Albizzia julibrissin Suppresses Testosterone-induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia by Regulating 5α-Reductase Type 2 – Androgen Receptor Pathway

Albizzia julibrissin (AJ) is an herbal medicine that shows low toxicity, promotes promoting blood circulation and mitigates the inflammation and has mild side effects. Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common diseases that occurs in older males and often results in lower urinary tract symptoms. This study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of AJ against BPH using LNCaP cells and Sprague Dawley rats treated with testosterone. Treatment with AJ extract reduced the expression of androgen receptor (AR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in vitro. In vivo, rats were divided into 6 groups: 1 (Normal Control); 2 (Testosterone propionate (TP) alone); 3 (TP + finasteride); 4 (TP + AJ 10 mg/kg); 5 (TP + AJ 50 mg/kg); 6 (TP + AJ 300 mg/kg). The groups treated with AJ showed reduced the relative prostate weights and BPH-related proteins were altered, with decreased AR, PSA and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) observed by western blot. Histopathological analysis revealed the therapeutic effect of AJ, with a decreased thickness of epithelial cells and reduced level of PCNA and 5α-reductase type 2. These results suggest that AJ extract could ameliorate testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Transient Asymptomatic Intraspinal Cyst-like Lesion with Epidural Nerve Block / 대한마취과학회지

The administration of local anesthetics or steroids via the lumbar approach to the epidural space is one of the most common procedures performed in contemporary pain management by the pain specialist. This technique is useful in a variety of chronic benign pain syndromes, including lumbar radiculopathy, low back syndrome, spinal stenosis, and vertebral compression fractures. Given the increased number of epidural nerve blocks being performed, some have reported unexpected complications of a transient or permanent nature and of varying degrees of severity. However, no case report has been issued that includes objective magnetic resonance imaging data showing a transient asymptomatic intraspinal cyst-like lesion after epidural nerve block. We experienced a case of a transient asymptomatic intraspinal cyst-like lesion after administering an epidural steroid and local anesthetic injection to a 59 year old female patient suffering from a back pain with multiple old vertebral compression fractures and herniated intervertebral discs. The intraspinal cyst-like lesion was found incidentally by magnetic resonance imaging after an epidural nerve block. We report upon this case and provide subjective data.

Cardiovascular and Respiratory Instability Induced by Excessive Packing during Lower Abdominal Surgery: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Retractor and packing usually aid to expose the surgical field and fascilitate surgical procedures. but excessive packing can impede venous return and reduce cardiac output. We experienced severe hypotension and ventilatory difficulty associated with excessive packing and traction in a patient undergoing radical hysterectomy. After removing the packing and extracting the intestine exterior to abdominal cavity, patient's ventilatory condition improved immediately and cardiovascular stability was achieved.

Anesthetic Management during Laparoscopic Cystectomy in a Third Trimester Pregnancy: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, has been considered a contraindication of laparoscopic procedure because the effect of CO2 pneumoperitoneum on the fetus and uterine blood flow was unclear. However, the benefits of laparoscopic surgery such as less stress response and shorter hospital stay are postulated. Laparoscopic surgery may be beneficial in pregnant patients compared to open laparotomy, and the safety of laparoscopic operations in pregnant women is under investigation. The careful anesthetic management and close monitoring of patient and fetus will be helpful in making laparoscopic surgery safer in pregnant patients. We report the anesthetic management for laparoscopic surgery in a third trimester pregnant patient with torsion of an ovarian cyst. We monitored the intestinal mucosal CO2 using Tonocap, because we considered it could represent the uterine perfusion and intestinal CO2 status. Although the arterial and intestinal mucosal CO2 tension increased gradually during the operation, hypercapnia was not remarkable. The respiratory and monitored parameters were stable during the laparoscopic procedure. The patient has maintained uneventful pregnancy and delivered a healthy baby at 41 weeks of gestation.