Protective Effect of Membrane-Free Stem Cells against Lipopolysaccharide and Interferon-Gamma-Stimulated Inflammatory Responses in RAW 264.7 Macrophages.

Recently, adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are considered to be ideal for application in cell therapy or tissue regeneration, mainly due to their wide availability and easy access. In this study, we examined the anti-inflammatory effects of membrane-free stem cell extract (MFSC-Ex) derived from ADSCs against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) on RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Exposure of RAW macrophages to LPS and IFN-γ stimuli induced high levels of nitric oxide (NO), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. However, pretreatment with MFSC-Ex inhibited LPS/IFN-γ-induced these pro-inflammatory mediators. To clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory property of MFSC-Ex, we analyzed nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) protein expressions by Western blotting. Our study showed that treatment of MFSC-Ex significantly down-regulated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and COX-2 protein expressions. Furthermore, phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 was also blocked by treatment with MFSC-Ex, indicating that inhibitory effect of MFSC-Ex on MAPK signaling cascade may attribute to inactivation of NF-κB. From these findings, we suggest that MFSC-Ex exert anti-inflammatory activities, which suppressed LPS/IFN-γ-induced production of NO, COX-2 and PGE2 by regulation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathway in RAW 264.7 macrophages. In conclusion, MFSC-Ex might provide a new therapeutic opportunity to treatment of inflammatory-related diseases.

Comparison of Prenatal Health Management State and Educational Needs for Pregnant Women with Advanced Maternal Age and Under the Age of 35.

PURPOSE: This study was done to confirm prenatal health management and educational needs for pregnant women with advanced maternal age (AMA) and pregnant women under 35 years of age. METHODS: This study was a descriptive research in which self-report questionnaires were used. Participants were 279 pregnant women (83 AMA and 196 less than 35). RESULTS: Only 32.5% of AMA women had received prenatal education and 51.8% reported wanting internet education. AMA women, compared to the under 35 women, had higher levels of self-awareness of health problems and possibility of health problems but lower levels of alcohol experience before pregnancy. For prenatal health management, scores were low for prenatal exercise, prenatal education and nutrition. For prenatal health management education, AMA women reported high levels of need for education on health problems. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that prenatal health management education must be given considering differences in age-related requirements by emphasizing health care and obstetric complications during pregnancy for AMA womenand anemia and information on substance use during pregnancy for women under 35. Reliable internet-based education programs need to be developed using available information and communication technology for the increasing number of employed pregnant women.

The association of histological chorioamnionitis and antenatal steroids on neonatal outcome in preterm infants born at less than thirty-four weeks' gestation.

BACKGROUND: Despite continuous research on the prevention of preterm labor, preterm delivery still occurs often. Different neonatal outcomes in association with chorioamnionitis might occur with the introduction of antenatal steroids. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of chorioamnionitis on the outcome of preterm infants and the association of antenatal steroids in the presence of histological chorioamnionitis (HC). METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-seven infants born at <34 weeks and admitted to Ewha Womans University Hospital from 2005 to 2010 were enrolled. They were divided into 2 groups, one with HC (n = 89) and the other without HC (n = 168). The clinical characteristics and outcomes of the preterm infants including sepsis, respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) were analyzed. RESULTS: HC was associated with IVH (p = 0.019) and early-onset sepsis (p = 0.038). In the HC group, the infants exposed to antenatal steroids developed BPD less than those without steroid exposure. The duration of mechanical ventilation was significantly decreased in the group with antenatal steroids. CONCLUSION: HC increased the incidence of early-onset sepsis and IVH in preterm infants of less than 34 weeks' gestation with a high odds ratio of 9.54. In the presence of HC, antenatal steroids significantly decreased the incidence of BPD.

Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori in female Vietnamese immigrants to Korea.

AIM: To investigate the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and its relationship to nutritional factors in female Vietnamese immigrants to Korea. METHODS: A total of 390 female immigrants from Vietnam and 206 Korean male spouses participated in the study. Blood samples from 321 female immigrants and 201 Korean male spouses were analyzed for H. pylori antibodies. Data on age, sex, alcohol consumption, smoking status, dietary nutritional factors and gastrointestinal symptoms were collected using questionnaires. The daily intakes of the following nutrients were estimated: energy, protein, niacin, lipid, fiber, calcium, iron, sodium, potassium, zinc, folate, cholesterol, and vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C and E. RESULTS: The prevalence of H. pylori positivity was lower in the immigrants than in age-matched Korean females (55.7% vs 71.4%, respectively; P < 0.0001) and the domestic population of Vietnam. The prevalence of H. pylori positivity among married couples was 31.7% for both spouses. There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of smoking, amount of alcohol consumed, or nutritional factors between the H. pylori-positive and negative groups. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of H. pylori positivity was lower among female Vietnamese immigrants than among Korean females. Nutritional factors did not differ between the H. pylori-positive and negative groups.

Comparison of Escherichia coli uropathogenic genes (kps, usp and ireA) and enteroaggregative genes (aggR and aap) via multiplex polymerase chain reaction from suprapubic urine specimens of young children with fever.

OBJECTIVE: Escherichia coli is the most frequently identified microbiological agent in childhood urinary tract infections (UTIs). However, the pathogenic role of this organism in young children remains to be clearly elucidated. So far, no studies have been conducted in which multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been applied to determine the association between childhood UTIs and E. coli and urovirulent genes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Altogether, 330 suprapubic urine specimens from febrile young children were cultured. In 33 of the cases, E. coli was identified; among these cases, 18 had a UTI (>10(4)-10(5) cfu/ml), four had a suspected UTI (>10(2)-10(3) cfu/ml) and 11 did not have UTIs (10(2) cfu/ml). Using multiplex PCR, three uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) genes and two enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) genes were detected. RESULTS: In the UTI-UPEC cases, the kps gene was detected in 18 of 22 cases (82%) and the usp gene in 16 of 22 cases (73%). Among the 18 cases of children with UTIs characterized by 10(4)-10(5) E. coli cfu/ml, urinary tract abnormalities were identified via dimercaptosuccinic acid scans in seven of 18 cases (39%) and via voiding cystourethrograms in four of the 18 cases (22%). CONCLUSIONS: The UPEC kps and usp genes were clearly associated with childhood UTIs, and may also be associated with kidney or urinary tract dysfunctions in young children. Escherichia coli colony count numbers in excess of 10(4)-10(5) cfu/ml in the suprapubic urine were considered to be strong evidence of UTI in infants.

Risk factors for preterm birth in Korea: a multicenter prospective study.

Preterm birth is a major determinant of neonatal morbidity and mortality and remains one of the most serious problems in obstetrics. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for preterm birth in Korean pregnant women. A total of 2,645 women were evaluated between 20 and 42 weeks' gestation at 5 centers using a prospective study design. The patient population is limited to singleton gestations. Demographic factors, socioeconomic statuses, previous and current medical histories, complications of current gestation, and drug and alcohol abuse were evaluated, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses performed. Among nulliparous women, the factors that showed a significant association with preterm delivery were as follows; vaginal bleeding during pregnancy (OR 2.6, CI 1.7-4.2), and below USD 1,000 average income (OR 5.1, CI 1.9-13.5). The factors that showed a significant association with preterm delivery among multiparous women were as follows; a history of spontaneous abortion (OR 2.4, CI 1.1-5.2), and a history of preterm delivery (OR 3.5, CI 1.02-11.8). In conclusion, vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, below USD 1,000 of average income, prior spontaneous abortion, and prior preterm delivery, were positively associated with preterm birth.