Immune enhancement effect of an herb complex extract through the activation of natural killer cells and the regulation of cytokine levels in a cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression rat model

Objective:To investigate the effects of a herb complex extract (HCE) prepared from Cornus officinalis Sieb. Et Zucc., Eriobotrya japonica Lindley, and olive leaves on immune response of mouse spleen NK cells in vitro and in vivo analysis.Methods:The activity of natural killer (NK) cells was measured in splenocytes and YAC-1 cells. Mice were immunosuppressed using cyclophosphamide (5 mg/kg body weight). Three different doses of HCE (200, 400, and 800 mg/kg body weight) and red ginseng extract (800 mg/kg body weight) which was used as standard immunomodulatory herb were administered orally for 4 weeks. The body weight, dietary, water intake, organs (liver, thymus, and spleen) weight, completed blood count, and cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma, and interleukin-2) production was measured.Results:At the maximum concentration of HCE, the activity of NK cells was increased by 48.5%. HCE increased liver, spleen, and thymus weights without altering numbers of white blood cells, lymphocytes, and neutrophils in a cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression rat model. However, HCE recovered the inhibited cytokine expression; HCE (800 mg/kg) increased cytokines levels. The results indicate the immune enhancement potential of this HCE.Conclusion:The HCE enhances immunity by increasing NK cell activity, regulating cytokine levels, and maintaining spleen weight. Therefore, it may be used as a potential immunity enhancer.

Pathologic basis of the sonographic differences between thyroid cancer and noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features

Ultrasonography is pivotal in triage thyroid biopsy in the era after the identification of noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP). This pictorial essay illustrates the pathologic basis of the sonographic features that distinguish NIFTP from thyroid cancers. In this study, we present the correlations of ultrasonography to ×1 histopathology to assess shape and margin characteristics. Markedly hypoechoic nodules correlate to microfollicular/solid nodules, while isoechoic/hyperechoic thyroid nodules correlate to normofollicular/macrofollicular nodules. The ultrasound findings of NIFTP and minimally invasive encapsulated thyroid cancers are similar. Both are well-circumscribed, oval-to-round nodules with regular margins. Blurred or microlobulated margins indicate infiltrating tumors, while lobulated margins are characteristic of expansile tumors. Overtly invasive encapsulated tumors are characterized by oval-to-round nodules with irregular or lobulated margins. The ultrasound findings for infiltrative thyroid cancers show at least one of the following malignant features: marked hypoechoicity, taller-than-wide shape, microcalcifications, and blurred or microlobulated margins.

Development of a new biomechanical indicator for primary blast-induced brain injury / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

Primary blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) has been observed at the boundary of brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Such injury can hardly be explained by using the theory of compressive wave propagation, since both the solid and fuid materials have similar compressibility and thus the intracranial pressure (ICP) has a continuous distribution across the boundary. Since they have completely different shear properties, it is hypothesized the injury at the interface is caused by shear wave. In the present study, a preliminary combined numerical and theoretical analysis was conducted based on the theory of shear wave propagation/reflection. Simulation results show that higher lateral acceleration of brain tissue particles is concentrated in the boundary region. Based on this fnding, a new biomechanical vector, termed as strain gradient, was suggested for primary bTBI. The subsequent simple theoretical analysis reveals that this parameter is proportional to the value of lateral acceleration. At the boundary of lateral ventricles, high spatial strain gradient implies that the brain tissue in this area (where neuron cells may be contained) undergo significantly different strains and large velocity discontinuity, which may result in mechanical damage of the neuron cells.

Do probiotics improve eradication response to Helicobacter pylori on standard triple or sequential therapy?

The standard triple therapy for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori consists of a combination of a proton pump inhibitor at a standard dose together with two antibiotics [amoxicillin 1000 mg plus either clarithromycin 500 mg or metronidazole 400 mg] all given twice daily for a period of 7-14 days. Recent reports have shown a dramatic decline in the rate of H. pylori eradication utilizing standard triple therapy from 95% down to 70-80%. Our study was designed to evaluate the effect of adding a probiotic as an adjuvant to common regimens used for H. pylori eradication. An open label randomized observational clinical study was designed to test three different regimens of H. pylori eradication treatment: Standard triple therapy with a concomitant probiotic added at the same time [n = 100], starting the probiotic for 2 weeks before initiating standard triple therapy along with the probiotic [n = 95], and the third regimen consists of the probiotic given concomitantly to sequential treatment [n = 76]. The three arms were compared to a control group of patients treated with the traditional standard triple therapy [n = 106]. The eradication rate for the traditional standard therapy was 68.9%, and adding the probiotic "Bifidus infantis" to triple therapy, led to a successful rate of eradication of 83% [P < 0.001]. Pre-treatment with 2 weeks of B. infantis before adding it to standard triple therapy increased the success rate of eradication to 90.5%. Similar improvement in eradication rate was noted when B. infantis was added as an adjuvant to the sequential therapy leading to an eradication rate of 90.8%. Adding B. infantis as an adjuvant to several therapeutic regimens commonly used for the eradication of H. pylori infection significantly improves the cure rates

