The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary sea-tangle extracts on blood glucose levels, serum lipid levels, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and glutathione enzymes in diabetic rats treated with streptozotocin (STZ) Four groups of rats (Sprague-Dawley male rats, 180 - 200g) were consisted of normal rats fed control diet (C), diabetic rats fed control diet (CD), normal rats fed sea-tangl extracts diet (E), and diabetic rats fed sea-tangle extracts diet (ED). Diabetes was induced by single injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg B.W.). After 7 weeks, rats were sacrificed, serum glucose, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride levels and glutathione enzymes were measured. Urine was significantly higher in CD and ED groups than those of others (p < 0.05). Levels of amylase, calcium, uric acid, hemoglobin, cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol were different among four groups. But high density cholesterol (HDL)-cholesterol of ED group was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than other groups (C and E group) And the weekly change of serum glucose was decreased in the 3th,4th and 5th weeks. But serum triglyceride (TG) of diabetic rats fed sea-tangle extracts diet (ED) was lower than diabetic rats fed control diet (CD). Activity of hepatic microsomal G6Pase was significantly increased CD and ED groups higher than C and E group, but kidney was decreased ED group. Hepateic glutathione S-transferase (GST) of CD and ED group were significantly lower than C and E group (p<0.05), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) of E and ED group were significantly higher than C and CD group (p<0.05), glutathione reductase (GR) activities of ED group was significantly lower than other groups, malondialdehyde (MDA) of ED was lower than E and CD group, but kidney was increased significant in ED group compared to liver. These results suggested that dietary sea-tangle extracts reduce .hepatic disorders such as oxidant than kidney. In conclusion, dietary sea-tangle extracts groups reduced blood TG and hepatic MDA levels in STZ-induced diabetic rats.
Amylases ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Calcium ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Glucose ; Glutathione ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Glutathione Reductase ; Glutathione Transferase ; Humans ; Kidney ; Lipoproteins ; Liver ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; Rats* ; Streptozocin ; Triglycerides ; Uric Acid

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of oncology ward nurses toward cancer pain management and to find ways to improve the educational program for nurses. METHOD: A total of 209 nurses working at the oncology ward of three hospitals in Seoul and a Gyenggi Province. The survey instrument used was the 32-item scale for evaluating nurses knowledge and attitudes originally developed by McCaffery and Ferrell'(1990), that was by Kim'(1997). RESULTS: In terms of the nurses knowledge of pain management, the result showed that the nurses scored an average of 67.8 out of 100 for phamacokinetics of opioids, 84.8 for classification of analgesics, 60.1 for pain assessment, and 70.7 for drug administration. 18.2% of the nurses hesitate to inject the narcotic agent because of concerns regarding the drug's potential side effects. there was significant difference in the knowledge of pain management according to the general characteristics of pain in terms of the nurses age(p=.001), position (p=.016), years of experiences(p=.002), experience of cancer pain education(p=.001). CONCLUSION: The also showed that nurses working at cancer ward lack knowledge. It is important to provide intensive education to nurses about cancer pain management.
Analgesics ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Classification ; Education ; Pain Management* ; Pain Measurement ; Seoul

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of oncology ward nurses toward cancer pain management and to find ways to improve the educational program for nurses. METHOD: A total of 209 nurses working at the oncology ward of three hospitals in Seoul and a Gyenggi Province. The survey instrument used was the 32-item scale for evaluating nurses knowledge and attitudes originally developed by McCaffery and Ferrell'(1990), that was by Kim'(1997). RESULTS: In terms of the nurses knowledge of pain management, the result showed that the nurses scored an average of 67.8 out of 100 for phamacokinetics of opioids, 84.8 for classification of analgesics, 60.1 for pain assessment, and 70.7 for drug administration. 18.2% of the nurses hesitate to inject the narcotic agent because of concerns regarding the drug's potential side effects. there was significant difference in the knowledge of pain management according to the general characteristics of pain in terms of the nurses age(p=.001), position (p=.016), years of experiences(p=.002), experience of cancer pain education(p=.001). CONCLUSION: The also showed that nurses working at cancer ward lack knowledge. It is important to provide intensive education to nurses about cancer pain management.
Analgesics ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Classification ; Education ; Pain Management* ; Pain Measurement ; Seoul

This study examined the anti-diabetic effect of onion (Allium cepa. Linn) in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into normal rats fed control diet or supplemented with onion powder (7% w/w) and diabetic rats fed control diet or supplemented with onion powder. Diabetes was induced by a single injection of STZ (60 mg/kg, ip) in citrate buffer. The animals were fed each of the experimental diet for 5 weeks. Blood glucose levels of rats supplemented with onion were lower than those of rats fed control diet in the diabetic rats. Onion also decreased the total serum lipid, triglyceride, and atherogenic index and increased HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio in the diabetic rats. Glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase activities were high in the diabetic rats compared to normal rats and reverted to near-control values by onion. These results indicate that onion decreased blood glucose, serum lipid levels and reduced renal oxidative stress in STZ-induced diabetic rats and this effect might exert the anti-diabetic effect of onion.
Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol ; Citric Acid ; Diet ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Glutathione Reductase ; Glutathione Transferase ; Humans ; Male ; Onions ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Streptozocin

The demand for rapid and broad clinical toxicology screens is on the rise. Recently, a new rapid toxicology screening test, the Triage TOX Drug Screen (Alere Inc., USA), which can simultaneously detect 11 drugs of abuse and therapeutic drugs with an instrument-read cartridge, was developed. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy of this new on-site immunoassay using 105 urine specimens; the results were compared with those obtained by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-TMS). Precision was evaluated according to the CLSI EP12-A2 for analyte concentrations near the cutoff, including C₅₀ and±30% of C₅₀, for each drug using standard materials. The C₅₀ specimens yielded 35–65% positive results and the ±30% concentration range of all evaluated drugs encompassed the C₅–C₉₅ interval. The overall percent agreement of the Triage TOX Drug Screen was 92.4–100% compared with UPLC-TMS; however, the Triage TOX Drug Screen results showed some discordant cases including acetaminophen, amphetamine, benzodiazepine, opiates, and tricyclic antidepressants. The overall performance of the Triage TOX Drug Screen assay was comparable to that of UPLC-TMS for screening of drug intoxication in hospitals. This assay could constitute a useful screening method for drugs of abuse and therapeutic drugs in urine.
Acetaminophen ; Amphetamine ; Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic ; Benzodiazepines ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Immunoassay ; Mass Screening ; Methods ; Street Drugs* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Toxicology ; Triage*

PURPOSE: Barely sprout is a well-known oriental herbal medicine with a wide range of health benefits. Recent studies have provided scientific evidence of its therapeutic effects with expanded application. This study investigated anti-melanogenic effect of barley sprout water extract (BSE) in murine melanocyte B16F10. METHODS: Various concentrations (0, 50, 125, and 250 µg/mL) of BSE and arbutin (150 ppm) were applied to B16F10 stimulated with or without alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (100 nM) for 72 hours. The whitening potency of BSE was determined altered cellular melanin contents. Activity and expression of tyrosinase and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) were also assayed. RESULTS: Experimental results revealed that treatment with BSE reduced cellular melanin production by approximately 40% compared to the control. Molecular findings supported that suppressed activity and expression of tyrosinase and MITF proteins by BSE were associated with declined cellular melanogenesis. Furthermore, anti-melanogenic effect of BSE (250 µg/mL) was similar to that of arbutin, a commonly used whitening agent. Lastly, polyphenols including p-coumaric, ferulic, and vanillic acids were identified in BSE using HPLC analyses. They might be potential active ingredients showing such melanogenesis-reducing effect. CONCLUSION: BSE was evident to possess favorable anti-melanogenic potency in an in vitro model. As a natural food sourced material, BSE could be an effective depigmentation agent with potential application in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
Arbutin ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Herbal Medicine ; Hordeum ; In Vitro Techniques ; Insurance Benefits ; Melanins ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma ; Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Polyphenols ; Therapeutic Uses ; Vanillic Acid ; Water

BACKGROUND: The radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula (AVF), which provides the best vascular access for hemodialysis, continues to have a high incidence of early failure. This was studied to determine primary and secondary patency rate of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in hemodialysis patients who had early dysfunction of this AVF within 1 year after the operation. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 39 hemodialysis patients with early dysfunction of radiocephalic AVF who received PTA between January, 1997 and December, 2002 at Uijongbu St. Mary's Hospital. The lesions occurred at proximal vein of upper arm and central vein were excluded. The primary and secondary patency rate of PTA was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier method. According to diabetes, age, sex, onset of AVF dysfunction after the operation, thrombosis, patency rate was compared with log-rank test. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 54+/-13 years and the number of male was 16 (41.2%). Twenty-four patients (61.5%) had diabetes and Among 39 lesions observed at venography, there were 33 cases of stenosis and 6 cases of complete occlusion due to thrombosis. The onset of AVF dysfunction after the operation was 5.3+/-3.6 months and 11 cases developed before the first needling. Total PTAs were performed and initial success rate was 94.2% (n=49). Primary patency rate at 6, 12, 24, and 48 months was 74.8%, 55.8%, 55.8%, and 55.8%, respectively. Secondary patency rate at 6, 12, 24, 48 months was 89.7%, 86.1%, 81.8%, 81.8%. Diabetes, age, sex, onset of AVF dysfunction after the operation, thrombosis did not influenced primary patency rate of PTA. There was no PTA-related complication. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is considered to be effective and safe treatment for early dysfunction of radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula in hemodialysis patients.
Angioplasty* ; Arm ; Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Phlebography ; Renal Dialysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombosis ; Veins

