RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Since the introduction of 2 rotavirus (RV) vaccines in Korea, the vaccination rate has reached over 80% with out-of-pocket spending in the private market. We investigated the socioeconomic impact of RV vaccines in Korea to assess their value and public health contribution. METHODS: By using National Health Insurance Service claims data, we compared the epidemiologic and economic characteristics of rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) before and after the introduction of RV vaccines. For each year of the study period, the annual prevalence and national costs of RVGE were estimated based on children under 5 years with at least 1 National Health Insurance Service claims record with a diagnosis of RVGE. RESULTS: Compared with the prevaccination period, the prevalence of RVGE decreased in the postvaccination period by 48.9% from 2097 per 100,000 children in 2006 to 1072 per 100,000 children in 2015, implying an increase in the vaccination rate and the prevention effect of the vaccines. The highest reduction was observed among those 12 to <24 months of age (-73.4%), presumably due to the benefit of full vaccination, while children under 2 months, ineligible for the RV vaccine, showed an increase (41.7%). The number of hospitalized RVGE cases per year decreased by 69.0%. The national economic burden of RVGE decreased by 28.6%. CONCLUSIONS: The substantial reduction in the socioeconomic burden of RVGE after the introduction of RV vaccines confirms their benefit to society. This study would help health policy makers make empirical decisions on incorporating the vaccination into national immunization programs.
Assuntos
Gastroenterite/economia , Gastroenterite/epidemiologia , Programas de Imunização , Infecções por Rotavirus/economia , Infecções por Rotavirus/epidemiologia , Vacinas contra Rotavirus/administração & dosagem , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Pré-Escolar , Efeitos Psicossociais da Doença , Gastos em Saúde , Hospitalização/economia , Hospitalização/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Programas de Imunização/economia , Incidência , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Programas Nacionais de Saúde , Prevalência , República da Coreia , Infecções por Rotavirus/prevenção & controle , Vacinas contra Rotavirus/economiaRESUMO
We investigated the effects of the polysaccharide from the sporophyll of a selected brown alga Undaria pinnatifida on serum lipid profile, fat tissue accumulation, and gastrointestinal transit time in rats fed a high-fat diet. The algal polysaccharide (AP) was prepared by the treatment of multiple cellulase-producing fungi Trichoderma reesei and obtained from the sporophyll with a yield of 38.7% (dry basis). The AP was mostly composed of alginate and fucoidan (up to 89%) in a ratio of 3.75:1. The AP was added to the high-fat diet in concentrations of 0.6% and 1.7% and was given to male Sprague-Dawley rats (5-wk-old) for 5 wk. The 1.7% AP addition notably reduced body weight gain and fat tissue accumulation, and it improved the serum lipid profile, including triglycerides, total cholesterol, and very low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. The effects were associated with increased feces weight and shortened gastrointestinal transit time. In addition, the lipid peroxidation of the liver was decreased in both groups.
Assuntos
Tecido Adiposo/metabolismo , Dieta Hiperlipídica , Gorduras na Dieta/metabolismo , Lipídeos/sangue , Preparações de Plantas/farmacologia , Polissacarídeos/farmacologia , Undaria/química , Alginatos/análise , Alginatos/farmacologia , Animais , Colesterol/sangue , Trânsito Gastrointestinal/efeitos dos fármacos , Ácido Glucurônico/análise , Ácido Glucurônico/farmacologia , Ácidos Hexurônicos/análise , Ácidos Hexurônicos/farmacologia , Peroxidação de Lipídeos/efeitos dos fármacos , Lipoproteínas LDL/sangue , Fígado/efeitos dos fármacos , Fígado/metabolismo , Masculino , Preparações de Plantas/química , Estruturas Vegetais , Polissacarídeos/análise , Ratos , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Triglicerídeos/sangue , Aumento de Peso/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
PURPOSE: Doubling the dose of antihypertensive drugs is necessary to manage hypertension in patients whose disease is uncontrolled. However, this strategy can result in safety issues. This study compared the safety and efficacy of up-titration of the nifedipine gastrointestinal therapeutic system (GITS) with up-titration of valsartan monotherapy; these were also compared with low-dose combinations of the two therapies. METHODS: This prospective, open-label, randomized, active-controlled, multicenter study lasted 8 weeks. If patients did not meet the target blood pressure (BP) after 4 weeks of treatment with low-dose monotherapy, they were randomized to up-titration of the nifedipine GITS dose from 30 mg (N30) to 60 mg or valsartan from 80 mg to 160 mg or they were randomized to receive a low-dose combination of N30 and valsartan 80 mg for another 4 weeks. BP variability was assessed by using the SD or the %CV of the short-term BP measured at clinic. FINDINGS: Of the 391 patients (20~70 years with stage II or higher hypertension) screened for study inclusion, 362 patients who had 3 BP measurements were enrolled. The reduction in the mean systolic/diastolic BP from baseline to week 4 was similar in both low-dose monotherapy groups with either N30 or valsartan 80 mg. BP variability (SD) was unchanged with either therapy, but the %CV was slightly increased in the N30 group. There was no significant difference in BP variability either in SD or %CV between responders and nonresponders to each monotherapy despite the significant difference in the mean BP changes. The up-titration effect of nifedipine GTS from 30 to 60 mg exhibited an additional BP reduction, but this effect was not shown in the up-titration of valsartan from 80 to 160 mg. Although the difference in BP was obvious between high-dose nifedipine GTS and valsartan, the BP variability was unchanged between the 2 drugs and was similar to the low-dose combinations. There was a low rate of adverse events in all treatment groups. In addition, escalating the dose of either nifedipine GITS or valsartan revealed a similar occurrence of adverse effects with low-dose monotherapy or the low-dose combination. IMPLICATIONS: Compared with up-titration of the angiotensin receptor blocker valsartan, up-titration of the calcium channel blocker nifedipine GITS provided no additional increased safety concerns and revealed better mean reductions in BP without affecting short-term BP variability. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01071122.
Assuntos
Anti-Hipertensivos , Hipertensão/tratamento farmacológico , Nifedipino , Valsartana , Adulto , Idoso , Anti-Hipertensivos/administração & dosagem , Anti-Hipertensivos/efeitos adversos , Anti-Hipertensivos/uso terapêutico , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Nifedipino/administração & dosagem , Nifedipino/efeitos adversos , Nifedipino/uso terapêutico , Estudos Prospectivos , Valsartana/administração & dosagem , Valsartana/efeitos adversos , Valsartana/uso terapêutico , Adulto JovemRESUMO
PURPOSE: We evaluated the biochemical recurrence (BCR) of prostate cancer patients treated by radical prostatectomy (RP) or radiotherapy (RT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent RP or RT as primary definitive treatment from 2007 were enrolled for this study. They were divided into two groups; the low-intermediate risk group and the high risk group according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. We compared differences such as age, prostate specific antigen, Gleason score, follow-up duration, clinical T staging, and BCR. Their BCR-free survival rates were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 165 patients were enrolled. There were 115 patients in the low-intermediate risk. Among them, 88 received RP and 27 underwent RT. BCR occurred in 9 of the RP patients (10.2%) and 3 of the RT patients (11.1%). For the high risk group, 50 patients were included. RP was performed in 25 patients and RT in 25 patients. BCR was observed in 4 of the RP patients (16%) and 12 of the RT patients (48%). There were no differences in BCR-free survival for the low-intermediate group (p=0.765). For the high risk group, the RP group had a higher BCR free survival rate (p=0.032). CONCLUSIONS: No difference of BCR and BCR-free survival was seen in the low-intermediate risk group but lower BCR and better BCR-free survival were observed for patients that received RP in the high risk group. RP should be a more strongly considered option when deciding the treatment method for selected high risk patients.
Assuntos
Prostatectomia/métodos , Neoplasias da Próstata/radioterapia , Neoplasias da Próstata/cirurgia , Idoso , Humanos , Estimativa de Kaplan-Meier , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Gradação de Tumores , Recidiva Local de Neoplasia , Estadiamento de Neoplasias , Antígeno Prostático Específico/sangue , Neoplasias da Próstata/sangue , Neoplasias da Próstata/patologia , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
The fumigant and contact toxicities of 16 Asteraceae plant essential oils and their constituents against adult male and female Blattella germanica were examined. In a fumigant toxicity test, tarragon oil exhibited 100% and 90% fumigant toxicity against adult male German cockroaches at 5 and 2.5 mg/filter paper, respectively. Fumigant toxicities of Artemisia arborescens and santolina oils against adult male German cockroaches were 100% at 20 mg/filter paper, but were reduced to 60% and 22.5% at 10 mg/filter paper, respectively. In contact toxicity tests, tarragon and santolina oils showed potent insecticidal activity against adult male German cockroaches. Components of active oils were analyzed using gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, or nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer. Among the identified compounds from active essential oils, estragole demonstrated potent fumigant and contact toxicity against adult German cockroaches. ß-Phellandrene exhibited inhibition of male and female German cockroach acetylcholinesterase activity with IC50 values of 0.30 and 0.28 mg/mL, respectively.
Assuntos
Asteraceae/química , Blattellidae/efeitos dos fármacos , Inibidores Enzimáticos/farmacologia , Esterases/antagonistas & inibidores , Proteínas de Insetos/antagonistas & inibidores , Inseticidas/farmacologia , Óleos Voláteis/farmacologia , Óleos de Plantas/farmacologia , Animais , Blattellidae/enzimologia , Inibidores Enzimáticos/química , Esterases/metabolismo , Feminino , Proteínas de Insetos/metabolismo , Inseticidas/química , Masculino , Óleos Voláteis/química , Óleos de Plantas/químicaRESUMO
Kainic acid (KA) is a neurotoxin that induces epileptic seizures and excitotoxicity in the hippocampus. Acupuncture is frequently used as an alternative therapy for epilepsy, and it has been known to protect hippocampal neurons against KA toxicity. Using proteomic analysis, we investigated protein expression changes in the hippocampus following acupuncture stimulation at HT8. Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice (20-25 g) received acupuncture treatment at HT8 acupoint bilaterally once a day for 3 days and were then administered KA (30 mg/kg) intraperitoneally. Twenty-four hours after KA injection, neuronal survival and astrocyte activation in the hippocampus were measured, and protein expression in the hippocampus was identified by 2-dimensional electrophoresis. Acupuncture stimulation at HT8 suppressed KA-induced neuronal death and astrocyte activation in the hippocampus. We identified the changes in the expression of 11 proteins by KA or acupuncture stimulation at HT8 and found that acupuncture stimulation at HT8 normalized the expression of dihydropyrimidinase-related protein 2 and upregulated the expression of transcriptional activator protein pur-alpha, serine/threonine-protein phosphatase 5, and T-complex protein 1 subunit alpha, which are related to the survival of neurons. These results suggest that acupuncture stimulation at HT8 changes protein expression profiles in the hippocampus in favor of neuronal survival in KA-treated mice.
RESUMO
Two paralogous isoform cDNAs of warm-temperature-acclimation-associated 65-kDa protein (Wap65-1 and Wap65-2) were isolated from the cypriniform species, mud loach (Misgurnus mizolepis), and characterized. The deduced amino acid sequences of the two mud loach Wap65 isoforms (mlWap65-1 and mlWap65-2) share moderate levels of sequence homology with their corresponding orthologues from teleosts and with human hemopexin, a possible mammalian homologue. Both isoforms display conserved features, including essential motifs and/or residues that are important for the protein structure of hemopexin. In overall, mlWap65-2 is more homologous to human hemopexin than is mlWap65-1. Both mud loach Wap65 transcripts are predominantly expressed in liver, although the transcripts are ubiquitously detectable in most tissues with variable basal expression. Both mlWap65 isoforms are differentially regulated during embryonic development, and the changes in transcript levels during embryogenesis are greater for mlWap65-2 than for mlWap65-1. The transcription of the mlWap65 genes is differentially modulated by various stimuli, including thermal changes, immune challenge (lipopolysaccharide injection or bacterial infection), and heavy metal exposure (cadmium, copper, or nickel). The isoform mlWap65-1 is more responsive to warm temperature treatments than mlWap65-2, whereas mlWap65-2 is much more strongly stimulated by immune and heavy metal challenges than is mlWap65-1. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that mud loach Wap65 isoforms are potentially involved in multiple cellular pathways and that the two mud loach Wap65 isoforms undergo functional partitioning or subfunctionalization.
