Simultaneous quantification of multiple marker compounds in herbal medicine by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis is still a challenge due to the complexity in various parameters to be considered and co-existing multi-components. As a case study, a reliable HPLC method for simultaneous quantification of paeoniflorin from Paeoniae Radix and decursin from Angelicae Gigantis Radix in various commercial herbal medicine was developed based on analytical quality by design (AQbD) strategy. As a first step, risk assessment was performed to select the critical method parameters (CMPs) which were decided as organic mobile phase ratio and column oven temperature. In order to evaluate the effect of the CMPs on critical method attributes (CMAs) of peak resolution and tailing, central composite design (CCD) was employed. The final chromatographic conditions were optimized as follows: column- C 18 , 4.6 × 250 mm, 5 μm particle size; mobile phase- A: acetonitrile, B: 0.1% acetic acid water; detection wavelength- 235 nm for paeoniflorin, 325 nm for decursin; column oven temperature- 25 o C; flow rate- 1.0 mL/min; gradient mobile phase system as Time (min) : % A, 0:14, 25:14, 30:50, 60:50, 61:100, 65:100, 66:14, 75:14. The method was successfully validated according to the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines and piloted for ten commercial herbal medicines.

We report a case of retroperitoneal hemorrhage and abdominal wall hemorrhage due to spontaneous lumbar artery and inferior epigastric artery rupture, in a patient with chronic renal failure treated with hemodialysis. There was no history of specific trauma. The bleeding was confirmed by CT and angiography, and controlled successfully by selective angiographic embolization. We suggest that a possibility of spontaneous retroperitoneal bleeding should be considered in a case of abdominal pain or mass in a hemodialysis patient.
Abdominal Pain ; Abdominal Wall ; Angiography ; Arteries* ; Epigastric Arteries* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Renal Dialysis* ; Rupture ; Rupture, Spontaneous*

The mucus secretion of airway glands is known to be controlled by the various autonomic neurotransmitters such as noradrenalin and acetylcholine. However, a recent study suggests that non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) nerves may contribute to the secretory activity of glands. Substance P (SP) has been proposed as a neurotransmitter of the NANC nervous system. SP is present within nerve fibers innervating the airway mucosa and is known to be released from sensory nerves via an axonal reflex. SP activity is controlled by neutral endopeptidase (NEP) which degrades SP. In this study, we evaluated the effects of NEP inhibitor (thiorphan) and substance P on nasal mucosa and histamine on the nasal mucosa in healthy males. In the thiorphan-substance P experimental group, the nasal volume decreased after nebulization of substance P in proportion to the concentration of histamine. In the thiorphan-substance P experimental group, the frequency of sneezing increased in proportion to the concentration of histamine, but there was no increased frequency of sneezing from thiorphan, SP and normal saline. The results of this study suggest that axonal reflexes can play a role in the pathogenesis of nasal mucosal hypersensitivity and neurogenic inflammation.
Acetylcholine ; Axons* ; Histamine ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Mucus ; Nasal Mucosa ; Neprilysin ; Nerve Fibers ; Nervous System ; Neurogenic Inflammation ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Reflex* ; Sneezing ; Substance P* ; Thiorphan

Murine norovirus (MNV) is a non-enveloped virus with a positive-sense RNA genome and causes lethal infection in mice. MNV has been used as a model virus for human norovirus (NV) whose in vitro cell culture system has not been available to date since MNV and NV are genetically related. In this study, the genome replication of MNV was investigated using strand-specific RT-PCR in RAW264.7 cells. Reverse transcription (RT) using a sense primer followed by PCR showed that negative-sense RNAs were first detected in RAW264.7 cells between 6 and 9 [3 and 6] hours post infection (h.p.i.). However, these negative-sense RNAs were not detected when cells were treated with a translation inhibitor cycloheximide. Then, RT with an antisense primer followed by PCR was performed to detect positive-sense RNAs. RT-PCR results revealed that the amount of positive-sense RNAs began to increase from 9 [6] h.p.i., indicating the accumulation of the newly synthesized (+)RNA genome. Furthermore, cycloheximide abrogated the increase of newly made RNAs during MNV infection. In conclusion, strand-specific RT-PCR using a sense or antisense primer, in combination with cycloheximide treatment, enabled us to detect positive-sense and negative-sense RNAs selectively and provided a useful tool to understand the replication cycle of MNV.
Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cycloheximide ; Genome ; Humans ; Mice ; Norovirus ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA ; Viruses

Microglia have multiple functions in regulating homeostasis of the central nervous system. Microglia cells have been implicated as active contributors to neuron damage in neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, medicinal plant extracts (MPEs) were used to evaluate the cell-death induction effect in microglia BV-2 cells. Among 35 MPEs tested in this study, 4 MPEs showed less than a 30% cell survival after 24 hours of incubation. These were Foeniculi Fructus, Forsythiae Fructus, Zingiberis Rhizoma and Hedera Rhombea. The concentration showed that 50% cell death (IC50) occurred with 33, 83, 67 Ed highlight: Please confirm wording, and 81 µ /ml, respectively. For further study, we chose Zingiberis Rhizoma (ZR) which showed a reasonably low IC50 value and an induction of cell death in a relatively narrow range. Western blot analysis showed that ZR-treated cells showed activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of PARP Ed highlight: When an acronym is first presented it needs to be spelled out in both dose- and time-dependent manners. However, the level of Bcl-2 and Bax were not changed by ZR-treatment in BV-2 cells. These results suggest that ZR-induced apoptosis in BV-2 cells occured through caspase-3 activation. The results also suggested that ZR may be useful in developing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Central Nervous System ; Forsythia ; Hedera ; Homeostasis ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Microglia* ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neurons ; Plants, Medicinal

Two autopsy cases of asphyxia due to oxygen deficiency are reported. The first case is that a 38-year-old man died in a storehouse. Many pears were stored in a storehouse and the its atmosphere was strictly controlled. The second case is that a 42-year-old man died in the boiler room of a fishing ship. Much amount of Freon gas escaped due to a defect of the refrigerator in the boiler room. The victim entered the boiler room because he repaired the refrigerator. But, the victim died when he entered the boiler room immediately. In this article, the autopsy findings and the contents of the investigation of scene of two cases are described.
Adult ; Anoxia* ; Asphyxia* ; Atmosphere ; Autopsy* ; Chlorofluorocarbons ; Humans ; Oxygen* ; Pyrus ; Ships ; United Nations

PURPOSE: Sclerotherapy for renal cysts was performed, using 50% acetic acid as new sclerosing agent. Wereport the methods and results of this procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients underwent sclerotherapyfor renal cyst, using 50% acetic acid. Because four patients were lost to follow-up, only 11 of the 15 wereincluded in this study. The renal cysts, including one infected case, were diagnosed by ultrasonograpy (n=10) ormagnetic resonance imaging (n=1). The patient group consisted of four men and seven women (mean age, 59 years;range, 23-77). At first, the cyst was completely aspirated, and 25 volume% of aspirated volume was replaced with50% sterile acetic acid through the drainage catheter. During the following 20 minutes, the patient changedposition, and the acetic acid was then removed from the cyst. Finally, the drainage catheter was removed, aftercleaning the cyst with saline. After treatment of infection by antibiotics and catheter drainage for 7 days,sclerotherapy in the infected case followed the same procedure. In order to observe changes in the size of renalcysts and recurrence, all patients were followed up by ultrasound between 2 and 8 months. We defined response totherapy as follows: complete regression as under 5 volume%, partial regression as 5-50 volume% and no response asmore than 50 volume% of initial cyst volume. RESULTS: No clinically significant complication occured during theprocedures or follow-up periods. All cysts regressed completely during follow-up of 8 months. Complete regressionoccurred as follows : two cysts at 2 months, seven cysts at 4 months, two cysts at 6 months. Two cysts showedresidues at the last follow-up, at 4 and 6 months, respectiivery. The volume of residual cysts decreased to under5 volume% of initial volume, however. Completely regressed cysts did not recurr during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Acetic acid sclerotherapy for renal cysts showed good results, regardless of the dilntion of sclersoing agent withresidual cyst fluid, and no significant complications. the procedure, therefore, appears to provide effectivetherapy for renal cysts.
Acetic Acid* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Catheters ; Cyst Fluid ; Drainage ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Male ; Recurrence ; Sclerotherapy ; Ultrasonography

The effect of Pheniramine(Avil), a histaminergic-1 receptor blocking agent presently employed in treating various allergic diseases on pressor actions of norepinephring(NE) and tyramine (TR) was studied in the rabbit. Pheniramine, when given into a femoral vein with a dose(3mg/kg) enough to block H1-receptor, potentiated markedly the pressor responses of NE and TR. The pressor action of NE augmented by pheniramine was not affected by additional adminstration of debrisoquin (Drenergic neuron blocker) or phenelzine(monoamine oxidase inhibitor) or desipramine(U1-uptake blocker), or while potentiated by additional treatment with chlorisondamine(ganglionic blocker)or reserpine(catecholamine depleter). The hypertensive response of NE to phenelzine or desipramine was reinforced significantly by addition of pheniramine, but the response of NE in rabbits treated with reserpine or chlorisondamine or debrisoquin was not influenced by pheniramine-addition. Elevation of blood pressure to TR potentiated by pheniramine was attenuated significantly by reserpine treatment with chlorisondamine made the significant augmentation of pressor action to TR after pheniramine. Tyramine-induced response of blood pressure after pheniramine, but the response of blood pressure to TR caused by phenelzine or desipramine was enhanced markedly by pheniramine-treatment. From the above experimental results, it is thought that the pressor effect of NE and TR potentiated by pheniramine is similar to that of debrisoquin, i.e. the sensitization of effector cell, and that central action of pheniramine can not ruled out.
Blood Pressure ; Chlorisondamine ; Debrisoquin ; Desipramine ; Femoral Vein ; Neurons ; Norepinephrine* ; Oxidoreductases ; Phenelzine ; Pheniramine ; Rabbits ; Reserpine ; Tyramine*

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Some components of ground substances are known to be involved in developing nasal polyp. The fibroblasts are a major component of the ground substances in nasal polyp and have many immunologic roles. Heterogeneity of fibroblasts has been observed in other anatomical sites including the nasal mucosa. The aim of this study was to investigate the heterogeneity of fibroblasts of nasal polyps in non-allergic rhinitis and allergic rhinitis. MATERIALS & METHODS: Using the third passage of the fibroblasts taken from polyps of allergic and non-allergic patients, we measured the proliferating potential by comparing the cell growth in the culture system of fibroblasts and calculated the doubling time of the cell growth. We also compared the proliferating potentials between the two groups after stimulation with histamine or IL-4. RESULTS: Morphologic differences were examined by transmission electron microscopy. In the non-stimulated experiment, proliferation of fibroblasts was increased in the non-allergic polyp group (NAPG). When the fibroblasts were stimulated with histamine, the proliferation was not significantly changed on day 6 in both groups. When the fibroblasts were stimulated with IL-4, the proliferation was significantly increased in NAPG. Morphologic differences were demonstrated between the NAPG and the APG. CONCLUSION: The differences in cell proliferation potentials and morphological changes between both groups suggest that there is a heterogeneity of fibroblasts between them.
Cell Proliferation ; Fibroblasts* ; Histamine ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nasal Mucosa ; Nasal Polyps* ; Polyps ; Population Characteristics* ; Rhinitis*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the differential features of complete and partial-thickness tears of the anteriorcruciate ligament, as seen on magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectvely reviewedMR images of 36 patients with ACL injuries (complete tear 16, incomplete tear 20). In all cases, the presence ofan ACL tear was determined by arthroscopy or surgery. Primary and secondary signs of ACL injury and associatedinjuries were assessed. RESULTS: Ligamentous discontinuity of the ACL was observed in ten complete tears (63 %),but in only four (10%) of those that were partial (p=0.009). In addition, complete tears were more likely to showa low degree of ACL axis, less than 45 degree(11/16 : 2/20, p=0.001). There was, however, no statistically significantdifference between complete and partial tears with regard to signal intensity of ACL, PCL buckling or angle,anterior dis-placement of the tibia, uncovered meniscus sign, deep notch sign, empty notch sign, and associatedinjuries. CONCLUSION: Ligamentous discontinuity and the ACL axis are features which usefully differentiatebetween complete and partial tears of the ACL.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Arthroscopy ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Tibia