• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.147-150
• /
• 2010

Background: Chronic low back pain can be a manifestation of lumbar degenerative disease, herniation of intervertebral discs, arthritis, or lumbar stenosis. When nerve roots are compromised, low back pain, with or without lower extremity involvement, may occur. Local inflammatory processes play an important role in patients with acute lumbosciatic pain. The purpose of this study was to assess the value of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) measurements in patients with chronic low back pain or radiculopathy. Methods: ESR and hsCRP were measured in 273 blood samples from male and female subjects with low back pain and/or radiculopathy due to herniated lumbar disc, spinal stenosis, facet syndrome, and other diseases. The hsCRP and ESR were measured prior to lumbar epidural steroid injection. Results: The mean ESR was 18.8 mm/h and mean hsCRP was 1.1 mg/L. ESR had a correlation with age. Conclusions: A significant systemic inflammatory reaction did not appear to arise in patients with chronic low back pain.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.386-394
• /
• 2019

Trypanosoma cruzi infection results in debilitating cardiomyopathy, which is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the endemic regions of Chagas disease (CD). The pathogenesis of Chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCM) has been intensely studied as a chronic inflammatory disease until recent observations reporting the role of cardio-metabolic dysfunctions. In particular, we demonstrated accumulation of lipid droplets and impaired cardiac lipid metabolism in the hearts of cardiomyopathic mice and patients, and their association with impaired mitochondrial functions and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in CD mice. In the present study, we examined whether treating infected mice with an ER stress inhibitor can modify the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy during chronic stages of infection. T. cruzi infected mice were treated with an ER stress inhibitor 2-Aminopurine (2AP) during the indeterminate stage and evaluated for cardiac pathophysiology during the subsequent chronic stage. Our study demonstrates that inhibition of ER stress improves cardiac pathology caused by T. cruzi infection by reducing ER stress and downstream signaling of phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor ($P-elF2{\alpha}$) in the hearts of chronically infected mice. Importantly, cardiac ultrasound imaging showed amelioration of ventricular enlargement, suggesting that inhibition of ER stress may be a valuable strategy to combat the progression of cardiomyopathy in Chagas patients.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.33 no.9
• /
• pp.1111-1118
• /
• 2023

As a long-term condition that affects the airways and lungs, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by inflammation, emphysema, breathlessness, chronic cough, and sputum production. Currently, the bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed for COPD are mostly off-target, warranting new disease management strategies. Accumulating research has revealed the gut-lung axis to be a bidirectional communication system. Cigarette smoke, a major exacerbating factor in COPD and lung inflammation, affects gut microbiota composition and diversity, causing gut microbiota dysbiosis, a condition that has recently been described in COPD patients and animal models. For this review, we focused on the gut-lung axis, which is influenced by gut microbial metabolites, bacterial translocation, and immune cell modulation. Further, we have summarized the findings of preclinical and clinical studies on the association between gut microbiota and COPD to provide a basis for using gut microbiota in therapeutic strategies against COPD. Our review also proposes that further research on probiotics, prebiotics, short-chain fatty acids, and fecal microbiota transplantation could assist therapeutic approaches targeting the gut microbiota to alleviate COPD.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.36 no.2 s.141
• /
• pp.88-92
• /
• 2005

Apoptosis plays an important role in autoimmune chronic (Hashimoto's) thyroiditis, a disorder that often results in hypothyroidism. The goal of this study was to induce apoptosis by the combination of inflammatory cytokines, interferon $(IFN)-{\gamma}$ and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, and to investigate a potential role of medicinal plants in the thyroid follicular cells (FRTL) in vitro. The apoptosis was evaluated by cellular viability, DNA fragmentation, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxy-UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Extract of Gamgung-tang (GGT, Glycyrrhizae Radix, black beans, Angelicae Radix, and Cnidii Rhizoma) $(0.3{\sim}9.0mg/ml)$ was shown to maintain the viability of cells treated with $IFN-{\gamma}(100U/ml)$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$ (0.5 ng/ml). FRTL cells were found to undergo DNA fragmentation with the inflammatory cytokines. The extract of GGT inhibited DNA fragmentation in dose-dependent manner. The cells with TUNEL-positive nuclei were detected with $IFN-{\gamma}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$ treatment. The number of TUNEL-positive cells decreased with the treatment of extract of GGT. These results indicate that medicinal plants inhibit the occurrence of apoptosis in thyroid follicular cells, therefore, may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of autoimmune chronic thyroiditis.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.188-191
• /
• 2007

Kimura disease is an uncommon chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology. Clinically, patients present nontender subcutaneous swelling in the head and neck region. Peripheral eosinophilia, an elevated serum IgE are also present. The clinical course of Kimura disease is often progressive, and the main problem with treatment is disease recurrence. Treatment options in the recurrent cases range from observation to surgical excision, steroid therapy, and radiotherapy. We report a case of recurrent Kimura disease, initially thought to be chronic submandibular sialadenitis, along with the appropriate review.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.53 no.7
• /
• pp.385-390
• /
• 2020

Inflammatory Bowel Disease is caused by an acute or chronic dysfunction of the mucosal inflammatory system in the intestinal tract. In line with the results of our previous study, wherein we found that the PKCα-LSD1-NF-κB signaling plays a critical role in the prolonged activation of the inflammatory response, we aimed to investigate the effect of signaling on colitis in the present study. Lsd1 S112A knock-in (Lsd1^SA/SA) mice, harboring a deficiency in phosphorylation by PKCα, exhibited less severe colitis symptoms and a relatively intact colonic epithelial lining in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis models. Additionally, a reduction in pro-inflammatory gene expression and immune cell recruitment into damaged colon tissues in Lsd1^SA/SA mice was observed upon DSS administration. Furthermore, LSD1 inhibition alleviated colitis symptoms and reduced colonic inflammatory responses. Both LSD1 phosphorylation and its activity jointly play a role in the progression of DSS-induced colitis. Therefore, the inhibition of LSD1 activity could potentially protect against the colonic inflammatory response.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.13-24
• /
• 2010

Objectives : Ulcerative colitis is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disease in the gastrointestinal tract. We investigated whether Aurantii fructus immaturus (AFI) pharmacopuncture has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. Methods : in vitro experiments, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, prevention on $H_2O_2$-induced cell death in RAW264.7 cell line, DNA fragmentation, and cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA expression induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), were analyzed to investigate antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effect of AFI pharmacopuncture. in vivo experiment, a murine model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis was used to examine the effect of AFI pharmacopuncture on CV12 at different doses of 5 ${\mu}l$, 0.5 ${\mu}l$, 0.05 ${\mu}l$ for 10 days. Body weight, colon length and macroscopic features were investigated. Results : AFI pharmacopuncture showed DPPH free radical scavenging and SOD active effects in a dose-dependent manner. AFI pharmacopuncture showed a protective effect against $H_2O_2$-induced cell injury and also attenuated LPS-induced COX-2 mRNA expression. In a DSS- induced colitis murine model, however, AFI pharmacopuncture at CV12 had no anti-inflammatory effects. Conclusions : The present results suggest that AFI pharmacopuncture extract may have anti- inflammatory and antioxidative effects in vivo test, but further research on the underlying mechanism is required.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.34 no.7
• /
• pp.1501-1510
• /
• 2024

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), characterized by chronic inflammation of the gut, is caused by several factors. Among these factors, microbial factors are correlated with the gut microbiota, which produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) via anaerobic fermentation. Fermented foods are known to regulate the gut microbiota composition. Ganjang (GJ), a traditional fermented Korean soy sauce consumed worldwide, has been shown to exhibit antioxidant, anticancer, anti-colitis, and antihypertensive activities. However, its effects on the gut microbiota remain unknown. In the present study, we aimed to compare the anti-inflammatory effects of GJ manufactured using different methods and investigate its effect on SCFA production in the gut. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of GJ in the gut, we performed animal experiments using a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. All GJ samples attenuated DSS-induced colitis symptoms, including reduced colonic length, by suppressing the expression of inflammatory cytokines. In addition, GJ administration modulated SCFA production in the DSS-induced colitis model. Overall, GJ exerted anti-inflammatory effects by reducing DSS-induced symptoms via regulation of inflammation and modulation of SCFA levels in a DSS-induced colitis model. Thus, GJ is a promising fermented food with the potential to prevent IBD.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.215-220
• /
• 2013

Purpose: Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor in periodontal diseases. The pathogenesis of periodontal diseases may be affected by alterations of the inflammatory response by smoke. Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous, colorless, highly reactive, short-lived free radical with a pivotal role in the regulation of various physiological and pathological mechanisms in the body. It is important in host defense and homeostasis, on the one hand, whereas, on the other hand, it modulates the inflammatory response in periodontitis, leading to harmful effects. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of NO in both the serum and saliva of smokers and nonsmokers having chronic periodontitis and to compare them with periodontally healthy controls. Methods: Sixty subjects participated in the study and were divided into three groups: group I, healthy nonsmoking subjects; group II, nonsmoking patients with chronic periodontitis; group III, smoking patients with chronic periodontitis. Each group consisted of twenty subjects. The biochemical estimation of NO in the collected serum and in the saliva was performed using the Griess colorimetric reaction. Results: The results showed that the mean value of the salivary and serum NO was greater in group II than in group I, and also greater in group III than in group II. Conclusions: NO appears to play an important and rather complex role in the immuno-inflammatory process and in the remodeling and maintenance of osseous structures. It is therefore logical that modulation of this mediator has potential for the treatment of a number of inflammatory conditions including periodontal disease.

• Clinical Endoscopy
• /
• v.56 no.5
• /
• pp.563-577
• /
• 2023

In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), chronic inflammation leads to unfavorable clinical outcomes and increases the risk of developing colorectal neoplasm (CRN); thereby highlighting the importance of endoscopically evaluating disease activity as well as detecting and characterizing CRN in patients with IBD. With recent advances in image-enhanced endoscopic (IEE) technologies, especially virtual chromoendoscopy (VCE) platforms, this review discusses state-of-the-art IEE techniques and their applicability in assessing disease activity and surveillance colonoscopy in patients with IBD. Among various IEE, VCE demonstrated the capacity to identify quiescent disease activity. And endoscopic remission defined by the new scoring system using VCE platform better predicted clinical outcomes, which may benefit the tailoring of therapeutic strategies in patients with IBD. High-definition dye-chromoendoscopy (HD-DCE) is numerically superior to high-definition white light endoscopy (HD-WLE) in detecting CRN in IBD; however, discrepancy is observed in the statistical significance. VCE showed comparable performance in detecting dysplasia to HD-WLE or DCE and potential for optical diagnosis to differentiate neoplastic from nonneoplastic lesions during surveillance colonoscopy. Applying these novel advanced IEE technologies would provide opportunities for personalized medicine in IBD and optimal treatment of CRN in patients with IBD.