Assuntos
Cipriniformes/genética , Proteínas de Peixes/metabolismo , Hemopexina/análogos & derivados , Hemopexina/metabolismo , Fígado/metabolismo , Aclimatação , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Cipriniformes/metabolismo , DNA Complementar/química , DNA Complementar/genética , DNA Complementar/metabolismo , Proteínas de Peixes/química , Proteínas de Peixes/genética , Hemopexina/química , Hemopexina/genética , Temperatura Alta , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Isoformas de Proteínas/química , Isoformas de Proteínas/genética , Isoformas de Proteínas/metabolismo , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real/veterináriaRESUMO
PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of music therapy on depressive mood and anxiety in post-stroke patients and evaluate satisfaction levels of patients and caregivers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen post-stroke patients, within six months of onset and mini mental status examination score of over 20, participated in this study. Patients were divided into music and control groups. The experimental group participated in the music therapy program for four weeks. Psychological status was evaluated with the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) before and after music therapy. Satisfaction with music therapy was evaluated by a questionnaire. RESULTS: BAI and BDI scores showed a greater decrease in the music group than the control group after music therapy, but only the decrease of BDI scores were statistically significant (p=0.048). Music therapy satisfaction in patients and caregivers was affirmative. CONCLUSION: Music therapy has a positive effect on mood in post-stroke patients and may be beneficial for mood improvement with stroke. These results are encouraging, but further studies are needed in this field.
Assuntos
Afeto/fisiologia , Musicoterapia , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/psicologia , Adulto , Ansiedade/terapia , Depressão/terapia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Fish may be anesthetized for various experimental and practical purposes, primarily to immobilize them in order to facilitate handling. Marine medaka (Oryzias dancena) is a teleost fish used in marine ecotoxicology studies. Despite the importance of anesthesia in handling experimental fish, the effects of anesthesia in marine medaka have not yet been investigated. In this study, the authors evaluated the anesthetic effects (time required for anesthesia to take effect and recovery time) of two anesthetic agents, clove oil and lidocaine-HCl, on marine medaka. They anesthetized fish at different water temperatures (23 °C, 26 °C and 29 °C) and using different concentrations of clove oil (50 ppm, 75 ppm, 100 ppm, 125 ppm, 150 ppm and 175 ppm) or lidocaine-HCl (300 ppm, 400 ppm, 500 ppm, 600 ppm, 700 ppm and 800 ppm). The time required for anesthesia to take effect decreased significantly as both anesthetic concentration and water temperature increased for both clove oil and lidocaine-HCl. To anesthetize marine medaka within approximately 1 min, the optimal concentrations for clove oil were 125 ppm at 23 °C, 100 ppm at 26 °C and 75 ppm at 29 °C and for lidocaine-HCl were 800 ppm at 23 °C and 700 ppm at both 26 °C and 29 °C. The authors also compared anesthetic effects in marine medaka of different sizes. Both anesthetic exposure time and recovery time were significantly shorter for smaller fish than for larger fish. These results provide a useful foundation for the laboratory handling of marine medaka.
Assuntos
Anestesia/veterinária , Anestésicos Locais , Óleo de Cravo , Lidocaína , Oryzias/fisiologia , Período de Recuperação da Anestesia , Animais , Tamanho Corporal , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Temperatura Alta , NataçãoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: This study examined the clinical results of surgical treatment using a mini-open muscle resection procedure under local anesthesia for intractable lateral or medial epicondylitis. METHODS: Forty two elbows (41 patients) were treated surgically for lateral or medial epicondylitis. The indication for surgery was refractory pain after six months of conservative treatment, or a history of more than three local injections of steroid, or severe functional impairment in the occupational activities. The treatment results were assessed in terms of the pain using the visual analogue scale (VAS), Roles & Maudsley score, and Nirschl & Pettrone grade. RESULTS: The preoperative VAS scores of pain were an average of 5.36 at rest, 6.44 at daily activities, and 8.2 at sports or occupational activities. After surgery, the VAS scores improved significantly (p < 0.01): 0.3 at rest, 1.46 at daily activities, and 2.21 at sports or occupational activities. The preoperative Roles & Maudsley score was acceptable in 6 cases, and poor in 36 cases, which was changed to excellent in 23 cases, good in 16 cases, acceptable in 3 cases after surgery. According to the grading system by Nirschl & Pettrone, 23 cases were excellent, 18 cases were good, and the remaining 1 case was fair. Overall, 41 cases (97.6%) achieved satisfactory results. Postoperative complications were encountered in three cases. Subcutaneous seroma due to the leakage of joint fluid in two patients was managed by additional surgery and suction drainage, and resulted in a satisfactory outcome. One patient complained of continuous pain on occupational activity, but her pain at rest was improved greatly. CONCLUSIONS: The mini-open muscle resection procedure under local anesthesia appears to be one of effective methods for intractable lateral or medial epicondylitis.
