Seronegative autoimmune encephalitis: clinical characteristics and factors associated with outcomes.

Seronegative autoimmune encephalitis is autoimmune encephalitis without any identifiable pathogenic antibody. Although it is a major subtype of autoimmune encephalitis, many unmet clinical needs exist in terms of clinical characteristics, treatments and prognosis. In this institutional cohort study, patients diagnosed with seronegative autoimmune encephalitis with available 2-year outcomes were analysed for the disease course, 2-year outcome prediction system, effect of immunotherapy, necessity of further immunotherapy at 6 or 12 months and pattern of brain atrophy. Seronegative autoimmune encephalitis was subcategorized into antibody-negative probable autoimmune encephalitis, autoimmune limbic encephalitis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. Poor 2-year outcome was defined by modified Rankin scale scores 3-6, and the 2-year serial data of Clinical Assessment Scales in Autoimmune Encephalitis score was used for longitudinal data analyses. A total of 147 patients were included. The frequency of achieving a good 2-year outcome (modified Rankin scale 0-2) was 56.5%. The antibody-negative probable autoimmune encephalitis subtype exhibited the poorest outcomes, although the baseline severity was similar among the subtypes. The RAPID score, consisting of five early usable clinical factors, refractory status epilepticus, age of onset ≥60 years, probable autoimmune encephalitis (antibody-negative probable autoimmune encephalitis subtype), infratentorial involvement and delay of immunotherapy ≥1 month, was associated with poorer 2-year outcomes. Any immunotherapy was associated with clinical improvement in the patients with low risk for poor 2-year outcomes (RAPID scores 0-1), and the combination immunotherapy of steroid, immunoglobulin, rituximab and tocilizumab was associated with better outcomes in the patients with high risk for poor 2-year outcomes (RAPID scores 2-5). In patients with persistent disease at 6 months, continuing immunotherapy was associated with more improvement, while the effect of continuing immunotherapy for more than 12 months was unclear. In the longitudinal analysis of MRI, the development of cerebellar atrophy indicated poor outcomes, while the absence of diffuse cerebral atrophy or medial temporal atrophy indicated the possibility of a good outcome. This study provides information about the clinical characteristics and courses, the effect of immunotherapy and its duration, and prognostic factors in seronegative autoimmune encephalitis.

Role of Luteolin-Induced Apoptosis and Autophagy in Human Glioblastoma Cell Lines.

Background and Objectives: Malignant glioblastoma (GBM) is caused by abnormal proliferation of glial cells, which are found in the brain. The therapeutic effects of surgical treatment, radiation therapy, and chemo-therapy against GBM are relatively poor compared with their effects against other tumors. Luteolin is abundant in peanut shells and is also found in herbs and other plants, such as thyme, green pepper, and celery. Luteolin is known to be effective against obesity and metabolic syndrome. The anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities of luteolin have been investigated. Most studies have focused on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of luteolin, which is a natural flavonoid. However, the association between the induction of apoptosis by luteolin in GBM and autophagy has not yet been investigated. This study thus aimed to confirm the occurrence of luteolin-induced apoptosis and autophagy in GBM cells and to assess their relationship. Materials and Methods: A172 and U-373MG glioblastoma cell lines were used for this experiment. We confirmed the apoptosis effect of Luteolin on GBM cells using methods such as 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, immunofluorescence, Flow cytometry (FACS) western blot, and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Results: In the luteolin-treated A172 and U-373MG cells, cell viability decreased in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. In addition, in A172 and U-373MG cells treated with luteolin at concentrations greater than 100 µM, nuclear fragmentation, which is a typical morphological change characterizing apoptosis, as well as fragmentation of caspase-3 and Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), which are apoptosis-related factors, were observed. Autophagy was induced after treatment with at least 50 µM luteolin. Inhibition of autophagy using 3MA allowed for a low concentration of luteolin to more effectively induce apoptosis in A172 and U-373MG cells. Conclusions: Results showed that luteolin induces apoptosis and autophagy and that the luteolin-induced autophagy promotes cell survival. Therefore, an appropriate combination therapy involving luteolin and an autophagy inhibitor is expected to improve the prognosis of GBM treatment.

Portal Connecting Dark Photons and Axions.

The dark photon and the axion (or axionlike particle) are popular light particles of the hidden sector. Each of them has been actively searched for through the couplings called the vector portal and the axion portal. We introduce a new portal connecting the dark photon and the axion (axion-photon-dark photon, axion-dark photon-dark photon), which emerges in the presence of the two particles. This dark axion portal is genuinely new couplings, not just from a product of the vector portal and the axion portal, because of the internal structure of these couplings. We present a simple model that realizes the dark axion portal and discuss why it warrants a rich phenomenology.

Fourth generation parity.

We present a very simple fourth generation (4G) model with an abelian gauge interaction under which only the 4G fermions have nonzero charge. The U(1) gauge symmetry can have a Z2 residual discrete symmetry (4G parity), which can stabilize the lightest 4G particle (L4P). When the 4G neutrino is the L4P, it would be a neutral and stable particle and the other 4G fermions would decay into the L4P, leaving the trace of missing energy plus the standard model fermions. Because of the new symmetry, the 4G particle creation and decay modes are different from those of the sequential 4G model, and the 4G particles can be appreciably lighter than typical experimental bounds.

Effect of simultaneous therapy of arthrocentesis and occlusal splints on temporomandibular disorders: anterior disc displacement without reduction.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the effect of simultaneous application of arthrocentesis and occlusal splint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 43 patients (3 males, 40 females) whose symptoms had improved was conducted at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dong-A University Hospital between 2008 and 2010. Subjects were divided into three groups: Group A (17 patients with arthrocentesis and occlusal splints simultaneously applied), Group B (13 patients whose symptoms did not improve with occlusal splints, undergoing arthrocentesis after occlusal splint use for 8 weeks), and Group C (13 patients that only used occlusal splints). We compared these groups in maximum comfortable opening (MCO) and the visual analogue scale of pain and noise. Follow-up was performed at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. RESULTS: The improvement of symptoms was noted in all three groups, but Group A had a quicker improvement than the other groups, in terms of pain reduction and MCO increases. CONCLUSION: The simultaneous application of arthrocentesis and occlusal splints can reduce patient discomfort more quickly.

Effects of the Cynanchum wilfordii Ethanol Extract on the Serum Lipid Profile in Hypercholesterolemic Rats.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the ethanol extract of Cynanchum wilfordii (ECW) on the blood lipid profile of hypercholesterolemic rats. Thirty 7-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were allowed free access to either a normal diet (AIN-93 diet), or 1% high-cholesterol diet with or without 0.5% or 1% ECW for 5 weeks. After sacrifice, the rat serum lipid profile was analyzed. The diets containing ECW decreased body weight gains compared to the normal diet. Serum HDL-cholesterol levels of ECW-fed groups were significantly increased in the hypercholesterolemic groups and normal groups (P<0.05). When 1% ECW was fed to the normal group, total cholesterol level was increased. Moreover, treatment of ECW in hypercholesterolemic groups yielded a dose-dependent and highly significant decrease in the atherogenic index as compared to the control. These results suggest that intake of Cynanchum wilfordii may help reduce the risks of hypercholesterolemia by increasing blood HDL-cholesterol and lowering the atherogenic index.

Importance of membrane selection in the development of immunochromatographic assays for low-molecular weight compounds.

This study was performed to demonstrate the importance of selecting an appropriate membrane when developing immunochromatographic assays (ICAs) for the sensitive detection of low-molecular weight compounds. Based on our findings, we propose a theoretical basis for selecting such a membrane. When eluting the sample solution for the competitive ICA using colloidal gold label for low-molecular analytes, the degree of binding inhibition is proportional to the collision frequency between the antibody-colloidal gold (Ab-CG) and analyte before Ab-CG binding to the capture antigen and a higher concentration of pesticides around the Ab-CG leads to a greater degree of inhibition. Therefore, we propose that the relative migration speed of the analyte and Ab-CG on the test strip is critically important for selecting a membrane in the development of sensitive competitive ICAs. We developed a novel method to estimate such a relative migration speed. We demonstrated the applicability of this proposal by using it to select an appropriate membrane for the development of an ICA of the pesticide diazinon.

