Single-Dose Oral Toxicity of Fermented Scutellariae Radix Extract in Rats and Dogs

The aim of this study was to investigate the acute oral toxicity of fermented Scutellariae Radix (JKTMHGu-100) in rats and dogs. JKTM-HGu-100 was orally administered at a dose of 2,000 mg/kg in Sprague-Dawley rats. An escalating single-dose oral toxicity test in beagle dogs was performed at doses of 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg with 4-day intervals. Clinical signs, changes in body weight, mortality, and necropsy findings were examined for 2 weeks following oral administration. No toxicological changes related to the test substance nor mortality was observed after administration of a single oral dose of JKTM-HGu-100 in rats or dogs. Therefore, the approximate lethal dose (LD) for oral administration of JKTMHGu-100 in rats was considered to be over 2,000 mg/kg, and the maximum tolerance doses (MTDs) in rats and dogs were also estimated to be over 2,000 mg/kg. These results indicate that JKTM-HGu-100 shows no toxicity in rodents or non-rodents at doses of 2,000 mg/kg or less.

In vivo metabolism of Talosin A, new isoflavonol glycoside from Kitasatospora kifunensis, in rats

The isoflavonol glycoside Talosin A, genistein (GT)-7-alpha-L-6-deoxy talopyranose (GT-Tal), was first isolated from the culture broth of Kitasatospora kifunensis MJM341. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the oral absorption and metabolism of the newly isolated isoflavonol glycoside, GT-Tal compared to genistin (GT-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside; GT-Glu). Free GT-Glu and GT-Tal could not be detected prior to enzymatic hydrolysis of the corresponding conjugates in rat plasma. Following oral administration of GT-Tal (15 min), GT-Tal was rapidly absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and metabolized into GT-Tal conjugates with a mean Cmax of 2.74 microg/mL. GT-Tal was further metabolized to its aglycone, free GT and conjugated GT. After oral administration, GT-Glu was absorbed after being convereted to its aglycone and then further metabolized into its conjugate metabolites (free GT with a mean Cmax of 0.24 mg/mL at 1.25 h; conjugated GT with a mean Cmax of 1.31 mg/mL at 2.00 h). Significant differences in absorption and metabolism of GT-Tal and GT-Glu were observed. GT-Tal was metabolized into its corresponding conjugates or underwent deglycosylation to form GT, whereas GT-Glu was metabolized into its aglycone, GT.

A Case of Hepatoid Carcinoma of the Pancreas / 대한소화기학회지

Hepatoid carcinoma is a primary extrahepatic neoplasm exhibiting features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in terms of morphology, immunohistochemistry, and behavior. In many cases, tumor cytoplasm is positive for alpha- fetoprotein (alpha-FP) with elevated serum alpha-FP level. Because not all hepatoid carcinomas are associated with alpha- FP overproduction, diagnosis should be made essentially by histological features of the tumor. We present a case of hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreas in a 21-year-old male patient. Abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed an inhomogeneously enhanced pancreatic head mass. Serum alpha-FP level was markedly elevated. He underwent pylorus-preserving Whipple's operation. The tumor showed hepatoid and neuroendocrine components simultaneously. The histopathological diagnosis was hepatoid carcinoma associated with neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas. Seven months after the surgery, the patient is healthy without evidence of recurrence. To date, only 7 cases of hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreas have been reported in the literature, and this is the first case report in Korea.

A Case of Transmesocolic Hernia in Elderly Person without a History of Operation / 대한소화기학회지

Internal hernia is defined as the herniation of viscera through an anatomic or pathologic opening within the boundaries of peritoneal cavity. Transmesocolic hernia, a subtype of internal hernia, has a herniated sac through the transverse mesocolon. Transmesocolic hernia has been rarely described in the literature, and most of reported cases were associated with a history of operation or congenital anormaly. A 72-year-old female with chronic intermittent abdominal pain and bloating was admitted. Small bowel series showed multiple jejunal loops confined to the left upper quadrant of abdomen. Abdomen spiral computed tomography (CT) showed a cluster of mildly dilated small bowel loops with mesenteries on the same area. On the three-dimensional reconstruction CT scan, a herniated sac through the transverse mesocolon was identified. She was diagnosed as transmesocolic hernia by using the three-dimensional reconstruction CT and small bowel series, without surgical exploration. The symptoms were managed with conservative measures.

The anti-thrombotic activity of surfactins

Platelet aggregation was inhibited and the density of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) clots was decreased by the preincubation of PRP with surfactins, an acidic lipopeptide of Bacillus subtilis complex BC1212 isolated from soybean paste, in dose-dependent manner. Our findings suggest that surfactins are able to prevent a platelet aggregation leading to an inhibition of additional fibrin clot formation, and to enhance fibrinolysis with facilitated diffusion of fibrinolytic agents.

A Case of Pulmonary Thromboembolism in Active Ulcerative Colitis / 대한소화기학회지

Thromboembolic disease is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The reported incidence is 1-6%. The most common thromboembolic complications are deep venous thrombosis of legs and pulmonary thromboembolism. Cerebral thrombosis, portal vein thrombosis, retinal venous thrombosis and arterial thrombosis were also reported. We experienced a case of ulcerative colitis complicated with pulmonary thromboembolism. The patient was a 70-year-old woman who was diagnosed as ulcerative colitis on colonoscopy. We used prednisolone and sulfasalazine for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Twenty five days later, she complained of abrupt dyspnea and chest pain. Chest CT and ventilation-perfusion scan revealed a thromboembolism in both lung. After the treatment of heparin & warfarin therapy, follow-up chest CT showed much regressed pulmonary thromboembolism. We report a 70-year-old woman with ulcerative colitis complicated with pulmonary thromboembolism and treated with heparin & warfarin therapy successfully.

Two Cases of Coronary Pseudo-Lesion Induced in the Left Circumflex Artery and the Right Coronary Artery by the Angioplasty Guide-Wire

Coronary pseudo-lesion is an artificial lesion that occurs during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty by an angioplasty guide wire and/or a balloon as a result of a straightening of the vessel curvature. A specific treatment is not required and the condition is completely resolved after removing the angioplasty wire. There are few reports about a pseudo-lesion, particularly in the left circumflex artery. We report two cases of a coronary pseudo-lesion induced by an angioplasty guide wire; one case affecting the left circumflex artery and the other affecting the right coronary artery.

A case of arteriovenous fistula with drainage into the coronary sinus during the percutaneous tranluminal coronary angioplasty of chronic total occlusion of circumflex coronary artery / 대한내과학회지

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of chronic total coronary artery occlusions are at a high risk of failure and complication. We report a case of arteriovenous fistula with drainage into the coronary sinus during the percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of the chronic total occlusion of circumflex coronary artery. We think that the arteriovenous fistula of this case was occurred by the guide wire- induced trauma. But after 20-30 minutes later, the injection of contrast no longer detectd arteriovenous fistula. Later we recommended coronary artery bypass graft surgery to the patient, but he refused. Thereafter he received conservative treatment and dyspnea, chest pain were improved.