Inhibitory effects of surface-grafted polylactide-co-glycolide nanoparticles on the pro-inflammatory polarization of macrophages / 대한치과재료학회지

Phosphatidylserine (PS) mimics the anti-inflammatory effect of apoptotic cells by binding to the PS receptor of macrophages. In this study, the effect of PS-modified polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) nanoparticles on macrophage polarization was investigated.PLGA nanoparticles (PLGAnPs) containing phosphatidylcholine (PC) and PS were prepared using the emulsificationsolvent-evaporation (ESE) technique and classified as follows: 1) PC 100% (PCnP); 2) PS:PC = 50:50 (PSPCnP); and 3) PS 100% (PSnP). PS-grafted PLGAnPs tended to inhibit LPS-induced morphological change into M1 macrophages and mRNA expression of the M1 markers (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12p40, CD86, and iNOS). In particular, the expressions of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-12p40 were significantly decreased in the PSPCnP group, as compared to those of the positive control and and PLGAnP groups (p<0.05). Therefore, the study results demonstrate the potential of PS-grafted PLGAnPs in attenuating inflammation and modulating the drug delivery system.

Evaluation of cytotoxicity and inflammatory tissue response of mineral trioxide aggregates containing dicalcium phosphate dihydrate / 대한치과재료학회지

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) on the biocompatibility of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). DCPD was added to MTA (OrthoMTA) to suppress the increase in pH of MTA during hardening, and the change of pH, cytotoxicity, and subcutaneous inflammation reactions in mouse model were observed. The pH of OrthoMTA and DCPD-OrthoMTA at 1st day in phosphate-buffered saline was 12.5 and 12.8, respectively. At 19th day, the pH was 11.6 (OrthoMTA) and 8.8 (DCPD-OrthoMTA). Cytotoxicity of DCPD-OrthoMTA extract was lesser than that of OrthoMTA at high concentration (above 50%) (p<0.05). No significant differences appeared in subcutaneous inflammatory reactions among ProRoot MTA, OrthoMTA and DCPD-OrthoMTA. Therefore, it is likely that there is no apparent relationship between the cytotoxicity and subcutaneous inflammation in our experimental conditions.

Evaluation of cytotoxicity and inflammatory tissue response of mineral trioxide aggregates containing dicalcium phosphate dihydrate / 대한치과재료학회지

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) on the biocompatibility of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). DCPD was added to MTA (OrthoMTA) to suppress the increase in pH of MTA during hardening, and the change of pH, cytotoxicity, and subcutaneous inflammation reactions in mouse model were observed. The pH of OrthoMTA and DCPD-OrthoMTA at 1st day in phosphate-buffered saline was 12.5 and 12.8, respectively. At 19th day, the pH was 11.6 (OrthoMTA) and 8.8 (DCPD-OrthoMTA). Cytotoxicity of DCPD-OrthoMTA extract was lesser than that of OrthoMTA at high concentration (above 50%) (p<0.05). No significant differences appeared in subcutaneous inflammatory reactions among ProRoot MTA, OrthoMTA and DCPD-OrthoMTA. Therefore, it is likely that there is no apparent relationship between the cytotoxicity and subcutaneous inflammation in our experimental conditions.

Retraction: Non-specific Immune Response of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) by Dietary Heat-inactivated Potential Probiotics. Immune Network 2008;8(3):67-74

I deeply regret but request a retraction of our paper published in Immune Network.

Retraction: Non-specific Immune Response of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) by Dietary Heat-inactivated Potential Probiotics. Immune Network 2008;8(3):67-74

I deeply regret but request a retraction of our paper published in Immune Network.

Nutcracker Syndrome Diagnosed with 3-Dimensional Computed Tomography Angiography

We report a case of nutcracker syndrome diagnosed with 3-dimensional computed tomography angiography (3-D CTA). Nutcracker syndrome had been confirmed by conventional venography until recent years. Nowadays, with the development of imaging techniques, color Doppler sonogram and 3-D CTA are replacing venography for the diagnosis of nutcracker syndrome. The patient, a 20-year-old male, had abrupt gross hematuria and left abdominal pain 6 months previously and intermittent microscopic hematuria thereafter. Including renal biopsy, the results of conventional hematuria study showed no abnormalities. 3-D CTA showed left renal vein compression between the abdominal aorta and superior mesenteric artery and collateral veins. The angle and distance between the superior mesenteric artery and aorta at the level of the left renal vein were 35degrees and 3.0 mm, respectively. We diagnosed nutcracker syndrome and later confirmed the diagnosis with venography.

