Background: Ginseng has been used in Korea for a long time as a restorative herbal medicine. Black ginseng (BG) is made from red or white ginseng by multiple steamy and dry processes. Although BG has been reported to have anti-inflammatory potential, studies on its influence on inflammatory skin disorders are lacking. Objective: To investigate the effects of BG under the inflammatory conditions of cultured sebocytes and outer root sheath (ORS) cells. Methods: The cultured cells were treated with 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide, 5 μg/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or 5 μg/ml LPS+50 μg/ml BG for 6 hours and 24 hours. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), real-time PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, western blotting, immunofluorescence staining and Nile red staining were performed for analysis of inflammatory biomarkers and sebum-related biomarkers. Results: BG brought out the increased gene and protein expression of inflammatory biomarkers such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-a, in the LPStreated sebocytes and ORS cells. In addition, BG induced increased expression of TLR4, p-c-jun, p-JNK and p-iκB in LPS-treated sebocytes and ORS cells. Furthermore, it significantly increased the expression of LL-37 and the production of sebum in LPS-treated sebocytes. Conclusion It may be possible for BG to increase the expression of inflammatory biomarkers in inflammatory skin disorders, such as acne.

Background/Aims: There have been few multicenter studies on colonic polyps conducted by primary medical institutions. This study examined the detection rate of colonic polyps in primary health care institutions and the related factors while following the guidelines. Methods: The medical records of 14,029 patients who underwent colonoscopy between January-June 2020 at 40 primary medical institutions in Korea were analyzed. High-risk adenoma was defined as advanced adenoma, carcinoma, or ≥3 adenomas. Results: Most patients (71.2%) aged ≥50 years underwent re-colonoscopy within 5 years (51.3%) for diagnostic purposes (61.3%) in Korean primary medical institutions. The detection rates of colon polyps, adenoma, advanced adenoma, high-risk adenoma, and carcinoma was 59.9%, 38.9%, 5.9%, 11.4%, and 0.3% in all subjects and 59.8%, 37.5%, 8.5%, 12.9%, and 0.3% in average-risk patients, respectively. The incidences of adenoma in average-risk patients increased significantly with age (30s/40s/50s: 20.1%/29.4%/43% for adenoma, 4.4%/6.7%/10.3% for advanced adenoma, and 5.6%/9.5%/14.6% for high-risk adenoma; p<0.05). Before 50 years of age, high-risk adenoma was detected in 9.1% of patients in the first-time screening group, and the significant risk factors were being male and ≥40 years of age. The detection rate of high-risk adenoma in the normal index colonoscopy group within 5 years was 9.0%. The significant risk factors included older age, male sex, positive fecal occult blood test, stool form changes, and nonspecific symptoms (gas and indigestion). Conclusions More colonic adenoma studies targeting real-world clinical practice will be needed to revise the Korean guidelines for colorectal cancer screening and surveillance.

A 39-year-old nulliparous woman experienced continuous mild fever and abdominal pain since undergoing laparoscopic ovarian dermoid cystectomy 3 months previously in a local hospital. Abdominal computed tomography revealed diffuse heterogeneous fat infiltrations with numerous micronodules in the greater and lesser omentum, combined with ascites with thickening of the parietal peritoneum. The patient underwent exploratory laparoscopy, which included partial pelvic peritonectomy, excision of granulomas, and adhesiolysis with massive irrigation. The patient was treated successfully with laparoscopic surgery and all reproductive structures were spared without operative complications. To avoid peritonitis, complete removal of cyst contents and massive irrigation should be performed during ovarian dermoid cystectomy. Conservative surgical treatment may be a good choice for treating granulomatous peritonitis induced by iatrogenic rupture.

A 39-year-old nulliparous woman experienced continuous mild fever and abdominal pain since undergoing laparoscopic ovarian dermoid cystectomy 3 months previously in a local hospital. Abdominal computed tomography revealed diffuse heterogeneous fat infiltrations with numerous micronodules in the greater and lesser omentum, combined with ascites with thickening of the parietal peritoneum. The patient underwent exploratory laparoscopy, which included partial pelvic peritonectomy, excision of granulomas, and adhesiolysis with massive irrigation. The patient was treated successfully with laparoscopic surgery and all reproductive structures were spared without operative complications. To avoid peritonitis, complete removal of cyst contents and massive irrigation should be performed during ovarian dermoid cystectomy. Conservative surgical treatment may be a good choice for treating granulomatous peritonitis induced by iatrogenic rupture.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the number of people interested in health in South Korea has increased, and the rate of dietary supplement use is rising. Researchers have hypothesized that the rate of practicing healthy habits is higher among those who use dietary supplements than those who do not. Therefore, this study aimed to discover the association between taking dietary supplements and practicing various healthy habits in the Korean, adult population. METHODS: The sample included 15,789 adults over 19 years old who participated in the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The user group was defined as those taking dietary supplements for more than 2 weeks during the previous year or once during the past month. Measures for the seven healthy habits were based on those included in the Alameda study and were analyzed accounting for the complex sampling design. RESULTS: The rate of taking dietary supplements was significantly higher in women, middle aged participants, urban residents, those with a higher income, those with a higher education level, and nonsmokers as well as among women with a moderate subjective health status, women who limited their alcohol content, and women with dyslipidemia. In the adjusted analysis, the rate of performing three of the 'Alameda 7' habits-eating breakfast regularly, restricting snacking, and limiting drinking-was higher in the female dietary supplement user group than in the other groups. Women practiced more healthy habits and had a higher dietary supplement intake rate than men. CONCLUSION: We found that taking dietary supplements in Korean adults is highly associated with demographic and social factors. Taking dietary supplements had a relationship with dietary habits, and there was no significant association between dietary supplement and other healthy habits. Thus in the health clinic, we suggest that taking dietary supplements complements a patient's healthy habits, with the exception of dietary habits, for health promotion.
Adult* ; Breakfast ; Complement System Proteins ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Dietary Supplements* ; Dyslipidemias ; Education ; Female ; Food Habits ; Health Behavior ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutrition Surveys ; Snacks

