The Ethanol Extracts of Osmanthus fragrans Leaves Ameliorate the Bone Loss via the Inhibition of Osteoclastogenesis in Osteoporosis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-osteoporosis effects of Osmanthus fragrans leaf ethanol extract (OFLEE) in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) and animals with osteoporosis. OFLEE not only suppressed tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive cells with multiple nuclei but also decreased TRAP activity in BMM treated with macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) ligand (RANKL). The formation of F-actin rings and the expression and activation of matrix metalloproteinases were decreased by OFLEE in BMM treated with M-CSF and RANKL. OFLEE suppressed M-CSF- and RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis by inhibiting NF-κB phosphorylation, tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6, c-fos, the nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic 1, and cathepsin K in BMM. OFLEE downregulated reactive oxygen species, cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-17, and RANKL in BMM treated with M-CSF and RANKL. Oral administration of OFLEE suppressed osteoporotic bone loss without hepatotoxicity in ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis animals. Our findings suggest that OFLEE, with anti-inflammatory effects, prevents osteoporotic bone loss through the suppression of osteoclastic differentiation in BMM and animals with osteoporosis.

The Interaction Effects of Age and Body Size on Body Appreciation and Health- Related Behaviors.

Whilst the associations among age, body size, body (dis)satisfaction, and weight management behavior have been well documented, there is little research on how the combination of age and body size is related to body appreciation and health-related behavioral intentions. The purpose of this study is to identify the associations of age, body size, and their interactions with body appreciation and health-related behavioral intentions among Korean women. A cross-sectional research design was adopted with a convenience sampling method. Using an online survey questionnaire, complete data on body appreciation, health-related behavioral intentions, body size, height, weight, and age were collected from 531 Korean adult women aged 20-77 years. Using average scores for each variable, a series of hierarchical regression analyses were performed to identify the relative contributions of predictor variables on each criterion variable. The significant interaction terms were further examined using the PROCESS macro in SPSS. Overall, older Korean women were found to be more likely to have a positive body image and lower levels of behavioral intentions towards striving for a healthy body than younger women. This study confirmed the relative contribution of subjective body size in explaining women's body-related perceptions and behaviors, as compared to their actual BMI.

Mientras que las asociaciones entre edad, tamaño corporal, (in)satisfacción corporal y comportamiento del control del peso han sido bien documentadas, existe poca investigación sobre cómo la combinación de edad y el tamaño corporal se relacionan con la apreciación corporal y las intenciones de comportamiento relacionadas con la salud. El propósito de este estudio es identificar las asociaciones de edad, tamaño corporal y sus interacciones con la apreciación corporal e intenciones de comportamiento relacionadas con la salud entre mujeres coreanas. Se adoptó un diseño de investigación multisectorial con un método de muestreo de conveniencia. Utilizando un cuestionario en línea, se recopilaron datos completos sobre apreciación corporal, intenciones de comportamiento relacionadas con la salud, tamaño corporal, altura, peso y edad de 531 mujeres coreanas adultas entre los 20 y los 77 años. Utilizando resultados promedio para cada variable, se realizó una serie de análisis de regresión jerárquica para identificar las contribuciones relativas de las variables predictivas sobre cada variable de criterio. Los términos de interacción significativos fueron examinados más a fondo utilizando el PROCESO macro en SPSS. En general, las mujeres coreanas mayores fueron halladas más propensas a tener una imagen cor- poral positiva y menores niveles de intenciones de comportamiento esforzado por un cuerpo saludable que las mujeres más jóvenes. Este estudio confirmó la contribución relativa del tamaño corporal subjetivo para explicar los comportamientos y percep- ciones relacionadas con el cuerpo de las mujeres, en comparación con sus IMC reales.

Intrathecal drug delivery to treat intractable neuropathic pain following Sjögren's syndrome-induced transverse myelitis: A case report.

RATIONALE: Transverse myelitis (TM) is a spinal cord inflammatory myelopathy that causes motor/sensory loss and urinary retention below the level of the affected spinal cord. Although a few case reports have described the control of neuropathic pain in patients with TM via spinal cord stimulation, no documented case regarding the control of severe allodynia following TM via intrathecal pump has been described. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 37-year-old woman was referred to a pain clinic for severe intractable pain below the T5 level followed by Sjögren's syndrome-induced TM. DIAGNOSES: A neurological examination revealed paresthesia and allodynia below the T5 level. The sensory evaluation was limited by extreme pain and jerking movements. The muscle strength of both lower limbs was grade 3. INTERVENTIONS: Intrathecal pump was inserted into the left lower abdomen. Catheter tip was placed at the midline of the T8 level. OUTCOMES: The numeric rating scale (NRS) for pain score decreased from 10 to 5. Functional Independence Measure score increased from 67 before implantation to 92 at the time of discharge, while the patient's Barthel score increased from 31 to 46. LESSONS: Neuropathic pain due to Sjögren's syndrome-related TM could be controlled effectively using the intrathecal morphine pump.

A Fungus-Inducible Pepper Carboxylesterase Exhibits Antifungal Activity by Decomposing the Outer Layer of Fungal Cell Walls.

Colletotrichum species are major fungal pathogens that cause devastating anthracnose diseases in many economically important crops. In this study, we observed the hydrolyzing activity of a fungus-inducible pepper carboxylesterase (PepEST) on cell walls of C. gloeosporioides, causing growth retardation of the fungus by blocking appressorium formation. To determine the cellular basis for the growth inhibition, we observed the localization of PepEST on the fungus and found the attachment of the protein on surfaces of conidia and germination tubes. Moreover, we examined the decomposition of cell-wall materials from the fungal surface after reaction with PepEST, which led to the identification of 1,2-dithiane-4,5-diol (DTD) by gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis. Exogenous DTD treatment did not elicit expression of defense-related genes in the host plant but did trigger the necrosis of C. gloeosporioides. Furthermore, the DTD compound displayed protective effects on pepper fruits and plants against C. gloeosporioides and C. coccodes, respectively. In addition, DTD was also effective in preventing other diseases, such as rice blast, tomato late blight, and wheat leaf rust. Therefore, our results provide evidence that PepEST is involved in hydrolysis of the outmost layer of the fungal cell walls and that DTD has antifungal activity, suggesting an alternative strategy to control agronomically important phytopathogens.

Anti-inflammatory effect of tribulusamide D isolated from Tribulus terrestris in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages.

Tribulus terrestris (T. terrestris) has been used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of a variety of diseases, including inflammation, edema and hypertension. The aqueous and ethanol extracts of T. terrestris contain alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, quinines and phenolic compounds. Tribulusamide D is a compound that has been isolated from the ethanol extract of T. terrestris. The present study investigated the anti­inflammatory effect of tribulusamide D on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)­stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Tribulusamide D inhibited the production of LPS­induced nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2, by reducing the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase­2 expression, respectively. The expression of these genes associated with inflammation was determined using reverse transcription­polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. Furthermore, tribulusamide D reduced the expression of LPS­induced inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)­6, IL­10 and tumor necrosis factor­α. They were quantified using an enzyme­linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, the present study confirmed that the inhibitory effects of tribulusamide D on the inflammatory response were mediated through inactivation of mitogen­activated protein kinase p38 and inhibition of nuclear localization of nuclear factor­B, which were also determined by western blot analysis. To the best of our knowledge, the current study is the first to demonstrate that tribulusamide D exerts anti­inflammatory activity by altering the expression of inflammatory mediators and cytokines, indicating that tribulusamide D could be developed as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of inflammatory disorders.

Constitutive expression of a fungus-inducible carboxylesterase improves disease resistance in transgenic pepper plants.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Resistance against anthracnose fungi was enhanced in transgenic pepper plants that accumulated high levels of a carboxylesterase, PepEST in anthracnose-susceptible fruits, with a concurrent induction of antioxidant enzymes and SA-dependent PR proteins. A pepper esterase gene (PepEST) is highly expressed during the incompatible interaction between ripe fruits of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and a hemibiotrophic anthracnose fungus (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides). In this study, we found that exogenous application of recombinant PepEST protein on the surface of the unripe pepper fruits led to a potentiated state for disease resistance in the fruits, including generation of hydrogen peroxide and expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes that encode mostly small proteins with antimicrobial activity. To elucidate the role of PepEST in plant defense, we further developed transgenic pepper plants overexpressing PepEST under the control of CaMV 35S promoter. Molecular analysis confirmed the establishment of three independent transgenic lines carrying single copy of transgenes. The level of PepEST protein was estimated to be approximately 0.002 % of total soluble protein in transgenic fruits. In response to the anthracnose fungus, the transgenic fruits displayed higher expression of PR genes, PR3, PR5, PR10, and PepThi, than non-transgenic control fruits did. Moreover, immunolocalization results showed concurrent localization of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and PR3 proteins, along with the PepEST protein, in the infected region of transgenic fruits. Disease rate analysis revealed significantly low occurrence of anthracnose disease in the transgenic fruits, approximately 30 % of that in non-transgenic fruits. Furthermore, the transgenic plants also exhibited resistance against C. acutatum and C. coccodes. Collectively, our results suggest that overexpression of PepEST in pepper confers enhanced resistance against the anthracnose fungi by activating the defense signaling pathways.

Purification and characterization of fibrinolytic metalloprotease from Perenniporia fraxinea mycelia.

In this study we purified and characterized a fibrinolytic protease from the mycelia of Perenniporia fraxinea. The apparent molecular mass of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 42kDa by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), fibrin zymography and size exclusion using fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC). The first 20 amino acid residues of the N-terminal sequence were ASYRVLPITKELLPPEFFVA, which shows a high degree of similarity with a fungalysin metallopeptidase from Coprinopsis cinerea. The optimal reaction pH value and temperature were pH 6.0 and 35-40 degrees C, respectively. Results for the fibrinolysis pattern showed that the protease rapidly hydrolyzed the fibrin alpha-chain followed by the beta-chain. The gamma-gamma chains were also hydrolyzed, but more slowly. The purified protease effectively hydrolyzed fibrinogen, preferentially digesting the Aalpha-chains of fibrinogen, followed by Bbeta- and gamma-chains. We found that protease activity was inhibited by Cu(2+), Fe(3+), and Zn(2+), but enhanced by the additions of Mn(2+), Mg(2+) and Ca(2+) metal ions. Furthermore, the protease activity was inhibited by EDTA, and it was found to exhibit a higher specificity for the chromogenic substrate S-2586 for chymotrypsin, indicating that the enzyme is a chymotrypsin-like metalloprotease. The mycelia of P. fraxinea may thus represent a source of new therapeutic agents to treat thrombosis.

Does resilience moderate the associations between parental problem drinking and adolescents' internalizing and externalizing behaviors? A study of Korean adolescents.

BACKGROUND: This study examined the main and interactive effects of parental problem drinking and resilience on problem (externalizing and internalizing) behaviors among Korean adolescents. METHODS: Data were collected from 482 adolescents (mean age=14.4 years, 57% girls) from four middle schools in two urban areas in Korea. A revised version of Kim's measure (2003) and Hyun's Problems Behaviors Profiles (2000) were employed to measure resilience and internalizing and externalizing behaviors, respectively. RESULTS: Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that parental problem drinking was directly associated with externalizing and internalizing behaviors. Further, the effects of parental problem drinking on both outcomes were moderated by resilience, such that the negative effects of parental problem drinking decreased in magnitude as resilience increased. Simple slope analyses showed that (1) the effects of parental problem drinking on externalizing behaviors were significant only at low levels of resilience and (2) the effects of parental problem drinking on internalizing behaviors were significant at low and average levels of resilience. CONCLUSIONS: Resilience may confer some protection against the adverse effects of parental problem drinking among Korean adolescents, but these protective effects are small in magnitude. Results highlight the importance of further research on culture-specific dimensions of resilience among Korean Children of Alcoholics (COAs).

Purification, characterization, and cloning of fibrinolytic metalloprotease from Pleurotus ostreatus mycelia.

A fibrinolytic protease (PoFE) was purified from the cultured mycelia of the edible oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus, using a combination of various chromatographies. The purification protocol resulted in an 876-fold purification of the enzyme, with a final yield of 6.5%. The apparent molecular mass of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 32 kDa by SDS-PAGE, fibrin-zymography, and size exclusion using FPLC. The optimal reaction pH value and temperature were pH 6.5 and 35 degrees C, respectively. PoFE effectively hydrolyzed fibrinogen, preferentially digesting the A alpha-chain and the B beta-chain over the gamma-chain. Enzyme activity was enhanced by the addition of Ca2+, Zn2+, and Mg2+ ions. Furthermore, PoFE activity was potently inhibited by EDTA, and it was found to exhibit a higher specificity for the chromogenic substrate S-2586 for chymotrypsin, indicating that the enzyme is a chymotrypsin-like metalloprotease. The first 19 amino acid residues of the N-terminal sequence were ALRKGGAAALNIYSVGFTS, which is extremely similar to the metalloprotease purified from the fruiting body of P. ostreatus. In addition, we cloned the PoFE protein, encoding gene, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The cDNA of cloned PoFE is 867 nucleotides long and consists of an open reading frame encoding 288 amino acid residues. Its cDNA showed a high degree of homology with PoMEP from P. ostreatus fruiting body. The mycelia of P. ostreatus may thus represent a potential source of new therapeutic agents to treat thrombosis.

Purification and characterization of a fibrinolytic protease from a culture supernatant of Flammulina velutipes mycelia.

In this study we purified a fibrinolytic enzyme from the culture supernatant of Flammulina velutipes mycelia by ion exchange and gel filtration chromatographies, it was designated as F. velutipes protease (FVP-I). This purification protocol resulted in 18.52-fold purification of the enzyme at a final yield of 0.69%. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 37 kDa by SDS-PAGE, fibrin-zymography and size exclusion by FPLC. This protease effectively hydrolyzed fibrin, preferentially digesting alpha-chain over beta-and gamma-gamma chain. Optimal protease activity was found to occur at a pH of 6.0 and a temperature of 20 to 30 degrees C. The protease activity was inhibited by Cu2+, Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions, but was found to be enhanced by Mn2+ and Mg2+ ions. Furthermore, FVP-I activity was potently inhibited by EDTA and EGTA, and it was found to exhibit a higher specificity for chromogenic substrate S-2586 for chymotrypsin, indicating that the enzyme is a chymotrypsin-like metalloprotease. The first 20 amino acid residues of the N-terminal sequence of FVP-I were LTYRVIPITKQAVTEGTELL. They had a high degree of homology with hypothetical protein CC1G_11771, GeneBank Accession no. EAU86463.

Development of a music group psychotherapy intervention for the primary prevention of adjustment difficulties in Korean adolescent girls.

PROBLEM: Traditionally, adolescent mental health in Korea has not been a prime focus for educators, health workers, and politicians, yet a majority of sampled adolescents report interpersonal sensitivity (Kim, 2003). METHOD: Thirty-five adolescent girls took part in a six-session school-based music group psychotherapy pilot intervention designed to promote relationships and improve self-control skills. FINDING: Participants identified several outcome benefits that may serve as protective factors in their continued social and emotional development. CONCLUSIONS: Music is a medium that promotes interpersonal relatedness among Korean adolescent girls. More research is necessary to identify long-term benefits of preventive music group psychotherapy interventions among the adolescent population.

A Colletotrichum gloeosporioides-induced esterase gene of nonclimacteric pepper (Capsicum annuum) fruit during ripening plays a role in resistance against fungal infection.

Ripe fruits of pepper (Capsicum annuum) are resistant to the anthracnose fungus, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, whereas unripe-mature fruits are susceptible. A pepper esterase gene (PepEST) that is highly expressed during an incompatible interaction between the ripe fruit of pepper and C. gloeosporioides was previously cloned. Deduced amino acid sequence of PepEST cDNA showed homology to both esterases and lipases, and contained -HGGGF- and -GXSXG- motifs and a catalytic triad. Inhibition of PepEST activity by a specific inhibitor of serine hydrolase demonstrated that a serine residue is critical for the enzyme activity. Expression of PepEST gene was fruit-specific in response to C. gloeosporioides inoculation, and up-regulated by wounding or jasmonic acid treatment during ripening. PepEST mRNA and protein was differentially accumulated in ripe vs. unripe fruit from 24 h after inoculation when C. gloeosporioides is invading into fruits. Immunochemical examination revealed that PepEST accumulation was localized in epidermal and cortical cell layers in infected ripe fruit, but rarely even in epidermal cells in infected unripe one. Over-expression of PepEST in transgenic Arabidopsis plants caused restriction of Alternaria brassicicola colonization by inhibition of spore production, resulting in enhanced resistance against A.brassicicola. These results suggest that PepEST is involved in the resistance of ripe fruit against C.gloeosporioides infection.

