The Wikstroemia genus is highly regarded in traditional Asian medicine for its diverse therapeutic applications, including the treatment of inflammatory and infectious conditions. Among its members,Wikstroemia trichotoma (Thunb.) Makino remains a promising medicinal resource which is yet to be chemicallycharacterized. To ensure the chemical consistency of W. trichotoma, we developed and validated the first HPLC method for the simultaneous quantification of three major marker compounds: chlorogenic acid (1), miconioside B (2), and matteucinol 7-O-apiofuranosyl(1→6)-glucopyranoside (3). Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C18 column using a gradient elution system of 0.1% formic acid in water and 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile. Detection was optimized using a photodiode array (PDA) detector at 280 and 325 nm, based on the absorption maxima of the markers. The method was validated in accordance with the International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) guidelines. The results demonstrated high linearity (r2 > 0.999), with limits of detection and quantitation ranging from 4.28–6.42 and 12.97–19.47 μg/ mL, respectively. Intra- and inter-day precision (% RSD ≤ 1.83%) and accuracy (recoveries of 92.5–101.7%) were within acceptable limits. Quantitative analysis revealed the contents of 1, 2, and 3 in the W. trichotoma extract to be 19.9, 139.8, and 264.9 mg/g, respectively. This study provides a reliable analytical framework for the standardization, quality control, and future pharmacological evaluation of W. trichotoma.

Objective: This aim examined the outcomes of resuscitation and the clinical characteristics of patients with pre-hospitaltraumatic cardiac arrests (TCA). Methods: The charts of patients with pre-hospital TCA who visited the various emergency department (ED) in Gangwondofrom January 2013 to December 2017 were reviewed retrospectively. Results: TCA patients comprised 0.3% of patients transferred by 119. A total of 367 patients were enrolled in the study.Traffic accidents were the leading cause of the arrest. The initial field and ED rhythm were mostly asystole (field, 79.6%;ED, 82.3%). It took 11.24±9.95 minutes from the call to the field. From the field to ED, it took 22.87±15.37 minutes. Thetotal CPR time before ED arrival was 21.62±15.29 minutes. The causes of TCA were brain injury (35.7%), hypovolemicshock (29.2%), and severe lung injury (16.3%). Seventy TCA patients experienced at least one return of spontaneous circulation(ROSC). Twenty-six patients (7.14%) were admitted to the ward, and their average injury severity score was38.96. Eight patients expired before 12 hours after transient ROSC. Four more patients expired before 24 hours. Fourpatients were discharged alive among patients who lived for more than 24 hours. Conclusion In this study, 1.5% of patients were discharged alive. The possibility of ROSC was higher as the time to ED,and the cardiopulmonary resuscitation time of 119 was shorter. Pulseless electrical activity rather than asystole tends topromote ROSC. The survival rate increased when ROSC occurred before arriving at the ED.

Wells' syndrome or eosinophilic cellulitis is usually observed in adults who present with pruritic, erythematous and edematous plaques associated with papules or vesicles. It is a rare inflammatory dermatosis of unknown etiology showing an eosinophil-mediated immune response. Classical histopathological features observed in patients are eosinophil-predominant inflammatory infiltration and marked dermal edema, along with ‘flame figures’. An 11-year-old boy presented with edematous plaques surmounted by vesicles on his abdomen and lower extremities. A month prior to presentation, these skin lesions occurred on other parts of his abdomen; however, they resolved spontaneously within a week. Skin biopsies from the recurrent lesions showed features consistent with Wells' syndrome and a few molluscum bodies in the epidermis. Laboratory tests showed peripheral eosinophilia. We concluded that Wells' syndrome in this young patient was caused by preceding molluscum contagiosum infection.
Abdomen ; Adult ; Biopsy ; Cellulitis ; Child* ; Edema ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Molluscum Contagiosum* ; Skin ; Skin Diseases

Nocardia species are aerobic, gram-positive, filamentous, partially acid-fast actinomycetes which are found worldwide in soil and decaying organic plant matter. When they infect human beings, they generally enter through the respiratory tract and then disseminate systemically. Rarely has a primary infection occurred as the result of direct inoculation. Isolation of Nocardia from clinical specimens and identification of species are difficult. But, with the introduction of new genetic technologies, reports of novel species of Nocardia have increased. We describe a case of cutaneous nocardiosis caused by Nocardia takedensis in an 87-year-old woman who was diagnosed by bacterial culture and 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. N. takedensis has been described as a new species. This report describes the first clinical isolate of N. takedensis from a skin specimen in Korea.
Actinobacteria ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Nocardia Infections* ; Nocardia* ; Plants ; Respiratory System ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Skin ; Soil

