No abstract available.
Selenium*

BACKGROUND: The electrophysiological effects of purinergic receptor agonists, adenosine triphosphate(ATP) and adenosine were examined using conventional microelectrode technique in rat atrial muscle fibers under superfused with a normal or a simulated ischemic(hypoxic, hyperkalemic and acidotic) physiologic salt solution(PSS) in vitro. METHODS: Action potential parameters, such as maximal diastolic potential(MDP), action potential amplitude(APA), rate of phase 0 depolarization(dv/dtmax) and action potential duration(APD90) were measured in electrically paced, physiologic salt solution(Tyrode's) superfused left rat atrium. In the experiment of ischemic simulation in vitro, normal physiologic salt solutions(NPSS0 were modified(MPSS) and superfused in substitute for normal Tyrode's solution. To investigate the effects of purinergic receptor agonists, ATP or adenosine was added to the superfused tyrode's solutions(NPSS or MPSS) in molar concentration. RESULTS: Under superfused with normal PSS, ATP(10(-3), 10(-4)M) elicited slight hyperpolarization in MDP, and both ATP(10(-6)-10(-3)M) and adenosine(10(-6)-10(-3)M) shortened the duration of normal action potential in a dose-dependent manner. The other paramaters were not affected by the drugs. Superfusion with ischemic PSS caused reductions in MDP as well as APA, dv/dtmax and, especially, APD90. The effects produced by the initial 10 minutes of superfusion with ischemic PSS almost completely disappeared during a subsequent period of continued superfusion with normal PSS, but, those by the initial 20 min lasted in some degree. Both ATP(10(-4)M) and adenosine(10(-4)M) attenuated the reduction in the rate of phase 0 depolarization and the amplitude of the action potential amplitude produced by the ischemic PSS. CONCLUSION: Purinergic receptor agonists, ATP and adensoine, caused a concentration-dependent shortening of the action potential duration in rat atrial muscle fibers and they attenuated the reductions in the rate of phase 0 depolarization and action potential amplitude in fibers superfused with ischemic PSS.
Action Potentials ; Adenosine ; Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Ischemia ; Microelectrodes ; Molar ; Purinergic Agonists* ; Rats ; Receptors, Purinergic

OBJECTIVES: There are a lot of studies that analyze the interaction between the emotion of disgust and the functional brain images using fMRI and PET. But studies using sLORETA (standardized low resolution brain electromagnetic tomography) almost do not exist. The aim of this research is to explore the relationship of the emotion of disgust and the cortical activation using sLORETA analysis. METHODS: Forty five healthy young adults (27.1+/-2.6 years) participated in the study. While they were watching 4 neutral images and 4 disgusting images associated with mutilation selected from the international affective picture system (IAPS), participants' EEGs were taken for 30 seconds per one picture. Through these obtained EEG data, sLORETA analysis was performed to compare EEGs associated with neutral and negative images. RESULTS: During looking for visual disgusting stimulus, all participants reported unpleasantness, arousal and stress. In sLORETA analysis, the decrease of current density in theta wave was shown at left frontal superior gyrus (BA10) and middle gyrus (BA10, 11). This voxel cluster consists of a total of 11 voxels and the threshold of t value indicating statistically significant decreases in the current density (p<0.05) was -1.984. There were no differences between male and female in the degree of being disgusted by the stimuli. CONCLUSION: This finding may suggest that the activation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex might be associated with regulating disgust emotion.
Arousal ; Brain ; Electroencephalography ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnets ; Male ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Young Adult

Patients with acromegaly have a reduced life expectancy rnainly due to cardiovascular, respiratory or cerebrovascular diseas-. Malignancy also seems to occur with greater than the expected incidence. In particular, the published retrospective or prospective studies have suggested a strong association of colonic neoplasia with acromegaly. But, there were a few reports of thyroid cancer in acrornegaly. We report a case of thyroid papillary cancer derived from diffuse goiter in acromegaly, sugge- sting the possible carcinogenic role of growth hormone.
Acromegaly ; Bites and Stings ; Colon ; Goiter ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Incidence ; Life Expectancy ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Biopsy, Needle* ; Needles*

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is a serious complication of ovulation induction and has a diverse clinical spectrum from edema to thromboembolism. Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, one of the well known hypercoagulable states, can be also manifested as an arterial or venous thrombosis and recurrent spontaneous abortion. Sometimes a patient with antiphospholipid antibodies might not notice a miscarriage and seek for assisted reproduction treatment, which harbors a chance of developing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. If this happens, the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome can exacerbate the thrombotic complication of underlying antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, resulting in a catastrophic vascular event. The authors experienced a case of middle cerebral artery infarct, which developed during ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in a 33-yr-old woman with a previous history of fetal loss. An elevated titer of anticardiolipin antibodies was noticed and persisted thereafter. The authors suggest screening tests for the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies before controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.
Adult ; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin/blood ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome/*complications/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Iatrogenic Disease ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery/*etiology/pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome/*complications/pathology ; Ovulation Induction ; Pregnancy ; *Pregnancy Complications/pathology

