Tree Pollen Sensitization and Cross-Reaction of Children with Allergic Rhinitis or Asthma / 고신대학교의과대학학술지

OBJECTIVES: Tree pollen causes allergic rhinitis and asthma. We investigated children who diagnosed as rhinitis or asthma, living in Busan, for tree allergen sensitization, component allergen, oral allergy syndrome, and the relationship between pollen counts and allergen sensitization.METHODS: Pollen were collected in Busan, from January 1 to December 31, 2017, using a Rotorod sampler and enumerated using a microscope. We conducted a study of children with rhinitis or asthma at Busan St. Mary's Hospital in 2017, administered an ISAAC questionnaire, and an oral allergy syndrome survey. Serum specific Ig E tests were performed.RESULTS: Among the 57 patients, the mean age was 9.3 years. The pollen counts in decreasing order were as follows: pine, alder, oak, juniper, beech, ginkgo, and birch. For sensitization, birch and alder 35.1%, Japanese cedar 19.3%, juniper 17.5%, pine 10.5%, and Japanese cypress 8.2%. The component Ig E was tested in 27 patients. Bet v 1 had a high correlation with birch, alder, and peach. Bet v 2 showed a statistically significant correlation with all tree pollen except cypress. Bet v 4 did not have any apparent correlation. Bet v 6 had the same pattern as Bet v 2, but correlation coefficient was higher than that of Bet v 2. Oral allergy syndrome was noted in 7 patients, including peach, peanut, apple, tomato, kiwi, and sesame.CONCLUSIONS: Alder and juniper are clinically important tree pollens in Busan. These pollens cause sensitization to birch and Japanese cedar by cross-reaction.

Pollen/Fruit Syndrome: Clinical Relevance of the Cypress Pollen Allergenic Gibberellin-Regulated Protein

A pollen/food-associated syndrome (PFAS) has been described between peach and cypress pollen. Cross-reactive allergens were characterized which belong to the Gibberellin-regulated protein (GRP) family, BP14 in cypress pollen and Pru p 7 in peach. GRP are small cationic protein with anti-microbial properties. A patient suffering from a peach/cypress syndrome was explored clinically and biologically using 2 types of immunoglobulin E (IgE) multiarray microchip, immunoblots and a basophil activation test to assess the clinical relevance of various extracts and purified allergens from fruits or cypress pollen. In addition to PR10 sensitization, the patient showed specific IgE to Pru p 7, BP14 and allergen from pomegranate. These last 3 allergens and allergenic sources are able to induce ex vivo basophil activation characterized by the monitoring of the expression of CD63 and CD203c, both cell surface markers correlated with a basophil mediator release. Up to 100% of cells expressed CD203c at 50 ng/mL of BP14 protein. In contrast, snakin-1, a GRP from potato sharing 82% sequence identity with Pru p 7 did not activate patient's basophils. These results strongly suggest that, like Pru p 7, BP14 is a clinically relevant allergenic GRP from pollen. Allergen members of this newly described protein family are good candidates for PFAS where no cross-reactive allergens have been characterized.

Involvement of cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants-specific IgE in pollen allergy testing

BACKGROUND: Specific IgE antibodies against the low-molecular-weight carbohydrate antigen that does not bridge IgE molecules on mast cells are not associated with clinical symptoms. Cross reactivity can be determined in allergen-specific IgE detection assays when the carbohydrate structures between pollen allergens and plant derived food allergens are similar; in such cases, false positive results for grain or legume allergens can be reported for pollen allergic patients who are not sensitized to those allergens. This phenomenon arises owing to the presence of cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the impact of CCD interference on the results for pollen allergen-specific IgE antibodies in the general adult population and to perform CCD inhibition tests evaluating the involvement of CCD on samples positive to pollen allergens. METHODS: Serum samples from 322 subjects were tested for IgE antibodies to pollens and CCD. The research subjects were given questionnaires about pollen allergic symptoms to help assess the presence of allergies. Allergen IgE antibodies for Japanese cedar, Japanese cypress, orchard grass, ragweed, MUXF, bromelain, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), and ascorbate oxidase (ASOD) were analyzed. RESULTS: It was observed that among individuals who tested positive to any of the pollen allergens, the positive ratio of CCD-specific IgE antibody was the highest for HRP (13.5%–50.0%). The results from the inhibition tests revealed that CCD was marginally present. Although IgE antibodies for cedar pollen did not react with CCD, IgE antibodies for Japanese cypress, orchard grass, and ragweed might be detected by the presence of CCD. CONCLUSION: The results of the inhibition tests revealed the obvious presence of CCD suggesting its involvement. Considering these findings, careful evaluation of patient IgE results should be performed for Japanese cypress, orchard grass, and ragweed.

Protective effect of different solvent extracts from platycladi cacumen carbonisatum on LPS-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells damage / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the protective effect of different solvent extracts from Platycladi Cacumen Carbonisatum (PCC) on LPS-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell damage, and discuss the effective extracts from PCC for protecting vascular endothelial cells and their possible active substances.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>HUVECs were cultured in vitro; And LPS was adopted to establish the human umbilical vein endothelial cell damage model. MTT colorimetric method was used to determine cell activity; Xanthine oxidase method was adopted to detect the activity of superoxide dismutases (SOD) in the cell culture fluid; The TBA method was adopted to determine the content of malondialdehyde (MDA); The nitrate reductase method was used to detect the content of nitric oxide (NO); And UPLC/Q-TOF-MS was used to analyze the difference in flavonoids components among different solvent extracts from PCC.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with the model group, N-butanol extract (100 mg x L(-1)) and ethylacetate extract (100, 50 mg x L(-1)) could significantly enhance the cell activity (P < 0.05), significantly reduce MDA and NO content, and increase SOD activity (P < 0.05). Among the four solvent extracts, the content of total flavonids were the highest in ethyl acetate extract, the lowest in water extract and equivalent in N-butanol and petroleum benzene extract. In terms of the contents of quercitrin and myricitrin, N-butanol extract were second only to ethyl acetate extract.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ethylacetate extract from PCC has a notable antagonistic effect in the damage induced by LPS to HUVECs, and thus is the most effective extract from PCC in protecting vascular endothelial cells. Quercitrin, myricitrin or multiple flavonoids that it contains may be their active substances for protecting vascular endothelial cells. Its mechanism may be related to the decrease in the production of NO and the inhibition of lipid peroxidation in cells.</p>

Evaluación de la virulencia de hongos entomopatógenos del pulgón del ciprés, de dos regiones ecológicas de Chile. II. / Evaluation of the virulence of entomopathogenic fungi of cypress aphid, from two ecological regions of Chile. II

El pulgón del ciprés Cinara cupressi, se considera uno de los insectos invasores más dañinos del mundo, ha provocado una gran mortalidad en especies Cupresáceas nativas y exóticas en varios países. En Chile, fue detectado el año 2003 y para el año 2008 esta plaga ya se encontraba distribuida en todo el país, afectando especies cupresáceas forestales exóticas como Cupressus macrocarpa y especies nativas, tales como, Austrocedrus chilensis (Ciprés de la Cordillera) y Fitzroya cupressoides (Alerce), que están categorizadas en el estado de conservación vulnerable y en peligro respectivamente. El área forestal de Chile ha potenciado y privilegiado el uso de controladores biológicos como parte del manejo integrado de plagas. Es por esto que se ha utilizado el parasitoide Pauesia juniperorum. Sin embargo, se han detectado bajos niveles de parasitismo. Se propone el uso de hongos entomopatógenos como alternativa y complemento al control biológico. Se prospectaron hongos entomopatógenos en la Región ecológica mediterránea per-húmeda y en la Región oceánica con influencia mediterránea. Como resultado se han identificado seis géneros de hongos descritos como patógenos de insectos. Sin embargo, bajo condiciones de laboratorio sólo cepas del género Verticillium fueron virulentas, causando sobre el 80 por ciento de mortalidad acumulada a los 7 días. No hubo diferencias significativas entre las cepas de Verticillium y un producto químico (pirimicarb) aplicado como control, aunque el hongo fue más lento. Las cepas más virulentas fueron identificadas como Verticillium lecanii, Ve 1 y Ve 2, con un TL50 de: 3.2 y 3.1 días y un DL50 : 1.24 y 1.37 conidias mL-1 respectivamente, sugiriendo el uso de estos hongos para controlar C. cupressi en Chile.