Muon anomaly and dark parity violation.

The muon anomalous magnetic moment exhibits a 3.6σ discrepancy between experiment and theory. One explanation requires the existence of a light vector boson, Z(d) (the dark Z), with mass 10-500 MeV that couples weakly to the electromagnetic current through kinetic mixing. Support for such a solution also comes from astrophysics conjectures regarding the utility of a U(1)(d) gauge symmetry in the dark matter sector. In that scenario, we show that mass mixing between the Z(d) and ordinary Z boson introduces a new source of "dark" parity violation, which is potentially observable in atomic and polarized electron scattering experiments. Restrictive bounds on the mixing (m(Z(d))/m(Z))δ are found from existing atomic parity violation results, δ2<2×10(-5). Combined with future planned and proposed polarized electron scattering experiments, a sensitivity of δ2∼10(-6) is expected to be reached, thereby complementing direct searches for the Z(d) boson.

Competitive immunochromatographic assay for the detection of the organophosphorus pesticide chlorpyrifos.

An immunochromatographic assay (ICA) based on competitive antigen-coated format using colloidal gold as the label was developed for the detection of the organophosphorus insecticide chlorpyrifos. The ICA test strip consisted of a membrane with a detection zone, a sample pad and an absorbent pad. The membrane was separately coated with chlorpyrifos Hapten-OVA conjugate (test line) and anti-mouse IgG (control line). Based on the fact that the competition is between the migrating analyte in the sample and the analyte hapten immobilized on the test strip for the binding sites of the antibody-colloidal gold (Ab-CG) conjugate migrating on the test strip, this study suggests that the relative migration speed between the two migrating substances is a critically important factor for the sensitive detection by competitive ICA. This criterion was utilized for the confirmation of appropriateness of a nitrocellulose (NC) membrane for chlorpyrifos ICA. The detection limit of the ICA for chlorpyrifos standard and chlorpyrifos spiked into agricultural samples were 10 and 50 ng mL(-1), respectively. The assay time for the ICA test was less than 10 min, suitable for rapid on-site testing of chlorpyrifos.

Monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the organophosphorus insecticide O-ethyl O-4-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonothioate (EPN).

This study aimed at developing competitive direct and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for the organophosphorus insecticide O-ethyl O-4-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonothioate (EPN) using a monoclonal antibody (mAb). Of the five EPN derivatives (haptens) prepared for use as an immunogen or as a competitor, two of them were used as the immunogen for the production of the mAbs. By using the antibody with the highest specificity and a coating antigen (hapten-OVA conjugate), a competitive indirect ELISA was developed, which showed an IC(50) of 2.9 ng/mL with a detection limit of 0.3 ng/mL. A competitive direct ELISA using a different antibody and an enzyme tracer was also developed, which showed an IC(50) of 0.6 ng/mL with a detection limit of 0.09 ng/mL. The mAbs in both assays showed negligible cross-reactivity with other organophosphorus pesticides. The recoveries of EPN from spiked samples determined by the developed ELISA ranged from 59 to 143%. Dilution of the samples improved the recovery. The assay performance of the present ELISAs based on the mAb was compared with that of the EPN ELISAs based on polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) that had been developed previously and was found to be better in dynamic response.

