BACKGROUND: Endotoxins play important roles in the pathophysiologic alterations associated with sepsis so the authors examined the effects of hydroxocobalamin, NW-nitro-L-arginine-metyl ester (L-NAME) and aminoguanidine on thiopental-induced contractile responses of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated and control rat aortic rings. METHODS: Aortic ring preparation was obtained from LPS-treated (1.5mg/kg, i.p. for 18h) rats. Cumulative doses of thiopental (10-4~3x10- 3M) were added to construct contraction response curves. Hydroxocobalamin (10-5M), L-NAME (10-6M) or aminoguanidine (10-6M) were added as NO scavenger or as NOS inhibitors. Contraction curves by cumulative doses of thiopental (10-4~3x10-3M) were remeasured after treatment of NO scavenger or NOS inhibitors. Statistical significances (p<00.05) were analyzed according to data characteristics by Student's t-test, paired t-test or ANOVA. RESULTS: The vascular responses of cumulative thiopental (10-4~3x10 3M) administration were dose- dependent contraction and LPS-treated rat was less contracted (p<00.05). There was significant increment on vascular contraction induced by thiopental after hydroxocobalamin pretreatment in LPS-treated rat (p<0.05), in spite of L-NAME, aminoguanidine pretreatment was failed to increase contractile forces in control and LPS-treated rats. CONCLUSIONS: From these results, viewed from maintenance of vasomotor tone in septic state, it is suggested that hydroxocobalamin may be candidate for vasopressor during usual induction of general anesthesia.
Anesthesia, General ; Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Endotoxins ; Hydroxocobalamin* ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Rats* ; Sepsis ; Thiopental

BACKGROUND: Recent studies revealed that inhalational anesthetics (IA) attenuate NO production. But the hemodynamic changes produced by IA in septic syndrome patient are still sufficient to threaten patient, surgeon and anesthesiologist. So we examined which IA is proper to maintain vascular contractile force and evaluated the effects of NOS inhibitors on contractile force of septic rat aorta under IA. METHODS: Aortic ring preparation was obtained from LPS-treated (1.5 mg/kg, i.p. for 18h) rats. The development of sepsis was confirmed by iNOS activity and iNOS expression using RT-PCR. Contractile responses of aorta to phenylephrine admministation in the presence or absence of halothane, enflurane and isoflurane were evaluated. We also evaluated the effects of NOS inhibitors, one is NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and the other is aminoguanidine. Statistical significances (p<0.05) were analyzed according to data characteristics by unpaired t-test and paired t-test. RESULTS: The contractile responses to phenylephrine admministration were attenuated in LPS-treated rings. Isoflurane, even at the dose of 2 MAC, didn't affect the contractile response while both halothane and enflurane decreased the contractile response even at the dose of 1 MAC. The potentiation of contractile responses by NOS inhibitors were not affected during administeration of IA. CONCLUSIONS: From these results, it is suggested that isoflurane is the safest inhalational anesthetic and NOS inhibitors, especially L-NAME, may be very useful in the therapy of septic shock patients during general anesthesia.
Anesthesia, General ; Anesthetics* ; Animals ; Aorta ; Enflurane ; Halothane ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Isoflurane ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide Synthase* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Phenylephrine ; Rats* ; Sepsis ; Shock, Septic

In order to measure the ocular dimensions with aging, the anterior chamber depth and the lens thickness were measured using contact ultrasonography and anterior chamber photography in normal human eyes. There were 141 women (241 eyes) and 76 men (130 eyes) between the ages of 10 and 70 years. The lens thickness was increased and the anterior chamber depth was decreased with aging in both sexes. The anterior chamber depth showed an accelerated decrease between the 4th and 5th decades in females and the ratio of anterior chamber depth to axial length was smaller in females than in males after the 5th decade. The results suggest that the prevalence of angle closure glaucoma increased in female after middle age.
Aging* ; Anterior Chamber ; Female ; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Photography ; Prevalence ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Anesthesia and surgery may exacerbate liver function in patients with pre-existing liver disease so it is important to choose less hepatotoxic anesthetics in patients with chronic liver disease. METHODS: This study was designed to examine the postoperative liver function test in 150 patients after hepatectomy with portal triad clamping through retrospective chart review. Patients were divided into an isoflurane group (group I, n = 56) and a propofol group (group P, n = 57) by used anesthetics for maintaining anesthesia. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, albumin, and prothrombin time were checked at preoperation, and postoperatively at 1, 3, 7 and 14 days in the two groups. Indocyanine retention rate (ICG-R15) was measured at preoperation, and postoperatively at 1 and 7 days. RESULTS: AST values increased postoperatively at 1, 3, 7, and 14 days compared with preoperation. ALT values increased postoperatively at 1, 3 and 7 days compared with preoperation and there was difference between group I (443.8 +/- 52.1 U/L) and group P (202.7 +/- 24.7 U/L) at postoperative 1 day. Other values had no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Though it might need a well controlled study to find the differences in effect between isoflurane and propofol on the postoperative liver function test, we concluded that total intravenous anesthesia using propofol is also one of the safest anesthetic methods for hepatic resection with minimal hepatotoxicity.
Alanine Transaminase ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Intravenous ; Anesthetics ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Bilirubin ; Constriction* ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Isoflurane* ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Function Tests* ; Liver* ; Propofol* ; Prothrombin Time ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Depolarizing muscle relaxant, frequently used for rapid sequence endotracheal intubation in clinical field, has serious complication that occur intermittently, such as, hyperkalemia, increased intraoccular pressure and sudden cardiac arrest, especially in infants and adolescents. So the priming principle, i.e., the administration of a subparalyzing dose of a nondepolarizing muscle relaxant (priming dose) prior to the intubating dose, was developed for rapid sequence endotracheal intubation with nondepolarizing muscle relaxant. However, the priming dose sometimes causes complications, such as, swallowing difficulty or pulmonary aspiration, and this can cause patient discomfort or fatal complications. In this study we examined proper atracurium priming dose and evaluated possible complications of priming doses. METHODS: One hundred patients, scheduled for elective surgery were randomly allocated into five groups according to the priming dose used (group 1; 0, group 2; 0.03, group 3; 0.06, group 4; 0.09, group 5; 0.12 mg/kg). Patients received a midazolam and fentanyl injection, the base line TOF ratio was measured, and an intubating dose was given. We also examined changes in vital sign for 20 minutes after injection and noted the time when the twitch height became zero (onset time). RESULTS: In group 1, the onset time was 107 +/- 22.9 sec, and in groups 4 and 5, the onset times were 85.0 +/- 15.6 and 69.9 +/- 19.3 sec, respectively. But, in group 5, some patients showed tachycardia and swallowing difficulty. CONCLUSIONS: The optimal priming dose of atracurium was determined as 0.09 mg/kg, in most cases, however patients sensitivity to the atracurium should be considered.
Adolescent ; Atracurium* ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Deglutition ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia ; Infant ; Intubation* ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Midazolam ; Tachycardia ; Vital Signs

PURPOSE: To evaluate a recently developed technique to place a medium-duration(weeks to months) central venous access. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Within three-year period, 635 patients were referred to interventional radiology suite for placement of peripherally inserted central catheter(PlCC). Contrast medium was injected into the peripheral intravenous line and a puncture was made into the opacified vein near the junction of the middle and upper thirds of the upper arm, either the brachial or basilic vein under fluoroscopic guidance. A 5.5-French peel-away sheath was inserted into the vein and a 5- French silicone catheter was introduced with its distal tip to the junction of the right atrium and superior vena cava. RESULTS: Catheter placement was successful in all patients unless there was a central venous obstruction. Catheters were maintained from 2 days to 5 months with a mean of 3 weeks. Complications included infection requiring removal of the PICC in 16 patients(2.5%), acute thrombosis of the subclavian vein in 3(0.5%). Occluded catheters in 4 patients were easily cleared with urokinase in place. CONCLUSION: The PICC system is an excellent option for medium-duration cen- tral venous access. Patients were able to carry on normal activities with the catheters in place.
Arm* ; Catheters* ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Ocimum basilicum ; Punctures ; Radiology, Interventional ; Silicones ; Subclavian Vein ; Thrombosis ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; Veins ; Vena Cava, Superior

