This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Aralia elata, Acanthopanacis cortex and Ulmus davidiana water extracts on blood hemoglobin, HbA1c levels and biomarkers in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Male Wistar rats divided into normal and diabetic groups. The diabetic groups subdivided into the control group (DM) and Araliaceae water extracts supplemented groups: Aralia elata (AE), Acanthopanacis cortex (AC) and Ulmus davidiana (UD). The extracts were supplemented in diet base on 11.42 g of raw Araliaceae/kg diet for 7 weeks. The diabetes was induced by injecting STZ (55 mg/kg B.W., i.p.) once 2 weeks before sacrifying. Relative weights of liver were significantly lowered in the DM group compared to the normal group, whereas those of kidney and heart were significantly increased in the DM group. Supplementation of the Araliaceae water extracts improved reduced liver weights in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Blood glucose level was significantly higher in the DM group than in the normal group, whereas insulin contents were significantly lowered in the DM groups. However, these parameters were normalized in the AE, AC and UD supplemented groups, respectively. Blood hemoglobin and HbA(1c) levels were significantly higher in the DM group than in the normal group. When all of Araliaceae water extracts were supplemented to the diabetic rats lowered hemoglobin and HbAI(1c) levels. Red blood cell, white blood cell and lymphocyte were significantly higher in the DM group than in the normal group. The supplementation of Araliaceae family water extracts significantly lowered these parameters compared to the DM group. MCV, MCH contents were declined in the DM group, while the supplementation of Aralia elata, Acanthopanacis cortex and Ulmus davidiana water extracts elevated of these contents in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Accordingly, these results indicate that Aralia elata, Acanthopanacis cortex and Ulmus davidiana water extracts would seem to improve the blood biomarkers in STZ-induced diabetic rats.
Animals ; Aralia ; Araliaceae* ; Biomarkers ; Blood Glucose* ; Diet ; Erythrocytes ; Heart ; Humans ; Insulin ; Kidney ; Leukocytes ; Liver ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Rats* ; Rats, Wistar ; Streptozocin ; Ulmus ; Water* ; Weights and Measures

This study was performed to investigate effect of dried powders and ethanol extracts of garlic flesh and peel on antioxidative capacity in 16-month- old rats. Forty Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 618.1 +/- 6.5 g were blocked into five groups according to body weight and raised for 3 months with experimental diets containing 5% (w/w) of dried powders of garlic flesh or peel, or ethanol extracts from equal amount of each dried powder. Total polyphenols, flavonoids, beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels were determined in garlic preparations. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels in plasma, liver and VLDL + LDL fraction, oxidative DNA damage (8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, 8OHdG) in kidney, xanthine oxidase (XO) activities in plasma and liver, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in erythrocyte and liver, and carotenoid concentration, and total antioxidant status (TAS) in plasma were measured. Total polyphenols and flavonoids contents in garlic preparations were highest in peel ethanol extract. Vitamin C content was not different significantly among preparations, but peel powder contains slightly more vitamin C. The content of beta-carotene was highest in peel ethanol extract and vitmain E content was highest in flesh ethanol extract. The highest level of TAS was observed in peel ethanol extract. Plasma TBARS levels in all the experimental groups were found to be significantly lower than control group, and TBARS concentration in VLDL + LDL fraction was decreased in all the experimental groups in comparison to control group. Also levels of 8OHdG in kidney in experimental groups were lower than that of control group. Plasma and liver XO activities were decreased in all experimental groups, and erythrocyte and liver SOD activities were higher in experimental groups compared to control group. All experimental groups also showed higher plasma TAS levels than control group. Especially, garlic flesh powder group was significantly lower in plasma and liver XO activities, and significantly higher in erythrocyte and liver SOD activities than control group. Moreover, plasma TBARS level and kidney 8OHdG level were decreased in flesh powder group. In conclusion, garlic diets showed effect of improving antioxidative capacity in 16-month old rats, especially, garlic flesh powder was prominent in inhibiting XO activitiy, promoting SOD activity and decreasing kidney 8OHdG level among experimental groups.
Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; beta Carotene ; Body Weight ; Diet ; DNA Damage ; Erythrocytes ; Ethanol* ; Flavonoids ; Garlic* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Kidney ; Liver ; Male ; Plasma ; Polyphenols ; Powders* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins ; Xanthine Oxidase