Development of ELISAs for the class-specific determination of organophosphorus pesticides.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for the class-specific determination of organophosphorus (OP) pesticides were developed from monoclonal antibodies raised against haptens with the functional group common to OP pesticides. To develop antigen-coated, indirect, competitive ELISAs, four haptens with different spacer arm structures were used to prepare antibodies, while eight haptens were tested for use as coating antigens. A total of 32 ELISAs were developed with one selected as the most suitable one based on average IC(50) and % CV values. The chosen ELISA showed class-selective response to O,O-diethyl phosphorothioate and phosphorodithioate OP pesticides with negligible cross-reactivity to other types of pesticides. Average IC(50) and % CV values of this ELISA for the 12 OP pesticides were 89 ng/mL and 96%, respectively. Compared to ELISAs previously developed with the same objective, the current ELISA demonstrates better sensitivity based on much lower mean IC(50) values in addition to improved class-selective determination based on considerably lower % CV values as well as precise discrimination against other types of pesticides.

Glycosaminoglycan degradation-inhibitory lactic acid bacteria ameliorate 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced colitis in mice.

To evaluate the effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), we measured the inhibitory effect of several LAB isolated from intestinal microflora and commercial probiotics against the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) degradation by intestinal bacteria. Bifidobacterium longum HY8004 and Lactobacillus plantarum AK8-4 exhibited the most potent inhibition. These LAB inhibited colon shortening and myeloperoxidase production in 2,4,6- trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced experimental colitic mice. These LAB also blocked the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1beta and TNF-alpha, as well as of COX-2, in the colon. LAB also blocked activation of the transcription factor, NF-kappaB, and expression of TLR-4 induced by TNBS. In addition, LAB reduced the TNBS-induced bacterial degradation activities of chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid. These findings suggest that GAG degradation-inhibitory LAB may improve colitis by inhibiting inflammatory cytokine expression via TLR-4-linked NF-kB activation and by inhibiting intestinal bacterial GAG degradation.

Lactobacillus suntoryeus inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and TLR-4-linked NF-kappaB activation in experimental colitis.

OBJECTIVE: Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) can improve disturbances of indigenous microflora as well as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. We examined the anticolitic effect of Lactobacillus suntoryeus HY7801, which inhibited toll-like receptor (TLR)-4-linked NF-kappaB activation in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells, in 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitic mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured the ability of commercial and intestinal LAB to inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated, TLR-4-linked NF-kappaB activation in HEK cells, as well as to inhibit colitis outcomes in TNBS-induced colitic mice. We also measured levels of the inflammatory markers, interleukin (IL)-1beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and IL-6, and their transcription factor, NF-kappaB, in intestinal mucosa by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: LAB inhibited TLR-4-linked NF-kappaB activation, and L. suntoryeus HY7801 was the most potent inhibitor. Intrarectal treatment of TNBS in mice caused colon shortening and also increased colonic expression of IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha expression. However, oral administration of Lactobacillus HY7801 (100 mg/kg) inhibited colon shortening (p < 0.001) and myeloperoxidase activity in TNBS-induced colitic mice (p < 0.0002) and also decreased colonic expression of IL - 1beta (p < 0.003), IL-6 (p < 0.0001), and TNF-alpha (p < 0.0001). Lactobacillus HY7801 inhibited the NF-kappaB activation and TLR-4 expression induced by TNBS, as well as the expression of cyclooxygenase 2. Lactobacillus HY7801 also reduced the activity of intestinal bacterial glycosaminoglycan degradation and beta-glucuronidase induced by TNBS. CONCLUSION: L. suntoryeus HY7801 can improve colitis via the inhibition of TLR-4-linked NF-kappaB activation.

The degradation of glycosaminoglycans by intestinal microflora deteriorates colitis in mice.

The biosynthesis and modification of mucopolysaccharides and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), secreted from gastrointestinal mucosal cells, are increased in colitis and influence the viability of the defense barrier. Therefore, to evaluate the role of GAG-degrading intestinal microflora during the progression of colitis, we investigated the degradation activity of intestinal bacterial GAG, cytotoxicity of GAGs and their metabolites, such as iduronic acid, D: -uronic acid or D: -glucuronic acid and D: -galactosamine or D: -glucosamine, against intestinal cells. We also tested their deteriorative effects against colitis. Colitis was induced using 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) with and without antibiotics in mice. The TNBS treatment caused colon shortening, increased myeloperoxidase activity, induced IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 expression in the colon, activated NF-kappaB, and potentiated the GAG-degrading activities of intestinal microflora. The antibiotic treatment inhibited colon shortening, decreased myeloperoxidase activity, and reduced proinflammatory cytokine expression, NF-kappaB activation, and GAG degradation, induced by TNBS. Among the GAG metabolites, d-glucosamine and d-galactosamine showed cytotoxicity against intestinal cells, Caco-2 and IEC-18 cells, synergistically deteriorated the cytotoxicity of TNBS as well as the TNBS-induced colitis in mice. Based on these findings, intestinal microflora may degrade GAGs in colitis, their metabolites deteriorate the progress of colitis and antibiotics ameliorate the colitis by the inhibition of GAG-degrading bacterial growth.

Six-lepton Z' resonance at the Large Hadron Collider.

New physics models admit the interesting possibility of a Z' weak boson associated with an extra U(1) gauge symmetry and a Higgs boson that is heavy enough to decay into a pair of Z bosons. Then Z' production and decay via Z' --> ZH --> ZZZ has a distinctive LHC signal that is nearly background-free and reconstructs the H and Z' masses and widths. The Z' decay to 3 pairs of leptons is especially distinctive. The ZH decay mode exists even if the Z' is decoupled from leptons, which motivates an independent 6-lepton resonance search regardless of the dilepton search results.

Development of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the organophosphorus insecticide EPN.

Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in indirect and direct format were developed for the quantitative detection of the organophosphorus insecticide EPN. Five EPN derivatives (haptens) were synthesized and coupled to carrier proteins to use as an immunogen or as a competitor. Rabbits were immunized with two of the five haptens coupled to KLH for production of polyclonal antibodies, and the sera were screened against one of the haptens coupled to ovalbumin (OVA). Using the serum with the highest specificity and a coating antigen (hapten-OVA conjugate), an indirect (antigen-coated) ELISA was developed, which showed an IC(50) of 5.6 ng/mL with a detection limit of 0.2 ng/mL (20% inhibition). A direct (antibody-coated) ELISA using an enzyme tracer (hapten-enzyme conjugate) was also developed, which showed an IC(50) of 8.4 ng/mL with a detection limit of 0.9 ng/mL (20% inhibition). The antibodies showed negligible cross-reactivity with other organophosphorus pesticides except with the insecticide parathion-ethyl only in the direct ELISA. The recoveries of EPN from spiked samples determined by the indirect ELISAs were between 37 and 164%.

Lactic acid bacteria inhibit proinflammatory cytokine expression and bacterial glycosaminoglycan degradation activity in dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitic mice.

To evaluate the effect of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), inhibitory effect of several LAB isolated from intestinal microflora and commercial probiotics against NO production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells was measured and anti-inflammatory effect of NO production-inhibitory LAB, Lactobacillus plantarum HY115 and L. brevis HY7401, in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced experimental colitic mice was investigated. The oral administration of the LAB to mice inhibited colon shortening and myeloperoxidase productivity in DSS-induced colitic mice. These LABs repressed the mRNA expressions of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma, as well as the protein expressions of IL-1beta and IL-6 proteins in the colon. The activation of the transcription factor, NF-kB, induced by DSS, was also inhibited by LAB. The administration of LAB reduced the degradation activities of chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid of intestinal bacteria, induced by DSS, of which could induce the cytotoxic metabolites against intestinal cells. These findings suggest that NO-inhibitory LAB against LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells may improve colitis by the regulation of the inflammatory cytokine expression via the activation of transcription factor NF-kB as well as GAGs-degrading intestinal microflora.

[Associations of non alcoholic fatty liver with the metabolic syndrome and serum carotenoids].

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the associations of non alcoholic fatty liver with metabolic syndrome and the serum carotenoids. METHODS: This study was conducted in a general hospital in South Korea from November, 2004 to August, 2005. The study subjects were 350 sampled persons who were aged from 40 years and older (males: 180, females: 170). They were grouped into the normal, mild and severe groups according to fat accumulation in their livers, as determined by ultrasonography. We analyzed the association between non alcoholic fatty liver and metabolic syndrome by multiple logistic regression analysis and we analyzed the association between non alcoholic fatty liver and the serum carotenoids by a general linear model(ANCOVA). RESULTS: After adjustment for the effect of potential covariates, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was associated with fat accumulation in the liver (p trend <0.001). If the odds ratio of normal group is 1.00, then that of the mild group is 2.80 (95% C.I=1.17-6.71) and that of the severe group is 7.29 (95% C.I=2.76-19.30). The prevalence of metabolic alterations fitting the criteria of metabolic syndrome, according to the class of fat accumulation in the liver, was significantly increased, except for criteria of high blood pressure, a large waist circumference and low HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol level (p trend <0.001). The level of serum beta-carotene was decreased according to the class of fat accumulation in the liver (p trend=0.036), but the levels of serum alpha-carotene, lycopene, beta-cryptoxanthin and lutein were not decreased. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that non alcoholic fatty liver was associated with metabolic syndrome and with the serum beta-carotene level.

Effects of soybean isoflavone extract on the plasma lipid profiles and antioxidant enzyme activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The present study evaluated the effects of various dosages of soybean isoflavone extract on lipid profiles, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activities in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The one normal control group was fed an AIN-76-based experimental diet and four diabetic groups were fed the same diet, supplemented with four different levels of soybean isoflavone extract for seven weeks. The daily dosages of pure isoflavone for four diabetic groups were set to be 0 mg (diabetic control), 0.5 mg (ISO-I), 3.0 mg (ISO-II) and 30.0 mg (ISO-III) per kilogram of body weight, respectively. The plasma total cholesterol levels and the TBA-reactive substances contents in the liver and kidney were significantly lowered in ISO-II and ISO-III groups compared to those in the diabetic control group. The levels of plasma HDL-cholesterol, plasma vitamin A and hepatic superoxide dismutase were significantly increased in those two groups compared with the diabetic control group. The present study demonstrated the possibility that the diets supplemented with 3.0 mg and 30.0 mg of soybean isoflavone extract may have beneficial effects on the plasma lipids, tissue lipid peroxidation and partly on antioxidant system in diabetic animals and there were no significant differences between the ISO-II and ISO-III groups. The results suggest that the effective daily dosage level of isoflavone for improving lipid metabolism in diabetic rats may be above 3.0 mg per kilogram body weight.

Ethanol extract of fermented soybean, Chungkookjang, inhibits the apoptosis of mouse spleen, and thymus cells.

Apoptosis is a step of the cell cycle which is important in the regulation of immune cell populations. Chungkookjang is a Korean traditional fermented soybean containing microorganisms, enzymes, and bioactive compounds which was used in the treatment of mouse spleen as well as thymus cells (CH1-fermented soybean containing barley, wormwood, and sea tangle; CH2-fermented soybean) and was found to exhibit substantially reduced small DNA fragmentation. An MTT assay showed that the treatment of CH1 and CH2 into the mouse splenocytes and thymocytes sharply increased their survival. Moreover, a FACS analysis also showed that CH1 and CH2 are effective at suppressing the apoptosis of splenocytes and thymocytes. The fermented soybean isoflavone concentrations, which are implicated in lowering breast and prostate cancers, lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and improving bone health, were determined using Capillary Electrophoresis-Electrochemical Detection (CE-ED). The amount of Daidzein in fermented soybean significantly increased by 44-fold dramatically, compared with those in unfermented soybean. In this study, we demonstrated that ethanol extracts of Chungkookjang promote the survival of the mouse spleen and thymus cells in culture by suppressing their apoptotic death. Future studies should investigate which genes are related to apoptosis of the immune cells.