Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of chemical constituents from the flower buds of .

Five new glycosides including mimenghuasu A and B (-), isolinarin (), cyclocitralosides A and B (), along with forty-seven known compounds were isolated from the flower buds of . These structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis (UV, IR, 1 D, 2 D NMR, and MS spectra). The anti-inflammatory activities of the isolated compounds were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on the expression of TNF- (LPS-activated RAW264.

Two new ditetrahydrofuran lignans from .

Two new ditetrahydrofuran lignans, named sieverlignans A and B ( and ), together with six known ones (-), were isolated from the aerial parts of . Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic analysis including HRMS, NMR spectra and circular dichroism experiments. All the compounds were evaluated for their anti-neuroinflammatory effects on the lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced nitric oxide production in BV-2 murine microglial cells.

Trends in diagnostic approaches for pediatric appendicitis: nationwide population-based study.

Background: To define the benefits of different methods for diagnosis of pediatric appendicitis in Taiwan, a nationwide cohort study was used for analysis.

Methods: We identified 44,529 patients under 18 years old who had been hospitalized with a diagnosis of acute appendicitis between 2003 and 2012. We analyzed the percentages of cases in which ultrasound (US) and/or computed tomography (CT) were performed and non-perforated and perforated appendicitis were diagnosed for each year.

Therapeutic effectiveness of percutaneous drainage and factors for performing an interval appendectomy in pediatric appendiceal abscess.

Background: In this study, we studied the therapeutic effectiveness of percutaneous drainage with antibiotics and the need for an interval appendectomy for treating appendiceal abscess in children with a research-oriented dataset released by the Bureau of National Health Insurance in Taiwan through the Collaboration Center for Health Information Application (CCHIA).

Methods: We identified 1225 patients under 18 years of age who had non-surgical treatment for an appendiceal abscess between 2007 and 2012 in a Taiwan CCHIA dataset. The treatment included percutaneous drainage with antibiotics or antibiotics alone.

Students' Interest in Surgery Affects Laparoscopic Practicing Performance.

Background And Objective: Earlier exposure to laparoscopic techniques is thought to be beneficial for medical students. Reports have demonstrated that practice improves performance in laparoscopies. In this study, we intended to evaluate whether medical students' interest in surgery is affected by the amount of practice and the performance on a laparoscopic simulator.

7α-Hydroxyfriedelan-3-one-26-ol-29-oic acid and other Constituents from Pileostegia viburnoides var. glabrescens.

Phytochemical investigation of the roots and rhizomes of Pileostegia viburnoides var. glabrescens led to the isolation and identification of 31 compounds (1-31), 25 of which (1-2, 4-7, 9-12, 15-18, 21-31) were isolated from the Pileostegia genus for the first time. 7α-Hydroxyfriedelan-3-one-26-ol-29-oic acid (1) is a new friedelane-type triterpene.

[HPLC Fingerprint of QingGuangAn and Determination of the Main Components].

Objective: To establish an HPLC fingerprint of ethanol extract of QingGuangAn, and to determine the contents of paeoniflorin and calycosin-7-glucosid.

Methods: HPLC analysis was performed on an Agilent 1260 Infinity LC system and carried out at 35 degrees C on a column of GRACE Alltima C18 (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 μm).

Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Downregulates Expression of Inducible Nitride Oxide Synthase and Caspase-3 after Intestinal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats.

Background: Various investigations have demonstrated that calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) plays an important role in mediating ischemic preconditioning. CGRP has been shown to mimic the protective effects of ischemic preconditioning and mitigate ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in the heart, brain, gastrointestinal system, and other tissues. This study aimed to examine whether CGRP, a proven intestinal cytoprotective molecule, exerted its protective effects through modulation of inducible nitride oxide synthase (iNOS) and apoptosis after intestinal I/R injury.

National trends in therapeutic approaches and outcomes for pediatric appendicitis: a Taiwanese nationwide cohort study.

Purpose: To define the pattern of therapeutic approaches for pediatric appendicitis and compare their benefits in Taiwan, we analyzed a research-oriented dataset released by the Bureau of National Health Insurance in Taiwan through the Collaboration Center for Health Information Application (CCHIA) to document the impact of the rise of laparoscopic treatment on outcomes.

Methods: We identified 22,161 patients under 18 years who had been hospitalized with a diagnosis of acute appendicitis between 2007 and 2012 in the CCHIA. Statistical comparisons between the Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) and open appendectomy (OA, control) groups were computed using a Chi squared test.

A coumarin lignanoid from the stems of Kadsura heteroclita.