Assuntos
Anestesia Local , Músculo Esquelético/cirurgia , Cotovelo de Tenista/cirurgia , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Dor/etiologia , Medição da Dor , Cotovelo de Tenista/complicações , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
The Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Sieb. has long been used as a crude drug. In this paper, we investigate the effects of E. alatus on cultured hepatocyte cell system and lipid peroxidation in hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) treatment conditions. The study covers the physiological activity (the antioxidative activity and the nitrite-scavenging effect) of E. alatus. H(2)O(2) that can produce intracellular free radical was used for inducer of the peroxidation of cellular lipids. Treatment of E. alatus attenuated in cell killing enhanced by increasing concentrations of H(2)O(2). The increased malondialdehyde level induced by H(2)O(2) treatment was reduced by pre-treatment of E. alatus. Furthermore, addition of E. alatus in cell culture medium significantly reduced cell killing and content of intracellular antioxidants. Changes in nitrite-scavenging effect of E. alatus at various concentrations (5-25 mg/ml) and various pH levels (pH 1.2, 4.2 and 6.0) were also observed. The present study was also done to investigate the effects of E. alatus on cultured hepatocyte cell system, H(2)O(2)-induced cytotoxicity and antioxidative enzyme activities, including catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase in H(2)O(2 )treatment conditions. E. alatus treatment had significant protective or elevating activities on these antioxidative enzyme activities compared to a normal group. The results indicate that E. alatus provides a strong antioxidant protection of cells against H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stress.
Assuntos
Euonymus , Glutationa Transferase/metabolismo , Hepatócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Peroxidação de Lipídeos/efeitos dos fármacos , Oxirredutases/metabolismo , Animais , Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Catalase/metabolismo , Células Cultivadas , Sequestradores de Radicais Livres/metabolismo , Glutationa Peroxidase/metabolismo , Hepatócitos/citologia , Hepatócitos/metabolismo , Peróxido de Hidrogênio/farmacologia , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Nitritos/química , Estresse Oxidativo , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Ratos , Superóxido Dismutase/metabolismoRESUMO
AIM OF THE STUDY: To elucidate the pharmacological activities of deer antler acupuncture and TGF61538;1 on the acute and chronic phases of rheumatoid arthritis diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Polyarthritis rats were administered with TGF61538;1 and water extract of deer antler acupunture (DAA), prepared from the pilose antler of Cervus korean TEMMINCK var. mantchuricus Swinhoe. TGF61538; (0.1 to 2 61549;g/animal) and DAA (5-100 61549;g/kg animal) were initiated 1 day before an arthritogenic dose of streptococcal cell wall fragments to see the effects on the joint swelling and distortion during the acute phase and the chronic phase of the disease. Arthritic index suppression of rat arthritis model was examined by TGF61538; and DAA administrations. RESULTS: TGF61538;1 and DAA diminished the polyarthritis development in rats. TGF61538; and DAA eliminated the joint swelling and distortion observed during the acute phase and the chronic phase of the disease. The TGF61538; and DAA suppressed the arthritis progress when administration was begun after acute phase of arthritis. DISCUSSION: Consistent with the inhibition of inflammatory cell recruitment into the synovium, TGF61538;1 and DAA reversed the leukocytosis associated with the chronic phase of the arthritis, respectively.
Assuntos
Chifres de Veado/química , Artrite Reumatoide/tratamento farmacológico , Extratos de Tecidos/farmacologia , Fator de Crescimento Transformador beta1/farmacologia , Doença Aguda , Animais , Artrite Experimental/tratamento farmacológico , Artrite Experimental/fisiopatologia , Artrite Reumatoide/fisiopatologia , Parede Celular/química , Parede Celular/imunologia , Doença Crônica , Cervos , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Feminino , Ratos , Ratos Endogâmicos Lew , Streptococcus/química , Streptococcus/imunologia , Membrana Sinovial/metabolismo , Extratos de Tecidos/administração & dosagem , Fator de Crescimento Transformador beta1/administração & dosagemRESUMO
Metallothionein gene was characterized in Hemibarbus mylodon, an endangered fish species. H. mylodon MT shared a high homology with other vertebrate MTs, including (1) tripartite exon/intron structure, (2) typical regulatory elements such as MREs and GC boxes in the 5'-flanking region, and (3) high proportion of Cysteines (33.3%) in its amino acid sequence. MT mRNA was ubiquitously detected in various tissues. Basal level of MT mRNA was the highest in ovary while the lowest in heart. Transcription of MT was highly inducible by exposures to waterborne cadmium (0.1-10 microM), copper (2-10 microM) or zinc (2-10 microM), based on real-time RT-PCR. Cadmium was more potent for the stimulation of MT transcripts than copper and zinc. Liver was more responsive to heavy metals than kidney and gill. In overall, the transcriptional activation of MT gene by metal exposures followed a dose- and/or time-dependent fashion.
