The present study examined the rates and related factors for influenza vaccination among the elderly Korean population during the 2008/09 influenza seasons. We obtained data for 6,391 adults aged 65 years or older from Community Health Surveys conducted in 2009 and 2010 in 13 communities in the Honam region of Korea. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with self-reported influenza vaccinations. In this elderly population, 81.7% reported to having received an influenza vaccination in the past year. The main contributing factors were older age, lower economic status, lower educational level, married, non-smoking, regular alcohol consumption, regular walking exercise, receiving a health check-up during the past two years, not stressed, and having comorbid conditions. The influenza vaccination coverage rate among elderly Koreans was relatively high, but improvements in vaccination rates are required.
Ecklonia cava is popular in Korea as a marine functional materials. E. cava is generally collected and used on the coast of Jeju Island. However, the continuous use of collected natural E. cava may be limited because difficult to secure throughout the year and may be exposed to environmental pollution. Jeju magma seawater (MSW) was known to be significant advantages such as safety, cleanness, stability, and functional improvement. Attempts have been reported on application of MSW to the culturing of macro-and microalgae and showed improved results. Thus, the objective of the present study was to explore the anti-melanogenesis activity of brown seaweed E. cava (E. cava cultured with MSW [MSWE]) extract cultured in tanks with MSW of Jeju Island to evaluate the possibility of cosmeceutical industrial application. MSWE extract showed the higher polyphenolic and dieckol contents than natural E. cava (NE) extract. Anti-melanogenesis activity of MSWE extract and NE extract are tested and compared using tyrosinase and dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) oxidation inhibition assay. MSWE extracts evidenced more effective tyrosinase and DOPA oxidation inhibition activity than that of the NE extracts and the commercial whitening agent, arbutin. MSWE extracts also markedly inhibited melanin synthesis and decreased the expression of melanogenesis-related protein in α-melanocyte stimulating hormone-stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells without cytotoxicity. These results suggest that MSW cultivation process would be more effective in releasing bioactive compounds with whitening effect from seaweed such as E. cava at an industrial scale.
Background: The expression of calcium signaling pathway molecules is altered in various carcinomas, which are related to the proliferation and altered characteristics of cancer cells. However, changes in calcium signaling in anti-cancer drug resistant cells (bearing a T790M mutation in EGFR) remain unclear.Methods: Afatinib-mediated changes in the level of SOCE-related proteins and intracellular Ca 2+ level in non-small cell lung cancer cells with T790M mutation in the EGFR gene were analyzed using western blot and ratiometric assays, respectively. Afatinib-mediated autophagic flux was evaluated by measuring cleavage of LC3B-II. Flow cytometry and cell proliferation assays were conducted to assess cell apoptosis and proliferation.Results: The levels of SOCE-mediating proteins (ORAI1, STIM1, and SERCA2) decreased after afatinib treatment in non-small cell lung cancer cells, whereas the levels of SOCE-related proteins did not reduce in gefitinib-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cells (PC-9/GR; bearing a T790M mutation in EGFR). Notably, the expression level of SOCE-related proteins in PC-9/GR cells was reduced similarly responding to afatinib in the absence of extracellular Ca 2+ . Moreover, extracellular Ca 2+ influx through the SOCE was significantly reduced in PC-9 cells pre-treated with afatinib than in the control group. Additionally, afatinib was found to decrease the level of SOCE-related proteins through autophagic degradation, and the proliferation of PC-9GR cells was significantly inhibited by a lack of extracellular Ca 2+ . Conclusion: Extracellular Ca 2+ plays important roles in afatinib-mediated autophagic degradation of SOCE-related proteins in cells with T790 mutation in the EGFR gene and extracellular Ca 2+ is essential for determining anti-cancer drug efficacy.
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), one of the leading causes of cancer-related death, has a low 5-year survival rate owing to the inevitable acquired resistance toward antitumor drugs, platinum-based chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Epidermal growth factor (EGF)-EGF receptor (EGFR) signaling activates downstream events leading to phospholipase C/inositol trisphosphate (IP 3)/Ca 2+ release from IP 3-sensitive Ca 2+ stores to modulate cell proliferation, motility, and invasion. However, the role of EGFR-mediated Ca 2+ signaling in acquired drug resistance is not fully understood. Here, we analyzed alterations of intracellular Ca 2+ ([Ca 2+ ]i) responses between gefitinib-sensitive NSCLC PC-9 cells and gefitinibresistant NSCLC PC-9/GR cells, and we found that acute EGF treatment elicited intracellular Ca 2+ ([Ca 2+ ]i) oscillations in PC-9 cells but not in PC-9/GR cells. PC-9/GR cells presented a more sustained basal [Ca 2+ ]i level, lower endoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ level, and higher spontaneous extracellular Ca 2+ ([Ca 2+ ]e) influx than PC-9 cells. Notably, restricting [Ca 2+ ]e in both cell types induced identical [Ca 2+ ]i oscillations, dependent on phospholipase C and EGFR activation. Consequently, restricting [Ca 2+ ]e in PC-9/GR cells upregulated gefitinib-mediated poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, an increase in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, cytotoxicity, and apoptosis. In addition, nuclear factor of activated T cell (NFAT1) induction in response to EGF was inhibited by gefitinib in PC-9 cells, whereas EGF-mediated NFAT1 induction in PC-9/GR cells was sustained regardless of gefitinib treatment. Restricting [Ca 2 + ]e in PC-9/GR cells significantly reduced EGF-mediated NFAT1 induction. These findings indicate that spontaneous [Ca 2+ ]e influx in NSCLC cells plays a pivotal role in developing acquired drug resistance and suggest that restricting [Ca 2+ ]e may be a potential strategy for modulating drug-sensitivity.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.