Aurantio-obtusin stimulates chemotactic migration and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cells.

Osteoporosis is one of the major metabolic bone diseases and is among the most challenging noncommunicable diseases to treat. Although there is an increasing interest in identifying bioactive molecules for the prevention and management of osteoporosis, such studies principally focus only on differentiation and mineralization of osteoblasts or inhibition of osteoclast activity. Stimulation of osteoblast migration must be a promising osteoanabolic strategy for improved metabolic bone disease therapy. In this study, we show that an anthraquinone derivative, aurantio-obtusin, stimulated chemotactic migration of MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The use of a real-time chemotaxis analyzing system, TAXIScan, facilitated the evaluation of both velocity and directionality of osteoblast migration in response to the compound. Besides migration, the compound stimulated osteoblast differentiation and mineralization. Taken together, the data presented in this paper demonstrate that aurantio-obtusin is a promising osteoanabolic compound of natural origin with potential therapeutic applications in the prevention of osteoporosis and other metabolic bone diseases.

Compliance and efficacy of saline irrigation in pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate compliance with and effectiveness of nasal irrigation in children with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and to assess its clinical course. METHODS: Seventy-seven children with refractory CRS resistant to medical treatment including antibiotics and nasal corticosteroids were included. We evaluated patients' nasal symptom and Lund Mackay CT scores at baseline. All patients were educated about nasal irrigation and encouraged to perform nasal irrigation 1-3 times a day. After 1 month, patients were reevaluated regarding compliance with the protocol and improvement of CRS by assessing symptom score and endoscopic evaluation. The patients were followed up for at least two months to assess need for further treatment including surgery. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 8.3 years ranging from 4 to 13 years. Mean follow-up duration with nasal saline irrigation was 6.2 months (2-32 months). Forty nine patients (63.6%) successfully carried out nasal irrigation during follow-up (good compliance [GC] group) and 28 patients (36.4%) did not successfully carry out nasal irrigation (poor compliance [PC] group). There were no significant differences between GC and PC groups regarding clinical characteristics and baseline Lund-MacKay CT scores. Subjective and objective improvements were observed in 36 patients (73.5%) in the GC group and 14 patients (50.0%) in the PC group. Surgery including endoscopic sinus surgery and/or adenoidectomy was performed in 8 patients (16.3%) in the GC group and 12 patients (42.9%) in the PC group. The rate of surgical treatment was significantly different between the groups (p=0.019). CONCLUSION: Nasal irrigation in children with long standing CRS is relatively well tolerated (63.6%) and effective. Nasal saline irrigation should be considered as a primary treatment tool in CRS even in pediatric age group.

[Chronological table-I of public medical care, medicine and pharmacy in Korea].

S. Miki wrote a valuable chronological table of Korean medical events from the origin of the country up until 1945 in Japanese, and then published the book in 1985. In 1996, Q.J. Kim made a new chronological table of public medical care in Korea from the origin of the country up until 1994 in Hangul. So, J.H. Kim translated the new table into Japanese, and J. Okuda added some important medical and pharmaceutical events to the table. The revised chronological table has been divided into two parts. This first report covers the history from the origin of the country up until 1659 A.D.

[Chronological table-II of public medical care, medicine and pharmacy in Korea].

The first report from the origin of Korea up until 1659 A.D. appeared previously in this journal. The chronological table of Q.J. Kim from 1660 A.D. to 1994 A.D. was partly revised by adding medical and pharmaceutical events, including the recent Korean history of pharmaceutical education and that of Korean pharmacists, for Japanese pharmacists. In this paper, Table-II, a concise history of public medical care, medicine and pharmacy from 1600 A.D. to present is reported.