• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제71권6호
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• pp.400-407
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• 2011

Background: There were a few studies which were conducted to know about the behavior of the chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) patients. The aims of this study was to explore the behaviour of COPD patients, such as awareness and impact of disease, the pathway of visiting doctors, and the treatment pattern and preference. Methods: A face-to-face interview of 300 subjects with COPD was conducted. Results: The most concerned symptom which made the respondents to visit the hospital was 'breathlessness' (78%). Only 58% of them knew the exact diagnosis. Seventy-three percent of them visited the hospital 'once a month' or 'once every 2 month'. They have made 12.8 prescheduled visits to the hospital in the past 1 year. Unscheduled visits and hospital stay figured to two in the past year. Only 11% of respondents felt they were currently in good health. 'Severe' and 'very severe' COPD patients perceived their health to be in a worse condition than 'mild' and 'moderate' COPD patients. When conditions worsened, 42% of patients were hospitalized. The most common prescription treatment was a fixed combination of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting ${\beta}2$ agonists (48%), followed by a long acting anticholinergics (38%). Conclusion: Over forty percent of the patients didn't know exactly about their condition. Most of them had a negative attitude toward their current health status. Doctors need to know more about COPD patients in terms of their attitude toward the disease, impact of the disease, interaction with healthcare professionals and treatment related problems.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.161-169
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to enhance the oral bioavailability (BA) of zanamivir (ZMR) by increasing its intestinal permeability using permeation enhancers (PE). Four different classes of PEs (Labrasol$^{(R)}$, sodium cholate, sodium caprate, hydroxypropyl ${\beta}$-cyclodextrin) were investigated for their ability to enhance the permeation of ZMR across Caco-2 cell monolayers. The flux and $P_{app}$ of ZMR in the presence of sodium caprate (SC) was significantly higher than other PEs in comparison to control, and was selected for further investigation. All concentrations of SC (10-200 mM) demonstrated enhanced flux of ZMR in comparison to control. The highest flux (13 folds higher than control) was achieved for the formulation with highest SC concentration (200 mM). The relative BA of ZMR formulation containing SC (PO-SC) in plasma at a dose of 10 mg/kg following oral administration in rats was 317.65% in comparison to control formulation (PO-C). Besides, the $AUC_{0-24\;h}$ of ZMR in the lungs following oral administration of PO-SC was $125.22{\pm}27.25$ ng hr $ml^{-1}$ with a $C_{max}$ of $156.00{\pm}24.00$ ng/ml reached at $0.50{\pm}0.00$ h. But, there was no ZMR detected in the lungs following administration of control formulation (PO-C). The findings of this study indicated that the oral formulation PO-SC containing ZMR and SC was able to enhance the BA of ZMR in plasma to an appropriate amount that would make ZMR available in lungs at a concentration higher (>10 ng/ml) than the $IC_{50}$ concentration of influenza virus (0.64-7.9 ng/ml) to exert its therapeutic effect.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제18권9호
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• pp.1613-1619
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• 2008

It has been reported that Tat-SOD can be directly transduced into mammalian cells and skin and acts as a potential therapeutic protein in various diseases. To isolate the compound that can enhance the transduction efficiency of Tat-SOD, we screened a number of natural products. 3-O-[$\beta$-D-Glucopyranosyl(1$\rightarrow$4)-$\alpha$-L-arabinopyranosyll-hederagenin (OGAH) was identified as an active component of Fatsia japonica and is known as triterpenoid glycosides (hederagenin saponins). OGAH enhanced the transduction efficiencies of Tat-SOD into HeLa cells and mice skin. The enzymatic activities in the presence of OGAH were markedly increased in vitro and in vivo when compared with the controls. Although the mechanism is not fully understood, we suggest that OGAH, the active component of Fatsia japonica, might change the conformation of the membrane structure and it may be useful as an ingredient in anti-aging cosmetics or as a stimulator of therapeutic proteins that can be used in various disorders related to reactive oxygen species (ROS).

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.348-356
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• 2011

Liriope platyphylla is a medical herb that has long been used in Korea and China to treat cough, sputum, neurodigenerative disorders, obesity and diabetes. The aims of this study were to study the antidiabetic effects of the aqueous extract of L. platyphylla (AEtLP) through pancreatic and extrapancreatic actions. AEtLP were orally administrated to ICR mice once a day for 7 days. Of three different concentrations of AEtLP, only 10% AEtLP were low toxic to liver, based on body weight and serum biochemical analyses. However, 10% AEtLP-treated mice displayed signifi cant reduction of the glucose concentration and increased insulin concentration; no changes were noted using 5% and 15% AEtLP. Also, the increase of glucose transporter (Glut)-1 expression in liver was dependent on the concentration of AEtLP, and was regulated by the phosphorylation of Akt. The lowest expression of Glut-3 was observed in 15% AEtLP treated mice, followed by 10% AEtLP- and 5% AEtLP-treated mice. This pattern of Glut-3 expression was roughly in accord with the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-teminal kinase (JNK) in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Furthermore, a signifi cant rise of the superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) was detected in AEtLP-treated mice. The fi ndings suggest that AEtLP should be considered as a diabetes therapeutic candidate to induce insulin secretion from pancreatic ${\beta}$-cells and glucose uptake in liver cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권6호
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• pp.2251-2256
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• 2015

