ABSTRACT
Piper nigrum L. (Piperaceae), which is a well-known food seasoning, has been used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and anorexia in Korea, China and Japan. Methanol extract from the fruit of P. nigrum was successively partitioned as n-hexane, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and H₂O soluble fractions. Among those fractions the ethyl acetate soluble fraction showed the most potent DPPH radical scavenging activity, and piperine was isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction. To know the antioxidant activity of piperine, we tested the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase together with oxidative stress tolerance and intracellular ROS level in Caenorhabditis elegans. To investigate whether piperine-mediated increased stress tolerance was due to regulation of stress-response gene, we quantified SOD-3 expression using transgenic strain including CF1553. Consequently, piperine enhanced SOD and catalase activities of C. elegans, and reduced intracellular ROS accumulation in a dose–dependent manner. Moreover, piperine-treated CF1553 worms exhibited significantly higher SOD-3::GFP intensity.
Subject(s)
1-Butanol , Abdominal Pain , Anorexia , Caenorhabditis elegans , Caenorhabditis , Catalase , China , Diarrhea , Fruit , Japan , Korea , Medicine, Traditional , Methanol , Methylene Chloride , Oxidative Stress , Piper nigrum , Piper , Seasons , Superoxide Dismutase , VomitingABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of our study is to evaluate the plain radiographic features of pulmonary tuberculosis in adult diabetic patients compared with those in patients without any underlying diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the chest PA and lateral views of 100 patients having active pulmonary tuberculosis;40 patients had diabetes mellitus and 60 patients had no other underlying diseases. images were assesed for anatomical distributions, extents of lesions, size and number of cavity and patterns radiographic findings. RESULTS: Diabetic tuberculosis had higher prevalence and wider involvement of unusual segments for the tuberculosis such as anterior segment, lingular segment of upper lobe and basal segment of the lower lobe, and they showed the tendency of having more cavities than those who had no other underlying diseases, but there were no meaningful differences in the cavity size between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary tuberculosis in diabetic patients tends to have wider extent with unusual segmental involvement and multiple cavities than in the patients who had no other underlying diseases.
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Diabetes Mellitus , Equidae , Prevalence , Thorax , Tuberculosis , Tuberculosis, PulmonaryABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of balloon catheter dilatation in the treatment of esophageal achalasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven patients(three males and four females) with esopha-geal achalasia were treated with balloon catheter dilatation. Balloon catheters of variable sizes were used depending on patient's conditions. The patients were followed up over a period of 12-39months. RESULTS: Balloon catheter dilatation in esophageal achalasia was successful in all patients without esophageal perforation. All patients were relieved from dysphagia. Recurrence was not found in 5 patients on long term follow-up study, but was seen in 2 patients after 18 and 21 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: Balloon catheter dilatation was a safe and effective method in the treatment of esophageal achalasia with low recurrence rate of 29% on follow-up study.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Catheters , Deglutition Disorders , Dilatation , Esophageal Achalasia , Esophageal Perforation , Follow-Up Studies , RecurrenceABSTRACT
Spinal epidural abscess is a medical and/or surgical emergency that may result in paralysis if not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner. It has been known that Staphylococcus aureus is the most common pathogen and that the posterior thoracic epidural space is a more vulnerable site. However, cervical epidural abscess is uncommon. We have recently experienced a patient with an epidural abscess secondary to acute osteomyelitis of the cervical spine caused by E. coli inary and sphinctor distrubances. Variegate porphyria showed facial diplegia.