The therapeutic properties of Ginseng have been known as popular Chinese midecine since time immemorial. It has been used in Korea, China, Tibet, Indonesia and India for thousands of years under various presentations, such as tes, tinctures, wines, pills, and unguents for the prevention of aging, tireness, headaches, amnesia, tuberculosis, diabetes, illness of the liver, heart, kidneys, nervous system etc. The main effective component of Ginseng has recently been considered to be saponins according to the chemical studies by Shibata's group and the pharmacological studies by Takagi et al., and also through the studies of Brekhman. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the response of topically applied Ginseng total saponin against inflammation. To induce the inflammation of skin the backs of 20 volunteers were treated with 10% sodium lauryl sulfate solution under occlusion for one hour. After removal of sodium lauryl sulfate. Gineseng total saponin ointment in various concentrations(2.5, 5, 10%) is topically applied under occlusion for 48 hours. Erythema on the areas treated with Ginseng total saponin ointment was significantly reduced than the control area. It is suggested that Ginseng total saponin has an anti-inflammatory effect on the inflammation of skin induced by sodium lauryl sulfate.
Aging ; Amnesia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Erythema ; Headache ; Heart ; Humans* ; India ; Indonesia ; Inflammation ; Kidney ; Korea ; Liver ; Nervous System ; Ointments ; Panax* ; Saponins* ; Skin* ; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate ; Tibet ; Tuberculosis ; Volunteers ; Wine

PURPOSE: A survey was performed to identify the level of mouthguard use, awareness, wearability issues and attitude toward mouthguard among elite Korean Taewondo athletes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Survey questionnaires were given to 152 athletes participating in the Korea National Taekwondo team selection event for the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. Questionnaires consisted of three sections, mouthguard awareness, reasons for not wearing mouthguard and the last section to test the level of acceptance on current mouthguard and when the identified problems were resolved. For analyzing difference among response, chi2 test was used and significant level (alpha) was set up as 0.05. RESULTS: Responses in each of items showed significant difference (P<.001). Majority of response regarding each question: Majority of respondents believed that mouthguard were effective in preventing injuries (36.4%) but the result suggested that the provision of information on mouthguard to athletes was inadequate (44.0%) and the result showed that respondents were not greatly interested or concerned in relation to the mandatory mouthguard rule (31.6%). Although the responses on the level of comfort and wearability of mouthguard were negative (34.8%), athletes were positively willing to wear mouthguard if the problems rectified (51.2%). CONCLUSION: Considering the high level of willingness to wear mouthguard if the problems rectified, it is thought that together with efforts in providing more mouthguard information, the work of sports dentistry to research and improve mouthguard will be invaluable in promoting mouthguard to more athletes.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Athletes ; Dentistry ; Humans ; Korea ; Martial Arts ; Mouth Protectors ; Sports ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Animals ; Ear, Middle* ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Povidone-Iodine*

Both idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and pulmonary involvement of collagen vascular disease(CVD) are well known cause of diffuse interstitial lung disease which lead to fibrosis and honeycombing. We analyzed HRCT findings of 33 patients with IPF and 14 patients with CVD in terms of predominant pattern, site of involvement, mediastinal lymph node enlargement, pleural change and pulmonary volume loss. Criteria of mediastinal lymph node enlargement and pleural thickening were 15mm in long diameter and 3mm, respectively. Volume loss of the lung was measured by using hilar height ratio (apex to hilum/hilum to diaphragmatic dome). Mean age was 61 years for IPF and 46 years for CVD and male: female ratio was 27:6, 4:10, respectively. Predominant HRCT pattern was honeycombing for IPF (63%), and ground-glass opacity for CVD (66%) (p=0.001). Predominantly, subpleural involvement was seen in 90% for IPF and 74% for CVD. Mediastinal lymph node enlargement was seen in 47% of the patient with IPF and 14% with CVD (p=0.004). pleural thickening was seen in 97% of the patients with IPF and 42% with CVD (P=0.002), Pleural effusion was seen in 10% of the patients with IPF and 36% with CVD (P=0.009). Hilar height ratio of more than 1.5 was seen in 84% of the patients with IPF and 29% with CVD. In conclusion, our study shows that patients with IPF are prone to have more progressed stage of pulmonary fibrosis than the patients with CVD on HRCT.
Collagen* ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis* ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Pleural Effusion ; Pulmonary Fibrosis

