BACKGROUND: Angiotensin convertiong enzyme inhibitors have been shown to exert favorable effects on the left ventricular remodeling process associated with ventricular dilation after coronary occlusion. However, the effects of such therapy on global and regional left ventricular remodeling after coronart artery reperfusion have not been characterized, nor have such effects been assessed after exercise training. METHODS AND RESULTS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats(n=80) were randodmized into 4 groups at 5 days after 45 minutes of left coronary artery occlusion followed by reperfusion. Animals completion the experiment included : Untreated Sedentary group(n=20), Untreated with Swimming Exercise group(n=21), Captopril Treated Sedentary group(n=18) and Captoril Treated with Exercise group(n=21). At 3 weeks after randomization, global and regional morphologic changes of the left ventricle(LV) were examined from mid-ventricular transverse slices which were perfusion-fixed at a constant aortic pressure of 60mmHg and a left ventricular cavity pressure of 10mmHG. At rest and during exercise, compared to untreated rats, the captopril treated animals showed significantly decreased LV weight/tibial length ratio(LV/TL)(p<0.01),increased LV cavity area and dimension(both p<0.01), decreased total myocardial area and noninfarcted area(both p<30.001) and reduced wall thicknesses in the noninfarcted and infarcted regions(both p<0.001). Compared to treated and untreated dsedentary rats, exercise significantly increased LV/TL(p<0.05) and epicardial and endocardial areas in the infarcted zone(both p<0.05) and decreased transmurality(p<0.01). Exercise decreased LV cavity area in the captopril treated groups(42.3+/-10.4 vs. 40.4+/-6.0mm2),whereas exercise increased LV cavity area in the untreated groups(33.5+/-8.9 vs. 39.1+/-6.2mm2)(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings provide evidence in rats for evidence in rats for exaggerated left ventricular dilation and supperssion of compensatory myocardial hypertrophy globally and in the infarct zone with 3 weeks of captopril treatment following coronary artery reperfusion with acute nontransmural myocardial infarction. In addition, the effects of captopril on LV dilation and suppression of global and regional hypertrophic response were partially reversible by swimming exercise.
Angiotensins ; Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Arteries ; Captopril ; Coronary Occlusion ; Coronary Vessels* ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Random Allocation ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion* ; Swimming ; Ventricular Remodeling*

The antihypertensive effect of nicardipine was studied in 31 cases of essential hypertension and following results were obtained. 1) Daily dose was 30-60mg for 10 weeks. 2) Mean systolic and diastolic pressure were decreased by 39.5mmHg 921%) and 17.2mmHg(15%) respectively(P<0.005) and in 84% of cases, good or fair control of blood pressure was proved. 3) There was no significant change in heart rates before and after treatment. 4) There were no significant side effects except two cases of mild headache and facial flushing which subsided spontaneously.
Blood Pressure ; Flushing ; Headache ; Heart Rate ; Hypertension ; Nicardipine*

No abstract available.
Occupations*

In order to study the relationship between life-style and serum lipids level in young adults, the author measured the concentration of serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and investigated age, relative weight, weekly alcohol intake and daily cigarette smoking through questionnaire in 310 male workers aged 20 to 39, in Ulsan area. The results obtained were as follows: 1. In the factors being able to influence serum lipids level there was negative correlation between age and alcohol intake, and the positive corrrelation between age and relative weight, alcohol intake and relative weight, alcohol intake and smoking with the strongest correlation between alcohol intake and smoking. 2. In univariate analysis, mean total cholesterol concentration were significantly different according to age, smoking and relative weight; mean triglyceride concentration were significantly different according to relative weight only; mean HDL-C concentration were significantly different according to alcohol intake alone. 3. In non-drinkers, HDL-C concentration of smokers were significantly lower than that of nonsmokers but triglyceride concentration of smokers were significant higher. And in drinkers, total cholesterol concentration of smokers was significantly higher than that of non-smokers. 4. In multiple regression analysis, significant independent variables were relative weight, age and smoking in the total cholesterol concentration, and relative weight, age and alcohol intake in the triglyceride concentration, and alcohol intake, relative weight and smoking in the HDL-C concentration. By these independent variables, total variation in each dependent variable was explained 7.9%, 17.6% and 7.4% respectively.
Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Humans ; Male* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Triglycerides ; Ulsan ; Young Adult*

