We examined that the effect of Gorei-san and Bakumondo-to in 37 cases (18 males and 19 females) with thirst and dry mouth due to psychotropic drugs. The results were as follows:
1. By administration of Gorei-san, the 40% of the patients with thirst was improved (“markedly improved” and “improved”) and the 25% of the patients with dry mouth was improved.
2. By administration of Bakumondo-to, the 47.1% of the patient with thirst was improved (“markedly improved” and “improved”) and the 59.1% of the patients with dry moth was improved.
3. There is no significant difference between Gorei-san and Bakumondo-to for thirst. But Bakumondo-to was significantly effective for dry mouth.

Aortic valve allografts have been used extensively for aortic valve replacement, aortic root replacement and relief of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Some investigators consider that the degree of cellular viability is important in determining allograft durability. In order to evaluate cell viability and histological changes of cryopreserved aortic valve allograft in a pig model, porcine aortic and pulmonary valves are subjected to cryopreservation. Porcine aortic valves were obtained from a slaughterhouse in a non-sterile condition. The dissected valves together with vascular walls were kept in a solution of antibiotics (CFX, IPM/CS, PCG, SM) for 6hr, at 37°C. After sterilization, no growth of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, as well as fungi was seen in pieces of valves. For cryopreservation, the program freezing method (control freezing at a rate of -1°C/min) and the rapid freezing method (simple immersion in liquid nitrogen), with and without 10% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) for cryoprotective agents, were tested. Cell viability was assesed by cell growth from pieces of valves and vascular walls. Histological changes and cell viability were evaluated after storage periods of 1 week, 1 month and 3 months. By the program freezing method with 10% DMSO, cell viability was well preserved and no histological change was detected after 3 months storage. By the rapid freezing method with 10% DMSO, cell viability of valves and vascular walls, except for aorta, were preserved and histological changes were slight. The valves and vascular walls cryopreserved without DMSO showed no cell growth after storage of 1 week. The result suggests that the program freezing method with 10% DMSO is applicable in a clinical use.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influences of interruption and reinitiation of monthly minodronate therapy on the bone mineral density (BMD) and bone metabolism markers in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. METHODS: Study patients were included if they had been administered monthly minodronate therapy for ≥6 months, interrupted the therapy, and reinitiated the therapy for ≥12 months. The BMD and bone metabolism markers were assessed at 4 time points: initiation, interruption, reinitiation and 1 year after reinitiation of therapy. RESULTS: A total of 23 patients were enrolled. The mean monthly minodronate treatment period was 23.8 ± 12.9 months following a mean interruption period of 11.9 ± 5.4 months. Once increased by monthly minodronate treatment for 2 years on average, the BMD of lumbar spine and radius did not significantly decrease even after an interruption for 1 year on average. However, the BMD of the femoral neck did decrease after interruption. The BMD of the lumbar spine and radius increased further after 1 year of monthly minodronate retreatment. The BMD of the femoral neck did not change. Once decreased after the treatment for an average of 2 years followed by an interruption for 1 year, bone metabolism markers increased gradually but did not recover to baseline levels. A potent suppressive effect on bone resorption was noted. The change rate was greater for the bone formation marker procollagen 1 N-terminal propeptide. CONCLUSIONS: Monthly minodronate treatment increases BMD and reduces bone metabolism markers. The effect lessens after treatment interruptions, and can be restored by retreatment.
Bone Density ; Bone Resorption ; Female ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Osteogenesis ; Osteoporosis ; Procollagen ; Radius ; Retreatment ; Spine

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is one of the most common types of submucosal tumors (SMTs). Because of GIST's malignant potential, it is crucial to differentiate it from other SMTs. The present study aimed to identify characteristic endoscopic findings of GISTs in the small intestine. METHODS: We reviewed the clinicopathological and endoscopic findings of 38 patients with endoscopically or surgically resected SMTs in the small intestine. SMTs were classified into GIST and non-GIST groups, and clinicopathological and endoscopic findings were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Fifteen patients had GIST and 23 patients had other types of SMTs in the small intestine. Comparison of the endoscopic findings between the 2 groups revealed that dilated vessels in the surrounding mucosa were significantly more in number in the GIST group than in the non-GIST group (P<0.05). However, there were no other differences in endoscopic findings between the 2 groups. Among patients with GISTs, the presence of dilated vessels in the surrounding mucosa was not associated with bleeding risk, tumor size, or metastasis rate at diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Dilated vessels in the surrounding mucosa, identified during balloon-assisted endoscopy, may be a diagnostic indicator for GIST in the small intestine. However, its clinical significance should be further analyzed.
Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intestine, Small ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis