OBJECTIVE: We examined the vasoconstricting poperties of endothelin (ET) on isolated arteries from pregnant as well as non-pregnant uterus. METHODS: Arteries of the uterus were obtained from both hysterectomized uterus and during pregnany hysterectomy for control group and cesarean section for pregnant group. Rings of uterine artery were suspended on muscle chambers at their optimal length for generating tension and contractile properties were examined. RESULTS: ET-1 and ET-2 induced concentration-dependent constriction of both isolated arterial strips from non-pregnant and pregnant uterus. The contraction to ET-1 and ET-2 were more enhanced in full-term pregnancy. Furthermore, in pregnant group, sarafotoxin S6c and IRL 1620, ET. agonists, induced a dose-dependent contraction, which was not shown in those from non-pregnant human. Pretreatment of human uterine arterial strips from pregnant uterus with BQ610, an ET. antagonist, for 10 min resulted in a dose-related rightward shift of ET-1 response curve with diminution of maximal response. Schild plot analysis yielded a pA value of 7.29 with a slope of 0.98. However, BQ788, an ET antagonist, did not produce any rightward shift. The contraction to lower concentration (10-8~3*10-7 M) of sarafotoxin S6c was not affected by BQ788, whereas that to higher concentration (10-s-8*10-7 M) was marked diminished. However, BQ610 did not exnt any efFect on sarafotoxin S6c-induced contraction in arterial staips from pregnant uterus. When the bath solution was replaced with Ca-free physiological salt solution (PSS) containing 1 mM EGTA for 10 min prior to adding sarafotoxin S6c, sarafotoxin S6c-induced contraction was completely abolished. Sarafotoxin S6c (10 nM)-induced contraction was prefetentially blocked by a protein kinase C antagonist, H-7, whereas it was less sensitive to a calmodulin antagonist, calmidazolium, CONCLUSION: Based on above results, we concluded that ET plays an important role in regulating uterine blood flow through the activation of ETa and ETB receptors. Furthermote, ETB receptors may predominantly contribute to the modulation of human uterine circulation in full-term pregnancy.
1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine ; Arteries* ; Baths ; Calmodulin ; Cesarean Section ; Constriction ; Egtazic Acid ; Endothelin-2 ; Endothelins* ; Female ; Humans* ; Hysterectomy ; Pregnancy ; Protein Kinase C ; Receptors, Endothelin ; Uterine Artery ; Uterus*

No abstract available.
Depression, Postpartum* ; Female ; Postpartum Period*

The incidence of intracranal aneurysm is rare in childhood and adolescence. During the period from January 1982 through December 1989, 793 aneurysms were operated on the our department. Of these 8 aneurysms occurred 8 patients under age of 18 years. The average age was 11.6 years(range 4 to 18 years). There were 6 male and 2 females. Presenting sings and symptoms included SAH in 6 aneurysms and focal neurologic deficits in 2 aneurysms. All aneurysms were surgically treated : direct clipping was performed in 6, aneurysmorraphy in 1, trapping alone in 1. The postoperative result were excellent in 5, good in 2, and fair in 1. The rarity of such lesions in childhood and adolescence and their pathogenesis are reviewed briefly.
Adolescent* ; Aneurysm ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Male ; Neurologic Manifestations

OBJECTIVE: Embryonic stem cells (ES cells) are pluripotential, and are therefore used to construct gene knock-out mice and to study cell differentiation and early developmental processes in mice. This study was designated to examine apoptotic processes in ES cells according to culture conditions and to study roles of extracellular matrix on the process. METHODS: Apoptosis was determined by DNA fragmentation and kinase activity during apoptotic process was measured. RESULTS: The apoptosis of mouse ES cells was induced when the cells were dispersed as single cells, whereas this process was suppressed when they proliferated in aggregates. Single cell suspension culture did not affect expression of bcl-2 and bax mRNA. Single cell suspension culture activated stress-activated protein kinase/c-jun-N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK), but not p38 kinase. The apoptosis of ES cells was repressed when the cells were cultured on feeders prepared from mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF), or on the petri dishes coated with fibronectin or laminin, but not with collagen or poly-L-lysine. Culture supernatants from MEF cells did not block the apoptosis of ES cells, which suggests that a direct interaction between ES cells and MEF cells is required for the suppression of apoptosis. Activation of SAPK/JNK by single cell suspension was protected by interaction of cells with laminin or fibronectin, but not with collagen or poly-L-lysine. CONCLUSION: The suspension of ES cells as single cells causes serious damage and induces apoptosis, and the apoptotic process is mediated by the activation of SAPK/JNK and is inhibited by the interaction of ES cells with extracellular matrix.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Cell Differentiation ; Collagen ; DNA Fragmentation ; Embryonic Stem Cells* ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblasts ; Fibronectins ; Laminin ; Mice* ; Mice, Knockout ; Phosphotransferases ; RNA, Messenger

The reports of the association of cerebral aneurysm and brain tumor are rare. Recently, we experienced five cases of association of cerebral aneurysm and bain tumor and available literature were reviewed. Of five cases of brain tumor, there were two cases of meningioma, two cases of pituitary adenoma and a case of malignant glioma. Vascular clips were used for aneurysm obliteration in three cases, coating was in a case and four cases of them had favorable outcome. The association of cerebral aneurysm and brain tumor had difficult problems in treatment such as brain swelling and hemorrhage from the aneurysm after removal of tumor.
Aneurysm ; Brain Edema ; Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; Glioma ; Hemorrhage ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Meningioma ; Pituitary Neoplasms

