Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract and its active component gypenoside L improve the exercise performance of treadmill-trained mice

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES@#The effectiveness of natural compounds in improving athletic ability has attracted attention in both sports and research. Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) leaves are used to make traditional herbal medicines in Asia. The active components of G.pentaphyllum, dammarane saponins, or gypenosides, possess a range of biological activities. On the other hand, the anti-fatigue effects from G. pentaphyllum extract (GPE) and its effective compound, gypenoside L (GL), remain to be determined.MATERIALS/METHODS: This study examined the effects of GPE on fatigue and exercise performance in ICR mice. GPE was administered orally to mice for 6 weeks, with or without treadmill training. The biochemical analysis in serum, glycogen content, mRNA, and protein expressions of the liver and muscle were analyzed. @*RESULTS@#The ExGPE (exercise with 300 mg/kg body weight/day of GPE) mice decreased the fat mass percentage significantly compared to the ExC mice, while the ExGPE showed the greatest lean mass percentage compared to the ExC group. The administration of GPE improved the exercise endurance and capacity in treadmill-trained mice, increased glucose and triglycerides, and decreased the serum creatine kinase and lactate levels after intensive exercise. The muscle glycogen levels were higher in the ExGPE group than the ExC group. GPE increased the level of mitochondrial biogenesis by enhancing the phosphorylation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) protein and the mRNA expression of nuclear respiratory factor 1, mitochondrial DNA, peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor-δ, superoxide dismutase 2, and by decreasing the lactate dehydrogenase B level in the soleus muscle (SOL). GPE also improved PGC-1α activation in the SOL significantly through AMPK/p38 phosphorylation. @*CONCLUSIONS@#These results showed that GPE supplementation enhances exercise performance and has anti-fatigue activity. In addition, the underlying molecular mechanism was elucidated. Therefore, GPE is a promising candidate for developing functional foods and enhancing the exercise capacity and anti-fatigue activity.

Antidiabetic and Beta Cell-Protection Activities of Purple Corn Anthocyanins

Antidiabetic and beta cell-protection activities of purple corn anthocyanins (PCA) were examined in pancreatic beta cell culture and db/db mice. Only PCA among several plant anthocyanins and polyphenols showed insulin secretion activity in culture of HIT-T15 cells. PCA had excellent antihyperglycemic activity (in terms of blood glucose level and OGTT) and HbA1c-decreasing activity when compared with glimepiride, a sulfonylurea in db/db mice. In addition, PCA showed efficient protection activity of pancreatic beta cell from cell death in HIT-T15 cell culture and db/db mice. The result showed that PCA had antidiabetic and beta cell-protection activities in pancreatic beta cell culture and db/db mice.

4 Case of Rhabdomyolysis due to Doxylamine Intoxication / 대한신장학회잡지

Doxylamine is common over-the-counter sleep preparations & frequently involved in overdoses. The clinical course is dominated by the anticholinergic effects, including central nervous system & autonomic effects. We report 4 cases of suicide attempts in adults where ingestion of the doxylamines were complicated by rhabdomyolysis. They ingested doxylamines variable amount & were carried to emergency department. They complained gastrointestinal or central nervous system symptoms. Gastric lavages & administrations of activated charcoal were done. Creatine phosphok inase levels were normal or markedly elevated on arrival, but peaked several days later. Serum creatinine levels were normal. 99mTc-MDP bone scans were showed increased muscle labelling at the regions of muscle injury. They were treated with hydration, urine alkalinization, & supportive measures in hospital. On considering cause of rhabdomyolysis, our patients did not show any evidence of viral illness or coingestion of other potential myopathic toxins to support a secondary cause of rhabdomyolysis. The mechanism of rhabdomyolysis in cases of doxylamine overdose seems to be a direct toxic effect of the drug on striated muscle, but the exact mechanism is not clear. In all cases where such overdoses are suspected, consideration should be given to obtaining a urinalysis & a creatine phosphokinase level on arrival & creatine phosphokinase levels are carefully followed. Primary detoxication included gastric lavage & administration of activated charcoal. The patient's urine output & renal function should be closely monitored.

A Case of Hodgkin's Disease Involved in the Stomach and Terminal Ileum / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Cases with extranodal Hodgkin's disease located in sites outside those defined as lymphatic structure are quite rare. The exact incidence of this localized form of Hodgkin's disease is unknown, but it is estimated to be only 0.25% for overall incidence of Hodgkin's disease. Localized primary extranodal Hodgkin's disease seems to have an excellent prognosis in some cases including skin, tongue, lung, stomach, small bowel, and thyroid. We report a case of primary gastrointestinal Hodgkin's disease involved in the stomach and terminal ileum in 48-year-old man with 7 kg of weight loss for 3 months, fever with chills for 1 week, and intermittent epigastric pain for 1 year. The histologic type of this case was lymphocyte predominance, which was diagnosed by biopsy of the stomach and terminal ileum with immnophenotyping study. And the stage of this case was IIE. We tried combination chemotherapy with adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastin, and dacabazine with excellent response. For its rarity, we report this case with review of literatures.

A Case of Foreign Body Granuloma of the Posterior Mediastinum / 결핵

21-year-old male was admitted for evaluation of a mass shadow on chest film. On chest computed tomography showed 5 cm sized homogeneous low density based on the second thoracic vertebral body in the posterior mediastinum. The patient had been performed thoracic sympathectomy 6 months before admission and oxidized cellulose was used for hemostasis at that operation Surgical resection was performed and microscopic result was foreign body granuloma caused by oxidized cellulose. Oxidized cellulose is an absorbable sterile mesh and used to control capillary or venous bleeding. Although the manufacturer recommends its removal after hemostasis is achieved, in clinical practice it is usually left in situ to reabsorb spontaneously, usually with no untoward effect.

A case of Burkitt's lymphoma cell leukemia in primary gastric lymphoma / 대한내과학회지

Burkitt's lymphoma is a distinct clinical entity classified as an undifferentiated lymphoma of B-lymphocytic origin. Burkitt's lymphoma cell leukemia occurs when Burkitt's lymphoma cells represent more than 20% of marrow cells and exceed about 5000/ul in blood. We report a case of Burkitt's lymphoma cell leukemia in primary gastric lymphoma in 55-year-old man with 5kg of weight loss for 2 months and epigastric pain for 3 days. Primary gastric lymphoma was diagnosed by biopsies with gastrofiberoscopy and upper abdominal CT scan in this patient. During admission, peripheral blood smear revealed sudden increase in abnormal blasts with multiple vacuoles. Burkitt's lymphoma cell leukemia was diagnosed by peripheral blood smear, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, immunophenotyping and cytogenetic analysis in this patient. For its great rarity, we report this case with review of literature.