Assuntos
Cipriniformes/genética , Cipriniformes/metabolismo , Regulação da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Metalotioneína/metabolismo , Metais/farmacologia , Envelhecimento , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Sequência de Bases , Conservação dos Recursos Naturais , DNA Complementar/genética , Regulação da Expressão Gênica/fisiologia , Brânquias/metabolismo , Rim/metabolismo , Fígado/metabolismo , Metalotioneína/química , Metalotioneína/genética , Dados de Sequência Molecular , RNA Mensageiro/genética , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
Complementary DNAs encoding copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD; SOD1) and manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD; SOD2) were isolated from disk abalone, Haliotis discus discus. The open reading frame sequences of Cu/Zn- and Mn-SODs encoded 154 and 226 amino acids, respectively. Multiple sequence alignments using the deduced amino acid sequences revealed that both abalone SODs showed considerable sequence similarities with their orthologues from diverse aerobic organisms, in which the amino acid residues forming metal ligands were highly conserved. All phylogenetic trees for both SOD genes inferred from maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses presented the monophyletic status of Teleostei and Aves/Tetrapoda clades, and recovered relatively close genetic affiliation of H. discus discus with some molluscan species. Expression of both SODs at mRNA levels were highly modulated in various tissues (gill, muscle and hepatopancreas from juveniles, and haemocytes from adults) by experimental exposures to heavy metals (copper, zinc and cadmium) and also by thermal treatments (elevation of temperature). The mRNA levels of both SODs were increased in general during the metal or thermal treatments; however, the transcriptional responses of SOD genes were quite variable depending upon isoforms and tissues based on semi-quantitative and/or real-time RT-PCR assays.
Assuntos
Gastrópodes , Regulação Enzimológica da Expressão Gênica , Temperatura Alta , Metais Pesados/farmacologia , Superóxido Dismutase/genética , Poluentes Químicos da Água/farmacologia , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Gastrópodes/efeitos dos fármacos , Gastrópodes/enzimologia , Gastrópodes/genética , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Regulação Enzimológica da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Regulação Enzimológica da Expressão Gênica/fisiologia , Hemócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Hemócitos/enzimologia , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Filogenia , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Alinhamento de Sequência , Superóxido Dismutase/químicaRESUMO
Most advanced teleosts lack L-gulono-gamma-lactone oxidase (GULO), a key enzyme required for the biosynthesis of ascorbic acid. However, extant representatives of primitive species including sturgeon and many cartilaginous fishes, are exceptional in their ability to synthesize ascorbic acid de novo. In the present study, full-length GULO cDNAs were isolated from white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) and two shark species belonging to the Triakidae (Triakis scyllium and Mustelus manazo). The open reading frames from all three species contained 440 amino acids and the deduced polypeptides had similar hydropathy profiles, predicted molecular masses and theoretical pI values. These GULO sequences exhibited high amino acid identity (67-97%) with each other, and also shared 61-71% identity with mammalian GULOs. Based on the GULO sequences obtained from these species, we developed degenerate primers for the isolation of partial GULO sequences by RT-PCR from other primitive species including another shark (Mustelus griseus, Triakidae), a spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias, Squalidae), two ray species (Raja kenojei, Rajidae and Dasyatis akajei, Dasyatidae) and four sturgeons (Acipenser baeri, A. gueldenstaedtii, A. naccarii and A. ruthenus, Acipenseridae). Overall, sequence identities of these amplified GULO segments among primitive species were 63-99% at the nucleotide level and 67-100% at the amino acid level. Considerable numbers of amino acid residues were unique to either fish or mammals, and Acipenseriform species occupied an intermediate position, sharing several residues with either fish or mammalian GULOs. Phylogenetic analyses based on parsimony, distance and likelihood methods of both nucleotide and amino acid sequences resulted in trees that were in agreement with known taxonomy. The transcription and enzyme activity of GULO were kidney-specific when measured by biochemical assay and reverse transcription-PCR.
