BACKGROUND/AIMS: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections, which cause a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms, are common in South Korea. Recent reports have shown a decline in the H. pylori eradication rates. β-caryophyllene is a natural bicyclic sesquiterpene that occurs in a wide range of plant species, such as cloves, basil, and cinnamon. β-caryophyllene has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects. This study investigated the inhibitory effects of β-caryophyllene on H. pylori and its potential role as an alternative gastrointestinal drug. METHODS: This 8-week, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial categorized subjects into a β-caryophyllene group (33 patients who received 126 mg/day of β-caryophyllene) and a placebo group (33 patients who received a placebo preparation). The inflammation level of H. pylori infiltration and the eradication rates were evaluated endoscopically and with the urea breath test (UBT) in both groups before and after administering the medication. The serum cytokine levels (tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin [IL]-1β and IL-6) were compared in both groups before and after administering the medication. RESULTS: Complete eradication was not observed in either group. Moreover, there was no significant change in the UBT and updated Sydney score. On the other hand, the β-caryophyllene group showed significant improvement in nausea (p=0.025) and epigastric pain (p=0.018), as well as a decrease in the serum IL-1β levels (p=0.038). CONCLUSIONS: β-caryophyllene improves dyspepsia symptoms and can be considered a useful supplementary treatment for gastrointestinal disease.
Breath Tests ; Cinnamomum zeylanicum ; Dyspepsia ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Hand ; Helicobacter pylori ; Helicobacter ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukins ; Korea ; Nausea ; Necrosis ; Ocimum basilicum ; Plants ; Syzygium ; Urea

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections, which cause a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms, are common in South Korea. Recent reports have shown a decline in the H. pylori eradication rates. β-caryophyllene is a natural bicyclic sesquiterpene that occurs in a wide range of plant species, such as cloves, basil, and cinnamon. β-caryophyllene has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects. This study investigated the inhibitory effects of β-caryophyllene on H. pylori and its potential role as an alternative gastrointestinal drug.METHODS: This 8-week, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial categorized subjects into a β-caryophyllene group (33 patients who received 126 mg/day of β-caryophyllene) and a placebo group (33 patients who received a placebo preparation). The inflammation level of H. pylori infiltration and the eradication rates were evaluated endoscopically and with the urea breath test (UBT) in both groups before and after administering the medication. The serum cytokine levels (tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin [IL]-1β and IL-6) were compared in both groups before and after administering the medication.RESULTS: Complete eradication was not observed in either group. Moreover, there was no significant change in the UBT and updated Sydney score. On the other hand, the β-caryophyllene group showed significant improvement in nausea (p=0.025) and epigastric pain (p=0.018), as well as a decrease in the serum IL-1β levels (p=0.038).CONCLUSIONS: β-caryophyllene improves dyspepsia symptoms and can be considered a useful supplementary treatment for gastrointestinal disease.
Breath Tests ; Cinnamomum zeylanicum ; Dyspepsia ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Hand ; Helicobacter pylori ; Helicobacter ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukins ; Korea ; Nausea ; Necrosis ; Ocimum basilicum ; Plants ; Syzygium ; Urea

Central venous disease (CVD) is difficult to treat and often resistant to treatment. In CVD, hemodialysis vascular access should sometimes be abandoned, or in serious cases, the patient's life may be threatened. Therefore, prevention is ideal. However, as the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has increased steadily with population aging, CKD patients with a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) are encountered frequently. PICCs can cause CVD, and the basilic vein, which is regarded as the important last option for native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, is destroyed frequently after its use as the entry site of PICC. The most well-established risk factors for CVD are a history of central venous catheter (CVC) insertion and its duration of use. Therefore, to reduce the incidence of CVD, catheterization in the central vein (CV) should be minimized, along with its duration of use. In this review, we will first explain the basic territories of the CV and introduce its pathophysiology, clinical features, and advanced treatment options. Finally, we will emphasize prevention of CVD.
Aging ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Ocimum basilicum ; Prevalence ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Risk Factors ; Veins

OBJECTIVES: Literature has shown that micro-organisms contaminate gutta percha (GP) during storage and manipulation. Till date herbal extracts are not explored as an alternative medicament for pre-operative chairside disinfection of GP cones. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and efficacy of lemon grass oil (LG), basil oil (BO), and obicure tea extract (OT) in disinfecting GP cones before obturation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Agar diffusion method was used to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of LG, BO, OT, and sodium hypochlorite (control) against common contaminants, namely, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. One hundred and twenty GP cones were contaminated and cut into 2. First half was placed in the broth and incubated; whereas the second was treated with herbal extracts for 1 minute and then incubated for 24 hours in the broth. Any inhibition in bacterial growth was noted with presence/absence of turbidity. Two-way analysis of variance and χ² test were used to assess the effectiveness of herbal extracts to decontaminate GP. RESULTS: LG showed the highest inhibition zones (29.9 ± 6.9 mm) for all tested organisms, followed by OT extract (16.3 ± 1.8 mm), sodium hypochlorite (16.0 ± 1.6 mm), and BO (14.5 ± 5.3 mm). Statistically significant difference was observed between LG and other herbal extracts (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: All extracts proved to be potential rapid chairside disinfectants of GP cones with LG showing the highest antimicrobial activity.
Agar ; Candida albicans ; Cymbopogon ; Diffusion ; Disinfectants ; Disinfection* ; Enterococcus faecalis ; Gutta-Percha* ; Methods ; Ocimum basilicum ; Oils* ; Sodium Hypochlorite ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Tea

BACKGROUND: Nonliving chickens are commonly used as a microvascular anastomosis training model. However, previous studies have investigated only a few types of vessel, and no study has compared the characteristics of the various vessels. The present study evaluated the anatomic characteristics of various chicken vessels as a training model. METHODS: Eight vessels—the brachial artery, basilic vein, radial artery, ulnar artery, ischiatic artery and vein, cranial tibial artery, and common dorsal metatarsal artery—were evaluated in 26 fresh chickens and 30 chicken feet for external diameter (ED) and thicknesses of the tunica adventitia and media. The dissection time from skin incision to application of vessel clamps was also measured. RESULTS: The EDs of the vessels varied. The ischiatic vein had the largest ED of 2.69±0.33 mm, followed by the basilic vein (1.88±0.36 mm), ischiatic artery (1.68±0.24 mm), common dorsal metatarsal artery (1.23±0.23 mm), cranial tibial artery (1.18±0.19 mm), brachial artery (1.08±0.15 mm), ulnar artery (0.82±0.13 mm), and radial artery (0.56±0.12 mm), and the order of size was consistent across all subjects. Thicknesses of the tunica adventitia and media were also diverse, ranging from 74.09±19.91 µm to 158.66±40.25 µm (adventitia) and from 31.2±7.13 µm to 154.15±46.48 µm (media), respectively. Mean dissection time was <3 minutes for all vessels. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that nonliving chickens can provide various vessels with different anatomic characteristics, which can allow trainees the choice of an appropriate microvascular anastomosis training model depending on their purpose and skillfulness.
Adventitia ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; Arteries ; Brachial Artery ; Chickens* ; Foot ; Metatarsal Bones ; Models, Educational ; Ocimum basilicum ; Radial Artery ; Skin ; Tibial Arteries ; Ulnar Artery ; Veins

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of basil tea as an adjunct to antihypertensive medications in decreasing the blood pressure of hypertensive subjects. Methods: Hypertensive patients were randomly allocated into either experimental (antihypertensive medications + basil tea) or control (antihypertensive medications alone) group. Experimental subjects drank basil tea twice daily for 28 days, with blood pressure readings done at baseline and on a weekly basis for four weeks. Results : A significant difference in systolic blood pressure was elicited for both treatment (p=0.005) and control (p=0.034) groups. There is a significant difference in the mean systolic (p=0.021) and diastolic blood pressure P (p=0.023) between the two groups at the fourth week in the basil tea group. There was a significant difference (p=0.046) in the mean difference in diastolic blood pressure from baseline to Week 4 in the basil tea group. There was a statistically significant decrease in systolic blood pressure between baseline and Week 4 (p=0.05). Conclusion Basil tea, used as an adjunct to anti-hypertensive medications, elicited a statistically significant reduction in systolic blood pressure and a statistically significant difference in change of diastolic blood pressure after four weeks of treatment.
Ocimum basilicum ; Hypertension

PURPOSE: The superiority of autogenous vein conduits is well known in lower extremity arterial bypass (LEAB). Among various alternative conduits for LEAB, long-term results of arm vein grafts were investigated in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed clinical characteristics of 28 patients who underwent infrainguinal LEAB with autogenous arm vein grafts at a single institute between January 2003 and December 2015. All procedures were performed in the absence of adequate saphenous veins. Graft patency was determined by periodic examinations with duplex ultrasonography. RESULTS: Autologous arm vein grafts were implanted for 28 patients (mean age, 60.4±16.8 years; range, 20–82 years; male, 92.9%; atherosclerosis, 19 [67.9%]; and non-atherosclerotic disease 9 [32.1%] including 5 patients with Buerger’s disease). Source of arm vein were basilic 13 (46.4%), cephalic 4 (14.3%) and composition graft with other veins in 11 (39.3%) cases. The level of distal anastomosis was distributed as popliteal in 5 (17.9%), tibio-peroneal in 21 (75.0%) and inframalleolar artery in 2 (7.1%) cases. Mean duration of follow-up was 41.5±46.9 months (range, 1–138 months). Cumulative primary patency rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 66.5%, 60.9% and 60.9%, respectively. Assisted-primary patency rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 66.5%, 66.5% and 66.5%, respectively. Secondary patency rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 70.8%, 70.8% and 70.8%, respectively. There was one limb amputation during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Arm veins are a useful alternative conduit when great saphenous veins are not available during LEAB.
Amputation ; Arm* ; Arteries ; Atherosclerosis ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lower Extremity* ; Male ; Ocimum basilicum ; Retrospective Studies ; Saphenous Vein ; Transplants ; Ultrasonography ; Veins*

PURPOSE: This retrospective review aimed to report the outcomes of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and to evaluate the suitability of AVF as a permanent vascular access in pediatric populations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected for all patients aged 0 to 19 years who underwent AVF creation for hemodialysis between January 200 and June 2014. RESULTS: Fifty-two AVFs were created in 47 patients. Mean age was 15.7±3.2 years and mean body weight was 46.7±15.4 kg. Of the 52 AVFs, 43 were radiocephalic AVFs, 7 were brachiocephalic AVFs and 2 were basilic vein transpositions. With a mean follow-up of 49.7±39.2 months, primary patency was 60.5%, 51.4%, and 47.7% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively and secondary patency was 82.7%, 79.2% and 79.2% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Age, body weight, AVF type, the presence of a central venous catheter, use of anticoagulation therapy, and history of vascular access failure were not significantly associated with patency rates. There were 9 cases (17.3%) of primary failure; low body weight was an independent predictor. Excluding cases of primary failure, the mean duration of maturation was 10.0±3.7 weeks. During follow-up, 20 patients (42.6%) underwent kidney transplantation, with a median interval to transplantation of 36 months. CONCLUSION: AVF creation in children and adolescents is associated with acceptable long-term durability, primary failure rate and maturation time. Considering the waiting time and limited kidney graft survival, placement of AVFs should be considered primarily even in patients expected to receive transplantation.
Adolescent* ; Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Body Weight ; Central Venous Catheters ; Child ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Ocimum basilicum ; Pediatrics ; Renal Dialysis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Veins

PURPOSE: The population of end-stage renal failure patients dependent on hemodialysis continues to expand with an increasing number of patients having an unsuitable cephalic vein or failed radio- and brachio-cephalic fistula. In these patients, the transposed basilic vein to brachial artery arteriovenous fistula (BaVT) provides autologous choice for hemodialysis. The results of basilic vein transposition arteriovenous fistula were assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred cases of BaVT performed at a single center during the period of January 2005 to December 2011 were reviewed retrospectively. Data including demographics and postoperative complications were collected. Primary and secondary patency rates were determined by using Kaplan-Meier methods. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 57.4±13.1 years, and 154 patients were male. Renal failure was associated with hypertension in 88.7%, and with diabetes in 34.0%. The mean follow-up was 27.4±20.0 (12 to 72) months. There was no operation-related death. Eighteen patients required prosthetic graft interposition because of short vein. Thirty-five postoperative complications developed in 41 patients (148 cases), including thrombosis, stenosis, hematoma, seroma, arm swelling, steal syndrome, infection and aneurysm formation. Primary patency of BaVT was 69%, 60%, 53%, 52%, 44%, and 22% at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 years, respectively. Secondary patency was 99%, 97%, 97%, 97%, 95%, and 95%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Chronic renal failure patients with hemodialysis may benefit from BaVT, because of high patency, less radiologic procedure, and less infection rate. The BaVT fistula should be used in preference to polytetrafluoroethylene grafts for secondary access.
Aneurysm ; Arm* ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; Brachial Artery ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Demography ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Male ; Ocimum basilicum* ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Postoperative Complications ; Renal Dialysis* ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Seroma ; Thrombosis ; Transplants ; Veins*

The purpose of this study was to report variations of the cubital superficial vein patterns in the Korean subjects, which was investigated by using venous illuminator, AccuVein. The 200 Korean subjects were randomly chosen from the patients and staff of the Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center in Daegu, Korea. After excluding the inappropriate cases for detecting venous pattern, we collected 174 cases of right upper limbs and 179 cases of left upper limbs. The superficial veins of the cubital fossa were detected and classified into four types according to the presence of the median cubital vein (MCV) or median antebrachial vein. The type II, presenting the both cephalic and basilic vein connected by the MCV, was most common (177 upper limbs, 50.1%). Although the most common type in male and female was different as type I (108 upper limbs, 49.3%) and type II (75 upper limbs, 56.0%), respectively, statistical significance was not detected (P=0.241). The frequency of the each types between right and left upper limbs was also not different (P=0.973). Among 154 subjects who were observed the venous pattern in the both upper limbs, 76 subjects (49.3%) had the same venous pattern. Using AccuVein to investigate the venous pattern has an advantage of lager scale examination compared to the cadaver study. Our results might be helpful for medical practitioner to be aware of the variation of the superficial cubital superficial vein.
Cadaver ; Daegu ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Ocimum basilicum ; Upper Extremity ; Veins*