No abstract available.
Pulmonary Embolism*

No abstract available.
Chickenpox ; Herpesvirus 3, Human*

Armeniacae semen has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of pain and inflammatory diseases. Amygdalin is the major compound of Armeniacae semen, and it is used for treatment of pain and cancers. In the present study, we compared the effects of aqueous extract of Armeniacae semen and a solution of amygdalin extracted from Armeniacae semen on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expressions in mouse BV2 microglial cells. We also compared the effects of these compounds on the prostaglandin E2 synthesis and the nitric oxide production in mouse BV2 microglial cells. In the present results, Armeniacae semen and amygdalin suppressed prostaglandin E2 synthesis and nitric oxide production by inhibiting the LPS-induced enhancement of COX-2 mRNA and iNOS mRNA expressions in mouse BV2 cells. For the COX-1 expression, Armeniacae semen showed more potent suppression effect compared to the amygdalin. However, amygdalin more potently suppressed the LPS-induced COX-2 mRNA expression compared to aqueous extract of Armeniacae semen. In the case of iNOS mRNA expression, Armeniacae semen and amygdalin showed similar suppressing effects. For the LPS-induced PGE2 synthesis, amygdalin showed more potent suppressing effect, meanwhile, Armeniacae semen and amygdalin showed similar suppressing effect on NO production. Based on the present results, amygdalin may exert anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect though mainly the inhibition of COX-2 pathway, in contrast Armeniacae semen may exert such effect though both the inhibition of COX-2 and iNOS pathways.
Amygdalin ; Animals ; Cyclooxygenase 1 ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Dinoprostone ; Medicine, Traditional ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; RNA, Messenger ; Semen

OBJECTIVE: The authors have aimed to compare the efficacy of the computed tomography with other study methods, and to investigate if replacement by computed tomography is possible METHODS: From January 1998 to December 2002, 203 cervical cancer patients underwent pre-staging studies including computed tomography. The positive predictive values, negative predictive values, sensitivity, specificity of each method of study were compared. RESULTS: 1. Compared computed tomography with intravenous pyelonephrography. Each values of computed tomography for hydronephrosis or non visualization of kidney were sensitivity 91.7%, specificity 97.8%, positive predictive values 84.6%, negative predictive values 98.9%. 2. Compared computed tomography with cystoscopy. Each values of computed tomography for bladder invasion were sensitivity 90%, specificity 95.8%, positive predictive values 52.9%, negative predictive values 99.4%. 3. Compared computed tomography with sigmoidoscopy. Each values of computed tomography for rectal invasion were sensitivity 80%, specificity 94.4%, positive predictive values 26.6%, negative predictive values 99.4%. CONCLUSION: Rather than routine examination for staging of invasive cervical cancer in all patients, it is more ideal to first take a non invasive technique. then perform on intravenous pyelonephrography, cystoscopy and sigmoidoscopy only in patient showing positive findings of hydronephrosis or non visualization of kidney, bladder or rectal invasion on computed tomography.
Cervix Uteri* ; Cystoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Kidney ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Urinary Bladder ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms