Acute Pancreatitis Induced by Moringa Oleifera in a 48 years Old Korean Women: A Case Report

Moringa oleifera (Moringa) induced acute pancreatitis is an unreported cause of acute pancreatitis. A 48-year-old female who took Moringa for one week complained of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Her symptoms and biochemical studies showed close accordance with acute pancreatitis. We found no other cause of acute pancreatitis except Moringa. After cessation of Moringa, her symptoms improved and biochemical studies normalized. One month later, she developed recurrent acute pancreatitis after taking Moringa. Thus we thought that Moringa was the cause of acute pancreatitis. No case of acute pancreatitis associated with Moringa has been reported, therefore we report this case.

Stimulation of the Extracellular Matrix Production in Dermal Fibroblasts by Velvet Antler Extract

BACKGROUND: Fibroblasts produce many components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and so they contribute to the maintenance of connective tissue integrity. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of velvet antler extract (VAE) on the ECM production of dermal fibroblasts cultured in vitro. METHODS: Primary cultured human dermal fibroblasts were treated with VAE, and then the ECM production was determined by RT-PCR, ELISA and Western blot analysis. Furthermore, the change of gene expression according to VAE treatment was evaluated by cDNA microarray. RESULTS: VAE accelerated the growth of fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner. VAE increased the production of several ECM components, including type 1 collagen, fibronectin and elastin. In line with these results, the phosphorylations of p42/44 ERK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase were markedly increased by VAE, suggesting that the enhancement of ECM production may be linked to the activation of intracellular signaling cascades. VAE also significantly increased cell migration on an in vitro scratch wound test. In cDNA microarray, many genes related with connective tissue integrity were identified to be up-regulated by VAE. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that VAE has a potential to stimulate ECM production, and VAE may be applicable for maintaining the skin's texture.

Effects of the Mixture of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Pycnogenol and Evening Primrose Oil on the UV-Induced Pigmentation and Wrinkle Reductions in Human Skin

In this study, the effects of a mixture consisting of vitamin E, vitamin C, pycnogenol and evening primrose oil (mixture LGNC-5) on ultraviolet light (UV) induced pigmentation and wrinkle reductions of normal healthy volunteers were studied. In a double-blind placebo-controlled study, each of 54 subjects took daily either 4 capsules of the mixture LGNC-5 (Group ABC; 282.5 mg/capsule) or placebo (Group Ganada). We irradiated 2.5 MED UV on the upper arms and measured the whitening effect by colorimeter-based L value. The level of wrinkle reduction was determined by image analysis using skin replica around the crow' feet, and the level of serum vitamin E was determined at baseline and 12 weeks. After 12-week oral administration, the treated group showed a significant reduction in skin pigmentation and wrinkles compared with the placebo group (p = 0.011 and p = 0.000005 , respectively). Also, the level of serum vitamin E was significantly increased in the treated group after 12-week oral adminstration of the mixture compared with that in the placebo group (p = 0.0001). In conclusion, 12-week oral administration of LGNC-5 as a dietary supplement could be effective to reduce both UV induced pigmentation and skin wrinkle without side effects.

Clinical Observation on Carcinoma of the Prostate / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Nineteen patients of carcinoma of the prostate admitted to the Department of Urology, Chonnam University Medical School, between 1977 and 1981 were reviewed linically. The following results were obtained. 1. The average age of the patients was 68.6 years, with a range of 25 to 85 years. 2. The average duration from onset of the symptoms to admission was 8 months, with a range of 8 days to 4 years. The presenting symptoms were of prostatic obstruction in 17 cages (89.5%), gross hematuria in 3 cases (15.8%) and bone pain in 3 cases (15.8%). 3. Serum acid phosphatase level was elevated in 7 of 19 patients, 5 of whom had distant metastasis. Serum alkaline phosphatase level was elevated in 5 of 19 patients, 2 of whom had osteoblastic bony metastasis. 4. Biopsy of the prostate was performed by transrectal needle biopsy in 8 cases, transperineal needle biopsy in 2 cases and transurethral resection in 3 cages. All cases were revealed adenocarcinoma of the prostate. In 6 cases adenocarcinoma of the prostate was found within the hyperplastic benign prostatic lobes. 5. Orchiectomy was done in 5 cases and endocrine therapy was done in 13 cases. 6. Follow-up studies were performed clinically in 11 cages ranging in duration from 4 months to 42 months. During this period 3 patients died in 10 months, 11 months and 24 months after operation, respectively.

A clinical Observation on Staghorn Calculi of the Kidney / 대한비뇨기과학회지

A clinical observation was made on 47 patients of renal staghorn calculi who were admitted to the Department of Urology, Chonnam University Medical School during the 6 years period from January, 1977 to December 1982. The following results were obtained. 1. There were 24 men and 23 women with a ratio of 1.04:1. The age of three-fourths patients of renal staghorn calculi ranged from 40 to 59 years, with peak age incidence in the fifth decade. 2. Prominent symptomatology was present in 44 patients and 3 patients were asymptomatic. In the symptomatic group flank pain was present in 40 cases, hematuria in 13 and recurrent urinary tract infection in 2. Of the asymptomatic patients 2 had significant bacteriuria and 1 had a nonfunctioning kidney on excretory urogram. 3. The calculus was unilateral in 40 patients (right side in 26 and left side in 14) and bilateral in 7. 4. The majority of the patients with renal staghorn calculi showed abnormal urine; finding and relatively well preserved renal function on excretory' urogram. 5. Preoperative urine cultures yielded l0s colonies per ml. organisms in 15 of the 31 patients (48.4%): Escherichia coli in 4, Proteus & Pseudomonas in 3 respectively, Staphylococcus & Enterobacter in 2 respectively and Klebsiella in 1. 6. A total of 47 operations was done in 47 patients. Of the 47 operations 4 were nephrectomies. Stones were removed in 43 patients (43 kidneys). Of the 43 kidneys extended pyelolithotomy was done for 22, pyelonephrolithotomy for 14, anatrophic nephrolithotomy for 4 and nephrolithotomy for 3. 7. A nephrostomy extended into the upper ureter was located in 18 patients (41.9%), There was no difference in duration of nephrostomy tube inlaying between extended pyelolithotomy and pyelonephrolithotomy. 8. Postoperative complications included remnant stone in 14patients(32.6%), hematuria in 11, pyelonephritis in 5 and urinary leakage from nephrostomy site more than 2 weeks in 3. 9. A chemical stone analysis, available in 36 patients, revealed apatite in 20, struvite in 12 and calcium oxalate in 4. A combination of struvite with apatite was present in 8 and of apatite with calcium oxalate in 7 of these 36 cases.

Two Cases of the Tumor of the Renal Pelvis in Children / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Two cases of the tumor of the renal pelvis which occurred in boys of the age of 12 and 13 years respectively, having only the chief complaint of intermittent gross hematuria, were herein presented with brief review of literature.

A Case of Congenital Duplication of Male Urethra / 대한비뇨기과학회지

A case of congenital urethral duplications which occurred in a 4-month-old male infant was herein presented with brief review of literature.