No abstract available.
Anemia, Aplastic* ; Hepatitis*

No abstract available.
Panniculitis ; Panniculitis, Nodular Nonsuppurative*

In two patients with chronic corneal ulcer, resistant to conventional therapy, analysis of tear fluid and observation of the corneal state were performed before and after treatment using autologous fibronectin and aprotinin for the purpose of estimating the effect of treatment. The plasmin activity which was revealed before treatment was absent after treatment, and corneal reepithelialization was observed after treatment. We think the combined therapy with autologous fibronectin and aprotinin may be effective for the treatment of therapy-resistant chronic corneal ulcer.
Aprotinin* ; Corneal Ulcer* ; Fibrinolysin ; Fibronectins* ; Humans

In two patients with chronic corneal ulcer, resistant to conventional therapy, analysis of tear fluid and observation of the corneal state were performed before and after treatment using autologous fibronectin and aprotinin for the purpose of estimating the effect of treatment. The plasmin activity which was revealed before treatment was absent after treatment, and corneal reepithelialization was observed after treatment. We think the combined therapy with autologous fibronectin and aprotinin may be effective for the treatment of therapy-resistant chronic corneal ulcer.
Aprotinin* ; Corneal Ulcer* ; Fibrinolysin ; Fibronectins* ; Humans

The present study was designed to observe the expression patterns of NF-kappa B and AP-1, redox-sensitive transcription factors, and Bcl-2 and Bax, apoptosis repressing and promoting factors, respectively, upon repetitive cycles of short ischemia and reperfusion. Nine and thirty five weeks old Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to the 3, 6, and 10 cycles of the ischemic process for 5 minutes followed by reperfusion for 5 minutes. The rats were divided by 5 groups, according to the time after treatment, such as 0, 3, 6, 24 and 72 hours. For short ischemia and reperfusion, left common iliac artery was occluded 3, 6, and 10 times for 5 minutes of ischemia followed by 5 minutes of reperfusion using rodent vascular clamps and left rectus femoris muscles were removed. The expression profiles and distribution of NF-kappa B, AP-1, Bcl-2, and Bax which were observed using immunohistochemical staining methods with 6 microgram thick paraffin sections of the rectus femoris tissue were as follows: The distribution of NF-kappa B was increased as the cycles of ischemia and reperfusion increased up to 3 hours after treatment. This phenomenon was prominent in 35 weeks-old rats. The distribution of AP-1 was increased as the cycles of ischemia and reperfusion increased up to 3 hours after treatment. This phenomenon was prominent in 9 weeks-old rats. The distribution of Bcl-2 was decreased as the cycles of ischemia and reperfusion increased up to 3 hours after treatment. The extent of such reduction was more prominent in 35 weeks-old rats than 9 weeks-old rats. The distribution of Bax was increased as the cycles of ischemia and reperfusion increased up to 3 hours after treatment. After 3 hours of treatment, Bax positivity was gradually decreased in 9 weeks-old rats, but increased in 35 weeks-old rats to reach a peak at 24 hour after reperfusion. The extent of enhancement in 9 weeks-old rats was higher than that in 35 weeks-old rats. In summary, multiple episodes of short ischemia and reperfusion altered the expression profiles of NF-kappa B, AP-1, Bcl-2, and Bax in the rectus femoris muscle at the similar extents in 9 and 35 weeks-old rats. Such alterations were more more increased when the episodes were more repeated.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Iliac Artery ; Ischemia* ; Muscles* ; NF-kappa B* ; Paraffin ; Quadriceps Muscle* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion* ; Rodentia ; Transcription Factor AP-1* ; Transcription Factors

PURPOSE: To gain insight on the role of AP-1 in transcriptional regulation of vimentin gene during differentiation of HL-60 cells by 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), the levels of vimentin mRNA and AP-1 have been investigated with Northern blot hybridization and DNA mobility shift assay. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HL-60 cells were grown in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum and antibiotics in a humidified 5% CO2 at 37 degree C. Total RNA was prepared by a modification of the method of Karlinsey et al. Northern blot hybridization was performed by the method of Virca et al. EcoRI fragment of pVIM-GEM was used as probe for vimentin mRNA. DNA mobility shift assay was performed by the method of Lim et al. End labeled DNA probe(Upper strand, 5'-CGCTTGATGAGTCAGCCG- 3') for AP-1 binding activity was mixed with nuclear extracts in a 20 microliter reaction volume containing 300 mM KC1, 60 mM HEPES, pH 7.9, 25 mM MgCl2, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM DTT, 60% glycerol, and 2 microgram of poly[dI-dC]. RESULTS: TPA increased vimentin mRNA levels, with maxima1 stimulation reached at 24 hr. The level of vimentin mRNA was induced in proportion to the concentration of TPA. TPA-induced vimentin mRNA was almost reduced by actinomycin-D pretreatment. TPA- induced stimulation of vimentin gene was completely reduced by staurosporin pretreatment. In DNA mobility shift assay, AP-I newly appeared at 24 hr during TPA- induced differentiation and was almost not detected after the pretreatment of staurosporin. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the induction of vimentin mRNA during TPA- dependent differentiation in HL-60 cells may be mediated by protein kinases C signal transduction and AP-1 is important to transcriptional regulation.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Blotting, Northern ; DNA ; Edetic Acid ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Glycerol ; HEPES ; HL-60 Cells* ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Magnesium Chloride ; Protein Kinases ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factor AP-1* ; Vimentin*

PURPOSE: Sildenafil citrate(Viagra(R)), a PDE-5 inhibitor in the corpus carvenosum to facilitate penile erection has improved impaired erectile responses in men and has been accepted as a primary treatment of erectile dysfunction. However, complications occurred by Viagra have increased due to its overuse and misuse. Therefore, we have performed a survey to compare physicians and general population in Busan, Korea to assess their understanding of Viagra. Methods and Materials: In 2007, printed surveys were mailed to randomly sampled candidates of 197 primary physicians and 696 individuals from general population, 327 medical students in Busan were surveyed by door-to-door visits. We assessed opinions associated with Viagra eliciting their understanding about its safety, direction, and complications. Data were analyzed using SPSS and were identified by crosstabulation analysis using Ki-square test. RESULTS: Of 1,265 eligible responses, several differences were found between the 3 groups. Compared to general population, the others were more likely to understand the efficacy, directions, and complications of Viagra. Physicians and medical students(43.1% and 39.0%) gave more preference than general population(26.1%) to using Viagra. There were differences in understanding of Viagra with changes of education level. However, it showed no significant differences about idea of illegal Viagra and combination usage with nitrates. Conclusion: The number of patients using Viagra is increasing but their understanding about Viagra is still poor. Moreover, general populations understand Viagra as 'assistant' for erection poorly. Even some medical students understand more than physicians. The ideas of complications would likely affect to negative thinking about usage for Viagra. Therefore more active and continuous educations for proper use of Viagra are suggested for medical efficacy and less complications.
Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Nitrates ; Penile Erection ; Piperazines ; Postal Service ; Purines ; Students, Medical ; Sulfones ; Thinking ; Sildenafil Citrate

BACKGROUND: Combination of propofol and remifentanil is an ideal regimen for total intravenous anesthesia. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect-site concentration of remifentanil for prevention of hemodynamic responses to tracheal intubation during fixed propofol infusion (4microgram/ml) and to find any sexual differences. METHODS: Thirty ASA physical status I-II patients undergoing general anesthesia were assigned to male (n = 15), and female (n = 15) group. All patients received a target controlled infusion (TCI) of propofol with a fixed effect-site concentration of 4microgram/ml. After target effect-site concentration of propofol and remifentanil was reached, tracheal intubation was performed. The hemodynamic changes (systolic/diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and heart rate) were measured at 1 and 2 min before tracheal intubation (baseline), immediately after, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 min following tracheal intubation. In both groups, effect-site concentration of remifentanil was initiated with 3 ng/ml. Subsequent concentration of remifentanil was determined by hemodynamic responses of the previous patient to tracheal intubation based on up and down sequential allocation. RESULTS: The mean EC50 of remifentanil for prevention of hemodynamic responses to tracheal intubation were 1.37 ng/ml (95% CI, 0.95-1.81 microgram/ml) in male group and 1.05 microgram/ml (95% CI, 0.68-1.40 ng/ml) in female group, respectively. In addition, there were no statistical significant differences between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Relatively small dosages of remifentanil (0.68-1.81 microgram/ml) for attenuation of hemodynamic responses to tracheal intubation was needed in Korean population in propofol TCI and there were no sexual differences.
Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Intravenous* ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure* ; Female ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Male ; Propofol ; Sex Characteristics

BACKGROUND: Combination of propofol and remifentanil is an ideal regimen for total intravenous anesthesia. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect-site concentration of remifentanil for prevention of hemodynamic responses to tracheal intubation during fixed propofol infusion (4microgram/ml) and to find any sexual differences. METHODS: Thirty ASA physical status I-II patients undergoing general anesthesia were assigned to male (n = 15), and female (n = 15) group. All patients received a target controlled infusion (TCI) of propofol with a fixed effect-site concentration of 4microgram/ml. After target effect-site concentration of propofol and remifentanil was reached, tracheal intubation was performed. The hemodynamic changes (systolic/diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and heart rate) were measured at 1 and 2 min before tracheal intubation (baseline), immediately after, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 min following tracheal intubation. In both groups, effect-site concentration of remifentanil was initiated with 3 ng/ml. Subsequent concentration of remifentanil was determined by hemodynamic responses of the previous patient to tracheal intubation based on up and down sequential allocation. RESULTS: The mean EC50 of remifentanil for prevention of hemodynamic responses to tracheal intubation were 1.37 ng/ml (95% CI, 0.95-1.81 microgram/ml) in male group and 1.05 microgram/ml (95% CI, 0.68-1.40 ng/ml) in female group, respectively. In addition, there were no statistical significant differences between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Relatively small dosages of remifentanil (0.68-1.81 microgram/ml) for attenuation of hemodynamic responses to tracheal intubation was needed in Korean population in propofol TCI and there were no sexual differences.
Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Intravenous* ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure* ; Female ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Male ; Propofol ; Sex Characteristics

BACKGROUND: Chronic liver disease is a common cause of metabolic neurologic deterioration. We analyzed the clinical features and MRI findings of patients with liver cirrhosis who showed rapidly progressing cerebral dysfunction. METHODS: From August 2001 to July 2003, we had 9 liver cirrhosis patients hospitalized due to acutely developed and rapidly progressed neurologic symptoms that were caused not by other metabolic disturbances. Blood tests and liver ultrasonography were performed to assess the severity of liver cirrhosis. A brain MRI study was done in all patients. RESULTS: The causes of liver cirrhosis were viral hepatitis (n=6), chronic alcoholism (n=2), and autoimmune disease (n=1). Serum ammonia and electrolyte levels were within the normal range. Truncal or limbs ataxia and dysarthria were the most common symptoms. The corpus callosum and dentate nucleus of the cerebellum were commonly involved on diffusion- and T2-weighted MRI. In spite of intensive investigation and treatment, all patients had a rapidly deteriorating course with the appearance of uncontrolled abnormal movements and a decreased consciousness level. Their deaths occured within 1 month of the onset of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: We present nine liver cirrhosis patients with characteristic clinical features and diffusion- and T2-weighted MRI findings for the first time. It is assumed that some neurologic circuit plays a role in pathogenesis.
Alcoholism ; Ammonia ; Ataxia ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Brain Diseases, Metabolic* ; Brain* ; Cerebellar Nuclei ; Cerebellum ; Consciousness ; Corpus Callosum ; Dysarthria ; Dyskinesias ; Extremities ; Hematologic Tests ; Hepatitis ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Diseases ; Liver* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Reference Values ; Ultrasonography