Ginseng root, as a folk medicine, has been used in for eastern countries for thousands of years. Ginseng extract has been shown to have a variety of effects on the activity of the central nervous system, promoting simulation as well as inhibition of the cortical activity. A survey of the relevant literatures has indicated that the putative anxiolytic activity of red ginseng has not been scientifically investigated. Therefore, the present study was designed to assess anxiolytic effect of ginseng total saponinis(GTS). The putative anxiolytic effects of several fractions of GTS were investigated in mice using an elevated plus maze paradigm. Single dose administration of TS Fr.- I showed anxiolytic action in mice. Anxiolytic effect induced by TS Fr.-I was similar to that induced by diazepam. TS Fr.-II, TS Fr.-III and TS Fr.-IV did not show the anxiolytic action compared with that of TS Fr.-I. It was suggested that regulation of GABAergic neurotransmission may be important in the action of GTS. The Interaction of GTS fractions with benzodiazepine receptor was performed using rat cortical membranes. GTS inhibited the binding of [3H] Rp 15-1788 on the benzodiazepine receptor. Among from TS fractions, the binding activity of GTS in the TS Fr.-IV was highest, which did not show the anxiolytic activity. From these results, we conclude that GTS has anxiolytic action, and the is not related to benzodiazepine receptor binding activity.
Animals ; Anti-Anxiety Agents* ; Central Nervous System ; Diazepam ; Medicine, Traditional ; Membranes ; Mice ; Panax* ; Rats ; Receptors, GABA-A ; Saponins* ; Synaptic Transmission

To elucidate whether dismembered pyeloplasty improves renal function, the authors studied 37 patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Changes in various renal parameters pre-and postoperatively by 99mTc-DTPA diuretic renal scintigraphy(DTPA scan) and intravenous urography were evaluated. Subjects included 24 pediatric(mean age 9.7 years) and 13 adult(mean age 33 years) patients. Postoperative split renal function was improved in 79 % (l9/24) of pediatric patients and in 69%(9/13) of adult ones. While, the excretory slope was improved in 71%(17/24) of pediatric patients and in 77%( 10/13) of adult ones. Hydronephrosis on intravenous urogram was improved in 58% (14/24) and 54% (7/13), respectively between pediatric and adult patients. There was no statistically significant differences of improvement in split renal function and renographic washout curve between pediatric and adult patients. In summary, renal function was improved by dismembered pyeloplasty in both pediatric and adult patients.
Adult ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Urography

PURPOSE: The carcinogenesis of gastric cancer has not been fully elucidated, but several molecular biologic alterations have been found to be related with it. TGF-betaRII mutation, which is one such alteration, has been well documented in gastric cancer, but its expression patterns in cancer and preneoplastic conditions are rarely reported. For that reason, we investigated the roles of TGF-betaI and TGF-betaRII in gastric carcinogenesis by comparing the difference of expression patterns in carcinomas and adenomas of the stomach and intestinal metaplasia by using immunohistochemical staining. METHODS: Twenty-six (26) cases of intestinal metaplasia with chronic atrophic gastritis, 21 cases of the gastric adenoma, and 51 cases of gastric cancers (28 cases of the intestinal type and 23 cases of the diffuse type) were enrolled in this study. All samples were paraffin-embedded and an immunohistochemical staining was performed using the polyclonal antibody to TGF-betaI and TGF-betaRII. Their clinicopathologic features were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: In normal gastric tissue and intestinal metaplasia, only the basal portion of the gastric foveola was strongly reactive to TGF-betaRII. In adenomas and well-differentiated intestinal type cancer, all tumor cells were strongly positive to TGF-betaRII, but the tumor cells of poorly differentiated intestinal-type and signet ring cell (diffuse type) cancer showed unresponsive to TGF-betaRII. The TGF-betaI expressions in normal and carcinomatous lesions were similar andshowed a weak positive reaction. TGF-betaI and TGF-betaRII responsive gastric cancer showed less invasive gastric-wall infiltration. In gastric cancer, a significant correlation was present between tumor depth and response to TGF-betaI & TGF-betaRII. CONCLUSION: It is presumed that TGF-betaRII plays an important role in cell differentiation and aggressiveness in gastric cancer and that it may be useful as a prognostic factor.
Adenoma* ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Differentiation ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; Immunohistochemistry ; Metaplasia* ; Precancerous Conditions ; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Stomach* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta* ; Transforming Growth Factors*

Simple or unicameral bone cysts are metaphyseal lesions of long bones. They usually move away from the physiswith growth to become diaphyseal in location. Involvement of the physis and epiphysis by these cystic lesions isvery rare. This paper reports a case of simple bone cyst of the proximal humerus in a 11- year -old girl which wasshown by MR imaging to extend through the physis into the epiphysis.
Bone Cysts* ; Epiphyses* ; Female ; Humans ; Humerus* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVE: Preterm labor and delivery is probably the largest problem in modern perinatology. The early diagnosis of preterm labor is crucial for prevention of preterm birth. To predict the onset of preterm labor, we examined the diagnostic performance of serial cervical assessment by transvaginal sonography. METHODS: In this prospective study, we performed transvaginal sonography at approximately 30 and 34 weeks of gestation in women with singleton pregnancies. Cervical parameters evaluated included endocervical length, the presence of funneling, funnel length and funnel width. We then assessed the relation between cervical parameters and the risk of spontaneous preterm labor. RESULTS: We examined 258 women at approximately 30 weeks of gestation and 247 of these women again at approximately 34 weeks. Spontaneous preterm labor occurred in 9 of women examined at 30 weeks(Group 1) and in 13 at 34 weeks(Group 2). The endocervical length was normally distributed at 30 and 34 weeks(mean +/-SD, 38.26+/-6.82mm and 35.63+/-7.35mm, respectively). The endocervical length decreased significantly from 30weeks to 34 weeks(p=0.0001). Both groups showed significantly shorter endocervical length(p <0.05) and groupl more presence of funneling than group of term pregnancy(p<0.05). Receiver-operator characteristic curve and multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that endocervical length <-30mm at 30 weeks and <-25mm at 34 showed highest diagnostic index in predicting the onset of preterm labor(p=0.0001). Conclusions: Serial transvaginal ultrasound assessment of endocervical length during early third trimester is a useful predictor of preterm labor and delivery in low-risk patients.
Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Obstetric Labor, Premature* ; Perinatology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Premature Birth ; Prospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is an inducible isoform responsive to cytokines, mitogens, and growth factors, and is believed to be an important enzyme related to colorectal cancer (CRC). Existing evidence suggests that COX-2 expression is normally suppressed by wild-type p53 but not mutant p53, suggesting that loss of p53 function may result in the induction of COX-2 expression. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between COX-2 expression and p53 levels in CRC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with sporadic colorectal adenocarcinoma (n=161) who underwent curative surgery in Chosun University Hospital were enrolled in this study. Expression of COX-2 and p53 proteins was examined by immunohistochemistry in paraffin-embedded cancer tissue blocks, and the relationship between COX-2 and/or p53 expression with clinicopathologic parameters was analyzed. RESUTLS: Expression of COX- 2 was positive in 47.8% of colorectal cancers, and significantly associated with the depth of tumor invasion (p= 0.042). In contrast, p53 was positive in 50.3% of the cases, and was associated with both age (p=0.025) and the depth of tumor invasion (p=0.014). There was no correlation between COX-2 expression and p53 expression (p=0.118). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that COX-2 expression might play an important role in the progression of colorectal cancer. However, COX-2 expression was not associated with mutational p53. Further studies are needed to clarify the regulatory mechanisms governing COX-2 overexpression in colorectal cancers.
Adenocarcinoma/*metabolism/pathology/surgery ; Aged ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*metabolism/pathology/surgery ; Cyclooxygenase 2/*metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/genetics/*metabolism