Young radish (Raphanus sativus L), a member of the mustard family (Cruciferae), is a common ingredient of Kimchi. Although few reports have described anaphylaxis to cruciferous vegetables, we report the case of anaphylaxis induced by contact with young radish. A 46-year-old female with a history of contact allergy to metal presented to our emergency room (ER) with dizziness, generalized eruption and gastrointestinal upset. Her symptoms developed after re-exposure to young radish while chopping it. Hypotensive blood pressures were noted. Three days prior, the patient had experienced generalized urticaria with pruritus immediately after chopping the fresh young radish, which resolved spontaneously. In the ER, her symptoms improved by the administration of epinephrine (0.3 mL), antihistamine (chlorpheniramine) and isotonic saline hydration. A skin prick test with young radish extract showed positive reactivity. The same skin test was negative in five adult controls. IgE-mediated hypersensitivity could be an important immunologic mechanism in the development of young radish-induced anaphylaxis.
Adult ; Anaphylaxis* ; Dizziness ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Epinephrine ; Female ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate ; Middle Aged ; Mustard Plant ; Pruritus ; Raphanus* ; Skin ; Skin Tests ; Urticaria ; Vegetables

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare factors that influence degenerative changes in patients undergoing total laminectomy and patients undergoing partial laminectomy. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Lumbar or lumbosacral fusion with total or partial laminectomy may result in adjacent segment problems of the upper segment. However, the differences between the two procedures that may influence adjacent segment instability are still controversial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 95 patients, followed up for at least 2 years, who had been treated with short level (at most 2 levels) posterior lumbar interbody fusion with pedicle fixation, secondary to spinal stenosis. Treatment procedures included total laminectomy (42 cases) and partial laminectomy (53 cases). We analyzed the preoperative status of the intervertebral discs (Thompson grade), difference of disc height, and difference between preoperative segmental sagittal angle and last follow-up sagittal angle. We excluded cases that required revision secondary to infection, nonunion, or hematoma formation. However, we included cases that required revision due to adjacent segmental problems during the follow-up period. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients treated with total laminectomy was 59.0+/-10.9 years, and of the patients treated with partial laminectomy was 58.8+/-10.2 years. The preoperative Thompson grade showed no statistical difference. The difference in disc height and segmental sagittal angle between the preoperative and last follow-up examinations showed no statistical difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in the radiographic or clinical outcomes based on removal or preservation of posterior structures. Nevertheless, we need further follow-up to evaluate adjacent segment degeneration.
Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Laminectomy ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; Spinal Stenosis

BACKGROUND: The development of postdural puncture headache is related to a patient's age, size, pregnancy, sex, type of dural puncture needle and direction of the needle bevel. We studied the effect of the needle size and type of dural puncture on postdural puncture headache after spinal anesthesia in the 40 patients. METHODS: Forty patients, belonging to ASA classes 1 and 2, were divided into 2 groups, one using the lumbar paramedian approach (n = 20, Group 1) on L4-5 interspinous space with a 24 G spinal needle and the the other using Taylor's approach (n = 20, Group 2) through S2 foramen with a 22G spinal needle. All patients received an infusion of lactated Ringer's solution (1,000 ml). After spinal anesthesia, we measured the incidence, onset, duration and severity of postdural puncture headache in the 40 patients. RESULTS: The incidence of postdural puncture headache is lower in Group 2 (0%) than in Group 1 (15%). The onset of postdural puncture headache occured within 24 hours in 100% of the patients in Group 1 and the duration of postdural puncture headache occured within 48 hours in 66.7% of the patients in Group 1. The severity of postdural puncture headache was mild and moderate in 3 cases of all the 3 cases with postdural puncture headache of Group 1. The location of postdural puncture headache was frontal in 2 cases and occipital in 1 case. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of postdural puncture headache is zero in Taylor's approach group in 20 patients. Therefore we think that spinal anesthesia using Taylor's approach is safer than spinal anesthesia with the lumar approach for postdural puncture headache.
Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Needles ; Post-Dural Puncture Headache* ; Pregnancy ; Punctures

PURPOSE: To document the radiologic characteristics of Korean Gaucher disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen bone marrow biopsy and laboratory data confirmed Gaucher disease patients (age 1 -21, mean 10.9 yr) wereundertaken plain X ray and MRI. Number of type I were 10, type II, 2, type III, 3. Seven were splenectomized oninitial evaluation or during follow up. Five enzyme treated patient were undertaken follow-up MR examinationduring 6 -40 month with 6 month interval. Conventional T1 and T2WI of spine and femur was performed and FMPSPGR inand out of phase image was also done. Volume of liver and spleen were measured, and bone marrow infiltration andpresence of infarction were scored according to 6 scale scoring system. Clinical data were also reviewed andcorrelated with the MR findings. RESULTS: Marrow infiltration was noted in 71.4% of all patients in MRI, while itwas in 45.7% with plain radiography. Type I group showed marrow infiltration in all but one cases, which wasparallel with ages, SGPT, and presence of osteopenia, reversely correlated with spleen size. Severe bonecomplications (infarction or fracture) were noted in 7 of 10 type I group, and 6 patients showed severe growthretardation (below 3rd percentile). Follow up MR examination of 5 patient showed decrease in liver and spleen sizefirst without bone change until 6 months. There showed bone regeneration in 2 patient 1 year after, and increasedfat signal in one patient 3.5 years after. In and out of phase images couldn't help in quantifying fatcomposition in bone marrow. CONCLUSION: Korean Gaucher patients revealed as more severe skeletal complicationsthan others reported from Western groups. MR examination is a effective modality to evaluate and monitor ofGaucher patients.
Alanine Transaminase ; Biopsy ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Bone Marrow ; Bone Regeneration ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gaucher Disease* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Liver ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Metabolism ; Radiography ; Spine ; Spleen