A 38-year-old nulliparous woman was referred to our clinic because of cervical incompetence at 19 weeks of gestation. Trans-abdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage was performed after failure of modified Shirodkar cerclage operation in the patient at 21 weeks of gestation via a laparotomic approach. Another 38-year-old patient, who underwent loop electrosurgical excision procedure conization for treatment of cervical dysplasia 4 years ago, presented for cervical incompetence. At 18 weeks of gestation, we performed trans-abdominal laparotomic cervicoisthmic cerclage without any post-operative complications. During antenatal follow-up, there were no obstetrical co-morbidities and finally she gave birth to a healthy infant at full term by cesarean section. We report two cases of women who underwent trans-abdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage surgery because of cervical incompetence as they were not suitable for transvaginal cervical cerclage. Both patients successfully maintained their pregnancy until full term after undergoing transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage at more than 18 weeks of gestation.
Adult ; Cerclage, Cervical ; Cesarean Section ; Conization ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Parturition ; Pregnancy* ; Uterine Cervical Incompetence

There are few methods to control heavy intra-operative bleeding during cesarean delivery of placenta previa. Transient occlusion of uterine arteries (TOUA) during operation has previously been reported as a quick and safe method to control intra-operative uterine bleeding. We reported 2 cases of cesarean delivery with complete placenta previa in which TOUA was performed to safely reduce intra-operative complication, especially heavy intra-operative bleeding. In the 2 cases, cesarean deliveries were safe and without any complications under the TOUA method. TOUA can be a good method to control heavy intra-operative bleeding during cesarean delivery of complete placenta previa with risk of heavy bleeding.
Hemorrhage* ; Placenta Previa* ; Placenta* ; Uterine Artery* ; Uterine Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: Autophagy plays a vital role in homeostasis by combining organelles and cellular proteins with lysosome under starvation conditions. In addition, autophagy provides tumor cells with a source of energy. Continued autophagy will induce cells death. Here we aim to see if autophagic induction has an effect on conventional chemotherapeutic agents. METHODS: Rapamycin, or mammalian target of rapamycin and paclitaxel, apoptosis-inducing agents were used autophagy in HeLa cervical cancer cells. RESULTS: Growth inhibition of cells was not observed after the application of 0, 10, 20 nM of paclitaxel with or without rapamycin. Using a 5 nM concentration of paclitaxel, rapamycin administration inhibited cell growth significantly compared to no treatment. This implies the synergic antitumor effect of paclitaxel and rapamycin. Paclitaxel itself did not show any autophagic effect on cells but did show cell apoptosis by flow cytometry. Light chain 3, a microtubule-associated protein, which reflect autophagy, was increased with 5 nM of paclitaxel after pretreatment with 10 nM of rapamycin. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the autophagic inducer, rapamycin, can potentiate autophagic cell death when added as an apoptosis-inducing chemotherapeutic agent. In conclusion, the control of autophagy may be a future target for chemotherapy.
Apoptosis ; Autophagy ; Cell Death ; Flow Cytometry ; Homeostasis ; Light ; Lysosomes ; Organelles ; Paclitaxel ; Proteins ; Sirolimus ; Starvation ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Anxiety and mood disorders are frequently comorbid with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In this report, the characteristics of anxiety and mood disorder [major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder] were investigated in an attempt to identify differences that could potentially advance our understanding of treatment options for these comorbidities with ADHD. We reviewed studies which examined stimulant response in children diagnosed with ADHD/anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. Recent research suggests that stimulants can be safely used in children with anxiety/depressive disorder comorbid with ADHD. Antidepressants may be used in conjunction with stimulants to treat MDD and anxiety, while mood stabilizers and atypical antipsychotics are often required to treat manic symptoms. After resolution of the comorbid manic episode, stimulant treatment of ADHD may be safely undertaken. Clinicians should be prepared to deal with a wide range of emotional problems beyond the core symptoms of ADHD.
Antidepressive Agents ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Anxiety ; Bipolar Disorder ; Child ; Comorbidity ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Humans ; Mood Disorders

Anxiety and mood disorders are frequently comorbid with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In this report, the characteristics of anxiety and mood disorder [major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder] were investigated in an attempt to identify differences that could potentially advance our understanding of treatment options for these comorbidities with ADHD. We reviewed studies which examined stimulant response in children diagnosed with ADHD/anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. Recent research suggests that stimulants can be safely used in children with anxiety/depressive disorder comorbid with ADHD. Antidepressants may be used in conjunction with stimulants to treat MDD and anxiety, while mood stabilizers and atypical antipsychotics are often required to treat manic symptoms. After resolution of the comorbid manic episode, stimulant treatment of ADHD may be safely undertaken. Clinicians should be prepared to deal with a wide range of emotional problems beyond the core symptoms of ADHD.
Antidepressive Agents ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Anxiety ; Bipolar Disorder ; Child ; Comorbidity ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Humans ; Mood Disorders