The cypress aphid, Cinara cupressi, is considered one of the most important invasive species causing high mortality in exotic and native species of Cupressaceae in several countries in the world. In Chile it was detected in 2003 and in 2008 was distributed throughout the country affecting the exotic forest species Cupressus macrocarpa and the native forest species Austrocedrus chilensis (Ciprés de la Cordillera) and Fitzroya cupressoides (Alerce), both classified as vulnerable and endangered species respectively. Efforts to their management have focused on biological control by using the parasitoid Pauesia juniperorum but until now it has not reached satisfactory control. We propose using entomopathogenic fungi, as alternative and complementary biocontrol. Entomopathogenic fungi were prospected in the ecological region Mediterranean per-humid and in the ecological region Oceanic with mediterranean influence in both colonies of C. cupressi. There were identified six genera of fungi described as insect pathogens. However, in laboratory assays only Verticillium strains were virulent, causing about 80 percent cumulative mortality at seven days. There were not significant differences among strains of Verticillium and chemical (pirimicarb) applied as control, although fungi were slower. The most virulent strains were two Verticillium lecanii, Ve 1 and Ve 2, with an LT50 of: 3.2 and 3.1 days and LD50 : 1.24 and 1.37 conidia mL-1 respectively, suggesting the use of these fungi to control C. cupressi in Chile.

Effect of some botanical materials on certain biological aspects of the house fly, Musca domestica L.

The effects of Lantana camara [leaves], Pelargonium zonale [leaves], Cupressus macrocarpa [leaves], Cyperus rotundus [whole plant] and Acacia nilotica [seeds] powders on some biological aspects of house fly, M. domestica L. were tested. The effects of three lethal concentrations LC25, LC50 and LC75 on the larval duration, pupation percent, pupal weight, pupal duration, adult emergence percent, sex ratio, adult longevity, and fecundity were determined. The induced malformed larvae, pupae and adults were recorded and photographed. The powders of the five plants were found to have promising effects in controlling this insect

Prospección de hongos entomopatógenos del pulgón del ciprés en dos regiones ecológicas de Chile: I / Prospection of entomopathogenic fungi of cypress aphid in two ecological regions of Chile: I

El pulgón del ciprés (Cinara cupressi), es una plaga exótica distribuida en todo el territorio continental chileno que ha provocado daños importantes tanto enespecies forestales introducidas como nativas. Se han estudiado algunos aspectos de la biología de estepulgón, mediante control biológico y productos químicos, los cuales no presentan actualmente resultadossatisfactorios. Durante el tiempo que esta plaga se ha establecido en Chile, no se ha realizado un estudio sistemático de hongos entomopatógenos asociados aeste pulgón, aunque se cuenta con antecedentes de un control promisorio en pulgones con estos agentes enotros países. Con el objetivo inicial de aislar en una primera fase del presente estudio hongos patogénicospotenciales para el control biológico de C. cupressi, iniciamos su búsqueda en dos regiones ecológicas del sur de Chile (Región ecológica Mediterránea Per-Húmeda y Región ecológica Oceánica con influencia Mediterránea), seleccionándose en cada una de ellas 6sitios de muestreo donde en cada uno se recolectaron 10 ramas con colonias de pulgones que fueron mantenidas en una cámara bioclimática (20 +/- 2 °C, 16:8 h) por 7 días, para estimular el desarrollo fúngico. Se aislaron integrantes de lo géneros Verticillium, Paecilomyces(ambos con mayor frecuencia de presencia), Fusarium y un entomophthoral en estudio.

The cypress aphid (Cinara cupressi) is an exotic plague distributed throughout the Chilean continental territory which has caused significant damage both inintroduced forest species as well as in native ones. Some characteristics as to the biology of this aphid have beenstudied by means of biological control and chemicals yet they have not revealed any satisfactory results up tonow. During the time of occurrence of this plague in Chile systematic study on entomopathogenic fungi associated to this aphid has failed to be accomplishedalthough information about a promissory control in aphids with these agents has been reported in other countries. In order to carry out an isolation of potential pathogenic fungi for the biological control of C.cupressiin the first phase of this present research, we began to look for them in two ecological regions from southernChile (Ecological Mediterranean Per-humid Region and Ecological Oceanic Region having Mediterraneaninfluence). Six sampling sites were selected in each of them while 10 branches infected with aphid colonies were kept in a bioclimatic chamber (20+2ºC, 16:8 h) for 7 days to stimulate fungal growth. Fungi of generaVerticillium, Paecilomyces (both showing the highest occurrence frequency), Fusarium and an entomophtoral under study were isolated.

Anatomical studies on cones of cupressus sempervirens Linn

The cones of Cupressus sempervirens Linn, belong to the family Cupressaceae were collected from Government Botanical Garden, Ootacamund and dried under shade. The dried cones were powdered and used for physico-chemical constants determination. The macroscopical and microscopical characters were also evaluated [by using fresh cones] and reported. The anatomical parameters of the cones were studied first time on this plant

Anatomical studies on cones of Cupressus sempervirens Linn.

The cones of Cupressus sempervirens Linn., belonging to the family Cupressaceae were collected from Govt. Botanical Garden, Ootacamund and dried under shade. The dried cones were powdered and used for the determination of physico-chemical constants. The macroscopical and microscopical characters were also evaluated by using fresh cones and reported. The anatomical parameters of the cones were studied for the first time from this plant

Studies of some Egyptian medicinal plants as natural wealth in regression of hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]

The present investigation was designed to valuate the antiangiogenic efficacy of some local medicinal plants against liver cancer induced by diethylnitrosamine [DEN] methanolic extracts of cupressus sempervirens, chelidonium majus and tropaeolum majus were used in this study. Vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], alpha-Feto-protein [AFP], ferritin, alanine transaminase [ALT], aspartate transaminase [AST], Alkaline phosphatase [ALP], superoxide dismutase [SOD] and Glutathione peroxidase [GPx] were determined in blood while Nitric oxide [NO] was determined in liver tissue homogenate. Furthermore histopathological investigations ere done. The results showed that the treatment with methanolic extracts of all selected plants led to a significant reduction in the level of all the desired biochemical parameters, while the administration of cupressus sempervirens only improved the histopathological pictures of liver architecture. These results suggest a beneficial effect of these plant extracts against experimentally-induced hepatocellular carcinoma and the possible mechanism of the protective effects may be partly due to the antioxidant activity of these plants

Effect of Aromatherapy Program on Lowering BMI and Serum Estrogen Level in Obese Post-menopause Women / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of aromatherapy program on lowering body mass index and serum estrogen in obese post- menopause women. METHODS: One group Pretest-posttest experimental design was used. All subjects received intervention of aromatherapy program. The participants used 3% grapefruit oil, cypress and three other kinds of oil. BMI and Serum estrogen level of the participants' were measured by ZEUS 9.9(Resource Medical, 2004) and PACKARD Gamma Counter-Cobra II RI Manual(USA, 1997) before and after interventions being applied at the P. hospital. Data were analyzed by paired t-test using the SPSS/PC+Win 12 Version. RESULT: The level of serum estrogen and BMI of the participants were significantly decreased after aromathetapy program. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the effect of aromatheapy program could be utilized as an effective intervention to reduce BMI and serum estrogen level in obese post-menopause women.

In vitro antimicrobial activity and antagonistic effect of essential oils from plant species.

Kahramanmaras, is a developing city located in the southern part of Turkey Thymus eigii (M. Zohary and RH. Davis) Jalas, Pinus nigraAm. sub sp pallasiana and Cupressus sempervirens L. are the useful plants of the Kahramanmaras province and have been understudy since 2004 for the traditional uses of plants empiric drug, spice, herbal tea industry herbal gum and fuel. The study was designed to examine the antimicrobial activities of essential oils of these plants by the disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) methods. In addition, antimicrobial activity of Thymus eigii was researched by effects when it was used together with antibiotics and even when it was combined with other essential oils. When the results of this study were compared with vancomycin (30 mcg) and erytromycin (15 mcg) standards, it was found that Thymus eigii essential oil was particularly found to possess strongerantimicrobial activity whereas other essential oils showed susceptible or moderate activity However, antimicrobial activity changed also by in vitro interactions between antibiotics and Thymus eigii essential oil, also between essential oils of these plants and that of Thymus eigii causing synergic, additive, antagonist effect.

Effect of Aromatherapy Massage on Abdominal Fat and Body Image in Post-menopausal Women / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of aromatherapy massage on abdominal fat and body image in post-menopausal women. METHOD: A Non-equivalent control group pre-post test Quasi-experimental design of random assignment was applied. All subjects received one hour of whole body massage as treatment by the same researcher every week for 6 weeks. Participants also massaged their own abdomen two times everyday for 5 days each week for 6 weeks. The two groups used different kinds of oil. The experimental group used 3% grapefruit oil, cypress and three other kinds of oil. The control group used grapeseed oil. Data was collected before and after the treatment using Siemens Somatom Sensation 4, a tape measure and MBSRQ. Data was analyzed by ANCOVA using the SPSS/PC+Win 12 Version. RESULT: Abdominal subcutaneous fat and waist circumference in the experimental group significantly decreased after aromathetapy massage compared to the control group. Body image in the experimental group was significantly better after aromathetapy massage than in the control group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that Aromatheapy massage could be utilized as an effective intervention to reduce abdominal subcutaneous fat, waist circumference, and to improve body image in post-menopausal women.

Prevalence of antibodies to Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana in Korean Patients with Lymphadenopathy / 감염

BACKGROUND: Cat scratch disease (CSD) manifests as a self-limiting, regional lymphadenopathy, fever and constitutional symptoms following a cat scratch or close contact with cats. Bartonella henselae is a causative agent of CSD that is globally distributed. In Korea there are no case report of CSD and no reports on the seroprevalence of Bartonella henselae in patients with suspected CSD. In this study the prevalence of antibodies to Bartonella in patients with lymphadenopathies was evaluated. METHODS: We evaluated serological responses of 31 patients (8 male, 23 female) with regional lymphadenopathies. The age of the patients ranged from 6 to 76 years old (mean+/-S.D., 30.6+/-14.3 years). Final diagnoses on the lymphadenopathies were tuberculous lymphadenopathy, Kikuchi's disease, Kawasaki's disease, and viral infection, but considerable cases remained undiagnosed. All sera were examined using MRL Diagnostics Bartonella IgG indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test kits (MRL Diagnostics, Cypress, California, USA) according to the manufac-turer's instructions. RESULTS: Of the 31 patients, 21 (67.7%) patients showed positive titers of immunoglobulin G (IgG) to B. henselae (1 : 64 or higher). Twelve (38.7%) had IgG titers of 1 : 128 and four (12.9%) had titers of 1 : 256. Among these patients, three patients had a history of close contact with a cat or cat scratch. Twenty patients (64.5%) showed positive reactions against B. quintana. CONCLUSION: This study revealed possible patients with cat scratch disease, but, unlike other countries, Bartonella seropositivity was not closely associated with cat contact. The further studies should be performed in a large number of patients including a control group and be accompanied with culture or polymerase chain reaction of extirpated lymph node.