PURPOSE: To evaluate a recently developed technique to place a medium-duration(weeks to months) central venous access. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Within three-year period, 635 patients were referred to interventional radiology suite for placement of peripherally inserted central catheter(PlCC). Contrast medium was injected into the peripheral intravenous line and a puncture was made into the opacified vein near the junction of the middle and upper thirds of the upper arm, either the brachial or basilic vein under fluoroscopic guidance. A 5.5-French peel-away sheath was inserted into the vein and a 5- French silicone catheter was introduced with its distal tip to the junction of the right atrium and superior vena cava. RESULTS: Catheter placement was successful in all patients unless there was a central venous obstruction. Catheters were maintained from 2 days to 5 months with a mean of 3 weeks. Complications included infection requiring removal of the PICC in 16 patients(2.5%), acute thrombosis of the subclavian vein in 3(0.5%). Occluded catheters in 4 patients were easily cleared with urokinase in place. CONCLUSION: The PICC system is an excellent option for medium-duration cen- tral venous access. Patients were able to carry on normal activities with the catheters in place.
Arm* ; Catheters* ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Ocimum basilicum ; Punctures ; Radiology, Interventional ; Silicones ; Subclavian Vein ; Thrombosis ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; Veins ; Vena Cava, Superior

PURPOSE: To report a case of globe perforation and linear retinal tear after periocular acupuncture therapy which resulted in persistent temporal field defect with normal retinal function evidenced by multifocal electroretinogram (MERG). CASE SUMMARY: A 42-year-old female presented with decreased visual acuity and pain in her right eye after a periocular acupuncture therapy for blepharospasm. At initial presentation, the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.08 in the injured eye and the intraocular pressure was 15 mmHg. Ultrasonography showed minimal vitreous hemorrhage and fundus examination revealed a linear retinal tear in the posterior pole sparing the macula. Consequently, barrier laser photocoagulation was performed around the lesion. The patient suffered from metamorphopsia and persistent decreased visual acuity even after 3 months. On fundus examination, epiretinal membrane with macular pucker was observed on the macula. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) revealed retinal nerve fiber layer defect with a full-thickness posterior wall tear. Multifocal electroretinogram showed normal retinal function; however, Humphrey visual field test demonstrated field defect corresponding to the injury. A 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy was performed with membranectomy and ILM peeling. One month postoperatively, improvement in BCVA and metamorphopsia was achieved; however, the scotomata remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Ocular perforation or retinal tear caused by an acupuncture needle is a rare condition that has not been reported previously in Korea. Furthermore, no case of traumatic visual field defect with preserved retinal function has been reported elsewhere. Hence, the authors present a case of isolated visual field defect without retinal dysfunction following full-thickness retinal tear caused by an acupuncture needle.
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Blepharospasm ; Disaccharides ; Epiretinal Membrane ; Eye ; Female ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Korea ; Light Coagulation ; Needles ; Nerve Fibers ; Retinal Perforations ; Retinaldehyde ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Vision Disorders ; Visual Acuity ; Visual Field Tests ; Visual Fields ; Vitrectomy ; Vitreous Hemorrhage

