Patients with Omenn syndrome (OS) have hypomorphic RAG mutations and develop varying manifestations of severe combined immunodeficiency. It is not known which symptoms are caused directly by the RAG mutations and which depend on other polymorphic genes. Our current understanding of OS is limited by the lack of an animal model. In the present study, we identified a C57BL/10 mouse with a spontaneous mutation in, and reduced activity of, RAG1. Mice bred from this animal contained high numbers of memory-phenotype T cells and experienced hepatosplenomegaly and eosinophilia, had oligoclonal T cells, and demonstrated elevated levels of IgE, major symptoms of OS. Depletion of CD4 + T cells in the mice caused a reduction in their IgE levels. Hence these "memory mutant" mice are a model for human OS; many symptoms of their disease were direct results of the Rag hypomorphism and some were caused by malfunctions of their CD4 + T cells.

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Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are non-hematopoietic multipotent stem cells with selfrenewal properties and ability to differentiate into a variety of mesenchymal tissues. This chapter overviews effects of hypoxia on MSCs, makes it promising therapy to various diseases. Cultivation of MSCs under hypoxic condition results in variety of outcome that is important to be noted in clinical use. In most studies, hypoxic condition appears to increase proliferation, differentiation, and immune regulatory performance of MSCs without affecting its characteristic. Those benefits are therefore utilized in clinical application. However, there are also studies that report on negative effects of hypoxia in MSCs such as chromosomal instability. Molecular mechanism of MSCs in hypoxic condition is provided for better understanding, which is crucial for further development with better outcome.

Various diseases including cancer and cardiovascular diseases are induced by free radicals via lipid peroxidation, protein peroxidation, DNA damage, and cellular degeneration in the cells. Piper betle L., commonly called betel, belongs to the Piperaceae family. It originated from South and South East Asia, and has been used as a traditional medicine by people there due to its medicinal properties. In the present study, free radical scavenging activity of ethanolic leaves extract of Piper betle L. together with its different solvent fractions (hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water) were evaluated by DPPH free radical scavenging assay. The ethanolic extract and the ethyl acetate fraction had shown very significant DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl) radical scavenging activity compared to the other fractions. In DPPH free radical scavenging assay, the IC50 value of the ethanolic extract and the ethyl acetate fraction were found to be 17.43µg/mL and 11.53 µg/mL, respectively. The free radical scavenging activity was assumed due to the total phenolic content. The total phenolic content was found to be highest in the ethanol extract (277.68 μg EGCG/mg) and the ethyl acetate fraction (559.38μg EGCG/mg). The results concluded that the ethanolic leaves extract of Piper betle L. and its ethyl acetate fraction have a considerably free radical scavenging activity.

BACKGROUND: Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease. Pharmacological treatment of  hypercholesterolemia are known to have side effects, hence the need for an alternative medicine, like herbal medicine, such as soybean as an example. Research objective is to compare the effects of ethanol extract, protein extract, and ethyl acetate fraction of soybean tempeh Detam-1 on the total serum cholesterol level of male mice.METHODS: This study was a laboratory experimental study with Completely Randomized Design (CRD) method. Twenty five balb-C strain male mice were allocated into five groups, namely: the negative-control (aquabidest), the positive-control (simvastatin), ethanol extract, protein extract and ethyl acetate fraction of the soybean tempeh Detam-1 and all were fed with high cholesterol containing food for 31 days. Starting on the 18th day all groups were treated for 14 days. The observed parameter was the total serum cholesterol level. The data of the study results were analyzed with ANOVA, followed by Tukey HSD test.RESULTS: There were significant differences between treatment groups and the negative-control (p=0.004). The reduction of the total cholesterol level of soy ethanol extract was 35.11±15%, the ethyl acetate fraction of soybean tempeh 26.48±17%, and soy protein extract was 15.33±33.1%, and no significant difference was noted in the positive-control group (simvastatin). CONCLUSION: The ethanol extract of soybean seed, protein extract of soybean seed, and ethyl acetate fraction of soybean tempeh Detam-1 have the same effect as do simvastin, and ethanol extract of soybean seed is the most effective substance for lowering total serum cholesterol in Balb-C male mice.KEYWORDS: hypericholesterolemia, ethanol extract, protein extract and ethyl acetate fraction, soybean Detam-1

Mangosteen pericarps contains fenolic antioxidant, such as xanthone that acts as free radical scavenging substances and preventing heme polymerization. In this research we evaluated the effect of ethanolic extract of mangosteen pericarps on the parasitemia in Plasmodium berghei-inoculated mice and compared its antimalarial activity with artemisinin monotherapy in reducing the parasitemia in Plasmodium berghei-inoculated mice. Deutschland Denken Yoken (DDY)  mice were randomly divided into 5 groups and inoculated by Plasmodium berghei and given 0.1 mL aquadest (KN), 0.1 mg of artemisinin (KP), 2.5 mg (E1), 0.5 mg (E2) and 0,1 mg (E3) of ethanolic extract from mangosteen pericarps in 0.1 mL aquadest in 3 days. The parasitemia was observed on one day before the treatment, namely on the first day and on the day after the last treatment. We found a highly significant decrease highly significant decrease of the parasitemia in each treatment group compared to the Negative Control group (p < 0.01), and the decrease of parasitemia level in E1 group is similar to the artemisinin monotherapy group (p < 0.05).  Keywords: ethanol extract of mangosteen pericarps, artemisinin, Plasmodium berghei, malaria

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a bowel inflammation that happens in the colon and rectum. In UC there is an increased level of inflammatory mediators, one of which is interleukin-8 (IL-8), the main chemoattractant for polymorphonuclear (PMN) inflammatory cells causing inflammation to worsen. Broccoli (Brassica oleraceae L. var. italica) contains sulforaphane which can inhibit nuclear factor kappa B (NF-ĸB), resulting in the decrease of IL-8. This study was performed to identify the effect of steamed broccoli juice to the serum interleukin-8 level in murine model of colitis.Method: This study was a true experimental laboratory study using complete randomized design. Experimental animals being used were 28 murines with Balb/c strain and were divided into 4 intervention groups. Serum IL-8 level was measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Data analysis was performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) test, followed by multiple comparisons Tukey honest significant difference (HSD) test (a = 0.05) and p  0.05.Results: The highest mean of IL-8 level was found in the positive control group. This study also showed highly significant difference (p 0.001) of IL-8 level between positive control group and treatment group.Conclusion: Steamed broccoli juice could decrease serum interleukin-8 level in murine model of colitis.

Introduction: Heart disease and stroke are the top two causes of death in the world that are associated with high cholesterol and blood glucose level due to the wrong diet. Objective: The objective of this study is to prove the effect of vikâla bhojana (Buddhist fasting) on triglyceride and fasting plasma glucose levels on Theravâda monks community in Medan city. Method: The research method used is quasi experimental design with non equivalent control group. A purposive sampling technique with inclusion criteria has been applied to respondents, which consisted of 18 monks and 18 laypeople. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical blood analysis are used to collect data. Statistical analysis is performed by using a single sample t-test, unpaired t-test, and Pearson Product Moment. Result: The research statistic shows the value of p=0,006 (p<0,05), indicating there is a significant difference between the mean of triglyceride and fasting plasma glucose level among groups. Conclusion: Although the main purpose of vikâla bhojana (Buddhist fasting) is to attain self-control, vikâla bhojana (Buddhist fasting) can reduce triglyceride and fasting plasma glucose level.