Neuroprotective effect of Deodeok (Codonopsis lanceolata) bud extracts in H2O2 -stimulated SH-SY5Y cells / 한국영양학회지

Purpose@#Deodeok (Codonopsis lanceolata) is generally used in conventional medicines and is considered to have remedial properties to cure several diseases. However, application of the C. lanceolata bud as a novel food ingredient has not been fully explored. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is associated with the production of oxidative damage that results in mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, and cell death. This study examines the neuroprotective effect of C. lanceolata bud extracts (CLBE) on H2O2 -stimulated apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells. @*Methods@#C. lanceolata bud of length 10 to 15 cm was collected and extracted using 70% ethanol. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by the EZ-cytox reagent, measurement of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The morphological changes of the nuclei were determined using the Hoechst 33258 dye. Enzyme activities were analyzed using the caspase activity assay kit. Related protein expressions were quantified by the Western blot immunoassay in H2O2 -stimulated SH-SY5Y cells. @*Results@#Cell viability, LDH release and ROS generation, demonstrated neuroprotective effects of CLBE in H2O2-stimulated SH-SY5Y cells. The occurrence of apoptosis in H2O2-stimulated cells was confirmed by caspase activity, which was increased in H2O2-stimulated SH-SY5Y cells compared to the unexposed group. Pretreatment of CLBE was observed to inhibit the H2O2–stimulated apoptosis. In addition, exposure to CLBE resulted in increased expression of the Bcl-2 (B cell lymphoma 2) protein and decreased expression of the Bax (Bcl2 associated X) protein. @*Conclusion@#This study shows that exposure to CLBE alleviates the H2O2-stimulated neuronal damage in SH-SY5Y cells. Our results indicate the potential application of CLBE in neurodegenerative disease therapy or prevention.

Effect of isoflavone supplementation on menopausal symptoms:a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES@#Complementary and alternative medicines can be used to alleviate climacteric symptoms that significantly affect the quality of life of postmenopausal women. Isoflavones are the most common plant-based therapies for postmenopausal changes, but the results of previous studies have been controversial.MATERIALS/METHODS: To investigate whether isoflavones would affect menopausal symptoms as well as ovarian hormones, we performed a systematic review and metaanalysis. The PubMed and EMBASE databases were used to perform the systematic search.Included studies were limited to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the impact of isoflavone supplementation on menopausal symptoms. @*RESULTS@#Eleven studies were included for the final quantitative assessment. Isoflavone intervention was varied between 49.3 and 135 mg of isoflavones per day for 12 wk–2 yrs.The meta-analysis showed that supplementation of isoflavones significantly increased the estradiol levels (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.615, P = 0.035) and Kupperman index (SMD = 3.121, P = 0.003) but had no significant effect on hot flashes, folliclestimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone. However, both estradiol and the Kupperman index showed significant heterogeneity among studies (I2 = 94.7%, P < 0.001 and I2 = 98.1%, P < 0.001, respectively). @*CONCLUSIONS@#Although the results showed a significant SMD in estradiol and the Kupperman index, the results should be interpreted with caution due to the high heterogeneity. Further validation with a larger RCT will be necessary. Overall, isoflavone supplementation has distinct effects on the climacteric symptoms and hormonal changes in postmenopausal women.

Neuroprotective effect of fermented ginger extracts by Bacillus subtilis in SH-SY5Y cells / 한국영양학회지

