ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of Stellera chamaejasme L. (S. chamaejasme, Rui Xiang Lang Du) extract on hair growth in a mouse model.MethodsThe extract was prepared using 95% ethanol and topically applied as a 1% or 3% solution to the dorsal skin of shaved mice for 16 consecutive days. A control mouse group received an equal volume of vehicle for the same period. After 16 days, the dorsal skin was histologically examined through hematoxylin-eosin staining. Further, quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction was performed on skin tissue lysates to evaluate the expression levels of mRNAs encoding proteins involved in hair growth, including WNT10A, noggin (NOG), transforming growth factor-β receptor 1 (TBR1), epidermal growth factor (EGF), versican, fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10), lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 (LEF1), and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β).ResultsCompared with vehicle, S. chamaejasme extract dose-dependently enhanced hair growth. Histological analysis revealed that S. chamaejasme extract increased the number and diameter of hair follicles in subcutaneous tissue, as well as dermal layer thickness, which are indicative of anagen phase induction. Additionally, S. chamaejasme extract upregulated the mRNA expression levels of WNT10A, NOG, TBR1, EFG, FGF10, LEF1, and TGF-β.ConclusionThe results suggest that S. chamaejasme extract could be a potential treatment for promoting hair growth.

Background: The interaction of the non-deletional α+-thalassaemia mutations Haemoglobin Constant Spring and Haemoglobin Quong Sze with the Southeast Asian double α-globin gene deletion results in non-deletional Haemoglobin H disease. Accurate detection of non-deletional Haemoglobin H disease, which is associated with severe phenotypes, is necessary as these mutations have been confirmed in the Malaysian population. Methods: DNA from two families with Haemoglobin H disease was extracted from EDTAanticoagulated whole blood and subjected to molecular analysis for α-thalassaemia. A duplex polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the Southeast Asian α-globin gene deletion. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was then carried out to determine the presence of Haemoglobin Constant Spring and Haemoglobin Quong Sze. A combine- amplification refractory mutation system protocol was optimised and implemented for the rapid and specific molecular characterisation of Haemoglobin Constant Spring and Haemoglobin Quong Sze in a single polymerase chain reaction. Results and Conclusions: The combine- amplification refractory mutation system for Haemoglobin Constant Spring and Haemoglobin Quong Sze, together with the duplex polymerase chain reaction, provides accurate pre- and postnatal diagnosis of non-deletional Haemoglobin H disease and allows detailed genotype analyses using minimal quantities of DNA.

BACKGROUND: We tested the technical feasibility of fetal cardiac bypass and collected baseline data on the fetal hemodynamics and placental functions related to the cardiopulmonary bypass in the fetal lamb model. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Eleven fetuses at 120 to 150 days of gestation were subjected to bypass via trans-sternal approach with a 12 G pulmonary arterial cannula and 14 to 18 F venous cannula for 30 minutes. All ewes received general anesthesia with ketamine. In all the fetuses, no anesthetic agents were used except muscle relaxant. Eight served as a group in which placenta was excluded from the extracorporeal circulation by clamping the umbilical cord during the bypass(the oxygenator group) and in the remaining three, the placenta worked as the only source of oxygen supply(the placenta group). Observations were made every 10 minute during a 30-minute bypass and 30-minute post bypass period. No prostaglandin inhibitors were used both in ewes and in fetuses. RESULT: Weights of the fetuses ranged from 1.9 to 5.2 kg. In the oxygenator group, means of arterial pressure, PaO2, atrial pressure, heart rate, and bypass flow rate ranged 69.8 to 82.6 mmHg, 201.7 to 220.9 mmHg, 4.1 to 4.3 mmHg, 169 to 182/min, and 140.3 to 164.0 ml/kg/min, respectively during bypass, but rapid deterioration of the fetal cardiac functions and the placental gas exchange was observed after the cessation of bypass. In the placenta group, means of arterial pressure decreased from 44.7 to 14.4 mmHg and means of PaCO2 increased from 61.9 to 129.6 mmHg during bypass. Flow rate was suboptimal(74.3 to 97.0 ml/kg/min) during bypass. All hearts fibrillated immediately after the discontinuation of bypass. CONCLUSION: In this study, the technical feasibility of fetal cardiopulmonary bypass was confirmed in the fetal lamb model. However, further studies with modifications of the bypass including an addition of prostaglandin inhibitor, an application of the total spinal anesthesia on the fetus, a creation of more concise bypass circuit, and a use of active pump are mandatory to improve the outcome.
Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Anesthetics ; Arterial Pressure ; Atrial Pressure ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass* ; Catheters ; Constriction ; Extracorporeal Circulation ; Fetus ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Ketamine ; Models, Theoretical ; Oxygen ; Oxygenators ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Prostaglandin Antagonists ; Umbilical Cord ; Weights and Measures

