Introduction: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of basil tea as an adjunct to antihypertensive medications in decreasing the blood pressure of hypertensive subjects. Methods: Hypertensive patients were randomly allocated into either experimental (antihypertensive medications + basil tea) or control (antihypertensive medications alone) group. Experimental subjects drank basil tea twice daily for 28 days, with blood pressure readings done at baseline and on a weekly basis for four weeks. Results : A significant difference in systolic blood pressure was elicited for both treatment (p=0.005) and control (p=0.034) groups. There is a significant difference in the mean systolic (p=0.021) and diastolic blood pressure P (p=0.023) between the two groups at the fourth week in the basil tea group. There was a significant difference (p=0.046) in the mean difference in diastolic blood pressure from baseline to Week 4 in the basil tea group. There was a statistically significant decrease in systolic blood pressure between baseline and Week 4 (p=0.05). Conclusion Basil tea, used as an adjunct to anti-hypertensive medications, elicited a statistically significant reduction in systolic blood pressure and a statistically significant difference in change of diastolic blood pressure after four weeks of treatment.
Ocimum basilicum ; Hypertension

Non-invasive treatment has been going under active developments and is considered as a prior choice in modern medical circles. It is no exception to the field of vascular surgery. It is rather going under more radical changes. The irreversible trend has come so far, and the Korean Vascular Surgery Society should adapt well to this new environment and try to dominate in intravascular treatment. Therefore, it is crucial to draw interest in the methods of intravascular treatment among the members of our association and to encourage the usage of this method wider and more actively. A lot of vascular surgeons like to quote the results of Bypass versus Angioplasty in Severe Ischemia of the Leg (BASIL) trial to self-assure and have pride in the excellency of vascular surgery. However, the current citations are not accurate enough, so it is essential to understand the results of the BASIL trial more exactly to change the current trend of the Korean Vascular Surgery Society and make a huge step forward. This paper will analyse the results of BASIL trial in a more specific and objective way.
Angioplasty ; Ischemia ; Leg ; Ocimum basilicum

The small diameter and sclerosis of the veins are the main causes of failure of autogenous arterio-venous fistula(AVF) for hemodialysis. In addition, the deep location of veins prevents adequate access postoperatively, as exemplified by the frequent requirement of transposition of basilic veins either primarily or delayed. As for the cephalic veins, superficial transposition was not emphasized. We report a case of brachiocephalic AVF which required delayed superficial transposition for access. We emphasize that the depth of veins should be considered for adequate creation of AVF.
Fistula* ; Ocimum basilicum ; Renal Dialysis ; Sclerosis ; Veins*

The present study examined the efficacy of Ocimum basilicum (basil) extract, a natural herb, with antioxidant properties, against testicular toxicity induced by cadmium (Cd), which is one of the most important toxic heavy metals. The intoxicated rats showed significant alterations in the testicular tissue including decreased seminiferous epithelium height and changes in the arrangement of spermatogenic layers. Hypospermatogensis with cytoplasmic vacuolization and pyknotic nuclei were observed. Intertubular hemorrahage and absence of spermatozoa were noted. Decreased cell proliferation was reflected by a decrease in Ki-67 expression, whereas the increase in apoptotic rate was associated with a decrease in the Bcl/Bax ratio. Concomitant treatment with aqueous basil extract led to an improvement in histological, morphometrical and immunohistochemical changes induced by Cd. The beneficial effects of basil extract could be attributed to its antioxidant properties.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cadmium ; Cell Proliferation ; Cytoplasm ; Metals, Heavy ; Ocimum ; Ocimum basilicum ; Rats ; Seminiferous Epithelium ; Spermatozoa ; Testis

BACKGROUND: The essential oil of Ocimum basilicum (EOOB) has a pleasant aroma and is known to have antimicrobial and insecticidal activities. In addition, it is used as a pain reliever in folk medicine. However, there are few reports on the antinociceptive activities of EOOB. METHODS: This study examined the antinociceptive effects of EOOB using formalin and a plantar test in mice. In the formalin test, EOOB (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally and the licking time of the mice was measured. In the plantar test, intraperitoneal EOOB (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg) was administered and the withdrawal latency was measured using the Hargreaves method. RESULTS: In the formalin test, EOOB (50 mg/kg, IP) showed significant decreases in licking time in the second phase. On the other hand, in the plantar test, there were no significant effects in any of the groups examined. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the traditional use of EOOB for the treatment of painful conditions. However, there is a need for more research to determine the active chemical constituents and the precise mechanism.
Animals ; Formaldehyde ; Hand ; Medicine, Traditional ; Mice ; Ocimum ; Ocimum basilicum ; Pain Measurement

