Antioxidant nutrient intakes and corresponding biomarkers associated with the risk of atopic dermatitis in young children.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association of antioxidant nutritional status with the risk of atopic dermatitis (AD) in young children in a case-control, population-based study. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Identified from preschools by using the Korean version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Final analysis included 180 AD (mean age 5.3+/-0.9 years) and 242 non-AD (mean age 5.2+/-1.0 years) children. Diet was assessed using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Fasting blood samples were used for analyses of fat-soluble vitamins (retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and beta-carotene) and vitamin C. RESULTS: AD was associated negatively with intakes of antioxidant-related nutrients. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were 0.44 (0.22-0.88) for the highest (vs lowest) quintile of beta-carotene. A similar association was observed for dietary vitamin E (OR=0.33, 95% CI=0.16-0.67), folic acid (OR=0.37, 95% CI=0.18-0.73), and iron (OR=0.39, 95% CI=0.19-0.79). Reduced AD risk was found with 1 s.d. increase of serum alpha-tocopherol [OR=0.64, 95% CI=0.41-0.98) and retinol (OR=0.74, 95% CI=0.58-0.96) concentrations, and marginally with that of serum beta-carotene levels (P=0.0749 for trend). There was no relationship of AD risk with dietary and plasma vitamin C as well as nutrient supplement intake regardless of nutrient type. AD was predicted better by the intake measure than the corresponding blood biomarker regarding vitamin E and beta-carotene. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that higher antioxidant nutritional status reduces the risk of AD and that such risk-reduction effects depend on nutrient type.

Contribution of postprandial lipemia to the dietary fat-mediated changes in endogenous lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations in humans.

BACKGROUND: Dietary fats alter LDL and HDL cholesterol while serving as precursors of postprandial triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins (TRLs). OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that the saturated fatty acid (SFA)-mediated increase and the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-mediated decrease in endogenous lipoprotein cholesterol are promoted by postprandial TRLs. DESIGN: We performed a 16-d crossover diet study to examine the effect of PUFA-rich [ratio of PUFAs to SFAs (P:S) = 2.0] and SFA-rich (P:S = 0.25) diets on fasting and postprandial plasma lipid and lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations in 16 normolipidemic subjects. RESULTS: Fasting plasma cholesterol decreased significantly after a PUFA-rich diet because of a decrease in LDL (-12.3%; P < 0.05) and HDL (-3.8%; NS), but did not change after an SFA-rich diet. The appearance of postprandial TRLs in plasma at 4 h was linked to a significant lowering of both LDL (-7.4%) and HDL (-4.8%) after a PUFA-rich diet; no such effect was observed after the SFA-rich diet. At 7 h, LDL and HDL cholesterol returned to near fasting concentrations without postprandial TRL accumulation after a PUFA-rich diet but with a significant postprandial TRL accumulation after an SFA-rich diet. Thus, the in vivo postprandial clearance of cholesterol in LDL+HDL was greater after a PUFA-rich diet than after an SFA-rich diet. The appearance of postprandial TRLs in plasma increased the cholesteryl ester transfer protein-mediated transfer of cholesteryl ester from LDL+HDL to TRLs in vitro without a significant influence from dietary fat. CONCLUSION: Dietary fat-mediated alterations in the rate of hepatic removal of postprandial TRLs, which carry cholesterol accepted from LDL+HDL via cholesteryl ester transfer protein in vivo, may contribute to the dietary fat-mediated change in endogenous lipoprotein cholesterol.

The development of the virtual reality system for the treatment of the fears of public speaking.

The fear of public speaking is a kind of social phobias. The patients having the fear of public speaking show some symptoms like shame and timidity in the daily personal relationship. They are afraid that the other person would be puzzled, feel insulted, and they also fear that they should be underestimated for their mistakes. For the treatment of the fear of public speaking, the cognitive-behavioral therapy has been generally used. The cognitive-behavioral therapy is the method that makes the patients gradually experience some situations inducing the fears and overcome those at last. Recently, the virtual reality technology has been introduced as an alternative method for providing phobic situations. In this study, we developed the public speaking simulator and the virtual environments for the treatment of the fear of public speaking. The head-mounted display, the head-tracker and the 3 dimensional sound system were used for the immersive virtual environment. The imagery of the virtual environment consists of a seminar room and 8 virtual audiences. The patient will speak in front of these virtual audiences and the therapist can control motions, facial expressions, sounds, and voices of each virtual audience.

Effects of allyl mercaptan and various allium-derived compounds on cholesterol synthesis and secretion in Hep-G2 cells.

The present study was undertaken to compare the effects of allyl mercaptan (AM), a major metabolite of garlic, with several garlic constituents and extracts on cytotoxicity, cholesterol synthesis and its secretion in Hep-G2 cells. The cells were grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), and treated with 5, 25, 50, 125, 250 and 500 microg/ml of AM, diallyl disulfide (DD), diallyl trisulfide (DT), steam-distilled garlic oil (SD) or vinyl-dithiin oil of garlic (VD) for 4 h. At concentrations up to 50 microg/ml, no significant cytotoxic effect was found in any group, but at concentrations above 250 microg/ml, the cell viability decreased drastically in all groups compared to the control. The treatment of cells with 25 microg/ml (non-cytotoxic concentration) of AM, DD, DT, SD for 4 h significantly inhibited [3H]acetate incorporation into cholesterol compared to that of the control (P < 0.05). The secretion of cholesterol into the medium was also significantly decreased in all groups except for VD. The treatment of cells with those allium constituents had no effect on either [3H]acetate incorporation into fatty acids or [3H]glycerol incorporation into triglyceride or phospholipid.

The politics of herbal drugs in Korea.

Hanbang, the Korean medical practice with origins in classical Chinese texts, is a prominent part of the Korean health care system. Hanbang physicians, called hanuisas, are looked down on by biomedical doctors, but their practice has enjoyed increasing popularity for several decades. As the market for herbal preparations has become more lucrative, biomedical pharmacists have begun to participate in it. The Pharmaceutical Act in 1993 explicitly allowed pharmacists to prescribe and dispense herbal drugs. This provoked a bitter public conflict between hanuisas and pharmacists, involving street demonstrations and strikes. The hanuisas asserted that the pharmacists were unqualified to assume their traditional practice. They also agitated for recognition in the state-sponsored system of health care and for the state's support for developing Hanbang medicine. This paper attributes the conflicts concerning Hanbang to the expanding market for herbal preparations, Korean nationalism, and to the oversupply of biomedical pharmacists.

Microsurgical replantation of a partial ear, with leech therapy.

Ear reconstruction is very difficult to perform and often results in a devastating deformity. The use of microsurgical replantation techniques has allowed very favorable aesthetic results. The authors report a case of partial ear replantation without venous repair with the use of medicinal leeches to decompress the acute venous congestion that occurred during postoperative care. Medicinal leech therapy can be very useful in partial ear replantation in cases with no venous repair.

Effect of the fat composition of a single meal on the composition and cytotoxic potencies of lipolytically-releasable free fatty acids in postprandial plasma.