Relations between plasma von willebrand factor or endothelin-1 and restenosis following carotid artery stenting

This study was designed to investigate the relation between plasma von Willebrand factor [VWF] or endothelin-1 [ET-1] and post-carotid artery stenting [CAS] restenosis. Plasma levels of VWF and ET-1 were measured in 61 patients [36 males, mean age 64.4 +/- 6.8 years] before and after CAS. The mean follow-up time was 13.8 +/- 1.7 months [range, 6-63]. In-stent restenosis was defined as a >10% narrowing of the vascular lumen with or without ischemic symptoms following CAS. In-stent restenosis was identified in 14 [23%] patients, including 3 with >50% restenosis. In the restenosis group, mean VWF and ET-1 levels at 2 weeks, 1 and 6 months after CAS were higher than the baseline levels [p < 0.05 or p < 0.01]. Mean levels of VWF and ET-1 in the restenosis group were higher than in the non-restenosis group within 6 months after CAS [p < 0.05 or p < 0.01]. Persistent elevation in plasma VWF and ET-1 within the first 6 months of CAS was found in patients with in-stent restenosis

Stigma and restriction on the social life of families of children with intellectual disabilities in Vietnam

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Intellectual disabilities are as prevalent in East Asian countries as in the West (0.06%-1.3%). Widespread discrimination against intellectual disabilities in Asia may initiate stigma that places unfair restrictions on the social life of these individuals and their caregivers. We utilised established stigma frameworks to assess the extent to which a child's intellectual disability contributes to the social exclusion of caregivers in Vietnam.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A mixed quantitative and qualitative approach was employed to examine the experience of social life restriction among parents of children with intellectual disabilities. The child's disability level and restrictions on caregivers' social experiences were assessed among 70 mothers and fathers recruited from schools in Hue City, Vietnam. Qualitative responses describing social exclusion were also recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Caregivers reported elevated levels of social exclusion. As hypothesised, parents of children with greater intellectual disability experienced more restrictions on their social life (Beta = 0.79, 95% confidence interval 0.27-1.30, standard error = 0.26, p < 0.01). Qualitative analyses indicated that the threatening of core cultural norms (inability to be employed or married upsets community harmony) initiated labelling, social exclusion and efforts to keep the condition secret or withdraw from others.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study is among the first to demonstrate the impacts of intellectual disabilities on caregivers' social functioning in Asia. The findings illustrate how traditional Asian norms initiate stigma, which in turn restricts key social interactions among caregivers. Psycho-educational interventions may address the social domains in which caregivers are impacted and encourage sustained help-seeking among caregivers for their children.</p>

Biomechanics of whiplash injury / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

Despite a large number of rear-end collisions on the road and a high frequency of whiplash injuries reported, the mechanism of whiplash injuries is not completely understood. One of the reasons is that the injury is not necessarily accompanied by obvious tissue damage detectable by X-ray or MRI. An extensive series of biomechanics studies, including injury epidemiology, neck kinematics, facet capsule ligament mechanics, injury mechanisms and injury criteria, were undertaken to help elucidate these whiplash injury mechanisms and gain a better understanding of cervical facet pain. These studies provide the following evidences to help explain the mechanisms of the whiplash injury: (1) Whiplash injuries are generally considered to be a soft tissue injury of the neck with symptoms such as neck pain and stiffness, shoulder weakness, dizziness, headache and memory loss, etc. (2) Based on kinematical studies on the cadaver and volunteers, there are three distinct periods that have the potential to cause injury to the neck. In the first stage, flexural deformation of the neck is observed along with a loss of cervical lordosis; in the second stage, the cervical spine assumes an S-shaped curve as the lower vertebrae begin to extend and gradually cause the upper vertebrae to extend; during the final stage, the entire neck is extended due to the extension moments at both ends. (3) The in vivo environment afforded by rodent models of injury offers particular utility for linking mechanics, nociception and behavioral outcomes. Experimental findings have examined strains across the facet joint as a mechanism of whiplash injury, and suggested a capsular strain threshold or a vertebral distraction threshold for whiplash-related injury, potentially producing neck pain. (4) Injuries to the facet capsule region of the neck are a major source of post-crash pain. There are several hypotheses on how whiplash-associated injury may occur and three of these injuries are related to strains within the facet capsule connected with events early in the impact. (5) There are several possible injury criteria to correlate with the duration of symptoms during reconstructions of actual crashes. These results form the biomechanical basis for a hypothesis that the facet joint capsule is a source of neck pain and that the pain may arise from large strains in the joint capsule that will cause pain receptors to fire.

