• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.475-480
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• 2010

The fruit of Actinidia polygama, Mock-chun-ryo in Korea, has been used as traditional medicine for abdominal pain, rheumatic arthritis, and stroke. In a previous study, the ethanol extract of A. polygama Max. showed antiinflammatory activity in RAW 264.7 cells. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerosis effects of supercritical fluid marc extracts from A. polygama Max. Anti-inflammatory extracts were produced from supercritical fluid extraction of the silver vine under the following conditions; pressure, 1,500-4,500 psi, temperature $35-55^{\circ}C$ and extraction time 1-2 hr. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic effects of the extracts, we studied nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-$\alpha$) levels in RAW 264.7 cells and MMP-9 activity in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC). The Marc 11 extract inhibited the production of NO, $PGE_2$, and TNF-$\alpha$ by lipopolysaccharide in RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, the marc 11 extract inhibited TNF-$\alpha$-induced MMP-9 activity in HASMC. These results indicate that the Marc 11 extract of A. polygama Max. has the potential for use as an anti-atherosclerosis agent.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.175-182
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• 2005

Purpose : Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist(IL-1ra) is an endogenous antiinflammatory agent that binds to IL-1 receptor and thus competitively inhibits the binding of IL-1$\alpha$ and IL-1$\beta$. Allele 2 in association with various autoimmune diseases has been reported. In order to evaluate the influence of IL-1ra gene VNTR polymorphism on the susceptibility to HSP and its possible association with disease severity, manifested by severe renal involvement and renal sequelae, we studied the incidence of carriage rate and allele frequency of the 2 repeats of IL-1ra allele 2($IL1RN^{*}2$) of the IL-1ra gene in children with HSP with and without renal involvement. Methods : The IL-1ra gene polymorphisms were determined in children with HSP with(n=40) or without nephritis(n=34) who had been diagnosed at Busan Paik Hospital and the control groups(n=163). Gene polymorphism was identified by PCR amplification of the genomic DNA. Results : The allelic frequency and carriage rate of $IL1RN^{*}1$ were found most frequently in patients with HSP and in controls. The allelic frequency of $IL1RN^{*}2$ was higher in patients with HSP compared to that of controls($4.7\%\;vs.\;2.5\%$, P=0.794). The carriage rate of $IL1RN^{*}2$ was higher In patients with HSP compared to that of controls($8.1\%\;vs.\;6.8\%$, P=0.916). The allelic frequency of $IL1RN^{*}2$ was higher in patients with HSP nephritis compared to that of HSP($5.3\%\;vs.\;2.9\%$, P=0.356). The carriage rate of $IL1RN^{*}2$ was higher in Patients with HSP nephritis compared to that of HSP($10.0\%\;vs.\;5.9\%$, P=0.523). Among 13 patients with heavy proteinuria(>1.0 g), 11 had $IL1RN^{*}1$, 1 had $IL1RN^{*}2$ and the others had $IL1RN^{*}4$. At the time of last follow up 4 patients had sustained proteinuria and their genotype was $IL1RN^{*}1$. Conclusion : The allelic frequency and carriage rate of $IL1RN^{*}1$ were found most frequently in patients with HSP and in controls. Our study suggests that the carriage rate and allele frequency of the 2-repeats of IL-1lra allele 2($IL1RN^{*}2$) of the IL-1ra gene may not be associated with susceptibility and severity of renal involvement in children with HSP (J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2005;9:175-182)

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.37-48
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• 2000

Backgrounds : The pathophysiology of chronic airflow obstruction, such as bronchial asthma, is characterized by mucus hypersecretion, goblet cell hyperplasia(GCH), smooth muscle hypertrophy, and inflammatory cells infiltration. In fatal asthma patients, one distinct findings is mucus hypersecretion due to GCH. However, the mechanisms of GCH in these hypersecretory diseases remain still unknown. In this study, a rat model was rapidly induced with GCH by instillation of $TiO_2$, intratracheally. We intend to confirm GCH and association of concomitant inflammatory cells infiltration and to observe the effect of potent antiinflammatory agent, that is dexamethasone, on GCH with inflammatory cells. Methods : Twenty-one 8-weeks-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups. Endotoxinfree water was instilled intratracheally in group 1(control) ; $TiO_2$, was instilled in the group 2 ; and dexamethasone was injected intraperitoneally to group 3 before $TiO_2$ instillation. After 120 hours, all rats were sacrificed, and trachea, bronchi, and lungs were resected respectively. These tissues were made as paraffin blocks and stained as PAS for goblet cells and Luna stain for eosinophils. We calculated the ratio of goblet cell to respiratory epithelium and number of infiltrated eosinophils from each tissue. Results : (1) Fraction of goblet cells was significantly increased in group 2 than in group 1 in the trachea and in the main bronchus. (10.19$\pm$11.33% vs 4.09$\pm$8.28%, p<0.01 and 34.09$\pm$23.91% vs 3.61$\pm$4.84%, p<0.01, respectively). (2) Eosinophils were significantly increased in the airway of group 2 than that of group 1. (5.43$\pm$3.84% vs 0.17$\pm$0.47 in trachea and 47.71$\pm$16.91 vs 2.71$\pm$1.96 in main bronchi). (3) There was a positive correlation between goblet cells and eosinophils(r=0.719, p=0.001). (4) There was significant difference in the decrease of goblet cells after dexamethasone injection between group 2 and group 3 (p<0.01). Also, infiltration of eosinophils was suppressed by dexamethasone. Conclusion : We made an animal model of $TiO_2$-induced goblet cell hyperplasia. GCH was observed mainly in the main bronchi with concomitant eosinophilic infiltration. Both goblet cell hyperplasia and eosinophilic infiltration were suppressed by dexamethasone. This animal model may serve as a useful tool in understanding of the mechanism of GCH in chronic airway diseases.