Steamed Ginger Extract Exerts Anti-inflammatory Effects in Helicobacter pylori-infected Gastric Epithelial Cells through Inhibition of NF-κB

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) has traditionally been used as a treatment for inflammatory diseases in the Asian region. Recently, anti-inflammatory effects of steamed ginger extract (GGE03) have been reported, but its association with Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori)-induced gastritis has not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to assess the anti-inflammatory activity of GGE03 in H. pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells. Our studies revealed that the GGE03 suppressed the growth of H. pylori. GGE03 markedly reduced the expression of the H. pylori-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-8, TNF-α, IL-6, inducible NOS (iNOS) and IFN-γ. We also demonstrated that GGE03 treatment inhibited the H. pylori-activated NF-κB signaling pathway. In addition, the treatment with GGE03 significantly attenuated nitric oxide production and myeloperoxidase activity in H. pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells. These anti-inflammatory effects of GGE03 were more effective than ginger extract. Finally, we investigated the minimum effective concentration of GGE03 to inhibit H. pylori-induced inflammation. Our findings suggest that GGE03 not only inhibits the growth of H. pylori, but also attenuates H. pylori-induced inflammation.

Implant esthetic restoration with bone graft in the extended maxillary anterior area: A case report / 대한치과보철학회지

The maxillary anteriors play an important role in esthetics. Therefore after extraction, it is crucial to preserve the hard tissue and soft tissue in order to promote esthetics of restoration. There are several challenges when restoring the maxillary anteriors via implant. Some of the challenges are be maintaining consistency with neighboring teeth in terms of shade, form, and texture : as well as having harmonious emergency with the gingival margin. In this case, a traumatized patient with crown-root fracture of the maxillary central and lateral incisors is presented. The cracked teeth were extracted, and implants were inserted with bone grafts to compensate the volume of damaged area of the maxillary anterior. Cantilever implant prosthetics were planned while precise adjustments to the gingival area were made using customized impression coping to perform the esthetic restorations. The final outcome of the treatment was satisfying in both esthetic and utilitarian perspective.

Implant esthetic restoration with bone graft in the extended maxillary anterior area: A case report / 대한치과보철학회지

The maxillary anteriors play an important role in esthetics. Therefore after extraction, it is crucial to preserve the hard tissue and soft tissue in order to promote esthetics of restoration. There are several challenges when restoring the maxillary anteriors via implant. Some of the challenges are be maintaining consistency with neighboring teeth in terms of shade, form, and texture : as well as having harmonious emergency with the gingival margin. In this case, a traumatized patient with crown-root fracture of the maxillary central and lateral incisors is presented. The cracked teeth were extracted, and implants were inserted with bone grafts to compensate the volume of damaged area of the maxillary anterior. Cantilever implant prosthetics were planned while precise adjustments to the gingival area were made using customized impression coping to perform the esthetic restorations. The final outcome of the treatment was satisfying in both esthetic and utilitarian perspective.

Fermented Pueraria Lobata extract ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines and recovering intestinal barrier function / 한국실험동물학회지

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder occurring in the gastrointestinal track. However, the efficacy of current therapeutic strategies has been limited and accompanied by side effects. In order to eliminate the limitations, herbal medicines have recently been developed for treatment of IBD. Peuraria Lobata (Peuraria L.) is one of the traditional herbal medicines that have anti-inflammatory effects. Bioavailability of Peuraria L., which is rich in isoflavones, is lower than that of their fermented forms. In this study, we generated fermented Peuraria L. extracts (fPue) and investigated the role of fPue in inflammation and intestinal barrier function in vitro and in vivo. As the mice or intestinal epithelial cells were treated with DSS/fPue, mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines was reduced and the architecture and expression of tight junction proteins were recovered, compared to the DSS-treated group. In summary, fPue treatment resulted in amelioration of DSS-induced inflammation in the colon, and the disrupted intestinal barrier was recovered as the expression and architecture of tight junction proteins were retrieved. These results suggest that use of fPue could be a new therapeutic strategy for treatment of IBD.

