Effects of Armeniacae Semen and Amygdalin on the Lipopolysaccaride-induced Prostaglandin E2 Synthesis and Nitric Oxide Production in Mouse BV2 Microglial Cells

Armeniacae semen has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of pain and inflammatory diseases. Amygdalin is the major compound of Armeniacae semen, and it is used for treatment of pain and cancers. In the present study, we compared the effects of aqueous extract of Armeniacae semen and a solution of amygdalin extracted from Armeniacae semen on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expressions in mouse BV2 microglial cells. We also compared the effects of these compounds on the prostaglandin E2 synthesis and the nitric oxide production in mouse BV2 microglial cells. In the present results, Armeniacae semen and amygdalin suppressed prostaglandin E2 synthesis and nitric oxide production by inhibiting the LPS-induced enhancement of COX-2 mRNA and iNOS mRNA expressions in mouse BV2 cells. For the COX-1 expression, Armeniacae semen showed more potent suppression effect compared to the amygdalin. However, amygdalin more potently suppressed the LPS-induced COX-2 mRNA expression compared to aqueous extract of Armeniacae semen. In the case of iNOS mRNA expression, Armeniacae semen and amygdalin showed similar suppressing effects. For the LPS-induced PGE2 synthesis, amygdalin showed more potent suppressing effect, meanwhile, Armeniacae semen and amygdalin showed similar suppressing effect on NO production. Based on the present results, amygdalin may exert anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect though mainly the inhibition of COX-2 pathway, in contrast Armeniacae semen may exert such effect though both the inhibition of COX-2 and iNOS pathways.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Simulating Disc Disease: A Case Report / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Abdominal aortic aneurism can cause lower back pain that is usually severe, constant, and unaffected by posture. However, back pain caused by abdominal aortic aneurysm associated with radiating pain to the lower extremities can lead to a misdiagnosis. We pre-sent a rare case of a huge abdominal aortic aneurysm with chronic lower back pain. It presented as a radiating pain which was sus-pected as disc disease. Radiologic examinations, however, revealed a huge abdominal aortic aneurysm. After bypass operation, both back pain and radiating pain disappeared without any other orthopaedic management.

A Case of Neurilemmoma of the Posterior Wall of the Hypopharynx / 대한이비인후과학회지

Neurilemmoma is a relatively rare benign tumor which may be derived from nerve sheath of the peripheral and cranial nerve. And it is a characteristically solitary and well-encapsulated mass. About 25% of neurilemmoma occurs in the head and neck region and therefore the vestibular nerve is most frequently involved. Neurilemmoma arising in the posterior wall of the hypopharynx is thus quite rare. In this study, we report a recent encounter with a case of neurilemmoma originating from the posterior wall of the hypopharynx in a 44 year old male patient. The tumor was successfully removed by lateral pharyngotomy under general anesthesia.