This study was performed to investigate the mechanism of the clozapine-induced seizures in partially restrained rats by concomitant treatment with drugs affecting monoaminergic systems. Partially restrained rats treated with acute single doses of 10mg/kg clozapine exhibited myoclonic jerks(MJs). Drugs affecting the monoaminergic systems, including 2mg/kg haloperidol, 5mg/kg propranolol, 2mg/kg ritanserin, 20mg/kg fluoxetine, and 20mg/kg imipramine, were concomitantly treated with clozapine to observe the effects of these drugs on the MJs. The drugs were given intraperitoneally either as acute single doses(haloperidol, propranolol, ritanserin, and fluoxetine) or as chronic doses for 21 days(haloperidol, imipramine, ritanserin, and fluoxetine). The effects of the concomitant treatment of other drugs on the clozapine-induced MJs were evaluated by comparison of the total numbers of the MJs between the clozapine-treated and concomitantly treated groups. The results were as follows. 1) Concomitant treatment with acute single doses of haloperidol, propranolol, and fluoxetine reduced the total numbers of the clozapine-induced MJs, while concomitant treatment with ritanserin did not. 2) Concomitant treatment with chronic doses of imipramine and ritanserin increased the total numbers of the MJs, while concomitant treatment with fluoxetine reduced them. Concomitant chronic treatment with haloperidol did not affect the numbers of the MJs. These results suggest that dopamine and serotonin, not noradrenalin may be involved in the clozapine-induced MJs in partially restrained rats. Future research needs to study the function of each subtype of monoaminergic receptors on the mechanism of the clozapine-induced seizure.
Animals ; Clozapine ; Dopamine ; Fluoxetine ; Haloperidol ; Imipramine ; Myoclonus* ; Propranolol ; Rats* ; Ritanserin ; Seizures ; Serotonin

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Simvastatin, a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, We ibsweved the changes of clinical characteristics and lipid profiles after Simvastatin administration in patients with hypercholesterolemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: Simvastatin 10mg was given once daily for 12 weeks in 35 patients (60+/-6.0 years : 14 male, 21 female) with hypercholesterolemia. High density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) was increased from 38+-10 to 45+-9mg/dl(p<0.05). Simvastatin significantly decreased total cholesterol(TC) from 235+-15 to 181+-21mg/dl(23.0%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from 164+-19 to 104+-18mg/dl(36.5%), TC/HDL-C from 7.0+-2.0 to 4.4+-1.1, LDL-C/HDL-C from 4.9+-1.7 to 2.5+-0.8(p<0.01 respectively). Apo B was decreased by 31%(119+-19 to 87+-15mg/dl), apo B/A1 ratio was decreased by 41%(1.2+-0.2 to 0.7+-0.2) amd lipoprotein(a) edcreased by 12%(33+-22 to 29+-17), while apo A1 was increased by 25%(104+-18 to 130+-23mg/dl, p<0.01 respectively). No patients complained of chest pain, but two had skin rashes. Creatine kinase and creatinine were not changed in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Somvastatin is an effective and well tolerated cholesterol lowering agent in patients with hypercholesterolemia.
Apolipoprotein A-I ; Apolipoproteins ; Apolipoproteins B ; Chest Pain ; Cholesterol ; Creatine Kinase ; Creatinine ; Exanthema ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia* ; Lipoprotein(a) ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Oxidoreductases ; Simvastatin*

PURPOSE: Within Hoffa's infrapatellar fat pad there are two synovial clefts, horizontal and vertical, whichcommunicate with the intra-articular space. Intra-articular lesions can also occur in these clefts, and are oftendifficult to differentiate from extra-articular lesions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate, using MRimaging, the lesions occurring in these synovial lined clefts, as well as associated abnormalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one knees of 31 patients with lesions in horizontal and vertical clefts in Hoffa's infrapatellarfat pad were retrospectively evaluated. Using a 1.5T MR imager, axial, sagittal, and coronal MR images of kneeswere obtained. Lesions in clefts, degree of joint effusion and associated knee abnormalities were analyzed. RESULTS: Horizontal cleft lesions were noted in 21 cases ; there were 17 cystic dilatations, two loose bodies,one synovial chondroma, and one case of pigmented villonodular synovitis(PVNS). Vertical cleft lesions were notedin 15 cases ; these comprised 11 cystic dilatations, two loose bodies, one synovial osteochondromatosis, and onePVNS. Among all cases, three cystic dilatations, one loose body, and one PVNS occurred in both horizontal andvertical clefts. Among 25 knees with cystic dilatations of clefts, five showed grade I joint effusion, ten gradeII, and ten grade III. Associated abnormalities were meniscal tear in 16 cases, osteoarthritis in 13, cruciateligament tear in five, osteochondritis dissecans in three, osteochondral fracture in two, osteonecrosis in one,loose body in one, and synovitis in one. CONCLUSION: Among synovial-lined clefts in Hoffa's fat pad, the mostcommon lesion was cystic dilatation ; there were various associated abnormalities and a close relationship tojoint effusion. An awareness of the types of lesions found in clefts is helpful for narrowing the differentialdiagnosis of lesions occurring in the area of Hoffa's fat pad.
Adipose Tissue* ; Chondroma ; Chondromatosis, Synovial ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteochondritis Dissecans ; Osteonecrosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Synovitis

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis(SEP) is now a well-recognised, but uncommon complication of chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis(CAPD). The etiology is unclear, but SEP is believed to be multifactorial. The most important factors seem to be the length of time on peritoneal dialysis and previous episodes of peritonitis. Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, abdominal pain, and a reduction of the ability of the peritoneum to act as a dialyzing membrane are the usual presenting problems. We experienced one case of SEP presenting a huge pseudocyst in the patient of end stage renal failure on the maintenance hemodialysis for 5 years, even though he had a history of CAPD for 5 years. So we report this case with review of the literature.
Abdominal Pain ; Anorexia ; Humans ; Membranes ; Nausea ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Peritoneum ; Peritonitis* ; Renal Dialysis* ; Renal Insufficiency* ; Vomiting ; Weight Loss

BACKGROUND: Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with intravenous adenosine has proved efficacy for the diagonosis and risk stratification of coronary artery disease. To determine the safety of adenosine infusion in conjunction with radionuclide imaging, we evaluated prospectively 1,093 patients who underwent myocardial perfusion study. METHODS: Informations on safety and adverse events during and immediately after adenosine infusion were collected and statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: The adverse events were reported in 730 patients (66.8%), but no death or myocardial infarction. There asverse events were well tolerated and no prolonged effect was noted. Chest pain occured in 223 patients(20.4%) and facial flushing and dyspnea were reported by 246 patients(22.5%) and 253 patients(23.1%), respectively. ECG changes, such as mild arrhythmia, ST depression and AV block were checked in 230 patients(21.0%). The infusion was prematurely terminated in 32 patients(2.9%), due to serve chest pain, serve brochospasm, or third degree AV block. Higher frequency of chest pain was reported in women compare to men(p<0.05), and ST segment depression was more frequent in patients with abnormal myocardial perfusion scitigraphic findings(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that intravenous infusion of adenosine is relatively safe, and myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with intravenous ademosine is feasible technique in the evaluation of the coronary artery disease patients unable to exercise.
Adenosine* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrioventricular Block ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Depression ; Dyspnea ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Flushing ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Perfusion Imaging* ; Perfusion ; Perfusion Imaging ; Prospective Studies ; Radionuclide Imaging

Alkaline Phosphatase ; Ascorbic Acid ; Bone Marrow ; Bone Matrix ; Chondrocytes ; Dexamethasone ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Methods ; Molar, Third ; Osteoblasts ; Osteocalcin ; Periosteum ; Regeneration ; RNA, Messenger ; Tissue Donors ; Tissue Engineering ; Transplants

Ascorbic Acid ; Bone Development ; Bone Marrow ; Dexamethasone ; Durapatite ; Fractures, Bone ; Gene Expression ; Glycerophosphates ; Humans ; Neuropilin-1 ; Osteoblasts ; Osteocalcin ; Osteogenesis ; Phenotype ; Protein Isoforms ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ; Stromal Cells ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2