Ingestion of a meal increases plasma levels of triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins through the secretion of intestine-derived chylomcirons and liver-derived very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). We have determined the effects of the fat composition of a single meal on the composition of TG in TG-rich lipoproteins (VLDL + chylomicrons) and circulating and lipolytically-releasable free fatty acids (FFA) in postprandial (PP) plasma and on the cytotoxic potencies of the lipolytically-released FFA to cultured arterial wall cells. PP lipemia was induced by feeding fasted normolipidemic human subjects with a meal rich in saturated fat (SF) and another meal rich in polyunsaturated fat (PUF), or vice versa; each meal provided 65% of energy as fat, and polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratios (P/S) of the SF and PUF in the meals were 0.40 and 2.49, respectively. The mean P/S of TG in TG-rich lipoproteins (1.43) and circulating FFA (1.46) in 4 h PP plasma of PUF were significantly higher than those in PP plasma of SF (0.44 and 0.59, respectively) in fasting plasma (0.52 and 0.53, respectively). In vitro lipolysis of fasting and PP serum by purified bovine milk lipoprotein lipase (LpL) resulted in a marked (8.8-12.3-fold) increase in the serum FFA level. The P/S of serum FFA in postlipolysis fasting and PP serum were consistently higher than that of FFA or that of TG associated with TG-rich lipoproteins in prelipolysis fasting and PP serum, indicating that polyunsaturated TG in VLDL and/or chylomicrons is more susceptible than saturated TG to lipolysis. When postlipolysis serum was interacted with cultured endothelial cells and mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPM), the lipolytically-released FFA in PP serum of SF and PUF disrupted the barrier function of endothelial cells and were cytotoxic to cultured MPM; FFA in postlipolysis fasting serum was not cytotoxic. FFA in postlipolysis PP serum of PUF were consistently more potent than that in postlipolysis PP serum of SF. Further study showed that all long-chain monounsaturated FFA and polyunsaturated FFA, but not saturated FFA, incorporated into lipoproteins (LDL) were cytotoxic to cultured MPM. In conclusion, despite the generally well-accepted belief that SF is more atherogenic than PUF, the present study provides in vitro evidence that the lipolytic remnant products of TG-rich lipoproteins produced after a meal rich in PUF are more injurious to arterial wall cells than those produced after a meal rich in SF.

Potencies of lipoproteins in fasting and postprandial plasma to accept additional cholesterol molecules released from cell membranes.

To investigate the role of various lipoproteins in plasma to promote cholesterol efflux from cell membranes, potencies of lipoproteins in normolipidemic fasting and postprandial (PP) plasmas to accept additional cholesterol molecules from cell membranes were determined. We used red blood cells (RBCs) and lipoproteins in fresh blood as donors and acceptors of cell membrane cholesterol, respectively. When fresh fasting plasma (n=24) containing active lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and cholesteryl ester transfer proteins (CETP) was incubated with a 3-fold excess of autologous RBCs at 37 degrees C for 18 hours, plasma cholesterol levels increased by 19.6% (38.5+/-14.2 mg/dL) owing to an exclusive increase in the CE level. Very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and high density lipoprotein (HDL) fractions retained 48.1%, 26.3%, and 25.6% of the net cholesterol mass increase in fasting plasma, resulting in 91%, 8%, and 21% increases in their cholesterol contents, respectively. The PP plasma was 1.3-fold more potent than fasting plasma in promoting cholesterol efflux from RBCs by associating excess cholesterol with chylomicrons, resulting in a 356% increase in the cholesterol content of chylomicrons. These increases in lipoprotein cholesterol content indicate that chylomicrons were about 3.9x, 44x, and 17x more potent than fasting VLDL, LDL, and HDL, respectively, in accepting additional cholesterol molecules released from RBCs. The capacity of PP plasma to promote cholesterol efflux from RBCs was significantly correlated with plasma cholesterol levels (r=0.60, P<0.005), triglycerides (r=0.68, P<0.001), chylomicrons (r=0.90, P<0.001), VLDL (r=0.65, P<0.001), and LDL (r=0.47, P<0.025) but not with the levels of HDL (r= -0.34, P<0.20). In fasting plasma containing a low level of VLDL and HDL, isolated chylomicrons supplemented to the plasma were approximately 9x more potent than HDL in boosting the capacity of plasma to promote cholesterol efflux from RBCs. This study indicates that chylomicrons in PP plasma are the most potent ultimate acceptors of cholesterol released from cell membranes and that a low HDL level is not a factor that limits the ability of PP plasma to promote cholesterol efflux from cell membranes. Our data obtained from an in-vitro system suggest that PP chylomicrons may play a major role in promoting reverse cholesterol transport in vivo, since the transfer of cholesterol from cell membranes to chylomicrons will lead to the rapid removal of this cholesterol by the liver. HDL in vivo may promote reverse cholesterol transport by enhancing the rapid removal of chylomicrons from the circulation, since the rate of clearance of chylomicrons is positively correlated with the HDL level in plasma.

