BACKGROUND: Plant extracts have been widely used as important therapeutic drugs for many centuries all over the world. There have been many reports that natural products have various kinds of biological activities such as anti-allergy, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. Recently, the screening for the efficacy and safety of natural products has been extensively performed. OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to find a beneficial plant extract possessing excellent antioxidative and anti-melanogenic activities. We have found that the leaf of Robinia pseudo-acacia L. has active substances which are involved in those activities. METHODS: To confirm the antioxidative activity of the extract obtained from the leaves of Robinia pseudo-acacia L., scavenging ability of the extract on DPPH free radicals and its inhibitory effects on lipid autoxidation and peroxidation were investigated. In addition, inhibitory effects of the extract on mushroom tyrosinase as well as melanin biosynthesis in cultured B16 melanoma cells were evaluated. RESULTS: The acacia extract showed not only powerful antioxidative activity but also antimelanogenic acitivity as strong as that of arbutin which is a well known inhibitor of melanogenesis. CONCLUSION: These resulis suggest that the extract from the leaves of Robinia pseudo-acacia L. could be used as a 4ghtening and antioxidative agent for the skin.
Acacia ; Agaricales ; Arbutin ; Biological Products ; Free Radicals ; Mass Screening ; Melanins ; Melanoma, Experimental ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Plant Extracts ; Plants ; Robinia* ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Suicide is a self-destructive behavior that can occur throughout life. Recently the suicide rate has gradually increased in Korea. Suicide is the third most common cause of death in adolescents. The most important factOrs closely related to suicide were depression and hopelessness. This study aimed to analyze first, relationships between suicidal ideation, depression, hopelessness, social support and self-esteem, second, the differences between the demographic factors and suicidal ideation, depression, hopelessness, social support and self-esteem. METHODS: This study was surveyed with a questionaire to 220 students of colleges located in Pusan. The instruments were used in this study were Harters(1988) Self-Perception Profile for College Students, Harter and Robinsons(1988) Approval Support Scale for Adolescents, Becks(1961) Beck Depression Inventory, Becks(1974) Beck Hopelessness Scale and Reynolds(1987) Suicidal ideation Questionaire. RESULTS: Self-esteem had a relatively strong positive correlation with social support. Suicidal ideation had a strong positive correlation with depression. Depression had a negative correlation with self-esteem and social support. Suicidal ideation had a negative correlation with self-esteem and social support. CONCLUSIONS: According to this study, the major factors related to suicidal tendency of adolescents were depression, low self-esteem, and low social support. Then the strategy to improve self-esteem and to encourage social support should be implemented for adolescents to prevent suicide.
Adolescent ; Busan* ; Cause of Death ; Demography ; Depression ; Humans ; Korea ; Self Concept ; Self-Injurious Behavior ; Suicidal Ideation ; Suicide

No abstract available.
Rheumatic Diseases* ; Spondylarthropathies

No abstract available.
Parathyroid Neoplasms*

No abstract available in English.
Acromioclavicular Joint ; Dislocations ; Methods

Anesthesia, General ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Palatine Tonsil ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; Tonsillectomy

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation (LT) is a complicated procedure with a high incidence of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI). Previous studies indicate that even transient or mild post-LT AKI can result in critical conditions, including prolonged stays in hospitals and intensive care units and increased morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and occurrence of AKI in LT recipients. METHODS: Medical data from 203 patients who received LT surgery from January 2010 to August 2016 in a single university hospital setting were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Patients were classified as either underweight (BMI <20 kg/m²) or normal weight (20 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m²). Demographic data, anesthetic methods, complications, and perioperative laboratory test values of each patient were assessed. Propensity analyses and logistic regression were performed to evaluate the association between BMI and post-LT AKI. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in occurrence of post-LT AKI between underweight and normal weight patients. The underweight patient group had significantly longer hospital stay compared with the normal weight patient group (P = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: BMI classification was neither a positive nor negative predictor of postoperative AKI occurrence. However, patients with lower BMI had significantly longer hospital stay compared with their counterparts. Although our study was limited by its retrospective design, our observations suggest that lower BMI might play a role in post-LT AKI.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Body Mass Index* ; Classification ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intensive Care Units ; Length of Stay ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Logistic Models ; Mortality ; Retrospective Studies* ; Thinness

