The outcome of percutaneous stent implantation in congenital heart disease: experience of a single institute.

PURPOSE: The efficacy of percutaneous stent implantation for congenital heart disease (CHD) in Korea, where stent availability is limited, has not been determined. This study evaluated the acute and midterm results of stent implantation in different CHD subgroups. METHODS: Stents were implanted in 75 patients with 81 lesions: (1) pulmonary artery stenosis (PAS) group, 56 lesions in 51 patients; (2) coarctation of the aorta (CoA) group, 5 lesions in 5 patients; (3) Fontan group, 13 lesions in 12 patients; (4) ductal stent group, 3 lesions in 3 patients; and (5) other CHD group, 4 lesions in 4 patients. Mean follow-up duration was 2.1 years (0.1-4 years). Medical records were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The minimum lumen diameter (MLD) in PAS and CoA increased from 5.0±1.9 mm and 8.4±1.6 mm to 10.1±3.6 mm and 12.3±2.5 mm, respectively (P<0.01). In the PAS group, pressure gradient decreased from 25.7±15.6 mmHg to 10.4±10.1 mmHg, and right ventricular to aortic pressure ratio from 0.56±0.21 to 0.46±0.19. In the CoA group, the pressure gradient decreased from 50±33 mmHg to 17±8 mmHg. In the ductal stent group, the MLD of the ductus increased from 2.3 mm to 4.3 mm and arterial oxygen saturation from 40%-70% to 90%. No deaths were associated with stent implantation. Stent migration occurred in 3 patients, but repositioning was successful in all. Stent redilation was performed successfully in 26 cases after 29±12 months. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous stent implantation was safe and effective, with acceptable short and mid-term outcomes in Korean CHD patients.

Short-Term Change of Exercise Capacity in Patients with Pulmonary Valve Replacement after Tetralogy of Fallot Repair.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) on exercise capacity and determine cardiopulmonary exercise (CPEX) parameters associated with improvement in right ventricle (RV) function. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed CPEX and magnetic resonance imaging parameters in a total of 245 patients who underwent PVR from January 1998 to October 2015. In addition, we analyzed the characteristics of the patients who showed improved exercise capacity after PVR. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients met the inclusion criteria for the study. CPEX parameters after PVR showed no significant changes in all patients. However, baseline predicted peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) (%) value was significantly lower in patients with significant improvement in exercise capacity after PVR, as compared to patients who showed decreased exercise capacity after PVR (60.83±10.28 vs. 75.81±13.83) (p=0.003). In addition, patients with improved exercise capacity showed a positive correlation between the change of right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) (%) and the change of anaerobic threshold (r=0.733, p=0.007); whereas, patients with decreased exercise capacity showed a negative correlation between the change of RVEF (%) and the change of predicted VO2peak (%) (r=-0.575, p=0.020). CONCLUSION: The importance of predicted VO2peak (%) in evaluating exercise capacity differentiated from other CPEX variables. The change of anaerobic threshold and predicted VO2peak (%) might be a useful predictor of the change in RV function after PVR.

Optimal management for alcoholic liver disease: Conventional medications, natural therapy or combination?

Alcohol consumption is the principal factor in the pathogenesis of chronic liver diseases. Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is defined by histological lesions on the liver that can range from simple hepatic steatosis to more advanced stages such as alcoholic steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver failure. As one of the oldest forms of liver injury known to humans, ALD is still a leading cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality and the burden is exerting on medical systems with hospitalization and management costs rising constantly worldwide. Although the biological mechanisms, including increasing of acetaldehyde, oxidative stress with induction of cytochrome p450 2E1, inflammatory cytokine release, abnormal lipid metabolism and induction of hepatocyte apoptosis, by which chronic alcohol consumption triggers serious complex progression of ALD is well established, there is no universally accepted therapy to prevent or reverse. In this article, we have briefly reviewed the pathogenesis of ALD and the molecular targets for development of novel therapies. This review is focused on current therapeutic strategies for ALD, including lifestyle modification with nutrition supplements, available pharmacological drugs and new agents that are under development, liver transplantation, application of complementary medicines, and their combination. The relevant molecular mechanisms of each conventional medication and natural agent have been reviewed according to current available knowledge in the literature. We also summarized efficacy vs safety on conventional and herbal medicines which are specifically used for the prevention and treatment of ALD. Through a system review, this article highlighted that the combination of pharmaceutical drugs with naturally occurring agents may offer an optimal management for ALD and its complications. It is worthwhile to conduct large-scale, multiple centre clinical trials to further prove the safety and benefits for the integrative therapy on ALD.

