Nonanoic Acid, an Antifungal Compound from Hibiscus syriacus Ggoma

The root of Hibiscus syriacus (Malvaceae) has been used for treatment of fungal diseases such as tinea pedis (athlete's foot). In this study, we investigated the antifungal constituent of the root of Hibiscus syriacus Ggoma, which was produced by a mutation breeding using gamma ray irradiation, and compared the antifungal activity of H. syriacus Ggoma and its parent type. According to the results, the methanolic extract of H. syriacus Ggoma exhibited four times higher antifungal activity than its parent type against Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Following purification through various column chromatographies, the antifungal substance was identified as nonanoic acid on the basis of spectroscopic analysis.

Chemical Constituents of the Fruiting Body of Xylaria polymorpha

Xylaria, belonging to the Ascomycotina, is known to produce diverse classes of bioactive substances. In an effort to identify the chemical constituents of the fruiting bodies of Xylaria polymorpha, linoleic acid (1), linoleic acid methyl ester (2), ergosterol (3), 4-acetyl-3,4-dihydro-6,8-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-5-methyl-1H-2-benzopyran-1-one (4), and 4-hydroxyscytalone (5) were isolated from its methanolic extract. Their structures were assigned on the basis of various spectroscopic studies.

Parameter That Predict Nipple Involvement in Breast Cancer / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: Skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) involves the resection of the nipple-areolar complex (NAC) along with the breast parenchyma, and this improves aesthetic outcome for breast cancer patients. Yet most patients desire preservation of the NAC. The purpose of this study was to determine the associated risk factors of NAC involvement and to identify the value of preoperative breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for measuring the tumor-nipple distance (TND). METHODS: This prospective study was carried out in 92 breast cancer (3 patients with bilateral breast cancer) patients who underwent MRI and they had undergone modified radical mastectomy or SSM at the Department of Surgery in Soonchunhyang University Hospital from November of 2003 to March of 2006. The patients were divided into two groups: nipple-positive for malignancy (group 1; n=9) and nipple-negative for malignancy (group 2; n=86). We analyzed the risk factors of NAC involvement, including tumor size, nuclear grade, lymph node invasion, muticentricity, TND, the hormone recepor status, and lymphovascular invasion. The TND was measured by preoperative breast MRI (the imaging distance) in all patients and by the distance of specimens which were obtained postoperatively (the real distance) in 31 patients. RESULTS: The overall frequency of malignant nipple involvement was 9 of 95 (9.4%). There were no differences in tumor size, nuclear grade, lymph node invasion, muticentricity, the hormone recepor status and lymphovascular invasion between the two groups. The TND was identified as an independent predictor of malignant NAC involvement: the mean TND by breast MRI was 0.7 cm in group 1 and 2.7 cm in group 2 (p=0.01) the mean TND by pathologic measuring the specimen was 0.7 cm in group 1 and 3.2 cm in group 2 (p=0.02). In all the nipple involved cases, the tumor was within 2 cm of the nipple. In measuring the TND, there was no significant difference between the imaging distance of MRI and real distance of the sepcimen (p=0.166). CONCLUSION: The only predictive factor for malignant NAC invasion was TND in our study. NAC preservation would be appropriate for the patients with tumor located more than 2 cm away from the nipple. The TND as determined by preoperative MRI is considered to be helpful when deciding whether to preserve the NAC.

Usefulness of Modified Intravenous Analgesia: Initial Experience in Uterine Artery Embolization for Leiomyomata

PURPOSE: We wanted to evaluate the usefulness of modified intravenous analgesia for the management of pain during uterine artery embolization for leiomyomata. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 2004 and July 2004, 15 patients with symptomatic fibroids underwent uterine artery embolization and pain management. Except the three patients for whom the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score was not obtained, twelve patients were included in this study. For pain management, epidural PCA (Patient Controlled Analgesia) was used in two patients, intravenous PCA was used in two patients and modified intravenous analgesia injection was used in eight patients. For all the patients, we used the 2.8 Fr coaxial microcatheter and 500-710 μm PVA particles for the embolic materials. The protocol of the modified intravenous analgesia injection was as follow, 1) prior to femoral artery puncture, 30 mg of ketorolac tromethamine (Tarasyn) was injected via an intravenous route. 2) At the time that the one side uterine artery embolization was finished, normal saline mixed 150 mg meperidine (Demerol) was administered through the side port of the intravenous line that was used for hydration. 3) Additional ketorolac tromethamine 30 mg was injected after 6 hour. The VAS score and side effects were then checked. After 12 hours, the VAS score was rechecked. If the VAS score was above 4, this was considered as failure of pain management. The VAS scores, complications and side effects for the modified intravenous analgesia injection were compared with that of IV PCA and epidural PCA. RESULTS: The average VAS score of the modified intravenous analgesia injection, intravenous PCA and epidural PCA was 1.4, 1 and 0, respectively; the number of additional intramuscular injections of analgesia was 0.5, 0.5 and 0, respectively. All the patients who underwent epidural PCA had back pain at the puncture site and 1 patient who underwent modified intravenous analgesia injection experienced mild dyspnea, but they easily recovered with such conservative treatment as an oxygen supply. No serious side effects or complications developed from the modified intravenous analgesia injection. CONCLUSION: Modified intravenous analgesia injection is well tolerated for the pain management of uterine fibroid embolization and it is a relatively inexpensive, safe method as used in our radiologic practice.