Since after first report of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in 1977, improved operator technique and advanced equipment designs have resulted in an increase in primary success rate from 67% to 92% in recent days. Despite these improvement, acute closure and restenosis remain as serious limitations to both the short and long-term success of PTCA. Coronary artery stents have been proposed as a method of treating acute closure and preventing restenosis. We implanted 21 balloon expandable Palmaz-Schatz Stent in selected 21 Patients(mean age 62+/-8 years, M/F : 16/5) with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. The indications were elective stenting in 17, acute dissection postangioplasty in 2 and restenosis following angioplasty in 2. The clinical diagnosis of the subjects was unstable angina in 12 pts(57%), stable angina in 1, and post infarction angina in 8 including 6 acute myocardial infarction. The target vessel was right coronary artery In 12(57%), left anterior descending artery in 6(29%) and left circumflex in 3(14%). The size of implanted stent was 3mm in 15, 3.5mm in 5 and 4.0mm in 1. The morphology of attempted lesion was AHA/ACC classification type A in 1, type B in 17(B1 ; 1, B2 ; 16) and type C in 3. Angiographic findings were 1-vessel disease in 16 patients, 2-vessel disease in 4 and 3-vessel disease in 1. Coronary artery stenting wast technically successful in 21 all patients(100%) and complications included subacute total occlusion 1 week after stenting in 1, which was recanalized successfully by repeat PTCA without myocardial infarction, prolonged sinus arrest after stenting due to microembolism in 1 and puncture site bleeding requiring transfusion in 1. CONCLUSION: Coronary artery stenting was a safe and effective procedure to obtain adequate coronary blood flow in selected patients but long-term efficacy of primary elective coronary stenting should be evaluated prospectively.
Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable ; Angioplasty ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Arteries ; Classification ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Equipment Design ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infarction ; Myocardial Infarction ; Punctures ; Stents

Since after first report of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in 1977, improved operator technique and advanced equipment designs have resulted in an increase in primary success rate from 67% to 92% in recent days. Despite these improvement, acute closure and restenosis remain as serious limitations to both the short and long-term success of PTCA. Coronary artery stents have been proposed as a method of treating acute closure and preventing restenosis. We implanted 21 balloon expandable Palmaz-Schatz Stent in selected 21 Patients(mean age 62+/-8 years, M/F : 16/5) with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. The indications were elective stenting in 17, acute dissection postangioplasty in 2 and restenosis following angioplasty in 2. The clinical diagnosis of the subjects was unstable angina in 12 pts(57%), stable angina in 1, and post infarction angina in 8 including 6 acute myocardial infarction. The target vessel was right coronary artery In 12(57%), left anterior descending artery in 6(29%) and left circumflex in 3(14%). The size of implanted stent was 3mm in 15, 3.5mm in 5 and 4.0mm in 1. The morphology of attempted lesion was AHA/ACC classification type A in 1, type B in 17(B1 ; 1, B2 ; 16) and type C in 3. Angiographic findings were 1-vessel disease in 16 patients, 2-vessel disease in 4 and 3-vessel disease in 1. Coronary artery stenting wast technically successful in 21 all patients(100%) and complications included subacute total occlusion 1 week after stenting in 1, which was recanalized successfully by repeat PTCA without myocardial infarction, prolonged sinus arrest after stenting due to microembolism in 1 and puncture site bleeding requiring transfusion in 1. CONCLUSION: Coronary artery stenting was a safe and effective procedure to obtain adequate coronary blood flow in selected patients but long-term efficacy of primary elective coronary stenting should be evaluated prospectively.
Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable ; Angioplasty ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Arteries ; Classification ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Equipment Design ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infarction ; Myocardial Infarction ; Punctures ; Stents

A clinical trial was done to evaluate the antihypertensive efficacy and side effects of manidipine, a new calcium antagonist, in 30 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. 1) The study patients consisted of 19 men and 11 women, and the mean age was 51.8 years. 2) Blood pressure dropped significantly in 2 weeks and in 4 weeks, and well maintained throughout the study period. The mean-pressure drop was 26.2/14.9mmHg after 10 weeks. 3) Heart rate did not change significantly with manidipine therpy. 4) Optimal dose for effective pressure-drop was between 10 and 20 mg in 86% of patients. Overall good antihypertensive effect was achieved in 83% of patients. 5) All of the laboratory parameters including blood chemistry, glucose, lipid and electrolytes did not change, but serum calcium increased from 9.2% mg/dl (p=0.001) in 10 weeks. 6) Side effects were mild in nature(palpitation in 3, dry mouth in 1, weakness in 1 and impotence in 1 patient). In conclusion, manidipine monotherapy with 10 to 20 mg once a day regimen is effective and well tolerated in the patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.
Blood Pressure ; Calcium ; Chemistry ; Electrolytes ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Female ; Glucose ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Male ; Mouth