Tetracyclic triterpenoids in herbal medicines and their activities in diabetes and its complications.

Tetracyclic triterpenoids, including the dammarane, cucurbitane, cycloartane, lanostane and protostane groups, is a class of triterpenoids widely distributed in various medicinal plants, particularly those commonly used for the treatment of diabetes and its complications, such as Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolium, Panax notoginseng, Gynostemma pentaphyllum, Astragalus membranaceus, Momordica charantia, and Ganoderma lucidum. This review highlights recent findings on the chemistry and bioactivities of tetracyclic triterpenoids from these plants and other popular herbal medicines.

Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) genes are silenced by DNA hypermethylation and histone deacetylation and regulate response to radiotherapy in cervical cancer cells.

Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family is an important negative regulator of cytokine signaling and deregulation of SOCS has been involved in many types of cancer. All cervical cancer cell lines tested showed lower expression of SOCS1, SOCS3, and SOCS5 than normal tissue or cell lines. The immunohistochemistry result for SOCS proteins in human cervical tissue also confirmed that normal tissue expressed higher level of SOCS proteins than neighboring tumor. Similar to the regulation of SOCS in other types of cancer, DNA methylation contributed to SOCS1 downregulation in CaSki, ME-180, and HeLa cells. However, the expression of SOCS3 or SOCS5 was not recovered by the inhibition of DNA methylation. Histone deacetylation may be another regulatory mechanism involved in SOCS1 and SOCS3 expression, however, SOCS5 expression was neither affected by DNA methylation nor histone deacetylation. Ectopic expression of SOCS1 or SOCS3 conferred radioresistance to HeLa cells, which implied SOCS signaling regulates the response to radiation in cervical cancer. In this study, we have shown that SOCS expression repressed by, in part, epigenetically and altered SOCS1 and SOCS3 expression could contribute to the radiosensitive phenotype in cervical cancer.

The effect of pH on crystal characteristics and IR absorbance of copper sulfide nanoparticles.

Copper sulfide, CuS, was synthesized by an aqueous sonochemical method and it was investigated the effect of pH on crystal characteristics of CuS and IR absorbance. The formed CuS has main peaks as 27.68 degrees, 29.28 degrees, 31.79 degrees, 32.85 degrees, 47.94 degrees, 52.72 degrees and 59.3 degrees with the hexagonal structure. Average diameter of CuS was about 18 nm and molar ratio of Cu:S was as 1:1. The CuS prepared at pH 11 presents the highest visible light transmittance of 82.6% and that at pH 4 presents the highest IR rejected of 93.8%. The formation of CuS was affected by pH and led to new absorption band in the IR region. The CuS nanoparticles from this study could be used as thermal insulating materials for car- and house-window films with a high IR-cut.

Compound K modulates fatty acid-induced lipid droplet formation and expression of proteins involved in lipid metabolism in hepatocytes.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: A key factor in the development of type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is hepatic steatosis. Incubation of human hepatic cells with free fatty acids (FFAs) causes accumulation of neutral lipids in lipid droplets (LDs) and serves as a model for hepatic steatosis. Ginsenosides, active constituents of ginsengs, have demonstrated beneficial effects in various pharmacological areas, including diabetes, however their effect on lipid accumulation in hepatocytes remains unclear. Here, we examine the effect of compound K (ComK), an active metabolite of ginsenosides, on the regulation of LD formation and on the expression of proteins involved in lipid homeostasis in hepatocytes. METHODS: HuH7 cells were pretreated with ComK, followed by lipid loading with FFA. LDs were visualized using Oil Red O staining and immunohistochemistry for the LD-related protein PLIN2. Triglyceride levels were determined in isolated LDs. The expression of proteins involved in lipid homeostasis was examined by Western blotting. RESULTS: Treatment with ComK significantly decreased LD formation in FFA-loaded HuH7 cells and increased phosphorylation levels of AMPK, and its substrate ACC. ComK also increased protein expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) and acyl-CoA oxidase (ACOX1) together with elevated activity of a PPAR-α response element reporter construct. These effects were inhibited by the PPAR-α antagonist MK886. CONCLUSIONS: ComK reduced LD formation and TG accumulation in FFA-loaded hepatocytes, in part by up-regulating AMPK activity and PPAR-α related pathways. These results suggest that ComK may have efficacy for the treatment of hepatic steatosis and associated diseases.

High-mobility group box 2 (HMGB2) modulates radioresponse and is downregulated by p53 in colorectal cancer cell.

Overexpression of high-mobility group box 2 (HMGB2) is recently reported in several malignant cancers and was correlated with poor response to preoperative chemoradiotherapy of colorectal cancer patients. To enhance the chemoradiotherapy efficacy, the biological function of HMGB2 was investigated with respect to radiation response. HMGB2 gene knockdown cells were constructed by infecting shRNA expressing lentivirus and clonogenic assay was performed to count the radiosensitivity. HMGB2 knockdown sensitized HCT-116 and HT-29 colorectal cancer cells to ionizing radiation. This could be due to an increased DNA damage and an inefficient DNA damage repair in HMGB2 knockdown cells. In addition, an exposure to radiation downregulated HMGB2 expression in colorectal cancer cells with an intact TP53 gene. HMGB2 gene expression of TP53-mutant cell was not affected by irradiation. p53-mediated downregulation of HMGB2 was confirmed by direct activation of p53 using Nutlin-3 or by inducing p53 expression using Tet-On system. Luciferase reporter assay showed that HMGB2 promoter activity was inversely correlated with the amount p53 cotransfected. Our study revealed that HMGB2 is necessary to protect colorectal cancer cells from DNA damage and efficient DNA repair and p53-mediated downregulation is a critical mechanism of modulating HMGB2 expression.

Methodologies for investigating natural medicines for the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is emerging as a prominent condition in Western countries. In this review we describe the characteristics and current treatments of NAFLD and discuss opportunities for developing new therapeutic management approaches, with a particular emphasis on development of animal studies and in vitro assays for identification of components of natural product medicines. The main manifestation of NAFLD is hepatic lipid accumulation in the form of lipid droplets (LDs), known as hepatic steatosis (fatty liver). Current treatments for NAFLD generally aim to reduce triglyceride (TG) accumulation, often utilizing thiazolidinedines (TZDs) and fibrates, which are known to lower TG levels in hyperlipidemia, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Both of these compounds act through activation of nuclear receptors of the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor (PPAR) family, thereby activating genes involved in triglyceride metabolism. Thus treatment using natural PPAR α and PPAR γ ligands, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), has also been considered. Alternatively, natural medicines for the treatment of NAFLD have a long and successful history of controlling disease without prominent side effects. However, active compounds in natural medicine responsible for lowering hepatic TG levels are yet poorly characterized. This points to the need for medium-high throughput screening assays to identify active components within natural herbs. As outlined in this review, the quantification of the size and number of lipid droplets could provide an opportunity to screen compound libraries derived from natural medicine for their potential to reduce NAFLD.

Masticatory function following implants replacing a second molar.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to obtain objective and standardized information on masticatory function and patient satisfaction following second molar single implant therapy. METHODS: Twenty adult patients, who had restored second molar single implants more than 1 month before the study, were enrolled in this study. All patients received a chewing test using peanuts before and after insertion of the implant prosthesis, with a questionnaire and visual analogue scale (VAS) to evaluate the effect of second molar single implant therapy. RESULTS: This study obtained standardized information on the masticatory function objectively (e.g., P, R, X(50)) before (Pre-insertion) and after insertion (Post-insertion) of the implant prosthesis. Masticatory performance (P) after insertion of the implant prosthesis significantly increased from 67.8±9.9 to 84.3±8.5% (P<0.0001). With the implant prosthesis, the P value increased by 24%. The masticatory efficiency index (R) of Post-insertion is higher than that of Pre-insertion (P<0.0001). With the implant prosthesis, the R value increased by 29%. The median particle size (X(50)) of Post-insertion is lower than that of Pre-insertion (P<0.0001). More than 90% of the patients were satisfied with the second molar single implant therapy from a functional point of view. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that a second molar single implant can increase masticatory function.

