Cytotoxicity of urushiols isolated from sap of Korean lacquer tree (Rhus vernicifera stokes)

Cytotoxicities of four urushiols, congeners isolated from the sap of Korean lacquer tree (Rhus vernicifera Stokes), to 29 human cancer cell lines originated from 9 organs were evaluated. Their values of 50% growth inhibition were below 4 microg/ml, and showed cell line specific cytotoxicity. The present result is the first report on the cytotoxicity of urushiols suggesting that they would have an anticancer activity to human cancer cells.     

Effects of socialization games on proximity and prosocial behavior of aggressive mentally retarded institutionalized women

Socialization games, designed to reinforce prosocial behavior between moderately and severely mentally retarded aggressive institutionalized women, were presented to two groups on 12 occasions over 8 weeks, randomly interspersed with 12 sessions of arts and crafts or filmstrip stories. Half of the sessions were presented in the morning and half in the afternoon. Video-taped observations of interpersonal behavior for 10 minutes after each session were analyzed in terms of friendly, unfriendly, and inactive behavior, and the distance of each subject from each other subject was measured. The rate of friendly behavior was significantly greater after the games and was higher in morning than afternoon sessions. The games also significantly decreased interpersonal distance. Both unfriendly behavior and inactivity were higher after the "placebo" sessions. The relevance of these results to institutional programming was discussed.     

Apical opacity associated with pulmonary tuberculosis: high-resolution CT findings

To elucidate the nature of the apical opacity that is commonly seen in patients with tuberculosis--usually referred to as an "apical cap" or "apical pleural thickening"--18 patients with upper lobe tuberculosis were studied with high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). All had a homogeneous apical opacity at least 1 cm thick on chest radiographs. Fifteen of the 18 had a history of pulmonary tuberculosis of more than 5 years duration, and nine showed evidence of ipsilateral pleurisy. HRCT scans at the apex of the thorax in all nine patients scanned at this level showed that extrapleural fat with interspersed vessels accounted for most of the plain radiographic opacity. Scans obtained at a level slightly above visible aerated lung showed extrapleural fat 3-25 mm thick peripherally and atelectatic lung centrally. At more caudal levels, at which both aerated lung and "thickened pleura" were visible on plain radiographs, HRCT showed extrapleural fat (3-20 mm thick), thickened pleura (1-3 mm thick), and atelectatic lung peripherally and areas of emphysematous bullae, bronchiectasis, and atelectatic lung centrally.     

Biological evaluation of Korean medicinal plants(III)

The extracts of sixty Korean plants were evaluated for their biological activities such as antitumor activities against Sarcoma 180, Leukemia SN-36 and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, antimicrobial activities and behavioral observation in mice. The results are tabulated.     

Inhibition of mixed lymphocyte reaction by thoracic duct lymph: removal of inhibitory effect by thoracic duct drainage in lung cancer.

The inhibitory effect of the thoracic duct lymph of a patient with lung cancer on the "one-way" mixed lymphocyte reaction without cytoxicity is unequivocally demonstrated. The effect seems to be dose related. A moderate inhibition of mixed lymphocyte reaction is still observed, even if the responding cells are preincubated in the thoracic duct lymph for 1 hr only prior to the addition of stimulating cells. The inhibitory effect of thoracic duct lymph on the mixed lymphocyte reaction is no longer evident when the material is added 1-4 days after the beginning of culture. These observations suggest that the mechanism of the inhibitory effect of thoracic duct lymph may be a simple attachment of inhibitory factors to the receptor sites on the responding lymphocytes, causing interference in cell to cell interaction. The inhibitory effect of thoracic duct lymph collected 1 week after the thoracic duct drainage on mixed lymphocyte reaction is significantly lower than that of thoracic duct lymph collected at the beginning of the procedure. This indicates that the blocking effect of thoracic duct lymph can be easily removed by this technique; which is technically feasible in man. The interrelationship of the tumor-specific blocking factor, thoracic duct drainage, and tumor growth pattern are discussed with respect to the potential usefulness of this procedure as adjuvant immunotherapy in the management of patients with neoplastic diseases.     

BDNF blocks caspase-3 activation in neonatal hypoxia-ischemia

Hypoxic-ischemic (H-I) injury to the brain in the perinatal period often leads to significant long-term neurological deficits. In a model of neonatal H-I injury in postnatal day 7 rats, our previous data have shown that cell death with features of apoptosis is prominent between 6 and 24 h after H-I and that neurotrophins, particularly BDNF, can markedly protect against tissue loss. During brain development, caspase-3 is required for normal levels of programmed cell death. Utilizing an antibody specific for the activated form of caspase-3, CM1, we now show that caspase-3 is specifically activated in neuronal cell bodies and their processes beginning at 6 h and peaking 24 h following unilateral carotid ligation and exposure to hypoxia in postnatal day 7 rats. Caspase-3 activation began to occur in cortex at 6 h and in striatum and hippocampus at 12-18 h. Caspase-3 activation was also observed in developing oligodendrocytes. Intracerebroventricular injection of BDNF prior to H-I injury almost completely abolished evidence of H-I-induced caspase-3 activation in vivo. Utilizing a specific molecular marker of an apoptotic pathway, these findings demonstrate that H-I injury to the developing brain is a strong apoptotic stimulus leading to caspase-3 activation, that BDNF can block this process in vivo, and that the ability of BDNF to inhibit caspase activation and subsequent apoptosis likely accounts in large part for its protection against neuronal injury in this model.     

A study on the expression of TGF-beta 1/T beta R II in laryngeal carcinoma]

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression of TGF-beta 1/T beta R II in laryngeal carcinoma. METHOD: Immunohistochemical study using SP kit in 53 cases. RESULT: The expression of TGF-beta 1 was decreased in carcinoma tissues when compared with peri-cancer controls (P < 0.05). There wasn't difference in T beta R II expression when compared with peri cancer controls (P > 0.05). But it was correlated with the stage, differentiation and lymph node metastasis of laryngeal carcinoma. CONCLUSION: TGF-beta 1/T beta R II may involve in the histogenesis and development of laryngeal carcinoma. The decreased expression of TGF-beta 1/T beta R II may serve as an important molecular marker of laryngeal carcinoma.     

Pneumatization of perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone and mucocele]

OBJECTIVE: To find out the prevalence of pneumatization of perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone, and to discuss the diagnosis and management of perpendicular plate mucocele (nasal septal mucocele). METHODS: The CT data from 32 patients with septal deviation were reviewed, and an unusual case of perpendicular plate mucocele was reported. RESULTS: Six cases (6/32, 18%) were found to have pneumatization of perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone, with 2 located in the anterior portion (frontal-septal pneumatization), and 4 located in the posterior portion (spheno-septal pneumatization). A patient with perpendicular plate mucocele was treated by the technique of marsupialization under nasal endoscope. This patient was followed-up for 10 months without recurrence. CONCLUSION: As a kind of variation of nasal septum, the clinical significance of pneumatization of perpendicular plate should be emphasized. We reported the first case of perpendicular plate mucocele, originated possibly from the pneumatization of perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone. Marsupialization under endoscope was considered to be the initial management for this unusual disease.     

Study of neurological mechanism of lidocaine's suppression to tinnitus via microdialysis]

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the neurological mechanism of lidocaine's suppression to tinnitus. METHODS: Thirty-four Wistar rats weighing 300-350 grams were randomly divided into IC group (n = 17) and AC group (n = 17), according to microdialysis region. Each group was randomly subdivided into saline treatment group (n = 4), salicylate treatment group (n = 6), and salicylate + lidocaine treatment group (n = 7). Using in vivo microdialysis technique coupled with microbore HPLC-electrochemical detection, the present study first monitored the 5-HT release in IC and AC in salicylate-induced tinnitus animal models, and then, examined the effects of lidocaine on salicylate-induced 5-HT changes in IC and AC. The statistical analysis was performed using two-way ANOVA for repeated measures of raw data with time and treatment condition as main effects. Individual time-point values between no more than two groups were compared with the unpaired Student's t-test. The accepted level of significance was 0.05, two-tailed. RESULTS: The 5-HT level increased to a maximum of 268% +/- 27% (mean +/- s) basal level in IC 2 h after salicylate application and of 277% +/- 24% basal level in AC around 3 h after application. And then, the 5-HT level gradually decreased to 157% +/- 16% of baseline in IC and 180% +/- 18% of baseline in AC by the end of the sixth hour. Saline did not alter the IC and AC dialysate 5-HT level in control rats. Two-way ANOVA with repeated measures indicated a significant effect of the condition factor [F (1, 8) = 413.949, P < 0.000001 in IC group; F(1,8) = 192.184, P < 0.000001 in AC group]. The increases of 5-HT levels in salicylate treatment groups were significantly reduced to 85% +/- 8% basal level in IC and 92% +/- 26% basal level in AC after local infusion of 1% lidocaine (P < 0.05). Compared with corresponding control value at that time (unpaired student t-test). Two-way ANOVA with repeated measures showed a significant difference between the salicylate group and salicylate + lidocaine group [P < 0.000001 with F(1, 11) = 329.267 for the condition factor in IC subgroup; P < 0.000001 with F(1, 11) = 133.844 for the condition factor in AC subgroup]. CONCLUSION: The suppression of lidocaine to tinnitus may be associated with the decrease of 5-HT level in IC and AC.