Spontaneous closure of iatrogenic coronary artery fistula to left ventricle after septal myectomy for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Cases of iatrogenic coronary artery fistulas draining into the left ventricle after surgical myectomy for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy have been published as sporadic reports. However, its management scheme and prognosis are not clear because of the low incidence. A 46-yr-old woman was hospitalized for evaluation of chest pain and shortness of breath for 3 months.

Amount of left ventricular hypertrophy determines the plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and normal left ventricular ejection fraction.

Background: N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is increased in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM); however, the determinants of NT-proBNP level have not been clarified in HCM.

Hypothesis: This study was performed to determine the relationship between NT-proBNP levels and various echocardiographic variables of patients with HCM and normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Methods: We assessed plasma NT-proBNP levels and echocardiographic variables of 36 patients (19 men, 58 +/- 14 years) with HCM and an LVEF of > or = 55%.

Congenital mitral insufficiency caused by anomalous mitral arcade in an elderly patient: use of echocardiography and multidetector computed tomography for diagnosis.

Anomalous mitral arcade is a rare congenital malformation and few survive to adulthood. A 65-year-old man presented with mild dyspnea and cardiac murmur. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography showed an arc-like configuration of the papillary muscles, constrained by an interconnecting fibrous band in direct continuity with the anterior mitral leaflet, and mitral insufficiency caused by the restricted mobility of the mitral valve.

Clinical outcome of cardiac surgery in octogenarians.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the operative results and the clinical outcomes for octogenarians who underwent cardiac surgery. Twenty consecutive octogenarians who had cardiac operations at Samsung Medical Center from October 1994 through December 2004 were included in the study. The medical records were retrospectively reviewed and the follow-up results were obtained by the interview.

Tyrosinase-inhibitory furanocoumarin from Angelica dahurica.

An extract of the roots of Angelica dahurica BENTH. et HOOK. (Umbelliferae) showed potential tyrosinase inhibition against mushroom tyrosinase.

Antioxidative activity of furanocoumarins isolated from Angelicae dahuricae.

The methylene chloride extract of the root of Angelicae dahuricae showed high protective activity against 2,2'-azobis (2-aminodinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced cellular damage. From this extract, 11 furanocoumarins were isolated, namely oxypeucedanin hydrate, 9-hydroxy-4-methoxypsoralen, byakangelicin, pabulenol, alloisoimperatorin, neobyakangelicol, byakangelicol, oxypeucedanin, imperatorin, phellotorin and isoimperatorin, respectively. Among these 11 furanocoumarins, 9-hydroxy-4-methoxypsoralen and alloisoimperatorin displayed potent antioxidant effects against the DPPH radical and against renal epithelial cell injury by using AAPH to generate peroxyl radicals in vitro.

Four new acetylated ginsenosides from processed ginseng (sun ginseng).

Four new acetylated ginsenosides were isolated from the processed ginseng (SG, sun ginseng). Their structures were determined to be 3beta,12beta-dihydroxydammar-20(22),24-diene-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-6"-O-acetylglucopyranoside; 3beta,12beta-dihydroxydammar-20(21), 24-diene-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-6"-O-acetylglucopyranoside; 3beta, 6alpha, 12beta-trihydroxydammar-20(22),24-diene-beta-O-beta-D-6'-O-acetylglucopyranoside and 3beta,6a,12beta-trihydroxydammar-20(21),24-diene-6-O-beta-D-6'-O-acetylglucopyranoside based on spectroscopic evidences. The compounds were named ginsenoside Rs4, Rs5, Rs6 and Rs7, respectively.

Three new dammarane glycosides from heat processed ginseng.

Three new dammarane glycosides were isolated from the processed ginseng (SG; Sun Ginseng). Their structure were determined to be 3beta,12beta-dihydroxydammar-20(21),24-diene-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1 --> 2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside; 3beta,12beta-dihydroxydammar-20(21),24-diene-3-O-beta-D- glucopyranoside and 3beta,6alpha,12beta-trihydroxydammar-20(21),24-diene-6-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside based on spectroscopic evidences. The compounds were named as ginsenoside Rk1, Rk2, and Rk3 respectively.

Cytotoxic dammarane glycosides from processed ginseng.

Steaming ginseng at high temperature increased its cytotoxicity to SK-Hep-1 hepatoma cancer cells. HPLC separation and fractionation followed by MTT assay revealed that ginsenosides Rg3, Rg5, Rk1, Rs5, and Rs4 are the active principles. Their 50% growth inhibition concentration (GI50) values were 41, 11, 13, 37, and 13 microM, respectively.

Mushroom tyrosinase inhibition activity of some chromones.

Currently, aloesin is used in the cosmetic industry as a whitening agent because it inhibits tyrosinase activity. Aloesin is a C-glycosylated chromone compound isolated from aloe, and it is difficult to synthesize because of C-glycosyl moiety in the molecule. The purpose of this study is to search for a new chromone compound which is easy to synthesize and which posesses stronger tyrosinase inhibitory activity than aloesin.