Application of a hybrid system comprising carbon-doped TiO2 film and a ceramic media-packed biofilter for enhanced removal of gaseous styrene.

It is difficult to efficiently remove gaseous styrene using a TiO(2) film-coated photoreactor under UV light. Therefore, we used a hybrid system consisting of a carbon-doped TiO(2) (C-TiO(2)) film and a media-packed biofilter in order to enhance the removal efficiency (RE) of gaseous styrene compared to that of a pure (undoped) TiO(2) photoreactor. The C-TiO(2) was synthesized by a sol-gel combustion method, and its absorption spectrum was stronger that of pure (undoped) TiO(2) in the UV-vis range. The resultant RE of the C-TiO(2) film was 113-200% higher than that of the pure TiO(2) film. The initial RE of the photoreactor for input styrene concentrations of 630 mg m(-3), 420 mg m(-3), and 105 mg m(-3) was 20.6%, 29.8%, and 40.0%, respectively. When the biofilter was added, the RE increased to 93.3%, 97.9%, and 99.0%, respectively. Thus, application of the hybrid system consisting of both a photoreactor coated with a C-TiO(2) film and a biofilter is advantageous in terms of the removal efficiency of gaseous styrene.

The neuroprotective effect of recombinant human erythropoietin via an antiapoptotic mechanism on hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal rats.

PURPOSE: The neuroprotective effects of erythropoietin (EPO) have been recently shown in many animal models of brain injury, including hypoxic-ischemic (HI) encephalopathy, trauma, and excitotoxicity; however, limited data are available for such effects during the neonatal periods. Therefore, we investigated whether recombinant human EPO (rHuEPO) can protect against perinatal HI brain injury via an antiapoptotic mechanism. METHODS: The left carotid artery was ligated in 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat pups (in vivo model). The animals were divided into 6 groups: normoxia control (NC), normoxia sham-operated (NS), hypoxia only (H), hypoxia+vehicle (HV), hypoxia+rHuEPO before a hypoxic insult (HE-B), and hypoxia+rHuEPO after a hypoxic insult (HE-A). Embryonic cortical neuronal cell culture of SD rats at 18 days gestation (in vitro model) was performed. The cultured cells were divided into 5 groups: normoxia (N), hypoxia (H), and 1, 10, and 100 IU/mL rHuEPO-treated groups. RESULTS: In the in vivo model, Bcl-2 expressions in the H and HV groups were lower than those in the NC and NS groups, whereas those in the HE-A and HE-B groups were greater than those of the H and HV groups. The expressions of Bax and caspase-3 and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 were in contrast to those of Bcl-2. In the in vitro model, the patterns of Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 expression and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were similar to the results obtained in the in vivo model. CONCLUSION: rHuEPO exerts neuroprotective effect against perinatal HI brain injury via an antiapoptotic mechanism.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo as a complication of sinus floor elevation.

PURPOSE: Osteotome sinus floor elevation (OSFE) is an often-used technique of great utility in certain implant patients with resorbed posterior maxilla. Recently benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) has been reported as an early postoperative complication following OSFE. Although OSFE-induced BPPV commonly resolves itself within a month without treatment, this complication can be a cause of trouble between the implant surgeon and patient. This report presents a case of BPPV following OSFE. METHODS: A 27-year-old man without any significant medical problems and missing his maxillary right first molar, was scheduled for OSFE and simultaneous implant placement. RESULTS: The patient suffered dizziness accompanied by nausea immediately after implant placement using OSFE. Following referral to the ear nose throat clinic, "right posterior canal BPPV" was diagnosed. Despite anti vertigo medication and a single episode of the Epley maneuver, the condition did not improve completely. The Epley maneuver was then applied 7 and 8 days later and the symptoms of BPPV disappeared. One year later, the patient remained symptom-free. CONCLUSIONS: Before sinus elevation with an osteotome, implant surgeons should screen out patients with a history of vertigo, to diminish the possibility of BPPV. Operators should be aware of BPPV symptoms. As the symptoms may be very incapacitating, immediate referral to an otorhinolaryngologist is recommended.