Cellular uptake of stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acid and their effects on synthesis and secretion of lipids in Hep-G2 cells.

The present study was undertaken to examine the cellular uptake of stearic (18:0), oleic (18:1), linoleic (18:2), and linolenic acid (18:3), and their effects on synthesis and secretion of lipids in Hep-G2 cells. The cells were grown for 6 days in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. On day 7, cells were incubated in a serum-free DMEM containing 0.25-1.0 mM of 18:0, 18:1, 18:2 or 18:3. The cellular uptake of these fatty acids was almost linear during the 4 hr incubation period, and no significant differences were noted among the fatty acids tested, regardless of their degree of unsaturation. The treatment of cells with 1.0 mM of these fatty acids stimulated triglyceride (TG) synthesis nearly ten-fold and phospholipid (PL) synthesis approx, two-fold compared with those of the control. The lipoprotein-TG secretion also increased and was the highest with 18:1 followed in descending order by 18:2, 18:3, and 18:0. The fatty acid treatment of cells also significantly increased the incorporation of 14C-acetate into the cellular and lipoprotein cholesterol compared with that of the control (p < 0.05). In addition, notable changes occurred in the fatty acid composition of cellular and medium lipids, which were enriched with the particular fatty acid present in the incubation medium. The findings that 18:0, 18:1, 18:2, and 18:3 were taken up by Hep-G2 cells at almost identical rates demonstrate that differences in the cellular synthesis of lipids and their secretion are attributable to the metabolic specificity of those fatty acids, rather than variable rates of their uptake.

Laboratory-scale bioremediation of oil-contaminated soil of Kuwait with soil amendment materials.

A huge amount of oil-contaminated soil remains unremediated in the Kuwait desert. The contaminated oil has the potentiality to cause pollution of underground water and to effect the health of people in the neighborhood. In this study, laboratory scale bioremediation experiments were carried out. Hyponex (Hyponex, Inc.) and bark manure were added as basic nutrients for microorganisms, and twelve kinds of materials (baked diatomite, microporous glass, coconut charcoal, an oil-decomposing bacterial mixture (Formula X from Oppenheimer, Inc.), and eight kinds of surfactants) were applied to accelerate the biodegradation of oil hydrocarbons. 15% to 33% of the contaminated oil was decomposed during 43 weeks' incubation. Among the materials tested, coconut charcoal enhanced the biodegradation. On the contrary, the addition of an oil-decomposing bacterial mixture impeded the biodegradation. The effects of the other materials were very slight. The toxicity of the biodegraded compounds was estimated by the Ames test and the tea pollen tube growth test. Both of the hydrophobic (dichloromethane extracts) and hydrophilic (methanol extracts) fractions showed a very slight toxicity in the Ames test. In the tea pollen tube growth test, the hydrophobic fraction was not toxic and enhanced the growth of pollen tubes.

Analysis of oil components and hydrocarbon-utilizing microorganisms during laboratory-scale bioremediation of oil-contaminated soil of Kuwait.

A huge amount of oil-contaminated soil remains unremediated in the Kuwait desert. The contaminated oil has the potentiality to cause pollution of underground water and to effect the health of people in the neighborhood. We have been studying bioremediation of Kuwait oil-contaminated soil. Chemical analyses of biodegraded compounds and isolation of petroleum hydrocarbon-decomposing microorganisms were carried out. From the chemical analyses, it was revealed that the decomposed compounds were mainly saturated fractions from alumina column chromatography and that the aromatic fractions were not decomposed well. Isolation of bacteria was carried out for eight kinds of hydrocarbons which are components of crude petroleum (n-hexadecane, 2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane, 1,4-diisopropylbenzene, naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, phenanthrene, anthracene, and perylene). Many of the n-hexadecane- and 2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane-decomposing bacteria were isolated, but aromatic compound-decomposing bacteria were not enriched. It was concluded that the slow decomposition of aromatic compounds was due to the low population of aromatic compound-decomposing bacteria in the Kuwait desert soil.

Cyclobuxine protects the isolated rat heart from the myocardial injuries produced by ischemia and reperfusion.

Cyclobuxine is a steroidal alkaloid which was extracted from Buxus microphylla var. koreana Nakai. Extracts of Buxus microphylla var. koreana Nakai have been used as folk remedies of several diseases, including malaria and venereal diseases. In the present study, the possible protective effects of cyclobuxine against 60 min ischemia and subsequent 30 min reperfusion in isolated rat hearts were investigated. Ischemia induced a marked decline in contractile force and a gradual rise in resting tension. Reperfusion of the heart for 30 min resulted in a poor recovery of contractile force. When the heart was perfused in the presence of cyclobuxine (100 and 1000 ng/ml), a significant suppression of mechanical failure was seen. Ischemia also induced an immediate release of ATP metabolites and a release of creatine phosphokinase during reperfusion. Cyclobuxine inhibited the release of ATP metabolites, and slightly prevented the release of creatine phosphokinase during reperfusion. The ultrastructural damages induced by ischemia and subsequent reperfusion were significantly suppressed by cyclobuxine.

Effects of estrogen-induced hyperlipidemia on the erythrocyte membrane in chicks.

The effects of estrogen-induced hyperlipidemia on plasma lipid peroxidation, fatty acid composition and osmotic fragility of erythrocytes in chickens were studied. Young male chickens implanted with estrogen for three wk developed a marked hyperlipidemia. Plasma levels of triglyceride, cholesterol and phospholipid were elevated 68-, four- and 24-fold, respectively, over controls. There was also a two-fold increase in plasma lipid peroxidation measured by the thiobarbituric acid test. Vitamin E supplement (1,000 IU/kg diet) reduced the plasma lipid peroxidation to the control level, but had no effect on the plasma lipid content. Estrogen-induced hyperlipidemia resulted in changes in the fatty acid composition of membrane lipids of erythrocytes. The major changes were an increase in oleic acid from 10.0% to 14.2% and a decrease in linoleic acid from 31.3% to 26.0%. The erythrocytes with an altered membrane fatty acid composition were found to have an increased osmotic fragility. It was apparent that there was a direct correlation between the oleic acid content and the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes.

Additive risk factors in atherosclerosis.

The tissues of human subjects assayed for a higher level of vitamin D than the tissues of 6-month-old swine which had been fed a commercial ration containing 14 times more vitamin D3 than the National Research Council recommended requirement for growing swine. Bioassays of commercial livestock feeds indicate much higher vitamin D contents than the National Research Council recommendation. High levels of vitamin D activity are demonstrable in tissues from the animals on such livestock feeds. The grossly normal areas of the aorta of weanling swine fed 100,000 IU of vitamin D3/pound of basal ration during the initial 6 weeks had a higher frequency of degenerated smooth muscle cells than the grossly normal areas of the aorta of swine fed the commercial ration, or 7.43+/-0.45 and 5.60+/-0.27/100 cells, respectively, at the age of 3 months. Tbe addition of 13 pounds of hydrogenated fat and 200 g of cholesterol/100 pounds of the commercial ration further increased the frequency of degenerated smooth muscle cells by 0.53 (P less than 0.05) or to 7.96 +/- 0.39/100 cells in the grossly normal areas of the aorta of weanling swine fed this fat-supplemented ration to 3 months of age.