• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.265-275
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to examine fluid excretions and changes in deceased bodies depending on type, location of, and causes of death for hygienic management of funeral homes. Based on the 858 cadavers studied, the average age at the time of death is 68.6 years, 83.0% had illness as the cause of death, and 79.5% passed away in a medical facility. Fluid excretion was observed in 46.2% of the cadavers. In manner of death, 78.8% of deaths -highest percentage- was due to an accident and 10.8% of deaths - lowest percentage- was due to age. Fluid excretion was observed in 46.3% of cadavers from medical facilities, 38.6% of cadavers from homes and 77.4% of cadavers from miscellaneous locations. There were various number of cadavers with recorded immediate, secondary and underlying cause of death; however, the fluid excretion rate was similar. In analyzing the immediate, secondary and underlying cause of death, respiratory and heart disease were the most common causes of death in categories of body organ and system. In terms of fluid excretion, liver disease followed by digestive and circulatory diseases were most common in immediate cause of death. Accidents and miscellaneous circumstances were most common amongst secondary and underlying causes of death for cadavers with fluid excretion. Based on the recorded illnesses of the cadavers, cardiopulmonary failure was most common as evident in 96 cadavers followed by pneumonia and sepsis. Cholangiocarcinoma (73.3%) had the highest rate of fluid excretion followed by pancreatic cancer, severe brain injury and liver cancer amongst categories of illnesses with more than 15 cadavers.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.11-17
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• 2014

Objective : Portulaca oleracea (PO) has been used as an important traditional medicine for inflammatory and bacterial diseases in East Asia. However, the protective effects of PO on acute pancreatitis (AP) is not well-known. Therefore, this study was performed to identify the anti-inflammatory and prophylactic effects of PO on cerulein-induced AP. Methods : AP was induced in mice via intraperitoneal injection of supramaximal concentrations of the stable cholecystokinin analogue cerulein ($50{\mu}g/kg$) given every hour for 6 times. Water extracts of PO (100, 300, or 500 mg/kg) was administrated intra-peritoneally 1 h prior to the first injection of cerulein. The mice were killed at 6 h after the final cerulein injection. Pancreas and lung were rapidly removed for morphologic and histochemical examination, myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay. Blood samples were taken to determine serum amylase and lipase activities. Results : Administration of PO significantly inhibited pancreatic weight/body weight ratio, pancreas and lung histological injury. And MPO activity which indicates neutrophil infiltration was inhibited by PO extracts on cerulein-induced pancreatitis. In addition, PO administration inhibited digestive enzymes such as serum amylase and lipase activity on cerulein-induced pancreatitis. Conclusion : Our results could suggest that pre-treatment of PO reduces the severity of cerulein-induced AP, thereby, PO could be used as a protective agent against AP. Also, this study could give a clinical basis that PO could be a drug or agent to prevent AP.