OBJECTIVE: There have been much effort to find reliable indicators predicting treatment response in panic disorder. This study aimed to find the effect of pharmacotherapy on biofeedback measurement variables in panic disorder patients. METHOD: We recruited 38 panic disorder patients (M:25, F:13) in the Samsung Medical Center, who were diagnosed by the ADIS-IV (Anxiety Disorder Interview Schedule-IV), and 33 normal control subjects (M:21 F:12). Panic patients were treated with paroxetine for 3 months. All subjects were assessed on forearm and frontal electromyography (EMG), electrodermal response (EDR), and skin temperature in baseline, stress, recovery phases using the Procomp & Biograph biofeedback instrument. Psychological measures such as Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAM-A), Hamilton depression rating scale (HAM-D), Beck depression inventory (BDI), Spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI-S, STAI-T), and Anxiety sensitivity index (ASI) were also assessed. All measurements were performed at the beginning of the study and after 3 months of paroxetine treatment. RESULT: Panic patients had significantly higher scores on psychological measures such as HAM-A, HAM-D, BDI, STAI-S, STAI-T, and ASI (all p values<0.001) before treatment. After 3months of treatment, panic patients showed significant improvement on baseline EDR (z=-2.824, p=0.005), stress EDR (z=-2.691, p=0.007), and recovery EDR (z=-3.416, p=0.001). They also showed significant improvement on HAM-A, HAM-D, BDI, STAI-S, STAI-T, and ASI (all p values<0.001) after treatment. CONCLUSION: Electrodermal response, one of the biofeedback measurement variables, was suggested to be the possible indicator predicting treatment response in panic disorder.
Anxiety ; Biofeedback, Psychology* ; Depression ; Drug Therapy* ; Electromyography ; Forearm ; Galvanic Skin Response ; Humans ; Panic Disorder* ; Panic* ; Paroxetine* ; Skin Temperature

No abstract available.
Aortic Coarctation*

In the past, even two decades ago, it was not easy for the physicians to diagnose the systemic fungal infection especially in immuno-compromised host. However, as malignant neoplasm and organ transplantation increased, the incidence of fungal infection became heightened. Also the development of newer technique of microbiology and computerized imaging methods made it relatively easy to diagnose the fungal infection. Several new antifungal agents developed recently. It is necessary for us to prescribe the antifungal agents optimally. We summarized amphotericin B lipid formulations, newer triazoles, echinocandins.
Amphotericin B ; Antifungal Agents* ; Echinocandins ; Incidence ; Organ Transplantation ; Transplants ; Triazoles

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether an early bone marrow edema pattern predicts vertebral deformity types and prognosis in osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 64 patients with 75 acute OVCFs who underwent early MRI and followed up MRI. On early MRI, the low SI pattern of OVCF on T1WI were assessed and classified into 3 types (diffuse, globular or patchy, band-like). On followed up MRI, the vertebral deformity types (anterior wedge, biconcave, crush), degree of vertebral body height loss, incidence of vertebral osteonecrosis and spinal stenosis were assessed for each vertebral fracture types. RESULTS: According to the early bone marrow edema pattern on T1WI, 26 vertebrae were type 1, 14 vertebrae were type 2 and 35 vertebrae were type 3. On followed up MRI, the crush-type vertebral deformity was most frequent among the type 1 OVCFs, the biconcave-type vertebral deformity was most frequent among the type 2 OVCFs and the anterior wedge-type vertebral deformity was most frequent among the type 3 OVCFs (p<0.001). In addition, type 1 early bone marrow edema pattern of OVCF on T1WI were associated with higher incidence of severe degree vertebral body height loss, vertebral osteonecrosis and spinal stenosis on the follow up MRI. CONCLUSION: Early bone marrow edema pattern of OVCF on T1WI, significant correlated with vertebral deformity types on the follow up MRI. The severe degree of vertebral height loss, vertebral osteonecrosis, and spinal stenosis were more frequent in patients with diffuse low SI pattern.
Body Height ; Bone Marrow* ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Edema* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Compression* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Osteonecrosis ; Osteoporosis ; Prognosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine