Peroxynitrite (ONOO-)-scavenging activities of nine Compositae herbs consisting of three Ixeris, two Youngia, two Cirsium and one of each Lactuca and Taraxacum species were evaluated. The contents of their ONOO- scavengers in the extracts were also determined on a HPLC using seven standard compounds, chlorogenic acid (CGA), chicoric acid (CA), luteolin 7-glucoside (luteolin-7-glc), luteolin 7-glucuronide (luteolin-7-glcU), luteolin, linarin and pectolinarin. Five of those compounds exhibited potent ONOO--scavenging activities: IC50, CA (0.76 microM), CGA (1.34 microM), luteolin (0.81 microM), luteolin-7-glc (0.86 microM) and luteolin-7-glcU (3.13 microM). Both CA and luteolin-7-glc were highly contained in I. dentata (19.71 mg/g and 13.58 mg/g, respectively), I. dentata var. albiflora (17.58 mg/g and 23.83 mg/g, respectively) and I. sonchifolia (65.71 mg/g and 6.99 mg/g, respectively). Among the nine herbs, those three Ixeris species had very low IC50 values over the range of 0.48 - 1.74 microg/mL, suggesting that they could be potential therapeutic vegetables, particularly for preventing diabetic complications or obesity, which can be caused by an excess production of ONOO-.
Asteraceae* ; Chlorogenic Acid ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cirsium ; Diabetes Complications ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Luteolin ; Obesity ; Peroxynitrous Acid ; Phenol* ; Taraxacum ; Vegetables

BACKGROUND: Tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis is one of the common causes of cervical mass in adult (espe cially in woman) in korea. Sometimes it appears to be difficult in defining the role of surgery and duration of antituberculous chemotherapy. METHOD: To clarify the proper duration and/or combination of regimens, we analyzed the clinical data of 31 patient with cervical lymphadenitis diagnosed at Chungnam National University Hospital from March 1996 to December 1996 and all patients were prospectively randomized into two groups(2HREZ/4HRE and 6HREZ) by treatment method. RESULT: Prevalent age, male to female ratio, association with pulmonary tuberculosis and history of previous antituberculous medication were not statiscally different between two groups. The average size of the largest lymph node before teatment was 2.43+/-0.98cm and 3.15+/-1.74cm, respectively and was 0.63cm and 0.6cm after treatment, respectively. In both groups, 2 patients have engrowing node or not changed node during tratment and no recurrence was found during follow up period upto 12 months. In both groups, no significant side reaction resulting in discotinuation or changing the regimens was noticed. CONCLUSION: Short course antituberculosis therapy(2HREZ/4HRE) could be recommanded as effective standard therapy for superficial lymph node tuberculosis. Longterm follow up at least 36 months to observe recurrence might be needed to confirm this conclusion.
Adult ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphadenitis ; Male ; Prospective Studies* ; Recurrence ; Tuberculosis, Lymph Node* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) improves the survival of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and has been recommended as a first-line therapy for nonsurgical patients with large or multifocal HCC. The long-term outcome of HCC patients receiving TACE prior to hepatic resection is uncertain. METHODS: Between January 1997 and December 2007, 1,530 patients underwent hepatic resection for HCC at our center. Thirty-two patients received 1~12 sessions of TACE followed by surgical resection (TACE-surgery group). Their overall and recurrence-free survival rates were compared with those of 64 age- and sex-matched controls who underwent surgery only (surgery group). Overall and recurrence-free survival rates were analyzed. RESULTS: The 1-, 2-, and 5-year overall survival rates did not differ significantly between the TACE-surgery group and the surgery group (78%, 60%, and 26%, respectively, vs. 97%, 83%, and 45%, respectively; P=0.11); however, the 1-, 2-, and 5-year recurrence-free survival rates were significantly lower in the TACE-surgery group than in the surgery group (58%, 36%, and 7%, respectively, vs. 77%, 58%, and 32%, respectively; P=0.01). The distribution of recurrence sites in the TACE-surgery group were intrahepatic in 85.7% and extrahepatic in 14.3%, and did not differ from those in the surgery group (91.4% and 8.6%, respectively; P=0.66). CONCLUSIONS: HCC patients who underwent TACE before resection appear to have overall survival rates that are comparable to those without preoperative therapy, although recurrence rates appear to be higher in patients with TACE.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/administration & dosage ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/mortality/surgery/*therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Disease-Free Survival ; Doxorubicin/administration & dosage ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; Hepatitis B/complications ; Hepatitis C/complications ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/mortality/surgery/*therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Preoperative Care ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sex Factors ; Survival Rate

