Ulva compressa Linnaeus (UCL) is a green algae seaweed that performs photosynthesis and is used as a food material in some Asian regions including Korea. It is known to be the dominant species in copper ion-contaminated seas, and many studies on copper ion resistant mechanisms have been reported. UCL is known to have an excellent antioxidant effect, but limited information is available regarding its other physiological activities. In this study, we investigated the anticancer activity of 30% prethanol extracts of Ulva compressa Linnaeus (30% PeUCL) and the underlying mechanisms of its activity on human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. The 30% PeUCL extracts suppressed FaDu cell viability without affecting normal cells (L929), as determined by MTT and viability assays. Furthermore, the 30% PeUCL extracts induced apoptosis, as determined by DAPI staining. The 30% PeUCL extracts inhibited colony formation effectively as well as wound-healing of FaDu cells, even at noncytotoxic concentrations. In addition, 30% PeUCL extracts induced apoptosis significantly through proteolytic cleavage of caspase-3, -7, and -9, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, and by downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of Bax in FaDu cells, as determined by Western blot analysis. Collectively, these results suggest that the inhibitory effect of 30% PeUCL extracts on the growth of oral cancer cells, colony formation and wound-healing may be mediated by caspase- and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways in human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Therefore, 30% PeUCL extracts can be administered as a natural chemotherapeutic drug for the treatment of human oral cancers.

Among the cultured products of Beauveria bassiana SFB-205 (KCCM 10892P), the supernatant showed the highest insecticidal activity against 2nd instars of Aphis gossypii (Aphididae) nymphs under glasshouse condition. The enzymes in the supernatant were confirmed as active materials, and the chitinase was finally selected as a QC factor for commercial production. However, the chitinase activity in the supernatant decreased by 11-folds due to the thermal stress at 50℃ for 2 h. To obtain thermal stability, the chitinase in the supernatant was adsorbed to a precipitable material and the pellet was freeze-dried (PCT/KR2007/005886). The adsorbent-A showed about 92.7% of harvesting efficiency which was higher than the other candidates. The chitinase activity of the freeze-dried powder was kept up about 82.0% of initial activity for the same thermal stress. Subsequently, an optimal formulation recipe was established to maximize long-term storage stability and efficacy. SFB-205 oil-based formulation was stable up to 18 months at room temperature. It showed 96.1% efficacy against 2nd instars of A. gossypii nymphs at 1 day after the treatment in the glasshouse. This novel approach can be a promising method to develop competitive biopesticies in the entomopathogenic fungi, even though it needs to be intensively studied.

Salmonellae are gram-negative bacilli of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Gastroenteritis was the most frequent clinical sign and osteoarticular infection like septic arthritis were extremely scarce in a patient with Salmonella infection. An immunocompromised state are known risk factors for development of septic arthritis due to Salmonella. The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has recently seen a paradigm shift with the introduction of biological therapy. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha antagonist (anti TNF-α) have especially been able to play major roles in the treatment of RA. But there is concern that this will result in an increased incidence of infection. There have been few reports of Salmonella infection following anti TNF-α in a RA patient. Here, we report a rare case of septic arthritis of the left knee by Group B non-typhoidal Salmonella in a RA patient who was receiving etanercept therapy. The patients was treated with arthroscopy guided irrigation and debridement, and administration of intravenous antibiotics (ciprofloxacin) for 4 weeks. Since then, he achieved a full recovery from the infection.

Invasive fungal infection can be a lethal complication in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Crytococcus neoformans, as one of the most common pathogenic species worldwide, can cause infection disease in human. The central nervous system (CNS) is a common site for cryptococcal infection which usually presents cryptococcal meningitis. The cryptococcal meningitis is a recognized complication of SLE, with high mortality rates, particularly in those treated with immunosuppressive agents. However, it is difficult to differentiate infectious meningitis and neuropsychiatric lupus because of the clinical manifestations are unspecific and frequently are confused with lupus activity. So a early diagnosis and treatment is very important for its significant mortality and morbidity. We report the case of fatal meningoencephalitis by Cryptococcus neoforman in a 44 years old patient with SLE

Behcet’s disease (BD) is characterized by oral or orogenital ulcers and various systemic symptoms. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a prototype of the seronegative spondiloarthropathy(SNSpA) group, is a chronic inflammatory disease of the axial skeleton primarily involving the sacroiliac joint and vertebrae. Coexistence of BD and AS has rarely been reported. We report on a patient with concomitant AS and BD who was treated successfully with etanercept. Several case reports suporting the effectiveness of other medications such as NSAIDs in patients with coexisting AS and BD have been reported in the literature. However, we found no report regarding the use of anti TNF-α agent for treatment of these patients except for one case of adalimumab. To be best of our knowledge, this is the first case of a patient with concomitant AS and BD treated with etanercept.