Glutamine has been used to treat canine patients with parvoviral enteritis. However, little is known about the effect of L-alanyl-L-glutamine (Ala-Gln) supplementation in dogs with parvoviral enteritis. The objective of this study was to determine whether Ala-Gln supplementation can improve dog survival and ameliorate clinical signs without adverse effects. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 39 client-owned dogs. The dogs were randomly assigned to two groups and administered either an Ala-Gln solution (Dipeptiven, 0.4 g/kg, n = 20) or an equivalent volume of placebo (n = 19) orally twice daily. Of the 39 dogs, 17 were vaccinated (n = 9 in the Ala-Gln-treated group and n – 9 in the placebo group). All dogs received standard treatment while hospitalized. The dogs were monitored according to a clinical scoring system and evaluated diagnostically daily for 11 days. Survival rates in both groups were quantified using Kaplan‒Meier survival curves and statistically compared using the log-rank test. The total score for clinical signs did not differ between the groups, except on day 2. The survival rates differed significantly (p=0.038). Three Ala-Gln-treated dogs (15.0%) died during the study, whereas eight dogs in the placebo group died (42.1%). No adverse effects were found to be associated with Ala-Gln treatment. Oral administration of Ala-Gln improves survival in dogs with parvoviral enteritis without causing adverse effects.

Cholangiocarcinoma consists of a heterogeneous group of aggressive and rare malignancies that arise from the bile ducts outside or inside the liver. Although surgical resection remains the only potential curative treatment option for patients with cholangiocarcinoma, curative surgery is only possible in a small number of cases. Furthermore, recurrence rates are high even among patients who undergo surgical resection. Unfortunately, a significant proportion of patients present with locally advanced, unresectable disease. Recently, neoadjuvant chemotherapy has emerged as a promising method to identify patients with poor prognosis, avoiding pathological and non-therapeutic resection, as well as potentially downstaging tumors which cannot be resected initially. This therapeutic strategy has the potential to improve local and distant control, to achieve R0 resection and to prevent distant metastasis. However, few data are currently available supporting neoadjuvant chemotherapy in cholangiocarcinoma and several questions remains unanswered. Adjuvant chemotherapy is administered after surgery to eradicate any remaining cancer cells with the goal of reducing the chances of recurrence. And chemotherapy is also frequently used in cholangiocarcinoma as an adjunct to surgical resection, but the appropriate sequence of chemotherapy with surgery is unclear.

Fucoidan(후코이단)은 주로 갈조류에서 추출되는 fucose를 함유한 함황 다당류의 일종으로, 항 균, 항바이러스 및 항종양 효과와 함께 다양한 경로로 면역력을 향상시키는 생리 기능성물질 로 알려져 있다. 최근 연구에 따르면, 인체 백신 분야에서는 fucoidan의 백신 adjuvant(항원보조 제)로서의 가능성이 제시되었다. 수산업 분야에서는, 보조사료로서의 fucoidan의 기능에 관한 연구는 보고되고 있으나, 수산용 백신 개발을 위한 adjuvant 연구는 전무한 실정이다. 동물세포 에서 fucoidan의 adjuvant에 대한 긍정적인 검토와 함께 안전성을 증명한 연구는 많이 있지만, fucoidan을 어류 백신용 adjuvant로 사용하기 위해서는 어류에서도 이를 확인할 필요가 있다. 또한 fucoidan의 분자량에 따라 세포 내 흡수율이 각기 다르다는 점과 병원체의 인위감염에 따 른 항체 생성을 포함한 어류의 특이면역 반응 시스템에 대한 연구가 많이 부족하다는 제약이 있다. 따라서 이러한 분야에 대한 적극적인 연구가 뒷받침 된다면 안전하고 효과적인 adjuvant 로 사용할 수 있을 것이다. 본 연구에서는 fucoidan이 사람과 동물을 포함하여 어류의 면역자극 즉 체액성 및 세포성 면역에 미치는 영향에 대한 연구를 검토하고, 수산업 분야에서 fucoidan 의 사용과 어류 백신용 adjuvant로서의 가능성을 고찰하였다.

본 연구는 췌장암 환자가 수술 후 보조 요법으로서 항암화학요법 또는 항암-방사선병용요법을 시행받는 경우에 있어서 치료 성적의 차이가 있는지 조사하기 위해 시행하였다. 2008년에서 2012년까지 부산대학교병원에서 수술을 시행한 40명의 췌장 선암 환자들의 의무기록을 조사하였다. 근치적 목적으로 수술을 받은 환자 중 29명이 항암화학 요법 또는 항암-방사 선병용요법의 보조요법을 시행받았다. 보조요법의 시행 (p =0.025)과 완전 절제(p =0.043)가 더 긴 전체 생존기간과 연관이 있었다. 보조요법으로서 항암화학요법을 시행한 군과 항암-방사선병용요법을 시행한 군에서 전체 생존 기간은 유의하게 다르지 않았으나 보조요법을 하지 않은 군과 비교하였을 때에는 보조요법으로 항암화학요법을 시행한 군에서 유의하게 높은 전체 생존율을 보였다. 수술 후 보조요법은 췌장 선암 환자의 예후를 향상시키며, 항암화학요법이 항암-방사선 병용요법보다 양호한 결과를 보인다.

The anti-inflammatory effects of the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) derived from cricket (G. bimaculatus, Gb) were investigated in complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) treated chronic arthritis rat model. This GAG produced a meaningful anti-edema effect showing inhibition of C-reactive protein (CRP) and rheumatoid factor. This GAG also inhibited the atherogenesis and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels of VEGF production in HUVEC cells, IL-6, prostaglandin E2 stimulated lipopolysaccharide in LAW 264.7 cells and TNF-α production in normal splenocytes, with dose dependent manner. This GAG was also found to be an inducer of NO production from the HUVEC cells and a stimulator of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. In the histological finding, the LV dorsal root ganglion, linked to the paw treated Gb GAG, was repaired against CFA induced cartilage destruction. The combined Indomethacin (5 mg/kg)-Gb GAG (10 mg/kg) also more effectively inhibited CFA-induced paw edema at 3h, 2nd and 3rd day to levels comparable to anti-inflammatory drug, indomethacin.

We investigated the role of the central MAPK pathways in extra-territorial (referred) pain resulting from inflammation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Experiments were carried out on male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 220-280 g. Under anesthesia, these animals were injected with 50 μL of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into the TMJ using a Hamilton syringe. In the control group, saline was injected into the TMJ. To identify the extent of inflammation of the TMJ, Evans blue dye (0.1%, 5 mg/kg) was injected intravenously at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 days after CFA injection. The concentration of Evans blue dye in the extracted TMJ tissue was found to be significantly higher in the CFA-treated animals than in the saline-treated group. Air-puff thresholds in the vibrissa pad area were evaluated 3 days before and at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 days after CFA injection into the TMJ. Referred mechanical allodynia was established at 3 days, remained until 12 days, and recovered to preoperative levels at 18 days after CFA injection. This referred mechanical allodynia was observed in contralateral side area. To investigate the role of central MAPK pathways, MAPK inhibitors (10 μg) were administrated intracisternally 9 days after CFA injection. SB203580, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, significantly attenuated referred mechanical allodynia, as compared with the vehicle group. PD98059, a MEK inhibitor, also reduced CFA-induced referred mechanical allodynia. These results suggest that TMJ inflammation produces extra-territorial mechanical allodynia, and that this is mediated by central MAPK pathways.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of High-Voltage Pulsed Current (HVPC) and ultrasound on adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats. Adjuvant arthritis was induced in female Sprauge-Dawley rats by the subcutaneous injection of a single dose of 1 ㎖ of Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) (1 mg of Mycobacterium Butyricum suspended in 1 ㎖ paraffin oil) into the right hind paw. A randomized, parallel-groups design of 24 subjects was used. All rats were randomly assigned to control (n=8), ultrasound (n=8), and HVPC (n=8) were compared with those of injured rats. The rats in the pulsed ultrasound group were treated at 1 MHz frequency with 5 W/㎠ intensity in 1:4 mode for 5 minutes per day. The rats in the HVPC group were treated at 120 pulses per second and 50 ㎲ phase duration, 20 mA intensity for 30 min per day. Treatment was done in the left and right hind limb for 2 weeks. We evaluated clinical, radiographic, hematologic and histopathologic findings before and after treatment and obtained the following results. 1. Edema of the right hind paw was more significantly reduced in the ultrasound and HVPC groups than the control group on days 9, 12, and 14 (p<.05). Edema of the left hind paw was more significantly reduced in ultrasound and HVPC groups than the control group on days 12, 14 (p<.05). 2. WBC counts of the ultrasound and HVPC groups as compared with the control group were becoming remarkably decreased after the treatment. 3. In radiologic findings, arthritis formation was seen according to the score of arthritis, which was the highest in the control group, upon the observation of radiographs of the left and right hind paws. However, no statistically significant difference was present in the score within three groups. 4. In the histopathologic findings, ultrasound and HVPC groups had effectively suppressed erosions of articular cartilage and inflammatory cell infiltrations. Therefore, the results of the study show that rats that were treated with the ultrasound and HVPC effectively suppressed adjuvant arthritis. However, no statistically significant difference was present between the ultrasound group and the HVPC group.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of ultrasound on adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats. Adjuvant arthritis was induced in 26 female Sprauge-Dawley rats by the subcutaneous injection of a single dose of .1 mL of Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) (1 mg of Mycobacterium Butyricum suspended in .1 paraffin oil) into the right hind paw. After confirming inflammatory edema and arthritis in the paw 2 weeks later, the arthritic rats were divided into 3 groups, i.e., a control group, a pulsed ultrasound group (Group A), and a continuous ultrasound group (Group B) with 8 rats placed in each group. The rats in Group A were treated with pulsed ultrasound at 1 MHz frequency with .5 intensity in 1 : 4 mode for 3 minutes. The rats in Group B were treated with continuous ultrasound at 1 MHz frequency with 2 intensity in the continuous mode for 3 minutes. The ultrasound treatment was done in the left and right ankles for 2 weeks. Clinical, radiographic and histopathologic findings were then evaluated before and after treatment and yielded the following results. 1. No significant difference was present in body weight between the control group and the treated groups. 2. A statistically significant decrease in the edema of the paw was seen in the rats in Group A that was treated with pulsed ultrasound by 26~29 days after the treatment started (p<.05). 3. According to radiological examination, Group A showed the lowest score in arthritis scale which means it showed a tendency to suppress arthritic inflammation of the left and right hind paws. However, no statistically significant difference was present in the score between the control group, Group A and Group B. 4. According to histopathologic findings, the degree of infiltration by inflammatory cells and hypertrophy of the synovium were less in Group A compared with the control group and Group B. The results of the study show that rats that were treated with the pulsed ultrasound effectively suppressed adjuvant arthritis. However, more effort is needed to objectively prove the effectiveness of ultrasound by developing more sensitive testing methods that could quantitatively evaluate the treatment effects of acute rheumatoid arthritis and by trying out different ultrasound treatment methods.

Background: In recent years, adjuvants have received increasing attention owing to the development of purified subunit and synthetic vaccines which are poor immunogens and require additional adjuvants to evoke an immune response. Therefore, immunologic adjuvants have been developed and tested. Plant polysaccharides have been recognized as effective biological response modifiers with low toxicity.Methods and Results: In this study, the polysaccharide from the aboveground part of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge containing immunomodulating arabino-3,6-galactan was evaluated for its hemolytic activity and adjuvant potential in the specific cellular and humoral immune responses to ovalbumin. The polysaccharide from the aboveground part of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge was co-immunized with the purified Vi capsular polysaccharide of Salmonella typhi vaccine in mice. The polysaccharide from the aboveground part of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge did not induce any hemolytic activity or side effects at doses up to 500㎍/㎖. The concanavalin A-, lipopolysaccharide-, and ovalbumin-induced splenocyte proliferation and serum ovalbumin-specific IgG, IgG1 and IgG2b antibody titers in immunized mice were significantly enhanced by AMA. Pharmacological data revealed that the polysaccharide from the aboveground part of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge increased antigen-specific antibody levels in immunized mice. The polysaccharide from the aboveground part of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge-adjuvanted purified Vi capsular polysaccharide of Salmonella typhi vaccine improved the proliferation of splenocytes and macrophages as well as stimulated cytokine production.Conclusions: These results suggest that the polysaccharide from the aboveground part of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge-adjuvanted vaccines enhanced humoral and cellular immunity and that the polysaccharide from the aboveground part of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge is a safe and efficacious adjuvant candidate suitable for use in prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines.

CT는 단층촬영을 이용한 의학적인 영상 진단 기법이다. CT는 3차원적인 방사선학적 영상 기법으로 염증의 평가에는 적합하지 않으나, 석회화된 조직을 직접적인 3차원 영상으로 보여주므로 뼈 손상의 평가에는 유용하 다. 본 연구는 실험적으로 유도된 랫드의 보조관절염에서 관절의 병리학적 변화와 뼈 파괴의 정량적 분석을 3 차원 CT 영상을 통하여 평가하고자 실시되었다. 그 결과 랫드의 보조관절염에서 병변의 파괴성 진행이 3차원 CT 영상을 통해 정량화될 수 있었고, 따라서 관절염 질환의 상태 및 실험적인 치료 약제의 효능 평가에 3차원 CT 영상 기법이 효과적일 것으로 생각된다.