Epimedium koreanum Nakai and its main constituent icariin suppress lipid accumulation during adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.

Obesity is associated with a number of metabolic abnormalities such as type 2 diabetes and has become a major health problem worldwide. In the present study, we investigated the effects of Epimedium koreanum Nakai (Herba Epimedii, HE) and its main constituent icariin on the adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. HE extract and icariin significantly reduced lipid accumulation and suppressed the expressions of PPARγ, C/EBPα, and SREBP-1c in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of a marker compound, baicalin in KOB extract after oral administration to normal and allergic-induced rats.

KOB extracts are a polyherbal medicine had been prescribed for the treatment of hyperhydrosis and allergic diseases such as allergic asthma and rhinitis in oriental clinics. Therefore, the pharmacokinetic studies of the KOB extract administered orally to normal rats and rhinitis-induced rats to understand the correlation of the efficacy and plasma concentration of KOB in patients of allergic rhinitis in future were performed. The study was conducted according to administration for pure baicalin in normal rats, baicalin in KOB extract in normal rats and rhinitis-induced rats.

Genetic characterization of sapovirus detected in hospitalized children with acute gastroenteritis in Korea.

Background: Human Caliciviruses, including sapovirus, are important causes of gastroenteritis in children and adults. The present study determined the detection rate of sapovirus (SaV) with acute gastroenteritis in hospitalized children and describes the molecular epidemiology of SaV circulating in Seoul, Korea.

Methods: In total, 4,583 stool specimens from hospitalized patients with acute gastroenteritis were collected (2,058 females and 2,525 males) in Seoul and were tested for SaVs.

Antimicrobial resistance profiles among Escherichia coli strains isolated from commercial and cooked foods.

A total of 4330 food samples of which microbiological standard for Escherichia coli is negative in Korea were determined for the frequency of E. coli. Ninety six samples (2.

Characterization of norovirus infections in Seoul, Korea.

The present study has determined the detection rate of norovirus (NoV) with acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in hospitalized children and describes the molecular epidemiology of NoV circulating in Seoul, Korea. Six hundred and eighty-three (9.8%) of samples were positive for NoV.

Flower extract of Panax notoginseng attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response via blocking of NF-kappaB signaling pathway in murine macrophages.

Aim Of The Study: The root of Panax notoginseng (PN) is commonly used to treat chronic liver disease with its therapeutic abilities to stop haemorrhage in the circulation, while the PN flower (PN-F) is largely unknown in the biological activities on inflammation and mechanisms of its actions. In this study, the pharmacologic effects of PN-F methanol extract on inflammation were investigated to address potential therapeutic or toxic effects in LPS-stimulated mouse macrophage cells, RAW264.7 cells.

The association of the activation-inducible tumor necrosis factor receptor and ligand with lumbar disc herniation.

Purpose: Herniated nucleus pulposus fragments are recognized by the immune system as a foreign-body, which results in an autoimmune reaction. Human activation-inducible tumor necrosis factor receptor (AITR) and its ligand, AITRL, are important costimulatory molecules in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Despite the importance of these costimulatory molecules in autoimmune disease, their role in the autoimmune reaction to herniated disc fragments has yet to be explored.