• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.79-85
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• 2014

Objectives : In this study, we attempted to evaluate the effects of Careswell on human mast cell-mediated allergy inflammation in vitro and pruritogen-induced scratching behavior in vivo. Method : The Careswell was extract by distilled water. The anti-itching effects of Careswell were investigated on the compound 48/80 ($50{\mu}g/kg$) or histamine ($100{\mu}g/kg$) induced scratching behavior male ICR mice for 30 min by an observer blind. Terfenadine (10 mg/kg) was used as a positive control drug. The cell toxicity of Careswell was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The regulatory effect of Careswell on interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ levels was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus calcium ionophore A23187 (PMACI) stimulated human mast cells (HMC-1). Also, we evaluated the effect of Careswell on PMACI induced the activation of Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) into nucleus by Western blot analysis. Result : The results revealed that the oral administration of Careswell (200 mg/kg, p.o.) attenuated the compound 48/80 or histamine-induced scratching behavior in mice. We showed that Careswell significantly reduced the PMACI-induced the production of IL-6 (0.5-1 mg/ml) and TNF-${\alpha}$ (0.1-1 mg/ml). Additionally, Careswell significantly inhibited the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ in PMACI-stimulated HMC-1. Conclusion : Collectively, the findings of this study provide us with a novel insight into the pharmacological actions of Careswell as a potential molecule for use in the treatment of allergic inflammation diseases.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.903-914
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• 2022

Probiotics are currently considered as one of tools to modulate immune responses under specific clinical conditions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether oral administration of three different probiotics (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CJLP243, CJW55-10, and CJLP475) could evoke a cell-mediated immunity in immunodeficient mice. Before conducting in vivo experiments, we examined the in vitro potency of these probiotics for macrophage activation. After co-culture with these probiotics, bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) produced significant amounts of proinflammatory cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (inos) and co-stimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86) were also upregulated in BMDMs after treatment with some of these probiotics. To establish an immunocompromised animal model, we intraperitoneally injected mice with cyclophosphamide on day 0 and again on day 2. Starting day 3, we orally administered probiotics every day for the last 15 d. After sacrificing experimental mice on day 18, splenocytes were isolated and co-cultured with these probiotics for 3 d to measure levels of several cytokines and immune cell proliferation. Results clearly indicated that the consumption of all three probiotic strains promoted secretion of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, and TNF-α. NK cell cytotoxicity and proliferation of immune cells were also increased. Taken together, our data strongly suggest that consumption of some probiotics might induce cell-mediated immune responses in immunocompromised mice.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.110-114
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• 2022

IgG4-related disease is a fibroinflammatory condition by infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells that often presents as a tumorous lesion. This disease can affect nearly every organ system. After the pancreas, the head and neck region is second most common site for presentation of IgG4-related disease such as Mikulicz's disease, Küttner tumor. The involvement of IgG4-related disease in laryngeal lesions is extremely rare. We have experienced a case of IgG4-related disease with pseudotumor formation in the larynx that is suggestive of malignancy in radiologic findings. But the pathology findings was finally confirmed as IgG4-related disease. Oral treatment with prednisolone was initiated, and the edematous mass reduced in size without permanent functional impairment of vocal fold mobility. We report our experience with a literature review.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.396-405
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• 2022

Purpose: This study evaluated the predictive role of fecal calprotectin (FC) measured at an early stage of treatment for monitoring clinical remission (CR) after six months and endoscopic remission (ER) after one year of treatment in pediatric Crohn's disease (CD). Methods: This retrospective study included 45 patients who simultaneously underwent ileocolonoscopy and FC testing during follow-up. FC levels were measured before and after six weeks of treatment. CR was assessed after six months of treatment using Pediatric Crohn' s Disease Activity Index and acute-phase reactants. ER was assessed after one year using the Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease. Results: Twenty-nine (64.4%) patients used oral prednisolone for remission induction and 16 (35.6%) patients used anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Thirty (66.7%) patients achieved CR, while 24 (53.3%) achieved ER. The FC level measured after six weeks of treatment could predict CR (χ²=9.15, p=0.0025) and ER (χ²=12.31, p=0.0004). The δFC could predict CR (χ²=7.91, p=0.0049), but not ER (χ²=1.85, p=0.1738). With a threshold of ≤950.4 ㎍/g, FC at week six could predict CR with 76.7% sensitivity and 73.3% specificity. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.769 (standard error 0.0773, p=0.0005). The same threshold predicted ER with 87.5% sensitivity and 71.4% specificity. The AUC was 0.774 (standard error 0.074, p=0.0002). Conclusion: FC assay at an early stage of treatment can be used as a surrogate marker to predict CR and mucosal healing in pediatric CD.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.295-303
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• 2023