This study was performed to investigate effect of dried powders and ethanol extracts of garlic flesh and peel on lipid metabolism and antithrombogenic capacity in 16-month-old rats. Forty Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 618.1 +/- 6.5 g were blocked into five groups according to body weight and raised for 3 months with control and experimental diets containing 5% (w/w) of dried powders of garlic flesh or peel, or ethanol extracts from equal amount of each dried powder and control diet. Plasma and liver total lipids, triglyceride and total cholesterol, and plasma HDL-cholesterol, thromboxane B2 (TXB2), 6-keto- prostaglandin F1alpha (6-keto-PGF1alpha) concentrations were measured. Total, insoluble and soluble dietary fibers contents were highest in peel powder followed by fresh powder, and those in ethanol extracts of flesh and peel, especially soluble, very low. Plasma and liver total lipids, triglyceride, and total cholesterol concentrations were lower in all the garlic experimental groups compared to Especially, flesh and peel powder lowered plasma total lipids, triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations markedly, and flesh powder and flesh ethanol extract lowered liver total lipids, triglyceride and total cholesterol concentration remarkably. Plasma TXB2 concentrations in garlic experimental groups were lower than that of control group, and 6-keto-PGF1alpha concentrations. In garlic experimental groups were higher than that of control group. Flesh ethanol extract group showed the lowest TXB2 and the highest 6-keto-PGF1alpha concentrations among experimental groups, so TXB2/6-keto-PGF1alpha ratio in flesh ethanol extract group was significantly lower than that of control group. Moreover, clotting time was significantly increased in flesh ethanol extract group as compared to control group. In conclusion, intakes of dried powders and ethanol extracts of garlic flesh and peel were effective in lowering lipid levels of liver and plasma. And also flesh ethanol extract diet was most effective in antithrombogenic activity among garlic experimental groups as TXB2/6-keto- PGF1alpha ratio in flesh ethanol extract group was significantly lower and clotting time was significantly increased in this group as compared to control group.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Dietary Fiber ; Ethanol* ; Garlic* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Lipid Metabolism* ; Liver ; Male ; Plasma ; Powders* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thromboxane B2 ; Triglycerides

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Metal stent insertion through percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) track is an important palliative treatment modality for malignant biliary obstruction. Acute pancreatitis is one of serious complications of biliary metal stenting. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk of pancreatitis for patients who underwent metal stent insertion via PTBD track. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 90 consecutive patients who received metal stent insertion via PTBD track from Jan. 2002 to Dec. 2007 was carried out. Patients were devided into the transpapillary and non-transpapillary group, and the risks of pancreatitis were compared. The effects of preliminary endoscopic sphincterectomy (EST) was also investigated in transpapillary group. RESULTS: The rate of pancreatitis was higher in transpapillary group compared to nontranspapillary group (odd ratio 1.87, 95% CI 0.516-6.761), but it showed no stastically significance (p=0.502). In transpapillary group, patients who received preliminary EST showed lower rate of pancreatitis (odd ratio 0.91, 95% CI 0.656-1.273), but it showed no stastically significance (p=0.614). CONCLUSIONS: Metallic stent insertion through the intact sphincter of Oddi might have a risk of developing pancreatitis. Further study is needed to elucidate the mechanism of pancreatitis and the way of prevention.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Amylases/metabolism ; Cholestasis/diagnosis/*surgery ; Drainage ; Female ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive/diagnosis/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatitis/*etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Stents/*adverse effects

Primary Signet-ring-cell adenocarcinoma of the urinary bladder is an extremely rare variant that promotes considerable interest, 21 cases reported as of 1981. Morphologically, this tumor is identical to signet-ring-cell carcinomas of the gastrointestinal tract, breast, lung and nasal cavity, and differentiation must be carried out with great care. Characteristically, primary signet-ring-cell adenocarcinoma carries a poor prognosis with early penetration of the mucosa, submucosa, and muscularis. This tumor is sessile, infiltrates early, extends locally to adjacent organs, and metastasized late. Many patients reported died of local extension with ureteral obstruction and uremia rather than wide spread metastasis. We are reporting two cases of primary signet-ring-cell adenocarcinoma of the urinary bladder treated with radical cystectomy and transurethral resection with radiotherapy, which died of local extension with ureteral obstruction and uremia, with pathological findings and review of the literatures.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Breast ; Cystectomy ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Lung ; Mucous Membrane ; Nasal Cavity ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Uremia ; Ureteral Obstruction ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder*

No abstract available.
Scrub Typhus* ; Seoul*

The purpose of this study was to measure hospitalized patients' satisfactions with hospital foodservices, and thereby identify areas for improvement and provide basic data for the introduction of total quality management with hospital foodservices. This survey was carried out questionnaires by 382 hospitalized patients into 7 hospitals in Deagu, Busan, Changwon. The subjects were 50.5% male and 49.5% female. Sixty-two percent of the subjects were over 40age, 31.4% were only educated to middle school or below, 28.3% were hospitalized for 7~14 days. The result of evaluation for hospital foodservice during the length of hospitalization are as follows : Taste, seasoning, temperature, apperance of foods were higher in the short hospitalized patients than in the long hospitalized patients, especially kind and combinazation of food were significantly higher(p<0.001). The result of the foodservice with appetite status was significantly higher score(3.33) in the good appetite patients than in the bad appetite patients score(2.00)(p<0.001). As the hospitalization rooms were the significantly difference in the taste(p<0.05), seasoning(p<0.001), apperance(p<0.01) of the foods, amount of service(p<0.01), variety of menu(p<0.05), combinazation of foods(p<0.01) and opinion of patients(p<0.05).
Appetite ; Busan ; Daegu ; Female ; Food Quality ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seasons ; Total Quality Management

No abstract available.
Arthritis* ; Dermatitis* ; Humans ; Neutrophils*

Backgound: The aim of this study was to compare the levels of perception of and compliance with handwashing between the groups of direct patient contact and indirect contact in a tertiary-care university hospital. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a university hospital with 4,500 employees. A questionnaire, containing questions on demographic data and the perception of and compliance with handwashing, was distributed to and collected from a total of 1,087 employees from June 25 to July 10, 2005. RESULTS: The study subjects washed their hands an average of 11.2 times (range, 1-100) per day: nurses washed their hands more frequently than others. The average duration of handwashing by employees was 18.8 seconds. Those in the direct patient contact group scored significantly higher points than did those in the indirect contact group in both perception (P<.021) of and compliance (P<.001) with handwashing. CONCLUSION: Education for handwashing is needed direction employees who have indirect contact with patients to improve their compliance with handwashing.
Compliance* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education ; Hand ; Hand Disinfection* ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of hormone replacement therapy on endometrial thickness in postmenopausal women and to assess the difference in endometrial thickness by the type of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Endometrial thickness was measured in 258 postmenopausal women before and/or during 12 months of HRT. The subjects were grouped into the sequential therapy group (Group 1, 72 women) and continuous combined therapy group (Group 2, 186 women). Group 1 received 0.625 mg of conjugate equine estrogen (CEE) daily with cyclic addition of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA, 10 mg/day for 12 days per month). Group 2 received 0.625 mg of CEE with daily addition of MPA (2.5 mg/day). RESULTS: The sequential group showed no significant change in endometrial thickness during HRT compared to that before HRT. However, a significant increase in endometrial thickness was found in the continuous combined group at 12 months of treatment. Before HRT, the endometrial thickness in the continuous combined group was thinner than that of the sequential group. During 12 months of treatment, there was no difference in endometrial thickness between the types of HRT. And the proportion of patients with endometrial thickness of 8mm or greater at 12 months of treatment did not differ significantly from that before treatment in both groups. CONCLUSION: Sequential HRT did not influence the endometrial thickness during treatment. However, continuous combined HRT increased the endometrial thickness during 12 months of treatment compared to that before treatment. The different endometrial responses to each HRT regimen may be due to the difference in endometrial thickness before treatment in each group.
Estrogens ; Female ; Hormone Replacement Therapy* ; Humans ; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate