BACKGROUND: The mechanism of salicylate ototoxicity is probably related to reversible biochemical or metabolic changes in the cochlea. Decreased cochlear blood flow seems to play an important role in salicylate ototoxicity. Several constituents of ginkgo extract have the action of increasing blood flow, antagonism of platelet activating factor and scavenger of free radicals. It might be thought that these activities of ginkgo extract could contribute to attenuate salicylate ototoxicity. OBJECTIVES: Whether the salicylate induced hearing loss could be attenuated by pretreatment with ginkgo extract. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Auditory brainstem response threshold changes were observed after the intramuscular injection of lysine salicylate(300mg/kg), or lysine salicylate with EGb 761(100mg/kg, single IP or 100mg/kg and 50mg/kg, IP, two times) pretreatment in each group of guinea pig. RESULTS: In the groups with Ginkgo extract pretreatment, the threshold changes were less severe and recovered earlier than in group with salicylate injection only(p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: EGb 761 could attenuated the hearing loss after the injection of salicylate in guinea pig.
Animals ; Cochlea ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Free Radicals ; Ginkgo biloba* ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Hearing Loss ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Lysine ; Platelet Activating Factor

Vascular thrombosis and systemic hypercoagulable states are known complications of pancreatitits. The incidence of vascular obstruction associated with pancreatitis has been reported at 0.9%. They are thought to be secondary to release of proteolytic enzymes of the pancreas and direct vasculitis. Vessels near the head of the pancreas are more frequently involved, and arterial vessels are most commonly affected. Inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis however, is a very rare presentation of acute and chronic pancreatitis. Dignosis of IVC thrombosis may be far from easy; the presence of a leg edema, superficial thrombophlebitis or thromboembolic events may arouse clinical suspicion. Therefore, a high degree of suspicion for this complication is necessary in order to render a diagnosis. A case of a 24-year old man with chronic pancreatitis, who was found to have IVC and right iliac vein thrombosis, is herein report with a review of the relevant literature.
Diagnosis ; Edema ; Head ; Humans ; Iliac Vein* ; Incidence ; Leg ; Pancreas ; Pancreatitis ; Pancreatitis, Chronic* ; Peptide Hydrolases ; Thrombophlebitis ; Thrombosis* ; Vasculitis ; Vena Cava, Inferior* ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Salicylates are well-known for producing reversible hearing loss and tinnitus. However, the site and mechanism of salicylate ototoxicity remain unresolved. Recent experiments suggest that reversible biochemical and/or metabolic changes in the cochlea seem to play an important role in salicylate ototoxicity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the site of lesion in salicylate ototoxicity by audiometric study. MATERIALS AND METHOD: ABRs and DPOAEs were observed after intraperitoneal injection of 500 mg/kg of sodium salicylate on 24 ears of guinea pigs. RESULTS: Salicylate produced a significant increase in the ABR threshold. Maximum changes were obtained in 4 hours, and recovered to the baseline in 24 hours after salicylate administration. The pattern of hearing loss shown by latency-intensity function was compatible with the cochlear type of hearing loss. The echo amplitude on DPOAEs at f2=2002, 4004 Hz was significantly decreased at 2, 4, 6, 8 hours, and returned to the baseline in 24 hours after salicylate administration. The time course of the change of DPOAEs was parallel with that of ABRs. CONCLUSION: These results reflect that the cochlear outer hair cells may be the main site of lesion in salicylate ototoxicity.
Animals ; Audiometry ; Cochlea ; Ear ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Hair ; Hearing Loss ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Salicylates ; Sodium Salicylate ; Tinnitus

BACKGROUND: In Korean traditional medicine, human beings are classified into 4 groups accordance with the characteristics of physical constitution, named; Taeum, Taeyang, Soum, and Soyang. Most of Korean traditional doctors believe that the back ground of pathophysiology is differ among each group in many diseases. HLA is the most polymorphic gene and related with human immune response. It has been used for determination of individual identification, genetic diversity and a study of disease association in different ethnic group. It has well known that the most human inflammatory disease which thought to have some autoimmune basis are in some way promoted by genes of the HLA region. The purpose of this study is to observe the distribution of HLA-DR genotypes in 4 types of physical constitution in Korean traditional medicine. METHODS: Three hundred and ten Korean subjects(Soyang : 58cases, Soum :142cases, Taeum : 92cases, Taeyang : 18cases) were enrolled for this study. Genomic DNAs extracted by phenol/chroloform were amplified with allele specific primers and determined by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis with ethidium bromide staining for analysis of HLA-DR polymorphism. RESULTS: The genotype frequency of HLA-DR in a total or 310 Koreans was DR1 ; 7.2%, DR 2; 10.5%, DR 3;1.7%, DR 4; 19.9%, DR 5; 11.9%, DR 6;19.9%, DR 7; 7.0%, DR 8; 10.6%, DR 9; 8.7%, DR10;1.9%. There was no significant diffrence of HLA-DR genotype distribution among four physical constitution groups classified by Korean traditional medicine. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the classification of physical constitution in Korean traditional medicine is not related to HLA-DR genotypes.
Alleles ; Classification ; Constitution and Bylaws* ; DNA ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Ethidium ; Ethnic Groups ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; HLA-DR Antigens* ; Humans ; Medicine, Korean Traditional*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Exposure to noise results in pertubations of cochlear microcirculation. There is evidence that these events are mediated, in part, by the calcium channel. The subsequent decrease in cochlear blood flow may lead to hypoxia and predispose to the formation of free oxygen radicals. Saponin extracted from Korean red ginseng is generally known to enhance blood flow and scavenge for free oxygen radicals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the effect of saponin (100 mg/kg) on the cochlear damage induced by noise exposure (1500 Hz narrow band noise, 115 dB, 12hours) in guinea pigs through auditory brainstem response (ABR) and with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), RESULTS: After noise exposure, the saponin pre-treated group showed a significant decrease in the ARR threshold compared with the saponin non- treated group. Also, SEM findings of the cochlea showed that there was a minimal structural change in the outer hair cells in the saponin pre-treated group. CONCLUSION: Saponin extracted from Korean red ginseng can attenuate noise induced cochlear damage in guinea pigs.
Animals ; Anoxia ; Calcium Channels ; Cochlea ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Guinea Pigs ; Hair ; Hearing Loss ; Microcirculation ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Noise* ; Panax* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Saponins*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Large doses or long-term use of salicylate may cause reversible tinnitus and hearing loss. The exact cause of salicylate ototoxicity in unknown. Decreased cochlear blood flow following reversible biochemical changes in the cochlea seems to play an important role in salicylate ototoxicity. Protopanaxatriol and protopanaxadiol saponin of the Panax ginseng are known to have a vasodilatory effect. We investigated the effect of Panax ginseng saponin on salicylate induced hearing loss in guinea pigs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Guinea pigs were divided into two groups. The control group was injected with salicylate (300 mg/kg, IM) and the experimental group was pretreated with Panax ginseng saponin (100 mg/kg, IP) before salicylate injection. ABR threshold was measured hourly after salicylate injection. RESULTS: The control group showed a maximal hearing loss (20+/-3.54 dBnHL) in 3 hours after the salicylate injection. Comparing with the control group, the experimental group revealed a significantly different maximal hearing loss (5+/-3.54 dBnHL). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the protopanaxatriol and protopanaxadiol saponin of the Panax ginseng can attenuate salicylate induced hearing loss.
Animals ; Cochlea ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Hearing Loss ; Panax* ; Saponins* ; Tinnitus

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb) has been known to have actions of increasing blood flow, free radicals scavenger and platelet activating factor antagonism. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of the EGb in an experimentally induced hearing loss by noise. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten guinea pigs (EGb treated group and control group) were exposed to a narrow band noise (3,760-4,280 Hz), 6 hours daily for 6 days. An auditory evoked brainstem response (ABR) threshold was measured daily before and after a noise exposure. Two animals in each groups were sacrificed for a scanning electron microscopic (SEM) screening. RESULTS: The EGb treated group showed less changes in ABR threshold and SEM findings compared the control group. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the EGb may have a protective effect in noise induced hearing loss.
Animals ; Brain Stem ; Free Radicals ; Ginkgo biloba* ; Guinea Pigs ; Hearing Loss* ; Hearing* ; Mass Screening ; Noise* ; Platelet Activating Factor

