Korean Red Ginseng Induced Cardioprotection against Myocardial Ischemia in Guinea Pig

This study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG) against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in isolated guinea pig heart. KRG has been shown to possess various ginsenosides, which are the major components of Panax ginseng. These components are known naturally occurring compounds with beneficial effects and free radical scavenging activity. The heart was induced to ischemia for 60 min, followed by 120 min reperfusion. The hearts were randomly allocated into five groups (n=8 for each group): normal control (N/C), KRG control, I/R control, 250 mg/kg KRG group and 500 mg/kg KRG group. KRG significantly increased hemodynamics parameters such as aortic flow, coronary flow and cardiac output. Moreover, KRG significantly increased left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), the maximal rate of contraction (+dP/dtmax) and maximal rate of relaxation (-dP/dtmax). Also, treatment of KRG ameliorated electrocardiographic index such as the QRS, QT and RR intervals. Moreover, KRG significantly suppressed the lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase-MB fraction and cardiac troponin I and ameliorated the oxidative stress markers such as malondialdehyde and glutathione. KRG was standardized through ultra performance liquid chromatograph analysis for its major ginsenosides. Taken together, KRG has been shown to prevent cardiac injury by normalizing the biochemical and oxidative stress.

Generation of CD2+CD8+ NK Cells from c-kit+ Bone Marrow Cells in Porcine

Natural killer (NK) cells provide one of the initial barriers of cellular host defense against pathogens, in particular intracellular pathogens. Because bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), lymphoid protenitors, can give rise to NK cells, NK ontogeny has been considered to be exclusively lymphoid. Here, we show that porcine c-kit+ bone marrow cells (c-kit+ BM cells) develop into NK cells in vitro in the presence of various cytokines [interleukin (IL)-2, IL-7, IL-15, IL-21, stem cell factor (SCF), and fms-like tyrosine kinase-3 ligand (FLT3L)]. Adding hydrocortisone (HDC) and stromal cells greatly increases the frequency of c-kit+ BM cells that give rise to CD2+CD8+ NK cells. Also, intracellular levels of perforin, granzyme B, and NKG2D were determined by RT-PCR and western blotting analysis. It was found that of perforin, granzyme B, and NKG2D levels significantly were increased in cytokine-stimulated c-kit+ BM cells than those of controls. And, we compared the ability of the cytotoxicity of CD2+CD8+ NK cells differentiated by cytokines from c-kit+ BM cells against K562 target cells for 28 days. Cytokines-induced NK cells as effector cells were incubated with K562 cells as target in a ratio of 100:1 for 4 h once a week. In results, CD2+CD8+ NK cells induced by cytokines and stromal cells showed a significantly increased cytotoxicity 21 days later. Whereas, our results indicated that c-kit+ BM cells not pretreated with cytokines have lower levels of cytotoxicity. Taken together, this study suggests that cytokines-induced NK cells from porcine c-kit+ BM cells may be used as adoptive transfer therapy if the known obstacles to xenografting (e.g. immune and non-immune problems) were overcome in the future.

Anti-ischemic Effect of Polygala Tenuifolia in Isolated Rat Heart

Polygala tenuifolia (PT) is one of the most well-known traditional herbal medicines in Korea which is commonly used for the treatment of cardiovascular symptoms. The anti-ischemic effects of PT in isolated rat heart was investigated by analyzing changes in blood pressure, aortic flow, coronary flow, and cardiac output. And, its underlying mechanism was examined by quantitating intracellular calcium content in rat neonatal cardiomyocytes. Rats were divided into two groups: an ischemia-induced group without any treatment, and an ischemia-induced group treated with PT. Ischemia of isolated heart was induced by stopping the supply of oxygen and buffer for 10 min. The isolated heart was exposed to PT for the first 5 min of 10 min ischemia. PT treatment significantly prevented the decreases of perfusion pressure, aortic flow, coronary flow, and cardiac output under ischemic conditions. In addition, hemodynamics (except heart rate) of the PT-treated group was significantly recovered 60 min after reperfusion compared to the control group (systolic aortic pressure: 83.3% vs. 64.9%, aortic flow volume: 69.5% vs. 48.7%, coronary flow volume: 77.7% vs. 58.4%, and cardiac output: 71.6% vs. 51.2%, p<0.01). As for the underlying mechanism, PT significantly prevented intracellular calcium increase which was induced by isoproterenol (p<0.01), suggesting that the anti-ischemic effect of PT is mediated by inhibition of intracellular calcium increase.

Thiopurine S-methyltransferase Polymorphisms and the Relationship between the Mutant Alleles and the Adverse Effects in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients Taking Azathioprine / 대한류마티스학회지

OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the genetic basis for Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) polymorphism and investigate the relationship between TPMT mutant and the adverse effect in patients with systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) taking azathioprine (AZA) in Korea. METHODS: The TPMT genotype was determined in two hundred healthy adults and 342 patients with SLE by MALDI-TOF and correlated with the effects of clinical exposure to AZA. RESUTLS: TPMT polymorphism were detected in 2/200 healthy adults (1%), which were heterozygotes with TPMT*3C and TPMT*6 allele, respectively, and 17/342 (4.97%), which were 12 heterozygotes with TPMT*3C and 5 heterozygotes with TPMT*6 allele, respectively, which had a higher frequency of TPMT mutant alleles compared to the healthy controls (p=0.015). Severe nausea occurred in 4 patient with TPMT*3C allele, and severe bone marrow toxicity in a patient with TPMT*6 allele taking AZA. Twenty three in 94 (24.47%) SLE patients taking AZA were suspicious of the adverse effects such as leucopenia (n=17), nausea (n=4) and abnormal liver function test (n=1). AZA was relatively well tolerated among the rest of them. CONCLUSION: The heterozygote with TPMT*3C and *6 were frequently detected in the patient with SLE compared to healthy adults and there was no statistical correlation between TPMT genotype and AZA toxicity. TMPT genotyping cannot replace regular blood monitoring in SLE patients on AZA treatment.

Plasma Ghrelin Levels and Its Relationship with Obesity in Obese Children / 대한소아내분비학회지

Background:Ghrelin is a new endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor. It activates the release of growth hormone from the pituitary and it also participates in the regualtion of energy homeostasis. The aims of the study were to characterize the changes in plasma ghrelin levels in obese subjects compared with lean control or overweight subjects, and their relationship to various parameters in obese subjects. METHODS:In this study, 121 elementary school children were divided into 3 groups according to their body mass index (BMI). The lean control subjects consisted of 28 children who had less than 85 percentile of BMI. The overweight subjects consisted of 22 children who had 85-95 percentile of BMI. The obese subjects consisted of 71 children who had over 95 percentile of BMI. All subjects in 3 groups were evaluated according to their age, height, weight, obesity index, plasma ghrelin, serum lipid, glucose and insulin levels. Leu72Met mutation of prepro-ghrelin gene was directly detected by digesting the PCR fragments with Bsrl. RESULTS:Among antropometric data, body weight, BMI and obesity index were higher in obesity and overweight subjects than those of lean control subjects (P<0.05). The plasma ghrelin levels were significantly lower in overweight and obese subjects (P<0.05). In addition, serum triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels were significantly higher in these groups compared to the control subjects (P<0.05). The concentrations of plasma ghrelin were significantly negatively correlated with BMI, obesity index, serum triglyceride, LDL cholesterol and insulin in all the children. However, there was no significant relationship between plasma ghrelin levels and any various parameters in obese subjects. Leu72Met mutation was detected in about 30% of obese children. However, we could not find any differences between lean control and obese children. CONCLUSION: We proved a significantly lower plasma ghrelin levels in overweight and obese subjects. Further studies are now needed to establish the role of ghrelin in the pathogenesis of human obesity.

Effects of histamine H|2-receptor stimulation on Mg2+ efflux in perfused guinea pig heart

Mg2+ is an important regulator of many cardiac functions. However, regulation of intracellular Mg2+ activity in the heart is not well characterized. To assess the effect of histamine H2-receptor stimulation on intracellular Mg2+ regulation, changes in extracellular Mg2+ concentration were examined under a variety of conditions in perfused guinea pig hearts. Mg2+ in the cardiac perfusate was measured by atomic absorbance spectrophotometry. The histamine (10(-6) M induced a marked Mg2+ efflux from the heart. The H2-receptor antagonists, cimetidine (10(-5) M), ranitidine (10(-5) ND, but not a H1-receptor antagonist, diphenhydramine (3 X 10(-6) M), completely blocked the histamine-induced Mg2+ efflux. The Mg2+ efflux could also be induced by forskolin (3 X 10(-6) M), 8-Cl-cAMP (2 X 10(-4) M), permeable cAMP analogue, or dimaprit, (10(-5) M). However, the carbachol (10(-5) M) considerably decreased the efflux of Mg2+. In the presence of papaverine (10(-5) M), a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, dimaprit-induced Mg2+ efflux was potentiated. These results suggest that a significant Mg2+ efflux from perfused guinea pig heart by histamine can be induced by the histamine H2-receptor stimulation and it is suggested that cytosolic cAMP may be linked.

Ca Effects on Synthesis and Secretion of Insulin-like Growth Factor(IGF-I) and IGF-Binding Proteins by the Perfased Rat Liver / 대한내분비학회지

Background: The insulin-like growth factors, IGF-I and

A Case of Pacemaker Syndrome

Although ventricular pacing alone initially had deemed adequate for most clinical situations, some patients did not do well after ventricular pacing was initiated, and developed various symptoms attributed to this mode of pacing. The pacemaker syndrome is complex of clinical signs and symptoms related to the adverse hemodynamic and electrophysiologic consequences of ventricular pacing in the absence of other causes. Neurologic symptoms or those congestive heart failure predominated. We recently experienced a case of pacemaker syndrome in a 44-year-old female who had suffered sick sinus syndrome and was implanted with dual chamber pacing system being programmed to VVI pacing. She complained of chest discomfort, dyspnea, and near-fainting in a day after being programmed to VVI. Blood pressure was decreased to 9/60mmHg. Electrocardiography showed toPwave onT wave, representing retrograde ventriculoatrial conduction. The symptoms and signs were disappeared immediately after the pacing system was programmed to DDD pacing.

Effect of adenosine analogues on the plasma renin concentration in spontaneously hypertensive rats / 대한내분비학회지

No abstract available.

Effects of chronic cold exposure on renal function and atrial natriuretic peptide content / 대한내분비학회지

No abstract available.

The karyotype of Paramphistomum explanatum (Creplin, 1849) obtained from Korean cattle

As a series of systematic classification of paramphistomes, in the first step, paramphistomes in the rumen and reticulum were collected on 170 Korean cattles (2-3 years age, male) slaughtered at Jeonju abattoir from July 1984 to September 1985 and were classified by means of morphology of the worms. Afterwards, the karyotype of Paramphistomum explanatum (Creplin, 1849) which is the common in Korean cattle was detected by means of modified air-drying method from testis cells of the worm. The following is a brief summary of the leading facts gained through the experiment. Most of the cattle slaughtered at the abattoir were infected with paramphistomes. The 5 species of the worms were detected on 170 Korean cattle and the worm burden per head was from 2 to 784 (on the average 170) worms, 120(70.59 percent) heads out of them involving 2-100 worms. In 28,900 individuals of paramphistomes obtained on 170 Korean cattle, appearance rates of various worms were as follows : 49.74 percent in P. explanatum, 48.08 percent in P. cervi, 0.98 percent in Orthocoelium orthocoelium, 0.89 percent in Fischoederius cobboldi and 0.14 percent in Cotylophoron cotylophorum. The chromosome number of 620 P. explanatum in the haploid and diploid cells was n=9 and 2n=18, and abundant cells in meiotic division were observed; 1,420 haploid and 38 diploid cells were reliable. Nine pairs of mitotic chromosomes were homologous and the chromosomes were composed of five medium-sized metacentrics (m), subtelocentrics (st) or submetacentrics (sm)and four small-sized subtelocentrics (st) or submetacentrics (sm), while meiotic metaphase chromosomes were composed of five medium and four small-sized. The haploid of the testis cells showed C-band in the centromeric region from 8 of them, whereas the remaining chromosome No. 5 included heterochromatin on the tip region, and chromosomes No. 3 and No. 7 showed a remarkable C-band distinguished from other chromosomes.