The several Chinese herbs such as Soon-Ki-Hwal-Hyul-Tang, Bo-Yang-Hwan-O-Tang, Seong-Hyang-Jeong-Ki-San, So-Hap-Hyang-Won and O-Yak-Soon-Ki-San were extracted with water and then lyophilized. For identification of the effect of extracted herbs, they were medicated to 103 patients of cerebrovascular accident for 4 week. They were hospitalized in D-Oriental Medical Hospital from April to August in 1999. The herbs were extracted with water and lyophilized and then, used as samples. The medical history of each patient was detected and analyzed from their medical records. The results were as follows: 1) Each sample (Soon-Ki-Hwal-Hyul-Tang, Bo-Yang-Hwan-O-Tang, Seong-Hyang-Jeong-Ki-San, and O-Yak-Soon-Ki-San) was statistically significant differences of systolic blood pressure(t=4.22, P=0.0004: t=3.44, P=0.0028: t=2.11. P=0.0463: t=3.23, P=0.0052). The statistically significant difference of diastolic blood pressure showed by medicated with Soon-Ki-Hwal-Hyal-Tang, Seong-HyangJeong-Ki-San, and O-Yak-Soon-ki-San(t=2.13, P= 0.0459: t=2.68, P=0.0136: t=3.12, P=0.0066). 2) The statistically significant difference of the arm/leg-ROM showed by medicated with Soon-Ki-Hwal-Hyul-Tang, Bo-Yang-Hwan-O Tang, So-Hap-Hyang-Won(t =4. 74/4. 95, P=0.0002/0.0001: t=2.25/2.44, P=0.0368/0.0248: t=585/6.76, P=0.0001/0.0001). 3) In the verbal disorder, Soon-Ki-Hwal-Hyul-Tang, Bo-Yang-Hwan-O-Tang had statistically significant differences(t=4.50, P=0.0002: t=3.32, P=0.0036) 4) In the conscious disorder, Soon-Ki-HwalHyul-Tang, Bo-Yang-Hwan-O-Tang, Seong-Hyang =-Jeong-Kj-San, and So-Hap-Hyang-Won had statistical1y significant differences(t =6.32, P = 0,0001: t=8.32, P=0.000l: t=3.74, P=0.0012: t=5.14, P=0.0001). 5) Bovine aortic endothelial cell (BAEC) were cultured in DMEM treating 0.01mg/ml. and 0.1mg/ml of each lyophilized samples for 24 hours, In BAECs were treated by 5 kinds of samples, the effect of So-Hyap-Hyang-Won induced syncytium of adjacent endothelial cells. It may induce the recovering of the damaged blood vessels in cerebrovascular accidental patient by angiogensis of endothelial cells. Therefore, it suggests that the medication of So-Hap-Hyang-Won will help to nursing care for cerebrovascular accidental patients.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Vessels ; Endothelial Cells ; Giant Cells ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Nursing Care ; Stroke* ; Water

No abstract available.
Thioacetamide*

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an important cellular fuel sensor. Its activation requires phosphorylation at Thr-172, which resides in the activation loop of the alpha1 and alpha2 subunits. Several AMPK upstream kinases are capable of phosphorylating AMPK at Thr-172, including LKB1 and CaMKKbeta (Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinasebeta). AMPK has been implicated in the regulation of physiological signals, such as in the inhibition of cholesterol fatty acid, and protein synthesis, and enhancement of glucose uptake and blood flow. AMPK activation also exhibits several salutary effects on the vascular function and improves vascular abnormalities. AMPK is modulated by numerous hormones and cytokines that regulate the energy balance in the whole body. These hormone and cytokines include leptin, adiponectin, ghrelin, and even thyroid hormones. Moreover, AMPK is activated by several drugs and xenobiotics. Some of these are in being clinically used to treat type 2 diabetes (e.g., metformin and thiazolidinediones), hypertension (e.g., nifedipine and losartan), and impaired blood flow (e.g., aspirin, statins, and cilostazol). I reviewed the precise mechanisms of the AMPK activation pathway and AMPK-modulating drugs.
Adiponectin ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; Aspirin ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Kinase ; Cholesterol ; Cytokines ; Ghrelin ; Glucose ; Hypertension ; Leptin ; Metformin ; Nifedipine ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; Protein Kinases ; Thyroid Hormones ; Xenobiotics

OBJECTIVES: To explore the role of apolipoprotein E in schizophrenia, we investigated apoli-poprotein E polymorphism in groups of patients with schizophrenia and normal controls. We also examined the relationship of clinical characteristics of schizophrenia to apolipoprotein E genotypes. METHODS: Samples were obtained from 101 schizophrenic patients and 96 controls in Korea and apolipoprotein E polymorphisms were analysed using polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The genotype and allele frequencies did not differ from those of controls. The clinical variables of schizophrenia, such as positive and negative groups by PANSS, subtypes by DSM-IV, family history were not associated with each genotypes. CONCLUSION: We could not find the association of apolipoprotein E in Korean schizophrenic patients and it could be suggested that apolipoprotein E isoforms might not play a main role in expression of schizophrenia.
Apolipoproteins* ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein Isoforms ; Schizophrenia

Surgical approaches for aneurysms of the basilar artery trunk are variable and utilized depending on the location of the aneurysms and direction of the fundus of the aneurysms. We operated one patient with low lying basilar bifurcation aneurysms facing toward the brain stem by subtemporal transpetrosal approach with successful clipping of aneurysms. The advantage of this approach to low-lying basilar bifurcation or basilar trunk aneurysms over the pterional, subtemporal(transtentorial), combined supratentorial and infratentorial, transoral, and suboccipital approach are discussed.
Aneurysm* ; Basilar Artery ; Brain Stem ; Deception ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Total occlusion of the infrarenal abdominal aorta is a very rare disease in clinical practice. The clinical outcome may be poor unless management is attempted promptly. Surgical bypass has been recommended as the treatment of choice for these lesions. However, there was relatively high surgical mortality and morbidity associad with aorto-bifemoral bypass graft in patients with other systemic disease, especially coronary artery disease. As a result, the use of, thrombolysis with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) has recently been extended to this disease as an alternative method to surgery. PTA is technically simpler with less morbidity and mortality than surgery.We report our experience with thrombolysis and balloon angioplasty of total aortic occlusion in 14 patients between March 1991 and December 1996. METHODS: Fourteen patients, whose mean age was 59+/-13 years (11 male, 3 female), serve as the study's patients. Aortography was introduced via transbrachial artery. The end hole multipurpose catheter with guidewire was introduced into the thrombotic portion of the total occlusion. Urokinase was infused into the thrombus through the catheter if there were no contraindications. in sysremic thrombolysis. Thrombolytic therapy was continued until the thrombi was resolved and flow was restored. Balloon dilatation was followed in residual stenotic lesions. Stents were implanted in case of suboptimal results after ballooning. RESULTS: Clinical findings were resting leg pain in 6 patients, gangrene in 5 patients, and claudication in 3 patients. The causes of aortic occlusion were thromboembolism in 4 patients and thrombosis of an atherosclerotic aorta in 10 patients. Location of obstruction was below the renal artery in all cases. The clinical outcome of interventional therapy was successful in all cases except one patients. Operative treatment was undertaken in 2 cases because they could not received thrombolytic therapy due to contraindication and complication of thrombolytic therapy (gastrointestinal bleeding). Near normal revascularization was achieved in 3 patients by thrombolytic therapy only. PTA was performed at the stenotic after thrombolytic therapy in 4 patients. Stenting were performed at the stenotic sites after balloon dilatation in another 4 patients. There was bleeding complication in one case. CONCLUSIONS: Interventional therapy such as thrombolytic therapy with PTA is an effective and safe treatment modality for abdominal aortic total occlusion in selected cases. These techniques were very useful in some high risk patients who received surgical bypass procedures.
Angioplasty ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Aorta ; Aorta, Abdominal* ; Aortography ; Arteries ; Catheters ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Dilatation ; Gangrene ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Leg ; Male ; Mortality ; Rare Diseases ; Renal Artery ; Stents ; Thromboembolism ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Thrombosis ; Transplants ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of baclofen on the detrusor muscle isolated from rat. Rats (Sprague-Dawley) were sacrificed by decapitation and exsanguination. Horizontal muscle strips of 2 mm x 15mm were prepared for isometric myography in isolated muscle chamber bubbled with 95% / 5%-OZ / CO2 at 371C, and the pH was maintained at 7.4 Detrusor strips. contracted responding to the.. electrical field stimulation (EFS) by 2 Hz, 2U msec, monophasic square wave of 60 VDC. The initial peak of EFS-Induced contraction was tended to be suppresed by a,p-methylene-adenosine 5'-triphosphate (mATP), a partial agonist of purinergic receptor, and baclofen, a GABAB receptor agonist (statistically nonsignificant). The late sustained contraction by EFS was suppressed significantly (p < 0.05) by additions of atropione, a cholinergic muscarinic receptor antagonist and baclofen. The adenosine 5'-triphosphate-induced contraction was completely abolished by mA TP but not by baclofen. In the presence of atropine, the subsequent addition of acetylcholine could not contract the muscle strips: but the addition of acetylcholine in the presence of baclofen evoked a contraction to a remarkable extent.
Acetylcholine ; Adenosine ; Animals ; Atropine ; Baclofen* ; Decapitation ; Exsanguination ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Myography ; Rats* ; Receptors, Muscarinic

