The ginkgo nuts are commonly eaten because of its nutritive value. It also taken as an herbal medicine for its antitussive and expectorant properties throughout Korea, Japan, and China. A range of symptoms of ginkgo nut intoxication including vomiting, abdominal pain, irritability, headaches, and seizures have been reported. It can be fetal in severe cases if emergency care was not available. It was discovered that the toxicity of ginkgo nuts was due to 4-O-methoxypyridoxine. The convulsion can be prevented by administration of anticonvulsants and pyridoxal phosphate. We report a 6-year-old male, without any past or family histories of epilepsy, who presented with generalized tonic clonic seizures. About 7 hours before the seizure, he had consumed approximately 40 roasted ginkgo nuts. He exhibited vomiting and abdominal pain 5 hours after ingestion. After treatment with diazepam and pyridoxal phosphate, his symptoms were resolved and electroencephalogram was normalized. We report on the patient and emphasize pediatricians and parents who have children should be recognizing that neurotoxicity of ginkgo nuts, particularity convulsion inducing effect, can occur occasionally.
Abdominal Pain ; Anticonvulsants ; Child ; China ; Diazepam ; Eating ; Electroencephalography ; Emergency Medical Services ; Epilepsy ; Ginkgo biloba ; Headache ; Herbal Medicine ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea ; Male ; Nutritive Value ; Nuts ; Parents ; Pyridoxal Phosphate ; Pyridoxine ; Seizures ; Vomiting

Elevated plasma homocysteine is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Exercise is generally believed to reduce the plasma homocysteine levels and therefore, being beneficial for cardiovascular disease(CVD). However, there is a possibility that athletes undergoing strenuous training and competition which increase oxidative stress may suffer from increased plasma homocysteine levels. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of endurance training on the plasma concentrations of B vitamins and homocysteine in 23 male adolescent field hockey players. Data collection and blood sampling was performed during the training period and non-training period. Following the training period, significant changes in energy and vitamin B6 intakes were observed in these subjects. Plasma vitamin B2, pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) and homocysteine levels were significantly higher during the training period than non-training period, whereas no difference was observed in plasma folate and vitamin B12 levels. Positive correlation was observed between plasma folate and folic acid intakes. When energy, B vitamin intakes were adjusted there was a significant negative correlation between plasma homocysteine levels and plasma riboflavin, folate and vitamin B12 levels. In conclusion, it is suggested that athletes with oxidative stress by strenuous exercise may need B vitamins since riboflavin, folic acid and vitamin B12 were shown to be negatively correlated with plasma homocysteine in athletes during the training period.
Adolescent* ; Athletes ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Data Collection ; Folic Acid ; Hockey* ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Male* ; Oxidative Stress ; Plasma* ; Pyridoxal Phosphate ; Riboflavin ; Risk Factors ; Vitamin B 12 ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamin B Complex ; Vitamins*

Bowel preparation is essential for successful colonoscopy examination, and the most important factor is the bowel preparation agent used. However, selection of a bowel preparation agent invariably involves compromise. Originally, bowel preparation was performed for radiologic and surgical purposes, when the process involved dietary limitations, cathartics, and enemas, which had many side effects. Development of polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution led to substantive advancement of bowel preparation; however, despite its effectiveness and safety, the large volume involved, and its salty taste and unpleasant odor reduce compliance. Accordingly, modified PEG solutions requiring consumption of lower volumes and sulfate-free solutions were developed. Aqueous sodium phosphate is more effective and better tolerated than PEG solutions; however, fatal complications have occurred due to water and electrolyte shifts. Therefore, aqueous sodium phosphate was withdrawn by the US Food and Drug Administration, and currently, only sodium phosphate tablets remain available. In addition, oral sulfate solution and sodium picosulfate/magnesium citrate are also available, and various studies have reported on adjunctive preparations, such as hyperosmolar or stimulant laxatives, antiemetics, and prokinetics, which are now in various stages of development.
Administration, Oral ; Cathartics/*administration & dosage ; Citrates/administration & dosage ; Citric Acid/administration & dosage ; Colonic Diseases/diagnosis ; Colonoscopy ; Humans ; Organometallic Compounds/administration & dosage ; Phosphates/administration & dosage ; Picolines/administration & dosage ; Polyethylene Glycols/administration & dosage