PURPOSE: Post cardiac arrest (CA) syndrome is associated with a low survival rate in patients who initially have a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after the CA. The aim of this study was to examine the histopathology and inflammatory response in the heart during post CA syndrome. METHODS: Asphyxial CA was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats and the survival rate of the rats was determined during the post resuscitation phase. RESULTS: Survival of the rats decreased after CA: 66.7% at 6 hours, 36.7% at 1 day, and 6.7% at 2 days after the ROSC following CA. The rats were sacrificed at 6 hours, 12 hours, 1 day, and 2 days after the ROSC, and their heart tissues were examined. Histopathological scores increased at 12 hours post CA. Afterwards, the histopathological changes were not significant. In addition, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-αimmunoreactivity increased gradually after CA. CONCLUSION: The survival rate of the rats 2 days post CA was very low, even though the histopathological and inflammatory changes in the heart were not pronounced in the early stages following the CA.
Animals ; Heart Arrest* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Male ; Necrosis* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Resuscitation ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

OBJECTIVE: Post cardiac arrest (CA) syndrome is associated with a low survival rate in patients who initially have return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after CA. The aim of this study was to examine the histopathology and inflammatory response in the heart during the post CA syndrome. METHODS: We induced asphyxial CA in male Sprague-Dawley rats and determined the survival rate of these rats during the post resuscitation phase. RESULTS: Survival of the rats decreased after CA: 66.7% at 6 hours, 36.7% at 1 day, and 6.7% at 2 days after ROSC following CA. The rats were sacrificed at 6 hours, 12 hours, 1 day, and 2 days after ROSC, and their heart tissues were examined. Histopathological scores increased at 12 hours post CA and afterwards, histopathological changes were not significant. In addition, levels of tumor necrosis factor-α immunoreactivity gradually increased after CA. CONCLUSION: The survival rate of rats 2 days post CA was very low, even though histopathological and inflammatory changes in the heart were not pronounced in the early stage following CA.
Animals ; Heart Arrest* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Male ; Necrosis* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Resuscitation ; Survival Rate

Squamous cell carcinoma commonly originates from recalcitrant wound sites, including burn scars, pressure sores, stasis ulcers, osteomyelitis, and sites of frostbite. A 62-year-old male was referred to the dermatology department for skin necrosis of his right great toe and walking difficulty. He had a history of smoking, drinking alcohol, and frostbite of his right great toe 9 years prior, which deteriorated into osteomyelitis due to poor care. Although a skin biopsy was recommended before amputation, the two procedures were performed simultaneously due to a lack of toe function due to severe osteolysis. Biopsy of the amputated toe tip showed many lobules consisting of atypical keratinocytes with hyperchromatic nuclei, and severe dermal pleomorphism. After evaluation for distant metastasis, including a (99m) Tc-MDP bone scan, 18F-FDG positron emission tomography scan, computed tomography, and ultrasound, no metastasis was detected.
Amputation ; Biopsy ; Burns ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cicatrix ; Dermatology ; Drinking ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Frostbite ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Osteolysis ; Osteomyelitis* ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Pressure Ulcer ; Skin ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Toes ; Ultrasonography ; Varicose Ulcer ; Walking ; Wounds and Injuries

OBJECTIVETo examine the effect of acupuncture on Zhubin (KI9) in reducing alcohol craving in alcohol-dependent patients.

METHODSTwenty male alcohol-dependent patients were randomly assigned to two groups, a treatment group (10 cases, age 43.0±6.8 years) and a placebo group (10 cases, age 44.5±7.9 years). The treatment group was treated with real needle acupuncture on Zhubin (KI9) twice a week for 4 weeks, and the control group was treated with placebo needle acupuncture. Both groups were given acupuncture treatment using Park Sham Device (PSD). Alcohol craving was measured by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) before treatment to establish a baseline, and after 1, 2, and 4 weeks of treatment. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to determine the main and interaction effects of time and on the outcome measure (VAS).

RESULTSThere was a significant effect of time on VAS score (df=3, F=13.3, P<0.01). Main effect of group on VAS score was significant (df=1, F=10.9, P<0.01) and the time×group interaction was also significant (df=3, F=4.7, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSReal-needle acupuncture therapy on Zhubin (KI9) showed effectiveness in reducing alcohol craving. These results strongly suggest the usefulness of acupuncture therapy on Zhubin (KI9) in preventing a relapse in alcohol dependent patients.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Alcoholism ; therapy ; Craving ; drug effects ; Ethanol ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Placebos ; Treatment Outcome

Lead aVR ST segment elevation in patients with clinically suspected acute coronary syndrome strongly suggests the possibility of occlusion of the left main coronary artery (LMCA), and stenosis or occlusion in this area can cause severe life-threatening left ventricular dysfunction or malignant arrhythmias. Thus, it could be a sign suggestive of a poor prognosis for patients. In this study, we report on the case of a 67-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with total occlusion of LMCA with ST-segment elevation in only lead aVR, and without ST-segment elevation in other leads.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Aged ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Vessels ; Electrocardiography ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Prognosis ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left

No abstract available.
Humans ; Papilloma* ; Warts*