Use of the Putamen/Caudate Volume Ratio for Early Differentiation between Parkinsonian Variant of Multiple System Atrophy and Parkinson Disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neuropathological studies have demonstrated that multiple system atrophy (MSA) produces selective atrophy of the putamen with sparing of the caudate nucleus, while both structures are spared in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study we evaluated the clinical efficacy of using putaminal atrophy in brain MRI to differentiate MSA and PD. METHODS: We measured the putamen/caudate volume ratio on brain MRI in 24 patients with MSA and 21 patients with PD. Two clinicians who were blinded to the patients' diagnoses and to each other's assessments measured the volume ratio using a computer program. RESULTS: The measured volume ratios of the two investigators were highly correlated (r=0.72, p<0.0001). The volume ratio was significantly lower in MSA (1.29+/-0.28) than PD (1.91+/-0.29, p<0.0001). Setting an arbitrary cutoff ratio of 1.6 resulted in about 90% of patients with MSA falling into the group with a lower ratio, whereas more than 80% of patients with PD belonged to the other group. CONCLUSIONS: The present results demonstrate that putaminal atrophy in MSA as measured on brain MRI represents an effective tool for differentiating MSA from PD.

DNA-based Prenatal Diagnosis of Epidermolytic Palmoplantar Keratoderma in Two Pregnancies at Risk in One large Pedigree

BACKGROUND: Epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma (EPPK) is an autosomal dominant disease of cornification which presents as severe thickening of the palms and soles with prominent epidermolytic hyperkeratosis pathologically. Recent studies have shown that EPPK is caused by mutations in the keratin 9 (K9) gene which is expressed essentially only in the palms and soles. Previously, We have reported that patients in one large pedigree of EPPK have an R162W substitution in the K9 protein. In this pedigree, two women whose husbands are both EPPK patients had become pregnant. OBJECTIVE: Since both women were concerned about this genetic disorder, we have performed prenatal diagnosis by biopsy analysis of chorionic villi tissue. METHODS: Chorionic villi biopsies were performed at 12 weeks gestation. Since the skin lesions are strictly confined to the palms and soles of the babies, the prenatal diagnosis of EPPK by ultrastructural analysis of fetal skin biopsy or amniotic fluid cells is highly problematic. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of specific allele (PASA) assay and direct DNA sequencing analyses were performed whether the fetuses carried mutant allele of K9 gene. RESULTS: PASA assay and direct DNA sequencing analyses showed that one fetus was normal, but the other fetus carried the abnormal allele. Subsequently, the mother of the unaffected fetus delivered a normal child, but the mother of the affected fetus terminated the pregnancy. CONCLUSION: We describe the analysis of the K9 mutation in the two fetuses at risk for EPPK. We believe that this is the first report of prenatal diagnosis for EPPK. But, we have to think about the ethical problems before we decide to perform the prenatal diagnosis of any kind of skin diseases.

Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Bladder: Report of a Case / 대한비뇨기과학회지

A case of rhabdomyosarcoma of the bladder in a 4 year old boy was reported with review of literatures. The patient was managed by transurethral resection of the tumor, postoperative radiation and chemotherapeutic agent (cyclocytidine hydrochloride).

A Survey on the Environmental Conditions of the CO Patients treated by Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy / 예방의학회지

Carbon monoxide poisoning is one of the most serios health problems in Korea, because we have been encountered with the highest incidence of CO poisoning in the world due to the unique heating system in home called "ondal". We opened Hyperbaric chamber unit in the Seoul National University Hospital last Jan, 1969. We have treated 848 patients as of Sept. 30., 1972, around 44 months period. We collected the informations on the environmental conditions of the place where CO intoxication actually occurred by filling up the questionaire from 505 patients. The following finding were obtained. 1. Age distribution showed that the highest incidence was found in the younger age group between age of 10 to age of 29 in both sex. 2. Sex ratio of the patients was 1:1.14. 3. The socio-economic level of the patient was relatively low. 4. Housewife & housemaid were the major victims of the intoxication in the female patients & in the case of the male patient, occupational backgrounds were diverse. 5. Many patients form the middle class experienced the intoxication bu sleeping at newly built room. 6. Many intoxication has been occurred in the structure of houses where communicating doors are existing between living room & kitchen. 7. All findings obtained taught us again that CO poisoning is the serious by-product of the national fuel policy which put emphasis on the use of coal & socio-economic status is very important parameter in this hazards.

A Survey on the Environmental Conditions of the CO Patients treated by Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy / 예방의학회지

Carbon monoxide poisoning is one of the most serios health problems in Korea, because we have been encountered with the highest incidence of CO poisoning in the world due to the unique heating system in home called "ondal". We opened Hyperbaric chamber unit in the Seoul National University Hospital last Jan, 1969. We have treated 848 patients as of Sept. 30., 1972, around 44 months period. We collected the informations on the environmental conditions of the place where CO intoxication actually occurred by filling up the questionaire from 505 patients. The following finding were obtained. 1. Age distribution showed that the highest incidence was found in the younger age group between age of 10 to age of 29 in both sex. 2. Sex ratio of the patients was 1:1.14. 3. The socio-economic level of the patient was relatively low. 4. Housewife & housemaid were the major victims of the intoxication in the female patients & in the case of the male patient, occupational backgrounds were diverse. 5. Many patients form the middle class experienced the intoxication bu sleeping at newly built room. 6. Many intoxication has been occurred in the structure of houses where communicating doors are existing between living room & kitchen. 7. All findings obtained taught us again that CO poisoning is the serious by-product of the national fuel policy which put emphasis on the use of coal & socio-economic status is very important parameter in this hazards.