BACKGROUND: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are main pathogens of bloodstream infection. We compared the epidemiology of ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae. METHODS: From January 2003 through March 2007, we retrospectively investigated the clinical characteristics and comorbidities of patients with bloodstream infection by ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae. RESULTS: During the study period, 79 patients (54 with E. coli and 25 with K. pneumoniae) with blood cultures positive for ESBL-producing E. coli or K. pneumoniae were studied. When comparing the source of bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs) were more commonly caused by E. coli (24% vs. 0; P=0.007), and respiratory tract and soft tissue infection (36% vs. 15%; P=0.04, 12% vs. 0; P=0.03, respectively) were more commonly associated with K. pneumoniae. Among hospital-acquired bloodstream infection, third-generation cephalosporin was more commonly used in patients with E. coli than patients with K. pneumoniae (81% vs. 24%, P<0.001). Medical devices (central venous catheter and urinary catheter) were more commonly used in patients with K. pneumoniae. CONCLUSION: ESBL-producing E. coli bloodstream infection is more common in urinary tract infections. ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae is more common in respiratory tract infections and in skin and soft tissue infections. In hospital-acquired infections, ESBL-producing E. coli bloodstream infection is more common in biliary tract infection. ESBL-producing E. coli was more commonly associated with prior frequent antibiotics use and K. pneumoniae was more commonly associated with use of medical devices.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; beta-Lactamases ; Biliary Tract ; Catheters ; Comorbidity ; Epidemiology* ; Escherichia coli* ; Humans ; Klebsiella pneumoniae* ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory System ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Soft Tissue Infections ; Urinary Tract Infections

We evaluated the antitumor activity and toxicity of recombinant human interferon gamma (LBD -001) as a new modality for advanced renal cell carcinoma from March, 1988 to August, 1989 at the Department of Urology, St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College. Eleven patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma were given recombinant gamma interferon at dose of 5.0-7.6 x 106U/day, subcutaneously three days per week. Among eleven patients, only one achieved partial response. Major adverse effects included fever, fatigue, myalgia and leukopenia, but no life threatening side effects were found. Although recombinant human interferon gamma have an antitumor activity against advanced renal cell carcinoma, further study is necessary to define the optimal treatment regimen.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Fatigue ; Fever ; Humans ; Interferons* ; Leukopenia ; Myalgia ; Urology

PURPOSE: The success rate of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy has been increasing with the development of better instruments and techniques. We conducted this study to evaluate the clinical results of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy using a Microdebrider, which has also been used for functional endoscopic sinus surgery. METHODS: We selected 76 patients (with a total of 84 affected eyes) who had been diagnosed with a nasolacrimal duct obstruction. These patients underwent an endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy using a Microdebrider, which removed both nasal mucosa and lacrimal sac mucosa and also trimmed the margins of the ostotomy site. We assessed patients' outcomes on an anatomical basis using a dye test and endoscopy, which were used to define the anatomical success. We also arbitrarily defined functional success as whether the subjective epiphora was absent. At a four to 18 month follow-up, we monitored the clinical course to examine any recurrent episodes. RESULTS: The symptoms were alleviated in 72 eyes, with a primary success rate of 85.7%. On nasal endoscopy, a functional failure was seen in four eyes. In these four eyes, the orifice was narrowed by the presence of either granulation tissue or conjunctivochalasis. By contrast, surgical outcomes were the anatomical failure in eight eyes. In these eight eyes, the orifice was obstructed by the presence of granulation tissue as well as the adhesion of nasal mucosa. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy using a Microdebrider enabled us to make the large fistula while minimizing the damage of adjacent tissue. It might be the recommended surgery that reduces the complications and enhances the success rate.
Treatment Outcome ; Retrospective Studies ; Miniaturization ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Lacrimal Duct Obstruction/*surgery ; Humans ; Follow-Up Studies ; Female ; Equipment Design ; *Endoscopy ; Debridement/*instrumentation ; Dacryocystorhinostomy/*methods ; Aged ; Adult ; Adolescent