Assuntos
Ácido Ascórbico/biossíntese , Peixes/genética , L-Gulonolactona Oxidase/genética , Filogenia , Tubarões/genética , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Sequência de Bases , Análise por Conglomerados , Primers do DNA , DNA Complementar/genética , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Alinhamento de Sequência , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Especificidade da EspécieRESUMO
The crude herbal formulation, Gamgungtang (GGT), has been shown to protect animals against a wide range of spontaneously developing or induced autoimmune diseases. We have previously reported that GGT shows marked down-regulation of several experimental autoimmune diseases. Although very effective at preventing thyroid infiltrates in mice immunized with mouse deglycosylated thyroglobulin and complete Freund's adjuvant and in spontaneous models of thyroiditis, it completely failed to modify experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) induced in mice immunized with mouse thyroglobulin and lipopolysaccharide. In this study, in an effort to elucidate the mechanisms by which GGT suppresses EAT, and autoimmunity in general, we investigated the in vivo effects of this drug on the Th1/Th2 lymphocyte balance, which is important for the induction or inhibition of autoreactivity. Naive SJL/J mice were treated orally for 5 days with GGT (80 mg/(kg day)). Spleen cells were obtained at various time points during the treatment period and were stimulated in vitro with concanavalin A. Interleukins IL-4, IL-10 and IL-12, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) cytokine production was evaluated at the protein levels of the cytokines in the medium and mRNA expressions. A significant upregulation of IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-beta was observed following treatment with GGT, which peaked at day 5 (IL-10) or day 10 (IL-4). On the other hand, IL-12 and IFN-gamma production were either unchanged or decreased. It seems therefore that GGT induces in vivo a shift towards Th2 lymphocytes which may be one of the mechanisms of down-regulation of the autoimmune reactivity in EAT. Our observations indicate that down-regulation of TH1 cytokines (especially IL-12) and enhancement of Th2 cytokine production may play an important role in the control of T-cell-mediated autoimmunity. These data may contribute to the design of new immunomodulating treatments for a group of autoimmune diseases.
Assuntos
Autoimunidade/efeitos dos fármacos , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Células Th2/efeitos dos fármacos , Tireoidite/tratamento farmacológico , Animais , Citocinas/genética , Citocinas/imunologia , Citocinas/metabolismo , Feminino , Medicina Herbária , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Células Th1/efeitos dos fármacos , Células Th1/imunologia , Células Th1/metabolismo , Células Th2/imunologia , Células Th2/metabolismo , Tireoglobulina/farmacologia , Tireoidite/imunologia , Tireoidite/metabolismoRESUMO
A water extract of Panax notoginseng Buck F.H. Chen. (Arialiaceae) root (PN) is being used as a therapeutic agent to stop haemorrhages and as a tonic to promote health in Korean and Chinese medicine. The pharmacokinetic profiles of PN have not been accurately investigated. The preliminary aim was to elucidate the pharmacokinetic features of PN. First, the prevention of neutrophil functions was assessed. PN inhibited neutrophil functions, including degranulation, superoxide generation and leukotriene B4 production, without any effect on 5-lipoxygenase activity. PN reduced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin (PG)E2 production in mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) while no influence on the activity of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) or cyclo-oxygenase-1 (COX-1) was observed. PN significantly reduced mouse paw oedema induced by carrageenan. The results indicate that PN exerts antiinflammatory effects related to the inhibition of neutrophil functions and NO and PGE2 production, which could be due to a decreased expression of iNOS and COX-2.
