PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of the esophagogram using marshmallow bolus in the evaluation of the causes of variable esophageal-related symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Esophagograms using marshmallow bolus were performed on 44 patients with esophageal-related symptoms and on ten normal volunteers. Video fluoroscopic studies were also made. Patients were classified into three groups according to their esophageal-related symptoms ; those with dysphagia, those with globus symptom, and those with chest pain. Abnormal findings on an esophagogram with marshmallow were graded into three categories ; mild, moderate, and severe. Provocation of the same symptom wasalso evaluated. Esophageal manometric studies were performed on 16 patients and those results were compared with the results obtained from the esophagogram using marshmallow bolus. RESULTS: The provocation rate of the same symptom was 33% in the first group, 47% in the second, and 24% in the third. The provocation rate was highest inthe second group. The provocation rate was also higher in patients with a severe degree of abnormality on anesophagogram using marshmallow bolus. Where there were abnormal findings, an esophagogram using marshmallow bolus showed a higher abnormality rate than did a conventional esophagogram. In cases showing abnormal findings on the esophageal manometric study, an esophagogram using marshmallow bolus showed a higher provocation rate and more severe abnormality than in cases showing normal findings on manometric study. CONCLUSION: An esophagogram using marshmallow bolus will a useful radiologic screening modality for the evaluation of patients with esophageal-related symptoms.
Althaea* ; Chest Pain ; Deglutition Disorders ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Mass Screening

PURPOSE: Postoperative adhesion of the surgical field seems to be troublesome not only to the patients, but also to the surgeons. Guardix-SG® is a poloxamer/alginate mixture that reduced the incidence of postoperative adhesions when it is added to the abdominal surgery in animal models and also in clinical trials. This study was a randomized, prospective, double-blinded study to evaluate the antiadhesive efficacy and safety of Guardix-SG® after total thyroidectomy. METHODS: A total of 89 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy between July 2008 and February 2009 in Severance Hospital and Gang-Nam Severance Hospital were randomized to either the Guardix-SG® treatment group (n=45) or the non-treatmentcontrol group (n=44). The patients were asked about their clinical symptoms (hypesthesia or paresthesia on the operative site (SN) and swallowing discomfort (SW)) by using a questionnaire, and the swallowing function was evaluated using Marshmallow Esophagography by one physician. The clinical symptoms and Marshmallow Esophagography were scored according to the results of assessment. The most severe state was scored as 0 and normal was scored as 3. RESULTS: The scores of the clinical symptoms (SN and SW) were 2.67 and 2.49 in the treatment group, and 2.09 and 1.80 in the control group, respectively, at the postoperative 6th week (P=0.001, <0.001). The scores of the Marshmallow Esophagography were 2.93 in the treatment group and 2.73 in the control group (P=0.033). Abnormal findings were seen in 2 patients (4.4%) in the treatment group and in 10 patients (22.7%) in the control group (P=0.014). CONCLUSION: Guardix-SG® seems to be effective in preventing adhesion after thyroidectomy. Further studies involving a larger number of subjects will be needed to make an application guideline.
Althaea ; Deglutition ; Humans ; Incidence ; Models, Animal ; Paresthesia ; Prospective Studies* ; Surgeons ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroidectomy

Althaea rosea has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat numerous diseases, but no studies have investigated its anti-influenza properties to date. In this study, we investigated the anti-influenza effects of Althaea rosea. BALB/c mice orally pretreated with Althaea rosea (200 µL, 0.1 mg/mL concentration in phosphate-buffered saline) and followed by infection of influenza A virus nasally showed higher survivability and lower lung virus titer against divergent subtypes of influenza A virus infection. We also found that oral administration of Althaea rosea elicited antiviral innate immune responses in serum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, small intestinal fluid, and the lungs. Taken together, these findings suggest that aqueous extracts of Althaea rosea are a potential candidate for use as an anti-influenza drug.
Administration, Oral ; Althaea ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Immunity, Innate ; Influenza A virus ; Interferon Inducers ; Lung ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Plants, Medicinal ; Viral Load

Althaea rosea is a type of mallow plant. Its dry flowers are one of common herb in Uyghur medicines and recorded to have several efficacies such as external application for detumescence, moistening lung and arresting cough, sweating and relieving asthma, diminishing swelling and promoting eruption, soothing the nerves and strengthening heart. However, there are only fewer studies on effective components of A. rosea and no literature about its volatile oil and pharmacological activity. In this paper, the volatile oil of A. rosea was obtained by using the chemical distillation and extraction method. The individual chemical components were separated from the volatile oil and identified by the Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer technique (GC-MS). The antioxidant activity against free radicals was detected by the'ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometer method. The antibiotic activity was detected by the filter paper diffusion method. The experimental results showed nearly 70 compounds in the volatile oil, with complex chemical components. With a low content, most of the compounds were aromatic and aliphatic compounds and their derivatives. A. rosea had a better antibiotic activity for common microorganisms, with a wide antibacterial spectrum. According to the results, the volatile oil of A. rosea will have a good application value in medicine, food and cosmetic industries, which provided a scientific basis for the development of natural A. rosea resources.
Althaea ; chemistry ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Bacteria ; drug effects ; China ; ethnology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Plant Oils ; chemistry ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore a new method for identification Astragali Radix from its adulterants by using ITS sequence.

METHODThirteen samples of the different Astragali Radix materials and 6 samples of the adulterants of the roots of Hedysarum polybotrys, Medicago sativa and Althaea rosea were collected. ITS sequence was amplified by PCR and sequenced unidirectionally. The interspecific K-2-P distances of Astragali Radix and its adulterants were calculated, and NJ tree and UPGMA tree were constructed by MEGA 4.

RESULTITS sequences were obtained from 19 samples respectively, there were Astragali Radix 646-650 bp, H. polybotrys 664 bp, Medicago sativa 659 bp, Althaea rosea 728 bp, which were registered in the GenBank. Phylogeny trees reconstruction using NJ and UPGMA analysis based on ITS nucleotide sequences can effectively distinguish Astragali Radix from adulterants.

CONCLUSIONITS sequence can be used to identify Astragali Radix from its adulterants successfully and is an efficient molecular marker for authentication of Astragali Radix and its adulterants.

Althaea ; classification ; genetics ; Astragalus membranaceus ; classification ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Fabaceae ; classification ; genetics ; Medicago sativa ; classification ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots ; genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal ; genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 5.8S ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity