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

PURPOSE: Chronic prostatitis (CP) does not yet have a universally successful therapy. Alternative treatments including thermotherapy have been adopted in the multimodal management of pain and voiding dysfunction. We retrospectively analyzed the therapeutic efficacy of bipolar radiofrequency thermotherapy for patients who were unsatisfied with conventional medication for CP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study between October 2009 and September 2010 of 26 patients who were under 50 years old and diagnosed with CP (National Institutes of Health [NIH]-category III) was performed. Twenty patients were diagnosed with inflammatory CP (NIH-category IIIa) and the rest with noninflammatory CP (NIH-category IIIb). We used the Tempro system at an intraprostatic temperature of 55degrees C for 50 minutes with a medium heating rate. All patients also completed the NIH-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (CPSI) before and after treatment. RESULTS: In the patients diagnosed with CP, the mean serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was 0.9+/-0.3 ng/ml, the prostate volume was 27.1+/-5.5 g, and the average score for all 3 domains on the NIH-CPSI significantly decreased. The total scores decreased from 19.8+/-7.1 to 11.1+/-7.0, the pain domain decreased from 8.6+/-3.1 to 4.8+/-3.1, the voiding symptom domain decreased from 5.1+/-1.8 to 2.9+/-1.8, and the effect on the quality of life decreased from 6.1+/-2.2 to 3.4+/-2.2 (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Bipolar radiofrequency thermotherapy for patients with CP intractable to conventional medication can provide significant improvement in the NIH-CPSI. Large, randomized controlled trials will also be required to confirm the efficacy of this therapy.
Academies and Institutes ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hyperthermia, Induced ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatitis ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies

Serum myoglobin concentrations were studied in 46 patients during orthopedic and plastic operations that required the application of a pneumatic limb tourniquet. Serum myoglobin was measured at preoperation, during tourniquet and after touriquet release. In the general anesthesia patients, serum myoglobin was after tourniquet release(172.72+/-29.49 ng/ml) significantly increased(p<0.01) than at preoperation(103.06+/-24.03 ng/ml). In the regional block patients, serum myoglobin after tourniquet release(117.69+/-10.08ng/ml) also increased(p<0.05) than at preoperation(67.08+/-14.99ng/ml). In the male patients, serum myoglobin was significantly increased(p<0.05) during tourniquet and after tourniquet release(123.36+/-15.42ng/ml & 158.86+/-21.10ng/ml) than at preoperation (93.58+/-17.11ng/ml). In the female patients, there was no significant difference to regardless of tourniquet application. In the patients that tourniquet application time was within one hour, serum myoglohin was significantly increased(p<0.01) during tourniquet and after tourniquet release(125.66+/-18.86 & 126.20+/-14.99ng/ml) than at preoperation(86.12+/-15.29ng/ml). In the patients that tourniquet application time was over one hour, serum myoglobin was sig- nificantly increased(p<0.01) during tourniquet(l05.92+/-21.84ng/ml) than at preoperation(91.16+/-31.17ng/ml) and in the after tourniquet release(183.88+/-40.96ng/ml), serum myoglobin was more significantly(p<0.05) increased than during tourniquet.
Anesthesia, General ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Myoglobin* ; Orthopedics ; Plastics ; Tourniquets*

BACKGROUND: Recent studies demonstrated that volatile anesthetics suppress the NO-cGMP system in the vascular system. It has been known that the hemodynamic changes produced by volatile anesthetics in septic patients are mediated by upregulation of iNOS leading to excessive release of NO. The mechanisms underlying suppression of the NO-cGMP system by anesthetics are still controversial. It has been elucidated that nitric oxide synthase (NOS) plays a major role in the regulatory function in the L-arginine-NO system. So we examined the effects of NOS inhibitor (L-NAME, aminoguanidine) and NO scavenger (hydroxocobalamin) on vascular smooth muscle contractile function in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated rat aorta during halothane administration. METHODS: Aortic ring preparations were obtained from LPS-treated (1.5 mg/kg, ip, for 18 h) rats. We evaluated the effects of hydroxocobalamin, L-NAME and aminoguanidine on contractile responses to phenylephrine during halothane (1 & 2 MAC) administration respectively. Statistical significances (P<0.05) were analyzed according to data characterictics by repeated measures ANOVA test and student's t-test. RESULTS: The contractile responses to phenylephrine in LPS-treated rats aorta were significantly (P<0.05) increased in the presence of hydroxocobalamin and L-NAME. During the halothane (1 and 2 MAC) administration, the contractile responses to phenylephrine in LPS-treated rats aorta were increased significantly (P<0.05) in the presence of hydroxocobalamin and L-NAME. CONCLUSIONS: From these results, it is suggested that hydroxocobalamin and L-NAME may be useful in the therapy of septic shock.
Anesthetics ; Animals ; Aorta ; Halothane* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hydroxocobalamin* ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Phenylephrine ; Rats* ; Shock, Septic ; Up-Regulation

BACKGROUND: Portal triad clamping (PTC) during hepatic resection (Pringle maneuver, PM) can afford reduced intraoperative bleeding and bloodless surgical field. But inflow obstruction of blood to liver during PM can bring hemodynamic changes to the patient. This study was designed to evaluate the hemodynamic changes before, during and after PM application during hepatic resection. We also compared the hemodynamic effects of hepatic cooling before PM with/without portal decompression during PM. METHODS: The patients were divided into three groups; PM (P group, n=9), PM after hepatic cooling with 400 ml of 4oC lactated Ringer's solution (LR) (C+P group, n=13), PM after hepatic cooling and portal decompression with portocaval shunt (C+P+S group, n=7). Systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), cardiac index (CI) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured before, during and after PM. RESULTS: Portal pressure of C+P+S group (208.3+/-36.6 mmH2O) was lower than P (487.3+/-92.9 mmH2O) and C P (553.6+/-77.0 mmH2O) group during PM. CIs of P and C P group were decreased (15, 13% respectively) during PM. After reperfusion, CIs and SVRIs of P, C+P and C+P+S group were all increased (CI; 33, 26, 50%, SVRI; 30, 40, 50%, respectively) than end of PM. CONCLUSION: PM itself doesn't make abrupt hemodynamic change. Hepatic cooling with 4oC LR (400 ml) before PM increases MAP because of increased SVRI. Reperfusion after PM for 50 minutes, hemodynamic depression could occur by decreased SVRI, especially in case of decompressed portal pressure with portocaval shunt during PM.
Arterial Pressure ; Constriction* ; Decompression* ; Depression ; Hemodynamics* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Liver ; Portal Pressure ; Reperfusion ; Vascular Resistance

BACKGROUND: Portal triad clamping (PTC) during hepatic resection (Pringle maneuver, PM) can afford reduced intraoperative bleeding and bloodless surgical field. But inflow obstruction of blood to liver during PM can bring hemodynamic changes to the patient. This study was designed to evaluate the hemodynamic changes before, during and after PM application during hepatic resection. We also compared the hemodynamic effects of hepatic cooling before PM with/without portal decompression during PM. METHODS: The patients were divided into three groups; PM (P group, n=9), PM after hepatic cooling with 400 ml of 4oC lactated Ringer's solution (LR) (C+P group, n=13), PM after hepatic cooling and portal decompression with portocaval shunt (C+P+S group, n=7). Systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), cardiac index (CI) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured before, during and after PM. RESULTS: Portal pressure of C+P+S group (208.3+/-36.6 mmH2O) was lower than P (487.3+/-92.9 mmH2O) and C P (553.6+/-77.0 mmH2O) group during PM. CIs of P and C P group were decreased (15, 13% respectively) during PM. After reperfusion, CIs and SVRIs of P, C+P and C+P+S group were all increased (CI; 33, 26, 50%, SVRI; 30, 40, 50%, respectively) than end of PM. CONCLUSION: PM itself doesn't make abrupt hemodynamic change. Hepatic cooling with 4oC LR (400 ml) before PM increases MAP because of increased SVRI. Reperfusion after PM for 50 minutes, hemodynamic depression could occur by decreased SVRI, especially in case of decompressed portal pressure with portocaval shunt during PM.
Arterial Pressure ; Constriction* ; Decompression* ; Depression ; Hemodynamics* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Liver ; Portal Pressure ; Reperfusion ; Vascular Resistance

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