Assuntos
Anti-Inflamatórios/farmacologia , Inibidores de Ciclo-Oxigenase 2/farmacologia , Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas/farmacologia , Neutrófilos/efeitos dos fármacos , Óxido Nítrico Sintase Tipo II/antagonistas & inibidores , Panax notoginseng , Animais , Araquidonato 5-Lipoxigenase/metabolismo , Degranulação Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Ciclo-Oxigenase 1/metabolismo , Dinoprostona/metabolismo , Humanos , Indometacina/farmacologia , Leucotrieno B4/biossíntese , Macrófagos Peritoneais/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteínas de Membrana/metabolismo , Camundongos , Microssomos/efeitos dos fármacos , Microssomos/metabolismo , Neutrófilos/metabolismo , Neutrófilos/fisiologia , Óxido Nítrico Sintase Tipo II/metabolismo , Elastase Pancreática/metabolismo , Superóxidos/metabolismo , Tromboxano B2/metabolismoRESUMO
Mitochondria play a pivotal role in apoptosis of mammalian cells by releasing apoptogenic proteins such as cytochrome c into the cytoplasm. Mitochondrial membrane permeability during apoptosis is regulated directly by the Bcl-2 family of proteins. In glioma cells, there are no specific features of apoptosis compared with apoptosis in other cell types. Ulmus davidiana Planch (Ulmaceae) is a deciduous tree, which is widely distributed in Korea. The barks of the stem and the root of the plant have been used in oriental traditional medicine for the treatment of oedema, mastitis, gastric cancer, and inflammation. Our results demonstrate that the methanol fraction of the stem bark extracts of Ulmus davidiana Planch induce mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in U87 glioblastoma cells. The methanol fraction exhibited a comparatively higher cytotoxic activity (IC(50)=7.5±0.7µg/ml) in a dose-dependent manner than chloroform, and hexane fractions. The results show the typical ladder profile of oligonucleosomal fragments characteristics of apoptosis and the secreted cytosolic cytochrome c level was increased by treatment of methanol fraction of UD. Moreover, the expressional changes of the Bcl-2 family protein occurred within 30min after treatment with methanol fraction. All results indicate that the methanol fraction of U. davidiana Planch (the barks of the stem) is capable of inducing apoptosis in U87 glioblastoma cells.
RESUMO
Novel metallothionein (MT) complementary DNA and genomic sequences were isolated from a cartilaginous shark species, Scyliorhinus torazame. The full-length open reading frame (ORF) of shark MT cDNA encoded 68 amino acids with a high cysteine content (29%). The genomic ORF sequence (932 bp) of shark MT isolated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) comprised 3 exons with 2 interventing introns. Shark MT sequence shared many conserved features with other vertebrate MTs: overall amino acid identities of shark MT ranged from 47% to 57% with fish MTs, and 41% to 62% with mammalian MTs. However, in addition to these conserved characteristics, shark MT sequence exhibited some unique characteristics. It contained 4 extra amino acids (Lys-Ala-Gly-Arg) at the end of the beta-domain, which have not been reported in any other vertebrate MTs. The last amino acid residue at the C-terminus was Ser, which also has not been reported in fish and mammalian MTs. The MT messenger RNA levels in shark liver and kidney, assessed by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase PCR and RNA blot hybridization, were significantly affected by experimental exposures to heavy metals (cadmium, copper, and zinc). Generally, the transcriptional activation of shark MT gene was dependent on the dose (0-10 mg/kg body weight for injection and 0-20 microM for immersion) and duration (1-10 days); zinc was a more potent inducer than copper and cadmium.
Assuntos
Expressão Gênica , Metalotioneína/genética , Metalotioneína/metabolismo , Filogenia , Tubarões/genética , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Sequência de Bases , Clonagem Molecular , Análise por Conglomerados , Biblioteca Gênica , Metais Pesados/metabolismo , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa , Alinhamento de Sequência , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Tubarões/metabolismoRESUMO
Blocking the first mitotic cleavage of the zygote is a key tool for chromosome-set manipulations in fish. We developed an improved method for inducing tetraploidy by blocking the mitosis with a combination of heat shock at 40.5 degrees C for 1, 2, or 3 min followed by cold shock at 1.5 degrees C for 30, 45, or 60 min. When applied during the first cleavage metaphase of mud loach (Misgurnus mizolepis) zygotes, the optimal combination was heat for 2 min followed by cold for 45 min. At 1 month, the frequency of 4N survivors and the yield from total eggs fertilized was 55.7 and 14.4%, respectively, compared to heat shock alone with 20.0% efficiency and 3.6% yield. The effectiveness of the procedure was confirmed by diploid mitotic gynogenesis using transgenic markers. The overall yield of homozygous diploids, 34.0%, was better than that for single heat shock, 17.3%. The tetraploids and homozygous diploids had higher early mortality than normal diploid controls. However, at 1 month, the viability of the tetraploids was the same as normal diploids. For gynogenetic diploids, the survival was similar to normal diploids after 3 months. The high efficiency of this new protocol extends the opportunity to study polyploidy in basic and applied research.