Purpose@#The ginger rhizome (Zingiber officinale) is widely cultivated as a spice for its aromatic and pungent components. One of its constituents, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) is usually thought to cross the cell membrane through dopamine uptake transporters, and induce inhibition of mitochondrial respiration and the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). This study examines the neuroprotective effect and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity of fermented ginger extracts (FGEs) on 6-OHDA induced toxicity in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. @*Methods@#Ginger was fermented using 2 species of Bacillus subtilis, with or without enzyme pretreatment. Each sample was extracted with 70% ethanol. Neurotoxicity was assessed by applying the EZ-Cytox cell viability assay and by measuring lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release. Morphological changes of apoptotic cell nuclei were observed by Hoechst staining. Cell growth and apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells were determined by Western blotting and enzyme activity analysis of caspase-3, and AChE enzymatic activity was determined by the assay. @*Results@#In terms of cell viability and LDH release, exposure to FGE showed neuroprotective activities against 6-OHDA stimulated stress in SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, FGE reduced the 6-OHDA-induced apoptosis, as determined by Hoechst staining. The occurrence of apoptosis in 6-OHDA treated cells was confirmed by determining the caspase-3 activity. Exposure to 6-OHDA resulted in increased caspase-3 activity of SH-SY5Y cells, as compared to the unexposed group. However, pre-treatment with FGE inhibited the activity of caspase-3. The neuroprotective effects of FGE were also found to be caspase-dependent, based on reduction of caspase-3 activity. Exposure to FGE also inhibited the activity of AChE induced by 6-OHDA, in a dose-dependent manner. @*Conclusion@#Taken together, our results show that FGE exhibits a neuroprotective effect in 6-OHDA treated SH-SY5Y cells, thereby making it a potential novel agent for the prevention or treatment of neurodegenerative disease.

RNA-Seq De Novo Assembly and Differential Transcriptome Analysis of Korean Medicinal Herb Cirsium japonicum var. spinossimum

Cirsium japonicum belongs to the Asteraceae or Compositae family and is a medicinal plant in Asia that has a variety of effects, including tumour inhibition, improved immunity with flavones, and antidiabetic and hepatoprotective effects. Silymarin is synthesized by 4-coumaroyl-CoA via both the flavonoid and phenylpropanoid pathways to produce the immediate precursors taxifolin and coniferyl alcohol. Then, the oxidative radicalization of taxifolin and coniferyl alcohol produces silymarin. We identified the expression of genes related to the synthesis of silymarin in C. japonicum in three different tissues, namely, flowers, leaves, and roots, through RNA sequencing. We obtained 51,133 unigenes from transcriptome sequencing by de novo assembly using Trinity v2.1.1, TransDecoder v2.0.1, and CD-HIT v4.6 software. The differentially expressed gene analysis revealed that the expression of genes related to the flavonoid pathway was higher in the flowers, whereas the phenylpropanoid pathway was more highly expressed in the roots. In this study, we established a global transcriptome dataset for C. japonicum. The data shall not only be useful to focus more deeply on the genes related to product medicinal metabolite including flavolignan but also to study the functional genomics for genetic engineering of C. japonicum.

Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure at Home and Attributable Problem Behaviors in Korean Children and Adolescents for 2012–2014 in a Nationally Representative Survey

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine the environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure at home and associated problem behaviors in Korean children and adolescents. METHODS: Approximately 2,167 children aged 3–18 years were included in the study after excluding 163 active smokers from the Korean Environmental Health Survey in Children and Adolescents (2012–2014). ETS data were obtained using a questionnaire; problem behaviors were measured using the Child Behavior Checklist administered to parents. The relationship between ETS exposure and problem behavior was evaluated using a survey regression model adjusted for region, age, sex, income, and father's education. The population-attributable fraction (PAF%) was calculated based on problem behaviors related to ETS exposure at home. RESULTS: The rates of ETS exposure at home were 20%, 28%, and 39% in children aged 3–5, 6–11, and 12–18 years, respectively; ETS exposure at home was associated with behavioral problems: the exposed group having higher total behavioral problem score (95% confidence interval [CI]) than the non-exposed by 2.46 (0.60–4.32) and 2.74 (0.74–4.74) in children aged 6–11 and 12–18 years, respectively, with no significant association in those aged 3–5 years. The PAF% (95% CI) of total problem behaviors for ETS exposure at home were 2.68 (−10.11–17.78), 10.66 (3.25–17.55), and 11.62 (3.03–18.96) in children aged 3–5, 6–11, and 12–18 years, respectively. Children with externalizing problems had higher PAF% than those with internalizing problems. CONCLUSION: In Korea, ETS exposure at home is associated with problem behaviors in children and adolescents with about more than 10% population attributable fraction.

Degradation of Three Aromatic Dyes by White Rot Fungi and the Production of Ligninolytic Enzymes

This study was conducted to evaluate the degradation of aromatic dyes and the production of ligninolytic enzymes by 10 white rot fungi. The results of this study revealed that Pycnoporus cinnabarinus, Pleurotus pulmonarius, Ganoderma lucidum, Trametes suaveolens, Stereum ostrea and Fomes fomentarius have the ability to efficiently degrade congo red on solid media. However, malachite green inhibited the mycelial growth of these organisms. Therefore, they did not effectively decolorize malachite green on solid media. However, P. cinnabarinus and P. pulmonarius were able to effectively decolorize malachite green on solid media. T. suaveolens and F. rosea decolorized methylene blue more effectively than any of the other fungi evaluated in this study. In liquid culture, G. lucidum, P. cinnabarinus, Naematoloma fasciculare and Pycnoporus coccineus were found to have a greater ability to decolorize congo red. In addition, P. cinnabarinus, G. lucidum and T. suaveolens decolorized methylene blue in liquid media more effectively than any of the other organisms evaluated in this study. Only F. fomentarius was able to decolorize malachite green in liquid media, and its ability to do so was limited. To investigate the production of ligninolytic enzymes in media containing aromatic compounds, fungi were cultured in naphthalene supplemented liquid media. P. coccineus, Coriolus versicolor and P. cinnabarinus were found to produce a large amount of laccase when grown in medium that contained napthalene.

Endovascular Stent Placement for the Treatment of Superficial Femoral Artery Stenoses and Occlusions

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate effectiveness of an endovascular stent placement in the treatment of superficial femoral artery stenoses and occlusions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An angioplasty and stent placement was performed in forty four patients (42 men and 2 women; mean age: 71.2 years; age range: 50-82 years). A total of 27 patients were diagnosed with intermittent claudication, in addition to 8 patients with resting pain, and 9 patients with gangrene. A follow-up evaluation accompanied with a physical examination, catheter angiography, and a color Doppler sonography was performed. The patency rates were analyzed after 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years. The predictors of restenosis, according to the clinical and anatomical classification, risk factors, as well as the correlation of stent fracture and restenosis were analyzed. RESULTS: Initial technical success was achieved in all patients. The stent placement resulted in an initial improvement of the clinical category in more than one level for 95.5% of cases. Over the course of the follow-up period (mean: 17 months; range, 1-106 months), restenosis occurred in 16 patients (36.4%). The highest patency rates were 87.9% after 3 months, 81.5% after 6 months, 78.0% after 1 year, 54.2% after 2 years, and 46.0% after 3 years. No significant difference was found for the patency rates as a function of the clinical and anatomical classifications, or the risk factors. A stent fracture was identified on only two occasions; however, no clinical symptoms or good intra-stent blood flow was observed in a follow-up angiography. CONCLUSION: A mid-term patency after the stent placements for superficial femoral artery stenoses and occlusions was found to be unfavorable despite an initial success rate. Consequently, greater clinical experience and analysis is necessary.

CT-guided Transthoracic Needle Biopsy with an 18-Guage Automated Cutting Needle: Diagnostic benefits and safety

PURPOSE: We wanted to evaluate the diagnostic benefits and safety of performing CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy (TTNB) with using an18-gauge automated cutting needle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 332 patients who underwent CT-guided transthoracic biopsy with an automated 18-gauge cutting needle for 341 thoracic lesions. The histopathologic results, diagnostic accuracy and complication rate were determined. RESULTS: 316 (92.7%) of 34l lesions were histopathologically diagnosed by CT-guided TTNB. The lesions were malignant in 172 patients and benign in 144 patients. The diagnostic accuracy was 92.9%. The sensitivity and specificity for malignant lesions were 93% and 92.3%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for benign lesions were 92.3% and 93%, respectively. TTNB induced complications developed for 54 of 341 (15.8%) procedures. The most frequent complication was pneumothorax (41/341, 12%). Nine patients with pneumothorax (9/41, 22%) required chest tube placement. CONCLUSION: CT-guided TTNB with an 18-gauge automated cutting needle could be useful for making the histopathologic diagnosis of malignant and benign pulmonary lesions as the technique provides a big enough tissue sample for histopathologic examination. The procedure-related complication rate was acceptably low.

Two cases of hemimegalencephaly

No abstract available.