Higenamine is known to possess stimulatory activity on beta-receptor of the heart. Chronotropic actions of higenamic were studied in spontaneously beating right atrial muscle isolated from rabbits. The frequency of spontaneous beating and the relative threshold voltage of the right atrium were examined. The relative threshold voltage was defined as the minimal voltage of the given impulse above which the right atrium could be paced at the frequency of 20% of higenamine was also observed. Higenamine caused the postive chronotropic effect. This response became prominent as the ca2+ concentration in the bathing solution lowered. When tetrodotoxin was added to the bathing solution, the effect of higenemine altered and became similar to that of epinephrine. Higenamine reduced the relative threshold voltage of the right atrium in the bathing solution with [ca2+] of 0.5mM. Such effect was abolished by tetrodotoxin. The effects of verapamill on the spontaneous rate and the relativel threshold voltage were inhibited by higenemine. The above results suggest that, aithough the main action og higenamine is on the Ca channel, higenamine also have a minor effect of augmenting the Na channel.
Baths ; Epinephrine ; Heart ; Heart Atria* ; Heart Rate ; Rabbits ; Tetrodotoxin ; Verapamil

BACKGROUND: Using alfentanil followed by an anesthetic induction dose of propofol provides adequate conditions for tracheal intubation without neuromuscular blocking drugs in most patients. Providing an option for intense opioid effect without compromising recovery after short operations, remifentanil might offer benefits over alfentanil. In this study intubating conditions after remifentanil-propofol were evaluated. METHODS: Sixty healthy premedicated patients were divided randomly into 3 groups. Anesthesia was intravenously induced with propofol (4 microgram/ml) followed by remifentanil. Group R(2), R(3), R(4) received 2, 3, 4 microgram/kg remifentanil, respectively. Ninety seconds after the administration of remifentanil, laryngoscopy and intubation were attempted. Intubation conditions were assessed as excellent, good or poor. The hemodynamic changes were measured at preinduction (base), preintubation, postintubation (immediately, 3 minute, 5 minute after intubation). RESULTS: Clinically acceptable intubating conditions were observed in 65%, 95%, and 95% of patients in the R(2), R(3), and R(4) groups, respectively. Clinically acceptable intubating conditions were significantly (P < 0.05) less likely to occur in Group R(2). The mean arterial pressure decreased immediately after induction in all groups. There was no significant elevation in heart rate after tracheal intubation in all groups. There were no significant differences among groups. CONCLUSIONS: Healthy, premedicated patients with favorable airway anatomy can be reliably intubated with good or excellent conditions 90 seconds after the administrations of remifentanil 3-4 microgram/kg and propofol.
Alfentanil ; Anesthesia ; Arterial Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Laryngoscopy ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Propofol*

To evaluate the character, management and clinical results of the posterior capsular rupture during cataract surgery, we retrospectively studied the cataract surgeries that were performed between May 1989 and April 1998. We discovered 194 eyes in which the posterior capsule was torn. The overall incidence of this complication was 3.15%. Our chart review of these surgical procedure revealed that the tear occurred most frequently during the nucleus removal(63.9%), occurred more frequently at the periphery than the center and the extent was mostly below one-third of the whole posterior capsular surface(75.8%). We performed vitrectomy(58.8%) and peripheral iridectomy(8.8%). Posterior capsular lenses were implanted in 183 cases. The predicted power of lens calculated with SRK-II formula and manufacturer`s A-constant was approximately 0.46 diopter less than actual postoperative refraction. Final visual acuity of 20/40 or better was achieved in 76.8% of the 194 cases. Our results revealed that when properly managed, a torn posterior capsule is compatible with an excellent visual outcome.
Cataract* ; Incidence ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture* ; Visual Acuity

Drug-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a bullous erythematous disease that is characterized by the appearance of scaled lesions and large sheets of pilling on the skin. A caseof TEN occured in a 10 month old female patient. The characteristic skin lesions of TEN developed after oral administration of carbamazepine for a partial seizure. Thig case consists of prodrome of malaise, fever, anorexia, and conjunctivity followed by erythema & flaccid bullae formation. Diagnosis was confirmed by histologic findings. This patient was treated with a massive systemic corticosteroid, antibiotics, fluid and electrolytes, and topical measures. Authors experienced an extremely rare case of TEN dur to carbamazepine, So report it with a brief review of literature.
Administration, Oral ; Anorexia ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Carbamazepine ; Diagnosis ; Electrolytes ; Erythema ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Infant ; Seizures ; Skin ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome*

