Caffeine has been known to induce the contraction of rabbit aortic ring resulting from Ca2+ release from the intracellular stores. But in contrast, contraction of aortic ring induced by depolarizing agents or agonist was reported to be suppressed by caffeine. The present study was intended to examine the effect of caffeine on Ca2+ movement across the plasma membrane and actomyosin ATPase activity of vascular smooth muscle to elucidate the modes of action of caffeine on the vascular smooth muscle. Aortic ring preparation were made from the rabbit thoracic aorta and the endothelial cells were removed from the ring by gentle rubbing. The contractilty of the aortic ring was measured under varying conditions, and Ca2+ influx across the membranes of the aortic ring was measured with Ca2+ sensitive electrode with and without caffeine and the effect of caffeine on actomyosin ATPase activity were measured by modified Hartshrone's method. 45Ca wash out curves with and without caffeine were studied by Richard's method. The results were summarized as follows: 1) Caffeine inhibited the contractilty induced by norepinephrine. high K+, and histamine. but caffeine alone induced a transient contraction of vascular smooth muscle. The caffeine induced contraction was demonstrable even in the absence of external Ca2+. 2) Caffeine increased 45Ca efflux from vascular smooth muscle. 3) In the presence of propranolol, the inhibitory effect of caffeine on epinephrine induced contraction still persisted. 4) Caffeine decreased norepinephrine induced Ca2+ influx through the plasma membranes of aortic ring. 5) Caffeine decreased the actomyosin ATPase activity of vascular smooth muscle. From the above results, it is suggested that caffeine induces the contraction of vascular smooth muscle by release of Ca2+ from intracellular Ca2+ stone, but inhibits drug-induced contraction by decrease of Ca2+ influx across the plasma membranes and a decreased Ca2+ sensitivity of contractile protein in vascular smooth muscle.
Actomyosin* ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Caffeine* ; Cell Membrane ; Electrodes ; Endothelial Cells ; Epinephrine ; Histamine ; Membranes ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Myosins* ; Norepinephrine ; Propranolol

BACKGROUND: A and B transferase are glycosyltransferase that transfer N-acetylgalactosamine and D- galactose to H antigen, respectively and lead to the expression of A and B phenotypes in ABO blood group system. Reduced or no activities of serum A and B transferase were observed in some A and B subgroup individuals. Determining the activities of serum A and B transferase can be useful in discriminating rare A and B subgroups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ABO typing, saliva test, adsorption elution test and serum transferase assay were performed on samples from 12 individuals showing ABO discrepancy or weakened cell typing reactions which were referred to the Seoul National University Hospital to confirm their ABO blood types. Serum transferase activity was assayed by determining the ability of serum to convert group 0 RBCs into A or B cells. RESULTS: Determination of serum ABO transferase activity was useful in the identification of Ael (3 cases), B. (2 cases), Bm (1 case), Am (1 case), Bx (1 case), 0 with weakened anti-A or anti-B (3 cases), and A without anti-B due to hypogammaglobulinemia (1 case). CONCLUSION: Determining serum A and B glycosyltransferase activity was proven to be a simple and useful tool for the classification of several ABO subgroups.(Korean J Blood Transfusion 10(1): 27-33, 1999)
ABO Blood-Group System ; Adsorption ; Agammaglobulinemia ; B-Lymphocytes ; Blood Transfusion ; Classification* ; Galactose ; Phenotype ; Saliva ; Seoul ; Transferases

Polands syndrome is a congenital disorder associated with thoracic anomalies and ipsilateral syndactly. It was described first by Alfred Poland in 1841 year. We has been experienced 2 cases of Polands Syndrome recently. Two cases were male. Each case revealed one side thoracic muscle anomalies, that is, absence of sternocostal head of pectorails major with hypoplasia of nipple and, breast, and ipsilateral syndactyly with partial aplasia and hypoplasia of midphalanges.
Breast ; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Nipples ; Poland ; Syndactyly

In treatment of infected ununited fractures of the tibia, We have solved this disastrous problems by posterior bone graft through posterolateral approach. By this posterior bone graft, We can achieve both bone union and infection contral simultaneously. The results were as follows: 1. Total cases of the infected ununited fractures were 17 cases, among them 16 cases were open fracture initially. 2. They occured more commonly in young adult, 7 cases(41%) were in 4th decade, and all cases were male. 3. Tibial union was achieved in 16 cases and one patient can not walk without brace due to ain on fracture site. 4. Infection was cleared in 16 cases, but one case had intermittent drainage of pus. 5. The most common complication was stiffness of the ankle and tarsal joint. 6. There was no infection in grafted bone.
Ankle ; Braces ; Drainage ; Fractures, Open ; Fractures, Ununited ; Humans ; Male ; Suppuration ; Tarsal Joints ; Tibia ; Transplants ; Young Adult

PURPOSES: The purposes of this study were to identify factors related to burden and well-being in primary caregivers of patients who have had a stroke and examine the correlation between burden and well-being of the caregivers. METHODS: Between April 2006 to June 2007 data were collected using self-report questionnaires and interviews with 85 primary caregivers of stroke patients in C University Hospital. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Duncan test and Pearson's correlation with SPSSWIN 15.0. RESULTS: Factors related to burden of primary caregivers were sex and activities of daily living of the patients, and age, education level and satisfaction with income of the caregivers. The factors related to well-being of primary caregivers were sex of patients, and age and education level of caregivers as well as cohabitation with the patient. A negative correlation was found between burden and well-being of the caregivers (r= -.393, p<.001). CONCLUSION: These results indicate a need to develop a nursing intervention program for caregivers and education program for other family members to reduce caregiver burden. These programs should lead to improvements in the well-being of the caregiver.
Activities of Daily Living ; Caregivers ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Stroke