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to assess the potential of St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) to prevent obesity and abnormalities in lipid metabolism induced by ovariectomy in a rat model without stimulatory activity on uterus. MATERIALS/METHODS: Ovariectomized (OVX) rats were treated for 6 weeks with 70% ethanol extracts of Hypericum perforatum [HPEs: whole plant (WHPE) and flower and leaves (FLHPE)], beta-estradiol-3-benzoate at a dose of 50 microg/kg/day (E2) or vehicle (distilled water). RESULTS: As expected, OVX increased body weight gain and adiposity and showed higher food efficacy ratio. OVX also increased the serum cholesterol as well as insulin resistance, while reducing uterus weight and uterine epithelial proliferation rate. HPEs (WHPE and FLHPE) showed estrogen-like effect on body weight gain, adipose tissue weight and food efficacy ratio in OVX rats. HPEs prevented hypercholesterolemia induced by OVX more effectively than E2. E2 increased uterus weight and epithelial proliferation rate in OVX rats, while HPEs maintained them at the level of the sham-operated animals. CONCLUSIONS: Our finding demonstrates that HPEs can be considered as an effective agent to prevent OVX-induced obesity without stimulatory activity on uterus.
Adipose Tissue ; Adiposity ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Ethanol ; Female ; Flowers ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hypericum* ; Insulin Resistance ; Lipid Metabolism* ; Models, Animal ; Obesity* ; Ovariectomy ; Plants ; Rats* ; Uterus

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score is known to be effective in predicting the likelihood of recovery after stroke. However, the baseline NIHSS score predicts long-term outcomes rather crudely because early changes in stroke scores may influence the stroke outcomes. Therefore, a precise prognostic algorithm or a cutoff point for predicting long-term outcomes based on data from serial NIHSS scores is needed. METHODS: We serially assessed 437 patients with acute symptomatic ischemic stroke within the middle cerebral artery territory who presented with nonlacunar stroke and were followed-up for at least 6 months after symptom onset. The NIHSS score was serially checked at 0, 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after admission. In all patients, the Barthel index (BI) and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score were checked, with a poor outcome defined as any of the following endpoints: death, modified mRS score of >3, or BI of <60. RESULTS: A marked neurological improvement or worsening (i.e., a change in the NIHSS score of at least 4) was seen in 13.5% or 5.5% of the patients, respectively, during the first 7 days after admission. About 25% of the 437 patients had poor long-term outcomes. Analysis of receiver operating characteristic curves showed that the NIHSS score at day 7 after admission was better for predicting poor long-term outcomes than was the baseline score (P=0.003). In addition, we analyzed the cutoff point of the 7th-day NIHSS score for predicting a poor outcome at 6 months after symptom onset. An NIHSS score of at least 6 at day 7 after admission predicted poor long-term outcomes with a sensitivity of 84% [95% confidence interval (CI), 76-90%], a specificity of 92% (95% CI, 88-94%), and positive and negative predictive values of 77% and 95%, respectively. A logistic regression analysis revealed that age, diffusion-weighted imaging lesion volume, stroke history, and 7th-day NIHSS score were independently associated with poor outcome. However, no score used in addition to the 7th-day NIHSS score improved the prediction of a poor outcome. CONCLUSIONS: An NIHSS score of at least 6 on day 7 after admission accurately forecasts a poor long-term outcome after stroke. Our data may be helpful in predicting the long-term prognosis as well as in making decisions regarding novel therapeutic applications in subacute-stroke trials.
Humans ; Logistic Models ; Middle Cerebral Artery* ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Prognosis ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stroke Volume ; Stroke*

Obesity occurs when a person's calorie intake exceeds the amount of energy burns, which may lead to pathologic growth of adipocytes and the accumulation of fat in the tissues. In this study, the effect and mechanism of pear pomace extracts on 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation and apoptosis of mature adipocytes were investigated. The effects of pear pomace extract on cell viability and the anti-adipogenic and proapoptotic effects were investigated via MTT assay, Oil red O staining, western blot analysis and apoptosis assay. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were stimulated with DMEM containing 10% FBS, 0.5 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), 5 microg/ml insulin and 1 microM dexamethasone for differentiation to adipocytes. 3T3-L1 cells were cultured with PBS or water extract of pear pomace. Water extract of pear pomace effectively inhibited lipid accumulations and expressions of PPAR-gamma and C/EBPalpha in 3T3-L1 cells. It also increased expression of p-AMPK and decreased the expression of SREBP-1c and FAS in 3T3-L1 cells. The induction of apoptosis was observed in 3T3-L1 cells treated with pear pomace. These results indicate that pear pomace water extract inhibits adipogenesis and induces apoptosis of adipocytes and thus can be used as a potential therapeutic substance as part of prevention or treatment strategy for obesity.
1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine ; 3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes* ; Adipogenesis* ; Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Burns ; Cell Survival ; Dexamethasone ; Insulin ; Obesity ; Pyrus* ; Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 ; Water*