• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.9-17
• /
• 2004

The present investigation was under taken to study whether the tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) of Daltons lymphoma (DL), a spontaneous transplantable murine T cell lymphoma can be activated to tumoricidal state by crude thymus extract. Intraperitoneal administration of thymus extract to DL-bearing mice resulted in activation of TAM with an enhanced IL-1, TNF and antigen presenting ability. It was found that treatment with thymus extract could also enhance the phagocytic and cytotoxic activity of TAM. However, only a marginal increase in arginase activity was observed. Till date to the best of our knowledge the effect of crude thymus extract on the activation of tumor associated macrophages has not been investigated, this study provides a new piece of information in the area of thymus therapy.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.55-60
• /
• 2007

Aging causes thymus involution, and genes in thymus play an important role in the development of the immune system. In this study, we compared genes expressed in thymus of neonatal and peripubertal rats using annealing control primers (ACPs)-based GeneFishing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and semiquantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. We identified 10 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with 20 ACPs. Of 10 DEGs, bystin-like, collagen type V alpha 1 (COL5A1), and T-cell receptor beta-chain segment 2 (TCRB2) that are related to immune-function were detected in rat thymus. Bystin-like and TCRB2 were up-regulated, while COL5A1 was down-regulated in peripubertal thymus. Semiquantitative RT-PCR confirmed postnatal changes in expression of bystin-like, COL5A1, and TCRB2. These results suggest that bystin-like, COL5A1, and TCRB2 could regulate immune function controlled in thymus as age increases.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 1993

This study was carried out to investigate the immunopathological effects of 7, 12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene(DMBA) on mouse thymus. DMBA was administered subcutaneously to BALB/C mice by interscapular single injection of 50 or 100 ng/g of body weight. Each DMBA treatment group and additional corn oil control group of mice were studied on day 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 following the injection of DMBA. DMBA treatment resulted in marked decreases in weights and cellularity of thymus. Thymus weights were decreased by 50.6 and 66.0% at 21 days, respectively, after treatment of 50ng/g and 100 ng/g DMBA.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.49 no.9
• /
• pp.996-999
• /
• 2006

True thymic hyperplasia and ectopic thymus are very rare in children. In embryologic aspect, thymus is distributed around cervical area and ends up in mediastinum. This case is simultaneous thymic hyperplasia of neck and mediastinum. Ectopic thymus in the neck and thymic hyperplasia in the mediastinum in children were reported 2 and 7 cases respectively in Korea. In Clinical aspects, these thymic hyperplasia were presented by mass. So we should suspect these benign condition to avoid unnecessary operation or biopsy. We report a case of true thymic hyperplasia in the mediastinum with ectopic thymus in the neck in a 4-month-old male infant and review the relevant literature. We believe this is the first reported case in the world of true thymus hyperplasia in the mediastinum with cervical ectopic thymus in the neck.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.45-49
• /
• 2006

The present investigation was conducted to know the effects of host age on development and morphological characteristics of Nesolynx thymus, a gregarious ectopupal parasitoid of the uzi fly, Exorista bombycis, a serious en do-larval parasitoid of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. For experimentation, 3 - 11 day-old pupae of E. bombycis were exposed to 2 day-old adults of N. thymus at $25{\pm}2^{\circ}C\;and\;60{\pm}10%$ RH. A highly significant negative correlation between host age and the following development and morphological characteristics of the parasitoid was observed: number of pupae parasitised, total adult recovery, sex ratio and recovery, longevity, body length, wing span, abdomen length, and abdomen width of females. The findings of the present study clearly demonstrate that various development and morphological parameters of N. thymus are influenced by the age of E. bombycis pupae.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.160-163
• /
• 2006

A total number of 31 types of seaweed were assessed with regard to their effects on the proliferation of mouse spleen and thymus cells in a culture, using an MTT reduction assay. Acetone:dichloromethane (1:1) extracts of three seaweed plants: Derbesia marina, Sargassum sp., and Hisikia fuziformis, exhibited significantly positive effects on the survival of mouse spleen and thymus cells in vitro. The acetone:dichloromethane (1:1) extracts of Sargassum sp., in particular, much more potent effects on thymus cell activation than did any of the other types of seaweed. However, the methanol extracts of Sargassum ringgoldianium and Chondrus crispus exerted a stimulatory influence only on the proliferation of mouse spleen cells, whereas the methanol extracts of Grateloupia lanceolata exhibited significant cell proliferation properties in both spleen and thymus cells.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.125-133
• /
• 2021

Objectives : Thymus quinquecistatus var. japonica (H.Hara) is a member of the genus Thymus of perennial aromatic herb, and it's designated as a natural monument of South Korea. It has traditionally been known to have protective or therapeutic effects on various human disease including cerebrovascular and neurological disease. Recently it was suggested that essential oil extracted from thyme has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial effect. The aim of this study is to investigate anti-inflammatory effect of Thymus quinquecistatus var. japonica in Raw 264.7 macrophage cell line. Methods : The cytotoxic effects of water and 70% ethanol extracts from Thymus quinquecistatus var. japonica, was tested using MTT assay. Inhibitory effects of the extracts to nitric oxide production and mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines were examined by RT-PCR. Also, MitoSOX-red assay and JC-1 assay were performed to determine if the extracts can inhibit mitochondrial ROS accumulation and maintain mitochondrial membrane potential. Results : In LPS-induced inflammatory response, the extracts efficiently reduced nitric oxide NO production through inhibiting mRNA expression of iNOS enzyme. In addition, expression of the proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1𝛽 and IL-6, was also down-regulated by the extract treatments. Excessive accumulation of mitochondrial ROS induced by LPS was inhibited in the extract treated cells, which finally protected mitochondrial membrane potential. Conclusions : These results showed that water and 70% ethanol extracts from Thymus quinquecistatus var. japonica have anti-inflammatory effect through down regulation of IL-1𝛽, IL-6, and iNOS, and also have antioxidative effect against mitochondrial ROS accumulation that promote inflammatory response.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.11-17
• /
• 2021

Objective : This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Effects of Akebia quinata (AQ) extract on alcohol-induced damage of liver, spleen and thymus in rats. Method : Experimental animals were divided in to 4 groups; Normal group, Alcohol group, AQ50 group and AQ200 group. All rats, except for Normal group, were fed 25 % ethanol for 55 days. During experimental period, Normal group and Alcohol group were administrated saline, and AQ50 group and AQ200 group were administrated AQ extract at dose of 50 and 200 mg/kg/day, respectively. We measured organ weight, liver triglyceride contents, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and triglycerid levels in serum. Also, we conducted histomorphometry and histopathological observation of liver, spleen and thymus. Results : AQ significantly decreased the level of AST, ALT and triglyceride in serum and the liver triglyceride contents induced by ethanol. Also, AQ significantly inhibited lipid droplets accumulation in hepatocytes. The decreased relative organ weight of spleen and thymus by ethanol were increased by AQ administration. In histopathological analysis of spleen, the rats administrated AQ 200 mg/kg presented significantly increased mean diameters of white pulps, numbers of white pulps and splenic thicknesses. The administration of 200 mg/kg AQ improved decreased lobular thickness and cortex thickness of thymus, which were decreased by ethanol. Conclusions : The results of present study indicated that AQ has an ameliorating effect for fatty degeneration of liver and damage of spleen and thymus.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.60-64
• /
• 2012

A large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the thymus is a very rare malignant tumor that has a very poor prognosis. The detailed clinical features of LCNEC are still unknown, including the long term prognoses and the definitive modalities of the treatment for LCNEC of the thymus. We are reporting 2 cases of an enlarged LCNEC of the thymus, both of which were diagnosed and treated by surgical resection followed by postoperative adjuvant chemoradiation therapy. Although recurrences and metastases of the LCNEC were noticed 1 and 4 years postoperatively for each case, aggressive surgical resection and adjuvant chemoradiation therapy may be helpful for a patient's long term survival.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.133-136
• /
• 2015

Spindle epithelial tumor with thymus-like differentiation (SETTLE) is an extremely rare type of thyroid tumor, with spares reports on its clinical course. SETTLE is derived from branchial pouch or thymic remnants, and classified as a low grade, malignant neoplasm due to its indolent growth and tendency to develop delayed metastasis. Therefore, stringent initial workups and long-term follow-up are required to prevent misdiagnosis. We present a case of recurrent spindle epithelial tumor with thymus-like differentiation (SETTLE) in the glottis of 57 year-old male patient, who had a history of surgical excision for the SETTLE from the thyroid gland 5 years ago. Transoral CO2 laser surgery was performed to remove the glottic tumor and there was no evidence of local recurrence at 11 months postoperatively.