Infection-induced acute hepatitis complicated with acute pancreatitis is associated with hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus or hepatitis E virus. Although rare, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection should be considered also in the differential diagnosis if the patient has acute hepatitis combined with pancreatitis. We report a case of EBV infection with cholestatic hepatitis and pancreatitis with review of literature. An 11-year-old female was admitted due to 1-day history of abdominal pain and vomiting without any clinical symptoms of infectious mononucleosis. Diagnosis of reactivated EBV infection was made by the positive result of viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgM, VCA IgG, Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen and heterophile antibody test. We performed serologic tests and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography to exclude other viral or bacterial infection, autoimmune disorder, and structural problems. The patient's symptoms recovered rapidly and blood chemistry returned to normal with conservative treatment similar to previously reported cases.
Abdominal Pain ; Bacterial Infections ; Capsid ; Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance ; Cholestasis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Female ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis A virus ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis E virus ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Infectious Mononucleosis ; Pancreatitis ; Serologic Tests ; Vomiting

OBJECTIVES: Central obesity plays a major role in the development of many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. Chronic stress may be involved in the pathophysiology of central obesity. Although several large-scale genome-wide association studies have reported susceptibility genes for central adiposity, the effects of interactions between genes and psychosocial stress on central adiposity have rarely been examined. A recent study focusing on Caucasians discovered the novel gene early B-cell factor 1 (EBF1), which was associated with central obesity-related traits via interactions with stress levels. We aimed to evaluate EBF1 gene-by-stress interaction effects on central adiposity traits, including visceral adipose tissue (VAT), in Korean adults. METHODS: A total of 1467 Korean adults were included in this study. We selected 22 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the EBF1 gene and analyzed their interactions with stress on central adiposity using additive, dominant, and recessive genetic modeling. RESULTS: The four SNPs that had strong linkage disequilibrium relationships (rs10061900, rs10070743, rs4704967, and rs10056564) demonstrated significant interactions with the waist-hip ratio in the dominant model (p(int)<0.007). In addition, two other SNPs (rs6556377 and rs13180086) were associated with VAT by interactions with stress levels, especially in the recessive genetic model (p(int)<0.007). As stress levels increased, the mean values of central adiposity traits according to SNP genotypes exhibited gradual but significant changes (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the common genetic variants for EBF1 are associated with central adiposity through interactions with stress levels, emphasizing the importance of managing stress in the prevention of central obesity.
Adiposity* ; Adult ; B-Lymphocytes* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Chronic Disease ; Gene-Environment Interaction ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genotype ; Humans ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Models, Genetic ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Waist-Hip Ratio

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prognostic factors that contribute to favorable surgical outcomes of single-stage adjustable strabismus surgery in thyroid eye disease. METHODS: Retrospective review of clinical case notes were done of all patients who had surgical treatment for strabismus related to thyroid eye disease under the care of a single hospital between January 2005 and December 2012 (n = 30). Factors that possibly influenced the outcome were statistically analyzed for significance. "Successful" surgical outcome was defined as patients whose residual deviation was within 8 prism diopters and free from diplopia in the primary position on postoperative 1 year. RESULTS: Mean preoperative vertical deviation was 17.5 prism diopters (PD) and horizontal deviation was 20.3 PD. Mean follow-up time was 12.4 months. Twenty-four patients (80.0%) had successful surgical results. Four patients (13.3%) needed further surgery due to recurrence of previous strabismus and two patients (6.7%) needed prism glasses due to remaining strabismus. Previous history of proptosis (p = 0.02), optic neuropathy (p = 0.01), intravenous (IV) steroid pulse therapy (p = 0.02), number of times of IV steroid pulse therapy (p = 0.01), and orbital decompression surgery (p = 0.03) were different between success and failure groups. CONCLUSIONS: Single-stage adjustable strabismus surgery under topical anesthesia showed a success rate of 80% for strabismus patients with thyroid eye disease. Patients who previously had proptosis, optic neuropathy, IV steroid pulse therapy, and orbital decompression surgery significantly showed unsuccessful results after strabismus surgery.
Anesthesia ; Decompression ; Diplopia ; Exophthalmos ; Eye Diseases* ; Eyeglasses ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glass ; Humans ; Optic Nerve Diseases ; Orbit ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Strabismus* ; Thyroid Gland*

There are some emergency situations when untested fresh blood should be transfused. Emergency blood donor tests(EBDT) have been done as an effort to protect these blood recipients from contracting transfusion associated infections in Seoul National University, Hospital. EBDT includes HBsAg, anti-HlV, STS, and ALT test. Anti-HCV test is not included because of the absence of appropriate test kit. A total of 534 tests have been done from June 1993 to August 1995. Among these, 495 tests(92.7%) have been done for blood donor screening, and 39 tests(7.3%) for emergency organ transplantation. Sensitivity and specificiy of the emergency HBsAg test were 69% and 98%, respectively. There were two RPR reactive blood donors, but no anti-HIV positive cases. Among 458 blood donors, 37 donors(8.1%) showed increased ALT level(> 45IU/L). The percent of agreement in HBsAg, elevated ALT and anti-HIV tests between emergent and routine blood donor tests, were 97.0%, 98.9% and 100%, respectively. Although false positive and false negative EBDT result may is useful, although limited, we think that EBDT is useful in protecting blood recipient from transfusion associated infections.
Blood Donors* ; Emergencies* ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Organ Transplantation ; Seoul ; Transplants

No abstract available.