No abstract available.
Lasers, Gas* ; Lasers, Solid-State*

No abstract available.
Polychondritis, Relapsing*

No abstract available.
Polychondritis, Relapsing*

Background and objectives: A large body of evidence suggests that ozone plays an important role in the development of respiratory allergy. However, the mechanisms by which ozone may interact with airway responses to allergen are not clear. The aim of this study was to determine whether ozone enhances the nasal inflammatory responses to allergen challenge in ovalbumin-sensitized rats and whether ozone has an effect on the allergic sensitization process. METHOD: Twenty-seven Wistar rats were divided into five groups : control group (group 1), group exposed to 0.3 ppm ozone for 3 days (6 hr/day) (Group 2), group challenged by allergen in ovalbumin-sensitized rats (group 3), group exposed to ozone followed by allergen challenge in ovalbumin-sensitized rats (group 4), and group exposed to 0.3 ppm ozone for 6 hours at intervals of 3 days during allergen sensitization (group 5). To induce the allergic rhinitis in groups 3, 4, and 5, rats were immunized intraperitoneally with ovalbumin-Al(OH)3 gel solution, followed by intranasal nebulization of 0.1% ovalbumin solution. Nasal lavage fluid (NLF) was obtained immediately after the last exposure and then Evans blue dye was infused via the femoral vein. The concentration of protein and total cell counts in NLF and the amount of extravasated Evans blue dye in nasal mucosa were measured. RESULTS: Ozone exposure significantly increased the concentration of protein and total cell counts in NLF and Evans blue extravasation compared to the control group. Allergen challenge in sensitized rats increased total cell counts in NLF and Evans blue extravasation although the differences between this group and the controls did not reach statistical significance. The combination of ozone exposure and allergen challenge caused significant increase in total cell counts in NLF and Evans blue extravasation compared to groups 2 and 3. However, there were no significant differences in Evans blue extravasation, concentrations of protein and total cell counts in NLF between groups 3 and 5. CONCLUSION: Ozone may enhance the nasal inflammatory responses to allergen in patients with allergic rhinitis.
Animals ; Cell Count ; Evans Blue ; Femoral Vein ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Inflammation ; Nasal Lavage Fluid ; Nasal Mucosa ; Ovalbumin ; Ozone* ; Rats* ; Rats, Wistar ; Rhinitis

Hyperglycemia during either global or regional ischemia is widely known to be detrimental, and ischemia induced release of diverse neurotransmitters and the ensuing activation of specific postsynaptic receptors have been suggested to play a important role in the development of ischemic selective vulunerability. This study was undertaken to investigate the influence of blood glucose change on tissue concentration of some catecholamines ; dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, of the transient ischemic rat's brain, estimated by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) assay system, following transient bilateral forebrain ischemia in the rat's model subjected to 20 minutes of normothermic ischemia by two vesseles occulusion plus profound cortex, hippocampus and striatum respectively by HLPC. The concentrations of catecholamines were significantly decreased in all sampled areas in experimental groups compared with the control group(p<0.05), respectively(average decrease rate : norepinephrine 71%, dopamine 89%, serotonin 80% in frontal cortex ; norepinephrine 71%, dopamine 93%, serotonin 81% in hippocampus ; norepinephrine 33%, dopamine 35%, serotonin 78% in striatum). Dopamine was relatively decreased in concentration in frontal cortex and hippocampus, and serotonin was relatively decreased in striatum. But no statistic significancy(p>0.05) of catecholamines level between each experimental group(hyper-, hypo- and normoglycemic group) according to the change of blood sugar. The results suggested that blood glucose level did not influence the tissue concentration of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin in frontl cortex, hippocampus and striatum of transient ischemic rat's brain.
Blood Glucose* ; Brain* ; Catecholamines ; Dopamine* ; Frontal Lobe* ; Hippocampus* ; Hyperglycemia ; Ischemia ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Norepinephrine* ; Prosencephalon ; Serotonin*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of combination therapy composed of percutaneous ethanol injection treatment and subsequent transarterial chemoembolization in the treatment of single nodular hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of eight patients with single nodule hepatocellur carcinoma (+/-5cm)were treated with a combination of initial percutaneous ethonol injection therapy(PEIT) and, a week later, transcatether arterial embolization(TAE). CT was performed 3 weeks after TAE to assess whether or not lipidol uptake had occurred. If lipiodol was accumulated in the nodule, the necrotic rate of the tumor was calculated by the following equation: (initially observed tumor volume - volume of nodule in which lipidol uptake occurred)x100/Initially observed tumor volume. Follow-up CT scan was performed every third or fourth month to evaluate tumor growth or recurrence. RESULTS: A nodule in which lipidol uptake occurred was seen in four of the eight patients; in one of these, a tumor-confirmed by angiogaphic examination and laboratory data-recurred twelve months later. The mean necrotic rate of a tumor treated PEIT alone was 83%(range, 37%-100%). CONCLUSION: Although limited in numbers of cases we studied, use of combination therapy composed of PEIT and subsequent TAE, appears to be effective in achieving the high rate of tumor necrosis as well as in the evaluation of the tumor during follow-up.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Ethanol* ; Ethiodized Oil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Recurrence ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tumor Burden