Simultaneous quantification of six nonpolar ginsenosides in white ginseng by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with integrated pulsed amperometric detection.

BACKGROUND: White ginseng consists of the roots and rhizomes of the Panax species, and red ginseng is made by steaming and drying white ginseng. While red ginseng has both polar and nonpolar ginsenosides, previous studies showed white ginseng to have only polar ginsenosides. Because nonpolar ginsenosides are formed through the manufacture of red ginseng from white ginseng, researchers have generally thought that nonpolar ginsenosides do not exist in white ginseng. METHODS: We developed a simultaneous quantitative method for six nonpolar ginsenosides in white ginseng using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with integrated pulsed amperometric detection. The nonpolar ginsenosides of white ginseng were extracted for 4 h under reflux with 50% methanol. RESULTS: Using the gradient elution system, all target components were completely separated within 50 min. Nonpolar ginsenosides were determined in the rhizome head (RH), main root (MR), lateral root, and hairy root (HR) of 6-year-old white ginseng samples obtained from several regions (Geumsan, Punggi, and Kanghwa). The total content in the HR of white ginseng was 37.8-56.8% of that in the HR of red ginseng. The total content in the MR of white ginseng was 5.9-24.3% of that in the MR of red ginseng. In addition, the total content in the RH of white ginseng was 28.5-35.8% of that in the HR of red ginseng. CONCLUSION: It was confirmed that nonpolar ginsenosides known to be specific components of red ginseng were present at substantial concentrations in the HR or RH of white ginseng.

Job stress and its related factors among Korean dentists: An online survey study.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to investigate the dentists' job-related stress using the newly developed Dentist Job Stress (DJS) questionnaire, and to explore the relationships among sociodemographic factors, job stress and mental health indicators, including psychosocial stress, depression, anxiety and sleep among Korean dentists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online survey including 1,520 dentists was conducted using the Brief Encounter Psychological Instrument-Korean version (BEPSI-K), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the State-Trait Anxiety Index (STAI) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). RESULTS: The response rate was 15.2% (n = 231). The DJS questionnaire consisted of environmental and vocational factors, and Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.69. Dentists' job stress was significantly associated with income (P = 0.0230), work time (P = 0.0009) and job satisfaction (P < 0.0001). A bivariate correlation study revealed that the BEPSI-K, CES-D, STAI-S and PSQI exhibited a significant correlation with the DJS scale. Multiple regression analysis found that depression, job satisfaction and sleep quality were associated with dentists' job stress, and this model accounted for 37.9% of the variation in the DJS scale (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study revealed that the DJS questionnaire showed acceptable validity and reliability, and dentists' job stress was associated with depression, job satisfaction and sleep quality. The major implication of this study is that a stress-management programme focusing on practical ways to improve the mental health status and job satisfaction of dentists is critical to the reduction of occupational stress among Korean dentists.

Correlation of occupational stress with depression, anxiety, and sleep in Korean dentists: cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the degree of occupational stress and the clinical mental state of dentists. In addition, we investigated the correlation of occupational stress with depression, anxiety, and sleep among dentists in Korea. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey on 231 dentists was conducted using the Doctor Job Stress Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), State-Trait Anxiety Index (STAI), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Correlation of occupational stress with mental health was investigated by adjusted multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The scores of CES-D, STAI, and PSQI revealed a significant correlation with the Doctor Job Stress Scale (t = 3.93, P < 0.0001; t = 4.05, P < 0.0001; t = 4.18, P < 0.0001, respectively). In particular, patient factors and clinical responsibility/judgment factors were significantly associated with depression (t = 2.80, P = 0.0056; t = 4.93, P < 0.0001, respectively), anxiety (t = 2.35, P = 0.0195; t = 5.11, P < 0.0001, respectively), and sleep (t = 3.78, P = 0.0002; t = 4.30, P < 0.0001, respectively), whereas work factors were not associated with any mental health state. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that dentists as professions experience more severe mental states. For successful mental health care among dentists, stress management focusing on interpersonal relationship with patients and responsibility as an expert rather than the intensity of work should be considered.

Surgical results of intradural extramedullary tumors.

BACKGROUND: To report the treatment results of 12 patients who underwent a total excision of intradural extramedullary tumors. METHODS: Twelve cases of histopathologically confirmed intradural extramedullary tumors were treated surgically between February 2002 and March 2005. There were 8 males and 4 females with an average age of 42.6 years. The mean postoperative follow-up period was 24.2 months. The histopathological findings, locations of the tumors, and clinical results were analyzed. The neurological findings obtained during the preoperative stage and the postoperative follow-up were evaluated according to the Frankel classification. RESULTS: The histopathological results are as follows: 4 cases of a meningioma, 4 cases of a schwannoma, 2 cases of an epidermoid cyst, 1 case of an arachnoid cyst, and 1 case of an ependymoma. The locations of the tumors were as follows: 7 cases in the thoracic region, 4 cases in the lumbar region, and 1 case in the cervical region. At the final follow-up, a 2-grade and 1-grade improvement was observed in 1 and 7 cases, respectively. There were no changes in the Frankel grade in 4 cases. The preoperative neurological deficit improved within 8 postoperative weeks in most cases and within 1 postoperative year in all cases. Postoperatively, there were 2 cases of cerebrospinal fluid leakage and 2 cases of paresthesia. CONCLUSIONS: Intradural extramedullary tumors detected by MRI are mostly benign and good clinical results can be obtained when treated surgically. Therefore, more active surgical approaches by orthopedic surgeons are recommended to decrease morbidity.

[An Epidemiological Note On The Taeniasis In Korea]

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence rate of Taenia spp. infection and distribution of taeniasis caused by T. solium among Koreans in several localities in Korea during the period from 1977 to 1980. A total of 1,946 stool specimens collected from students and inhabitants of Chungcheong Bug Do and Gyeongsang Nam Do were examined by cellophane thick smear method. Among them, 40 persons were detected as Taenia egg positive cases. The overall positive rate of Taenia spp. shows 2.1 %. The prevalence rate of male (2.3 %) is relatively higher than that of female (1.4 %). In order to observe the distribution of Taenia solium infection, the whole worms or a part of proglottids of Taenia spp. were collected from the stools of egg positive cases by normal defecation or anthelmintic treatment. For the species identification, expelled proglottids were examined microscopically by the number of branches of the uterus, presence of a vaginal sphincter or the accessory ovarian lobe etc. Among 199 egg detected cases in this study 59 (39.1 %) out of 151 cases in Seoul, 12(40.0 %) of 30 cases in Gyeongsang Nam Do and 2 (25.0 %) from 8 taeniasis cases in Cheju Do were infected with T. solium. But none of T. solium infection was found from 10 egg positive cases in Chungcheong Bug Do. As a whole, the composition of species shows 36.7 per cent of T. solium infection and 55.8 % of T. saginata infection, and in 7.5 per cent the species were not identified.