Ginger for Healthy Ageing: A Systematic Review on Current Evidence of Its Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Anticancer Properties.

The world's population is ageing at an accelerated pace. Ageing is a natural, physiological but highly complex and multifactorial process that all species in the Tree of Life experience over time. Physical and mental disabilities, and age-related diseases, would increase along with the increasing life expectancy.

Cardiac surgery antibiotic prophylaxis and calculated empiric antibiotic therapy.

Background: Ongoing debate exists concerning the optimal choice and duration of antibiotic prophylaxis as well as the reasonable calculated empiric antibiotic therapy for hospital-acquired infections in critically ill cardiac surgery patients.

Methods: A nationwide questionnaire was distributed to all German heart surgery centers concerning antibiotic prophylaxis and the calculated empiric antibiotic therapy.

Results: The response to the questionnaire was 87.

Influence of storage time and amount of red blood cell transfusion on postoperative renal function: an observational cohort study.

Introduction: To identify the impact of storage time and amount of transfused red blood cell units on renal function.

Methods: Consecutive transfused patients (n=492), undergoing cardiac surgery at a single centre and receiving at least one red blood cell unit, were pooled in different groups depending on storage time and amount of transfusion.

Results: Altogether 2,133 red blood cell units were transfused (mean age 21.

The predictive value of multiple electrode platelet aggregometry (multiplate) in adult cardiac surgery.

Background: The purpose of this retrospective observational study is to analyze the value of multiple electrode platelet aggregometry (Multiplate analyzer, Verum Diagnostica, Munich) as a point-of-care (POC) device in adult cardiac surgical patients.

Methods: Two hundred and twenty-three cardiac surgical patients were analyzed preoperatively and postoperatively with multiple electrode platelet aggregometry by stimulation ADPtest, ASPItest, and TRAPtest. End points were postoperative bleeding, need for reexploration, and perioperative transfusions requirements.

Policies of withholding and withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment in critically ill patients on cardiac intensive care units in Germany: a national survey.

Objective: To determine the decision-making process of withholding and/or withdrawal (WH/WD) of life-sustaining treatment in cardiac intensive care units (ICUs) in Germany.

Methods: A questionnaire regarding 16 medical and 6 ethical questions of WH/WD of life-sustaining treatment was distributed to the clinical director, senior ICU physician and head nurses of all German heart surgery centres (n = 237 questionnaires). Furthermore, we present a literature survey using the key words 'End-of-life care AND withholding/withdrawal of life support therapy AND intensive care unit'.

Proton pump inhibitors omeprazole, lansoprazole and pantoprazole induce relaxation in the rat lower oesophageal sphincter.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate effects of the proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) omeprazole, lansoprazole and pantoprazole, which are currently used for the treatment of hyperacidity and gastro-oesophageal reflux, on the reactivity of the isolated rat lower oesophageal sphincter.

Methods: Omeprazole, lansoprazole and pantoprazole (all 10(-9) -10(-3) m, cumulatively) were tested on carbachol-induced (10(-6) m) contraction. In addition, the effects of PPI preincubation (all 10(-3) m) on the contractions induced by cumulative carbachol (10(-9) -10(-5) m), angiotensin-2 (10(-9) -10(-5) m) or electrical field stimulation (EFS; 40 V, 32 Hz, 1 ms, 10 s) were assessed.

Gentamicin-collagen sponge reduces sternal wound complications after heart surgery: a controlled, prospectively randomized, double-blind study.

Objective: Prophylactic retrosternal placement of a gentamicin-collagen sponge has been the subject of several recent clinical studies and is a matter of controversy. The present study is the first controlled, prospective, randomized, double-blind, single-center study to investigate the efficacy of a retrosternal gentamicin-collagen sponge in reducing sternal wound complications after heart surgery.

Methods: From June 2009 to June 2010, 720 consecutive patients who underwent median sternotomy were assigned to a control placebo group (collagen sponge) or an intervention group (gentamicin-collagen sponge).

Association of angiotensin converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism with lung cancer in Turkey.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) plays an important role in the physiological control of blood pressure and inflammation. We investigated an insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the gene for ACE in relation to cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, neurodegenerative, and inflammatory diseases. The purpose of the present study was to investigate a possible association between lung cancer and insertion/deletion polymorphism of the ACE gene.

Association of insertion/deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene with angio-oedema accompanying chronic urticaria but not chronic urticaria without angio-oedema or the autologous serum skin test response.

Background: Chronic urticaria is defined as the daily or almost daily occurrence of weals for more than 6 weeks. The underlying pathophysiology is reported to be mast cell activation, with release of mast cell mediators, predominantly histamine. Substance P is a neuropeptide and has the capacity to provoke histamine release from skin mast cells.

Progressive pigmentary purpura related to raloxifene.

Progressive pigmentary purpura is a rare condition characterized by lymphocytic capillaritis histologically causing various clinical entities which are also named as persistent pigmented purpuric dermatoses. It is generally idiopathic; however, rare cases secondary to drugs and various diseases have been reported. In this report we describe a case of progressive pigmentary purpura induced by raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator which is primarily used in the treatment and prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion-deletion polymorphism in primary open-angle glaucoma.

Purpose: To investigate the hypothesis that primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is associated with a common insertion-deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene.

Methods: ACE I/D polymorphism was investigated in a control group of healthy subjects (n = 101) and in a group of patients diagnosed with POAG (n = 104). Polymerase chain reaction detection of I/D polymorphism was used to determine the presence of the two ACE alleles in the groups.

Association of insertion/deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene with psoriasis.

Background: Genetic factors are likely to be of fundamental importance in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. There are reports concerning the induction or/and exacerbation of psoriasis by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which have been attributed to the ACE inhibitor-induced augmentation of kinin levels in skin. However, to the best of our knowledge there has been no molecular genetic study investigating whether ACE insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism may contribute to the genetic background in psoriasis.

Beta 2-adrenergic receptor polymorphism and susceptibility to primary congenital and primary open angle glaucoma.

Objective: It has been shown that arginine to glycine (Arg16Gly), glutamine to glutamic acid (Gln27Glu) and threonine to isoleucine (Thr164Ile) exchanges in codons 16, 27 and 164, respectively, of the beta 2-adrenergic receptor (B2AR) gene significantly alter receptor function. As B2ARs are located on the afferent blood vessels supplying the ciliary body and trabecular meshwork cells, which control aqueous humour dynamics, polymorphisms of B2AR may be involved in the pathophysiology of certain eye diseases, such as glaucoma. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the distribution of B2AR polymorphisms in patients with primary congenital and primary open angle glaucoma.

The effects of EGb 761 on lipid peroxide levels and superoxide dismutase activity in sunburn.

Background/purpose: Free oxygen radicals are involved in inflammatory skin reactions induced by ultraviolet B (UVB). In this study, the effect of a herbal antioxidant Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) was investigated in UVB irradiated mice skin.

Methods: The study was carried out on four groups of mice (n = 6 in each group).

Association of the Gln27Glu polymorphism of the beta-2-adrenergic receptor with preterm labor.

Objectives: To investigate a potential association between the beta-2-adrenergic receptor (B2AR) polymorphisms occurring at amino acid positions 16 (Arg16Gly) and 27 (Gln27Glu) and preterm labor.

Methods: Eighty patients with preterm labor and 76 control subjects were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

Results: A significant association was found between Gln27Glu substitution and preterm labor (P=0.

The effect of EGb 761 on the doxorubicin cardiomyopathy.

Doxorubicin (Dx) is used to treat a number of types of cancer. The drug produces many toxic reactions and cardiomyopathy. Many drugs have been used to prevent this myocardial damage caused by peroxidative alterations.

Population frequency, mutation linkage and analytical methodology for the Arg16Gly, Gln27Glu and Thr164Ile polymorphisms in the beta2-adrenergic receptor among Turks.

Aims: Inherited polymorphisms of codons 16, 27, and 164 of the beta2-adrenergic receptor (B2AR) gene may result in significantly changed functions of this receptor. The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequencies of the main mutations of the B2AR gene in Turks.

Methods: A group of 104 unrelated Turkish subjects were analysed for the Arg16Gly, Gln27Glu, and Thr164Leu polymorphisms of B2AR by a newly designed polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay.