Objective: To evaluate the anti-mycobacterial activity of Melia azedarach L. (M. azedarach) and Lobelia chinensis Lour. (L. chinensis) extracts against the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis).
Methods: The anti-M. tuberculosis activity of M. azedarach and L. chinensis extracts were evaluated using different indicator methods such as resazurin microtiter assay (REMA) and mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) 960 system assay. The M. tuberculosis was incubated with various concentrations (50–800 mg/mL) of the ex-tracts for 5 days in the REMA, and for 4 weeks in MGIT 960 system assay.
Results: M. azedarach and L. chinensis extracts showed their anti-M. tuberculosis ac-tivity by strongly inhibiting the growth of M. tuberculosis in a concentration-dependent manner in the REMA and the MGIT 960 system assay. Particularly, the methanol extract of M. azedarach and n-hexane extract of L. chinensis consistently exhibited their effects by effectively inhibiting the growth of M. tuberculosis in MGIT 960 system for 4 weeks with a single-treatment, indicating higher anti-M. tuberculosis activity than other extracts, and their minimum inhibitory concentrations were measured as 400 mg/mL and 800 mg/mL, respectively.
Conclusions: These results demonstrate that M. azedarach and L. chinensis extracts not only have unique anti-M. tuberculosis activity, but also induce the selective anti-M. tuberculosis effects by consistently inhibiting or blocking the growth of M. tuberculosis through a new pharmacological action. Therefore, this study suggests the potential of them as effective candidate agents of next-generation for developing a new anti-tuberculosis drug, as well as the advantage for utilizing traditional medicinal plants as one of effective strategies against tuberculosis.

Paneth cell-rich carcinoma is essentially an adenocarcinoma with a predominance of Paneth cells. A 60-year-old male patient was admitted with a history of abdominal distension for several months. Endoscopic examination revealed a large ulceroinfiltrative tumor involving most of the areas of the stomach. The biopsy of the lesion confirmed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and total gastrectomy was followed. The submitted total stomach contained a diffuse infiltrative Borrmann type IV mass with ulceration, 8.0 3.5 cm, at the body along the lesser curvature. Microscopically, it was composed of Paneth cell differentiated cancer cells and poorly differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma cells. The Paneth cell differentiation was characterized by cytoplasmic coarse eosinophilic granules, which were PAS-positive and positive reaction for lysozyme. Electron microscopic examination showed numerous, spherical, electron-dense, homogeneous granules corresponding to those in Paneth cells as well as mucin granules in the signet-ring cells, and various intermediate forms in some cancer cells, which might be immature in the Paneth cell lineage.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Lineage ; Cytoplasm ; Eosinophils ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucins ; Muramidase ; Paneth Cells ; Stomach* ; Ulcer

We report a case of necrotizing arteritis involving the gallbladder. This case was clinically diagnosed as cholelithiasis with cholecystitis, and necrotizing arteritis was found in the surgically resected specimen. Vascular changes were similar to those seen in classic polyarteritis nodosa, involving medium-sized muscular arteries and characterized by fibrinoid necrosis and panarterial and periarterial inflammation varying from active to resolving stages. Acute cholecystitis is a rare initial clinical manifestation of the systemic vasculitis. If acute cholecystitis is found in the absence of obvious cause, careful examination is essential. Since steroid therapy improves the prognosis in the systemic vasculitis, clinicians and pathologists should be aware of this unusual lesion.
Arteries ; Cholecystitis ; Cholecystitis, Acute ; Cholelithiasis ; Gallbladder* ; Inflammation ; Necrosis ; Polyarteritis Nodosa ; Prognosis ; Systemic Vasculitis ; Vasculitis*

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors (tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases, TIMPs) play essential roles in the remodelling of the extracellular matrix. The balance between MMPs and TIMPs is altered in neoplasia, contributing to the invasive and metastatic properties of malignant tumors. Although MMP and TIMP are believed to play an important role in invasion and metastasis in malignant solid tumors, little is known about their involvement in malignant lymphoma. Immunohistochemical stains for MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were performed using 56 paraffin blocks of the malignant lymphoma and the results were analyzed by using the tumor grade by Working Formulation. The expression of MMP-9 was noted in 45.5% of low grade, 86.1% of intermediate grade, and 100% of high grade malignant lymphoma. The incidence of MMP-9 expression in tumor cells was positively correlated with the grade of the malignant lymphoma (P<0.025). In nodal lymphomas, the incidence of the MMP-9 expression of the tumor cells was higher in malignant lymphoma with extracapsular invasion than those without extracapsular invasion (P=0.008). The incidence of TIMP-1 expression in the tumor cells and fibroblasts was positively correlated with the grade of the malignant lymphoma (P<0.025). In nodal lymphoma, the incidence of the TIMP-1 expression of the tumor cells was higher in malignant lymphoma with extracapsular invasion than those without extracapsular invasion (P=0.009). The incidences of the MMP-1, MMP-2, and TIMP-2 expression in malignant lymphoma were neither increased in the malignant lymphoma with extracapsular tumor invasion nor correlated with the grade by working formulation. There was no significant difference in the expression rate of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 in nodal- and extra-nodal malignant lymphoma. The above results suggest that the expressions of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 are positively correlated with the grade and the presence of extranodal tumor invasion in malignant lymphomas.
Coloring Agents ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblasts ; Incidence ; Lymphoma* ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2

The authors reviewed 3145 pediatric patients who visited the emergecy room in this hospital during 3yrs period from Jan. 1989 to Dec. 1991. 1) Among the patients visiting the emergency room, the patients under 15 years of age were 26.4% (3145) of total emergency patients (11930). 2) yearly distribution of patients were decreased 17% between 1989 and 1991. 3) Monthly distribution of visits showed higher incidence in June and July. The male to female ratio was 1.5:1. 4) Weekly distribution of visits showed higher incidence on Sunday and Saturday, relatively. 5) Most popular time of visiting the emergency room was between 8:00 PM to 12:00 PM during which time 29.5% of all pediatric patient were seen. 6) Distribution of age showed peak incidence between 6 and 12 years of age (30.9%). 7) 65.18% of total emergency room isits were pediatric patients. 8) Distribution of cases was as follows: Respiratory disease 37%, accident, GI disease in turn listed respectively in ecreasing order of freqency. 9) The admission rate through emergency was 8.5% of total pediatric emergency patients. 10) 82.3% of total emergency visits had medical insurance coverage, 7% had no insurance and 10.7% were on medical aid program.
Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insurance ; Insurance Coverage ; Male

No abstract available.
Animals ; Microscopy, Electron* ; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal* ; Muscle, Skeletal* ; Rats*

The expression of c-fos and c-jun in the brain of the rat after capsaicin treatment was investigated by in situ hybridization, dot blot hybridization and immunocytochemical methods. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats[200g] were used for this study. The first set of rats received a single subcutaneous injection of capsaicin[50mg/Kg] dissolved in 10% Tween-80 and 10% ethanol in saline. The rats were decapitated 1, 3, 5, 10, 24, 72 hours and 1 week after capsaicin treatment. The control set of rats were treated with saline instead of capsaicin. In situ hybridization and dot blot hybridization were carried out. O1igonucleotide probe complimentary to c-fos mRNA sequences were used for this study and labeling of oligonucleotides was accomplished using the DNA tailing kit. The expression of c-fos mRNA on the nucleus of neurons in in situ hybridization was observed throughout the brain, and was especially abundant in the olfactory cortex, nucleus of diagonal band of Broca, habenular nuclei, periaqueductal gray, parabrachial nucleus, entopeduncular nucleus, ventral posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus and cerebellum. Compared to the control rats, c-fos mRNA were increased 24 hours after capsaicin injection and gradually decreased after 72 hours, returning to the normal control level 1 week after capsaicin injection. c-fos mRNA was detected only 1 week after capsaicin injection in the various areas of the brain. The fos protein-like immunoreactivity was initially somewhat decreased at 24 hours, but increased at 72 hours and reactions was maximally observed at 1 week after capsaicin treatment. But Jun protein immunoreactivity was not increased, on the contrary, it was even decreased both in numbers of reactive cells and immunoreactivity 1 week after capsaicin injection. From the above results, c-fos gene expression was pronounced in the nucleus concerned with pain, olfaction and taste such as VPL nucleus of the thalamus, olfactory cortex and parabrachial nucleus, in the limbic system concerned with stress and emotion such as nucleus of diagonal band of Broca, periaqueductal gray and habenular nucleus, in the structure concerned with somatic motor function such as entopeduncular nucleus and cerebellum. Also, the c-fos gene was activated by the capsaicin early in the course of effects, then the fos protein increased as a results of c-fos activation. On the other hand, c-jun did not respond to capsaicin treatment early in the course, but Jun protein decreased late in the course of capsaicin effects.
Adult ; Animals ; Brain* ; Capsaicin* ; Cerebellum ; DNA ; Entopeduncular Nucleus ; Ethanol ; Genes, fos ; Habenula ; Hand ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Limbic System ; Male ; Neurons ; Olfactory Pathways ; Oligonucleotides ; Periaqueductal Gray ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA, Messenger ; Septal Nuclei ; Smell ; Thalamus ; Ventral Thalamic Nuclei

No abstract available.
Animals ; Capsaicin* ; Ganglia, Spinal* ; Rats* ; Spinal Nerve Roots*

Animal models for human chronic pain syndromes were developed and widely used for pain research. One of thsese neuropathic pain model by Kim and Chung[1992] has many advantages for operation and pain elicitation. We have examined the c-fos protein, substance P, CGRP immunoreactivity in dorsal root ganglia and dorsal horn in this neuropathic model. About 50 Sprague-Dawley rats were used for this study. L5 and L6 spinal nerve were ligated tightly to produce neuropathic pain model. After 2, 4, 8, 16, 24 hours and 1 week of surgery, rats were anesthesized and sacrificed by perfusion through the left ventricle with saline followed by 0.1M phosphate buffer[pH 7.4] containing 3% paraformaldehyde, 3% glutaraldehyde, and 0.1% picric acid. After confirmation of the roots transected by the surgery, the L5 and L6 dorsal root ganglion and spinal cord were removed and processed for immunohistochemistry. All tissue sections were immunohistochemically stained for substance P, CGRP and c-fos by using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase[PAP] method. Count the number of immunostained substance P and CGRP dorsal root ganglion cells and c-fos immunoreactive dorsal horn cells and analyzed statistically with Mann-Whitney U test. The results are as follows. 1. The number of c-fos protein immunoreactive neurons in the superficial layer of dorsal horn were increased markedly at 2 hours after operation, gradually decreased to normal level 1 week after operation. 2. The number of c-fos protein immunoreactive neurons in the deep layer of dorsal horn were gradually increased to the peak 24 hours after operation, decreased to normal level 1 week after operation. 3. The number of substance P and CGRP immunoreactive L5 and L6 dorsal root ganglion neurons were decreased markedly at 1 week after pain model operation. In conclusion, after neuropathic pain model operation, c-fos protein were immediately expressed in the superficial layer of spinal dorsal horn, thereafter c-fos protein in the deep layer of spinal dorsal horn were expressed. CGRP and substance P immunoreactive neurons were decreased markedly 1 week after neuropathic pain model operation.
Animals ; Chronic Pain ; Ganglia, Spinal* ; Glutaral ; Heart Ventricles ; Horns* ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Models, Animal ; Neuralgia ; Neurons* ; Perfusion ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases* ; Posterior Horn Cells ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Nerve Roots* ; Spinal Nerves ; Substance P

No abstract available.
Cardiomyopathy, Dilated* ; Doxorubicin