Effect of St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) on obesity, lipid metabolism and uterine epithelial proliferation in ovariectomized rats

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to assess the potential of St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) to prevent obesity and abnormalities in lipid metabolism induced by ovariectomy in a rat model without stimulatory activity on uterus. MATERIALS/METHODS: Ovariectomized (OVX) rats were treated for 6 weeks with 70% ethanol extracts of Hypericum perforatum [HPEs: whole plant (WHPE) and flower and leaves (FLHPE)], beta-estradiol-3-benzoate at a dose of 50 microg/kg/day (E2) or vehicle (distilled water). RESULTS: As expected, OVX increased body weight gain and adiposity and showed higher food efficacy ratio. OVX also increased the serum cholesterol as well as insulin resistance, while reducing uterus weight and uterine epithelial proliferation rate. HPEs (WHPE and FLHPE) showed estrogen-like effect on body weight gain, adipose tissue weight and food efficacy ratio in OVX rats. HPEs prevented hypercholesterolemia induced by OVX more effectively than E2. E2 increased uterus weight and epithelial proliferation rate in OVX rats, while HPEs maintained them at the level of the sham-operated animals. CONCLUSIONS: Our finding demonstrates that HPEs can be considered as an effective agent to prevent OVX-induced obesity without stimulatory activity on uterus.

Strains of abutment and bones on implant overdentures / 대한치과보철학회지

STATEMENTS OF THE PROBLEM: Over the past decades, conventional complete dentures were used for various patients although they have incomplete function. Overdentures using dental implants could help the improvement of denture function. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the strains of abutment and bone on implant overdenture between splinted and unsplinted type of prosthesis. Additionally, the strain values of parallel placed implant model and unparallel placed implant model were compared. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two acrylic resin model were prepared and two implants were placed at the canine positions in each model. In the first model, two implant were placed parallel. In the second model, two implants were placed with 10 degree labiolingual divergence. Two types of abutment were connected to the fixtures alternatively. One was splint type of Hader bar, the other was unsplint type of ball abutment. Overdentures were fabricated with corresponding attachment systems and seated on abutments. Strains of abutments and labial bone simulants were measured with electric resistance strain gauges when static load from 100 N to 200 N were applied to overdentures. RESULTS: 1. Splinted type of overdentures using bar and clip showed higher absolute strain values. But the strain was compressive and the load was shared by two implants (P < .05). 2. Unsplinted type overdentures using ball and O-ring showed low absolute strain values (P < .05). 3. Labially inclined implant showed higher tensile strain values in unsplinted type of prosthesis than in splinted type of prosthesis. Lingually inclined implant showed rather low strain values under load (P < .05). 4. Non parallel implant model showed higher absolute strain values than parallel placed implant model comprehensively (P < .05).

Is C3435T Polymorphism of MDR1 Related to Inflammatory Bowel Disease or Colorectal Cancer in Korean? / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene encodes P-glycoprotein in intestinal epithelium, which serves as a transmembrane efflux pump of various toxins. mdr1 knockout mice develop spontaneous colitis under specific pathogen free conditions. However, it is unclear that C3435T polymorphism of MDR1 is related to ulcerative colitis. Other studies suggest MDR1 may have an important role in colorectal carcinogenesis. Thus, we evaluated whether MDR1 C3435T polymorphism is present in Korean and it is associated with inflammatory bowel disease or colorectal cancer. METHODS: The genotype distributions of the C3435T polymorphism were investigated by PCR-RFLP method in 94 patients with ulcerative colitis, 24 patients with Crohn's disease, 64 patients with colorectal cancer and each of gender-matched controls with equal numbers. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in frequencies of 3435T allele and 3435TT genotype between patients with ulcerative colitis and controls (p=0.443, p=0.194). No significant difference was present in frequencies of 3435T allele and 3435TT genotype between patients with Crohn's disease and controls (p=0.378, p=1.000). There was neither significant difference in frequencies nor 3435T allele or 3435TT genotype between patients with colorectal cancer and controls (p=0.250, p=0.211). C3435T genotype was not associated with the age of onset or other clinical characteristics in patients with ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease or colorectal cancer. CONCLUSIONS: MDR1 C3435T polymorphism is also present in Korean and the dominant allele is C. However, there is no evidence that C3435T polymorphism of MDRI is associated to inflammatory bowel disease or colorectal cancer in Korean.

A Case of Disseminated Cryptococcosis in an Immunocompetent Adult

Disseminated cryptococcosis is a systemic infection that occurs most commonly in immunocompromised patients, especially those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Although the attack rate is much higher among immunocompromised patients, cryptococcal disease does occur in persons without any apparent predisposing conditions. A previously healthy 26-year- old man was admitted to the hospital because of persistent fever and cervical lymphadenopathy. Despite empirical antibiotic therapy, he developed cutaneous erythematous papules, generalized lymphadenopathy, miliary pulmonary infiltration, and meningitis successively soon after admission. Biopsy of the skin and the cervical lymph node revealed chronic granuloma with cryptococcal organisms and tissue culture of lymph node confirmed cryptococcal infection. He was treated with intravenous amphotericin B plus flucytosine for 2 weeks, and then with fluconazole for 2 months. After the therapy, there was no evidence of recurrence for 2 years.

A Case of Disseminated Cryptococcosis in an Immunocompetent Adult

Disseminated cryptococcosis is a systemic infection that occurs most commonly in immunocompromised patients, especially those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Although the attack rate is much higher among immunocompromised patients, cryptococcal disease does occur in persons without any apparent predisposing conditions. A previously healthy 26-year- old man was admitted to the hospital because of persistent fever and cervical lymphadenopathy. Despite empirical antibiotic therapy, he developed cutaneous erythematous papules, generalized lymphadenopathy, miliary pulmonary infiltration, and meningitis successively soon after admission. Biopsy of the skin and the cervical lymph node revealed chronic granuloma with cryptococcal organisms and tissue culture of lymph node confirmed cryptococcal infection. He was treated with intravenous amphotericin B plus flucytosine for 2 weeks, and then with fluconazole for 2 months. After the therapy, there was no evidence of recurrence for 2 years.

Congenital left ventricular septal aneurysm associated with coronary fistula / 대한내과학회지

Congenital left ventricular aneurysm is rare, poorly understood, and potentially lethal. Also, congenital coronary artery fistula is rare but hemodynamically, it induces myocardial ischemia due to coronary steal syndrome and diastolic volume overload from a left to left shunt. A 64-year-old women with abnormal ECG and mild exertional dyspnea was admitted to our hospital for further evaluation. Electrocardiography demonstrated Q waves, inverted T waves in the inferior leads and right bundle brach block. Transthoracic electrocardiography showed left ventricular septal aneurysm. Cardiac catheterization, a selective left coronary arteriogram revealed a fistula. The fistula originated from the proximal portion of the left anterior descending coronary artery and drained into the left ventricle. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated congenital defect muscular portion of interventricular septum. Thallium 201 heart spect showed regional perfusion defect along the inferior-lateral segment of the left ventricle. Then we report an congenital left ventricular septal aneurysm associated with coronary fistula.

Congenital left ventricular septal aneurysm associated with coronary fistula / 대한내과학회지

Congenital left ventricular aneurysm is rare, poorly understood, and potentially lethal. Also, congenital coronary artery fistula is rare but hemodynamically, it induces myocardial ischemia due to coronary steal syndrome and diastolic volume overload from a left to left shunt. A 64-year-old women with abnormal ECG and mild exertional dyspnea was admitted to our hospital for further evaluation. Electrocardiography demonstrated Q waves, inverted T waves in the inferior leads and right bundle brach block. Transthoracic electrocardiography showed left ventricular septal aneurysm. Cardiac catheterization, a selective left coronary arteriogram revealed a fistula. The fistula originated from the proximal portion of the left anterior descending coronary artery and drained into the left ventricle. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated congenital defect muscular portion of interventricular septum. Thallium 201 heart spect showed regional perfusion defect along the inferior-lateral segment of the left ventricle. Then we report an congenital left ventricular septal aneurysm associated with coronary fistula.