This study was performed to assess the accuracy of 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy(MRS) in the evaluation of myocardial ischemia in cats. Twelve cats underwent myocardial ischemia and reperfusion induced by 90 minutes ligation followed by 90 minutes recirculation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). MRS was performed using a 4.7T Biospec MRS/MRI system (Bruker, Switzerland). An inner diameter 1.5cm-sized doubly tuned surface coli was used for the collection of the MR signal. The coli was implanted to the epicardial surface at the expected area of infarction. 31P MRS was acquired before and during the periods of ischemia and reperfusion with 5-minute to 30-minute of intervals. After completion of the 31P MRS study, animals were sacrificed and the hearts were excised for 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTG0 histochemical staining. The area of infarct was measured on the photographs of TTG stained heart slices using a computer programmed planimetry and the results were compared with those of the 31P MRS study. The level of phosphocreatine (PCr) was decreased to 28.2±6.9% of the baseline level 90 minutes after occlusion and recovered to 43.8±4.8% of the baseline level at the end of the reperfusion. A 50% depletion of PCr was reached 5 minutes after the LAD occlusion. The ATP was decreased to a 26.6±3.6% of the baseline level 90 minutes after occlusion and recovered to a 35.9±6.0 of the baseline level 90 minutes after reperfusion. The decreasing rate of ATP was slower than that of PCr showing a 50% of depletion 15 minutes after occlusion. The PCr/ATP ratio was 1.16±0.09 at the baseline, decreased to 0.88±0.07 at 30 minutes of occlusion, and then progressively increased during the late ischemic and reperfused periods. The ratio of the infarcted area to the effective signal area of the surface coli was inversely correlated to the ATP (r=0.68) and PCr (r=0.40) levels obtained at the end of reperfusion. In conclusion, 31P MRS reflects the changes in myocardial high energy phosphorous metabolism during the actue ischemia and reperfusion. If on adequate localization technique is feasible, 31P MRS can be used clinically in the diagnosis and monitoring of the patients with acute myocardial infarction.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Cats* ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnosis ; Heart ; Humans ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Ligation ; Metabolism ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Phosphocreatine ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reperfusion ; Spectrum Analysis*

BACKGROUND: Reestabilshment of blood flow is a standard therapeutic modality to salvage the myocardium at risk in an acute phase of myocardial infarction. However, there are significant evidences that reperfusion per se may injure the potentially viable myocardium, and a number of pharmacological agents were tried to reduce this reperfusion injury. Adenosine, an endogenous vasodilator, is suggested to reduce repergusion inury. To evaluate the myocardial protective effect of adenosine, magnetic resonance spectroscopy with superscript P was applied to feline model of acute myocardial ischemia-reperfusion, as well as pathological examination. METHODS: Effects of adenosine on the recovery of high energy phosphorous metabolites during 90 minutes of reperfusion period following 90 minutes of left anterior descending coronary artery ligation were assessed by31P spectroscopy in 27 cats(10: control group, 8: adenosine I group, 9: adenosine II group). In adenosine groups 0.2 mg/kg/min of adenosine was infused intravenously for 90 minutes from 30 miniutes before reperfusion in group I, and from just before reperfusion in group II. The experiments were performed on a 4.7 T/30 cm Biospec MRS/MRI system and the MR signals were obtained by using inner-diameter 1.5 cm-sized doubly tuned surface coil. The size of the spectral peaks was measured by area integration method. RESULTS: 1) Phosphocreatine(PCr) decreased rapidly with progression of ischemia, and recovered in reperfusion period in each group. PCr values in the reperfusion period were significantly higher in adenosine group than those in control group, although there was no difference between adenosine group I and II. 2) ATP decreased with progression of ischemia, and recovered in reperfusion period in each group. ATP values in the reperfusion period were significantly higher in adenosine groups than those in control group, byt there was no difference between adenosine group I and II. 3) pH decreased uniformly with progression of ischemia and recovered in reperfusion period, showing no difference between control and adenosine groups. 4) PCr/ATP ratio, representing the potential of oxidative phosphorylation, dereased with progression of ischemia and increased in reperfusion period. PCr/ATP ratio showed no difference between control, adenosine I and II groups. 5) Risk area/left ventricle ratio was not different in control and adenosine groups. Infarct size/risk area and infarct size/left ventricle ratios were smaller in adenosine II than those in control group. Howerver no significant diffence was noticed between adenosine I and control, and between adenosine I and II group. CONCLUSION: Intravenous infusion of adenosine showed the tendency of reducing the infarct size in the feline model of acute myocardial ischemia-reperfusion, and adenosine could improve significantly the recovery of high energy phosphate metabolites. This myocardial pretective effect of adenosine is considered to be present mainly in the reperfusion period.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Adenosine* ; Coronary Vessels ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Ischemia ; Ligation ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Myocardium ; Oxidative Phosphorylation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury ; Spectrum Analysis