No abstract available.

Experiments were performed to investigate the effects of pinealectomy on the renin-angiotensin system in Sprague-Dawley rats. The results obtained were as follows. 1) There was no differences of systolic blood pressure, heart rate, water intake, and plasma electrolytes between pinealectomized and sham-operated rats. 2) Renin activity in plasma and pituitary gland did not differ in two experimental groups. 3) The pituitary gland contained the renin activity of about 50pg AI/hr/mg of wet weight. The results suggest that the pineal gland has no correlation with cardiovascular and renin-angiotensin system.
Angiotensins ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular System ; Drinking ; Electrolytes ; Heart Rate ; Pineal Gland ; Pituitary Gland ; Plasma ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley* ; Renin ; Renin-Angiotensin System*

The effects of dehydration on vasopressin and oxytocin immunoreactive neurons in the hypothalamus was investigated by using a immunohistochemistry. Adult Mongolian gerbil[Meriones unguiculates] were deprived of drinking water. Dehydrated animals were sacrificed on the 7th, 14th and 21st day of water retriction. The results are as follows : 1. The body weights were decreased about 1.8% daily. On the 21st day of dehydration, they were shown up to 45% compare to the control. 2. In the hypothalamus of the control group, majority of vasopressin and oxytocin immunoreactive neurons were located in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei. 3. Changes due to dehydrated stimulation were mainly observed in vasopressin immunoreactive neurons. And these changes in supraoptic nuclei were more severe than those in paraventricular nucleus. Size of vasopressin immunoreactived cells and of areas were increased as to proceed the dehydration. The numbers of those were increased on the 7th day of dehydration, and then they were continously decreased. 4. Although oxytocin immunoreactive neurons were slightly changed in numbers during dehydration, they were not shown conspicuous changes compare to vasopressin immunoreactive neurons. Thus it is appeared that vasopressin secretory neurons in the hypothalamus of Mongolian gerbil are affected by osmotic stress induced dehydration while oxytocin neurons may be affected by other factors.
Adult ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Dehydration* ; Drinking Water ; Gerbillinae* ; Humans ; Hypothalamus* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neurons* ; Osmotic Pressure ; Oxytocin* ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Supraoptic Nucleus ; Vasopressins* ; Water

BACKGROUND: The presence of diastolic mitral regurgitation has been described in patients with complete atrioventricular(AV) block, aortic valve regurgitation, hypertrophic and restrictive cardiomyopathy, and in patients with long diastolic filling period in atrial fibrillation. However, because of rare incidence and difficulty in making diagnosis of this phenomenon, the frequency and hemodynamic effects of diastolic AV valve regurgitation(DAVVR) and relationship of electrocardiographic(ECG) parameters with DAVVR in patients with complete heart block have not been reported in Korea. METHODS: To evaluate the frequency, hemodynamic effects of DAVVR and relation of ECG parameters with DAVVR in patients with complete AV block, we studied 14 consecutive patients with complete AV block by means of two dimensional and Doppper echocardiography. RESULTS: The DAVVR was observed in all cases of complete AV block except 3 cases on temporary pacemaker. The peak velocy of diastolic mitral and tricuspid valve regurgitaton were 105+/-23cm/sec and 98+/-30cm/sec, respectively. The peak and mean pressure gradient of diastolic mitral regurgitation were 4.7+/-1.7mmHg and 3.1+/-1.5mmHg respectively, and the peak and mean pressure gradient of diastolic tricuspid regurgitation were 4.1+/-2.6mmHg and 2.7+/-2.1mmHg, respectively. There was regular interval between p-wave of ECG and onset of diastolic AV valve regurgitation, which was 215+/-12msec, Diastolic AV valve regurgitation disappeared immediately after recovery of complete AV block to sinus rhythm or insertion of DDD-type permanent pacemaker in all cases. CONCLUSION: In Conclusion, the DAVVR was observed in all cases of complete AV block except cases on temporary pacemaker insertion and its hemodynamic effect was mild. There was regular interval between p-wave of ECG and the onset of diastolic AV valve regurgitation.
Aortic Valve ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Atrioventricular Block* ; Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Block ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Tricuspid Valve ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency

Moyamoya disease(MMD) is defined as the development of collateral anastomosis pathways, associated with bilateral chronic progressive stenosis of the carotid fork. We have reviewed the types of presentation, angiograms, and single photon emission computed tomographs(SPECT). Ninety-nine patients were divided into three groups (aged below 5 years, between 5 and 15 years, and 16 or over) to investigate whether there were differences in clinical presentation and hemodynamic characteristics between the age groups. Mean age of the 99 patients was 13.6 years and the mean duration of symptoms was 26.2 months. In the 17 children aged less than five, the duration of symptoms was shorter(4.8 months) than in older patients(p<0.05). The former presented mostly with cerebral infarction(59%) with a widespread cerebral perfusion defect(50%). Among 56 children who were 5 to 15 years old, 42 (75%) presented with transient ischemic attacks and 10(18%) with cerebral infarction; the latter was less frequent in this age group than in other age groups. Twelve(46%) out of 26 adult patients had hemorrhage at the initial diagnosis, which was the most frequent presentation in this age group. Stenosis of the posterior cerebral artery was detected in 27% of adult MMD patients, while it was detected in 39% of children. Moreover, no case showed widespread perfusion defects in the adult group. The results suggest that the patterns of presentation and the hemodynamic features differ according to the age at which initial major symptoms occur. Children aged less than five suffer rapid progression of the disease and severe cerebral pefusion defect, and should therefore undergo early surgery. The less frequent involvement of MMD in the posterior circulation and better-preserved cerebral perfusion are characteristic findings of the disease in adults, and this seems to account for its delayed onset.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Cerebral Infarction ; Child ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Hemodynamics* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infarction ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; Moyamoya Disease* ; Perfusion ; Posterior Cerebral Artery

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: QT dispersion(QTD : QTmax-QTmin) or JT dispersion(JTD:JTmax-JT-min)in 12 leads ECG has been known to reflect regional variations in ventricular repolarization and has been reported to bel one of the marker of regional myocardial ischemia. To evaluate the significance of QTD or JTD of exercise ECG in diagnosis of coronary artery disease, we studied 106 patients(mean age, 56.9 years old, male 63) who were referred for the evaluation of chest pain on exertion. METHOD: Treadmill exercise stress test with modified Bruce protocol and coronary angiography were performed in 106 patients with chest pain on exertion. ST-segment depression by >1.0 mm 0.08 second after J-point during or after exercise in exercise test and >50% stanosis of epicardial artery in coronary angiogram were defined as positive. Of 106 patients, 41 had positive exercise ECG and positive coronary angiogram(true positive, TP), 20 had positive exercise ECG and negative coronary angiogram(false positive, FT), 20 had negative exercise ECG and positive coronary angiogram(faalse negative, FN), and 23 had negative exercise ECG and negative coronary angiogram(true negative, Tn). QT and JT interval in 12 leads were measured at baseline and peakexercise and were corrected for heart rate using Bazett's formula. QTD and JTD were measured by calculation the difference between the maximum QT and mininum QT and that between maximum JT and minumum JT. RESULTS: QTD at baseline for TP(72.8ms)was prolonged compared to Tn(52.2ms,P<0.01), but was not different from that for FT(70.2 ms). At peak exercise, QTD for TP(81.3 msec) was significantly prolonged(p<0.01), while QTD for FP(71.2 msec) was not different from that for TN(56.8 msec). JTD at baseline(78.4 msec) and at peak exercise(88.2 msec) for TP were significantly prolonged compared to those for TN(55.2msec and 55.1msec p<0.01,p<0.01, respectively), but those for FP were not porlonged(77.0msec and 79.0msec, respectively). QTD and JTD at peak exercise were more markedly prolonged in patients with sever stenosis of coronary artery(p=0.053 and p<0.05, repectively) and multivessels diseases(p<0.01, 0<0.05) than those with less severe disease and single vessel disease. Patients with left anterior descending artery lesion had greater QTD and JTD at peak exercise than those with other vessels lesion(p<0.01). In addition to standard criteria with ST segment displacement in exercise EGC, inclusion of exercise induced QTD of more than 60msec increased the sensitivity of exercise ECG from 66.7% to 83.3%, and JTD of more than 70msec increased the specificity from 52% to 76.0%. CONCLUSION: Measurement of QT dispersion and JT dispersion of exercise ECG may be useful method to identify the severity of coronary artery disease and to improve diagnostic accuracy of exercise ECG in coronary artery disease.
Arteries ; Chest Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Electrocardiography* ; Exercise Test ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND: Dobutamine echocardiography is a useful method to detect myocardial viability in ischemic heart disease. Recently myocardial contrast echocardiography(MCE) is reported to be a new method to evaluate myocardial viability by assessing microvascular integrity of dysfunctional myocardium. We hypothesized if the microvascular integrity is maintained, the dysfunctional myocardium would improve its function by dobutamine infusion. METHOD: 10 myocardial infarction patients (acute : old=8 : 2, M : F=7 : 3, mean age=61+/-11yr) were included in the study. 2 dimensional echocardiography was performed before and during dobutamine infusion and after contrast injection to right and left coronary arteries in the catheterization laboratory. Echocardiographic analysis was done in parasternal short, apical 4 and 2 chamber views. Left ventricule was devided by 20 segments from 3 views. In each segment, will motion score(graded 1, normal, to 5, dyskinesia) before and after dobutamine infusion and opacification grade(0, 0.5, 1 denoting no, intermediate and normal opacification respectively) was compared. RESULTS: The number of segments with abnormal wall motion at baseline were 57 segments. 5 segments was exciuded due to poor image quality. Among 52 segments, 25 segments improved it's function during dobutamine infusion. Improvement of regional function was more frequent in hypokinetic segments than akinetic or dyskinetic segments (69% vs 15%). The improvement of dysfunctional regional wall motion by dobutamine infusion was observed in 80%(19/24), 67%(6/9) and 5%(1/19) of normally, intermediately and none opacified segment respectively. The correlation between wall motion score with opacification grade was 0.598 at baseline and increased to 0.766 after dobutamine infusion. CONCLUSION: In patients with myocardial infarction the dysfunctional segments but intact microvasculature assessed myocardial contrast echocardiography improves function by dobutamine infusion. These findings myocardial contrast echocardiography would be a useful method to detect myocardial viability.
Catheterization ; Catheters ; Coronary Vessels ; Dobutamine* ; Echocardiography* ; Humans ; Microvessels ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Myocardium

