• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.46-57
• /
• 2000

Objectives : The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of subacute treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(paroxetine and sertraline) on immobility in the forced swim test(FST) and on FST-induced changes in immune parameters of the mice. Methods : Authors applied a modified method of FST by Porsolt et al. Over 5 BALB/c mice were used for each group of experiments. To explore the changes in immune parameters by FST, authors investigated the production of anti-rat RBC antibody, concanavalin A(ConA)- or lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-stimulated splenocytes proliferation assay and cytokine gene expression. Results : Both paroxetine and sertraline decreased the duration of immobility in a dose-related manner. FST-performed mice showed a significant decrease in mitogenic responses of splenocytes and a slight increasing tendency in anti-rat RBC antibody response. All these responses were attenuated significantly by paroxetine and attenuated nearly nominal significance level by sertraline. The cytokine profiles of ConA-stimulated splenocytes from FST-performed mice showed stronger expression of IL-4 and weaker expression of IL-2 than control mice, and no changes in the expressions of IFN-$\gamma$ and lymphotoxin. IL-6 and IL-10 were not expressed in both group of mice. The pretreatment of paroxetine and sertraline attenuated the altered cytokine expressions in FST-performed mice to some extent. Some alterations of the expressions of IL-6 and IL-10 were observed in the mice which the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors had been pretreated. Conclusion : The subacute treatment of paroxetine and sertraline attenuated the FST-induced behavioral and immune changes, and these serotonin reuptake inhibitors may exert some modulating effects on the immune system by the induction of cytokine gene expression, especially IL-6 and IL-10.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.75-84
• /
• 2002

Purpose Acute pyelonephritis of growing kidneys may result in renal scarring. TGF-${\beta}1$, inflammatory cytokine, has been suggested to play an important role in promoting renal scarring through apoptosis, suppression of cellular proliferation and fibrosis. We observed the effects of a potent anti-inflammatory agent, methylprednisolone on apoptosis and renal scarring in experimentally induced acute pyelonephritic weaning rats. Materials and Methods: To induce ascending pyelonephritis a saline solution containing Escherichia coli type ATCC No. 25922, pili- form (107 bacteria/mL) was infused into the bladder through the 16-guage silicone cannula for 48 hours to 102 three-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats (50-60g). Experimental groups were divided into three groups according to the treatment protocols, group I (ceftriaxone only, n=3l), group II (methylprednisolone+ceftriaxone n=28), control group (n=43) was not treated. Histopathologic scores of inflammatory changes, fibrosis and tubular atrophy, the apoptosis index and TGF-${\beta}1$ expression score were observed at post-infection 1 and 3 week. Datas were analysed using ANOVA test and P value below 0.05 was interpreted as significant. Results: The mortality rate ($21.4\%$) of group II was not different to the control group ($41.9\%$) and group I ($32.3\%$). The inflammatory score of group II ($0.8{\pm}0.87$) at week 1 was significantly lower than those of the control group ($2.3{\pm}0.87$) and Group I ($1.7{\pm}0.79$) (P<0.05). Apoptosis index of group II ($2.9{\pm}2.15$) at week 1 was significantly lower than those of the control group ($10.0{\pm}1.95$) and group 1 ($8.3{\pm}2.53$) (P<0.05). TCF-${\beta}1$ expression score of group II ($0.8{\pm}0.72$) at week 1 was significantly lower than those of the control group ($1.9{\pm}0.68$) and group I ($1.8{\pm}0.60$) (P<0.05). The fibrosis score of group II ($1.1{\pm}1.10$) at week 3 was significantly lower than that of the group I ($1.8{\pm}0.83$) (P<0.05) Conclusion: Conclusion Combined treatment with methylprednisolone and ceftriaxone reduced inflammation, fibrosis, apoptosis and TGF-${\beta}1$ expression in acute pyelonephritic weaning rats, compared to ceftriaxone alone. Anti-inflammatory agent supplemented to antibiotics could prevent renal scarring more effectively. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2002 ; 6 : 75-84)

