Grifola frondosa water extract alleviates intestinal inflammation by suppressing TNF-alpha production and its signaling

TNF-alpha is a major cytokine involved in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this study, water extract of Grifola frondosa (GFW) was evaluated for its protective effects against colon inflammation through the modulation of TNF-alpha action. In coculture of HT-29 human colon cancer cells with U937 human monocytic cells, TNF-alpha-induced monocyte adhesion to HT-29 cells was significantly suppressed by GFW (10, 50, 100 microg/ml). The reduced adhesion by GFW correlated with the suppressed expression of MCP-1 and IL-8, the major IBD-associated chemokines. In addition, treatment with GFW significantly suppressed TNF-alpha-induced reactive oxygen species production and NF-kappaB transcriptional activity in HT-29 cells. In differentiated U937 monocytic cells, LPS-induced TNF-alpha production, which is known to be mediated through NF-kappaB activation, was significantly suppressed by GFW. In an in vivo rat model of IBD, oral administration of GFW for 5 days (1 g/kg per day) significantly inhibited the trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced weight loss, colon ulceration, myeloperoxidase activity, and TNF-alpha expression in the colon tissue. Moreover, the effect of GFW was similar to that of intra-peritoneal injection of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), an active metabolite of sulfasalazine, commonly used drug for the treatment of IBD. The results suggest that GFW ameliorates colon inflammation by suppressing production of TNF-alpha as well as its signaling through NF-kappaB leading to the expression of inflammatory chemokines, MCP-1 and IL-8. Taken together, the results strongly suggest GFW is a valuable medicinal food for IBD treatment, and thus may be used as an alternative medicine for IBD.

Depression, Powerlessness, Social Support, and Socioeconomic Status in Middle Aged Community Residents / 정신간호학회지

PURPOSE: The main purpose of this study was to examine factors influencing depression in middle aged people in relation to powerlessness, social support, and sociodemographic variables. METHODS: The questionnaire survey was carried out with a convenience sample of 160 middle aged people in a community setting. The data analysis procedures included frequency, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression using depression as the dependent variable. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression was 44.4%. There were significant differences in depression by number of members in the family, education, economic status, and subjective health status. Powerlessness was significantly different according to gender, economic status, and subjective health status. and social support according to economic status and subjective health status. Depression showed significant correlations with powerlessness and social support. Stepwise multiple regression revealed that factors significantly affecting variance included economic status, number of members in the family, powerlessness, and social support. These factors explained 43% of variance in depression. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that to prevent the occurrence of depression, socio-environmental aspects including economic state should be considered when developing interventions for middle aged adults.

Health Behaviors and Stress Coping Behaviors in Middle Aged Adults / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors determining health behavior for middle-aged adults in relation to stress coping behaviors, cognitive factors, social support, and sociodemographic variables. METHOD: The questionnaire survey was carried out on a convenience sample of 203 middle aged in a community settings. The data analysis procedure included frequency, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regressions using health behavior as dependent variable. RESULT: Among the sociodemographic variables, factors such as sex, educational and eonomic levels were associated with the health behaviors. There were significant correlations between health behaviors and saliency of health, social support, and positive-stress coping behaviors. Stepwise multiple regression revealed that the factors such as positive-stress coping behaviors, saliency of health, sex, and education turned out to be significant affecting factors. Twenty eight percent of varience in health behavior was explained by these factors. CONCLUSION: Positive-stress coping methods were turned out to be the most important effective factors in practicing of health behaviors of middle aged. The necessity of an intervention considering the situation related to their stress and coping methods in middle aged so as to promote positive health behaviors was suggested.

Symptoms, Depression, and Coping Behaviors of University Students / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among subjective symptoms, depression, and stress coping behavior of university students. METHOD: The survey was carried out on a convenience sample of 298 university students. The questionnaire consisted of each scale for symptoms, depression, and stress coping behaviors. Data analysis procedure included the factor analysis for stress coping behaviors, and the correlation analysis describing a relationship among symptoms, depression, and stress coping behaviors. RESULT: There were significant correlations between depression and the three types of symptoms : general, psychological, and somatic symptom. Subjects using the negative-emotional-response coping and the self-control coping showed a more severe depression, and those using the problem-solving reappraisal coping and the positive-emotional-response coping showed a milder depression. Subjects using the negative-emotional-response coping complained of all 3 types of symptoms severely, and those using the positive-emotional-response coping complained of general symptoms mildly. Of five stress coping methods, the negative-emotional-response and the positive-emotional-response coping methods were related to both symptoms and depression significantly. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the emotional-oriented coping method has more important role for university student's depression and their subjective symptoms than the problem-oriented coping or social supports seeking coping. Further study needs to be conducted to help students effective coping mechanism for good mental health. Also it is necessary for university students to recognize that their symptoms are associated with depression.