Optimal Processing Conditions of Boswellia carteri Birdw. Using Response Surface Methodology.

BACKGROUND: Boswellia carteri Bridw. is being widely used for its anti-inflammatory properties, as well as for wound healing, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory properties, and boswellic acids (BAs) are considered to be the main active constituents. OBJECTIVES: To investigate optimal conditions of stir-baking process for the resin of B. carteri with vinegar of using response surface methodology (RSM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The concentration of acetic acid, heating temperature, and heating time were set as influential factors, and the yields of chemical compounds were the response values which were optimally designed by a Box-Behnken design. The amounts of 11-keto-ß-boswellic acid (KBA) and α-boswellic acid (αBA) in B. carteri resin were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. RESULTS: Maximum amounts of KBA and αBA in B. carteri resin were obtained using 6% acetic acid for 10 min at 90°C in preliminary test. Two factor interactions, such as acetic acid concentration-heating temperature and heating temperature-heating time, were significantly observed by multiple regression analysis. Optimal processing conditions from RSM were 5.83% for acetic acid concentration, 9.56 min for heating time, and 89.87°C for heating temperature. Under the modified conditions, the experimental value of the response was 11.25 mg/g, which was similar to the predicted value. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the optimal conditions for the stir-baking process of B. carteri resin were determined by RSM, which was reliable and applicable to practical processing of herbal medicine. SUMMARY: The resin of Boswellia carteri was macerated in aqueous acetic acid and heated using an oven for stir baking processThe interaction between heating temperature and heating time was the most significantOptimal conditions for processing B. carteri resin were determined as 5.83% acetic acid, 9.56 min for heating time, and 89.87°C for heating temperature. Abbreviations used: BAs: Boswellic acids; KBA: 11 keto ß boswellic acid; αBA: α boswellic acid; BBD: Box-Behnken design; RSM: Response surface method; HPLC: High performance liquid chromatography; LOD: Limits of determination; LOQ: Limits of quantification; RSD: Relative standard deviation; ANOVA: Analysis of variance.

A case of spontaneous ureteral rupture in a patient on hemodialysis / 대한내과학회지

Spontaneous ureteral rupture is rare, and refers to leakage in the absence of prior ureteral manipulation, external trauma, previous surgery, or any destructive kidney disease. It presents a major diagnostic challenge due to the diversity at presentation. Here, we present a rare case of spontaneous ureteral rupture in a 62-year-old man with a history of fungal pyonephrosis (Candida) on maintenance hemodialysis, causing a large infected urinoma and abscess and a review the literature.

Erratum: Bone scan appearance and biochemical markers of the bone metabolism in hemodialysis patients / 대한내과학회지

No abstract available.

Clinical Manifestations of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection after Renal Transplantation / 대한이식학회지

PURPOSE: Transplant patients under immunosuppression are susceptible to mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. We analyzed renal transplant recipients, to evaluate the risk factors, clinical characteristics, and long-term outcomes of post- transplant tuberculosis (TB). METHODS: This study is based on the records of renal allograft recipients from October 1991 to June 2006 in two transplant centers in Korea. The demographic data, clinical manifestations, and long-term outcomes of this cohort of patients were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Total 617 patients were enrolled in this study. Eighteen cases of TB (2.92%) occurred with a mean interval from transplant to diagnosis of TB of 33.1 (range: 1~121) months. Most of post-transplant TB were pulmonary TB (including pleural) (13/18), and extrapulmonary TB occurred in 5/18. There was no difference in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hepatitis B or C, and immunosuppressive agents between the patients who had developed post- transplant TB and who had not. However, there was higher incidence of acute rejection in post-transplant TB group (0.9+/-1.1 vs. 0.4+/-0.6, P=0.043), and post-transplant TB group had a tendency toward more past history of TB infection (P=0.096). Thirteen patients were successfully treated, 2 patients have been under treatment and 3 patients died. The patient survival was significantly reduced by post- transplant TB in multivariate analysis (relative risk=3.355, P=0.038). CONCLUSION: Post-transplant TB is a serious problem, which is associated with poor outcomes in renal transplant patients. Therefore, high index of suspicion is warranted to ensure early diagnosis and prompt initiation of treatment.

Bone scan appearance and biochemical markers of the bone metabolism in hemodialysis patients / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: The gold standard for a diagnosis of ROD is performing a bone biopsy. We need other non-invasive diagnostic techniques because of this procedure's invasiveness. In this study, we evaluated the value of a radionucleotide bone scan and the various biochemical markers for determining the bone metabolism in hemodialysis patients . METHODS: This study evaluated 118 hemodialysis patients who underwent 99mTc-MDP bone scanning and blood tests for such biochemical markers as osteocalcin and c-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen. Two nuclear medicine physicians read the bone scan images semi-quantitatively for six bone areas and the soft tissue, and they assigned a score of 0, 1 or 2 to the findings. RESULTS: The patients were categorized into 3 classes: iPTH or =200 pg/mL. For the group with a iPTH > or =200 pg/mL, the Ca, P product, alkaline phophatase and osteocalcin levels were increased, and the serum aluminum level was decreased compared to the other groups. When the bone scans were analyzed, the sum of the bone uptake scores was higher in the group with an iPTH > or =200 pg/mL while the soft tissue uptake score was higher in the group with an iPTH <50 pg/mL. The most common type of patient was a patient with an iPTH <50 pg/mL, and adynamic bone disease may be the most prevalent type of ROD. CONCLUSIONS: The bone scan findings correlated with the iPTH level in hemodialysis patients. Bone scans can provide additional information if this is combined with other biological markers. We stillneed to confirm its usefulness by conducting a comparative study with using bone biopsy.

A Case of Aloe-nduced Acute Interstitial Nephritis / 대한신장학회잡지

We report a case of aloe induced acute interstitial nephritis in a 66-year old man. He had been taken aloe as a healthy foodstuff for 6 weeks prior to admission. He complained poor oral intake and developed nonoliguric acute renal failure. Renal biopsy revealed focal tubular atrophy and interstitial infiltration of neutrophils, and lymphocytes. After discontinuation of aloe and high dose prednisolone therapy, acute renal failure of the patient improved and serum creatinine level decreased.

Henoch-Schonlein Purpura associated with Adenocarcinomas in Stomach and Colon / 대한신장학회잡지

There are a few reports about coexistence of Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) and a variety of malignancy in adults. The accompanying malignancies, in order of frequency, were hematologic malignancy, lung cancer and prostate cancer. Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) cancer associated with HSP was rarely reported which includes 2 cases of stomach cancer, 1 case of small bowel cancer and 1 case of esophageal cancer. Malignancy is proposed to be a triggering factor in the development of HSP, however pathogenesis of HSP associated with malignancy remains obscure. Here, we report 2 cases of HSP associated with malignancy in GIT. One is an adenocarcinoma of the colon and the other is a stomach adenocarcinoma with signet ring cell component.

alpha-Spinasterol isolated from the root of Phytolacca americana and its pharmacological property on diabetic nephropathy.

Based on an inhibitory activity-guided fractionation for the high glucose-induced proliferation of glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs), chloroform extracts of the roots of Phytolacca americana were found to contain alpha-spinasterol (C (29)H (48)O), a delta (7)-sterol. This phytosterol proved to be a potent inhibitor (IC (50) = 3.9 x 10 (-12) g/mL, 9.5 pmol/L) of glomerular mesangial cell proliferation caused by high-ambient glucose (5.6 mM vs. 25 mM), and its inhibitory potency was about 1,000 times higher than that of simvastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor used as a positive control. alpha-Spinasterol also significantly reduced the increases of serum triglycerides, renal weight and urinary protein excretion in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, and these were comparable to the results observed in insulin-treated diabetic mice. Therefore, the results obtained in this study suggest that alpha-spinasterol has a significant therapeutic potential to modulate the development and/or progression of diabetic nephropathy.