To study effects of cellular FLICE (FADD-like IL-$1{\beta}$-converting enzyme)-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) inhibition by RNA interference (RNAi) on sensitivity of U2OS cells to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis, plasmid pSUPER-c-FLIP-siRNA was constructed and then transfected into U2OS cells. A stable transfection cell clone U2OS/pSUPER-c-FLIP-siRNA was screened from the c-FLIP-siRNA transfected cells. RT-PCR and Western blotting were applied to measure the expression of c-FLIP at the levels of mRNA and protein. The results indicated that the expression of c-FLIP was significantly suppressed by the c-FLIP-siRNA in the cloned U2OS/pSUPER-c-FLIP-siRNA as compared with the control cells of U2OS/pSUPER. The cloned cell line of U2OS/pSUPER-c-FLIP-siRNA was further examined for TRAILinduced cell death and apoptosis in the presence of a pan-antagonist of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) AT406, with or without 4 hrs pretreatment with rocaglamide, an inhibitor of c-FLIP biosynthesis, for 24 hrs. Cell death effects and apoptosis were measured by the methods of MTT assay with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and flow cytometry, respectively. The results indicated that TRAIL-induced cell death in U2OS/pSUPER-c-FLIP-siRNA was increased compared with control cells U2OS/pSUPER in the presence or absence of AT406. Flow cytometry indicated that TRAIL-induced cell death effects proceeded through cell apoptosis pathway. However, in the presence of rocaglamide, cell death or apoptotic effects of TRAIL were similar and profound in both cell lines, suggesting that the mechanism of action for both c-FLIP-siRNA and rocaglamide was identical. We conclude that the inhibition of c-FLIP by either c-FLIP-siRNA or rocaglamide can enhance the sensitivity of U2OS to TRAIL-induced apopotosis, suggesting that inhibition of c-FLIP is a good target for anti-cancer therapy.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권7호
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• pp.663-668
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• 2015

hBMSCs are multipotent cells that are useful for tissue regeneration to treat degenerative diseases and others for their differentiation ability into chondrocytes, osteoblasts, adipocytes, hepatocytes and neuronal cells. In this study, biodegradable elastic hydrogels consisting of hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and hydrophobic poly(${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds were evaluated for tissue engineering because of its biocompatibility and the ability to control the release of bioactive peptides. The primary cultured cells from human bone marrow are confirmed as hBMSC by immunohistochemical analysis. Mesenchymal stem cell markers (collagen type I, fibronectin, CD54, $integrin1{\beta}$, and Hu protein) were shown to be positive, while hematopoietic stem cell markers (CD14 and CD45) were shown to be negative. Three different hydrogel scaffolds with different block compositions (PEG:PCL=6:14 and 14:6 by weight) were fabricated using the salt leaching method. The hBMSCs were expanded, seeded on the scaffolds, and cultured up to 8 days under static conditions in Iscove's Modified Dulbecco's Media (IMDM). The growth of MSCs cultured on the hydrogel with PEG/PCL= 6/14 was faster than that of the others. In addition, the morphology of MSCs seemed to be normal and no cytotoxicity was found. The coating of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) containing scaffold with Matrigel slowed down the release of VEGF in vitro and promoted the angiogenesis when transplanted into BALB/c nude mice. These results suggest that hBMSCs can be supported by a biode gradable hydrogel scaffold for effective cell growth, and enhance the angiogenesis by Matrigel coating.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.111-117
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• 2004

Objectives: To investigate the effect of LH receptor in folliculogenesis, we confirm the expression level of LH receptor (LH-R) mRNA in human granulosa cells (GCs) and its expression levels were analyzed by comparison to embryo developmental rate and pregnancy rate. Materials and Methods: GCs were obtained at the time of oocyte retrieval from the patients undergoing IVF-ET program. The patients were divided into two groups: Group I (n=20) is poor responder (retrieved oocyte(s)$\leq$3ea), Group II (n=80) is normal responder (retrieved oocytes>3ea). After the extraction of total RNA, semiquantitative RT-PCR was performed and the expression level of LH-R mRNA was normalized by $\beta$-actin. Statistical analysis was performed by using $X^2$ test, Student's t-test and Pearson correlation. Results: In Group II, the relative values of LH-R mRNA (0.680 vs. 0.463, p<0.005) and pregnancy rate (54.7% vs. 23.1%, p<0.05) were significantly higher than in Group I. Number of retrieved oocyte(s) was gradually increased when the expression of LH-R mRNA was increased (p<0.05). But the quality of retrieved oocyte and transferred embryo were not related with the expression of LH-R mRNA. When the pregnancy rate was compared with FSH only group and FSH combined with hMG group in the ovarian stimulation protocol, FSH combined with hMG group was significantly higher than FSH only group in Group I (37.5% vs. 0%), and the expression of LH-R mRNA was significantly higher in hMG combined group than FSH only group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Expression level of LH-R mRNA has important role in ovarian function related with the response to gonadotrophin in human folliculogenesis. Furthermore these data might provide the evidence that additional use of hMG is helpful to poor responders.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.42-47
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• 2006

