The Immunomodulatory Activity of Mori folium, the Leaf of Morus alba L., in RAW 264.7 Macrophages In Vitro

BACKGROUND: Immunoregulatory elements have emerged as useful immunotherapeutic agents against cancer. In traditional medicine, Mori folium, the leaf of Morus alba L. (Moraceae), has been used for various medicinal purposes; however, the immunomodulatory effects have not been fully identified. We evaluated the immunoenhancing potential of water extract of Mori folium (WEMF) in murine RAW264.7 macrophages. METHODS: RAW264.7 cells were treated with WEMF for 24 hours and cell viability was detected by an MTT method. Nitric oxide (NO) levels in the culture supernatants were assayed using Griess reagent. The productions of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and immune-related cytokines was measured using ELISA detection kits. The mRNA and protein expression levels of Inducible NO synthase, COX-2, and cytokines were assayed by reverse transcription-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The effect of WEMF on phagocytic activity was measured using a Phagocytosis Assay Kit. RESULTS: WEMF significantly stimulated the production of NO and PGE2 as immune response parameters at noncytotoxic concentrations, which was associated with the increased expression of inducible NO synthase and COX-2. The release and expression of cytokines, such as TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-10, were also significantly increased in response to treatment with WEMF. Moreover, WEMF promoted the macrophagic differentiation of RAW264.7 cells and the resulting phagocytosis activity. CONCLUSIONS: WEMF has the potential to modulate the immune function by regulating immunological parameters. Further studies are needed to identify the active compounds and to support the use of WEMF as an immune stimulant.

Development of 3D statistical mandible models for cephalometric measurements

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to provide sex-matched three-dimensional (3D) statistical shape models of the mandible, which would provide cephalometric parameters for 3D treatment planning and cephalometric measurements in orthognathic surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects used to create the 3D shape models of the mandible included 23 males and 23 females. The mandibles were segmented semi-automatically from 3D facial CT images. Each individual mandible shape was reconstructed as a 3D surface model, which was parameterized to establish correspondence between different individual surfaces. The principal component analysis (PCA) applied to all mandible shapes produced a mean model and characteristic models of variation. The cephalometric parameters were measured directly from the mean models to evaluate the 3D shape models. The means of the measured parameters were compared with those from other conventional studies. The male and female 3D statistical mean models were developed from 23 individual mandibles, respectively. RESULTS: The male and female characteristic shapes of variation produced by PCA showed a large variability included in the individual mandibles. The cephalometric measurements from the developed models were very close to those from some conventional studies. CONCLUSION: We described the construction of 3D mandibular shape models and presented the application of the 3D mandibular template in cephalometric measurements. Optimal reference models determined from variations produced by PCA could be used for craniofacial patients with various types of skeletal shape.

Intrauterine Femur Fracture in Premature Neonate-A Case Report / 대한주산의학회잡지

Intrauterine fracture in a neonate is rare but can occur without trauma to the mother and can be caused by genetic factor or external pressure, or skeletal disorder. Authors experienced a case of intrauterine femur fracture in a female premature patient which was discovered at birth. The patient was born at 28+3 weeks by a cesarean section. Her birth weight was 900 g. Amniotic fluid was clear and there was no amniotic membrane adhesion. The mother was 31 years old and had preeclampsia but had no other previous medical history. She had no experience of trauma in daily activities and abnormal findings during antenatal care. On x-ray finding taken after birth, there was callus formation at the epiphysis of the right distal femur. We found no shortening of the limbs during physical examination of the neonate but there were edematous change at the distal portion of the right thigh. She had no neurologic abnormality. We report a case of intrauterine femur fracture with no special history in the mother.

Intrauterine Femur Fracture in Premature Neonate-A Case Report / 대한주산의학회잡지

Intrauterine fracture in a neonate is rare but can occur without trauma to the mother and can be caused by genetic factor or external pressure, or skeletal disorder. Authors experienced a case of intrauterine femur fracture in a female premature patient which was discovered at birth. The patient was born at 28+3 weeks by a cesarean section. Her birth weight was 900 g. Amniotic fluid was clear and there was no amniotic membrane adhesion. The mother was 31 years old and had preeclampsia but had no other previous medical history. She had no experience of trauma in daily activities and abnormal findings during antenatal care. On x-ray finding taken after birth, there was callus formation at the epiphysis of the right distal femur. We found no shortening of the limbs during physical examination of the neonate but there were edematous change at the distal portion of the right thigh. She had no neurologic abnormality. We report a case of intrauterine femur fracture with no special history in the mother.