Full mouth rehabilitation of fully edentulous patient using implant hybrid prosthesis / 대한치과보철학회지

Loss of teeth may not only imply impaired oral function and loss of alveolar bone but is also often accompanied by reduced self-confidence. This results in a larger problem with the fully edentulous patient. The patient introduced in this study showed multiple missing teeth and mobility of remaining teeth and wanted to have fixed dental prosthesis using implants. Remaining teeth were extracted because of periodontally bad prognosis. This article reports a satisfactory clinical and esthetic outcome of full mouth rehabilitation using implant hybrid prosthesis in fully edentulous patient.

Long-term Treatment with Oriental Medicinal Herb Artemisia princeps Alters Neuroplasticity in a Rat Model of Ovarian Hormone Deficiency

Artemisia princeps (AP) is a flowering perennial used as a traditional medicine and dietary supplement across East Asia. No study has yet assessed its effects on synaptic plasticity in hippocampus and much less in a model of ovarian hormone deficiency. We examined the influence of chronic oral AP ethanol extract treatment in ovariectomized rats on the induction of long-term depression in a representative synapse (CA3-CA1) of the hippocampus. Ovariectomized rats demonstrated lower trabecular mean bone mineral densities than sham, validating the establishment of pathology. Against this background of pathology, AP-treated ovariectomized rats exhibited attenuated long-term depression (LTD) in CA1 relative to water-treated controls as measured by increased field excitatory post-synaptic potentials (fEPSP) activation averages over the post-stimulation period. While pathological significance of long-term depression (LTD) in ovariectomized rats is conflicting, that AP treatment significantly affected its induction offers justification for further study of its influences on plasticity and its related disorders.

One-Stage Reconstruction for Midfacial Defect after Radical Tumor Resection

A serious midface defect involving resection of squamous cell carcinoma originating from the hard palate was treated by an unusual reconstructive strategy. After tumor resection, surgical reconstruction was accomplished in one stage using one free flap with one distant and local flap: a radial forearm flap to reconstruct the upper lip, a forehead flap to reconstruct the external nose, a cantilever calvarial bone graft to replace the nasal skeleton and a nasolabial flap and split thickness skin graft to cover the internal nasal lining. The rationale for this one-stage reconstruction and the problems associated with midfacial reconstruction after wide tumor excision are discussed.

A Case of Cervical Actinomycosis Misdiagnosed to Malignant Tumor / 대한이비인후과학회지

Actinomyces are gram positive anaerobes which exist as normal flora in the oral and digestive tract. Actinomycosis is a very rare subacute or chronic infectious disease that causes sinus fistula, tract or abscess due to the invasion of surrounding soft tissue when normal mucosa is damaged by inflammation. Clinically, it is categorized into cervicofacial, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and systemic infection, in which cervicofacial infection accounts for 50% of all actinomycosis. With various nonspecific clinical manifestations and uncertain results of fine needle aspiration cytology and culture examination, treatment may be difficult since it may be misdiagnosed as malignancy or tuberculosis. Along with literature, we present a case of a 57-year old male patient with cervical actinomycosis in the submandibular mass, which was mistaken for malignancy.

The effect of tracheal intubation with the Levitan FPS scope or Macintosh larynogoscope on the arterial pressure and heart rate

BACKGROUND: The hemodynamic changes associated with orotracheal intubation may result from direct laryngoscopy and the endotracheal intubation. This study was designed to compare the hemodynamic changes after the endotracheal intubation with either the Levitan FPS scope or Macintosh laryngoscope. METHODS: Sixty patients, aged 20 to 60 years, were randomly allocated into two groups, the Levitan FPS scope group (LF group, n = 30) and the Macintosh group (M group, n = 30). The endotracheal intubation with the Levitan FPS scope or Macintosh blade was performed after inducing anesthesia. The heart rate and arterial pressure were measured before induction, just before intubation and at 1, 3 and 5 min after intubation. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the arterial pressure and heart rate responses to tracheal intubation with the Levitan FPS scope and the Macintosh laryngoscope. In both groups, the arterial pressures at 1 and 3 and 5 min after intubation were increased significantly compared with the preintubation values, and the heart rates at 1 and 3 min after intubation were increased significantly compared with the preintubation values. CONCLUSIONS: The Levitan FPS scopic intubation does not attenuate the hemodynamic responses associated with endotracheal intubation compared with the Macintosh laryngoscopy.

Analysis on Effectiveness of Three Dimensional Facial Computed Tomography in Diagnosis of Nasal Fractures

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Accurate diagnosis of nasal fracture is difficult in many cases. Some reports showed that threedimensional facial computed tomography (3-D facial CT) is more effective than conventional facial computed tomography (conventional CT) in the diagnosis of nasal fracture. The purpose of this study is to prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of 3-D facial CT in diagnosis of nasal fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 1, 2006 to January 31, 2007, 85 patients (83 men and 2 women, ranging in age from 29 to 46 years) visited the Armed Forces Capital Hospital within 2 weeks from nasal trauma. All patients prospectively underwent physical examination, lateral nasal bone view, Water's view, conventional CT, and 3-D CT. If any of definite crepitus on physical examination, or if definite fracture line on simple X-ray, or on conventional CT or on 3-D CT was found according to Hwang's criteria, that patient was confirmed to have nasal bone fracture. The diagnostic values of conventional CT and 3-D CT methods were analyzed by Pearson's chi-square test. RESULTS: Out of 85 trauma patients, 71 patients were diagnosed as having nasal bone fractures with the most common causes being, in the order of frequency of oc-currence, sports injuries and with other causes of blows, military training, works, and traffic accident. 28 patients showed nasal septal displace-ment or fracture. Conventional CT and 3-D CT were equally effective and had diagnosed 70 out of 71 fractures (98.6% of positive predictive value) and determined to be more effective than simple X-ray which had diagnosed only 50 fractures (70.4% of positive predictive value)(p=0.000). In the evaluation of nasal septum, conventional CT was proved to be more effective than 3-D CT since it diagnosed all 28 nasal deviation or fractures cases (100%) whereas 3-D CT diagonosed only 23 cases out of 28 (82.1%)(p=0.000). CONCLUSION: 3-D CT is not more effective than conventional CT in the diagnosis of nasal bone fracture. Moreover, conventional CT is better than 3-D CT in the diagnosis of nasal septal displacement or septal fracture.

The Efficacy of Microvascular Decompression in Disabling Positional Vertigo / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Disabling positional vertigo (DPV) refers to the cross-compression of the eighth cranial nerve from vessels in the posterior fossa which causes symptoms of vestibular disturbances. The most common symptom is a whirling sensation that is worse when the head is in a specific position and is abated with total bed rest. Many patients with DPV also have symptoms of auditory nerve and/or adjacent cranial nerve involvement, such as tinnitus, hearing disturbance, geniculate neuralgia, facial twitching. To analyze DPV, the authors reviewed patients with DPV who underwent microvascular decompression (MVD) in our institution. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A retrospective study was performed on 11 patients with DPV who underwent MVD from January 2002 to September 2007. Information was collected on sex, age, symptoms, offending vessels, the success rate, surgical complications. RESULTS: Three patients were male and eight were female. Their mean age was 55.1 years (range 37-70). The most common offending vessel was AICA in 7 cases (64%) and second vessel was PICA in 3 cases (27%). Only one case (9%) had a vein. Patterns of improvement after MVD could be divided into 3 clinical types. There was complete recovery after operation in 8 cases, partial recovery in 2 cases, and recovery failure in 1 case. There were no major complications except hearing impairment in 1 case. CONCLUSION: This study shows that MVD provides a high rate of success with low morbidity, and can be regarded as one effective procedure for DPV.

The Clinical Application of Endoscopic Sphenoidotomy and Anatomical Role of the Superior Turbinate

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recently, endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is commonly performed to treat the sphenoid sinus disease. Identification of the natural ostium of sphenoid sinus (SS) according to surgeon's operating view play an important role in endoscopic sphenoid approach. This study is undertaken to investigate the role of superior turbinate (ST) as an anatomic landmark of natural ostium of SS in endoscopic sphenoidotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records and computed tomography (CT) images of 77 patients from March 2006 to December 2007 who underwent ESS were analyzed. We tried to investigate the location and distance of the natural ostium on the superior turbinate, skull base and nasal septum. We also measured the anterior wall thickness of the SS by using CT images. RESULTS: The natural ostium of the SS was located on the medial side of the ST in all patients who underwent endoscopic sphenoidotomy (45 cases). The level of posteroinferior end of the ST corresponded to the inferior portion of anterior wall of the SS. The lateral portion thickness of the anterior wall of the SS was thinner than the medial portion (77 cases). CONCLUSION: During an endoscopic sphenoidotomy, the superior turbinate is an important anatomic landmark for identifying the natural ostium of the SS. When widening the anterior wall of SS is performed, we sug-gest that the procedure should be directed to the lateral 1/3 portion, considering the thickness of anterior wall of SS.

Transient Hypoglossal Nerve Palsy after Septorhinoplasty: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Hypoglossal nerve palsy is a rare complication after general anesthesia with orotracheal intubation. It can present with symptoms of tongue deviation, dysarthria and swallowing difficulties. We report 33-year-old female who was scheduled to undergo surgery for a nasal bone fracture under general anesthesia, using orotracheal intubation. After surgery, she complained right side tongue deviation and, dysarthria, and was diagnosed with right hypoglossal nerve palsy. The cause of the hypoglossal nerve palsy was assumed to be a complication of the orotracheal intubation. Fortunately, the patient fully recovered 2 weeks after surgery.

The Effect of the Level of Sedation on Recovery in Patients undergoing Target Controlled Propofol Infusion with a Bolus of Fentanyl for Strabismus Surgery / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: An immediate examination of ocular movement is required during strabismus surgery. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the level of sedation on the recovery of patients undergoing a target controlled propofol infusion with a bolus of fentanyl for strabismus surgery. METHODS: Twenty-one outpatients scheduled to undergo strabismus surgery were assigned randomly to one of two groups. In both groups, sedation was induced with a bolus of fentanyl 1microgram/kg intravenously followed by an infusion of propofol with a target concentration of 1.0microgram/ml. The target concentration was increased or decreased by 0.1 microgram/ml steps until the patient reached and maintained the observer's assessment of alertness/sedation (OAA/S) scale score of 3 (group A) or 4 (group B). The supplemental analgesics consisted of fentanyl 25-50microgram bolus injection. The target concentration of propofol, the total dose of fentanyl, delayed awakening, and recovery time were recorded. RESULTS: The mean target concentration of propofol (mean +/- SD) in group A (1.8 +/- 0.4microgram/ml) was significantly higher than that of group B (1.3 +/- 0.4microgram/ml) (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the total dose of fentanyl, delayed awakening and recovery time between the two groups. There was an an increasing trend in the recovery time with the total dose per kilogram of body weight of fentanyl (Spearman's correlation coefficient, r = 0.384, P = 0.086). CONCLUSIONS: The levels of sedation did not affect the recovery time in patients during target propofol infusion with a bolus of fentanyl. However, the addition of fentanyl tended to prolong the recovery time.

Cerebral Infaction during Spinal Anesthesia : A case report / 대한마취과학회지

We experienced a case of acute cerebral infarction during spinal anesthesia. The patient was a seventy years old male with diagnosis of right femur periprosthetic fracture scheduled for a open reduction & internal fixation under spinal anesthesia. Intraoperatively, he developed a mental confusion and his blood pressure decreased from 115/70 mmHg to 80/45 mmHg. After operation, he appeared to have left hemiparesis and left facial palsy. Angiogram revealed thrombus in superior division of the right middle cerebral artery. He expired 3 months after the surgery despite supportive measures.