This study was performed to investigate the action of potassium channel openers on the mechanical activity of detrusor muscle isolated from rats. Detrusor muscle strips, 15 mm in length, were myographied isometrically in an isolated organ bath. P 1060, RP 49356 and BRL 38277, potassium channel activators, reduced the basal tone and diminished the phasic activity of detrusor concentration-dependently. P 1060, RP 49356 and BRL 38227 suppressed the maximal responses to bethanechol and shifted the concentration-response curves of bethanechol-induced contraction to the right. RP 49356 and BRL 38227 reduced the contraction by low (20 mM) concentration of potassium. P 1060, however, diminished the high (80 mM) and low (20 mM) concentration of potassium-induced contraction. Glibenclamide, an inhibitor of ATP-dependent potassium channel, antagonized the suppressive action of P 1060, RP 49356 and BRL 38227 on the basal tone. Apamin or procaine did not antagonize it significantly. Based on these results, it is suggested that the relaxation of detrusor muscle strip caused by P 1060, RP 49356 and BRL 38227 may predominantly involve opening of the same potassium channel, i.e., the ATP-dependent potassium channel.
Animals ; Benzopyrans/*pharmacology ; Cromakalim ; Guanidines/*pharmacology ; Muscle Contraction/drug effects ; Muscle, Smooth/*drug effects ; Picolines/*pharmacology ; Potassium Channels/*drug effects ; Pyrans/*pharmacology ; Pyrroles/*pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Urinary Bladder/*drug effects/physiology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of a novel molecular probe of Zn-DPA-PSS794 to monitor the efficiency of doxorubicin to ovarian cancer and compare with Cy5.5-annexin V. METHODS: Efficiency of doxorubicin to OVCAR-8 cells in vitro was measured by MTT assay and flow cytometry. The in vivo studies were performed on an OVCAR-8 xenograft tumor model. Mice were divided into a control group and a treatment group. Each group was divided into 2 subgroups, DPA and annexin V. In the treatment group, the mice were treated with doxorubicin for 2 doses. All mice were performed optical imaging by Zn-DPA-PSS794 or Cy5.5-annexin V, respectively and then sacrificed. The tumor was separated and stained by HE. The expression of caspase-3 protein was measured by Western blot. RESULTS: The IC50 of doxorubicin to OVCAR-8 was 6 μmol/L. The percentage of apoptosis and dead cells was 35% after doxorubicin treatment. In the optical image, photons accumulated in the tumor either by Zn-DPA-PSS794 or Cy 5.5-annexin V in the treatment group. That was negative in the control group. The fluorescence intensity had significant difference between the 2 groups(P<0.001). The nuclei were big and stained with deep color after the cells were stained with HE. The caspase-3 expression was high in the treatment group, while it was low in the control group. CONCLUSION Zn-DPA-PSS794 as a probe used by optical imaging can monitor the efficiency of doxorubicin to OVCAR-8 xenograft tumor, which is similar to Cy5.5-annexin V.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carbocyanines ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Female ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Humans ; Infrared Rays ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Molecular Imaging ; Organometallic Compounds ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; pathology ; Picolines ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods

Purified hemoglobin was modified with pyridoxal 5-phosphate(PLP) and polymerized with glutaric dialdehyde(GDA) to get the products. By comparison of the physical, chemical and biological properties of different procedures for modification before and after polymerization, there is no significant difference in molecular distribution, methemoglobin(MetHb) concentration, oxygen carrier capacity, P50 and spectra. Furthermore, the procedure of modification after polymerization can save PLP greatly and decrease cost greatly. So the procedure of modification after polymerization is a better way in research and production. The addition of GDA could control the increasing of MetHb. By comparison on the physical, chemical and biological properties of different procedures, there is no significant difference in molecular distribution, MetHb concentration, oxygen carrier capacity and spectra between the procedure of adding GDA before PLP and that after PLP. But the P50 of adding GDA before PLP is much lower than that after PLP. So the procedure of adding GDA after PLP is a better way.
Blood Substitutes ; Chemical Phenomena ; Glutaral ; chemistry ; Hemoglobins ; chemistry ; Humans ; Methemoglobin ; chemistry ; Pyridoxal Phosphate ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We investigated whether sodium picosulfate with magnesium citrate (SPMC) plus bisacodyl compares favorably with conventional polyethylene glycol (PEG) with respect to bowel cleansing adequacy, compliance, and safety. METHODS: We performed a multicenter, prospective, single-blinded study in outpatients undergoing daytime colonoscopies. Patients were randomized into a split preparation SPMC/bisacodyl group and a conventional split PEG group. We compared preparation adequacy using the Boston bowel preparation scale (BBPS), ease of use using a modified Likert scale (LS), compliance/satisfaction level using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and safety by monitoring adverse events during the colonoscopy between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 365 patients were evaluated by intention to treat (ITT) analysis, and 319 were evaluated by per protocol (PP) population analysis (153 for SPMC/bisacodyl, 166 for PEG). The mean total BBPS score was not different between the two groups in both the ITT and PP analyses (p>0.05). The mean VAS score for satisfaction and LS score for the ease of use were higher in the SPMC/bisacodyl group (p<0.001). The adverse event rate was lower in the SPMC/bisacodyl group than in the PEG group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The SPMC/bisacodyl treatment was comparable to conventional PEG with respect to bowel preparation adequacy and superior with respect to compliance, satisfaction, and safety.
Adult ; Aged ; Cathartics/*administration & dosage ; Citrates/*administration & dosage ; Citric Acid/*administration & dosage ; Colon/*drug effects/surgery ; *Colonoscopy ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Therapy, Combination/methods ; Female ; Humans ; Intention to Treat Analysis ; Laxatives/*administration & dosage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organometallic Compounds/*administration & dosage ; Patient Compliance ; Patient Satisfaction ; Picolines/*administration & dosage ; Polyethylene Glycols/*administration & dosage ; Preoperative Care/methods/psychology ; Single-Blind Method ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (P5P), a coenzyme of the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) reactions, is required to measure aminotransferase levels (IFCC method). However, a modified IFCC method that uses a reagent devoid of P5P is commonly used in laboratories in Korea. To determine the differences between the two methods, we compared aminotransferase levels measured by using the IFCC method and modified IFCC method. METHODS: Serum levels of AST and ALT, with and without P5P, were measured in 2,318 patients. Based on the allowable limits of performance set by the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA), differences between the two methods were analyzed under various conditions. RESULTS: Higher AST and ALT values were obtained by the IFCC method compared to modified IFCC method, showing significant differences between the two methods (AST, 5.8±14.2 IU/L; ALT, 2.8±6.9 IU/L) (P<0.001). Values exceeding RCPA criteria were more frequently observed in emergency orders (AST, 65.8%; ALT, 14.4%) than in routine orders (AST, 3.2%; ALT, 9.6%), as well as in inpatient wards (AST, 70.4%; ALT, 18.5%) compared to outpatient clinics (AST, 56.6%; ALT, 10.0%). However, the differences between the two methods were not significant among the disease groups, except for the acute myocardial infarction group. CONCLUSIONS: The method using reagents without P5P underestimated aminotransferase activity. The effect of P5P was more significant in patients with acute myocardial infarction, considered as P5P-deficient. In conclusion, the IFCC method with P5P should be applied for measuring AST and ALT serum levels.
Alanine Transaminase ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Australasia ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Indicators and Reagents ; Inpatients ; Korea ; Liver Function Tests ; Methods ; Myocardial Infarction ; Pyridoxal Phosphate

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To investigate role of exocrine cells in the pancreatic enhancement images at Manganese (II) N, N'-dipyridoxylethlenediamine-N, N'-diacetate 5, 5'-bisc (Mn-DPDP)-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

<b>METHODSb>Artificial pancreatic leakage was constructed in six dogs using a fistula tube inserted into the duodenum papillae. Pancreatic juice was collected before and after intravenous infusion of 2 ml/kg of Mn-DPDP at a rate of 2 - 3 ml/min. The Mn content of pancreatic juice was measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. T(1)-weighted spin-echo images and T(1)-weighted spoiled phase gradient-echo (SPGR) images were obtained prior and approximately 30 min after the administration of Mn-DPDP at 1.5T.

<b>RESULTSb>The Mn content of pancreatic secretion increased 60.47 +/- 21.83 micro g/dl after the administration of Mn-DPDP (t = 6.785, P < 0.01). The signal/noise ratio (S/N) of the pancreas increased 53 percent +/- 49 percent and 62 percent +/- 44% on T(1)W spin echo images and SPGR images, respectively.

<b>CONCLUSIONSb>Exocrine cells of the pancreas can absorb manganese and excrete it through the pancreatic juice. Exocrine cells play an important role in the enhancement of the pancreas in MR imaging with Mn-DPDP.

Animals ; Contrast Media ; Dogs ; Edetic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacokinetics ; Image Enhancement ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Manganese ; pharmacokinetics ; Pancreas ; anatomy & histology ; metabolism ; Pyridoxal Phosphate ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacokinetics

Poly-hemoglobin is the active component of hemoglobin-based blood substitutes. The excess reactivity of glutaraldehyde with hemoglobin in solution leads to poly-hemoglobin of a wide molecular weight distribution and a high average molecular weight. A new polymerization method has been tested to decrease the molecular weight distribution and the average molecular weight. The poly-hemoglobin with lower degree of modification (polymerization) was found enriched on the cation exchange columns and further polymerized with glutaraldehyde. The poly-hemoglobin of narrower molecular weight distribution has been prepared in this way.
Blood Substitutes ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; methods ; Hemoglobins ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Humans ; Pyridoxal Phosphate ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry