• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.7
• /
• pp.759-762
• /
• 1996

Fifteen patients with esophageal perforation were treated at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovacular Surgery, Chungnam National University Hospital during the period from June, 1985 to September, 1995. The ratio between male and female patients was 9 : 6, their age ranged from 19 years to 71 years old(a erage : 49 years old). The causes of the perforation were various, spontaneous in 4 cases, foreign body in 4 cases, instrumental trauma in ) cases, chest trauma in 1 case, drug ingestion (chlorocalchi) induced in 1 case, tracheostomy induced in 1 case, unknown in 1 case. The perforation sites were intrathoracic esophagus in 9 cases and cervical in 6 cases. The Patients complained of chest or cervi- cal pain in 11 cases, fever in 9 cases, dysphagia in 8 cases and dyspnea in 5 cases. We have performed the following surgical procedures : incision and drainage, primary repair, gastrostomy for cervical esophageal perf'oration and primary repair, primary repair and pleural flap reinforcement, gastrostomy for thoracic esophageal perforation. A patient died of sepsis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.149-154
• /
• 2002

The blood pressure (BP) is regulated by the nervous system and humoral factors, such as renin- angiotensin system, vasopressin and others. In the present study, we examined the central effects of glutamate and GABA on the cardiovascular regulation by injection of these substances into the lateral ventricle and also investigated the relationship between these central effects and the action of angiotensin II (Ang). Male Sprague Dawley rats, $350{\sim}400$ g, were anesthetized with urethane and instrumented with an arterial catheter for direct measurement of BP and heart rate (HR), and an guide cannula in the lateral ventricle for drug injection. A glass microelectode was inserted into the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) for recording single unit spikes. Barosensitive neurons were identified by changes of single unit spikes in RVLM following intravenous injection of nitroprusside and phenylephrine. The effects of GABA and glutamate injected into the lateral ventricle were studied in single neuronal activity of the RVLM in addition to changes in BP and heart rate, and compared the results before and after treatment with intravenous losartan, nonpeptide Ang II-type 1 receptor antagonist (1 mg/100 g BW). Intracerebroventricular administration of GABA decreased systolic blood pressure (SBP) and HR, but increased the firing rates in the RVLM. However, intracerebroventricular glutamate injection produced effects opposite to GABA. After pretreatment of intravenous losartan, the central effects of GABA on BP and firing rate in the RVLM were significantly attenuated and that of glutamate showed a tendency of attenuation. These results suggested that central GABA and glutamate regulated BP and firing rates in RVLM were inversely related to BP change. The central effects of GABA or glutamate on the autonomic nervous function were modulated by humoral factor, Ang II, by maintaining BP.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.52-61
• /
• 2006

Background : The promotion and advertisement of pharmaceuticals should be based on evidence from clinical trials. We conducted this study to assess whether the pharmaceutical advertisement claims in Korean medical journals had relevant references, and whether the claims were supported by the references. Methods : We reviewed pharmaceutical advertisements in five Korean medical journals issued during the first half of 1999 and during the first half of 2004. Three investigators independently reviewed the advertisements to see whether the studies quoted to endorse the advertising messages supported the corresponding claims. Using multiple logistic regression analyses, we investigated which factors were associated with the quality of the advertisement claims. Results : From the 550 advertisements in the five journals, we identified 157 different advertisements and 475 different promotional claims. Only 149 claims had at least one reference, and 105 claims had references of published article. We could find supporting evidences in the 90 claims. The factors which were associated with the quality of advertisement claims were category of drugs, category of claims, and the manufacturer characteristics. Claims for cardiovascular and endocrine drugs, and claims on efficacy, and claims of multinational company were more evidence-based. Conclusion : Majority of the pharmaceutical advertisement claims in Korea did not have appropriate references. Drug category, claim category, and the manufacturer characteristics were associated with the quality of advertisement claims, and the manufacturer characteristics was the most important determinants.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.199-205
• /
• 2009

Background: A major ingredient of green tea is epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), and this is known to have many beneficial effects for cancer prevention and also on the cardiovascular system and neurodegenerative diseases through its anti-oxidant, anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, lipid-lowering and neuroprotective properties. Its actions on nociception and the spinal nervous system have been examined in only a few studies, and in these studies EGCG showed an antinociceptive effect on inflammatory and neuropathic pain, and a neuroprotective effect in motor neuron disease. This study was performed to investigate the effect of EGCG on acute thermal pain and the development of morphine tolerance at the spinal level. Methods: The experimental subjects were male Sprague-Dawley rats and the Hot-Box test was employed. A single or double-lumen intrathecal catheter was implanted at the lumbar enlargement for drug administration. An osmotic pump was used to infuse morphine for 7 days for induction of morphine tolerance. EGCG was injected repeatedly for 7 days at twice a day through the intrathecal catheter. Results: Intrathecal EGCG increased the paw withdrawal latency (PWL) after repeated administration for 7 days at twice a day, but this did not happen with administering on single bolus injection of EGCG. In addition, the antinociceptive effect of intrathecal morphine was not affected by co-administration with EGCG. A continuous 7-day infusion of morphine caused a significant decrease of the PWL in the control group (M + S, morphine plus saline). In contrast, intrathecal EGCG injection over 7 days blocked the decrease of the PWL in the experiment group (M + E, morphine plus EGCG). Conclusions: Intrathecal ECGC produced a weak antinociceptive effect for acute thermal pain, but it did not change the morphine's analgesic effect. However, the development of antinociceptive tolerance to morphine was attenuated by administering intrathecal EGCG.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.186-191
• /
• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with an excess mortality from cardiovascular disease which is likely attributed to an atherogenic lipid profile. Among nutritional factors vitamin K has been recently focused as a pivotal nutrient in improvement of lipid related markers. Thus, this study was designed to determine the effects of vitamin K on lipid profile in this disease. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Fifty eight patients with definitive RA were participated in the present double blind placebo controlled study. They were randomly allocated into two groups to receive vitamin $K_1$ as phylloquinone [10 mg/day] (n = 30) or placebo pills (n = 28), for eight weeks. In order to control the effects of probable confounders dietary intakes, anthropometric measurements including weight and height, clinical status using disease activity score-28 (DAS-28), physical activity and anxiety status were evaluated at baseline. Moreover, serum levels of lipid related markers including total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) were measured at baseline and at the end of intervention. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding any of the baseline characteristics. After adjusting for some relevant confounders, in comparison between two groups, we observed no significant changes in lipid related markers at the end of intervention. Also, there was no significant difference between before and after intervention values within groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Function of vitamin $K_1$ in lipid profile modification remains still controversial. This study showed that vitamin $K_1$ has no effect on lipid profile in women with rheumatoid arthritis. Further studies with a longer follow-up are required to determine the effects of vitamin K on atherogenic lipid profile.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.193-200
• /
• 2016

Sertraline, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), has been reported to lead to cardiac toxicity even at therapeutic doses including sudden cardiac death and ventricular arrhythmia. And in a SSRI-independent manner, sertraline has been known to inhibit various voltage-dependent channels, which play an important role in regulation of cardiovascular system. In the present study, we investigated the action of sertraline on Kv1.5, which is one of cardiac ion channels. The effect of sertraline on the cloned neuronal rat Kv1.5 channels stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells was investigated using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Sertraline reduced Kv1.5 whole-cell currents in a reversible concentration-dependent manner, with an $IC_{50}$ value and a Hill coefficient of $0.71{\mu}M$ and 1.29, respectively. Sertraline accelerated the decay rate of inactivation of Kv1.5 currents without modifying the kinetics of current activation. The inhibition increased steeply between -20 and 0 mV, which corresponded with the voltage range for channel opening. In the voltage range positive to +10 mV, inhibition displayed a weak voltage dependence, consistent with an electrical distance ${\delta}$ of 0.16. Sertraline slowed the deactivation time course, resulting in a tail crossover phenomenon when the tail currents, recorded in the presence and absence of sertraline, were superimposed. Inhibition of Kv1.5 by sertraline was use-dependent. The present results suggest that sertraline acts on Kv1.5 currents as an open-channel blocker.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
• /
• v.1 no.1 s.1
• /
• pp.26-31
• /
• 2001

The wide deep penetrating wound of maxillofacial region should be early closed under emergency general anesthesia for the prevention of complications of bleeding, infection, shock & residual scars. But, if the emergency general anesthesia wound be impossible because of pneumoconiosis, obstructive pulmonary disease & hypovolemic shock, early primary closure should be done under local anesthesia by use of much amount of the anesthetic solution. The maximum dose of dental lidocaine (2% lidocaine with 1 : 100,000 epinephrine) is reported to 7 mg/kg under 500 mg (13.8 ampules) in normal adult. But the maximum permissible dose of dental lidocaine can be changed owing to the general health, rapidity of injection, resorption, distribution & excretion of the drug. The blood level of overdose toxicity is above $4.0{\mu}g/ml$ in central nervous & cardiovascular system. The injection of dental lidocaine 1-4 ampules is attained to the blood level of $1{\mu}g/ml$ in normal healthy adult. The duration of anesthetic action in the dental 2% lidocaine hydrochloride with 1 : 100.000 epinephrine is 45 to 75 minutes and the period to elimination is about 2 to 4 hours. Therefore, authors selected the following anesthetic methods that the first injection of 6 ampules is applied into the deeper periosteal layer for anesthetic action during 1 hour, the second injection into the deeper muscle & fascial layer, the third injection into the superficial muscle and fascial layer, the fourth injection into the proximal skin & subcutaneous tissue and the fifth final injection into the distal skin & subcutaneous tissue. The total 26-28 ampules of dental lidocaine were injected into the wound as the regular time interval during 5-6 hours, but there were no systemic complications, such as, agitation, talkativeness, convulsion and specific change of vital signs and consciousness.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.69-99
• /
• 2011

Objective : Scutellaria baicalensis is one of the most popular and multi-purpose herb in traditional medicine. It is also useful for its practicability to cultivate in Korea. The purpose of this study is to contribute to researches and applications of scutellaria baicalensis by analyzing and reviewing international researches on the compositions and the effects of scutellaria baicalensis. Methods : This study analyzed 146 articles from PubMed by searching with the keyword "Scutellaria baicalensis", "Huang quin", "Baical Skullcap", "Huang qin", "baical skullcap root", "ogon", "Hwanggeum" and "Hwangkeum", published within the last 10 years(from 2000 to 2009). We reviewed the 146 articles on Scutellaria baicalensis and its active constituents in terms of 'Active constituents', 'Experimental studies', 'Clinical studies', 'Drug interaction', 'Side Effects/Toxicity' and 'Pharmacokinetics'. Results : The active constituents of Scutellaria baicalensis are flavonoids such as baicalein, baicalin, wogonin and oroxylin-A. It is reported that scutellaria baicalensis and its active compounds have antiinflammatory activity, antitumor activity, antioxidant activity, antiviral and antibiotic activity, neuroprotective effects, hepatoprotective effects and cardiovascular effect. Conclusions : This study is aimed to summarize the results obtained within the last 10 years and to contribute to following researches and applications of Scutellaria baicalensis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 2003.11a
• /
• pp.112-112
• /
• 2003

Voltage-gated $K^{+}$ (Kv) channels represent a structurally and functionally diverse group of membrane proteins. These channels play an important role in determining the length of the cardiac action potential and are the targets for antiarrhythmic drugs. Many $K^{+}$ channel genes have been cloned from human myocardium and functionally contribute to its electrical activity. One of these channels, Kv1.5, is one of the more cardiovascular-specific $K^{+}$ channel isoforms identified to date and forms the molecular basis for an ultra-rapid delayed rectifier $K^{＋}$ current found in human atrium. Thus, the blocker of hKv1.5 is expected to be an ideal antiarrhythmic drug for atrial fibrillation. Chelidonine was isolated from Chelidonium majus L. We examined the effect of chelidonine on the hKv1.5 current expressed in Ltk-cells using whole cell mode of patch clamp techniques. Chelidonine selectively inhibited the hKv1.5 current expressed in Ltk-cells in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas did not affect the HERG current expressed in HEK-293 cells. Additionally, chelidonine reduced the tail current amplitude recorded at -50 mV after 250 ms depolarizing pulses to +60 mV, and slowed the deactivation time course resulting in a 'crossover' phenomenon when the tail currents recorded under control conditions and in the presence of chelidonine were superimposed. We found that chelidonine also inhibited the $K^{+}$ current in isolated human atrial myocytes where hKv1.5 channels were predominantly expressed. Furthermore, we examined the effects of chelidonine on the action potentials in rabbit hearts using conventional microelectrode technique. Chelidonine prolonged the action potential durations (APD) of atrial, ventricular myocytes and Purkinje fibers in a dose-dependent manner. However, the effect of chelidonine on atrial APD was frequency-dependent whereas the effect of chelidonine on the APDs of ventricular myocytes and Purkinje fibers was not frequency- dependent. Also, the selective action of chelidonine on heart was more potent than dofetilide, $K^{+}$ channel blocker.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.92-99
• /
• 2011

Topical natural antioxidants are a useful strategy for the prevention of oxidative stress mediated cardiovascular disease including atherosclerosis. From the viewpoint of this underlying principle, the screening of natural plant extracts with scavenging activity for pro-oxidant reactive species is a primary requirement for the development of new topical antioxidant formulations. Euryale ferox Salisbury (EF) is botanical name and it's pharmaceutical name is EURYALES SEMEN (ES). The stems and branchs of EF have been used as a traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of dysentery, diarrhea, leucorrhoea, incontinence and paralysis of joint. In this study, the antioxidant activity of extract from EF was studied in vitro methods by measuring the antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging activity by TEAC and DPPH, measuring the scavenging effects on reactive oxygen species (ROS) [superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical] and on reactive nitrogen species (RNS) [nitric oxide and peroxynitrite] as well as measuring the inhibitory effect on $Cu^{2+}$-induced human LDL oxidation. The EF extracts were found to have a potent scavenging activity, as well as an inhibitory effect on LDL oxidation. In conclusion, the EF extracts have antioxidative effects in vitro system, which can be used for developing pharmaceutical drug against oxidative stress and chronic degenerative disease such as atherosclerosis.