BACKGROUND: This study was aimed at defining the varying responses of porcine coronary artery(PCA) to various wavelengths of ultraviolet irradiation, and at relating them to the changes in cyclic GMP contents. METHODS: The ring preparations of PCA with intact or removed endothelium were irradiated with the ultraviolet or visible light of wavelengths(240-520mm) from xenon lamp of a spectrofluorometer, and the changes in vascular tension were recorder on polygraph. For cyclic GMP assay, rat thoracic aorta was frozen after irradiation and homogenated. The supernatant was extracted with water-saturated ether and the cyclic GMP contents were measured with radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Ultraviolet irradiation relaxed the preparations(UVR-relaxation) in resting state and those precontracted by prostaglandin F2alpha, the maximal relaxation occurring at 410nm, and the magnitude depending on the duration of irradiation. The UVR-relaxation was not affected by removing the endothelium, while it was markedly potentiated by pretreatment with Bay K 8644. The Bay K 8644-induced potentiation of UVR-relaxation was abolished by hemoglobin and slightly reduced by wrapping the rings with aluminum foil. Cyclic GMP contents in the increase was markedly potentiated by pretreatment with Bay K 8644. CONCLUSION: The observations suggest that UVR-relaxation in procine coronary artery is caused by activating the nitric oxide-cyclic GMP system, which is most sensitively activated by UVR of 410nm and that its potentiation induced by Bay K 8644 may be related nitrous substance released from the agent upon UVR.
3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester* ; Aluminum ; Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Bays* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Cyclic GMP ; Dinoprost ; Endothelium ; Ether ; Light* ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rats ; Relaxation* ; Ultraviolet Rays ; Vasodilation ; Xenon

No abstract available.
Leukemia, Hairy Cell*

Background: Pembrolizumab, an anti-cancer drug, is known to increase the activity of the immune system, leading to side effects called immune-related adverse events (irAE), including type 1 diabetes. This study analyzed the correlation between blood glucose level and pembrolizumab administration and investigated the covariates that affect those changes in cancer treatment. Methods: The information of 133 adult cancer patients was obtained from the electronic medical record (EMR) to identify the changes in random blood glucose (RBG) levels during the pembrolizumab treatment. Subjects were classified into subgroups according to their baseline RBG level, history of diabetes, and the use of steroids, and linear regression analysis was conducted. In addition, a secondary analysis was performed within the group of subjects having a strong correlation to glycemic change, which was based on the Pearson correlation coefficient being less than -0.7 or greater than +0.7. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to identify the risk factors to glycemic increase. Results: The RBG level tended to descend without significant differences in total patients during the administration period of pembrolizumab. Despite the insignificance, the logistic regression analysis presents that the odds ratios of baseline RBG less than 130 mg/dL, prophylactic steroid use, and higher dose of pembrolizumab per cycle (mg/kg/ cycle) were greater than 1. Conclusions Prophylactic administration of steroids and a higher dose of pembrolizumab per cycle may increase the blood glucose level as irAE in cancer patients with a strong tendency to glycemic change.

Background: Pembrolizumab, an anti-cancer drug, is known to increase the activity of the immune system, leading to side effects called immune-related adverse events (irAE), including type 1 diabetes. This study analyzed the correlation between blood glucose level and pembrolizumab administration and investigated the covariates that affect those changes in cancer treatment. Methods: The information of 133 adult cancer patients was obtained from the electronic medical record (EMR) to identify the changes in random blood glucose (RBG) levels during the pembrolizumab treatment. Subjects were classified into subgroups according to their baseline RBG level, history of diabetes, and the use of steroids, and linear regression analysis was conducted. In addition, a secondary analysis was performed within the group of subjects having a strong correlation to glycemic change, which was based on the Pearson correlation coefficient being less than -0.7 or greater than +0.7. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to identify the risk factors to glycemic increase. Results: The RBG level tended to descend without significant differences in total patients during the administration period of pembrolizumab. Despite the insignificance, the logistic regression analysis presents that the odds ratios of baseline RBG less than 130 mg/dL, prophylactic steroid use, and higher dose of pembrolizumab per cycle (mg/kg/ cycle) were greater than 1. Conclusions Prophylactic administration of steroids and a higher dose of pembrolizumab per cycle may increase the blood glucose level as irAE in cancer patients with a strong tendency to glycemic change.

Severe sepsis and septic shock are the main causes of death in critically ill patients. Early detection and appropriate treatment according to guidelines are crucial for achieving favorable outcomes. Endotoxin is considered to be a main element in the pathogenic induction of gram-negative bacterial sepsis. Polymyxin B hemoperfusion can remove endotoxin and is reported to improve clinical outcomes in patients with intra-abdominal septic shock, but its clinical efficacy for pneumonic septic shock remains unclear. Here, we report a case of a 51-year-old man with pneumonic septic shock caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, who recovered through polymyxin B hemoperfusion.
Cause of Death ; Critical Illness ; Gram-Negative Bacteria* ; Hemoperfusion* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Polymyxin B* ; Polymyxins* ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Sepsis ; Shock, Septic*

Telomerase is an enzyme that maintains telomeres and prevents telomere shortening, and may be linked with cellular proliferation or the aging process. The purpose was to examine telomerase activity in human chorionic villi from early and term normal pregnancies, and to analyze the correlation of telomerase activity (TA) with MIB-1 & bcl-2. A total of 37 placentae were obtained from 16 early and 21 term pregnancies. TA was assayed by telomeric repeat amplification protocol, and immunohistochemical staining was performed for MIB-1 & bcl-2 expression. TA & MIB-1 expression were strong in early placenta, but bcl-2 was highly expressed in term placentae. Thirteen (81.25%) of 16 early placentae showed TA, but only 2 (9.52%) of 21 term placentae expressed TA (p<0.01). MIB-1 was observed in nuclei of cytotrophoblast, and the expression rate was 16.09% in early placentae and 2.87% in term placentae (p<0.01). bcl-2 was observed only in the cytoplasm of syncytiotrophoblast. Term placenta demonstrated stronger expression of bcl-2 compared to early placentae (p<0.05). These findings suggest that TA, MIB-1 & bcl-2 expression are critically regulated over the course of gestation: cytotrophoblast, main cells of early chorionic villi, may be a common source of telomerase and proliferative activity. The TA showed good correlation with cellular proliferative activity. Syncytiotrophoblast, may be a main source of bcl-2 expression which is stronger in the term placentae.
Aging ; Cell Proliferation ; Chorion* ; Chorionic Villi* ; Cytoplasm ; Humans* ; Placenta ; Pregnancy* ; Telomerase* ; Telomere ; Telomere Shortening ; Trophoblasts

Effect of diltiazem hydrochloride on cardiac performance with particular reference to the antianginal action was studied in 17 patients with ischemic heart disease, including 12 cases of effort angina, by means of clinical and mechanocardiographic evaluations. All patients were kept on the same medications from at least 2 weeks prior to diltiazem administration until the end of the study, and were prescribed no other antianginal drugs except for liberal use of sublingual nitroglycerin. Diltiazem was given 90mg a day in three divided doses for two weeks. Clinical and mechanocardiographic evaluations, including calculations of pressure rate product(PRP), triple product(TP) and tension time index(TTI), were made before and at a weekly interval after diltiazem administration. After the medication, heart rate, blood pressure and the pre-ejection period(PEP) with its ratio to the ejection time tended to decrease, and the decreases in heart rate and the PEP at the end of two weeks were significant. The PRP, TP and TTI were also significantly decreased at the end of the second week, and the decrease in the TTI was significant even a week after the medication. An antianginal effect, which appeared within few days, was excellent to good in over 90 percent of the cases. These facts suggest that diltiazem hydrochloride has no negative inotropic action and its antianginal effecti in its early stage of the drug administration is primarily due to coronary vasodilation and, as the drug is continued, is contributed to possibly by the decrease in the myocardial oxygen consumption as well.
Angina Pectoris* ; Blood Pressure ; Diltiazem* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Myocardial Ischemia* ; Nitroglycerin ; Oxygen Consumption ; Vasodilation

Small cell carcinoma does originate from APUD cells of any parts of the body. Usually the cases discovered in the lung and have poor prognosis. In esophagus only about 100 cases are reported world widely after McKneown reports in 1952 and only 2 cases were reported in Korea. There was a cese of small cell carcinoma developed multiple lesions in esophagus but no reports said that small cell carcinoma developed syncronously in esophagus and other organs. We are to report a case that showed a multiple lesions in esophagus and cardia. The patient 60 yeata old man, has suffered from the substernal discomfort and significant weight loss for one month.
APUD Cells ; Carcinoma, Small Cell* ; Cardia* ; Esophagus* ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Prognosis ; Stomach ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: The authors tried to analyze the distribution of associated intra-articular lesions using the arthroscope in excision of popliteal cyst observed in adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors examined intra-articular lesions identified by arthroscopic examination on 113 adult patients(117 cases) who were diagnosed as having popliteal cyst that didn't respond to the conservative treatment. And for the operation, intra-articular examination using arthroscope was performed in supine position and the authors performed one-stage excision of cyst without position change of patients. RESULTS: In 104 cases(88.9%) of total 117 cases, combined intra-articular lesions were identified, Among these, most cases were 72 cases(69.2%) of degenerative chondral lesion and 31 cases(29.8%) of meniscus tear. Communication between cyst and joint was observed in 63 cases(53.8%). There was neither postoperative complication nor recurrence of cyst during out-patient follow-up periods. CONCLUSIONs: In cases of adult patient who have popliteal cyst that doesn't respond to the conservative treatment, possible associated intra-articular lesions should be considered., and arthroscopic examination and proper treatment far those associated lesions are thought to lower the recurrence rate.
Adult* ; Arthroscopes* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Outpatients ; Popliteal Cyst* ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Supine Position

No abstract available.
Cleft Palate* ; Humans