During the morphogenesis of the hindlimb and the digits of the rat, apoptosis has a crucial role to make their normal shape. In this study, apoptotic changes of the hindlimb from GD 13.5 to GD 17.5 were observed and compared with 5 -FU treated group to reveal the mechanism of teratogenic action of 5 -FU. The results were as follows; 1. The mean body weight of rat fetuses was decreased significantly in the 5 -FU treated group. 2. Congenital anomalies of the hindlimb digits were cleft foot, syndactyly and short digits, and the occurance rate of congenital anomalies was 58.1%, in which right -sided anomalies was 49.1% and left -sided anomalies was 18.9%. 3. Normal morphogenesis of the hindlimb digits was as follows; initially, hindlimb bud appeared at the lateral wall of lumbar somite on GD 10.5, grown as an elliptical mass proximodistally on GD 13.5, flattening and digital rays formation on GD 14.5, interdigital notches appeared on GD 15.5, interdigital spaces formation and interphalageal joints formation on GD 16.5, and deepening of interdigital spaces and elongation of digits on GD 17.5. 4. 5 -FU inhibited differentiation and growth of hindlimb bud initially, but its effect on development of hindlimb was disappeared after GD 15.5. According to the above results, it is considered that 5 -FU has an inhibitory effect on differentiation and growth of hindlimb of rat fetuses, and the TUNEL immunohistochemical method is much available to detect normal morphogenesis of an organ and to detect the mechanism of action of various teratogens.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Body Weight ; Fetus ; Fluorouracil* ; Foot ; Hindlimb* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Joints ; Morphogenesis* ; Rats ; Somites ; Syndactyly ; Teratogens

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to independently evaluate the beneficial effects of a high dose of transamine administrated prior to CPB on the postoperative hematologic aspect and bleeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included randomly selected groups of 40 adult patients undergoing OHS with CPB. All patients were divided into 2 groups: transamine group (T-group, n=20) and placebo group (P-group, n=20). The T-group received a high-dose of transamine (10 g) before and during CPB. The P-group received normal saline at the same times and served as a control group. RESULTS: The results of comparative studies between the 2 groups in the same hematologic variables were summarized as follows. (1) During CPB, the fibrinogen concentrations and platelet counts were significantly lower in the P-group than in the T-group (p<0.01). (2) During CPB, production of D-dimer occurred in 18 patients (90%) in the P-group and did not occur in the T-group (0%) (p<0.0001). (3) At CPB-off, the % concentration of fibrinogen (70.2+/-3.9%) and the % platelet counts (72.4+/-4.5%) of the T-group were significantly higher than those (54.5+/-3.8%, 64.3+/-2.9%) of the P-group (p<0.01). (4) Postoperative values of PT (14.0+/-0.03 sec.) and aPTT (27.6+/-0.1 sec.) of the T-group were significantly lower than those (16.0+/-0.02sec., 30.1+/-0.1sec.) of the P-group (p<0.05). (5) Postoperative bleeding and requirement of whole blood and other blood products were significantly less in the T-group than in the P-group (p <0.05). (6) There were no significant hypercoagulability signs such as cerebral em bolism, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, or any other neurological prob lems in either group. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that a high dose of transamine administered prior to CPB prevents the activation of fibri nolytic system and has beneficial effects of reducing the postoperative bleeding t endency without apparent hypercoagulability signs.
Adult ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass* ; Fibrinogen ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Platelet Count ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Sensitivity Training Groups ; Thrombophilia ; Tranexamic Acid* ; Tranylcypromine*

One hundred forty-four patients underwent operation for coarctation of the aorta at Seoul National University Children's Hospital between June 1986 and Decembsr 1995. Age ranged 0.1 to 191 months. Of these 78.5%(113) were infants. We classified the patients in terms of the anatomic location of coarctatiln and the associatCd anomalies(I[40]= primary coarctation, II[74]=isthmic hypoplasia, lII[30]=tubular hypoplasia involving transverse arch, A[63]=with ventricular septal defect, B[28]=with other major cardiac defects). Subcalvian flap coarctoplasty(60), resection and anastomosis(44), extended aortoplasty(26), and onlay patch(14) were used as surgical methods. Overall operative mortality was 16.0(23/144)%. The hospital mortality was significantly higher in patheints with type III, subtype B, younger age(under 3 months), extended aortoplasty(p<0.01). However, one-stage total repair in patients with subtype A or B were not found to be a predictor of hospital death. Restenosis had occured in 18 patients among 121 survivals(14.9%). The mean follow-up period was 29.1+/-28.8(0~129.2) months. Preoperative, immediate postoperative(within 3 months after operation) and postoperative(later than 6 months after operation) echocardiographic data on the dimensions of ascending aorta(AA), transverse arch(TA), an4 aortic isthmus(Al) were available in 77 patients(I=20, II=42, III= 15). Preoperative and postoperative aortic isthmus(All) and tra sverse arch indices(TAI), defined as TA/AA and AI/AA respectively, were compared. Immediate postoperative All in type I, II and TAI in type III were significantly smaller in stenotic than non-stenotic group suggesting incomplete relieves of stenotic segment Younger age, subclavian coarctoplasty in patient under 3 months of age were round to be the risk factors for restenosis in this series. In conclusion, We found that aortic arch index and transverse arch index can be a useful tool to figure out the anatomic and clinical characteristics of the patients with aortic coarctation, and that anatomy, associated anomalies, age, and surgical methods may influence the surgical outcome of the coarctation repair.
Aorta, Thoracic ; Aortic Coarctation* ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Infant ; Inlays ; Mortality ; Risk Factors ; Seoul