Ginseng root, as a folk medicine, has been used in for eastern countries for thousands of years. Ginseng extract has been shown to have a variety of effects on the activity of the central nervous system, promoting simulation as well as inhibition of the cortical activity. A survey of the relevant literatures has indicated that the putative anxiolytic activity of red ginseng has not been scientifically investigated. Therefore, the present study was designed to assess anxiolytic effect of ginseng total saponinis(GTS). The putative anxiolytic effects of several fractions of GTS were investigated in mice using an elevated plus maze paradigm. Single dose administration of TS Fr.- I showed anxiolytic action in mice. Anxiolytic effect induced by TS Fr.-I was similar to that induced by diazepam. TS Fr.-II, TS Fr.-III and TS Fr.-IV did not show the anxiolytic action compared with that of TS Fr.-I. It was suggested that regulation of GABAergic neurotransmission may be important in the action of GTS. The Interaction of GTS fractions with benzodiazepine receptor was performed using rat cortical membranes. GTS inhibited the binding of [3H] Rp 15-1788 on the benzodiazepine receptor. Among from TS fractions, the binding activity of GTS in the TS Fr.-IV was highest, which did not show the anxiolytic activity. From these results, we conclude that GTS has anxiolytic action, and the is not related to benzodiazepine receptor binding activity.
Animals ; Anti-Anxiety Agents* ; Central Nervous System ; Diazepam ; Medicine, Traditional ; Membranes ; Mice ; Panax* ; Rats ; Receptors, GABA-A ; Saponins* ; Synaptic Transmission

Radioimmunoassay for the measurenment of plasma renin activity (PRA) was performed in 43 normal Koreans and 67 patients with essential hypertension. Urinary sodium excretion rates were measured in the concurrently collected 24 hour urine samples as an index of their sodium balance. The results were as follows: 1. There was an inverse correlation between 24 hour sodium excretion and PRA. The normal values of PRA in supine position ranged from 1.0 to 7.0 ng/ml/hr. When 24 hour sodium excretion were between 50 to 150 mEq. PRA in elderly persons tended to be low. 2. Of the 67 patients with essential hypertension, PRA was low in 20 cases (29.9%), normal in 36 (53.7%), and high in 11 cases (16.4%). 3. In the normal and high renin groups, who tended to be younger in ages, blood urea nitrogen was slightly higher than in low renin group, and hypertensive retinopathy was more prevalent in normal and high renin groups. 4. There were 17 cases with cardiovascular complications(12 with cerebrovascular accidents, 5 with heart failure): 6 in low renin group (30%), 9 in normal (25%) and 2 in high renin group (18.2%). There was no evidence that more frequent complications developed in higher renin groups.
Aged ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Hypertensive Retinopathy ; Plasma* ; Radioimmunoassay ; Reference Values ; Renin* ; Sodium ; Stroke ; Supine Position

Emergency endoacopy was performed in 315 patients for recent four years The source of upper GI bleeding in these 315 caaes were as follows: Esophageal varix(93), gastric ca(39), Mallory-weiss syndrome(14), gastric ca(38), Duodenal ulces(21), Erosive gastritis(14), Marginal ulcer(2), Combined case(24) Unknown cases(10), Essentiall Tx was not performed in 4 died case because of poor general conditions, After check up BP, Heart, Pluae rate, that examination was performed during drip infusion to be 'safety of cireulatary system. No compication were encountered. To confirm the source of bleeding at earlier stage, was useful to decid which way, that is conservative of surgical therapy in which better for the Management. The results are as follows: 1) The sex incidence of upper GI bleeding showed Male predominance c a ratio 4. 6: 1 and peak age groups were 4th & 5th decade. 2) Endoscopic diagnosis of npper GI bleeding in the studied case were in the order of Esophageal varix bleeding(29%), Gastric ulcer (23. 5%), Mallory weiss syndrome(12. 4%) Duodenal ulcer(6.7%) Erosive gastritis(4.4%) We could not find the bleedi site in 3.2% of the studied case. 3) The cause of emergeney endoseopy are Melena(19%), Hemstenesis(22.0%) and ccenbined (58. 4%) 4) Among the 315 cases of upper GI bleeding, 70. 1% of the cases revealed moderste degree of bleeding. 5) Among the 315 cases of apper BI bleeding, 28. 1% of the cases were confirmed of inducing factor. 6) Among the 315 cases of upper BI bleeding, 69% of the cases received an endcrscopic examination within 72 hr after initial episode of bleeding. (continue...)
Diagnosis ; Emergencies* ; Endoscopy* ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Heart ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Male ; Stomach Ulcer

No abstract available.
Epidemiologic Studies*

Pregnolone[5beta-pregnan-3alpha-ol-one(5beta3alpha)] and allopregnanolone [(5alpha-pregnan-3alpha-ol-20-one(5alpha3alpha))] are neuroactive steroids that are reduced metabolites of progesterone. It was reported that Neuroactive steroids may have anxiolytic and anticonvulsant action similar to benzodiazepines and barbiturates. Therefore, the present study was designed to assess the interaction of steroids with GABAA-benzodiazepine receptor complex. The effect of steroids on the ligands binding to GABAA receptor complex was investigated using rat cortices. 5beta3alpha and 5alpha3alpha enhanced the binding of [3H] flunitrazepam to GABAA receptor, but testosterone, progesterone and dexamethasone did not. GABA also showed the enhancement of [3H] flunitrazepam binding, but did not show the additive effect. Unlike to GABA, 5beta3alpha and 5alpha3alpha did not affect on the [3H] muscimol binding to rat cortices. From these findings, it can be concluded that Neuroactive steroids are potent positive modulators of the GABA A receptor, and do not act at GABA binding site.
Animals ; Barbiturates ; Benzodiazepines ; Binding Sites ; Dexamethasone ; Flunitrazepam ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Ligands ; Muscimol ; Pregnanolone ; Progesterone ; Rats ; Receptors, GABA-A ; Steroids* ; Testosterone

PURPOSE: To reduce the side effects and improve the effectiveness of standard chemoradiation therapy, many complementary or alternative medicines have been tried. However, little is known about its immunologic effects in breast cancer patients. The aim of this study was to assess the immunologic effects of mistletoe extract (Viscum album L., VAE) in patients with early breast cancer after surgery followed by standard adjuvant chemoradiation therapy. METHODS: A total 20 patients with early breast cancer treated with breast conserving surgery followed conventional chemoradiation therapy. Ten of these patients received subcutaneous injections of VAE for 7 weeks. IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TGF-beta, and IFN-gamma levels in serum samples were measured in all patients. RESULTS: The concentrations of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-beta were not significantly changed between before and after VAE treatment in both test and control group. The concentration of IL-6 in the test group was increased from 8.19+/-1.75 pg/mL to 9.86+/-1.46 pg/mL after treatment (p=0.013). The concentration of IFN-gamma in the test group was remarkably increased from 91.76+/-17.16 pg/mL to 167.42+/-66.61 pg/mL after treatment (p=0.009). CONCLUSION: Significant increases in the concentration of IL-6 and IFN-gamma were observed after VAE treatment. These results suggest that VAE treatment can stimulate immune responses, especially cell-mediated immunity in immune-compromised patients received the chemoradiation for breast cancer.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-6 ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Mistletoe ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

Since 1976, 938 cases of E.R.C.P. were performed at the Kwangju Christian Hospital & since December 1981, 19 cases of Endoscopic papillotomy(E.P.T.) were performed, following Results were obtained: 1) Out of 19 cases which were diagnosed by E.R.C.P.; 17 cases of C.B.D. stones, 1 case of ascaris in bile duct, 1 case of remained C.B.D. stone diagnosed by T-tube cholangiogram after operation, & E.P.T. was done in total 19 casees. 2) During 1st E.P.T., 2 cases were removed by Dormia basket under direct visualization & during 2nd E.P.T., 5 cases were removed by Dormia basket under direct visulization & 12 cases were passed in stool & 3x3.5cm large stone passage was found. 3) Complications of E.P.T. were noted in 2 cases: 1 case of bleeding was treated by blood transfusion & 1 case of Acute pancreatitis was treated by medical care.
Ascaris ; Bile Ducts ; Blood Transfusion ; Common Bile Duct* ; Gwangju ; Hemorrhage ; Pancreatitis ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic*

PURPOSE: The etiology of breast cancer involves very complex factors such as genetic, hormonal, and dietary. The peak age of Korean breast cancer is much earlier, about ten years, than those of western countries. The role of p53 gene on the carcinogenesis has been studied since 1991. This study was designed for the evaluation of genetic factor by determining p53 gene mutations in Korean breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mutation screening on p53 tumor suppressor gene was examined with PCR-SSCP and nucleotide sequencing technique from the genomic DNA extracted from the 27 fresh-frozen breast cancer tissues. RESULTS: Mutations in p53 gene exon 5-7 were identified in 2 of 27 cases (7%). One had a missense mutation substituted gcg with ggg at codon 159, exon 5, and the other had a point mutation substituted tcc serine to tGc cysteine at codon 241, exon 7. CONCLUSION: Point mutation of p53 gene in breast cancer seems to be the major defect found in Korean patients. It is necessary to perform further study in mutation of other exon 2, 4, 8, 9, and 11 of p53 gene to compare the genetic backgrounds of Korean breast cancer with those of westerns.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinogenesis ; Codon ; Cysteine ; DNA ; Exons ; Genes, p53* ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Mutation, Missense ; Point Mutation ; Serine

Some circulating cancer cells in the blood play a central role in the metastatic process and may have a major influence on patient progress. Their numbers can be very small and techniques for their detection need to be both sensitive and specific. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been successfully used to detect small numbers of tumor cells in cancer. We used a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect circulating breast cancer cells in venous blood samples before operations and assessed cytokeratin-19 (CK-19) and cytokeratin-20 (CK-20) as target mRNA markers in the blood of healthy donors (n=6) and breast cancer patients (n=30) with American Joint Committee on Cancer stages 0 to IIIa. CK-19 mRNA was expressed in all blood samples of healthy donors and patients. But CK-20 was the only mRNA marker not detected in the blood from healthy donors. Seven of 30 (23%) venous blood isolates of breast cancer patients yielded a CK-20 mRNA with positive results. There was no correlating CK-20 mRNA expression with stage and axillary lymph node status. In conclusion, CK-19 showed no diagnostic value as a mRNA marker in the detection of circulating cancer cells by RT-PCR assay because this was expressed in the blood of healthy donors. CK-20 mRNA was an useful marker to detect circulating cancer cells in breast cancers.
Breast Neoplasms/pathology* ; Breast Neoplasms/genetics* ; DNA Primers ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genetic Markers ; Human ; Intermediate Filament Proteins/genetics ; Keratin/genetics ; Neoplasm Circulating Cells* ; RNA, Messenger/analysis ; RNA, Neoplasm/analysis* ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; beta 2-Microglobulin/genetics

BACKGROUND: The estrogen receptor (ER) in breast cancer specimens has traditionally been assessed using a biochemical ligand binding assay (LBA). Recently, the application of an immunohistochemical method (IHC) for formalin-fixed breast carcinoma tissue has greatly increased. Controversy exists over the accuracy of IHC compared with that of LBA in determining ER. METHODS: Breast-carcinoma tissues were obtained from 247 patients. ER was determined within 1 week or at 4 weeks after surgery by using the traditional LBA and by using IHC with monoclonal antibodies. The ER status was assessed with respect to age, size of tumor, and stage according to the two methods. RESULTS: The concordant rate of ER status was 75% between IHC and LBA. IHC-negative/LBA- positive results occurred in 31 cases (13%) and IHC-positive/LBA-negative were observed in 30 cases (12%). ER-positive cases were more common in older patients. The disconcordant rate was much higher in premenopausal females. There was a significantly lower ER positivity in tumors of larger than 5 cm. ER positivity was significantly lower at 4 weeks compared to within 1 week in both methods, but this did not change the concordance rate between the two methods. CONCLUSIONS: The ER-IHC method appears to be a reasonable substitute for a biochemical ligand binding assay. This is based on a 75% concordance of the method as well as on the findings in the disconcordant cases. The appropriate measured time for ER was within 1 week after the cancer tissues were obtained.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Biochemistry ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry