecdysterone, isoacteoside, rutin and lamiuside C, were isolated and identified from the BuOH fraction of the L. takesimense MeOH extract. HPLC quantification was performed on a Capcell Pak C18 column (5 µm, 4.6 mm × 250 mm) with a gradient elution of H₂O and 0.05% acetic acid in MeOH. The HPLC method was validated in terms of linearity, sensitivity, stability, precision, and accuracy. The quantitative level in plant material was determined as the following order: lamiuside C (4, 3.75 mg/g dry weight) > ecdysterone (1, 1.93 mg/g) > isoacteoside (2, 1.32 mg/g) > rutin (3, 0.97 mg/g).
Acetic Acid ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Ecdysone ; Ecdysterone ; Glycosides ; Lamiaceae ; Methods ; Phenol ; Plants ; Rutin

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the prevalence of low-bone mineral density (BMD) and its associated factors in Korean children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with JIA were included in this cross-sectional study. The patients were examined for their bone age (BA) and bone mineral density (BMD). The BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry on the lumbar spine. Each BMD value was converted to a Z-score by comparing the reference values of the healthy control group in terms of the age and sex of each patient, which was measured using the same device. A Z-score of less than −2.0 was defined as a low BMD. Laboratory tests were performed to detect the serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. RESULTS: The mean age at the time of the examination was 12.2±3.6 years, and the study comprised a total of 39 patients (16 males, 23 females). Patients with systemic JIA had a lower BMD, which was calculated based on the CA, BA, and HA, than those with non-systemic JIA (P=0.020, P=0.049, and P=0.024, respectively); the corticosteroid user group also showed a lower BMD, which had been calculated based on the CA, BA, and HA, than the corticosteroid non-user group (p=0.002, p=0.022, and p=0.188, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that JIA patients have a lower BMD than control subjects. Therefore, treatment, and education are warranted while treating patients with JIA, particularly those requiring oral corticosteroids or those with systemic JIA and appropriate laboratory tests.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adolescent* ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Arthritis, Juvenile* ; Bone Density* ; Calcium ; Child* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education ; Humans ; Male ; Miners ; Phosphorus ; Prevalence* ; Reference Values ; Spine

Benzoylureas are chemical compounds best known for their use as insecticides. Diflubenzuron is one of the more commonly used benzoylurea pesticides. Others include chlorfluazuron, flufenoxuron, hexaflumuron, and triflumuron. They act as insect growth regulators by inhibiting synthesis of chitin in the body of the insect. They have low toxicity in mammals because mammals have no chitin. Chlorfluazuron insecticides, which are mixed with solvent naphatha, are commonly used. Thus we assume that in the presented case mental change outcome of poisoning was connected with toxic effects of solvent naphtha rather than with chlorfluazuron action. Components of solvent naphtha, particularly trimethylbenzenes, exert strong irritant action on the gastric mucosa and are very well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. We report on a 67-year-old man with stuporous mentality after intentional ingestion of approximately 200 ml of liquid chlorfluazuron in a suicide attempt. He was discharged after conservative treatments including gastric irrigation, charcoal, mechanical ventilation, hydration, and antibiotics for aspiration pneumonia without complications.
Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Charcoal ; Chitin ; Diflubenzuron ; Eating ; Gastric Lavage ; Gastric Mucosa ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Insecticides ; Insects ; Juvenile Hormones ; Mammals ; Pesticides ; Pneumonia, Aspiration ; Poisoning* ; Respiration, Artificial ; Stupor ; Suicide

T-bet is a critical transcription factor that regulates differentiation of Th1 cells from CD4+ precursor cells. Since T-bet directly binds to the promoter of the IFN-gamma gene and activates its transcription, T-bet deficiency impairs IFN-gamma production in Th1 cells. Interestingly, T-bet-deficient Th cells also display substantially augmented the production of IL-2, a T cell growth factor. Exogenous expression of T-bet in T-bet deficient Th cells rescued the IFN-gamma production and suppressed IL-2 expression. IFN-gamma and IL-2 reciprocally regulate Th cell proliferation following TCR stimulation. Therefore, we examined the effect of T-bet on Th cell proliferation and found that T-bet deficiency significantly enhanced Th cell proliferation under non-skewing, Th1-skewing, and Th2-skewing conditions. By using IFN-gamma-null mice to eliminate the anti-proliferative effect of IFN-gamma, T-bet deficiency still enhanced Th cell proliferation under both Th1- and Th2-skewing conditions. Since the anti-proliferative activity of T-bet may be influenced by IL-2 suppression in Th cells, we examined whether T-bet modulates IL-2-independent cell proliferation in a non-T cell population. We demonstrated that T-bet expression induced by ecdysone treatment in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells increased IFN-gamma promoter activity in a dose dependent manner, and sustained T-bet expression considerably decreased cell proliferation in HEK cells. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying anti-proliferative activity of T-bet remain to be elucidated, T-bet may directly suppress cell proliferation in an IFN-gamma- or an IL-2-independent manner.
Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Ecdysone ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; Kidney ; Mice ; Th1 Cells ; Transcription Factors

BACKGROUND: The eyelids are uniquely susceptible to inflammation. Although eyelid dermatitis is common by various causes, there are few comprehensive studies on this disease in the Korean literature. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the causative disease for eyelid dermatitis in Koreans. METHODS: Medical records of patients with eyelid dermatitis treated between 2006 and 2011 were reviewed. RESULTS: Four hundred and five patients (152 males and 303 females) were enrolled in this study, and the mean age of onset was 32.7 (range: 0~84). The most common causes of eyelid dermatitis were allergic contact dermatitis (42.6%), atopic dermatitis (27.9%), irritant contact dermatitis (12.7%), seborrheic dermatitis (8.6%), insect bite (2.4%), etc., in the order of frequency. In the 194 patients of eyelid dermatitis caused by allergic contact dermatitis, 98 patients (50.5%) were in the 30's to 50's, and 120 patients (94.5%) of the 127 patients with atopic dermatitis were under thirty years of age. The frequency of causative diseases for eyelid dermatitis in men were atopic dermatitis (44.7%), allergic contact dermatitis (23.7%) and irritant contact dermatitis (12.5%), and those in women were allergic contact dermatitis (52.1%), atopic dermatitis (19.5%) and irritant contact dermatitis (12.9%). There was a seasonal variation with frequency in fall (30.3%) and spring (26.4%). Among the 341 patients who were followed up, 294 patients (86.2%) showed good response to treatment, but 64 patients (21.8%) of the improved 294 patients relapsed. Four patients experienced adverse effects including irritation (3 cases) and folliculitis (1 case) after using topical glucocorticoids. CONCLUSION: The frequency of eyelid dermatitis decreased by age. Eyelid dermatitis was more common in women, but the ratio of males to females was increased compared with previous reports. The most common causes of eyelid dermatitis were allergic contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis, which were similar with the results of previous reports. Eyelid dermatitis was more common in fall and spring. The recurrence rate was relatively high, but adverse effects of topical corticosteroids were unusual. This study will be useful for clinicians when treating patients with eyelid dermatitis.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Age of Onset ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic ; Eyelids ; Female ; Folliculitis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Insect Bites and Stings ; Male ; Medical Records ; Recurrence ; Seasons

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of ecdysterone (ECR) on the expression of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB in H2O2 induced oxidative damage of human lens epithelial cells (HLECs).

METHODSThe cultured HLECs were divided into 5 groups, i.e., the control group, the H2O2 group, the beta-estradiol (E2) group, the ECR group, and the pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate group (PDTC) group. The expression rate of NF-kappaB p65 in the HLECs were detected by flow cytometer (FCM).

RESULTSThe expression of NF-kappaB p65 occurred in normal HLECs (9. 53%). The expression rate of NF-kappaB p65 in the H2O2 group obviously increased (39.87%, P < 0.01). The expression rate of NF-kappaB p65 in the PDTC group obviously decreased (5.90%, P < 0.01). The expression rates of NF-kappaB p65 in the ECR group (13.99%) and the E2 group (25.18%) ranged between the control group and the H2O2 group, but still lower than that of the H2O2 group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe activation of NF-kappaB in the HLECs could be induced by H2O2 ECR with the estrogenic activity could effectively inhibit the activation of NF-kappaB.

Cells, Cultured ; Ecdysterone ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; adverse effects ; Lens, Crystalline ; cytology ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between tissue quantitative distribution and pharmacokinetics of 3H-achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone and the channel-tropism of herbal drugs in mice.

METHOD3H-achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone was used as a tracer agent and injected into mice by the caudal vein. In 36 hours, the contents of the tracer agent of samples involving 9 different tracing phases and organ or tissue were determined in order to observe the dynamic quantitative distribution and excretion and pharmacokinetics of 3H-achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone and to understand the channel-tropism of herbal drugs achyranthes bidentata.

RESULT3H-achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone of same organs in different tracing phases and the contents of 3H-achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone in same tracing phases of different organs were significantly different (P<0.01). 3H-achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone was mainly distributed, in the liver, kidney, adrenal gland, small intestine and lung. The concentration-time profiles of achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone in rats injected into mice by the caudal vein were shown to fit a two-compartment open model with half-lives of (778.65 +/- 12.36) min, the elimination of achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone from plasma was found to be in accord with linear kinetics.

CONCLUSIONThe above mentioned selective distribution of 3H-achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone basically coincides with the meridian affinity and zang fu selection of the traditional Chinese medicine drug Achyranthes bidentata. This study will provide a scientific basis for the channel-tropism of A. bidentata.

Achyranthes ; chemistry ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Ecdysterone ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Isotope Labeling ; Male ; Meridians ; Mice ; Organ Specificity ; Tissue Distribution ; Tritium ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ecdysterone on the proliferation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) in vitro.

METHODShUCMSCs isolated by enzyme digestion from human umbilical cord tissues were cultured and identified for the surface antigens using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). The cells were treated with ecdysterone at the concentrations of 0, 25, 50, 100, 150, and 200 µg/ml, and the changes in the cell proliferation were detected using MTT assay.

RESULTSThe third-passage hUCMSCs were positive for CD29 and CD105 and negative for CD34 and CD45 as shown by flow cytometry. Treatment with ecdysterone resulted in significantly increased cell proliferation as compared to the control cells (P<0.05), but no significant differences were found in cells treated with 100, 150, and 200 µg/ml ecdysterone (P>0.05). The growth curves of the cells also demonstrated the definite effect of ecdysterone in promoting the proliferation of hUCMSCs.

CONCLUSIONEcdysterone can promote the proliferation of hUCMSCs in vitro with the optimal concentration of 100 µg/ml, suggesting its potential value in the enrichment of mesenchymal stem cells.

Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Ecdysterone ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Umbilical Cord ; cytology ; drug effects

Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Juvenile ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Injections, Intra-Articular