Acute Coronary Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Aspirin ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; Thrombelastography ; Ticlopidine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Tyrosine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives

Astragalus Membranaceus (AM) is a useful Korean herb that has been clinically prescribed for stress-related illness. The objective of the present study was to examine the anti-stress effects of AM on repeated stress-induced alterations of anxiety, learning and memory in rats. Restraint stress was administered for 14 days (2h/day) and AM (400mg/kg) given by oral administration, in the AM group, for the same period. Starting on the eighth day, the rats were tested for spatial memory on the Morris water maze test (MW) and for anxiety on the elevated plus maze (EPM). Changes of expression on immunohistochemistry were studied for cholineacetyl transferase (ChAT) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the brain. The results showed that the rats treated with AM had significantly reduced stress-induced deficits on learning and memory on the spatial memory tasks. In addition, the ChAT immunoreactivities were increased. In the EPM, treatment with AM increased the time spent in the open arms (p<0.001) compared to the control group. In addition, AM treatment also normalized increases of TH expression in the LC (p<0.001). In conclusion, administration of AM improved spatial learning and memory and reduced stress-induced anxiety. Thus, the present results suggest that AM is able to recover behavioral and neurochemical impairments induced by stress.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Anxiety ; Arm ; Astragalus membranaceus ; Brain ; Immunohistochemistry ; Learning ; Memory ; Rats ; Transferases ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase

In January 2006, Sunitinib was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Sunitinib inhibits the receptor tyrosine kinases that are involved with various receptors whose functions are related to tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastatic progression. The cutaneous adverse reactions of hand-foot syndrome associated with sunitinib are well known, but there have been no previous reports on these reactions in the Korean medical literature. We report here on a case of hand-foot syndrome due to this drug, and we discuss the possible mechanism of hand-foot syndrome caused by sunitinib.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Hand-Foot Syndrome ; Indoles ; Paronychia ; Phosphotransferases ; Pyrroles ; Tyrosine ; United States Food and Drug Administration

In January 2006, Sunitinib was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Sunitinib inhibits the receptor tyrosine kinases that are involved with various receptors whose functions are related to tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastatic progression. The cutaneous adverse reactions of hand-foot syndrome associated with sunitinib are well known, but there have been no previous reports on these reactions in the Korean medical literature. We report here on a case of hand-foot syndrome due to this drug, and we discuss the possible mechanism of hand-foot syndrome caused by sunitinib.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Hand-Foot Syndrome ; Indoles ; Paronychia ; Phosphotransferases ; Pyrroles ; Tyrosine ; United States Food and Drug Administration

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; methods ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; therapy ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Tyrosine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use

Rapid arterial rethrombosis is associated with high-grade residual stenosis and usually occurs at the site of the initial occlusion, resulting in reocclusion of the recanalized artery. Platelets may play an active role in such rethrombosis after thrombolytic-induced clot lysis. Given that glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blockers, like tirofiban, prevent thrombus formation by inhibiting the final common pathway of platelet aggregation, they may be helpful for treating rethrombosis after thrombolysis. A 64-year-old man presented with an acute ischemic stroke due to internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion. The ICA was recanalized by intravenous thrombolysis but reoccluded shortly after recanalization. The reoccluded ICA was successfully recanalized using intra-arterial tirofiban. A carotid stent was subsequently inserted to relieve severe stenosis and to prevent recurrent stroke. Here, we report a case of rescue treatment of a successfully recanalized ICA by intra- arterial tirofiban. We suggest that rescue use of intra-arterial tirofiban may be effective and safe, especially in hemorrhage prone situations, due to the relatively lower dose of tirofiban compared with intravenous doses.
*Carotid Artery, Internal ; Carotid Stenosis/*drug therapy/radiography/surgery ; Emergency Treatment ; Humans ; Infusions, Intra-Arterial ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stents ; Tyrosine/administration & dosage/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use

More effective treatments in first, second, and third-line of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) enable patients to live longer, with a better quality of life (QOL). Especially epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) contributed to this improvement. Gefitinib was compared with Docetaxel in four randomized trials, i.e., SIGN, Japanese V-1532, Korean ISTANA, and INTEREST in second or third-line treatment of metastatic NSCLC. In all the trials, and also by meta-analysis of 2,257 patients in these trials, Gefitinib was found non-inferior or superior to Docetaxel, with less toxicity, convenient oral administration, and better QOL. Detailed results are presented in the review article. Knowing that every line of treatment we may lose about 50% of patients for further treatment, it is very important to offer each patient the best option for every line of treatment. Gefitinib has a favorable benefit-risk profile compared with Docetaxel in this patient population.
Administration, Oral ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Humans ; Oligosaccharides ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Quality of Life ; Quinazolines ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Taxoids

OBJECTIVETo observe the safety and efficiency of ultra-early glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blockade tirofiban use in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODSFrom April 2005 to April 2006, 158 consecutive AMI patients (117 males, mean age of 58.8 +/- 25.2 years) were randomly received tirofiban (10 microg/kg bolus i.v. followed by 0.15 microgxkg(-1)xmin(-1) for 36 hours) before PCI in emergency room (early, n = 78) or immediately before PCI in catheterization lab (late, n = 80). Clinical and angiographic features between 2 groups before and after PCI were analyzed.

RESULTSBaseline clinical characteristics before PCI were similar between the two groups. Tirofiban was administered 39.8 minutes earlier in early group than that in the late group. The TIMI 3 flow rate (23.1% vs. 10.0%, P = 0.032) and the combined TIMI 2 or 3 flow rate (39.7% vs. 23.8%, P = 0.040) at initial angiography before PCI were significantly higher in early group than that in late group. However, TIMI 3 flow rate, myocardial Blush grade or corrected TIMI frames immediately after PCI were similar between the groups. The combined incidence of death or recurrent MI as well as bleeding complications or thrombocytopenia rate during early follow-up were similar between the groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEarly initiation of tirofiban in patients with acute STEMI treated by primary PCI was safe. A better patency (TIMI 3 and TIMI 2-3 flow) in infarct related artery was obtained in patients with early tirofiban administration.

Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; methods ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Tyrosine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives

Osteoarthritis (OA) is an age-related joint disease that is characterized by degeneration of articular cartilage and chronic pain. Oxidative stress is considered one of the pathophysiological factors in the progression of OA. We investigated the effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE), which is an antioxidant, on monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced arthritis of the knee joint of rat, which is an animal model of human OA. GSPE (100 mg/kg or 300 mg/kg) or saline was given orally three times per week for 4 weeks after the MIA injection. Pain was measured using the paw withdrawal latency (PWL), the paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) and the hind limb weight bearing ability. Joint damage was assessed using histological and microscopic analysis and microcomputerized tomography. Matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP13) and nitrotyrosine were detected using immunohistochemistry. Administration of GSPE to the MIA-treated rats significantly increased the PWL and PWT and this resulted in recovery of hind paw weight distribution (P < 0.05). GSPE reduced the loss of chondrocytes and proteoglycan, the production of MMP13, nitrotyrosine and IL-1beta and the formation of osteophytes, and it reduced the number of subchondral bone fractures in the MIA-treated rats. These results indicate that GSPE is antinociceptive and it is protective against joint damage in the MIA-treated rat model of OA. GSPE could open up novel avenues for the treatment of OA.
Analgesics/*administration & dosage ; Animals ; Antioxidants/*administration & dosage ; Bone Resorption ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta/genetics/metabolism ; Iodoacetates/administration & dosage ; Knee Joint/*drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 13/genetics/metabolism ; Osteoarthritis/chemically induced/*drug therapy/physiopathology ; Pain ; Plant Extracts/administration & dosage ; Proanthocyanidins/*administration & dosage ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Seeds ; Tomography, Emission-Computed ; Tyrosine/analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Vitis/immunology

Osteoarthritis (OA) is an age-related joint disease that is characterized by degeneration of articular cartilage and chronic pain. Oxidative stress is considered one of the pathophysiological factors in the progression of OA. We investigated the effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE), which is an antioxidant, on monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced arthritis of the knee joint of rat, which is an animal model of human OA. GSPE (100 mg/kg or 300 mg/kg) or saline was given orally three times per week for 4 weeks after the MIA injection. Pain was measured using the paw withdrawal latency (PWL), the paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) and the hind limb weight bearing ability. Joint damage was assessed using histological and microscopic analysis and microcomputerized tomography. Matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP13) and nitrotyrosine were detected using immunohistochemistry. Administration of GSPE to the MIA-treated rats significantly increased the PWL and PWT and this resulted in recovery of hind paw weight distribution (P < 0.05). GSPE reduced the loss of chondrocytes and proteoglycan, the production of MMP13, nitrotyrosine and IL-1beta and the formation of osteophytes, and it reduced the number of subchondral bone fractures in the MIA-treated rats. These results indicate that GSPE is antinociceptive and it is protective against joint damage in the MIA-treated rat model of OA. GSPE could open up novel avenues for the treatment of OA.
Analgesics/*administration & dosage ; Animals ; Antioxidants/*administration & dosage ; Bone Resorption ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta/genetics/metabolism ; Iodoacetates/administration & dosage ; Knee Joint/*drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 13/genetics/metabolism ; Osteoarthritis/chemically induced/*drug therapy/physiopathology ; Pain ; Plant Extracts/administration & dosage ; Proanthocyanidins/*administration & dosage ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Seeds ; Tomography, Emission-Computed ; Tyrosine/analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Vitis/immunology