BACKGROUNE/AIMS: Esophageal variceal ligation (EVL) is the most preferable method for controling variceal bleeding. However, EVL is associated with complications such as hemorrhage, chest pain, dysphagia, and odynophagia due to post-EVL ulcers in the esophageal mucosa. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of proton pump inhibitor (PPI), pantoprazole on the healing of post-EVL ulcers. METHODS: Forty seven patients were randomly allocated into PPI group and control group. Patients in PPI group received 40 mg of pantoprazole intravenously for 3 days after EVL, then 40 mg of oral pantoprazole for 11 days consecutively. Control patients received intravenous and oral placebo. Endoscopic examinations were performed twice at 7+/-2 days and 14+/-2 days after EVL respectively. Clinical outcomes include the size of ulcers, symptoms reported by patients; chest pain, dysphagia, and odynophagia. RESULTS: Forty seven patients completed the 7 days protocol (PPI/control; 25/22), and twenty six patients completed the 14 days protocol (PPI/control; 16/10). Post-EVL ulcers in PPI group were significantly smaller than those in control group (7 days; 98.7 mm2/119.4 mm2, 14 days; 32.3 mm2/43.8 mm2, p<0.01). No difference was observed between two the groups with respect to summations of symptom scores (p>0.05). Nineteen patients (PPI/control; 9/10) did not complete the 14 days protocol due to patients' refusal and adverse outcomes, such as hepatic failure and sepsis with bleeding from post-EVL ulcer occurred in two patients of control group. CONCLUSIONS: PPI treatment following EVL may be effective in healing post-EVL ulcer.
2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Anti-Ulcer Agents/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices/complications/*surgery ; Esophagoscopy ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/prevention & control ; Humans ; Ligation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proton Pump Inhibitors/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Regression Analysis ; Sickness Impact Profile ; Ulcer/*drug therapy/etiology

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated nailfold capillary abnormalities in patients with hand-arm vibration syndrome using nailfold capillary microscopy. METHODS: Fifty workers who underwent a special health examination because of exposure to hand-arm vibration at Ulsan University Hospital in 2012 (exposed group) and a control group of 50 white-collar employees were evaluated through a questionnaire survey regarding their present tasks, types of tools used, vibration exposure duration, use of protective wear, and medical history. Then, an occupational physician performed a physical examination for any hand deformities, skin problems, or motor and sensory dysfunctions of the upper extremities. The nailfold capillary morphologies (tortuous, crossing, bushy, meandering, branching, hemorrhage, avascular area, enlarged, and giant), capillary dimensions (afferent, top, venous, total width, and length), and specific counts (crossing and branching) on both fourth fingers were determined by a rheumatologist. Thereafter, the exposed subjects were assessed according to the Stockholm workshop classification scale. In total, 8 and 6 subjects in the exposed and control groups, respectively, were excluded from the study because of poor capillary microscopic image quality. In addition, 24 subjects in the exposed group with Stockholm vascular stage 0 were excluded. Finally, capillary morphology, dimensions, and specific counting were compared between the exposed (n = 18) and control groups (n = 44). RESULTS: The exposed group had significantly greater crossing capillaries and abnormal capillary numbers that included crossing capillaries (crossing, branching, bushy, and meandering) but smaller branching and abnormal capillary numbers that excluded crossing capillaries (branching, bushy, and meandering) than the control group did. No significant difference in capillary dimensions was observed between the two groups. Despite the adjustment for age, smoking status, and underlying diseases, the statistical significance was unchanged. In the specific counting of the type of capillaries, the exposed group had a significantly higher total crossing count but fewer total branching count than the control group did. However, no statistical significance resulted after adjustment for age, smoking status, and underlying diseases. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the exposed group had significantly more crossing capillaries and a higher crossing count than the control group did.
Capillaries* ; Classification ; Education ; Fingers ; Hand Deformities ; Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Microscopy* ; Physical Examination ; Skin ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Ulsan ; Upper Extremity ; Vibration