Essential Oil Prepared from Cymbopogon citrates Exerted an Antimicrobial Activity Against Plant Pathogenic and Medical Microorganisms

Essential oils are mixtures of volatile, lipophilic compounds originating from plants. Some essential oils have useful biological activities including antimicrobial, spasmolytic, antiplasmodial, and insect-repelling activities. In this study, we tested the antimicrobial activity of essential oil prepared from the aromatic plant, Cymbopogon citrates, against three important plant pathogenic and medical microorganisms, Pectobacterium carotovorum, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and Aspergillus niger. It effectively inhibited the growth of the bacterium, Pectobacterium carotovorum, in a dose-dependent fashion, and 0.5% of the oil inhibited the growth of bacteria completely. Similarly, the essential oil inhibited the growth of plant pathogenic fungus, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and the addition of 1% of essential oil completely inhibited the growth of fungus even after 5 days of culture. Finally, it effectively inhibited the growth of the medically and industrially important fungal species, Aspergillus spp. These results suggest that the essential oil from Cymbopogon citrates may be an environmentally safe alternative to inhibit antimicrobial agents for various uses.

Initial Experience with Endoscopic Holmium: YAG Laser Urethrotomy for Incomplete Urethral Stricture

PURPOSE: Endoscopic holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho:YAG) laser urethrotomy is an alternative method in the management of urethral strictures. We report our initial experience in 15 cases of evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of the holmium laser for treating incomplete urethral strictures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Endoscopic holmium laser urethrotomy was primarily performed on 15 patients with incomplete urethral stricture. Exclusion criteria were complete urethral stricture and previous treatment of urethral stricture. Retrograde urethrography and uroflowmetry were performed preoperatively and were carried out as follow-up studies postoperatively. RESULTS: Successful results without recurrence were achieved in 8 of 15 patients. When we classified the results by stricture length, the success rate was 80% in strictures less than 2 cm, whereas there was no therapeutic effect in strictures over 2 cm. When we classified the results by etiology, the number of successful results in strictures with an inflammatory, trauma, iatrogenic, or unknown cause was 2 (2/8), 3 (3/4), 2 (2/2), and 1 (1/1), respectively. In 7 patients who failed treatment, we repeated holmium laser urethrotomy in 5 patients and urethroplasty in 2 patients. No operative complications occurred in any patients. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic holmium laser urethrotomy is a safe and effective minimally invasive therapeutic modality in cases of stricture less than 2 cm. Further data from long-term follow-up are necessary to compare the success rate with that of conventional urethrotomy and urethroplasty.

Korean Mistletoe (Viscum album Coloratum) Extract Induces Eel (Anguilla japonica) Non-specific Immunity

BACKGROUND: The immunomodulatory effects of Korean mistletoe (Viscum album Coloratum) on the innate immune responses of eel (Anguilla japonica) were studied. METHODS: Mistletoe, Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA), or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as a control was injected into eel peritoneal cavities. RESULTS: Nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT)-positive cells in the head kidney of eel were significantly augmented by the second day post-injection of mistletoe. Reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) were more produced in mistletoe-injected fish kidney leucocytes than in FCA-injected ones. The level of lysozyme activity in the serum of fish 2 days after injection with mistletoe was also significantly higher than that in the serum of the control fish. The optimal concentration of mistletoe in inducing the highest serum lysozyme activity was revealed to 500microgram/200 g of fish. In phagocytic activity assay, mistletoe-sensitized eel kidney phagocytes captured more zymosan than did the control fish. CONCLUSION: Korean mistletoe appeared to be a good activator of the non-specific immune responses of eel.

Non-specific Immune Response of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) by Dietary Heat-inactivated Potential Probiotics

BACKGROUND: The effects of the dietary administration of two heat-inactivated whole bacteria from the Vibrionaceae family, singly or combined, on innate immune response of the rainbow trout were studied. The two bacteria (Pdp11 and 51M6), which were obtained from the skin of rainbow trout, showed in vitro characteristics that suggested they could be considered as potential fish probiotics. METHODS: The fish were fed four different diets: control (non-supplemented), or diets supplemented with heat-inactivated bacteria at 10(8) cfu/g Pdp11, 10(8) cfu/g 51M6 or with 0.5x10(8) cfu/g Pdp11 plus 0.5x10(8) cfu/g 51M6 for 4 weeks. Six fish were sampled at weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4, and then the main humoral (natural haemolytic complement activity and serum peroxidase content) and cellular innate immune responses (leucocyte peroxidase content, phagocytosis, respiratory burst and cytotoxicity) were evaluated. RESULTS: The serum peroxidase content and the natural haemolytic complement activity increased with time, reaching the highest values in the third and fourth weeks of feeding, respectively. The phagocytic ability of specimens fed the mixture of the two inactivated bacteria was significantly higher than in the controls after 2 and 3 weeks of treatment. The same activity increased significantly in rainbow trout fed the Pdp11 diet for 2 weeks or the 51M6 diet for 3 weeks. Respiratory burst activity was unaffected by all the experimental diets at all times assayed. Cytotoxic activity had significantly increased after 3 weeks in fish fed the 51M6 diet. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated the usefulness of incorporating inactivated probiotic bacteria into fish diets.

Acoustic differences according to the epileptic focus in benignb partial epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes patients / 소아과

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the speech problems in benign rolandic epilepsy (BRE) according to the seizure focus in EEG and semiology. METHODS: Twenty three patients [right origin (13 patients) or left side (10 patients)] who met the BRE criteria by International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) were prospectively enrolled. We excluded the patients who had abnormal MRI or showed both side spikes in EEG. Computerized Speech Lab was used to assess the speech characteristics of the patients. RESULTS: The error pattern of laryngeal articulation in BRE was exclusively substitution of stop consonants, these errors showed more frequent in the left group (16.0% vs 25.5%). Voice onset time (VOT) of stop consonants and Total duration (TD) of word in both groups were prolonged than normal control group, especially in left group (P0.05). Duration of counting (5 to 9) in left group slower than right group (8.6+/-1.7 vs 7.9+/-1.8 sec). CONCLUSION: Our data suggested that interictal spikes and seizures in either centrotemporal sides, especially left side group, may induce speech problems. We recommend the logopedic and phoniatric evaluations of speech in BRE patients.

The Structural Properties of Israeli Carp ( Cyprinus carpio L. ) Immunoglobulin / 대한면역학회지

Serum immunoglobulins from Israeli carp (I. carp) were purified using affinity chromatography. Fish were immunized with purified mouse IgG, and the specific fish antibodies purified from the immune serum on a mouse IgG-immobilized agarose gel. Rabbit anti-carp Ig (Raclg) antibodies were produced following hyperimmunization with mlgG specific I. Carp Ab. SDS-PAGE analysis under reducing condition showed that I. carp Ig (clg) were composed of two u-like heavy chains with about 82 and 50 kD, respectively and one light chain with about 25 kD. On immunoblotting analysis, however, Raclg failed to react with light chain. When both protein A and protein G purified normal clg were compared with mlgG specific clg, no significant structural differences among them were observed. To investigate if there is any homology between other fish Ig molecules, cross-reactivity of Raclg against Ig molecules from 6 different fish sera and mouse control serum was checked on immunoblotting analysis. As a result, Raclg responded to only carp and tilapia Ig molecules, indicating that both tilapia and carp are very closely associated, especially, in the genetic basis of immunoglobulin structure. In flow cytometry study, Raclg appeared to recognize 45.8% of carp Ig+, 14.5% of catfish Ig+ and <5% of tilapia Ig+ cells. The result suggest the heterogeniety between receptor immunoglobulins on B-like lymphocytes and soluble immunoglobulins in serum. It is crucial to obtain pure fish immunoglobulins to produce reagent antibodies as tools for the study of their specific immune response.

Effects of Sodium Alginate on the Non-Specfic Defense System of the Common Carp ( Cyprinus carpio L. ) / 대한면역학회지

Carp which receive intraperitoneal injections of sodium alginate show a high survival rate after being challenged with Edwardsiella tarda. To elucidate the immunoenhancement by sodium alginate, its effects on the non-specific defense system of carp were investigated. Sodium alginate had little influence either on the activity of the alternative complement pathway or on the phagocytic and respiratory burst activities of head kidney phagocytes (HKP), yet it greatly enhanced the migration of HKP to the peritoneal cavity (the site of injection) and concurrently elevated their phagocytic activity. The number of phagocytes mobilized by sodium alginate was 2 to 50 times greater than that by the well-known peritoneal exudate cell-eliciting agents when injected at the same dose. Accordingly, it is highly probable that the early elimination of challenge bacteria by such mobilized and activated phagocytes was responsible for the high survival rate of the alginateinjected fish. In chemotaxis assays, it was revealed that sodium alginate stimulated sorne leukocyte subpopulation (s) within the peritoneal cavity to produce and/or secrete chemotactic factor (s), while concurrently enhancing the sensitivity of HKP to the factor (s).

Properties of Israeli carp ( Cyprinus carpio L . ) sIgM + and sIgM - Cells in a Cell - mediated Immunity / 대한면역학회지

No abstract available.

The Purification of Fish B - like Cells and Their Functional Properties / 대한면역학회지

Serum immunoglobulins from carp Cyprinus carpio were purified using affinity chromatography methods. Fish were immunized with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and the specific fish antibodies purified from the immune serum on a BSA-irnmobilized Sepharose 4B gel. The analysis of the immunoglobulins by reducing SDS-PAGE showed them to be composed of a single p,-like heavy chain of 76 kd and light chain of 28 kd. Polyclonal rabbit antibodies against the fish IgM were produced to further analyze IgM' B-like cells from carp. Irrespective of a BSA immunization, the distribution rates of IgM' B-like cells in the head kidney and spleen were about 49% and 24%, respectively. The IgM' cells were magnetically purified by using Mini-Macs column. To study whether the purified IgM' cells are B-like lymphocytes, those cells were cultured with hrIL-4 (50 U/ml) for 48 hr at 25C in 5% CO, incubator. And the titer of antibodies secreted from IgM' and IgM cells was analyzed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We found the IgM' cells produced a greater amount of antibodies to BSA than both IgM cells and negative control. Unexpectedly, however, moderate amount of antibodies were also detected in the supernatant of IgM cell population, indicating the difference of humoral immune responses between a fish and mammalian.