Coumarinlignan (1), possessing a unique coumarin-containing lignan skeleton, was isolated from the stems of Kadsura heteroclita. Its structure and absolute configuration were determined by spectroscopic techniques, especially 2D NMR and X-ray crystallographic data analyses. The proposed biosynthetic pathway is discussed.

Two new bicyclic sesquiterpenes from the stems of Kadsura heteroclita.

Two new bicyclic sesquiterpenes, namely 6α,9α-dihydroxycadinan-4-en-3-one (1) and guai-3-en-10α-ol (2), together with one known sesquiterpene were isolated from the stems of Kadsura heteroclita, which is a Tujia ethnomedicine called 'Xue Tong'. Their structures were elucidated by using spectroscopic analyses and by comparing the NMR data with those reported previously.

[Chemical constituents of Pileostegia viburnoides var. glabrescens].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of Pileostegia viburnoides var. glabrescens.

Methods: The compounds were isolated and purified by various techniques.

[Study on chemical constituents of volatile oil from rhizomes and leaves of Pileostegia viburnoides var. glabrescens by GC-MS].

Objective: To analyze the chemical constituents of volatile oil from the rhizomes and leaves of Pileostegia viburnoides var. glabrescens by GC-MS.

Methods: The volatile oil was extracted from the rhizomes and leaves of Pileostegia viburnoides var.

Free radial forearm flap in an adult with hypospadias.

A 22-year-old man presented with a scarred neophallus and complex hypospadias. The local penile skin was inadequate for urethral repair. A 16 cm free radial forearm flap was used for urethral replacement.

Fulminant Clostridium septicum infection mimicking appendicitis in a healthy child.

A 5-year-old boy with Clostridium septicum enterocolitis presented with severe right lower abdominal pain. On the day after admission, shock, neutropenia and pneumoperitoneum prompted a laparotomy. Gangrene of the ileum and colon was identified, associated with a fatal Clostridium septicum infection.

Lipoblastoma/lipoblastomatosis: a clinicopathologic study of 16 cases in Taiwan.

Lipoblastoma/lipoblastomatosis is an uncommon benign lipomatous tumor affecting mainly infants and children. It presents as a painless mass located frequently in upper and lower extremities. The present study was conducted to characterize the clinicopathologic features of lipoblastoma/lipoblastomatosis in a Chinese population.

Retroperitoneal teratomas in infancy and childhood.

Retroperitoneal teratoma poses a significant problem in the differential diagnosis of Wilms' tumor, neuroblastoma, and other intraabdominal tumors. In an attempt to establish the best diagnostic and treatment modality, we reviewed our experience with retroperitoneal teratomas at a single institution in a 5-year period. Between January 1998 and December 2002, retroperitoneal teratomas were identified in 10 patients, seven females and three males, ranging from age 4 days to 12 years, with seven patients under the age of 1 year.

Intra-abdominal cystic lymphangiomas in infancy and childhood.

Background: Cystic lymphangiomas (CL) rarely present as intra-abdominal masses. Abdominal CL is often discussed in conjunction with mesenteric cysts; however, their histology, location and age of presentation differ significantly. In an attempt to establish a best diagnostic and treatment modality, we report our experience dealing with intra-abdominal CL during a 5-year period.

Idiopathic hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in identical twins.

Idiopathic hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) was thought to be a congenital disease traditionally, even though several published reports assumed IHPS was an acquired disease. The pathogenesis and inheritance patterns of IHPS are not fully understood. Except for the familial recurrence of IHPS, concordance of IHPS in monozygotic or dizygotic twins was also noted, but occurrence in female twins is rare.

Urachal anomalies in children: experience at one institution.

Background: The embryological and anatomical features of urachal anomalies have been well defined. Because of the variable clinical presentations, uniform guidelines for evaluation and treatment are lacking. In an attempt to establish an optimal diagnostic and treatment modality, we report our experience with urachal anomalies at a single institution over a 10-year period.

Adenocarcinoma of the jejunum: a pediatric case report.

The clinical history and surgical findings of an adenocarcinoma of the jejunum in a 15-year-old boy are reported. The diagnosis of small bowel carcinoma remains difficult, primarily because of the rarity of the disease and the ambiguity of its symptoms. We reviewed the literature on this subject and found a total of seven cases of adenocarcinima of the jejunum and ileum in patients under 20 years of age.

The presentation of asymptomatic palpable movable mass in female inguinal hernia.

Unlabelled: The surgical approach to the inguinal canal in girls is identical to that in boys. The sliding hernia which contains the ovary with or without the fallopian tube occurs occasionally in female patients. In our clinical experience, we found that a hydrocele in the labium, also presenting with an asymptomatic palpable movable mass, mimics a sliding hernia with ovary.