One case of renal infarction due to trauma in a 26 years old male patient, which was treated with partial nephrectomy, was presented with the brief review of literature.
Adult ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Male ; Nephrectomy

BACKGROUND: Although an oxidants and antioxidants imbalane has been considered in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is a paucity of reports focussing on the smoking-induced changes of oxidants and antioxidants in COPD. METHOD: The concentration of antioxidants (ascorbic acid, uric acid, retinol, and α- &γ-tocopherol) was measured in the serum and induced sputum of 30 healthy controls and 34 stable COPD patients using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The inhibition of lipid peroxidation as an index of antioxidant capacity was measured in the serum by a TBA assay. RESULTS: The serum concentration of ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, and retinol were significantly lower in the patients with COPD than in healthy controls (484.8±473.3 vs 1497.8±819.2 pmol/L, p<0.001, 48.38±17.34 vs 73.96±26.29 pmol/L, p<0.001, and 9.51±8.33 vs 15.01±5.88 pmol/L, p<0.05, respectively, mean±SD). However, there were little differences in the ascorbic acid and uric acid concentrations in the induced sputum between the COPD patients and the controls. The induced sputum to serum ratio of ascorbic acid was significantly higher in COPD patients compared with healthy control (0.375 vs 0.085, p<0.05). In the normal controls, the serum ascorbic acid concentration was lower in smokers than in nonsmokers (1073±536 vs 1757±845 pmol/L, p<0.05), but the level was still higher than that of the COPD patients (p<0.05). The serum retinol levels were correlated with FEV1 in COPD patients (r=0.58, p<0.05). The products of lipid peroxidation were increased in normal smokers and COPD compared with normal nonsmokers (115.56±19.93 and 120.02±24.56 vs 91.87±20.71 µmol/µmol Pi of liposome, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Cigarette smoking may induce the depletion of serum antioxidants and this depletion of antioxidants is suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of COPD.
Antioxidants* ; Ascorbic Acid ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liposomes ; Oxidants ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Smoking ; Sputum* ; Uric Acid ; Vitamin A

The hypotensive effect and side reactions of Buterazine were evaluated in 21 patients with essential hypertension. The results were as follows; 1) Before medication and after 2 and 4 weeks of medication, the over all average systolic and diastolic pressure were 188+/-23/112+/-7, 168+/-13/101+/-17, and 158+/-12/95+/-8mmHg, respectively. After 2 and 4 weeks of medication, the over all average systolic pressure decreased by 20 and 30mmHg(P<0.005, P<0.001), and the over all average diastolic pressure decreased by 11 and 17mmHg(P<0.025, P<0.001), respectively. In 69% of all cases, marked or moderate degree of hypotensive effect was observed. 2) There was no significant changes in heart rates before and after treatment. 3) In 84% of all cases, improvement of symptoms were observed. 4) There was no side effects which required discontinuing the treatment, except 2 cases which discontinued the medication.
Blood Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension

BACKGROUND: Moyamoya disease is a chronic cerebrovascular disorders in which stenosis of the major arteries of the circle of Willis at the base of the skull progresses to occlusion. We observed two kinds of collateral pathways from the extracranial to the intracranial arteries. Also we evaluated clinlcal and neuroimaging features of moyamoya disease to give on aid in diagnosis. METHODS: We analysed 17 patients with moyamoya disease through the medical record and neuroimaging (conventional angiography and/or MR angiography) review. Six out of 17 patients were children(< OR =15 years) and the other 11 patients were adults(15 years). There were 8 males and 9 females. RESULTS: In our result, moyamoya disease was more common in the adult. There was bimodal age distribution, so average age of onset in children was 8-year-old and in adult 37-year-old. Common clinical features are seizure (66%), TIA (17%), and psychotic behavior (17%) in childrens and hemorrhages (73%), infarction (18%), seizures (9%) in adults. According to angiographic staging classification of Suzuki et al. (1967), our cases showed distribution of stage I (13%), stage II (8.8%), stage III (65.3%), stage IV (4.3%), stage V (4.3%), stage VI (4.3%). In collateral vessels of moyamoya disease, there were 7 cases of ethmoidal moyamoya, 3 of vault moyamoya and 1 of mixed form. It is interesting that there were five cases of unilateral moyamoya disease and one case had pseudoaneurysm. CONCLUSION: According to our results, we may say that seizures are common in the children and hemorrhages are in the adult. Unilateral moyamoya were mainly occurred in the adult. Ethmoidal collaterals were common among collaterals and stage III had a more cases than others in our neuroimaging data. These clinical and neuroimaging data may help interpretation and diagnosis of moyamoya disease.
Adult ; Age Distribution ; Age of Onset ; Aneurysm, False ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Child ; Circle of Willis ; Classification ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infarction ; Male ; Medical Records ; Moyamoya Disease* ; Neuroimaging* ; Seizures ; Skull

Thirty three patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension were administered ramipril, a new ACe inhibitor, 2.5-5mg once daily for 6 weeks to evaluate the hypotensive efficacy and safety. The results were as follows : 1) The patients consisted of 18 males, 15 females, aged 54 on average and classified as mild in 19 and moderate in 14 patients. 2) At the end of 6 weeks trial, blood pressure dropped 13/6mmHg on average, rewarding 70% effectiveness and normalized below 150/90mmHg in 39%. 3) The most frequent side reaction was dry cough in 5 patients(15%) followed by asthenia, GI trouble, dizziness, edema, eye injection and one case of GPT elevation which normalized after completion of trial. 4) The rating of safety of safety was 79% and of overall usefulness was 73%. In conclusion, ramipril 5mg once daily regimen is well tolerated and effective in the treatment of mild to moderated essential hypertension.
Asthenia ; Blood Pressure ; Cough ; Dizziness ; Edema ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Male ; Ramipril* ; Reward

Left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH) is one of common cardiovascular complications in hypertensive patients and it is well known that hypertensive cardiac disease accompained by LVH is still common cause of congestive heart failure in spite of treatment of hypertension. The authors assessed the prevalence of anatomical and functional abnormalities of left ventricle by EKG, chest X-ray and echocardiography in 45 essential hypertensive patients and also in 20 normal controls. Average values of left ventricular posterior wall thickness(LVPWd), interventricular septal thickness(IVSd), left ventricular mass(LVM), and left ventricular mass index(LVM/BSA) by echocardiography in hypertensive groups with LVH by EKG or chest X-ray were significantly higher than those of hypertensive groups without LVH by EKG or chest X-ray(P<0.005). Among 27 hypertensive patients with LVH by EKG and chest X-ray increased LVPWd was found in 24 patients(18%) and increased LVH in 26 patients(19%). Increased LVPWd and LVM were found in 3 patients(23%) among 13 hypertensives without LVH by EKG and chest X-ray. Hypertensive patients with increased LVH showed LVH by EKG and chest X-ray more frequently than those with increased LVPWd. Also, hypertensive patients without increased LVM showed MVH by EKG and chest X-ray less frequently than those without increased LVPWd. Therefore, echocardiography appears to be superior to routine chest X-ray and EKG for defecting LVH in hypertensive patients, especially without LVH by these tests. In conclusion, even though estimation of LVM by echocardiography seems to be a better method than single measurement of LVPWd, it seems thant estimation of LVM together with LVPWd will be more valuable in diagnosis of LVH in hypertensive patients.
Diagnosis ; Echocardiography* ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular* ; Prevalence ; Thorax

It is well known that the murine T helper cell clones are divided by their lymphokine secretory activities. One is the Th-1 cell, producing IL-2 and IFN after stimulation and the other is the Th-2 cell, producing the IL-4 and IL-5. This study was undertaken to evaluate the immunomodulatory properties of the bacterial lipopolysaccharide(LPS) on the lymphokine production in vivo and in vitro. The results were as follows: There were no effects on the lymphokine secretion by the in vitro treatment of the LPS. The in vivo treatment of the LPS decreases the capability of the production of IL-2 and IFN , whereas it increases the capability of IL-4 production. The altered capacity of the lymphokine production was recovered about 2 weeks after the treatment of the LPS. There were no differences on the lymphokine production between E-coli LPS and salmonella LPS. The capacity of the lymphokine production was the same in the treatment of a non-heated LPS or heated-LPS. The lymphokine production of the mice which were desensitized by the long term treatment of the LPS was not different from the control mice. The in vitro treatment of RU486 can block the alterations of the lymphokine production after the treatment of the LPS. In summary, one can tell that the LPS increases the secretion of the IL-4 through the endogenous secretion of the glucocorticoids.
Animals ; Clone Cells ; Glucocorticoids ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; Mice ; Mifepristone ; Salmonella ; T-Lymphocytes* ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to examine differences between clinical variables among outpatients with schizophrenia in competitive and partial employed and unemployed groups. Methods: The study subjects were 168 outpatients with schizophrenia, and these were divided into three groups, that is, competitive (n=20), partial (n=28), and unemployed (n=120) groups, based on employment status. Job and psychopathology data were collected by interview and using self-report questionnaires (self-stigma, will to recover, family attitude, perceived social support, insight into disease, self-esteem, hopelessness, and attitude to drugs). Results: The proportion of male patients in the competitive employment group was greater than in the partial or unemployed groups. Education level was significantly higher, and the number of hospitalizations was significantly lower in the competitive group than in the unemployed group.Levels of self-stigma, will to recover, and perceived social support were significantly higher, and levels of self-esteem and hopelessness were significantly lower in the competitive and partial employment groups than in the unemployed group. Patients in these two groups also reported a more positive family attitude, more insight into the disease, and a more positive attitude toward drugs than patients in the unemployed group. Conclusion Most clinical variables were similar in the competitive and partial employment groups.The findings of this study suggest environmental and systematic factors are more important for the employment of outpatients with schizophrenia than disease-associated factors.

OBJECTIVES: Maintaining the constant exposure to hydrophobic organic compouds in acute toxicity tests is one of the most difficult issues in the evaluation of their toxicity and corresponding risks. Passive dosing is an emerging tool to keep constant aqueous concentration because of the overwhelming mass loaded in the dosing phase. The primary objectives of this study were to develop the constant exposure condition for an acute mortality test and to compare the performance of the passive dosing method with the conventional spiking with co-solvent. METHODS: A custom cut polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) tubing loaded with benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) was placed in each well of a 24-well plate containing assay medium. The rate of the release of BBP from PDMS was evaluated by measuring the change in the concentration of BBP in the assay medium. The efficiency of maintaining constant exposure condition was also evaluated using a simple two-compartment mass transport model employing a film-diffusion theory. An acute mortality test using 10 C. elegans in each well was conducted for the evaluation of the validity of passive dosing and the comparative evaluation of the passive dosing method and the conventional spiking method. RESULTS: Free concentration in the assay medium reached 95% steady state value within 2.2 hours without test organisms, indicating that this passive dosing method is useful for an acute toxicity test in 24 hours. The measured concentration after the mortality test agreed well with the estimated values from partitioning between PDMS and the assay medium. However, the difference between the nominal and the free concentration became larger as the spiked concentration approached water solubility, indicating the instability of the conventional spiking with a co-solvent. CONCLUSIONS: The results in this study support that passive dosing provides a stable exposure condition for an acute toxicity test. Thus, it is likely that more reliable toxicity assessment can be made for hydrophobic chemicals using passive dosing.
Benzophenones ; Biological Availability ; Boronic Acids ; Caenorhabditis ; Caenorhabditis elegans ; Dibutyl Phthalate ; Dimethylpolysiloxanes ; Phthalic Acids ; Solubility ; Toxicity Tests, Acute

PURPOSE: To evaluate MRI findings of spinal cord according to mechanism in acute cervical spinal injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 25 patients under went MRI within 1 month after acute cervical trauma. Axial T1WI (TR/TE :500/20), gradient-echo (TR/TE :300/14), sagittal T1WI (TR/TE:500/20), proton (TR/TE :2000. 20 msec), T2WI (TR/TE :2000/80) were performed. In 11 pateints, post-enhancement T1WI was done. Change of spinal cord signal intensity on MRI in addition to the presence of abnormal changes of vertebral body, intervertebral disc and paraspinal soft tissue were evaluated. RESULTS: 15 patients had flexion injury, seven had extension injury and three had injury of unknon mechanism. Twelve patients showed /so-signal intensity on T1WI and high signal intensity on T2WI. Three patients showed low signal intensity on T1WI and high signal intensity on T2WI. Spinal cord hemorrhage occured in 10 patients. We found cord swelling in nine patients and cord compression in 12 patients. In nine patients with cord swelling, extent of cord injury was more than one segment of vertebral body. Ligamentous injury, disc injury, soft tissue injury occurred in 16(64%), 17(68%), 15(60%) patients respectively. Vertebral body fracture was found in 17 patients (68%). The levels of fracture were C6(eight patients) and C5(five patients). CONCLUSION: MRI is valuable in exaluetion of the spinal cord, intervertebral disc, and soft tissue lesions in acute cervical spinal injury. Prognosis is worse in flexion injury than in extension injury, and is well correlated with cord hemorrhage and lesion extent.
Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurologic Manifestations* ; Prognosis ; Protons ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Injuries