PAF antagonistic activity of 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid glucose ester fromGentiana scabra

In order to find out anti-platelet activating factor (PAF) from natural resources, Korean medicinal plants used for the treatments of peripheral circulation disorders were tested for their possible protective effects on PAF-induced anaphylactic shock. From the above screening, the methanol extract ofGentiana scabra showed a potent antagonistic activity against PAF. Water suspension of the extract was partitioned with CH₂Cl₂ and EtOAc, successively. The EtOAc fraction which showed the highest activity was chromatographed on silica gel to yield 6 fractions. From the fraction which showed higher PAF-antagonistic activity than the other fractions, compound1 was isolated by recrystallization. On the basis of spectral data, compound1 was identified as 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid glucose ester. The compound prevented the mice from the PAF-induced death at a dose of 300 μg/mouse.     

A sensitive and simplified HPLC analysis for the determination of fluconazol in human plasma

A sensitive and simplified HPLC assay of fluconazol is described. The calibration curve of fluconazol in plasma ranging 0–10 μ g/ml was linear with the correlation coefficients of 0.9900. The limit of detection was 0.3 μ g/ml. The average recovery of the drug was 89.1±9.05%. After oral administration of single dose(150mg) of fluconazol in man, C_max and T_max were 3 μg/ml and 4hr., respectively.     

Comparative analysis of NK/T-cell lymphoma and peripheral T-cell lymphoma in Korea: Clinicopathological correlations and analysis of EBV strain type and 30-bp deletion variant LMP1

Natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTL) and peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) are prevalent in the Asian population and exhibit a high association with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Moreover, differentiation of these two groups is often difficult and problematic. We investigated 35 cases of NKTL (22 nasal cases and 13 extranasal cases) and 30 cases of PTCL in terms of their clinical features, immunohistology, EBV positivity, EBV strain-type polymorphism and latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) deletion variant distribution. Eighteen cases (82%) of nasal NKTL and seven (54%) of extranasal NKTL showed EBV positivity by EBV in situ hybridization. Fifteen cases (50%) of PTCL revealed EBV positivity. EBV strain type A was predominant in NKTL (18:5), and EBV strain types A and B were distributed evenly in PTCL (6:6). EBV-positive patients had significantly shorter survival than EBV-negative patients (P < 0.05), and EBV positivity correlated with advanced clinical stage (P < 0.05). Patients harboring type A EBV showed slightly poorer prognoses than those having type B, though it was not obviously statistically different (P = 0.07). The LMP1 deletion variant was prevalent in both NKTL (three wild-type LMP1, 15 deletion variants) and PTCL (three wild-type LMP1, eight deletion variants, two coexistent forms) patients, but did not have prognostic impact. Our results indicate that EBV acts as a negative prognostic factor in NKTL and PTCL, and that the intrinsic properties of a specific viral strain might influence the clinical behavior of these diseases.     

Spontaneous disruption of mycotic aneurysm involving innominate artery

We report a case of ruptured mycotic aneurysm involving innominate artery requiring an urgent surgical treatment. A 62-yr-old woman presented with fever and dyspnea. Previously, she was diagnosed with colon cancer and received right hemicolectomy and one cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy. On echocardiogram, pericardial effusion was noted and emergency pericardiocentesis was performed. CT scan revealed aortic aneurysm involving ascending aorta and innominate artery, and thrombi surrounding those structures. Patch repair of the defect in the ascending aorta and ringed Goretex graft to bypass the innominate and ascending aorta were performed. We believe that this is the first case of ruptured mycotic aneurysm involving innominate artery.     

Villous adenoma of the bile ducts: a case report and a review of the reported cases in Korea

Villous adenomas are benign epithelial lesions with malignant potential which can occur at any site in the gastrointestinal tract. They are usually encountered in the rectum and colon, less frequently in the small bowel and very rarely in the biliary trees. Nine cases of bile duct villous adenomas have been reported in the literature. However, 4 cases of bile duct villous adenomas have been reported in the Korean literature. Recently, we experienced a case of villous adenoma in the common hepatic duct in a 77-year-old man presenting with obstructive jaundice in which preoperative histologic diagnosis of villous adenoma played a critical role in managing this patient. Herein, we present a case report of bile duct villous adenoma and a review of the reported cases in Korea to help define and manage this rare disease entity in the bile ducts. In addition, confusing nomenclature of bile duct adenomas is discussed.     

PCR-RFLP based molecular typing of enteroviruses isolated from patients with aseptic meningitis in Korea

Summary.  We have evaluated PCR–RFLP as a practical method for rapid typing of enteroviruses causing aseptic meningitis in Korea. Through blind examination of 80 clinical isolates from patients with aseptic meningitis, we have compared the results of conventional serotyping with PCR–RFLP based genotyping, which was developed for this study. Among the 80 case isolates, which had been previously typed by routine neutralization test, only 42 cases (52.5%) were matched with typing by PCR–RFLP. The result clearly demonstrated that the enterovirus serotype does not coincide with the genotype. Therefore, the classification of enteroviruses by genotyping with PCR–RFLP, although rapid and simple, may be complicated by regional or seasonal differences. However, the PCR–RFLP method developed in this study is applicable to the epidemiological study of enteroviruses when regional or seasonal differences exist, and is useful in identifying the source of an infection. Received August 6, 2001; accepted April 15, 2002 Published online July 10, 2002     

Isometric and isokinetic torque curves at the knee joint

Isometric and isokinetic torques of bilateral quadriceps and hamstrings were measured with Isokinetic Rehabilitation and Testing System (Model No. Cybex 340) on 40 normal untrained subjects, 20 males and 20 females, ranging between the ages of 23 and 35 years. The mean peak isometric and isokinetic torque values of both muscle groups showed no significant differences between dominant (right) and nondominant (left) limbs in both sexes; however there were significant differences between the male and the female. As the angular velocity increased, the peak torque significantly decreased, and the point of peak torque output occurred significantly later in the range of motion for quadriceps and hamstrings (p less than 0.01). There were no significant changes in the hamstrings to quadriceps (H/Q) ratios as the angular velocity increased. However, there were significant differences of mean H/Q ratio between male and female (p less than 0.01). Height had significant positive correlation with peak isometric and isokinetic torques for both quadriceps and hamstrings (p less than 0.01). Weight was found to correlate significantly with peak isometric and isokinetic torques (p less than 0.01). The mean isometric torques were significantly higher than the mean isokinetic torques for any joint angles in both sexes (p less than .01).     

Primary papillary carcinoma arising in a thyroglossal duct cyst

We report a case of papillary carcinoma arising in a thyroglossal duct cyst, presenting with an anterior neck mass of a 31-year-old woman. The tumor was judged to be a primary lesion on the basis of intraoperative examination of the thyroid and pathologic findings of the mass. One year later, a small nodular mass in the left thyroid gland and lymph node enlargement of the right cervical lymph node were noted by follow-up imaging studies. Total thyroidectomy, right modified radical neck dissection and central neck dissection were performed. The thyroid gland revealed nodular hyperplasia without evidence of malignancy. On the other hand, the dissected neck lymph nodes revealed metastatic papillary carcinoma. Taken together, these findings suggested the tumor was a primary papillary carcinoma arising in the thyroglossal duct cyst.     

Virus-induced diabetes mellitus: VIII. Passage of encephalomyocarditis virus and severity of diabetes in susceptible and resistant strains of mice.

The diabetogenic capacity of the M-variant of encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus was markedly diminished after passage in mouse kidney cell cultures. One passage in mice fully restored this capacity. Virus harvested after five passages in either susceptible (SWR/J) or resistant (C57BL/6J) strains of mice was capable of producing diabetes in susceptible SWR/J mice but not in resistant C57BL/6J mice. Resistance was not overcome by inoculating mice with high concentrations of virus. Immunofluorescence studies showed that islets from strains of mice (i.e. CBA, AKR, C57BL/6J, A/J) that did not develop diabetes after infection with EMC virus, nonetheless, contained virus antigens. The percentage of cells in the islets containing virus antigens varied from 3-6% in CBA to 13-5% in A/J. In contrast 38% of the islet cells in susceptible SWR/J mice contained virus antigens. It is concluded that both the genetic background of the host and the passage history of the virus influence the development of diabetes.