Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Bangpungtongsung-San, a Traditional Herbal Prescription

Bangpungtongsung-san (BPTS), a traditional oriental herbal prescription, is widely used for expelling wind, draining heat, and providing general improvement to the immune system. In this study, we investigated the effects of BPTS on induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), proinflammatory cytokines, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS- ) stimulated Raw 264.7 cells, and on paw edema in rats. At concentrations of 0.5, 0.75, and 1 mg/mL, treatment with BPTS inhibited levels of expression of LPS-induced NF-κB and MAPKs (ERK, JNK, and p38) as well as production of proinflammatory mediators, such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by LPS. These results suggest that BPTS may exert anti-inflammatory effects via reduction of proinflammatory mediators, including NO, PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-6 through suppression of the signaling pathways of NF-κB and MAPKs in LPS-induced macrophages. In addition, using the carrageenan-induced paw edema assay, an antiedema effect of BPTS was observed in rats. These findings may provide scientific evidence validating the use of BPTS in treatment of patients with heat syndrome in Korean oriental medicine

Nematic response revealed by coherent phonon oscillations in BaFe2_2As2_2

We investigate coherent phonon oscillations of BaFe$_2$As$_2$ using optical pump-probe spectroscopy. Time-resolved optical reflectivity shows periodic modulations due to $A_{1g}$ coherent phonon of $c$-axis arsenic vibrations. Optical probe beams polarized along the orthorhombic $a$- and $b$-axes reveal that the initial phase of coherent oscillations shows a systematic deviation as a function of temperature, although these oscillations arise from the same $c$-axis arsenic vibrations. The oscillation-phase remains anisotropic even in the tetragonal structure, reflecting a nematic response of BaFe$_2$As$_2$. Our study suggests that investigation on the phase of coherent phonon oscillations in optical reflectivity can offer unique evidence of a nematic order strongly coupled to a lattice instability.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Efficacy of early immunomodulator therapy on the outcomes of Crohn’s disease

BACKGROUND: The natural course of Crohn’s disease (CD), with continuing relapses and remissions, leads to irreversible intestinal damage. Early adoption of immunomodulator therapy has been proposed in order to address this; however, it is still uncertain whether early immunomodulator therapy could affect the natural course of the disease in real practice. We evaluated the efficacy of such therapy on the prognosis of newly diagnosed patients with CD. METHODS: This retrospective study included 168 patients who were newly diagnosed with CD and who started treatment at Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea between January 2006 and March 2013. The short- and long-term outcomes were compared between patients treated with early immunomodulator therapy and those treated with conventional therapy. RESULTS: A Kaplan-Meier analysis identified that administration of immunomodulators within 6 months after diagnosis of CD was superior to conventional therapy in terms of clinical remission and corticosteroid-free remission rates (P=0.043 and P=0.035). However, P=0.827). Patients with a baseline elevated CRP level were more likely to relapse (P<0.005). Drug-related adverse events were more frequent in the early immunomodulator therapy group than in the conventional therapy group P=0.029). CONCLUSIONS: Early immunomodulator therapy was more effective than conventional therapy in inducing remission, but not in preventing relapse. Baseline high CRP level was a significant indicator of relapse

Harvesting electrical energy using plasmon-enhanced light pressure in a platinum cut cone

We have designed a method of harvesting electrical energy using plasmon-enhanced light pressure. A device was fabricated as a cut cone structure that optimizes light collection so that the weak incident light pressure can be sufficiently enhanced inside the cut cone to generate electrical energy. An increase in the device's current output is a strong indication that the pressure of incident light has been enhanced by the surface plasmons on a platinum layer inside the cut cone. The electrical energy harvested in a few minutes by irradiating pulsed laser light on a single micro device was possible to illuminate a blue LED

Analysis On Runoff Characteristics Of Decentralized Rainwater Management System Using XP-SWMM Simulation

In recent years, impervious areas are increasing in residential zone as well as unsettled area with rapid urbanization and land use. Consequently, this phenomenon influences weak urban environmental compositions about climate change including urban flooding accidents. Therefore, a new paradigm on rainwater management is needed for sound and sustainable restoration of hydrological circulation. Recently, a novel rainwater management system has been developed and recommended for irrigation and flood control in Korea. Especially, P city is now planning a new rainwater management system adopting LID (Low Impact Development) techniques on a small scale development area. In this study, XP-SWMM was used to simulate effects on runoff characteristics by installation of 8 kinds of rainwater management facilities on small scale development area (4.2 ha) of P city in Korea. Also, flood control safety analysis under the condition of localized torrential downpour event was carried out and effects of rainwater recycling facility was evaluated to measure annual water resource amount and water cost reduction. Peak rate runoff was reduced 11.8% and 36.4% in restrict A and B, respectively. Total amount of annual water source substitution was estimated 3,000㎡/yr with LID adoption in land use planning. Acknowledgement : This research was supported by a grant (12-TI-C01) from Advanced Water Management Research Program funded by Ministry of Land , Infrastructure, and Transport of Korean government

EFFECTIVE DOSE MEASUREMENT FOR CONE BEAM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY USING GLASS DOSIMETER

During image-guided radiation therapy, the patient is exposed to unwanted radiation from imaging devices built into the medical LINAC. In the present study, the effective dose delivered to a patient from a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) machine was measured. Absorbed doses in specific organs listed in ICRP Publication 103 were measured with glass dosimeters calibrated with kilovolt (kV) X-rays using a whole body physical phantom for typical radiotherapy sites, including the head and neck, chest, and pelvis. The effective dose per scan for the head and neck, chest, and pelvis were 3.37±0.29, 7.36±0.33, and 4.09±0.29 mSv, respectively. The results highlight the importance of the compensation of treatment dose by managing imaging dose

A Case of Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy for a Prostatic Stromal Tumor of Uncertain Malignant Potential

Prostatic stromal tumor of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) is a rare neoplasm with distinctive clinical and pathological characteristics. Here we report a case of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy performed in a patient with prostatic STUMP