Retraction: Gynura procumbens extract improves insulin sensitivity and suppresses hepatic gluconeogenesis in C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice

The editors of Nutrition Research and Practice received a letter of raising concerns regarding this paper. In response, NRP’s special committee on research ethics launched an investigation. During an investigation, authors admitted unintentionally omitting citations for an article that had been previously published in J. Clin. Biochem. Nutr. The entire article has been retracted from NRP in accordance with NRP policy and editorial decision.

Gynura procumbens extract improves insulin sensitivity and suppresses hepatic gluconeogenesis in C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate whether Gynura procumbens extract (GPE) can improve insulin sensitivity and suppress hepatic glucose production in an animal model of type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS/METHODS: C57BL/Ksj-db/db mice were divided into 3 groups, a regular diet (control), GPE, and rosiglitazone groups (0.005 g/100 g diet) and fed for 6 weeks. RESULTS: Mice supplemented with GPE showed significantly lower blood levels of glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin than diabetic control mice. Glucose and insulin tolerance test also showed the positive effect of GPE on increasing insulin sensitivity. The homeostatic index of insulin resistance was significantly lower in mice supplemented with GPE than in the diabetic control mice. In the skeletal muscle, the expression of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase, pAkt substrate of 160 kDa, and PM-glucose transporter type 4 increased in mice supplemented with GPE when compared to that of the diabetic control mice. GPE also decreased the expression of glucose-6-phosphatase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in the liver. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that GPE might improve insulin sensitivity and inhibit gluconeogenesis in the liver.

Effects of Postoperative Patient Controlled Epidural Analgesia in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Lower Extremity Surgery / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: A limited number of studies have been conducted on postoperative epidural analgesia in pediatric patients. There have been primarily dealt with spinal or abdominal surgeries where multiple dermatomal segments needed to be blocked and morphine was given either through the caudal approach or by direct catheter placement. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of postoperative continuous patient controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) in children undergoing lower extremity surgery using a bupivacaine and fentanyl via lumbar approach. METHODS: The patient population consisted of 40 children ranging in age from 5 to 12 years. Patients were randomly divided into two groups according to postoperative pain relief regimen; the control group received an intramuscular injection of ketorolac 1 mg/kg t.i.d. and meperidine 0.5 mg/kg p.r.n., and the epidural group received PCEA (0.1% bupivacaine + fentanyl 2 microgram/ml) through an epidural catheter positioned at the surgical dermatomal level of the spinal cord. In the epidural group the volume of the initial dose was 1 ml/segment in children 10 years of age. The basal infusion rate was 0.1 ml/kg/hr (bolus: 0.05 ml/kg, lockout time: 30 minutes). Pain scores were measured upon arrival at the ward, and 6 and 24 hours thereafter. RESULTS: The epidural group had significantly lower pain scores and minimal side effects. A significant correlation was observed between the bolus number and the incidence of nausea/vomiting in the epidural group. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that PCEA targeted at the surgical dermatome is a safer and more effective regimen for postoperative pain relief than conventional postoperative pain relief in pediatric patients undergoing lower extremity surgery.

Comparative Study of Isobaric Bupivacaine Spinal Anesthesia in the Supine and Prone Positions / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Isobaric bupivacaine has same baricity as cerebrospinal fluid and therefore, so it remains at the level of injection. But, the risk of high spinal anesthesia exist, because increased intrathecal pressure is possible in prone position as isobaric bupivacaine has mild hypobaricity at body temperature but is isobaric at room temperature. So, we studied the influence of the position of the blockade of spinal anesthesia in isobaric spinal anesthesia. METHODS: We studied 26 patients undergoing elective surgery for which spinal anesthesia was considered appropriate. One group (the P group) were scheduled for surgery in the prone position with a frame (n = 13), the second group (the S group) were scheduled for surgery in the supine position (n = 13). Patients were injected with 12 mg of 0.5% isobaric bupivacaine at L3-4 in the lateral decubitus position with a 22 G spinal needle at the rate of 0.2 ml/sec. We then assessed anesthetic blockade level, heart rate, and blood pressure. RESULTS: The height of the sensory block in the prone position group was at the 10th thoracic dermatome, whereas in the supine position this was at the 8th thoracic dermatome at 15 minutes. There was a little difference between the two groups, but this was insignificant statistically. CONCLUSIONS: Both the supine and the prone positions are suitable for isobaric spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine. Isobaric spinal anesthesia in the prone position with a frame is as safe as in the supine position. Spinal anesthesia with isobaric bupivacaine is considered to have a low risk of high spinal anesthesia and a low complication level in the prone position with a frame, as for the supine position.

Clinical Analysis of Patients with Acute Appendicitis Operated on during

PURPOSE: During the night time decision making on patients suspicious of appendicitis is often difficult because diagnosis and timing for operation are frequently delayed. Therefore, we analyzed above cases and solution is suggested. METHODS: This retrospective study included 360 patients who underwent laparotomies for suspected appendicitis at Hanil Hospital during one year, from March 1998 to Feb. 1999. They were divided into two groups according to presenting time to physician (Day time: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Night time: 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.). Sex & age distribution, time of presentation to physician, duration of symptoms, symptoms & physical findings, white blood cell counts, interval from presentation to operation, hospital stay, and pathologic diagnosis were compared. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in sex & age distribution, duration of symptoms, symptoms & physical findings, white blood cell counts, pathologic diagnosis between the two groups. However, during the night time, the interval from presentation to operation was longer than that of the day time (9.15 hours versus 4.83 hours, p<0.001), the rate of delayed appendectomy during the night was 58.0%, the rate of negative laparotomy increased when appendectomy was delayed for more than 12 hours compared with less than 12 hours (28.1% vs 11.7%, p<0.01), and in the cases with perforated appendicitis, delayed appendectomy for more than 12 hours had longer hospital stay compared with less than 12 hours (12 days vs 9.44 days, p<0.01). Factors causing delayed appendectomy were related to the physician (42.5%), lack of anesthetic & nursing supports (19.5%), failure to structure the operation team (20.7%), and patient itself (17.3%). When white blood cell counts were rechecked in the next morning, levels above 10,000 cells/mm3 were highly associated with appendicitis in contrast to that below 10,000 cells/mm3 (91.7% vs 43.5%, p<0.002).