Pomegranate flower ameliorates fatty liver in an animal model of type 2 diabetes and obesity.

AIMS OF THE STUDY: Fatty liver is the most common cause of abnormal liver function tests. We investigated the effect and its underlying mechanism of pomegranate flower (PGF), a traditional antidiabetic medicine, on fatty liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: At the endpoint of treatment of male Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats with PGF extract (500 mg/kg, p.o. x 6 weeks), liver weight index, hepatic lipid contents (enzymatic colorimetric methods) and droplet accumulation (Oil Red O staining) were determined. Gene profiles (RT-PCR) were analyzed in the liver of ZDF rats and in human liver-derived HepG2 cell line. RESULTS: PGF-treated ZDF rats showed reduced ratio of liver weight to tibia length, hepatic triglyceride contents and lipid droplets. These effects were accompanied by enhanced hepatic gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-alpha, carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 and acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO), and reduced stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1. In contrast, PGF showed minimal effects on expression of genes responsible for synthesis, hydrolysis or uptake of fatty acid and triglycerides. PGF treatment also increased PPAR-alpha and ACO mRNA levels in HepG2 cells. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that this Unani medicine ameliorates diabetes and obesity-associated fatty liver, at least in part, by activating hepatic expression of genes responsible for fatty acid oxidation.

Suppression of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression by a novel humulene derivative in macrophage cells.

In our previous study, we reported the isolation of a novel humulene derivative, 5-hydroxyzerumbone, from Zingiber zerumbet and its inhibitory activity on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cells. This study was performed to examine its mechanism of action on the regulation of NO production. 5-Hydroxyzerumbone inhibited the expressions of iNOS mRNA and protein in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment with 5-hydroxyzerumbone also induced the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in macrophage cells. In addition, 5-hydroxyzerumbone inhibited LPS-induced transcriptional activation of NF-kappaB, indicating that regulation of NF-kappaB activity might be involved in the inhibition of NO production by 5-hydroxyzerumbone. 5-Hydroxyzerumbone, however, did not affect the degradation of IkappaB-alpha and the activation of p38 and ERK in LPS-treated cells. Taken together, these results suggest that down-regulation of LPS-induced NO production by 5-hydroxyzerumbone is mediated by the suppression of iNOS expression through the modulation of NF-kappaB activation and HO-1 induction in macrophage cells.

Increased renal collagen cross-linking and lipid accumulation in nephropathy of Zucker diabetic fatty rats.

BACKGROUND: Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rat is a genetic model of type 2 diabetes and obesity. The mechanism underlying nephropathy in ZDF rats, however, remains unclear. METHODS: ZDF rats were compared to age-matched Zucker lean (ZL) rats. Physiological and blood biochemical parameters, renal glomerular cross-sectional area (hematoxylin-eosin staining), fibrosis (van Giesen staining), collagen composition (Sircol Collagen Assay), lipids (enzymatic method) and mRNA expression (RT-PCR) were determined. RESULTS: ZDF rats showed an increase in renal-insoluble collagen content and the ratio of renal-insoluble to salt-soluble collagen (2- and 1.5-fold of the control animals). There were increases in renal glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis in ZDF rats (increased to 2-fold) in the glomerular mesangium and tubulointerstitium, and increased glomerular area. Renal triglyceride accumulated to greater than 2-fold of those levels in ZL rats. These changes were accompanied by hypoalbuminemia, and elevated plasma blood urea nitrogen and uric acid levels. Gene profiling showed increased expression of transcripts encoding the glomerulosclerotic mediator collagens I and IV, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, transforming growth factor-beta1, and angiotensin II type 1 receptor in ZDF rat kidney. Moreover, renal expression of mRNAs encoding sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1, a nuclear transcription factor that activates genes involved in fatty acid synthesis, and acetyl-CoA carboxylase, a key enzyme that mediates fatty acid synthesis, was increased in ZDF rats. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that dysregulated gene expression may result in increased renal collagen cross-linking and lipid accumulation, that may be associated with development of nephropathy in the animal model of type 2 diabetes and obesity.

