Laxative effect of peanut sprout extract

Certain phenolic compounds are known to exhibit laxative properties. Seed sprouts, such as those of peanut, are known to promote de novo biosynthesis of phenolic compounds. This study was conducted to examine the potential laxative properties of 80% (v/v) ethanolic extract of peanut sprout (PSE), which contains a high concentration of phenolic compounds such as resveratrol. For this, SD rats were orally administered PSE while a control group was incubated with saline. Laxative effects were examined in both groups of rats. Constipation induced by loperamide in SD rats was improved by administration of PSE. Constipated rats showed increased intestinal movement of BaSO4 upon administration of PSE compared to the control, and the groups administered 100 or 1,000 mg PSE/kg bw were not significantly different in transit time of the indicator. However, colon length was not statistically different among the experimental groups, although it was longer in the group incubated with 1 g PSE/kg bw compared to other groups. Further, there was no significant difference in stool number among the experimental groups. Taken together, these findings show that PSE has a laxative effect in a rat model of loperamide-induced constipation.

Evaluation of Early Neurologic Abnormalities on the Workers Exposed to Acrylamide / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: Acrylamide is a neurotoxin inducing central-peripheral distal axonopathy. The authors evaluated several neurologic tests to screen the early effect of occupational acrylamide exposure. METHODS: Fifty-two males working either in the production of acrylamide monomer or in the handling of acrylamide in Ulsan, Korea, were selected and subcategorized into the high-exposure group (n=10, mean age of 30. 4 years) and the low-exposure group (n=42, mean age of 28.9 years). Twenty-three males (mean age 29.4 years) from medical professionals and students were chosen as a non-exposed reference group. Symptom questionnaire, neurologic examination, electrodiagnostic test, vibrotactile threshold test, and Lanthony desaturated 15 panel test (LD-15D) were done. RESULTS: The high-exposure group showed more number of specific symptoms on questionnaire and more abnormal two point discrimination test. High-exposure group showed a significant difference in the median motor conduction velocity, peroneal nerve motor latency, sensory amplitude of median nerve action potential, and sensory latency of sural nerve. The vibrotactile threshold of the high-exposure group was significantly higher in both hands and feet than that of the low-exposure group and the reference group. Average color confusion index on the LD-15D was significantly higher in the high-exposure group (median 22.7, range 0-135.7) than in the reference group (median 2.4, range 0-33.2). CONCLUSIONS: The symptom questionnaire, vibrotactile threshold test, and color discrimination test are sensitive in detection of the early acrylamide-induced neuropathy, and the combination of these tests would further facilitate the effectiveness of the screening.

Patency rate of grafts after coronary artery bypass surgery / 대한흉부외과학회지

No abstract available.

Comparison of Outcome between Double and Inoue Balloon Techniques for Percutaneous Mitral Valvuloplasty in Mitral Stenosis: A Randomized Prospective Study

BACKGROUND: Since the nonsurgical treatment of mitral stenosis using a single balloon has been introduced by Inoue et al. in 1984. percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty has became an accepted therapeutic modality for selected patients with mitral stenosis. Zeibag et al. demonstrated the double balloon technique showed a better outcome than the single balloon in obtainning the optimal mitral valve area. On the other hand, there are several reports that single balloon technique was comparable with the double balloon technique. Therefore, there are still controversies in efficacy, benefit and complications between balloon techniques. METHOD: To compare the efficacy and complications of percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty with the double balloon or the Inoue balloon technique, 40 patients were studied consecutively by random method in selecting the balloon technique. RESULTS: In all cases, percutaneous mitral valvulopasty was performed successfully. Optimal outcome defined as mitral valve area larger than 1.5cm2 was obtained in 12 cases out of 16(75%) in double balloon group and 15 out of 24(63%) in Inoue balloon group(p=NS). Mitral valve area was significantly increased after valvulopasty in both technique but there was no different between both groups(Mean+/-SD ; 0.9+/-0.3 to 1.7+/-0.2 vs 0.9+/-0.2 to 1.9+/-0.2cm2). There were also hemodynamic improvement significantly in mean mitral gradient(MG). pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and left atrial pressure(LAP) after PMV but there were no difference between groups (18+/-8 to 7+/-2 vs 21+/-13 to 9+/-4 mmHg for MG. 29+/-12 to 22+/-9 vs 28+/-9 to 18+/-5mmHg for PAP and 22+/-8 to 11+/-5 vs 21+/-6 to 11+/-4 for LAP respectively). Mitral requrgitation greater than grade 2 occurred in 2 cases of the double balloon group and one case of the Inoue balloon group(p=NS). New development of atrial shunt was found in 3 cases in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The double and Inoue balloon techniques were quite comparable in immediate outcome and complications.