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has a heteroresistant nature, so methicillin resistance is influenced by various culture conditions, such as temperature, incubation time, and NaCl content in the medium. Mueller Hinton (MH) agar containing 2% NaCl and mannitol salt agar (MSA) with oxacillin disk were evaluated for the detection of methicillin resistance. METHODS: Disk diffusion test on plain Mueller- Hinton (MH) agar, 2% NaCl MH agar, and MSA with 1 microgram oxacillin disk was performed in 70 Stap hylococcus aureus isolates. Oxacillin MIC was determined by E-test. As a gold standard of methicillin resistance, mecA gene was amplified by PCR and detected by agarose gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: Plain MH agar could not detect heterogeneous resistance in 12 S. aureus isolates (18%), but 2% NaCl MH agar and MSA could correctly detect homogeneous and heterogeneous resistance. S. aureus isolates from stool have as much as 48% heterogeneous resistance, while those from non-stool specimen have 5%. CONCLUSION: 2% NaCl and MSA can be used reliably for accurate susceptibility testing of methicillin resistance in routine laboratory.
Agar* ; Diffusion ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Mannitol* ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Oxacillin ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Staphylococcus aureus* ; Staphylococcus*

PURPOSE: In the finger, there are three major palmar arches in the arterial system. The location of this arches are constant. The middle and distal transverse arches are consistently large (almost 1 mm) and may be used for arterial vessel repairs either proximally or distally, depending on the length and direction needed. This paper describes our experiences in reconstruction and replantation of the finger using rerouting the transverse digital palmar arch. METHODS: 31 patients with injuries according to our classification were treated from March of 2005 to October of 2008. In this study the authors subdivided injuries into those with amputation distal to the insertion of the flexor digitorum profundus (Class I, 31 fingers); those with amputation distal to the insertion of the flexor digitorum superficialis (Class II, 4 fingers). Replantation was performed using the artery-only technique with neither vein nor nerve repair. Because the artery has been damaged, it is still possible to make a direct suture by transposing the arterial arch in an inverted Y to I arterial configuration or converting the arch. Venous drainage was provided by an external bleeding method with partial nail excision, medical leech, and repaired margin. RESULTS: The success rate was 87% (n=27) in class I and 75% (n=4) in class II. The authors conclude that crushing and complete avulsion injuries & amputations are salvageable, with acceptable functional results in select patients, especially those with amputation distal to the insertion of the flexor digitorum superficialis. CONCLUSION: We performed replantation and reconstruction with only-arterial transposing anastomosis successfully, resulting in good recovery of aesthetic and functional outcome. Three major digital palmar arches, especially distal two branches, give us additional treatment options. In the finger replantation and reconstructive techniques using rerouting healthy the transverse digital palmar arch increase the survival rate of the finger.
Amputation ; Arteries ; Drainage ; Fingers ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Nails ; Replantation ; Survival Rate ; Sutures ; Veins