A Replication-Competent Retroviral Vector Expressing the HERV-W Envelope Glycoprotein is a Potential Tool for Cancer Gene Therapy.

The fusogenic membrane glycoprotein (FMG) derived from the human endogenous retrovirus-W (HERV-W) exhibits fusogenic properties, making it a promising candidate for cancer gene therapy. When cells are transfected with HERV-W FMG, they can fuse with neighboring cells expressing the receptor, resulting in the formation of syncytia. These syncytia eventually undergo cell death within a few days.

Effects of herbal medicines ( and ) for treating the common cold: A randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial.

Background: (EKS) and (SSE), which are called and in Chinese, are commonly used herbal medicines for the common cold in East Asian countries. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of EKS and SSE for treating the common cold.

Methods: A randomized, patient-assessor-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel, and multicenter clinical trial was conducted.

Endorsement for improving the quality of reports on randomized controlled trials of traditional medicine journals in Korea: a systematic review.

The aim of this study was to assess the endorsement of reporting guidelines in Korean traditional medicine (TM) journals by reviewing their instructions to authors. We examined the instructions to authors in all of the TM journals published in Korea to assess the appropriate use of reporting guidelines for research studies. The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published after 2010 in journals that endorsed reporting guidelines were obtained.

Optimization of Extraction Condition for Alisol B and Alisol B Acetate in Alismatis Rhizoma using Response Surface Methodology.

Alismatis Rhizoma is a perennial herb originating from the rhizomes of Alisma orientalis (Sam) Juzep and the same species which have been used to treat seborrheic dermatitis, eczema, polydipsia, and pedal edema. We aimed to determine the concentrations of the compounds alisol B and alisol B acetate present in a sample of the herb using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector. We selected methanol as the optimal solvent considering the structures of alisol B and alisol B acetate.

Genetic Association of NPY Gene Polymorphisms with Dampness-Phlegm Pattern in Korean Stroke Patients.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY), which is widely expressed in both the central and peripheral nervous systems, has an important role in a variety of biological fields. In this study, we analyzed the distribution of NPY polymorphisms in dampness-phlegm pattern and non-dampness-phlegm pattern in elderly Korean subjects with cerebral infarction (CI). A total of 1.

Association of the C-399T promoter polymorphism of neuropeptide Y with susceptibility to ischemic stroke.

Objectives: The common sequence variants of neuropeptide Y (NPY) were known to be associated with some kinds of diseases including stroke. This study investigated the association of NPY promoter polymorphism, C-399T, with ischemic stroke and its underlying mechanism using in vitro systems.

Design And Methods: Study subjects consisted of 444 ischemic stroke patients and 326 controls without stroke.

Association between PON1 5'-regulatory region polymorphisms, PON1 activity and ischemic stroke.

Objectives: Paraoxonase I (PON1) was known as a risk factor for cerebrovascular diseases. This study assessed the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the PON1 5'-regulatory region with ischemic stroke and serum PON1 activity.

Design And Methods: Study subjects consisted of 418 healthy controls and 86 ischemic stroke patients with small vessel occlusion.

Association of UCP1 genetic polymorphisms with blood pressure among Korean female subjects.

Recent studies have provided some clues with regard to the relationship existing between uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and blood pressure in animal experiments. In an attempt to determine the genetic polymorphisms that are associated with blood pressure in humans, we have analyzed genetic polymorphisms in UCP1 gene. In this study, we assessed the association between UCP1 genotypes and systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), in a population comprised of 832 Korean female subjects, using a general linear model, which was adjusted for age and body mass index (BMI).

Decreased paraoxonase-1 activity is a risk factor for ischemic stroke in Koreans.

Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) is an enzyme associated with HDL in blood and it is considered as an anti-oxidant factor due to its capability to prevent lipid oxidation. In vivo mouse studies also have shown that PON1 is one of the genetic risk factors contributing to atherosclerosis. In this study, we evaluated the serum PON1 activities of sex-age matched Korean healthy control and ischemic stroke patients, and investigated the association of PON1 activity with other metabolic parameters.

Association of UCP2 and UCP3 gene polymorphisms with serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol among Korean women.

Decreased serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) cholesterol is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis and vascular disease. In this study, we assessed the association of 10 uncoupling protein (UCP) 2 and UCP3 polymorphisms with serum HDL cholesterol levels and atherogenic indexes among 658 Korean women. Among the 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the UCP2 and UCP3 genes, 2 SNPs in UCP2, -866G>A and +4787C>T (A55V) that were tightly linked (r(2) = 0.

Pulmonary surfactant protein A up-regulates activity of the mannose receptor, a pattern recognition receptor expressed on human macrophages.

Inhaled particulates and microbes are continually cleared by a complex array of lung innate immune determinants, including alveolar macrophages (AMs). AMs are unique cells with an enhanced capacity for phagocytosis that is due, in part, to increased activity of the macrophage mannose receptor (MR), a pattern recognition receptor for various microorganisms. The local factors that "shape" AM function are not well understood.