BACKGROUND: Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia type II(ADCA type II) can be differentiated from other types of ADCA by visual disturbances due to pigmentary macular degeneration. Recent genetic studies repeatedly mapped the gene responsible for ADCA type II to chromosome 3p12-13(SCA7) in caucasian patients. However, in Asian patients CAG expansion at the SCA7 locus has not yet been reported. METHODS: We analyzed clinical data obtained from three Korean families in which 14 members presented clinical features compatible with ADCA type II. We also performed a genetic study for 17 members (7 affected and 10 asymptomatic) from two of the three families. RESULTS All seven affected patients had abnormally increased CAG repeat numbers (range : 38-59) in SCA7. One asymptomatic 23-year-old woman had 45 CAG repeats in the SCA7. Other 9 asymptomatic family members had 10 CAG repeats in the SCA7. CONCLUSION: We showed that as caucasian patients, Asian patients with ADCA type II also have abnormally increased CAG repeats at SCA7.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cerebellar Ataxia ; Female ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration ; Young Adult

The main symptoms of adult isthmic spondylolisthesis are frequently low back pain and radicular leg pain. Laminectomy and posterolateral fusion is somtimes unsuccessful because nerve roots are compressed by fibrocartilagenous tissue at pars defect, degenerated disc and slipped bony edge. The patients need complete neural decompression, reduction of slipping and stable fixation. We have operated 22 patients with PLIF using carbon cage and transpedicular screw fixation after posterior decompression by Gill's operation and complete removal of intervertebral disc. We studied the patients postoperatively to evaluate the symptomatic improvement, reduction rate of slipping and stability of lumbar spine. Twenty-two patients were operated from April, 1996 to June, 1997. Mean age was 46, ranging from 35 to 68. Mean follow-up duration was thirteen months. The levels of operarion were 9 at L4-5 and 9 at L5-S1, 4 at both levels. Mean preoprative slip was 17.2%, which was reduced to 11.3% postoperatively. Nineteen patients(86%) were satisfied with the result of operation. The fusion rate of PLIF was 86%. There was no breakage of instrumentation or postoperative instability. We consider that PLIF and transpedicular screw fixation for adult isthmic spondylolisthesis with radicular leg pain is a good methods to obtain complete neural decompression, reduction of slip and stable lumbar fixation.
Adult ; Carbon ; Decompression ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Laminectomy ; Leg ; Low Back Pain ; Sciatica* ; Spine ; Spondylolisthesis*

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an important cellular fuel sensor. Activation of AMPK requires phosphorylation at threonine (Thr)-172, which resides in the activation loop of the alpha1 and alpha2 subunits. Several AMPK upstream kinases are capable of phosphorylating AMPK at Thr-172, including LKB1 and CaMKKbeta. AMPK has been implicated in the regulation of physiological signals, such as inhibition of cholesterol, fatty acid, protein synthesis, and enhancement of glucose uptake and blood flow. AMPK activation also exhibits several salutary effects on vascular function and improves vascular abnormalities. AMPK is activated by numerous drugs and xenobiotics. Some of these are in clinical use for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (e.g., metformin and thiazolidinediones), hypertension (e.g., nifedipine and losartan), and impaired blood flow (e.g., aspirin, statins, and cilostazol). Plant-derived xenobiotics or nutraceuticals that were claimed to have health benefits in diabetes or cancer have been reported to activate AMPK. These include resveratrol from red wine, epigallocatechin gallate from green tea, capsaicin from peppers, berberine, which is a yellow dye of the genus berberis, genistein from soy bean, and ginsenoside from ginseng panax. AMPK is also modulated by numerous hormones and cytokines that regulate energy balance at the whole body level, including leptin, adiponectin, ghrelin, and even thyroid hormones. This work shows that the precise mechanisms of AMPK kinase and AMPK interaction.
Adiponectin ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; Aspirin ; Berberine ; Berberis ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Kinase ; Capsaicin ; Catechin ; Cholesterol ; Cytokines ; Dietary Supplements ; Genistein ; Ghrelin ; Glucose ; Hypertension ; Insurance Benefits ; Leptin ; Metformin ; Nifedipine ; Panax ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; Protein Kinases ; Soybeans ; Stilbenes ; Tea ; Threonine ; Thyroid Hormones ; Wine ; Xenobiotics