An aqueous extract of Salacia oblonga root, a herb-derived peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha activator, by oral gavage over 28 days induces gender-dependent hepatic hypertrophy in rats.

Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-alpha by natural and synthetic chemicals induces hepatic hypertrophy. An aqueous extract of Salacia oblonga root (SOW) is an Ayurvedic medicine with anti-diabetic and anti-obesity properties. In the present study, it was found that SOW (100, 300 and 900mg/kg, once daily by oral gavage over a 28 day period) elicited dose-related increases in liver weight (LW) by 1.6%, 13.4% and 42.5%, respectively, and in the ratio of LW to body weight by 8.8%, 16.7% and 40.2%, respectively, in male rats. These effects were less pronounced in females. SOW selectively increased liver mass in male rats but Sudan red staining was not different, which indicates that hepatic lipid accumulation was similar in both genders. However, SOW even at the highest dosage did not influence serum ALT and AST activities in male or female rats. Moreover, SOW was found to activate PPAR-alpha in human hepatoma-derived HepG2 cells, as evidenced by the upregulation of PPAR-alpha and acyl-CoA oxidase mRNA expression. Thus, SOW-dependent PPAR-alpha activation may precede the development of the gender difference in hepatic hypertrophy; this process may be influenced by sex hormone status.

Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory phenylbutenoids from the rhizomes of Zingiber cassumunar.

Phenylbutenoids isolated previously from the CHCl3 extracts of the rhizomes of Zingiber cassumunar, were evaluated for their cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitory activity along with a new isolate, from the n-BuOH extracts of this plant. The COX-2 inhibitory assay was performed by measuring prostaglandin E2 production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Two phenylbutenoid dimers, and, exhibited considerable activity with IC50 values of 2.71 and 3.64 microM. Two phenylbutenoid monomers, and, showed moderate activity (IC50 14.97, 20.68 microM, respectively). The other three phenylbutenoids, were found to be inactive. Compound was elucidated as a new phenylbutenoid glycoside, namely, (E)-4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)but-3-en-1-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside by spectral analysis including various 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments.

Humulene derivatives from Zingiber zerumbet with the inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production.

A new humulene sesquiterpene, 5-hydroxyzerumbone (5-hydroxy-2E,6E,9E-humulatrien-8-one) (1) and a known compound, zerumboneoxide (2) were isolated from the rhizomes of Zingiber zerumbet (Zingiberaceae), and found to inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells with IC50 values of 14.1 and 23.5 microM, respectively, by bioassay-guided fractionation (positive control: N(omega)-monomethyl-L-arginine, IC50=21.3 microM). The structure of 1 was determined by spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D-NMR.

Photodegradation of DDT with the photodeposited ferric ion on the TiO2 film.

The photodegradation capability of DDT has been enhanced by Fe/TiO2 film in a photoreactor with UV radiation. The optimal thickness of TiO2 for the DDT photodegradation was 2.94 microm with a 3-time coating, where the first-order rate constant was 0.077 min(-1). The optimal Fe3+(ferric ion) photodeposition amount was estimated as 3.7 x 10(-4) mg mm(-2) corresponding with 0.73 mg Fe3+ (mg TiO2)(-1). Photoremoval rate of DDT increased with an increasing pH value, while the pH value of solution decreased to acidic region during the DDT photodegradation. The photodegradation efficiency was 85% in 20 min with only TiO2 film and increased from 85% up to 96% by the photodeposition of 0.73 mg Fe3+ (mg TiO2)(-1) on TiO2 film as a sensitizer since the band gap energy of Fe2O3 (2.2 eV) is lower than that of TiO2 (3.0 eV).