배경: 새로 나온 다절편 전산화흥부단층촬영(Multidetector Computed Tomography: MDCT)은 관상동맥 영상화에 유용하다. 본 교실에서는 관상동맥우회로 술을 시행한 환자에서 술 후 관상동맥 이식편의 평가를 위하여 비침습적 MDCT와 기존의 침습적 관상동맥조영 술의 유용성을 비교하였다. 대상 및 방법: 2003년 11월부터 2004년 11월까지 관상동맥우회로 술을 시행한 후 16 Channel MDCT와 관상동맥조영 술 모두에 동의한 15명을 대상으로 52개의 이식편의 개존성을 분석하였다. MDCT를 이용하여 3차원으로 재조합된 영상과 관상동맥조영술을 통해 얻은 영상을 비교하여 민감도, 특이도, 양성 예측치, 음성 예측치 등을 계산하였다 결과: 환자당 평균 3.4$\pm$0.8개의 도관을 사용하였다. MDCT 도중 환자들의 평균 심박동수는 86회/분(범위, 60$\∼$110회/분)이어서 베타차단제는 사용하지 않았다. 모든 환자들이 필요한 시간만큼 호흡을 참을 수 있었다. 관상동맥조영 술을 통해 얻은 전체 이식편 개존율은 96.2$\%$였다. MDCT의 진단력은 민감도 100$\%$,특이도 98.0$\%$, 양성 예측치 100$\%$,음성 예측치 66$\%$였다. 결론: 관상동맥우회로 술 후 16 Channel MDCT는 기존의 관상동맥조영 술과 비교하여 이식편의 개존상태와 혈류 정도 파악에 신뢰할 수 있는 수준이며, 비침습적이며 저렴하므로 관상동맥조영 술을 대체할 수 있을 것이다.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.473-491
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• 2007

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the antiproliferative activity of the water extract of Samgibopae-tang (SGBPT) in NCI-H460 and A549 non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines Methods : In this study, we measured the subsistence, form of NCI-H460 and A549 non-small-cell lung cancer cell by hemocytometer and DAPI staining. In each cell, we analyzed DNA fragmentation. reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and measured activity of caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9. Results and Conclusions : We found that exposure of A549 cells to SGBPT resulted in growth inhibition in a dose-dependent manner. butSGBPT did not affect the growth of NCI-H460 cells. The antiproliferative effect by SGBPT treatment in A549 cells was associated with morphological changes. SGBPT treatment partially induced the expression of DR5 cells and the expression of Faswas markedly increased in both transcriptional and translational levels in A549 cells. SGBPT treatment partially induced the expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-XL and the expression of Bid was markedly decreased in translational levels in A549 cells. However, SGBPT treatment did not affect the expression of IAP family in A549 orNCI-H460 cells. SGBPT treatment partially induced the expression of caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9 activity which markedly increased in a dose-dependent manners in A549 cells. The fragmental development of PARP and ${\beta}$-catenin protein was observed in A549 cells by SGBPT treatment. SGBPT treatment induced the expression of PLC-${\gamma}1$ protein which decreased in A549 cells. SGBPT treatment partially induced the expression of DFF45/ICAD which markedly increased in a dose-dependent manner in A549 cells. Taken together. these findings suggested that SGBPT-induced inhibition of human lung carcinoma did not affect NCI-H460 cell growth. However, SGBPT-induced inhibition of human lung carcinoma A549 cell growth was associated with the induction of death receptor and mitochondrial pathway. The results provided important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of SGBPT.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.146-156
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• 2018

Spermidine is a naturally occurring polyamine compound that has recently emerged with anti-aging properties and suppresses inflammation and oxidation. However, its mechanisms of action on anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects have not been fully elucidated. In this study, the potential of spermidine for reducing pro-inflammatory and oxidative effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages and zebrafish was explored. Our data indicate that spermidine significantly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), and cytokines including tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ and $interleukin-1{\beta}$ in RAW 264.7 macrophages without any significant cytotoxicity. The protective effects of spermidine accompanied by a marked suppression in their regulatory gene expression at the transcription levels. Spermidine also attenuated the nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 subunit and reduced LPS-induced intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Moreover, spermidine prevented the LPS-induced NO production and ROS accumulation in zebrafish larvae and was found to be associated with a diminished recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages. Although more work is needed to fully understand the critical role of spermidine on the inhibition of inflammation-associated migration of immune cells, our findings clearly demonstrate that spermidine may be a potential therapeutic intervention for the treatment of inflammatory and oxidative disorders.