Phenolic Constituents and Their Anti-inflammatory Activity from Echinochloa utilis Grains

Seven phenolic compounds including p-coumaric acid (1), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (2), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (3), vanillic acid (4), luteolin (5), acacetin (6), and tricin (7), were isolated from the methylene chloride and ethyl acetate fractions of Echinochloa utilis grains. Compounds (1 - 4, 6) were isolated for the first time from this plant. These compounds were tested for inhibitory activities against LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells. Compounds 5 and 6 displayed significant inhibitory effects, with IC₅₀ values of 27.9 ± 2.6 and 14.0 ± 1.1 µM, respectively. The results suggested that E. utilis ethanolic extract may be used as a potential source of anti-inflammatory agents and functional foods for the treatment of allergic diseases.

Combined Skin Moisturization of Liposomal Serine Incorporated in Hydrogels Prepared with Carbopol ETD 2020, Rhesperse RM 100 and Hyaluronic Acid

We investigated the combined moisturizing effect of liposomal serine and a cosmeceutical base selected in this study. Serine is a major amino acid consisting of natural moisturizing factors and keratin, and the hydroxyl group of serine can actively interact with water molecules. Therefore, we hypothesized that serine efficiently delivered to the stratum corneum (SC) of the skin would enhance the moisturizing capability of the skin. We prepared four different cosmeceutical bases (hydrogel, oil-in-water (O/W) essence, O/W cream, and water-in-oil (W/O) cream); their moisturizing abilities were then assessed using a Corneometer(R). The hydrogel was selected as the optimum base for skin moisturization based on the area under the moisture content change-time curves (AUMCC) values used as a parameter for the water hold capacity of the skin. Liposomal serine prepared by a reverse-phase evaporation method was then incorporated in the hydrogel. The liposomal serine-incorporated hydrogel (serine level=1%) showed an approximately 1.62~1.77 times greater moisturizing effect on the skin than those of hydrogel, hydrogel with serine (1%), and hydrogel with blank liposome. However, the AUMCC values were not dependent on the level of serine in liposomal serine-loaded hydrogels. Together, the delivery of serine to the SC of the skin is a promising strategy for moisturizing the skin. This study is expected to be an important step in developing highly effective moisturizing cosmeceutical products.

The attitude and behavior if primary physicians in seoul toward alternative medicine

BACKGROUND: Alternative medicine is defined as a non-orthodox therapeutic practices including chiropractic, acupunture, herbal medicine, faith, spiritual therapy or as all sorts of medical care that do not follow the medical community standards. Patients do not think of modern medicine as the absolute solution to their health problems and they will sometimes ask for complementary therapy and in want of referral to alternative practitioner. We have investigated the primary physicians' attitude and behavior towards alternative medicine. METHODS: Randomly selected 770 practitioners, in primary care practice in Seoul, were questioned from July to September in 1996 about the attitude to wards alternative medicine, the reasons and symptoms when referring, and experience in alternative medicine practice. RESULTS: 150 questionnaires were returned and among them 139 completed ones (18.1%) were analyzed. Among 770 doctors, 35 (25.2%) have referred patients to alternative practitioner before and more referrals were made when they worked together closely or had some prior training. The belief of special effect of alternative medicine on certain disease was the first reason to refer. Other reasons were for herbal medicine, acupunture, and chiropractice in the order of seguence. The standard way to learn alternative medicine was to attend seminars available through certain institutions. On referral either chronic pain or musculoskeletal disease were the most chief complaints or main diseases of patients. 15 doctors (10.8% ) had some experience in practicing an alternative approach and the patient subjeccts were more likely to be women, and there was increased tendency to be working with another doctor, and to have been trained for such practice. The items used by alternative practitioners were acupunture, herbs in the order of seguence. CONCLUSIONS: Alternative medicine is accepted somewhat by primary physicians in Seoul although the rate of referral and practice is lower than 54% compared to 16% in Canada.

Human Papillomavirus Typing by Polymerase Chain Reaction-Reverse Dot Blot Hybridization and Comparison with Hybrid Capture SystemTM / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: Infection with certain Human Papillomavirus (HPV) type is strongly associated with the development of dysplasia and cancer of the cervix uteri. About 70 HPV types have been identified and some 25 of these have been found in the genital tract. HPV typing has diagnostic and prognostic importance to discriminate between 'low', 'intermediate', 'high' risk types. A Polymerase Chain Reaction-Reverse Dot Blot Hybridization (PCR-RDBH) method was developed for typing of HPV with consensus biotinylated primer generated PCR products in a single test. We attempted to know the clinical usefulness of PCR-RDBH and also compared PCR-RDBH with Hybrid captureTM system (HCS) method in same specimens. METHODS: HPV typing was performed on cervical swab samples obtained from 100 women with abnormal cervical cytology: 37 with Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance (ASCUS), 14 with Low Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (LGSIL), 44 with High Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (HGSIL) and 5 with invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix. HPV PCR screening was tested with consensus biotinylated primer. If HPV PCR screening was positive, RDBH was done for the typing of HPV. In RDBH, biotinylated PCR product was used in hybridization with a membrane on which 12 different oligonucleotide probes (type 6/11/16/18/ 31/33/35/39/45/51/52/56) of genital HPV types had been immobilized. Hybrid captureTM system (HCS, Digene Diagnostics) was used for screening of HPV. RESULTS: Of 100 abnormal cervical cytology specimens, the positivity of HPV PCR screening was 67%. In 52 specimens, HPV could be typed by RDBH. Type 16 was the most frequent and mixed infection was found in 6 cases, all combined with type 16. Among the 13 cervical cancer specimens confirmed by biopsy, 12 specimens was found to be infected high and intermediate risk types of HPV. In cervical swab, there was signifincant discrepancy in positivity of HPV infection between PCR-RDBH and HCS method. In 51 cases, negative for PCR-RDBH, 16 cases (31%) were positive by HCS. In 49 cases, positive for PCR-RDBH, 15 cases (31%) were negative by HCS. CONCLUSIONS: PCR-RDBH method can do HPV typing fast and easy with non-radioactive biotinylated primer in cervical swab specimens. It is shown to be useful method for HPV typing and have a high clinical applicability. The results between PCR-RDBH and HCS methods show a significant discrepancy, so further investigation is needed.

A Study on the Production of Blood Group Antibodies in Korean Children / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: It has been known that blood group antibodies are not produced in the neonatal period and that if the antibodies exist, they are probably maternal in origin which had crossed the placenta. There have been several studies conducted abroad on when these antibodies are formed but none has been done in Korea. This study was carried out to determine the ABO blood type and blood group antibodies in children from neonates up to 5 year old. We hoped to determine when and in what pattern blood group antibodies were produced. METHODS: We selected 337 children from neonates up to 5 year old who were admitted to Hanyang university Hospital in Seoul or Kuri from 1994 to 1996. Cell typing was done immediately by the slide method. The anti-A and anti-B used for cell typing were supplied by Immucor (Norcrosis, Ga) . Sera were stored at -70 degrees C until they were tested for ABO blood group antibodies by the standard saline test tube method. When uncertain results were obtained, a drop of the mixture was placed on a slide and observed under a microscope. RESULTS: ABO blood group antibodies were detected in 9 of 50 (18%) infants less than 1 week old and in 10 of 51 (20%) infants between 1 week and 3 months of age. The pattern of ABO blood group antibody production was similar to that of the fetal period up to 3 months after birth, after which antibody production increased rapidly to reach approximately 80% at 6 months of age, There was no difference in ABO antibody production between boys and girls. The antibody formation pattern of group A and group B infants less than 6 months of age showed anti-A to be 35% and anti-B to be 20%. In group O infants of the same age, anti-A was positive In 42% and antral-B In 33%. However, after 6 months of age, there was no difference in antibody production among groups A, B, or O. CONCLUSIONS: Antibodies directed toward ABO antigens were detected in 19 out of 101 (19%) infants less than 3 months old. We therefore believe it is necessary to Perform serologic typing as well as cell typing in these Infants. Furthermore, the emergency transfusion of type A or B blood to a type O infant under the impression that anti-A and anti-B do not exist should be forbidden.

A study on the usefulness of HbA1c for diagnosis in patients withdiabetes mellitus / 대한임상병리학회지

No abstract available.

Acute myeloid leukemia following five years of aplastic anemia / 대한임상병리학회지

No abstract available.