Mondor's disease is an uncommon condition characterized by a palpable, cordshaped structure, which causes pain when pressed. Its known pathophysiology is thrombophlebitis of the superficial venous system. Although reported repeatedly, its definite cause is unknown and various possible causes have been identified, including surgery, irradiation, infection, malignancy, and trauma. We diagnosed this case to be Mondor's disease of the antecubital venous system, probably due to thermal injury of the proximal tributaries of the basilic or cephalic vein. Risk of thermal injury to the skin flap or the portal site remains a common complication, and as thermal injury to the blood vessel might also be considered, attention must be given when suctioning the area near a large superficial vessel.
Blood Vessels ; Lipectomy* ; Ocimum basilicum ; Phlebitis ; Skin ; Suction ; Thrombophlebitis ; Veins

The purpose of this study was to report variations of the cubital superficial vein patterns in the Korean subjects, which was investigated by using venous illuminator, AccuVein. The 200 Korean subjects were randomly chosen from the patients and staff of the Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center in Daegu, Korea. After excluding the inappropriate cases for detecting venous pattern, we collected 174 cases of right upper limbs and 179 cases of left upper limbs. The superficial veins of the cubital fossa were detected and classified into four types according to the presence of the median cubital vein (MCV) or median antebrachial vein. The type II, presenting the both cephalic and basilic vein connected by the MCV, was most common (177 upper limbs, 50.1%). Although the most common type in male and female was different as type I (108 upper limbs, 49.3%) and type II (75 upper limbs, 56.0%), respectively, statistical significance was not detected (P=0.241). The frequency of the each types between right and left upper limbs was also not different (P=0.973). Among 154 subjects who were observed the venous pattern in the both upper limbs, 76 subjects (49.3%) had the same venous pattern. Using AccuVein to investigate the venous pattern has an advantage of lager scale examination compared to the cadaver study. Our results might be helpful for medical practitioner to be aware of the variation of the superficial cubital superficial vein.
Cadaver ; Daegu ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Ocimum basilicum ; Upper Extremity ; Veins*

Infective aneurysms are rare due to the antimicrobial advances and the early treatment of systemic infections. They represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The treatment for these cases is generally characterised by excision and reconstruction using an autologous vein graft. We describe a case of a 66-year-old man who presented an 8 cm infected popliteal aneurysm where urgent surgical approach was performed. The vascular continuity was restored with a basilic vein. Clinical follow-up showed no signs of recurrent infection and patent bypass without any anastomotic pseudoaneurysm after a year.
Aged ; Aneurysm* ; Aneurysm, False ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ocimum basilicum ; Popliteal Artery* ; Transplants ; Veins

Catheterization of the innominate or superior vena caval vein via the basilic, external jugular and internal jugular veins was attempted in 103 adult and pediatric patients scheduled for cardiovascular and pulmonary surgery. Both basilic veins were used in 43 patients, and malposition of the cathether tips occured in 23% of the cases. The site of malposition was often the ipsilateral internal jugular vein. Both external jugular veins were utilized in 58 cases, and the malposition was 17%. The ipsilateral internal jugular vein was also the most common site of malpogition. Catheter curling was noted in 3 patients. One case of premature ventricular contraction was observed on the E.K.G monitor during catheterization, but disappeared as soon as the catheter was withdrawn. Difficulty was encountered in the passage of the catheter in 9% of the cases using the basilic vein and in 40% using the external jugular vein.
Adult ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters* ; Humans ; Jugular Veins* ; Ocimum basilicum* ; Veins ; Ventricular Premature Complexes

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to evaluate upper arm basilic vein transposition (BVT) arteriovenous fistula in terms of graft patency and surgical complications and to compare BVT with the forearm loop arteriovenous graft (AVG). METHODS: Between March 2003 and December 2008, 23 patients underwent BVT and 30 patients underwent AVG. The patency rates and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients who underwent BVT had more previous history of operations for arteriovenous access (2.5+/-1.2 in BVT vs. 1.8+/-1.4 in AVG; P=0.038). A total of 10 cases of complications occurred in patients with BVT and 22 cases in patients with AVG (P=0.047). One-year and 2-year primary patency rates were 55.2%, and 36.3%, respectively, for BVT and 31.3% and 17.9%, respectively, for AVG (P=0.031). One-year and 2-year primary assisted patency rates were 85.2% and 66.7% for BVT, respectively and 67.2% and 43.8 for AVG, respectively (P=0.112). During follow-ups, less rescue procedures were performed in BVT than in AVG patients (P=0.055). One case of thrombolysis, 4 balloon angioplasty, and 1 stent insertion were performed in BVT, whereas 5 cases of thrombectomy, 3 thrombolysis, 4 balloon angioplasty, and 2 interposition grafting were performed in AVG. CONCLUSION: BVT had higher 1-year and 2-year patency rates and fewer complications compared to AVG. Lower numbers of intervention were required to maintain patency in BVT compared to AVG. BVT is a feasible procedure and can be considered before planning forearm loop AVG, particularly in a rescue vascular access.
Angioplasty, Balloon ; Arm ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forearm ; Humans ; Ocimum basilicum ; Stents ; Thrombectomy ; Transplants ; Veins