To clarity the effect of biliary obliteration on copper metabolism of rat liver and on the hepatic morphology, 0.5% cuppuric sulfate was administered intraperitoneally for 42 days following ligation of the common bile duct (CBD) of Sprague-Dawley rats. The blood copper concentration, the hepatic copper content and the accumulation patterns of copper and copper binding protein in the liver were examined and compared with those of the simple CBD ligation group and the simple copper over loaded group. CBD ligation induced marked proliferation of bile ductular structures which, after expanding the portal tracts, invaded and divided the hepatic lobules. There was, however, no excess fibosis beyond what needed to support the new ductules. The blood copper concentration and the hepatic copper content were increased by copper overload with or without CBD ligation, particularly incases with CBD ligation. Liver cell necrosis did not occur by the overloaded copper alone in rats. The hepatic copper and copper binding protein were accumulated at periportal liver cells in the group of coppe overload after CBD ligatio, whereas they began to appear at perivenular hepatocytes in the simple copper overloaded group. In conclusion, it is suggested that CBD ligation does not induce excess fibrosis or liver cirrhosis in rat as far as during our experimental period, but affect significantly on copper metabolism by intrahepatic redistribution of the copper and the copper binding proteins.
Rats ; Animals

BACKGROUND: A tracheal stenosis is caused by mucosal ischemic injury related to a high cuff pressure (Pcuff) of the endotracheal tube. In contrast, aspiration of the upper airway secretion and impaired g as exchange due to cuff leakage is related to a low Pcuff. To prevent these complications, the Pcuff should be kept appropriately because the appropriate Pcuff appears to change according to the patients' bedside. To address the necessity of continuous Pcuff monitoring, the change in the Pcuff was evaluated at various Vcuff levels on a daily basis in patients with long-term mechanical ventilation. The utility of mercury column sphygmomanometer for the continous monitoring Pcuff was also investigated. METHOD: The change in Pcuff according to the increase in Vcuff was observed in 17 patients with prolonged endotracheal intubation for mechanical ventilation for 2 week or more. This maneuver measured the change in Pcuff daily during the mechanical ventilation days. In addition, the Pcuff measured by mercury column sphygmomanometer was compared with the Pcuff measured by an automatic cuff pressure manager. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant changes of Pcuff during more than 14 days of intubation for mechanical ventilation. However the Vcuff required to maintain the appropriate Pcuff varied from 1.9cc to 9.6cc. In addition, the intra-individed variation of the Pcuff was observed from 10cmH2O to 46cmH2O at constant 3cc Vcuff. The Pcuff measured by the bedside mercury column sphymomanometer is well coincident with that measured by the automatic cuff pressure manager. CONCLUSION: Continuous monitoring and management of the Pcuff to maintain the appropriate Pcuff level in order to prevent cuff related problems during long-term mechanical ventilation is recommended. For this purpose, mercury column sphygmomanometer may replace the specific cuff pressure monitoring equipment.
Humans ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Respiration, Artificial* ; Sphygmomanometers ; Tracheal Stenosis

The authors report the problems of treatment in 37 consecutive cerebralarteriovenous malformations(AVM's) who underwent embolization, operation, combined treatment, or conservative care. The preoperative embolization is an integral part of the multidisciplinary treatment protocol for patients with cerebral AVM's. Life threatening intracerebral hematoma caused by bleeding from AVM's will be managed effectively with stereotactic Urokinase irrigation for urgently reducing the increased intracranial pressure and getting a time to change emergent to elective surgery. We also discussed the problems along the management of cerebral AMV's.
Clinical Protocols ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Intracranial Pressure ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

BACKGROUND: The outcome of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) in Seoul National University Hospital was analyzed retrospectively. METHODS: Between January, 1990 and March, 1999, 25 patients with SAA underwent HSCT. Their medical records were reviewed. Statistical analyses were done about survival and complication after HSCT. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 22 (range, 14~43) and male to female ratio was 18 : 7. Twenty two were HLA matched non- identical siblings. Three were one identical twin, one one-locus mismatched father and one HLA matched unrelated donor, respectively. Conditioning regimens were CY/TLI (cyclophosphamide, total lymphoid irradiation) for 18 patients, CY/ATG (CY, antithymocyte globulin) for 3, CY/ buffy (CY, unirradiated buffy- coat) for 2, CY/ ATG/TLI for 1, BU/CY (busulfan, CY) for 1. For prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), cyclosporine and methotrexate were used in all patients except for identical twin. The median nucleated cell dose given to patients was 4.5x108/kg (range, 2.0~5.9). All evaluable patients achieved absolute neutrophil count of 500/microliter after median 17 days of HSCT (range, 12~27) and untransfused platelet count over 20,000/microliter after median 21 days of HSCT (range, 13~67). Six patients (24%, grade I : 3, II : 1, III : 1, IV : 1) developed acute GVHD and 8 (32%, limited : 4, extensive : 4) developed chronic GVHD. Hepatic venoocclusive disease (VOD) occurred in 2 patients (8%). Rejection occured in 4 patients (16 %), but among 22 allogeneic transplant recipients from HLA matched siblings, only one (5%) lost graft. After a median follow-up of 32 months (range 9~120 months), 5 year overall survival of all patients was 87%, and that of 22 allogeneic recipients from HLA matched sibling donors was 95%. Four patients (16%) died. Causes of death were VOD in one case, rejection with pneumonia one, acute GVHD one. One died from traffic accident in a cured state. CONCLUSION: Experiences from our center suggest that HSCT is an effective treatment for patients with severe aplastic anemia. Long- term survival is especially excellent for patients who have matched related donors.
Accidents, Traffic ; Anemia, Aplastic* ; Cause of Death ; Cyclosporine ; Fathers ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells* ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Methotrexate ; Neutrophils ; Platelet Count ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Siblings ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation ; Transplants ; Twins, Monozygotic ; Unrelated Donors