Splenocyte-mediated immune enhancing activity of Sargassum horneri extracts / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: This study examined the immunological activity and optimized the mixture conditions of Sargassum horneri (S. horneri) extracts in vitro and in vivo models.METHODS: S. horneri was extracted using three different methods: hot water extraction (HWE), 50% ethanol extraction (EE), and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). Splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production (Interleukin-2 and Interferon-γ) were measured using a WST-1 assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The levels of nitric oxide and T cell activation production were measured using a Griess assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The natural killer (NK) cell activity was determined using an EZ-LDH kit.RESULTS: Among the three different types of extracts, HWE showed the highest levels of splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production in vitro. In the animal model, three different types of extracts were administrated for 14 days (once/day) at 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight. HWE and SFE showed a high level of splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production in the with and without mitogen-treated groups, whereas EE administration did not induce the splenocyte activation. When RAW264.7 macrophage cells were treated with different mixtures (HWE with 5, 10, 15, 20% of SFE) to determine the optimal mixture ratio of HWE and SFE, the levels of nitric oxide and cytokine production increased strongly in the HWE with 5% and 10% of SFE containing group. In the animal model, HWE with 5% and 10% of SFE mixture administration increased the levels of splenocyte proliferation, cytokine production, and activated CD4⁺ cell population significantly, with the highest level observed in the HWE with 5% of SFE group. Moreover, the NK cell activity was increased significantly in the HWE with 5% of SFE mixture-treated group compared to the control group.CONCLUSION: The optimal mixture condition of S. horneri with immune-enhancing activity is the HWE with 5% of SFE mixture. These results confirmed that the extracts of S. horneri and its mixtures are potential candidate materials for immune enhancement.

Immunomodulating activity of Sargassum horneri extracts in RAW264.7 macrophages / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: Sargassum horneri (S. horneri) is a species of brown macroalgae that is common along the coast of Japan and Korea. The present study investigated the immuno-modulatory effects of different types of S. horneri extracts in RAW264.7 macrophages. METHODS: S. horneri was extracted by three different methods, hot water extraction, 50% ethanol extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction. Cell viability was then measured by MTT assay, while the production levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nitric oxide (NO) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Griess assay, respectively. The expression and activation levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) were examined by western blot analysis. RESULTS: The three different S. horneri extracts were nontoxic against RAW 264.7 cells up to 50 µg/mL, among which treatment with hot water extract (HWE) of S. horneri significantly enhanced the production of TNF-α, IL-6, and NO in a dose-dependent manner. Hot water extract of S. horneri also increased the expression level of iNOS, suggesting that up-regulation of iNOS expression by HWE of S. horneri was responsible for the induction of NO production. In addition, treatment of RAW 264.7 macrophages with HWE of S. horneri increased the phosphorylation levels of ERK, p38 and JNK. Furthermore, the activation and subsequent nuclear translocation of NF-κB was enhanced upon treatment with HWE of S. horneri, indicating that HWE of S. horneri activates macrophages to secrete TNF-α, IL-6 and NO and induces iNOS expression via activation of the NF-κB and MAPKs signaling pathways. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these findings suggest that HWE of S. horneri possesses potential as a functional food with immunomodulatory activity.

Sexual behavior of Korean young women: preliminary study for the introducing of HPV prophylactic vaccine / 부인종양

OBJECTIVE: The decision of optimal age for administration of recently approved prophylactic human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines in the world depend on the basis of the sexual behavior of each countries. The aim of the study was to survey the age-specific sexual behavior including the sexual debut time and sexual experience in the Korean young women to design the tailored HPV vaccination. METHODS: This study was conducted by the Synovate Healthcare in the 6 city of Korea e.g. Seoul, Pusan, Daegu, Incheon, Kwangju and Daejon. By a stratified sampling methods 2,400 women aged 12-29 years old were included. The measures of sexual behavior presented in this report were collected by a Computer-Assisted Self-Interviewing (ACASI), in which the respondent enters her own answers into a computer without telling them to an interviewer. RESULTS: Among women 12-29 years of age, 39 percent of women (934 persons in 2,400 women) and 33 percent of single women (724 persons in 2,190 women) have had vaginal intercourse; 8 percent of women under 19 years old single women (79 persons in 1,045) and 56 percent of single women with 20-29 years old (645 persons in 1,145). Number of sexual partner was 2.8 person and 54 percent of women had more than 2 partners. Age of the first sexual activity (sexual debut) was 21 years old. The age of partner at the sexual debut was 23.2 years old. Sexual experience before 15 years old was only 2%. About the condom, 41% did not use or rarely use. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate that the sexual debut time of young Korean women differ from other countries in which the prophylactic HPV vaccine had already used. We conclude that the optimal age for HPV vaccination in Korea would be determined at 15-17 years old by this situation.

A Case of Electric Cataract

The patient was a 25 years old korean officer who visited our hospital, because of visual disturbance on the right eye after having received the lightening stroke on the right of his head I year ago. At the time of admisson. his visual acuity was 0.06 (OD) and 1.3 (OS). Lenticular changes revealed radiating linear opacities in the anterior capsule and irregular shaped dark brownish opacities in the posterior subcapsule. The extracapsular lens extraction waS performed for the right eye and obtained visual acuity of 0.7 (sph + 10.0D) two weeks later.

A Case of the Commotio Retinae with the Myopia, Hypotony and Mydiriasis

Recently we have experienced a cases of commotio retinae following traffic accident which accompanies with the triad of hypotony, myopia and mydriasis. Regarding to the importance of increasing traffic accidents, we report the above mentioned case with the review of literatures.

A Case of Eales' disease

A Case of Eales' disease in a 36 years, old R.O.K. officer, male, is presented in this report. This patient has been suffered from Eales' disease for these 3 years. Although the recovery from this disease was occurred two times previously, it was resulted as Complete blindness of O. D. due to the Complications of this disease and poor visual acuity of O. S. on account of marked vitreous opacity and retinal hemorrhage in spite of intensive treatment with anti-tuber culous agents, steroids, varidase and subconjunctival injection of 3% Sodiumchloride solution.