Polysaccharide from Hizikia Fusiformis Enhances the Immunomodulatory Activity of Macrophages

Background and Objectives@#Hizikia fusiformis is widely used in oriental health food in Japan, China, and Korea, and is known for its anti-oxidation properties.Materials and Method: In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory effects and mechanisms of Hizikia fusiformis (H. fusiformis) extracts in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells. RAW 264.7 cells were incubated in the presence of different concentrations of the viscozyme component of H. fusiformis (1, 2, 5, and 10 μg/mL), and changes in expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (GM-CSF, iNOS, VEGF, and COX-2) were evaluated by real-time PCR and immunoblotting. In addition, the associated signaling pathway including phospho (p)-pNF-κB 65, p-pIkBa, p-p38, and p-p44/42 was also evaluated. @*Results@#The viscozyme component of H. fusiformis downregulated the expression of GM-CSF, iNOS, VEGF, and COX-2 mRNA. The augmented NO and ROS production was decreased by administration of H. fusiformis. The signal intensity of p-pNF-κB 65, p-pIkBa, p-p38, and p-p44/42 protein activated by LPS was ameliorated by administration of the viscozyme fraction in RAW 264.7 cells. @*Conclusion@#These results suggest that H. fusiformis has potential as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory diseases.

Effects of Psychosocial Interventions on Cortisol and Immune Parameters in Patients with Cancer: A Meta-analysis

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate the effects of psychosocial interventions on cortisol and immune response in adult patients with cancer. METHODS: MEDLINE via PubMed, Cochrane Library CENTRAL, EMBASE, CINAHL and domestic electronic databases were searched. Twenty controlled trials (11 randomized and 9 non-randomized trials) met the inclusion criteria with a total of 862 participants. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane's Risk of Bias for randomized studies and the Risk of Bias Assessment tool for non randomized studies. Data were analyzed using the RevMan 5.2.11 program of Cochrane library. RESULTS: Overall, study quality was moderate to high. The weighted average effect size across studies was -0.32 (95% CI [-0.56, -0.07], p=.010, I2=45%) for cortisol concentration, -0.62 (95%CI [-0.96,-0.29], p<.001, I2=0%) for T lymphocyte (CD3) and -0.45 (95%CI [-0.74, -0.16], p=.003, I2=0%) for Th lymphocyte (CD4) numbers. Psychosocial interventions were not effective for Tc lymphocyte (CD4), NK cell, monocyte, and cytokine response. CONCLUSION: Although these results provide only small evidence of successful immune modulation, they support the conclusion that psychosocial interventions can assist cancer patients in reducing emotional distress and improving immune response.

The Effects of DISC Behavior Styles of Office Workers on Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment and Job Performance / 산업간호학회지

PURPOSE: In this research, we recognized the effects of DISC behavior styles of office workers on job satisfaction, organizational commitment and job performance, and tried to present a basic data for designing an efficient working system and enhancing the quality of personal life by applying them in the real office work environment. METHODS: A survey was conducted for 315 office workers in D city from Jan. 28th to May 30th 2010, and the collected data were analyzed with the SPSS/WIN 17.0. RESULTS: 1. The differences on job satisfaction, organizational commitment and job performance according to the general characteristics of subjects, were significant except for the gender in job satisfaction and education in organizational commitment. 2. Relationships in job satisfaction, organizational commitment and job performance of subjects, showed positive correlation. 3. Job satisfaction, organizational commitment and job performance according to the DISC behavior styles, were generally not significant. However, some questions were characterized by the DISC types. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to seek an efficient design method by identifying the differences of individual behavior types to enhance job satisfaction, organizational commitment and job performance of office workers, and such an effective job design should be made at the organizational level.

The Effects of DISC Behavior Styles of Office Workers on Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment and Job Performance / 한국직업건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: In this research, we recognized the effects of DISC behavior styles of office workers on job satisfaction, organizational commitment and job performance, and tried to present a basic data for designing an efficient working system and enhancing the quality of personal life by applying them in the real office work environment. METHODS: A survey was conducted for 315 office workers in D city from Jan. 28th to May 30th 2010, and the collected data were analyzed with the SPSS/WIN 17.0. RESULTS: 1. The differences on job satisfaction, organizational commitment and job performance according to the general characteristics of subjects, were significant except for the gender in job satisfaction and education in organizational commitment. 2. Relationships in job satisfaction, organizational commitment and job performance of subjects, showed positive correlation. 3. Job satisfaction, organizational commitment and job performance according to the DISC behavior styles, were generally not significant. However, some questions were characterized by the DISC types. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to seek an efficient design method by identifying the differences of individual behavior types to enhance job satisfaction, organizational commitment and job performance of office workers, and such an effective job design should be made at the organizational level.

Investigation of Genetic Evidence for Sasang Constitution Types in South Korea

In Sasang constitutional medicine, both disease susceptibility and drug response are considered to be related to the characteristics of an individual's physiology and psychology: a theory which is central to traditional Korean medicine. Based on such observable characteristics, Sasang constitutional medicine classifies people into four constitutional types. Genetic studies of Sasang constitution would help reveal the inheritance patterns and models of the typological traits and, moreover, help with traditional medical diagnosis and treatment. To investigate the heritable aspect of Sasang constitution, we collected various pedigrees from South Korea. The study population has 101 pedigrees composed of 593 individuals. The determination of the Sasang constitution type of each individual was performed by doctors who diagnose the Sasang constitutional type of individuals as part of their professional practice. We calculated estimates of familial correlation and heritability. Parent-Offspring pairs showed the strongest familial correlation of Sasang constitutional type, with the correlation values of 0.21 and 0.28, followed by sibling pairs with the value ranging between 0.14 and 0.25. From the heritability analysis conducted with the Variance-Component method, the heritability of TE (Tae-Eum) type, SY (So-Yang) type, and SE (So-Eum) type were 55%, 41%, and 47%, respectively. This pattern of heritability was consistent with different set of analyses, which suggest the robustness of our result. Our result clearly shows that the Sasang constitution type is heritable, and further genetic analysis based on our result will shed light on the biological mechanism of Sasang constitution.