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery bypass grafts obtained from internal mammary artery(IMA) have a greater patency rate than do saphenous vein grafts(SVG). The release or production of endothelium-derived relaxing factor(EDRF), which regulates blood flow and inhibits platelets function, may contribute to the higher patency rate of IMA. In order to evaluate the difference between endothelium dependent relaxation in IMA and in grafted saphenous veins, we observed acetylcholine responses of IMAs and SVGs in humans. METHOD: Incremental dose if acetylcholine(Ach:A1-20, A2-50, A3-100microg) or single dose if acetylcholine(A3) were infused into the non-grafted IMA in 16 patients with different clinical presentation of coronary artery disease(3 with stable angina, 2 with acute myocardial infarction 4 with variant angina and atypical chest pain syndrome in 7). After the dose-response to Ach was completed nitroglycerine 200microg was injected into the IMA. Graded dose of Ach (A1, A2, A3) was also infused in 13 grafted saphenous veins(SVG). RESULTS: The overall vascular effects of Ach into the IMA were dilatory responses regardless of different clinical presentation. Two or 3 minutes after Ach injection, the diameter of IMA increased by 9.2%(A1) and 16. 7%(A3) respectively(p<0.01). Maximal dilatory response after A3 was comparable to that after nitroglycerin injection. Angiographically normal segements of SVGs also increased its diameter 2 minutes after Ach injection (7.2% with A1, 6.9% with A2 and 8.5% with A3). Thus the degree of relaxation of IMA was more prominent than that of SVGs. Angiographically dicreased segments of SVGs had no response after Ach injection. The overall responses of native coronary artery to Ach was dose dependant constriction. CONCLUSION: Injection of Ach to IMA and angiographically normal segments of SVGs caused vascular dilatation probably due to EDRF response. However the degree of relaxation was more prominent in IMA than in SVG. Angiographically diseased segments of SVGs had no response to Ach injection, suggesting that diseased SVG does not produce EDRF. However the finding of a consistent Ach-induced EDRF relaxation in the SVGs despite of constrictive response in the majority of native coronary arteries might suggest that the regenerated endothelial cell in the SVGs were probably of saphenous vein origin rather than derived from the coronary arterial endothelium.
Acetylcholine ; Angina, Stable ; Chest Pain ; Constriction ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Vessels ; Dilatation ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium ; Humans ; Mammary Arteries* ; Myocardial Infarction ; Nitroglycerin ; Relaxation ; Saphenous Vein* ; Transplants*

No abstract available.
Magnesium Sulfate* ; Magnesium* ; Torsades de Pointes*

PURPOSE: The present study investigated the effects of the type 5 phosphodiesterase(PDE-5) inhibitor, vardenafil on oxytocin expression in the paraventricular nucleus(PVN) of the hypothalamus were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Spargue-Dawley rats received a 2-week oral treatment with vardenafil(0.25 mg/kg/day oral adminstration, n=5) or(0.5 mg/kg/day oral adminstration, n=5) or(1 mg/kg/day oral adminstration, n=5) or (2 mg/kg/day oral adminstration, n=5) or control(n=3). Oxytocin expression in the paraventricular nucleus was measured. These experiments were performed in the absence of sexual stimulation for at least 36 hours before the experiments. RESULTS: The number of oxytocin-positive cells in the PVN was 46.88+/-15.46/section in the control group, 61.42+/-26.37/section in the 0.25 mg/kg vardenafil-treated group, 78.00+/-33.44/section in the 0.5 mg/kg vardenafil-treated group, 78.81+/-37.18/section in the 1 mg/kg vardenafil-treated group and 94.61+/-57.38/section in the 2 mg/kg vardenafil-treated group. The number of oxytocin-positive cells in the PVN increased in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: Daily vardenafil administration increases expression of oxytocin in the PVN in a dose-dependent fashion in the absence of sexual stimulation. Thus, these results imply that the PDE-5 inhibitor vardenafil has a direct effect on the erectile pathway in the central nervous system in the absence of sexual stimulation.
Animals ; Central Nervous System ; Hypothalamus ; Oxytocin* ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus* ; Rats* ; Vardenafil Dihydrochloride