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

Recent studies suggest that coronary endothelial dysfunction in atherosclerosis may contribute to the predisposition both for coronary spasm as well as for thrombus formation. The integrity of at least one aspect of endothelial function can be assessed by the intracoronary administration of acetylcholine. Eleven(13.4%, mean age 48+13, male 11) out of 82 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction showed angiographically normal or near normal coronary arteries at 7~10 in-hospital days. Ten(91%) had history of heavy smoking and 7 patients(64%) had no history of previous angina. Anterior myocardial infarction was in 8 and inferior in 3 patients. After intracoronary administration of acetylcholine(incremental dose of 20, 50ug for the right and 20, 50, 100ug for the left), 9(82) of 11 infarct related arteries showed total or subtotal occlusion, but only in 3(17%) out of 18 non-infarct related arteries of 10 patients. Multivessel spasm was noticed in 3. Ergonovine test(graded doses of 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg intravenously) was performed 30 minutes after completion of acetylcholine test in 5 patients. In 1 patients, acetylcholine test was positive and but ergonovine test was negative. Conclusion : 1) Eleven(13.4%) out of 82 patients with acute myocardial infarction had angiographically normal coronary arteries. 2) Ach positive responses of infarct-related arteries are more frequent(82%) than that of non-infarct related arteries(17%), suggesting that the infarction might be related to coronary artery spasm. 3) Positive Ach responses of non-infarct related arteries occurred in 30% of Patients. 4) Ach and Erg induced vasospasm developed at the same site in 5, which suggests that local hyperreactivity might be related to spasm.
Acetylcholine* ; Arteries ; Atherosclerosis ; Coronary Vessels* ; Ergonovine ; Humans ; Infarction ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spasm* ; Thrombosis

Percutenous transluminal coronary angioplasty(PTCA) for total coronary occlusion was performed in 20 patients(mean age 51+11years, male 16, female 4) including 12 patients with recent myocardial infaction. Primary success rate of procedure was 71%(15 out of 21 lesions). The success rate with occlusion<3 months duration was 11 out of 13(85%) lesions vs 4 out of 8(50%) with occlusion>3 months duration(P=NS). There was no difference in success rate according to vessel dilated(left anterior descending and intermediate branch 70%, right coronary artery 83%, left circumflex 67%). All patients had well developled(>grade 2 in 15 patients) collateral flow to the occluded vessel. The leng of occluded lesion more than 1.5cm was in 4 out of 21, and 3 of them had procedural failure because of inability to cross with a guide wire. Six procedsural failures included inability to cross the lesion with a guide wire in 5 and one in inability to dilate the lesion due to recoiling. Complications included intimal dissection in 3(1.5%), prolonged chest pain in 1 1 and one death due to cardiogenic shock. Although the primary success rate is relatively lower than that associated with conventional stenotic lesions, coronary angioplasty could be performed safely and successfully in the majority of patients with coronary occlusion.
Angioplasty* ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Occlusion ; Coronary Vessels* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Shock, Cardiogenic

PURPOSE: In this era of the Internet, many university hospitals are making efforts to maximize the benefits of a good homepage which facilitates the sharing and distributing of medical information. By classifying and analyzing different urology homepage, this paper aims to identify the problems and suggest the direction for improvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the search sites of Yahoo, Lycos, and Daum, some 111 homepage yielded by the keyword search "urology" were classified along the categories of location, sort (individual vs assembled), and the field of specialty. The one with the best quality was analyzed in depth. RESULTS: According to the location, Seoul (45) and Pusan (8) took up 47.7% of the total. There were more homepage devoted to andrologic field than others, typically offering online counselling service. As for the sort, there were more individual homepage (83) than assembled ones (28). The nearest to perfect homepage, upon close analysis, turned out to be too complex for the general user to gain easy access to the information, although its content, design, management, and links were excellent. CONCLUSIONS: Almost all homepage provide online counselling service, but there was a considerable disparity in the answers to questions. A guideline from the professional body would be necessary. Moreover, to prevent possible violation of the intellectual property laws, it would be best for the homepage of professional bodies to be paid sites or at least membership sites. Those managing these homepage should do their best to catch up and cope with high-tech Internet medical services by being more familiar with Internet-related technology.
Busan ; Hospitals, University ; Intellectual Property ; Internet* ; Jurisprudence ; Seoul ; Urology*