We retrospecively analyzed MRI findings of 14 patients with intracranial tuberculosis according to the disease process before anti-tuberculous medication. We also analyzed the correlativity between these findings and the clinical outcome after anti-tuberculous medication in 8 patients who had taken follow-up MR imaging. MR imaging was performed with either a 0.5T(1 patients) or 1.0T(13 patients) superconducting system with spinecho pulse sequences. Abnormalities on MRI were seen in 87%(12/14) of the patients. MRI findings consisted of meningeal enhancement(n=10), parenchymal tuberculoma(n=6), hydrocephalus(n=5), and infarction(n=5). Most of them were found within 3 months from symptom-onset. Parenchymal tuberculomas were found after 1 month of symptom-onset. All cases of hydrocephalus and infarction were associated with meningeal enhancement. On follow-up MRI after anti-tuberculous medication, changes of MR imaging did not correlate with clinical outocome in 4(50%) of 8 patients. Improvement of MRI findings were observed in patient treated for more than 3 weeks. In conclusion, MRI is a good modality in the diagnosis of intracranial tuberculosis, however, the MRI findings are not always correlated with clinical outcome after, anti-tuberculous medication.
Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Tuberculoma ; Tuberculosis*

To provide a guideline of accurate diagnosis and proper methods of treatment of meningioma, the most common benign intracranial tumor, the author studied 57 cases of meningioma who had been diagnosed and operated at the Department of Neurosurgery, Inje Medical College, Paik Hospital, Pusan from July, 1983 to June, 1988. The results were as followings. 1) The ratio of male to female was 1 to 2.2 and 31.6% of the 57 patients were in the 5 th decade of age and 29.8% in the 6 th decade. 2) The predilection sites were parasagittal and falx(33.3%), convexity(26.3%) and sphenoid ridge (21.1%) areas. The most frequent histological type was meningotheliomatous type(47.4%) which was followed by transitional(15.8%) and fibroblastic(10.5%) type. 3) The common initial clinical features were headache(29.3%), visual disturbance(24.6%), seizure(22.8%) and motor weakness(10.5%). In radiologic diagnostic tests, there were abnormal findings in 47.4% on plain skull X-ray, the possibility of diagnosis as the meningioma was 91.2% by means of brain CT scan only, which was regarded as the most accurate and safe method. 4) The extent of operation were total(84.2%), subtotoal(12.3%) and partial(3.5%) removal, The surgical outcome were excellent(49.1%) and good(29.8%). 5) The preoperative embolization of feeding artery was effective to reduce the operative bleeding, and the CO2 laser was thought to be effective surgical tool to remove the meningioma, with its unique properties of non-mechanical bloodless evaporation of tumor and minimalizing of brain edema.
Arteries ; Brain ; Brain Edema ; Busan ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lasers, Gas ; Male ; Meningioma* ; Neurosurgery ; Skull ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The authors are reporting traumatic giant aneurysm arising from supraclinoid portion of internal carotid artery. The patients was a 22-years old man who had suffered a major head injury in a traffic accident. On admission he was comatous and there were multiple abrasion over the body and severe hemorrhage comming from the left ear with open fracture in left parietal. 4 weeks later, computed tomographic scan demonstrated large well enhanced mass in the suprasellar region. Carotid angiography showed giant aneurysm fed by supraclinoid portion of internal carotid artery. After frontotemporal craniectomy, direct approach was performed using surgical microscope.
Accidents, Traffic ; Aneurysm* ; Angiography ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Ear ; Fractures, Open ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Rabeprazole ; Young Adult

The authors reported the cases of 23 patients with aneurysms measuring 2.5 cm or greater in diameter found during 7 years period in which we performed 596 operations for aneurysm of the 23 patients, 14 were treated by direct operation, 3 by internal carotid ligation with or without bypass surgery, 2 by trapping, 1 by wrapping and the other 3 by conservative therapy. The overall incidence of giant aneurysms was 3.9% but varied according to location; 9 cases were located on the internal carotid artery; 8 were on the anterior communicating artery; 5 were on the middle cerebral artery. 14 patients had hemorrhagic attacks, 7 had mass effects from the aneurysm, and 2 had ischemic events. Overall favorable outcome was 65% and the mortality was 13%. Based on the review of the literature, the appropriateness of surgery and surgical methods are discussed.
Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Ligation ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Mortality

Direct operation for ruptured aneurysm should be the choice of treatment in elderly patients same as in younger cases. The early operation is an effective and reliable method to reduce the occurrence of rebleeding, vasospasm, ischemic complication, medical complication & to shorten lengths of hospitalization. To evaluate the risk of early operation of elderly patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysm. conducted a retrospective analysis 81 elderly patients with ruptured aneurysms who were over aged 60 years between Jan 1985 to June 1988. Of these, 47 case were performed early operation in which the direct intracranial operation was carried out within 3 days after last subarachnoid hemorrage. 77 % had favorable outcome and 13% died.
Aged* ; Aneurysm, Ruptured* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Retrospective Studies