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.293-298
• /
• 2008

Purpose : The aim of our study was to evaluate the therapeutic response to cyclosporine, time to remission and side effects in steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). Methods : This study included 22 children with idiopathic SRNS who were treated with cyclosporine between June 1989 and August 2006. Medical records were reviewed retrospectively. Results : The mean age of patients at diagnosis was $5.2{\pm}3.3\;years$. The male to female ratio was 1.2:1. Pre-treatment renal biopsies showed minimal change (MCD) in 12 (54.5%), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in 8 (36.4%), membranous nephropathy (MGN) in one (4.5%) and mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis in one (4.5%). 15 (68.2%) patients responded to cyclosporine, of whom 11 (91.6%) patients were MCD, 3 (37.5%) patients FSGS, and 1 patient MGN (MCD vs FSGS, P<0.05). The time to remission in patients who responded to cyclosporine was $31.5{\pm}15.2\;days$. Four of the 15 cyclosporine responders maintained complete remission even after cessation of the medication Seven still received cyclosporine, 2 were intermittently treated with steroids after discontinuation of cyclosporine, and two were treated with cyclosporine and steroids. The mean duration of cyclosporine therapy was $546.5{\pm}346.2$, $1,392.9{\pm}439.7$, $439.5{\pm}84.1$, and $433.5{\pm}74.2$ days, respectively. We performed post-treatment biopsies in 8 patients and partial interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy were found in two. Conclusion : The thrapeutic response of cyclosporine is good in steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome, especially in minimal change. But, there is a problem of long term cyclosporine dependency.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.93-116
• /
• 1974

A potent intracellular-lipid-producing yeast, Rhodotorula glutinis var. glutinis SW-17, was screened out from a variety of arable soils, compost heaps, and fodders, and two strains of excellent extracellular-lipid-producing yeasts, Rhodotorula glutinis var. glutinis SW-5 and Rhodotorula graminis SW-54, were screened out from the surface of many species of leaves. And then the intra- and extra-cellular lipid productions by those Rhodotorula yeasts were studied. The results were as follows: 1. During the shaking culture of 8 days at $24^{\circ}C$, both the intra- and extra-cellular lipid accumulation started almost at the stationary phase of growth, when the nitrogen source in the medium was a little more than half used up. The intracellular lipid production by Rhodotorula glutinis var. glutinis SW-17 reached 58.42% (w/w) of dried yeast, and the extracellular lipid production by Rhodotorula graminis SW-54 amounted to 2.62g per liter of the medium. 2. After the carbon and nitrogen sources in the medium were almost consumed, if the yeasts were shake-cultured further in a state of starvation, the yeast cells re-utilized the already produced intra- and extra-cellular lipids and the lipids completely disappeared in the medium in about 90 days. 3. The relative concentration of carbon and nitrogen sources in the media greatly influenced both the intra- and extra-cellular lipid production. When the nitrogen source in the medium was almost used up for the growth of yeast, and excess carbon sources were still available, the lipid production vigorously proceeded. As long as the nitrogen source concentration in the medium was high, the lipid production was greatly suppressed. 4. The optimum pH for both the intra- and extra-cellular lipid production by those yeasts was pH 5.0-6.0. 5. The fatty acid components of the intracellular lipid of Rhodotorula glutinis var. glutinis SW-17 were myristic, palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids. The largest components of the fatty acids were palmitic acid equivalent to 30-45% of the whole fatty acids and oleic acid equivalent to 35-50%. 6. The fatty acid components of the extracellular lipid of Rhodotorula glutinis var. glutinis SW-5 and Rhodotorula graminis SW-54 were myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic, 3-D-hydroxypalmitic, and 3-D-hydroxystearic acids. The largest components of the fatty acids were 3-D-hydroxypalmitic acid equivalent to 22-25% of the acids and 3-D-hydroxystearic acid equivalent to 13-17%. 7. The polyol component of the intracellular lipids was only glycerol, whereas the polyols of extracellular lipids were glycerol, mannitol, xylitol and arabitol.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.49 no.2
• /
• pp.91-96
• /
• 2006

Antioxidant activities and biological properties such as antimutagenic and cytotoxic effect of Phellinus linteus extracts from different extraction conditions were measured against Salmonella typhimurium and human cancer cell lines. DPPH free radical scavenging activities of the extracts were higher in the solutions extracted with ethanol (17.14) and ethanol after water (17.79), respectively. In the Ames test, ethanol extract of P. linteus alone did not exhibit any mutagenicity but showed substantial inhibitory effect against mutations induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO), and benzo $({\alpha})$ pyrene $(B({\alpha})P)$. The extracts of ethanol and ethanol after water of P. linteus $(200\;{\mu}g/plate)$ had the highest inhibitory effect of 61.5 and 60.9%, respectively, on the mutagenesis on S. typhimurium TA98 strain induced by $B({\alpha})P$. Extracted solutions of ethanol and ethanol after water of P. linteus showed high antimutagenic effect against MNNG, 4NQO, Trp-P-1 and $B({\alpha})P$, causing mutations in S. typhimurium TA100 strain. The anticancer effects of P. linteus extracts were investigated against human fibrosarcoma HT-29 and human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2. The treatment of 0.5 mg/ml of ethanol, ethanol after water and water extracts of P. linteus had the highest cytotoxicity of 59, 57, 54%, respectively against HT-27 cell line, whereas low cytotoxicity effects were observed against HepG2 cell line in the range of $10{\sim}30%$. The ethanol and water extracts of P. linteus also showed the nitrate scavenging ability at different pHs. The ethanol extract showed higher nitrate-scavenging ability compared to water extract of P. linteus.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.590-599
• /
• 1996

