Several stresses are known to induce synthesis of heat shock protein. The present study was performed to see whether pulmonary ischemia, induced by the bronchial artery occlusion, produced HSP70 in cat lung. To this aim we compared experimental and control groups of cats with respect to the HSP70 production in the lung. Experimental animals were subjected to 10-min bronchial artery occlusion followed by reperfusion. The interval between the end of the occlusion and the end of the reperfusion was 1 hour, 4 hours and 8 hours, whereas control animal was not subjected to any manipulation except anesthesia. According to the interval differences, experimental animals were divided into 1HR, 4HRs and 8HRs groups. To determine the induction of HSP70 in each group, total proteins of lung tissues were extracted and separated by PAGE electrophoresis. Immunoblotting with a mouse monoclonal anti-HSP70 IgG antibody revealed that HSP70 was not detected in the pulmonary tissues resected from control, 1HR or 4HRs groups. In contrast, HSP70 expression in 8HRs group was marked. These results suggest that pulmonary ischemia by the bronchial artery occlusion produces HSP70 in a delayed
Anesthesia ; Animals ; Bronchial Arteries* ; Cats* ; Electrophoresis ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoglobulin G ; Ischemia ; Lung* ; Mice ; Reperfusion

This study was performed to examine 1) Whether hypothermic cardiac arrest produces myocardial HSP72 expression; 2) And if, whether it serves to protect the heart against the subsequent hypothermic arrest. In the present study, neonatal rats were placed in an icebath to induce hypothermia. To determine whether hypothermic cardiac arrest produces myocardial HSP72, experimental animals were subjected to 10-min hypothermic insult before the extraction of the heart. The intervals between the insult and extraction were 1 (1 HR), 4 (4 HR), 8 (8 HR), 24 (24 HR) or 72 (72HR) hours. A minimal amount of HSP72 was detected in control, 1 HR and 72 HR groups. In contrast, 8 HR and 24 HR groups showed a significant level of HSP72 expressions. To assess the cardioprotective effect of HSP72 against hypothermic cardiac arrest, we compared the proportion of recovery from the arrest between control and preconditioned (PREC) animals. Control animals were subjected to 20-min hypothermic insult, while PREC group was preconditioned by 10-min hypothermic insult 8 hours before the 20-min test hypothermic insult. Resuscitation rate from cardiac arrest induced by the 20-min hypothermic insult in PREC group was significantly higher than that in controls. These results suggest that the cardioprotective effect of hypothermic preconditioning is associated with an increase in HSP72 expression.
Animals ; Heart ; Heart Arrest ; Hypothermia ; Incidence* ; Rats* ; Resuscitation

OBJECTIVE: Ghrelin is a newly isolated peptide from the stomach. Subsequent studies revealed that ghrelin is expressed in human placenta. Circulating ghrelin levels reflect acute and chronic energy balance in humans. However, it is not proven whether ghrelin plays a role during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to compare relationship between ghrelin levels of maternal serum, umbilical vein and birth weight. METHODS: We measured maternal ghrelin levels (N=41) in each trimester and postpartum whose fetus were appropriate-for-gestational age. Also we checked cord blood ghrelin levels at delivery in appropriate-for-gestational age group (N=20) and small-for-gestational age group (N=20). RESULTS: Ghrelin was detected in all samples from maternal and cord blood. Maternal serum ghrelin levels showed a peak in the 2nd trimester (35.7+/-12.7 pg/mL) and decreased in the late 3rd trimester (26.5+/-10.3 pg/mL). An increase was observed again in postpartum, which was measured at one day after delivery. There was no significant correlation between maternal serum ghrelin level and birth weight (P>0.05), but there was statistically significant correlation between cord blood ghrelin level and birth weight (r=-0.411, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Maternal serum ghrelin levels showed a peak around mid-gestation during pregnancy and then, decreased in the 3rd trimester, the time of increased maternal body weight. There was no association between maternal serum ghrelin level and birth weight. But small-for-gestational age neonates present with higher umbilical cord ghrelin level than that of appropriate-for-gestational age neonates. It is conceivable that ghrelin may play a physiologic role in fetal adaptation to intrauterine malnutritional state.
Birth Weight ; Body Weight ; Fetal Blood ; Fetus ; Ghrelin ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Parturition ; Placenta ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Stomach ; Umbilical Cord ; Umbilical Veins

In 1991, Kounis and Zavras described the "syndrome of allergic angina" as the coincidental occurrence of angina and allergic reactions by inflammatory mediators released during the allergic insult. Presently, both allergic angina and allergic myocardial infarction are referred to as "Kounis syndrome." Several allergens, including drugs, Hymenoptera venom, latex, food, and contrast media have been reported to trigger Kounis syndrome. Three variants of this syndrome have been described. Type I includes patients with normal coronary arteries, Type II includes patients with preexisting atheromatous disease where acute release of inflammatory mediators can induce coronary artery spasms, and Type III is associated with intracoronary thrombus formation caused by an allergic reaction. We report a case of Kounis syndrome who presented as acute myocardial infarction after intramuscular injection of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
Allergens ; Anaphylaxis ; Contrast Media ; Coronary Vessels ; Humans ; Hymenoptera ; Hypersensitivity ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Latex ; Myocardial Infarction ; Spasm ; Thrombosis ; Venoms

BACKGROUND: Obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and other disorders. Several studies have shown that excess weight or weight gain was related to the decline of pulmonary function. This study is to find out whether pilot's age, height, body weight, body mass index(BMI) and smoking are related to the baseline measurement of pulmonary function in order to promote the healthy behavior of pilots. METHOD: The analysis was based on data from the annual physical examination of pilots which was conducted in one airlines company of Korea. This study compared the data obtained from 73 pilots in 1996 with the data in 2002. Pulmonary function(forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and maximal mid expiratory flow (MMEF), peak expiratory flow (PEF)), age, height, body weight and body mass index were measured in both surveys. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to examine the relationship weight gain, smoking and pulmonary function. RESULTS: According to the data from 2002, mean age, mean height, mean body weight and mean BMI of pilots were examined: 47.62 years, 171.60 cm, 70.6 Kg and 24.03 Kg/m(2). Age was significantly related to FVC, FEV1 and MMEF. Height was significantly related to FVC and FEV1. However, body weight was significantly related to PEF and MMEF. The effect of smoking on pulmonary function was not significant. Pilots who gained body weight and BMI after 7 years were not related significantly to the pulmonary function. CONCLUSION: This study shows that age, height, weight are significantly related to pulmonary function. And other studies show that weight gain is significantly related to the decline of pulmonary function, but the relationship from this study is not significant because the number of sample is not enough and healthy behaviors of most pilots are relatively well.
Body Height ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obesity ; Physical Examination ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Vital Capacity ; Weight Gain

BACKGROUND: Some studies reported that lowering central venous pressure (LCVP) during liver resection could significantly reduce the intra-operative blood loss, however it is still controversial concerning LCVP induced renal dysfunction, hypovolemia, hemodynamic instability. This study evaluated the association of low central venous pressure with blood loss during liver resection comparing the control group. METHODS: A total 62 patients aged 20 to 70 underwent hepatectomy by the same group of surgeon were randomized into group L (CVP < 10 mmHg, n = 30) and control group C (CVP > 10 mmHg, n = 32) during dissection and lobectomy period. Data such as age, sex, concurrent disease, liver resection site (right or left), pre-, intra- and postoperative day 3 hemoglobin, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, bleeding time, prothrombin time, activated partitial thromboplastin time, intraoperative blood loss, urine output, transfusion volume, length of hospital stay were collected and compared between the two groups and t-test was used for comparison of results. RESULTS: The difference of total blood loss between two groups was 193.6 +/- 432.2 ml (group L; 589.1 +/- 380.8 ml, group C; 782.7 +/- 316.7 ml), however statistically insignificant (P value = 0.1243). Additionally, there were no significant differences in other data including the length of hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest maintaining CVP under 10 mmHg is not effective in reducing blood loss during liver resection.
Bleeding Time ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Central Venous Pressure* ; Creatinine ; Hemodynamics ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Hypovolemia ; Length of Stay ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Prothrombin Time ; Thromboplastin

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of ultrasonogram in the detection of cornual pregnancy and the factors that might be affected on early diagnosis. METHOD: We studied 26 cases which were diagnosed as a cornual pregnancy from Jan, 1, 2000 to Dec, 31, 2004 at department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Vincent's Hospital, the Catholic University of Korea. We compared two groups about clinical characteristics and outcomes. One group (A group) was diagnosed as cornual pregnancy before beginning of treatment, another group (B group) was not diagnosed as cornual pregnancy until operation. RESULTS: A group was 8 cases (30.8%) and B group was 18 cases (69.2%). There were no significant differences in age (33.0+/-6.21 years : 31.0+/-5.82 years), duration of amenorrhea (7.32+/-1.07 weeks : 8.90+/-5.44 weeks), previous cesarian section history (25.0% : 27.8%), present myoma (12.5% : 11.1%) and abdominal pain (50% : 77.78%), vaginal bleeding (50% : 55.6%), shock (0% : 27.8%) between two groups. There were significant differences in parity (1.63+/-0.74 : 1.0+/-0.77, p=0.032), number of abortions (2.25+/-1.16 : 1.11+/-1.18, p=0.016), previous history of ectopic pregnancy (37.5% : 0%, p=0.022). Of the method of treatments, only cornual resection (50% : 94.4%) showed significant differences between two groups. CONCLUSION: 30.8% of cornual pregnancy was early diagnosed by ultrasonogram. The important early detective factors for cornual pregnancy might be parity, previous ectopic pregnancy history and abortion history. Therefore if the patient has the previous ectopic pregnancy and abortion history, she can visit early to the hospital and the doctors do pay attention to the possibility of cornual pregnancy.
Abdominal Pain ; Abortion, Induced ; Amenorrhea ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Korea ; Myoma ; Obstetrics ; Parity ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Shock ; Ultrasonography ; Uterine Hemorrhage

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection appears to be closely related to reactivation, diagnostic delay, and disease progression in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. However, whether C. difficile infection triggers the reactivation of inflammatory bowel disease or vice versa is not certain. We report a case of reactivated and progressed left ulcerative colitis following C. difficile infection in a 56-year-old woman. A series of endoscopic findings in this case report strongly supports a causative role of C. difficile infection on the reactivation and progression of ulcerative colitis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine that COX-1, COX-2, p53 and VEGF expression are associated with prognostically worse pathological variables and to investigate whether the enhanced COX-2, tumor microvessel density and VEGF expression is showed in invasive cervical cancer. METHODS: From January 1998 to December 2001, sixty-three cases of paraffin-embedded cervical specimens were obtained by surgical resection in the Pusan National University Hospital. All tissues were subjected to immunohistochemical staining for COX-1, COX-2, p53, VEGF and microvessel density. Clinical factors such as age, FIGO stage and pelvic lymph node metastasis were evaluated. RESULTS: In COX-1 expression, no staining and cells staining positive less than 10% were 49, 13 cases, respectively. In contrast, COX-2 expressions was demonstrated in the cells staining positive 10% to 50% and greater than 50% were 25, 17 cases, respectively. The positivities of p53 and VEGF were 68.3% (43/63), 77.8% (49/63), respectively. There was a significant correlation between COX-2 and VEGF expression (p<0.05) in cervical cancer. Also the relationship existed between VEGF and microvessel count. But there was no correlation between COX-2, microvessel count and clinicopathologic factors in cervical cancer. CONCLUSION: These findings provide evidence that the expression of COX-2 and VEGF may be involved in the promotion of angiogenesis in cervical cancer.
Busan ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Lymph Nodes ; Microvessels ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

PURPOSE: To observe the pattern of glue cast formation when glue was injected into the different fow layersof a flow phantom, and to demonstrate the effect in an animal experiment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A flow phantom model consisted of a circulating pump (Simon varistaltic pump, Manostat Corporation, U.S.A.) connected via a tygon tube with a specially designed glass tube. Flow of about 4ml/sec was maintained by saline. The glass tube consisted of (1) a small-caliber (2.4-3.2mm inner diameter) straight inflow portion (feeder), (2) a round, larg-caliber portion (nidus), and (3) a medium-caliber (6.7mm inner diameter) straight outflow portion (vein). Glue mixed with Lipiodol (glue: Lipiodol=1:1-3:1) was loaded into a 1cc syringe and slowly injected through a microcatheter ; cast formation along the glass tube was observed. The feeder and nidus portions were injected twelve times and the shape of the cast was compared. In an animal experiment, glue at various concentrations was used to stop rapid flow through a surgically-constructed arteriovenous fistula in porcine carotid artery. RESULTS: When mixture was injected into the straight inflow portion (1), it formed a cast along the wall of the glass tube, with a large cast in the nidus portion. Further injection caused enlargement of the cast in the nidus, but no change in the wall of the inflow portion. When mixture was injected into the nidus portion (2) of the glass tube, a cast formed continuously within the nidus. In the animal experiment, rapid injection of glue at a high conentration staunched flow through the arteriovenous fistula. CONCLUSION: Glue-Lipiodol mixture can be injected slowly and continuously under the surface of the polymerized glue cast which forms along the wall or slow flow portion (nidus) of the glass tube in an experimental flow phantom. However, the effect did not appear during rapid flow in the animal arteriovenous fistular model in which only rapid injection of glue which was either pure or at a glue concentration of more than 75% was effective.
Adhesives ; Animal Experimentation ; Animals ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; Carotid Arteries ; Ethiodized Oil ; Glass ; Polymers ; Syringes