Diverse biological activities of moxa extract and smoke

Diverse biological activities of moxa extracts and smoke (gas phase) were investigated. Moxa was extracted with hot water (Fr. I), or ethanol (Fr. II), or extracted with hot water after ethanol wash (Fr. III) and then lyophilized to obtain the dried powders. Moxa smoke (containing a lot of gaseous components obtained by burning Moxa) (Fr. IV) was collected into phosphate-buffered saline and quantified spectrophotometrically. These extracts and Moxa smoke showed comparable cytotoxic activity against human oral tumor cell lines (HSC-2, HSG). Human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) were more resistant to any Moxa fractions. Neither of the extracts showed anti-HIV activity. Pretreatment of mice with Fr. I significantly reduced the lethal effect of E. coli infection. All extracts produced radicals under alkaline condition, with a maximum intensity at pH 10.5, and enhanced the radical intensity of sodium ascorbate. It was unexpected that these extracts show significant O2- scavenging activities. These data suggest the medicinal efficacy of Moxa extracts and smoke.

[The anesthetic management for elective or emergent cesarean section in patients with intracranial arteriovenous malformation]

Subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to ruptured intracranial arteriovenous malformation (AVM) during pregnancy, although rare, is a grave complication. We experienced 3 patients with AVM for cesarean section. Case 1: A 24-year-old woman suffered sudden vomiting and headache during the 22nd week of her first pregnancy. She was diagnosed as having the intracranial hemorrhage due to AVM. Because the patient was bleeding again at 29th week of pregnancy, emergency operation was performed. Her neurological symptom improved. Cesarean section was performed under general anesthesia at 34th week of pregnancy. Case 2: A 42-year-old woman of her first pregnancy had past history of subarachnoid hemorrhage due to AVM at the ages of 23, 28, 29 and 36. The malformation was not corrected surgically. Her neurological status was normal. Cesarean section was performed under spinal anesthesia. Case 3: A 29-year-old woman suffered sudden hemiplegia, vomiting and headache during the 40th week of her first pregnancy. She was diagnosed as having intracranial hemorrhage. Cesarean section immediately followed by the removal of an intra cranial hematoma under general anesthesia. Better perinatal outcome is expected when AVM rerupture is prevented by first performing cesarean section.