Postprandial hypoglycemic effect of mulberry leaf in Goto-Kakizaki rats and counterpart control Wistar rats

Postprandial hypoglycemic effect of mulberry leaf (Morus alba L.) was compared in two animal models: Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats, a spontaneous non-obese animal model for type II diabetes, and their counterpart control Wistar rats. First, the effect of a single oral administration of mulberry leaf aqueous extract (MLE) on postprandial glucose responses was determined using maltose or glucose as substrate. With maltose-loading, MLE reduced peak responses of blood glucose significantly in both GK and Wistar rats (P < 0.05), supporting the inhibition of alpha-glucosidase by MLE in the small intestine. With glucose-loading, MLE also significantly reduced blood glucose concentrations, measured at 30 min, in both animal models (P < 0.01), proposing the inhibition of glucose transport by MLE. Next, dried mulberry leaf powder (MLP) was administered for 8 weeks by inclusion in the diet. By MLP administration, fasting blood glucose was significantly reduced at weeks 4 and 5 (P < 0.05), but then returned to values that were similar to those of the control at the end of experimental period in GK rats. Insulin, HOMA-IR, C-reactive protein, and triglycerides tended to be decreased by MLP treatment in GK rats. All other biochemical parameters were not changed by MLP administration in GK rats. Collectively, these findings support that MLE has significant postprandial hypoglycemic effect in both non-obese diabetic and healthy animals, which may be beneficial as food supplement to manage postprandial blood glucose. Inhibitions of glucose transport as well as alpha-glucosidase in the small intestine were suggested as possible mechanisms related with the postprandial hypoglycemic effect of MLE.

Factors influencing pregnancy rates in intrauterine insemination / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: We have studied the factors that influence the pregnancy rate in ovarian hyperstimulation and intrauterine insemination (IUI) in infertility patients. METHODS: Seventy two patients who visited the infertility clinic in Dongguk University Kyong-ju hospital from January 2002 to December 2003 underwent IUI after 99 cycles of ovarian hyperstimulation. We administered clomiphene with exogenous gonadotropin from cycle day 3 and then IUI was performed. The variables selected for retrospective analysis were patient's age (or=2), number of follicles (>or=2), size of dominant follicle (>or=18 mm), total sperm counts (>or=10 X 10(6)). Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and a multiple logistic regression analysis were used to detect differences between groups in each variable. RESULTS: The pregnancy rate per patient was 29.2% (21/72) and 21.2% (21/99) per cycle. Factors that influenced pregnancy rate were age, number of treatment cycles, number of preovulatory follicles (>or=16 mm), and total inseminated motile sperm counts, all of which showed significant differences (por=35), number of treatment cycles (2 cycle vs. 1 cycle), number of preovulatory follicles (>or=16 mm) (>or=3 vs. 1), and total inseminated motile sperm counts (>or=40 X 10(6) vs. <10 X 10(6)). The odds ratio of each of these variables were 12.6, 3.37, 11.64, and 10.59. CONCLUSION: For successful pregnancy rates in IUI after ovarian hyperstimulation, the patient's age, number of treatment cycles, number of preovulatory follicles, and total inseminated motile sperm counts should be considered.

A Case of Pseudomyxoma Peritonei Associated with Borderline Mucinous Tumor of Both Ovaries and Appendix / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a rare condition characterized by mucinous ascites associated with peritoneal and omental implants. This is most commonly originated from mucinous tumor of the ovary or appendix. We have experienced a case of pseudomyxoma peritonei associated with borderline mucinous tumor of both ovaries and appendix. We concluded that the appendix is the primary lesion of pseudomyxoma peritonei by various immunohistochemical stains and therefore reporting this case with the brief review of literatures.

Two Cases of Stroke Occurred in Pregnant Women During the Period of Antepartum and Postpartum: A Case of Cerebral Infarction and the other Case of Cerebral Hemorrhage in Pregnant Women Both without any Manifestations of Preeclampsia or Eclampsia / 대한산부인과학회잡지

While maternal mortality rates due to obstetric causes have declined in recent years, maternal mortality rates due to non-obstetric causes have relatively increased. Among these, pregnancy related stroke is significant because it has the worst impact on both mother and the fetus. Stroke is the state of necrosis in brain tissues caused by perfusion disorder in the cerebral blood flow and pregnant or puerperal women are reported to have about 13-fold more risk of stroke compared to non-pregnant women. Pregnancy-related stroke must be differentiated from stroke in elderly patients, because it is different in pathophysiological etiologies and recurrence rates and also diagnostic and therapeutic methods may affect the fetal health status. In this article, we experienced one case of hemorrhagic stroke occurred in a normal pregnant woman with gestational age of 40 weeks and the other case with ischemic stroke in 33 gestational weeks, those both without any manifestation of preeclampsia or eclampsia.