Background: The use of Adriamycin (ADR), also known as doxorubicin, as a chemotherapy agent is limited by its detrimental adverse effects, especially cardiotoxicity. Recent studies have emphasized the crucial role of angiotensin II (Ang-II) in the development of ADR-induced cardiomyopathy. This study aimed to explore the potential cardioprotective effects of losartan in a rat model of ADR-induced cardiomyopathy. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: a control group (group C), an ADR-treated group (ADR 5 mg/kg/wk for 3 weeks via intraperitoneal injections; group A), and co-treatment of ADR with losartan group (same dose of ADR and losartan; 10 mg/kg/day per oral for 3 weeks; group L). Western blot analysis was conducted to demonstrate changes in brain natriuretic peptide, collagen 1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin-6, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, B-cell leukemia/lymphoma (Bcl)-2, Bcl-2-associated X (Bax), and caspase-3 protein expression levels in left ventricular (LV) tissues from each group. Results: Losartan administration reduced LV hypertrophy, collagen content, and the expression of pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α and MMP-2 in LV tissue. In addition, losartan led to a decrease in the expression of the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and caspase-3 and an increase in the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Moreover, losartan treatment induced a reduction in the apoptotic area compared to group A. Conclusion: In an ADR-induced cardiomyopathy rat model, co-administration of ADR with losartan presented cardioprotective effects by attenuating LV hypertrophy, pro-inflammatory factors, and apoptosis in LV tissue.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.111-116
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• 2023

We provided general anesthesia management to a patient with advanced atrioventricular block, which was discovered in the remote period after open-heart surgery. A 21-year-old man with Noonan syndrome was scheduled to undergo excision of a median intramandibular tumor. At 2 months of age, the patient underwent endocardial repair for congenital heart disease. During our preoperative examination, an atrioventricular block was detected, which had not been previously noted. Emergency drugs were administered, and a transcutaneous pacemaker was placed. During anesthesia induction, mask ventilation was easy, and intubation was performed smoothly using a video laryngoscope. The transcutaneous pacemaker was activated in demand mode at a pacing rate of 50 cycles/min approximately throughout the anesthesia time, and the hemodynamic status remained stable. The effect of intraoperatively administered atropine was brief, lasting only a few seconds. Although body movements due to thoracoabdominal muscle spasm were observed during pacemaker activation, they did not interfere with surgery. In postoperative patients with congenital heart disease, an atrioventricular block may be identified in the remote period, and preoperative evaluation should be based on this possibility. In addition, during anesthesia management, it is important to prepare multiple measures to maintain hemodynamic status.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.1057-1065
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• 2023

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic inflammatory disease, results from dysregulation of the immune responses. Some lactic acid bacteria (LAB), including Lactobacillus, alleviate IBD through immunomodulation. In this study, the anti-colitis effect of LAB isolated from human breast milk was investigated in a mouse model induced acute colitis with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). TNBS remarkably increased weight loss, colon shortening, and colonic mucosal proliferation, as well as the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-1β. Oral administration of LAB isolated from human breast milk resulted in a reduction in TNBS-induced colon shortening, as well as induced cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). In addition, LAB suppressed inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, and thus showed an effect of suppressing the level of inflammation induced by TNBS. Furthermore, LAB alleviated gut microbiota dysbiosis, and inhibited intestinal permeability by increasing the expression of intestinal tight junction protein including ZO-1. Collectively, these results suggest that LAB isolated from human breast milk can be used as a functional food for colitis treatment by regulating NF-κB signaling, gut microbiota and increasing expression of intestinal tight junction protein.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.219-227
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• 2024

Bladder cancer remains the 10th most common cancer worldwide. In recent years, metformin has been found to have potential anti-bladder cancer activity while high concentration of IC₅₀ at millimolar level is needed, which could not be reached by regular oral administration route. Thus, higher efficient agent is urgently demanded for clinically treating bladder cancer. Here, by conjugating artesunate to metformin, a novel artesunate-metformin dimer triazine derivative AM2 was designed and synthesized. The inhibitory effect of AM2 on bladder cancer cell line T24 and the mechanism underlying was determined. Anti-tumor activity of AM2 was assessed by MTT, cloning formation and wound healing assays. Decreasing effect of AM2 on lipogenesis was determined by oil red O staining. The protein expressions of Clusterin, SREBP1 and FASN in T24 cells were evaluated by Western blotting. The results show that AM2 significantly inhibited cell proliferation and migration at micromolar level, much higher than parental metformin. AM2 reduced lipogenesis and down-regulated the expressions of Clusterin, SREBP1 and FASN. These results suggest that AM2 inhibits the growth of bladder cancer cells T24 by inhibiting cellular lipogenesis associated with the Clusterin/SREBP1/FASN signaling pathway.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1999

Purpose : Experimental studies have implicated the wild type p53 In cellular response to radiation. Whether altered p53 function can lead to changes in clinical radiocurability remains an area of ongoing study. This study was performed to investigate whether any correlation between change of p53 and outcome of curative radiation therapy in patients with head and neck cancels. Methods : Immunohistochemical analysis with a mouse monoclonal antibody (DO-7) specific for human p53 was used to detect to overexpression of protein in formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor sample from 55 head and neck cancer patients treated with curative radiation therapy (median dose of 7020 cGy) from February 1988 to March 1996 at 51. Mary's Hospital. Overexpression of p53 was correlated with locoregional control and survival using Kaplan-Meier method. A Cox regression multi-variate analysis was peformed that included all clinical variables and status of p53 expression. Results : Thirty-seven (67.2$\%$) patients showed overexpression of p53 by immunohistochemical staining in their tumor. One hundred percent of oral cavity, 70$\%$ of laryngeal, 66.7$\%$ of oropharyngeal, 66.7$\%$ of hypopharyngeal cancer showed p53 overexpression (P=0.05). The status of p53 had significant relationship with stage of disease (P=0.03) and history of smoking (P=0.001). The overexpression of p53 was not predictive of response rate to radiation therapy. The locoregional control was not significantly affected by p53 status. Overexpression of p53 didn't have any prognostic implication for disease free survival and overall survival. Primary site and stage of disease were significant prognostic factors for survival. Conclusions : The p53 overexpression as detected by immunohistochemical staining had significant correlation with stage, primary site of disease and smoking habit of patients. The p53 overexpression didn't have any predictive value for outcome of curative radiation therapy in a group of head and neck cancers.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2002

Background : Pain is one of the most feared consequences of cancer. $65{\sim}85%$ of cancer patients experienced severe pain, and sometimes high dose morphine is used to these patients. But many doctors still have 'opioid-phobia' and hesitate to use high dose morphine. We investigated the morphine therapy in terminal cancer patients during the last 1 week to death, and found any differences according to the morphine dosage. Methods : 93 patients admitted to National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan Hospital, department of family medicine for hospice care between September 2000 and the end of October 2001 and lived more than 1 week entered in the study. We investigated the demographic data, laboratory tests and sufficient dosage of morphine for pain control. According to the calculated dosage by OME(oral morphine equivalent), patients were divided into low dosage group (${\leq}150mg/day$) and high dosage group (>150 mg/day). The chi-squared test were used to evaluate the influence of age, gender, tumor sites, metastasis and adverse effects of morphine. Results : Mean age was $65.0{\pm}13.1year$ in low dosage group and $59.9{\pm}11.6year$ in high dosage group. 32 men (50.0%) and 32 women (50.0%) were included in low dosage group and 15 men (51.7%) and 14 women (48.3%) in high dosage group. Stomach was the most frequent tumor site and lung was the next. Metastasis were found 58 (90.6%) in low dosage group and 28 (96.6%) in high dosage group. In other palliative radiotherapy and adverse effects, there were no differences in both group. Conclusion : During the last 1 week to death in cancer patients, there were no difference according to the morphine dosage. So we don't have to have 'opioid-phobia' in treating the terminal cancer patients.