Ji Yeon Ham, M.D., Jaean Jung, M.S., Byung-Gap Hwang, Ph.D., Won-Jung Kim, Ph.D., Young-Seop Kim, Ph.D., Eun-Ju Kim, M.S., Mi-Yeon Cho, M.S., Mi-Sun Hwang, Ph.D., Dong Il Won, M.D., and Jang Soo Suh, M.D.. Ann Lab Med 2015;35:50-6. https://doi.org/10.3343/alm.2015.35.1.50

Irradiation has been shown to induce biochemical changes in stored red blood cells (RBCs) and to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). This study evaluated the hemorheological properties, the degree of lipid peroxidation and the oxidative susceptib

The natural product silk sericin has excellent biological properties, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and antioxidant activity, and it also facilitates cell proliferation, collagen type 1 production, and wound healing. Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a natural organic sulfur compound known to relieve pain and inflammation. In this study, we formulated sericin and MSM blends in various ratios, and investigated their effects on the inflammatory response and subsequent healing of a wound in vitro using macrophages and fibroblasts. The experimental findings, derived from cell viability analyses and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB)/cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)/inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) pathway assays, demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory activity of MSM was more effective when it was blended with sericin. In contrast, MSM alone did not enhance wound healing but rather delayed it at higher concentrations. We confirmed that the blend of sericin and MSM exhibited a synergistic effect on suppressing inflammatory responses and promoting subsequent wound healing when the two materials were optimally blended.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination began for healthcare workers in South Korea at the end of February 2021. This study investigated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody responses after various COVID-19 vaccinations in healthcare workers. Blood specimens of 497 vaccinated healthcare workers were collected. Inoculated vaccines were ChAdOx1 (AstraZeneca/Oxford), BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech), JNJ-78436735 (Janssen), and mRNA-1273 (Moderna). Each specimen was tested for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 using Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S assay (Roche Diagnostics), SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quant assay (Abbott), and R-FIND SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibody kit (SG medical Inc.). A questionnaire was used to investigate adverse events related to vaccination. We found that 99.5% of the subjects showed a 96–100% positive rate in all three antibody assays, regardless of the vaccine type. The antibody-positive rate of completed vaccination groups reached 96–100%, and antibody quantities significantly increased 2 weeks after vaccination. The antibody values measured approximately 3 months after BNT162b2 inoculation significantly correlated with adverse events.

Dong Hyun Kim, M.S., Yu Kyung Kim, M.D., Dong Il Won, M.D., Sehyun Shin, Ph.D., and Jang Soo Suh, M.D.. Korean J Lab Med 2008;28:325-31. https://doi.org/10.3343/kjlm.2008.28.5.325

Although there is no cure for atopic dermatitis (AD), treatments to relieve AD symptoms are available. A previously developed topical patch for AD treatment minimizes skin irritation but does not sufficiently adhere and absorb to specific areas. Centella asiatica extract (CAE) is a natural polymer for atopic treatment. This study fabricated a CAE-loaded hyaluronic acid-dextran (HA-Dex) hybrid hydrogel patch for use as an AD treatment and evaluated the effect of varying CAE concentrations in the patch. The CAE-loaded HA-Dex hybrid hydrogel patch was fabricated into a sheet-type scaffold using a freeze-drying process and 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDE). Fibroblasts (L929 cells) were used to evaluate cell survival, and physical properties were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, a universal testing machine, and high-performance liquid chromatography. A 0.4 wt% CAE-loaded HA-Dex hybrid hydrogel patch produced the most stable release profile and the highest level of cellular activity. These hydrogel patches provided moisture and released CAE over an extended period of time, making them ideal for relieving atopic itching. This delivery system enables the extended release of CAE to localized areas and could potentially be used to apply a variety of products to treat AD.