Background : Bronchial artery embolization has been established as an effective means to control hemoptysis, especially in patients with decreased pulmonary function and those with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We evaluated the effect of arterial embolization in immediate control of massive hemoptysis and investigated the clinical and angiographic characteristics and the course of patients with reccurrent hemoptysis after initial succeseful embolization. Another purpose of this study was to find predictive that cause rebleeding after bronchial artery embolization. Method : We reviewed 47 cases that underwent bronchial artery embolization for the management of massive hemoptysis, retrospectively. We analyzed angiographic findings in all cases before bronchial artery embolization and also reviewed the angiographic findings of patients that underwent additional bronchial artery embolization for the control of reccurrent hemoptysis to find the clauses of rebleeding. Results : 1) Underlying causes of hemoptysis were pulmonary tuberculosis(n=35), bronchiectasis(n=5), aspergilloma(n=2), lung cancer(n=2), pulmonary A-V malformation(n=1), and unknown cases(n=2). 2) Overal immediate success rate was 94%(n=44), an6 recurrence rate was 40%(n=19). 3) The prognostic factors such as bilaterality, systemic-pulmonary artery shunt, multiple feeding arteries and degree of neovascularity were not statistically correlated with rebleeding tendency (p value>0.05). 4) At additional bronchial artery embolization, Revealed recannalization of previous embolized arteries were 14/18cases(78%) and the presence of new deeding arteries was 8/18cases(44%). 5) The complications(31cases, 66%) such as fever, chest pain, cough, voiding difficulty, paralytic ileus, motor and sensory change of lower extremity, atelectasis and splenic infarction were occured. Conclusion : Recannalization of previous embolized arteries is the major cause of recurrence after bronchial artery embolization. Despite high recurrence rate of hemoptysis, bronchial artery embolization for management of massive hemoptysis is a effective and saute procedure in immediate bleeding control.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.205-213
• /
• 2004

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical manifestations of various glomerular diseases in children, a clinicopathological study was performed in 52 children who had renal biopsy. The type and relative incidence of the glomerular pathologies were analyzed, and the clinical predictability and usefulness of renal biopsy in glomerular diseases were assessed. Methods: Medical records of fifty two children with renal disease who had undergone percutaneous renal biopsy under ultrasonic guidance at Chungnam University Hospital from October 1995 to August 2003 were reviewed. In addition, we compared the clinical findings before renal biopsy with the pathological diagnosis. Results: The male to female ratio was 1.6:1 and they were $9.8\pm2.6$ years old on average. The chief complaints for biopsy were hematuria in 22 cases which was the most common (42.3%), proteinuria in 16 cases(30.8%), and hematuria & proteinuria(26.9%). Among the 22 cases of hematuria, there were 15 cases of gross hematuria(68.2%) and 7 cases of microscopic hematuria(31.8%). In terms of histopathologic diagnosis, most of them were primary glomerular diseases(84.6%), which included IgA nephropathy(28.8%), thin glomerular basement membrane disease(25.0%), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis(FSGS)(11.5%), membranous proliferative glomerulonephritis(7.7%), minimal change lesion(3.8%), acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis(3.8%) and membranous glomerulonephritis(3.8%). The clinical manifestations and pathologic diagnosis were not correlated. Conclusion: The clinical manifestations could not predict the pathological diagnosis. Therefore, renal biopsy would be inevitable in diagnosis of glomerular diseases for effective management and assessment of prognosis.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.61-75
• /
• 2002