Background: As the prevalence of hypertension increases with age and the proportion of the older population is also on the rise, research on the characteristics of older hypertensive patients and the importance of frailty is necessary. This study aimed to identify clinical characteristics of older hypertension in Korea and to investigate these characteristics based on frailty status. Methods: The HOW to Optimize eLDerly systolic BP (HOWOLD-BP) is a prospective, multicenter, open-label, randomized clinical trial that aims to compare intensive (target systolic blood pressure [SBP] ≤ 130 mmHg) with standard (target SBP ≤ 140 mmHg) treatment to reduce cardiovascular events in older hypertensive Korean patients aged ≥ 65 years. Data were analyzed through a screening assessment of 2,085 patients recruited from 11 university hospitals. Demographic, functional (physical and cognitive), medical history, laboratory data, quality of life, and medication history of antihypertensive drugs were assessed. Results: The mean age was 73.2 years (standard deviation ± 5.60), and 48.0% (n = 1,001) were male. Prevalent conditions included dyslipidemia (66.5%), obesity (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m 2 , 53.6%), and diabetes (28.9%). Dizziness and orthostatic hypotension were self-reported by 1.6% (n = 33) and 1.2% (n = 24), respectively. The majority of patients were on two antihypertensive drugs (48.4%), while 27.5% (n = 574) and 20.8% (n = 433) were on 1 and 3 antihypertensive medications, respectively. Frail to pre-frail patients were older and also tended to have dependent instrumental activities of daily living, slower gait speed, weaker grip strength, lower quality of life, and lower cognitive function. The frail to pre-frail group reported more dizziness (2.6% vs. 1.2%, P < 0.001) and had concerning clinical factors, including lower glomerular filtration rate, more comorbidities such as diabetes, stroke, and a history of admission. Frail to pre-frail older hypertensive patients used slightly more antihypertensive medications than robust older hypertensive patients (1.95 vs. 2.06, P = 0.003). Pre-frail to frail patients often chose beta-blockers as a third medication over diuretics. Conclusion This study described the general clinical characteristics of older hypertensive patients in Korea. Frail hypertensive patients face challenges in achieving positive clinical outcomes because of multifactorial causes: they are older, have more morbidities, decreased function, lower quality of life and cognitive function, and take more antihypertensive medications. Therefore, it is essential to comprehensively evaluate and monitor diseaserelated or drug-related adverse events more frequently during regular check-ups, which is necessary for pre-frail to frail older patients with hypertension.

PURPOSE: We investigated the prevalence and risk factors of allergic rhinitis (AR), nationwide in random children and adolescents of Korea. METHODS: A modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire survey was done in 1,820 children from elementary, middle, and high school nationwide in Korea. The subjects were selected by the stratifying sampling method by school grade and five regions. Current AR was defined as having AR symptoms during the last 12 months with a history of physician-diagnosed AR. Skin prick tests for 18 common allergens were performed. RESULTS: The number of males was 945, and that of females was 875. The mean age of the patients was 12.61+/-3.40 years. The prevalence of current AR and atopic current AR were 29.0% and 18.7%, respectively. Risk factors for current AR were male (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.486; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.189-1.856), family history of paternal AR (aOR, 3.208; 95% CI, 2.460-4.182), family history of maternal AR (aOR, 3.138; 95% CI, 2.446-4.025), antibiotic use in infancy (aOR, 1.547; 95% CI, 1.228-1.949), mold exposure during infancy (aOR, 1.416; 95% CI, 1.103-1.819), mold exposure during the last 12 months (aOR, 1.285; 95% CI, 1.012-1.630), and sensitization on skin prick tests (aOR, 2.596; 95% CI, 2.055-3.279). Risk factors for atopic current AR were the same as those of current AR, whereas breast-milk feeding (aOR, 0.720; 95% CI, 0.530-0.976) was a protective factor. Sensitized allergens as risk factors for current AR were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farina, ragweed, mugwort, oak, alder, birch, Japanese hop, cat, and dog. CONCLUSION: The prevalences of current AR and atopic current AR were 29.0% and 18.7%, respectively. Male, sex parental AR, antibiotic use in infancy, mold exposure during the last 12 months, mold exposure during infancy, and atopic sensitization were risk factors for current AR. Breast-milk feeding was a protective factor for atopic current AR. Aeroallergen sensitization was an important risk factor for AR.
Adolescent ; Allergens ; Alnus ; Ambrosia ; Animals ; Artemisia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Asthma ; Betula ; Cats ; Child ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Dogs ; Female ; Fungi ; Humans ; Humulus ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Parents ; Prevalence* ; Pyroglyphidae ; Rhinitis* ; Risk Factors* ; Skin