Biomedical subjects

Chumpon Wilasrusmee

Publications and source records attributed to Chumpon Wilasrusmee.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

A new perspective in appendicitis: calculation of half time (T(1/2)) for perforation.

Appendicitis is generally a more serious disease in the elderly than in the young. In the former, perforation is seen commonly leading to the belief that the appendix perforates more readily and rapidly in the elderly. A competing view is that the appendix perforates relatively more frequently in the elderly than in the young. To distinguish between these two views we analyzed 126 cases of acute appendicitis stratified by age group. The time between onset of symptoms and perforation was calculated with a novel method that utilized the biological concept of T(1/2) for perforation. Our findings suggest that the rate of perforation in the elderly is not significantly different from that in the young but the frequency of perforation is higher in the elderly. We concluded that appendicitis carries a graver prognosis in the elderly because the frequency of appendiceal perforation is higher in the elderly.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2002

In vitro immunomodulatory effects of herbal products.

Immunosuppressive drugs have been developed from natural products such as soil and fungi, which are also the sources of some commonly used herbal products. However, the effect of herbal products on immune response has not been investigated. Because these products can affect the host immune system they can induce either rejection or tolerance after a transplant procedure. To investigate the effects of ten commonly used herbal products on transplant-related immune function we performed in vitro lymphocyte proliferation tests using phytohemagglutinin, mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) assay, and interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-10 production from MLC. Dong quai, ginseng, and milk thistle had nonspecific immunostimulatory effects on lymphocyte proliferation, whereas ginger and green tea had immunosuppressive effects. Dong quai and milk thistle increased alloresponsiveness in MLC, whereas ginger and tea decreased these responses. The immunostimulatory effects of dong quai and milk thistle were consistently seen in both cell-mediated immune response and nonspecific lymphoproliferation, whereas that of ginseng was not. The immunosuppressive effect of green tea and ginger were mediated through a decrease in IL-2 production, but the immunostimulatory effects of dong quai and milk thistle were not. We conclude that green tea, dong quai, ginseng, milk thistle, and ginger have effects on in vitro immune assays that may be relevant in transplantation in humans.

Angelica sinensis↗

PubMed2002

Immunostimulatory effect of Silybum Marianum (milk thistle) extract.

BACKGROUND: Herbal products are increasingly used for their effects on the immune system. Milk Thistle, a commonly used herbal product is known to inhibit growth of certain tumors, although the mechanism of this effect remains unknown. Previously we have shown that Milk Thistle extracts stimulate neurons in culture. Since other drugs that affect the neuronal; system also affect the immune system, we investigated the effects of Milk Thistle on the immune system. MATERIAL/METHODS: Standardized Milk Thistle extract was studied in murine lymphocyte proliferation tests using Concanavalin A (ConA) as mitogen for non-specific stimulation and mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) as allospecific stimulation. Th1 and Th2 cytokine levels in MLC were assayed by two antibody capture ELISA technique. All tests were performed in triplicate and repeated twice. RESULTS: We found that Milk Thistle is immunostimulatory in vitro. It increased lymphocyte proliferation in both mitogen and MLC assays. These effects of Milk Thistle were associated with an increase in interferon gamma, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 cytokines in the MLC (table). This immunostimulatory effect increased in response to increasing doses of Milk Thistle. CONCLUSIONS: Our study has uncovered a novel effect of milk thistle on the immune system. This immunostimulatory effect may be of benefit in increasing the immunity to infectious diseases.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Critical evaluation of radiolabeled lymphocytes to detect acute renal transplant rejection in a large animal model.

BACKGROUND: Renal transplant rejection cannot be diagnosed with certainty by non-invasive techniques. These techniques lack the specificity to differentiate rejection from other causes of renal dysfunction such as ATN and calcineuria toxicity. Since rejection involves lymphocytes, which the other courses of dysfunction do not, radiolabeling lymphocytes is an attractive technique to diagnose rejection non-invasively. MATERIAL/METHODS: We report our experience with this technique in a pig model of renal transplantation. We studied two groups of pigs, one with renal autografts and the other with allografts. We optimized radiolabeling of lymphocytes and also the technology for detection of these lymphocytes. The uptake of the radiolabeled lymphocyte was compared between the two groups by surface detection and, at the end of the experiment, with scintigraphy of renal tissues. RESULTS: Despite adequate labeling and viability of lymphocytes, only 1-2% of injected lymphocytes 'homed' to the renal grafts. Furthermore, although the detection technology was optimized, a poor signal to noise ratio interfered with the detection of the labeled lymphocytes. Due to these problems rejection could not be differentiated from ATN in this model. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that increasing the specific activity of the lymphocytes and improving the signal to noise ratio will enhance the specificity and sensitivity of this technique and facilitate non-invasive diagnosis of rejection.

Animals↗