Recombinant human $interleukin-1{\beta}$ $(rhIL-1{\beta})$ regulates several activities of the osteoblast cells derived from mouse calvarial bone explants in vitro. $rhIL-1{\beta}$ stimulated cellular proliferation and the synthesis of prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ and plasminogen activator activity in the cultured cells in a dose-dependent manner. However, the induction of osteocalcin synthesis and alkaine phosphatase activity in response to vitamine D, two characteristics of the osteoblast phenotype, were antagonized by $rhIL-1{\beta}$ over a similar dose range. This study supports the role of $IL-1{\beta}$ in the pathological modulation of bone cell metabolism, with regard to implication in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis by $IL-1{\beta}$. When the mouse calvarial bone cells were used, the bone resorption induced by $IL-1{\beta}$ was strongly inhibited by calcitonin treatment, indicating osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. On the other hand, the medicinal extracts of Taeyoungjon-Jahage (T.Y.J-J.H.G extracts) was tested for whether they could inhibit $IL-1{\beta}-induced$ $PGE_2$ production. Cell viability was not significantly affected by treatment with the indicated concentration of the extracts. The T.Y.J.-J.H.G. extracts were shown to have the inhibitory effects against the synthesis of $PGE_2$. We also examined the effect of the pretreatment with a various concentrations of the T.Y.J.-J.H.G. extracts then treated the $PGE_2-induction$ agents. Pretreatment of the T.Y.J.-J.H.G. extracts for 1 h, which by itself had little effect on cell survival, did not enhance the synthesis of $PGE_2$. Furthermore, the T.Y.J-J.H.G. extracts were shown to have the protective effects against plasminogen dependent fibrinolysis induced by the bone resorption agents of $IL-1{\beta}$. Pretreatment of the T.Y.J.-J.H.G. extracts for 1 h did not enhance the plasminogen dependent fibrinolysis. Finally, calcitonin showed the inhibitory activity the $IL-1{\beta}-stimulated$ bone resorption in the mouse calvarial bone cells having both of the osteoblast and osteoclast cells. Seemingly, pretreatment of the T.Y.J.-J.H.G. extracts for 1 h reduced the bone resorption. These results clearly indicated that calcitonin and T.Y.J.-J.H.G. extracts play key roles in inhibition of the osteoclast-mediated bone resorption.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.60 no.6
• /
• pp.625-630
• /
• 2006

Background: Pulmonary hypertension in COPD patients is the result of a direct effect of tobacco smoke on the intrapulmonary vessels with the abnormal production of the mediators that control vasoconstriction, vasodilatation, and vascular cell proliferation, which ultimately lead to aberrant vascular remodeling and physiology. COPD patients are prone to the developmint of an acute and chronic thromboembolism with an elevation of the plasma procoagulant and fibrinolytic markers However, the roles of the coagulation and fibrinolysis system on the right ventricular dysfunction in COPD patients are not well defined. We examined the alteration of the coagulation and fibrinolysis system in COPD patients according to the right ventricular function measured using cardiac multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). Methods: The right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) was measured using cardiac MDCT in 26 patients who were diagnosed with COPD according to the definition of the GOLD guideline. The plasma level of thrombin antithrombin (TAT) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 were measured using an enzyme linked immunoassay. Results: The plasma TAT was markedly elevated in COPD patients ($10.5{\pm}19.8{\mu}g/L$) compared with those of the control ($3.4{\pm}2.5{\mu}g/L$) (p<0.01). However, the plasma PAI-1 in COPD patients ($29.6{\pm}20.7ng/mL$) was similar to that in the controls. The plasma TAT showed a significant inverse relationship with the RVEF measured by the cardiac MDCT in COPD patients (r=-0.645, p<0.01). However, the plasma PAI-1 did not show a relationship with the RVEF (r=0.022, p=0.92). Conclusion: These results suggest that the coagulation system in COPD patients is markedly activated, and that the plasma level of TAT might be a marker of a right ventricular dysfunction in COPD patients.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.295-302
• /
• 2019

Liquiritigenin (LG) is a chiral flavonoid isolated from the roots of licorice. It exhibits multiple biological activities including anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory effects. In particular though, the anti-cancer activity of LG in oral squamous cell carcinoma has yet to be elucidated, and LG-induced apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma remains poorly understood. In the present study, we tested the role of LG in inducing apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. LG treatment of HN22 cells resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of cell viability as detected by a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The induction of apoptosis in terms of Annexin V/7-Aminoactinomycin D staining, sub-G1 population, and multi-caspase activity were assessed with a $Muse^{TM}$ Cell Analyzer. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that LG treatment resulted in G2/M arrest in cell cycle progression and downregulation of cyclin B1 and CDC2 expression in a concentration-dependent manner. It also resulted in significant upregulation of p27. In addition, LG was seen to trigger the generation of reactive oxygen species and induce CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein and 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein in concentration-dependent upregulation. The LG treatment of HN22 cells led to a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (${\Delta}{\Psi}m$); it also reduced the levels of anti-apoptotic protein and increased the expression of apoptotic protease activating factor-1, cleaved poly (ADP-ribose)polymerase and Bax. Overall, our results indicate that the pro-apoptotic effects of LG in HN22 cells depend on the activation of both intrinsic and extrinsic signaling pathways. Thus, our results suggest that LG constitutes a natural compound with a potential role as an anti-tumor agent in oral squamous cell carcinoma.