PURPOSE: There has been various reports on the inverse association between coffee consumption and serum gamma-glutamyltransferase(GGT) activity in the general population of Western countries. However, this association is uncertain in the communities in which coffee consumption is less popular. So we tried to identify this association in men of rural area in Korea. METHODS: We examined the association between coffee consumption and serum GGT activity in cross-sectional study involving 379 male population health examinees aged 40 years and older from rural areas in Kyungnam prefecture in Korea. Those who perceived their health status as poor were excluded. Possible confounding effects of age, body mass index, alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking were controlled by multiple regression analysis and analysis of covariance. RESULTS: In multiple regression analysis, serum GGT activity was positively associated with alcohol intake, body mass index(P<0.001) and was negatively associated with coffee consumption(P=0.022), whereas no significant association was observed in cigarette smoking(P=0.094). Adjusted serum GGT activity level at the coffee consumption level of 0, one and two or more cups a day was 37.6 U/l, 35.9 U/l and 26.8 U/l respectively(Ptrend=0.008). CONCLUSION: Decreased serum GGT activity appears to be associated with coffee consumption in men of rural area, and further studies on the interrelationships among coffee consumption, alcohol intake and obesity will be necessary.
Alcohol Drinking ; Body Mass Index ; Coffee* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase* ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Obesity ; Smoking ; Tobacco Products

PURPOSE: After 16 weeks of gestational age, amniotic fluid is mainly consisted fetal urine. There is a close correlation between oligohydramnios associated with urinary tract anomaly and pulmonary development. Therefore, fetuses with oligohydramnios starting in the second trimester are considered to have uniformly fatal outcomes. We try to survey clinical characteristics of fetuses with oligohydramnios on autopsy and to find the need of perinatal management in fetuses with urinary tract anomaly and oligohydramnios which is occurred since second trimester. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed gestational age at presentation, maternal age, causes of oligohydramnios, external physical examination, prenatal sonographic findings, underlying urologic anomalies, associated anomalies of other organs and ultimate outcomes in eighteen fetuses with oligohydramnios among 301 autopsy fetuses from 1986 to 1991. RESULTS: It occurred predominantly in male as a ratio of 2.6:1 Gestational age of fetuses at presentation ranged from 21 to 47 weeks(average: 32.6) and maternal age from 20 to 33 years(average: 28.3). Causes of oligohydramnios in 18 fetuses ware fetal renal anomalies with intrauterine growth retardation(IUGR)(6), fetal renal anomalies(3), fetal death in uterine(3), urinary tract obstruction with IUGR(2) et al Inaccuracy rate between prenatal sonographic findings and autopsy findings was 53.8%, 0% in fetuses with urologic anomalies and with non-urologic anomalies, respectively. Underlying urinary tract anomalies consisted of bilateral renal dysplasia(4), posterior urethral valves(2), bilateral renal agenesis(1), bilateral renal hypoplasia(1), unilateral renal dysplasia and contralateral renal hypoplasia(1), infantile polycyctic kidney(1) et al. The most frequent anomaly of other organ was respiratory system anomalies, especially pulmonary hypoplasia. The prognosis in our cases with oligohydramnios was dismal as much as all fetuses except one, still birth, died of respiratory failure at perinatal periods. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these experiences we have the policy to induce delivery and early perinatal management in cases with second or third trimester onset of severe oligohydramnics with urinary tract abnormalites.
Amniotic Fluid ; Autopsy* ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Fetal Death ; Fetus* ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Male ; Maternal Age ; Oligohydramnios* ; Parturition ; Physical Examination ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Respiratory System ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract

BACKGROUND: Depression is found more frequently in epileptic patients and tends to be more severe in those with temporal lobe epilepsy, than in patients with comparable chronic neurologic diseases or physical handicaps. The purposes of this study were to evaluate (1) the characteristics and frequency of depression in group of temporal lobe epileptic out-patients with hippocampal atrophy; (2) the relationship between depression and the laterality of hippocampal atrophy, and (3) the possible correlation between depression and the duration of epilepsy, sex, education, age, occupation, seizure frequency, and other seizure variables. METHODS: We included 40 temporal lobe epilepsy patients with unilateral hippocampal atrophy on MRI study. We used the Beck Depression Inventory to measure the level of depression. The results were compared with those of 50 normal controls. RESULTS: (1) Epilepsy patients with hippocampal atrophy indicated more severe depression than the normal controls. If we consider the cut-off score for depression as being more than 21 points of the Beck Depression Inventory score, then the frequency of depression in TLE with hippocampal atrophy would be 45% compared to the 14% in controls. (2) Occupation and seizure frequencies were factors related to severe depression. However, the age, age of onset, duration of illness, religion, education, and multi-drug therapy, were not related to the severity of depression. (3) Scores on the BDI questions representing mood symptoms were significantly higher in the left TLE group. However, the frequencies of those representing vegetative and somatic symptoms were not different between the two groups. Self-reproach symptoms increased equally in both temporal lobe epilepsy groups. (4) There were no clear associations between depressive disorders and the laterality of epileptic lesions in the TLE patients. CONCLUSIONS: We found no clear association between the affective disorders in epilepsy and the site of epileptic lesions.
Age of Onset ; Atrophy* ; Depression* ; Depressive Disorder ; Education ; Epilepsy ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mood Disorders ; Occupations ; Outpatients ; Seizures ; Temporal Lobe*

Succinylcholine-induced prolonged neuromuscular blockade may occur in patients with either a low level of plasma cholinesterase activity or genotypically abnormal form of that enzyme. We experienced a case of succinylcholine-induced prolonged apnea due to a low level of plasma cholinesterase activity. A 31-year-old woman, full term primigravida, underwent cesarean section for breech presentation under general anesthesia. Familial and past medical history were nonspecific and preoperative physical and laboratory findings were within normal range. After operation, delayed apnea was detected and lasted for about one hour. We performed controlled and assisted ventilation for two and half hours. Plasma cholinesterase activity measured 30.00 IU/L (colorimetric method, normal value: 1130~1960 IU/L) at the first postoperative day. She was discharged on 7th postoperative day without any sequelae. From follow-up study after six months, it measured 1.02 U/ml (EIA, normal value: 7~9 U/ml).
Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; Apnea* ; Breech Presentation ; Cesarean Section* ; Cholinesterases* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Plasma* ; Pregnancy ; Reference Values ; Ventilation

The effects of KCI continus tablet(K-Contin(R)) on the serum level of K and uric acid during hydrochlorothizide therapy(25mg/day) were evaluated in 30 patients with essential hypertensien. The results are as follows : 1) During hydrochlorothiazide therapy(25mg/day), 23% of all patients showed hypopotassemia(<3.5mEq/1) while no patient developed hypopotassemia after potassium supplement therapy(8 mEq/day). 2) During the period of K supplement, the level of serum uric acid showed less elevation. 3) The side reaction of KCI continus tablet were mild indigestion which developed in two patients and disappeared soon without any particular treatment. In conclusion, the KCI continus tablet is useful in the prevention of hypopotassemia during chronic diuretic therapy.
Dyspepsia ; Humans ; Hydrochlorothiazide ; Hypokalemia ; Potassium ; Uric Acid*

The authors analysed retrospectively 56 cases of bile duct cancer, which were confirmed by histologically in47 cases and highly suuspected by clinically and radiologically in 9 cases. The resutls were as follows: 1. Themost prevalent age groups were 5th decade and a male to female ratio is 2.7:1. 2. The location of bile ductcarcinomas were common bile duct in 36%, common hepatic duct in 25%, junction in 13%, porta haptis in 11% anddiffuse involvement in 5%. 3. The accuracy of predicting obstruction is by ultrasonography was 76%. 4. Correctdiagnosis as bile duct carcinoma was made in 29 cases(43%). 5. The echogenicity of bile duct carcinoma compare toliver parenchyme was hyperechoic in 10 cases(34.5%), isoechoic in 14 cases(48.3%) and hypoechoic in 5cases(17.2%). 6. Posterior acoustic shadowing was seen in 5 cases. 7. The shape of obstruction site was abruptcut-off in 12 cases(41%), funnel shape in 7 cases(24%) and indistinct in 10 cases(35%).
Acoustics ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; Bile Ducts ; Bile ; Biliary Tract ; Common Bile Duct ; Female ; Hepatic Duct, Common ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Shadowing (Histology) ; Ultrasonography