• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.267-273
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• 2000

We report 5 cases of ocular toxocariasis in Korean adults complaining of visual impairment along with floating or bubbling sensation. Fundoscopic examination revealed a retinal detachment along with exudate in 4 cases. They all showed typical reaction by ELISA and immunoblot against Toxocra excretory-secretory antigen. One case showed high level of anti-Toxocara IgE antibodies (34.000 Toxocara units/L) as well as increased level of serum total IgE antibodies and the specific IgE antibodies for 3 inhalant antigens, suggesting that high level of anti-Toxocara IgE antibodies was associated with an atopic status. Clinical manifestations were improved after the sequential use of steroids then mebendazole. We also suggest that ocular toxocariasis should be thoroughly investigated even when an evocative uniocular inflammatory lesion is encountered in peripheral retina without a systematic disease.

• 한국작물학회지
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• 제48권
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• pp.41-48
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• 2003

The number of natural products obtained from plants has now reached over 100,000 and new chemical compounds are being discovered ever year. Medicinal and Aromatic plants and their extracts have been used for centuries to relieve pain, aid healing, kill bacteria and insects are important as the antifungal and anti-herbivore agents with further compounds being involved in the symbiotic associations. Although their functions in plants have not been fully established, it is Known that some substances have growth regulatory properties while others are involved in pollination and seed dispersal. The complex nature of these chemicals are usually produced in various types of secretory structures which is an important character of a plant family and also influenced and controlled by genetic and ecological factors. Detailed anatomical description of these structures ave relevant to the market value of the plants, the verification of authenticity of a given species and for the detection of substitution or adulteration. Volatile oils are used for their therapeutic action for flavoring of lemon, in perfumery of rose or as starting materials for the synthesis of other compounds of turpentine. For therapeutic purposes they are administered as inhalations of eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, as gargles and mouthwashes of thymol and transdermally many essential oils including those of lavender, etc. With these current trend for using volatile components in essential oil will be increasing in the future in Korea and in the world as well.

• BMB Reports
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• 제53권2호
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• pp.65-73
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• 2020

Life expectancy has dramatically increased around the world over the last few decades, and staying healthier longer, without chronic disease, has become an important issue. Although understanding aging is a grand challenge, our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the degeneration of cell and tissue functions with age and its contribution to chronic disease has greatly advanced during the past decade. As our immune system alters with aging, abnormal activation of immune cells leads to imbalance of innate and adaptive immunity and develops a persistent and mild systemic inflammation, inflammaging. With their unique therapeutic properties, such as immunomodulation and tissue regeneration, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been considered to be a promising source for treating autoimmune disease or as anti-aging therapy. Although direct evidence of the role of MSCs in inflammaging has not been thoroughly studied, features reported in senescent MSCs or the aging process of MSCs are associated with inflammaging; MSC niche-driven skewing of hematopoiesis toward the myeloid lineage or oncogenesis, production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and weakening their modulative property on macrophage polarization, which plays a central role on inflammaging development. This review explores the role of senescent MSCs as an important regulator for onset and progression of inflammaging and as an effective target for anti-aging strategies.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권6호
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• pp.2151-2159
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• 2015

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) are rare and heterogenous tumors and surgery to remove the primary tumor is the mainstay of treatment for resectable disease. However, curative surgery is often not feasible, because half of patients with pNET have metastases at the time of diagnosis. Palliative dubulking surgery and liver-directed therapies are appropriate options for these patients. Streptozocin-based regimens are standard, although temozolamide-based treatments are rapidly gaining wide clinical application. Somatostatin analogs are mainly indicated in hormonally active tumors to ameliorate symptoms. In addition, anti-tumoral activity has been proven in well-differentiated NETs. Recently, there has been tremendous progress in the molecular biology of pNETs; thereby, the efficacy of sunitinib and everolimus in the treatment of patients with metastatic pNETs has been proven by large placebo-controlled phase III trials. Currently, there are no definitively proven predictive biomarkers to evaluate response to medical therapies in patients with pNET. Therefore, further studies are needed to individualize and optimize their management. This article reviews systemic chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and anti-secretory treatments for the management of patients with unresectable or metastatic pNETs, summarized in the light of recent advances.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제26권11호
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• pp.960-966
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• 2003

Macrophages play an important role in host defenses by killing tumors and virus infections and producing secretory products. High mannuronic acid (HMA) containing alginate was examined to determine the mechanisms by which HMA-activated macrophages resist infection with HSV-1 and inhibit the growth of tumor cells. The ability of macro phages to resist infection with HSV-1 or to inhibit the growth of tumor cells was assessed following treatment with HMA alginate in the presence of either antibodies to various cytokines or inhibitors/scavengers of toxic macrophage products. Only antibodies to IFN-$\alpha$/$\beta$ were able to abrogate the protective effects of HMA alginate in macrophages infected with HSV-1, suggesting that the antiviral activity induced by this immunomodulator was mediated by the production of IFN-$\beta$. In contrast, anti-TNF-$\alpha$, anti-IFN and inhibitors of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species were all able to partially abrogate HMA-induced cytostatic activity, suggesting that multiple mechanisms are involved in macrophage cytostasis. These results indicate that the HMA-induced intrinsic antiviral and extrinsic cytotoxic activites are mediated by different mechanisms.

• BMB Reports
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.294-299
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• 2005

In this report, we describe the high-yield secretory expression of the recombinant human anti-HBsAg Fab fragment from Pichia pastoris that was achieved by co-integration of the genes encoding the heavy and light chains (both under the control of alcohol oxidase promoter) into the genome of the yeast cells. The fed-batch fermentations were carried out in a 5 L scale. Both chains of the Fab were successfully expressed upon methanol induction. The absorbance ($OD_{600}$) of the broth can reach 350~500 at the end of fed-batch phase. After the induction, the expression level of the recombinant Fab (soluble) reached 420~458 mg/L. The recombinant Fab fragment was purified from the crude culture supernatant by ion exchange chromatography and the purity of the recombinant Fab fragment was over 95%. The affinity activities of the crude fermentation supernatant and the purified Fab were analyzed by indirect ELISA, which showed that the purified recombinant Fab fragment had high affinity activity with hepatitis B surface antigen.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.35-43
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• 2009

Objectives: Hwangryunhaedok-tang (HRHDT), a prescription composed of four herbs, has been wi dely used in Oriental Medicine for the treatment of cerebral infarction. However, the mechanisms by which the herbal formula affects on the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in cerebral infarction patients remain unknown yet. Methods: The levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, interleukin (IL)-1b, and IL-6, IL-10, and TGF-${\beta}1$ were determined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from cerebral infarction patients under our experimental conditions. Results: The secretory levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, interleukin (IL)-1b, and IL-6, and IL-10 were significantly increased in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from cerebral infarction patients. However, pretreatment with HRHDT significantly inhibited the secretion of pro- and anti-inflammatory in PBMCs. Also, HRHDT induced a significant increase of transforming growth factor (TGF)-b1 in PBMCs. Conclusions: These data indicate that HRHDT may be beneficial in the suppression of inflammatory processes of cerebral infarct through suppression of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-10 and induction of TGF-${\beta}1$.

• BMB Reports
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.106-110
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• 1998

We have employed a DNA-native-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (DNA-native-PAGE) assay system to characterize the enzyme activity of the endonuclease secreted by human B lymphoblastic IM9 cells. Experimental results clearly demonstrated that the endonuclease activity of IM9 cell culture medium is distinct from that of DNase I in the DNA-native-PAGE assay system. Immunoprecipitation analysis using anti-DNase I antibody showed that the secreted endonuclease is not recognized by the antibody. The secreted endonuclease was estimated using supercoiled plasmid DNA as a substrate. The pH optimum required for the catalytic activity was determined to be in the range of pH 6.6-7.4. No significant difference in the endonuclease secretion was observed by stimulation of the IM9 cells with interferon-${\gamma}$ or interleukin-$1{\beta}$.

• 약학회지
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.69-77
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• 2003

Arachidonic acid (AA), which is stored in membrane glycerophospholipids, is liberated by phospholipase $A_2$ (PLA$_2$) enzymes and is sequentially converted to cyclooxygenases (COXs) and lipoxygenases (LOXs) then to various bioactive PGs, and LTs. In order to find the specific inhibitors of AA metabolism especially PLA$_2$, COX-2, 5-LO and lyso PAF acetyltransferase, 120 Korean residential plants extracts were evaluated for their inhibitory activity on PGD$_2$, LTC$_4$ production from cytokine-induced mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) and arachidonic acid released from phospholipid and PAF production from lyso PAF. From this screening procedure, methanol extract of ten indigenous plant such as Salix gracilistyla, Sedum kamtschaticum, Cirsium chanroenicum, Hypericum ascyron, Astilbe chinensis, Agrimonia pilosa, Aristolochia manshuriensis, Vodia daniellii, Pyrola japonica, Styrax obassia were found to inhibit production of inflammatory mediators in vitro assay system.

• 약학회지
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.153-160
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• 1995

Receptor binding study was carried out as an in vitro assay to test the anti-ulcer effect for newly synthesized test compounds(IY-80843 and IY-80845) which were reported to have a strong anti-secretory effect in Shay-ligated rats. The histamine H$_{2}$-receptor fraction was prepared from the membranes of the isolated gastric glands in guinea pigs and $^{3}$H-cimetidine was used as a radioligand. The binding of $^{3}$H-cimetidine to the membranes of the isolated gastric glands was found to be time dependent, saturable and confined to a single population of binding sites with $K_{D}$ value of 0.13$\pm$0.03 $\mu{M}$ and B$_{max}$ value of 52.5$\pm$1.5 pmol/mg. From the competition experiments, both IY-80843 and IY-80845 were shown to have a strong blocking effect against binding of $^{3}$H-cimetidine to the histamine H$_{2}$-receptor. The IC$_{50}$, Ki, and Hill coefficient(nH) values for IY-80843 were 0.18$\pm$0.02 $\mu{M}$, 0.16$\pm$0.02 $\mu{M}$, and 0.97$\pm$0.15, respectively and those values for IY-80845 were 0.27$\pm$0.02 $\mu{M}$, 0.24$\pm$0.02 $\mu{M}$, and 0.82$\pm$0.13, respectively. The results demonstrated that the blocking effects of IY-80843 and IY-80845 were 7 and 5 times stronger than that of cimetidine, respectively. Therefore, the newly synthesized compounds, IY-80843 and IY-80845, appeared to be the highly potent competitive inhibitors of histamine on the H$_{2}$-receptor.