Healthcare cost and loss of productivity were similar between patients with LN and patients who were LNN; the loss of productivity for caregivers is higher for patients with LN; and the healthcare cost is greater in ALN than in ILN.

Although preliminary, this study is the first to demonstrate that KRG may improve arterial stiffness as measured by AI. In addition, it appears that ginsenosides may be the principal pharmacologically active component of the root, rather than the polysaccharide fraction. This study supports the results seen with KRG in the preclinical studies and warrants further investigation on acute and long-term endothelial parameters.

HIV-positive men who have sex with men should be monitored for perianal high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia. Those with high-risk features for the development of anal cancer may need more aggressive therapy.

SUMMARYAims: Ginseng root and its derivatives remain atop the most widely used medicinal herbs in cardiovascular disease, despite inadequate substantiation of efficacy. We previously reported the potential of Korean red ginseng (KRG) to affect vascular tone by decreasing arterial wave reflection via an unknown mechanism. Given the preclinical link between ginseng intake and vasoactivity related to nitric oxide (NO) production, we sought to directly evaluate the effects of KRG root and its major root components, on an established noninvasive measure of endothelial function. Methods: In an acute, randomized, placebocontrolled, double-blind, crossover design, 16 healthy participants (9M:7F, age:30 AE 9y, BMI: 24 kg AE3 kg/m 2 , systolicBP/diastolicBP: 109 AE 11/66 AE 8 mmHg) on four occasions were administered: KRG root (3 g), KRG ginsenosides extract, KRG polysaccharides extract, and cornstarch control. Extracted fractions were delivered at doses bioequivalent to those found in 3 g of KRG. Flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) assessment, preceding a brachial blood pressure measurement, was performed at baseline and at 90 and 180 min posttreatment to assess endothelial function. Results: KRG significantly improved FMD posttreatment. Maximal vasodilatation of D2.57 AE 2.8% occurred at 180 min compared with control (DÀ0.83 AE 2.7%, P = 0.003 for all comparisons). The ginsenoside extract produced a comparable response (D1.75 AE 2.6%), but not the polysaccharide fraction (D0.10 AE 2.7%). Brachial blood pressure remained unchanged for all treatments (P = 0.45). Conclusions: KRG acutely improved endothelial function in healthy individuals, which appears to be attributable to its ginsenoside containing fraction. Our data confirm preclinical data and support the potential for these compounds as targets for therapeutic strategies in disorders involving endothelial dysfunction.

The combination of SLE and TE has a more negative influence on reported HRQOL, compared to having SLE or APS alone.