Lovastatin, a competitive inhibitor of the rate limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis was administered to 34 patients with primary hypertlipidemia, 20 mg once daily with the evening meal. Patients experienced mean total and LDL cholesterol reductions of 30.9% and 34.0% respectively. HDL cholesterol level was significantly increased by 15.4% and plasma triglyceride level was decreased by 11.2%. maximal hypocholesterolemic effects were evident at 8 weeks, after which the effects were stable. Adverse effects were noted in 2 patients who had mild gastrointestinal symptoms, that subsided after discontinuing the drug. We concluded that lovastatin is a well tolerated and effective agent for the treatment of primary hyperlipidemia.
Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias* ; Lovastatin ; Meals ; Plasma* ; Triglycerides

No abstract available.
Leiomyoma* ; Stomach*

No abstract available.
Astrocytes* ; Gene Expression* ; Humans* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

Brain Ischemia* ; Hemodilution* ; Intracranial Embolism ; Rabbits*

BACKGROUND: Recently, the pulse-in-pulse mode of intense pulsed light (IPL) has been used increasingly for the treatment of melasma. OBJECTIVE: To observe the morphologic changes in the melanophore in adult zebrafish after irradiation with conventional and pulse-in-pulse IPL and Q-switched Nd:YAG (QSNY) laser. METHODS: Adult zebrafish were irradiated with conventional and pulse-in-pulse mode of IPL. The conditions for conventional IPL were 3 mJ/cm², 560 nm filter, and pulse widths of 7, 20, and 35 msec. The pulse-in-pulse conditions were 3 mJ/cm² and on-time 1/off-time 2. The QSNY laser was used with the settings of 1,064 nm, 0.4 J/cm², a 7 mm spot size, and one shot. Specimens were observed using a light microscope, a transmission electron microscope (TEM), a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a confocal microscope. RESULTS: After conventional IPL irradiation with a 7 msec pulse width, melanophore breakage was observed using light microscopy. Under TEM, irradiation with conventional IPL for 7 msec and pulse-in-pulse IPL induced melanophore thermolysis with vacuolization. However, changes in the melanophore were not observed with 35 msec IPL. Under SEM, unlike the control and QSNY groups, IPL-irradiated zebrafish showed finger-like fusion in the protein structure of scales. Specimens examined by a confocal microscope after conventional IPL irradiation showed a larger green-stained area on TUNEL staining than that after pulse-in-pulse mode IPL irradiation. CONCLUSION: Zebrafish irradiated with long pulse-IPL showed no morphologic changes using light microscopy, while morphological changes in melanophores were evident with use of TEM. Pulse-in-pulse mode IPL caused less damage than conventional IPL.
Adult ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Melanophores* ; Melanosis ; Microscopy ; Weights and Measures ; Zebrafish*

Ultrasound is over 20 khz, which represents the upper frequency limit of human hearing. Acoustic vibrations are generated when piezoelectric materials on the thin disc-shaped transducers expand and contract. Although low frequency ultrasound devices have been used widely in the dermatologic area for a long time, the mechanism and side effects have been overlooked. A low-frequency ultrasound device has many benefits on the cosmetic dermatology area by thermal effect, vibration effect, and increase of transdermal delivery of lipophilic drugs or cosmetics. However, there have been reports of dermatitis, dyspnea, dizziness, and burns after treatment with ultrasound. Therefore, the use of this device should be under a doctor's supervision.
Acoustics ; Burns ; Contracts ; Cosmetics ; Dermatitis ; Dermatology ; Dizziness ; Dyspnea ; Hearing ; Humans ; Organization and Administration ; Transducers ; Ultrasonics ; Vibration

No abstract available.
Appendix* ; Pseudomyxoma Peritonei*

No abstract available.
Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Myositis*

We report a case of perigastric histiocytic sarcoma (HS) involving the lesser omental sac in a 30-year-old man. HS is an exceedingly rare malignancy of mature tissue histiocyte. The tumor was a multi-lobulated, bulging enhancing mass in the lesser omentum with metastasis to lymph nodes and liver. The tumor consisted of diffuse non-cohesive proliferation of pleomorphic large oval to round neoplastic cells with giant cells showing vesicular chromatin and ample eosinophilic cytoplasm. In some areas, the tumor cells showed spindling with elongation of the nuclei and cellular shapes. Many of the tumor cells, especially giant forms contained phagocytosed lymphocytes. Immunohistochemical analysis of the tumor cells showed expression of leukocyte common antigen, CD68, lysozyme, vimentin, CD4, and CD163. Ki-67 index was 50-60%. After the operation, he was treated with chemotherapy, but the response was poor.
Adult ; Antigens, CD45 ; Chromatin ; Cytoplasm ; Eosinophils ; Giant Cells ; Histiocytes ; Histiocytic Sarcoma ; Humans ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphocytes ; Muramidase ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Omentum ; Sarcoma ; Vimentin

BACKGROUND: Anesthetics have been suspected of impairing various aspects of the immune function either directly by affecting the function of immunocompetent cells or indirectly by modulating the stress response. Splenocytes play important roles in the cellular host defense against infection. In order to assess the immune modulatory effects of propofol, this study examined the cytotoxic and proliferative effects of propofol on splenocytes. METHODS: Splenocytes, as responders, were isolated from BALB/c mice (n = 10). The cells were pretreated with different propofol concentrations (0micrometer, 30micrometer, 100micrometer, 300micrometer) for 24 hours. The cytotoxic effect was assayed by the NADH dehydrogenase activity and the proliferation was evaluated by the level of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyunridine (BrdU) incorporation during DNA synthesis in the presence or absence of propofol, in addition to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 microgram/ml) for mitogenic stimulation. A cell proliferation enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) system was used, and the stimulation index was calculated in the presence or absence of propofol. RESULTS: The percentage of the NADH dehydrogenase activity was changed by the propofol pretreatment (P < 0.001). LPS stimulation significantly decreased the NADH dehydrogenase activity at 100micrometer and 300micrometer compared with the propofol-added or pretreated cells (P < 0.05). The stimulation index to LPS was lower at concentrations of 100micrometer and 300micrometer than at 30micrometer, and proliferative response of splenocytes were completely abrogated by adding toxic concentrations (100micrometer) of propofol (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Neither cytotoxicity, as defined by the NADH dehydrogenase activity, nor a proliferative effect, as measured by the level of (BrdU) incorporation in the splenocytes, were affected by the clinical concentration of propofol.
Anesthetics ; Animals ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; Cell Proliferation ; DNA ; Mice ; NADH Dehydrogenase ; Propofol