The Short-and Long-Term Effects of Gingko Biloba Extracts on the Endothelial Function in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

BACKGROUND: The gingko biloba extracts (GBE) are known to inducing vasodilation by increasing NO or PGI2. However, the effects on the endothelial function and clinical symptoms of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) are not clear. METHODS: The flow-mediated endothelium-dependent brachial artery vasodilation using high-resolution ultrasound was measured before and 2 hours after intake of GBE (120 mg single PO) and 1 month after regular intake of GBE (80 mg bid PO) in 33 patients (mean: 60 yrs, 26 males) with CAD who had been diagnosed by coronary angiogram and managed with medication for more than 1 month. RESULTS: The only one patient could not continue to take GBE due to severe nausea. The frequency or severity of chest pain was decreased in 31 patients among the other 32 patients. The flow-mediated brachial artery vasodilation (mean+/-SD) were significantly (p<0.001) improved from 8.9+/-3.9% before to 13.4+/-4.5% and 13.7+/-4.0% 2 hours and 1 month after taking GBE, respectively. The brachial artery diameter was increased from 4.42+/-0.67 mm before to 4.45+/-0.66 mm and 4.64+/-0.60 (p<0.005) after taking GBE, respectively. The endothelial function in patients with diabetes mellitus (5 from 33) was not improved 2 hours after taking GBE, but improved 1 month after GBE. The improvement of endothelial dysfunction in patients with hyperlipidemia or hypertension was less than patients without it. CONCLUSION: GBE has favorable short- and long-term effects on the endothelial function and clinical symptoms as well as long-term vasodilatation in patients with CAD without serious side effects.

Transfused Blood Volume in the Various Surgieal Operations / 대한마취과학회지

Blood transfusion is indicated the surgical patient to maintain circulating blood volume, provide adequate oxygenation, and maintain clotting factor levels. Anesthesiologists should known the time and vloume of blood transfusion in order to carry out transfusion effectively. We measure the amount of transfused blood and plasma expander used during general or spinal anesthesia surgery for four years(from Jan. 1977 to Dec. 1980) and obtained the following results. The total amounts of transfused blood were 6563 pints and those of plasma expander were 1769 bottles. The compansated amounts to blood loss were average 1044 ml in each case. The amounts of transfused blood used in each surgical dept. were different. The thoracic surgery department used the most averaging 4.76 pints and least in urologic dept. at 1.48 pints. The number of operations increased year after year but the average amount of transfused blood showed a decreasing tendency and that of plasma expander showed increasing tendency. The average compensated amounts for blood loss among the following operations were 831ml in a hysterectomy, 1089ml in a nephrectomy, 2244ml in a lobectomy, 1165ml in a craniotomy and 1313ml in a intramedullary nailing.