Effectiveness of a smoking cessation program for adolescents.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of a comprehensive smoking cessation program for Korean adolescents. METHOD: The study design was quasi-experimental with one pre and three post-tests. The three posttests were done immediately after, three months later, and six months after the completion of the program. A total of 43 high school students who smoked participated in the study with 22 in the experimental group and 21 in the control group. The smoking cessation program consisted of 9 sessions with content on enhancement of self-efficacy, stress management, correction of distorted thoughts, consciousness raising, and assertiveness training. The study variables were urine cotinine levels, self-efficacy, stress, and stages of changed behavior. RESULTS: Urine cotinine levels significantly decreased in the experimental group after the program (F=3.02, p=.06) but significantly increased in the control group (F=6.32, p=.004). Self-efficacy and the degree of stress did not change in either group. The stages of smoking cessation behavior tended to change when compared with raw data for the experimental group. For most participants, the stages of change had been precontemplation and contemplation, but changed to action and maintenance stage among the experimental group. CONCLUSION: The program was effective in smoking cessation and influencing stages of change but did not change psychosocial factors such as self-efficacy and stress. It is suggested a program should be developed to change psychosocial variables on a long-term basis. It is also desirable to involve peers and families of adolescents who smoke when planning programs to enhance social support.

[The development and effects of a comprehensive communication course for nursing students].

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to: (a) develop a comprehensive communication course combined with a group program for improving communication skills; and (b) examine the effects of the comprehensive communication course on interpersonal communication, relationship change, self-esteem, and depression in nursing students. METHOD: The experimental group consisted of 82 nursing students, and the control group, 108 nursing students. Both groups each took communication courses from March to June, 2002 and 2003. A group program for improving communication skills was conducted for each 8 subgroups of the experimental group for 90 minutes once a week during the 6 weeks, while the existing communication lecture was conducted for the control group. Both groups were post-tested after the intervention for verifying the difference of variables between the two groups, and the experimental group was also pre-tested for verifying the difference between before and after the treatment. RESULT & CONCLUSION: Interpersonal communication score of the post-test in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the control group and the depression score of the post-test in the experimental group was significantly lower than in the control group. Interpersonal communication, relationship change and self-esteem scores were significantly increased and the depression score was significantly decreased in experimental group after the treatment. In conclusion, the comprehensive communication course that was developed in this study had positive effects on communication skills in nursing students.

Isolation of defense-related genes differentially expressed in the resistance interaction between pepper fruits and the anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides.

Unripe mature green fruits of pepper (Capsicum annuum) are susceptible to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, whereas ripe red fruits are not. We established this pepper-C. gloeosporioides interaction as a model system to study the fungal resistance that develops during ripening of nonclimacteric fruit. Histochemical examination of transverse sections suggested that fungal invasion 24 h after inoculation (HAI) and colonization 48 HAI are critical events that differentiate between resistant and susceptible interactions. Based on this observation, we used messenger RNA differential display to isolate defense-related genes differentially expressed at 24 and 48 HAI. RNA gel blot analysis showed that six out of eighty cloned cDNAs were differentially expressed after infection of ripe fruit. The proteins encoded by these six clones, ddP1, ddP3, ddP4, ddP6, ddP13, and ddP47, showed significant homology to aldehyde dehydrogenase, P23 protein, NP24 protein, cytochrome P450 protein, esterase, and MADS-box protein, respectively, and may be involved in the resistance of ripe fruit to C. gloeosporioides infection.

[Characteristics and mental health of battered women in shelters].

PURPOSE: The purposes of this descriptive study were to: (a) describe the identifiable characteristics of the population of battered women; (b) examine mental health aspects by means of measuring level of anxiety, self-esteem, and depression. METHOD: A convenience sample of 96 battered women was recruited from women who were admitted to a shelter. RESULT & CONCLUSION: Data from this study supported the assertion that many battered women were exposed to severe physical abusive situations. Also the major finding was that the levels of anxiety and depression were high and the level of self-esteem was low in battered women living in shelters.