The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics or the potassium channels existing in the rat urinary bladders. Smooth muscle strips of rat detrusor urinae were examined by isometric myography. Relaxation responses of detrusor muscle strips to the three potassium channel openers pinacidil, a cyanoguanidine derivative, BRL 38227, a benzopyran derivative and RP 52891, a tertrahydrothiopyran derivative were examined. The potassium channel openers reduced the basal tone, and the rank order of potency was RP 52891>pincidil>BRL 38227. Procaine, an inhibitor of the voltage-sensitive potassium channel tended to increase the basal tone, but it did not affect the relaxant effects of the calcium-activated potassium channel opener did not antagonize the relaxant effects, but it reduced the Emax of RP 52891 and BRL 38227. Glibenclamide, an inhibitor of the ATP-sensitive potassium channel, antagonized the relaxant effects of pinacidil, RP 52891 and BRL 38227 reducing the Emax of RP 52891 and BRl 38227. Galanin which inhibits secretion of insulin through opening the ATP-sensitive potassium channels in pancreatic β-cells rather increased the basal tone of the isolated detrusor strips. These results suggest that the urinary bladder of the rat has mainly the ATP-sensitive, glibenclamide sensitive potassium channel, which is a different type from that in the pancreatic β-islet cells.
Animals ; Cromakalim ; Galanin ; Glyburide ; Insulin ; KATP Channels ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myography ; Pinacidil ; Potassium Channels* ; Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated ; Potassium* ; Procaine ; Rats* ; Relaxation ; Urinary Bladder

This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of baclofen on the detrusor muscle isolated from rat. Rats (Sprague-Dawley) were sacrificed by decapitation and exsanguination. Horizontal muscle strips of 2 mm x 15mm were prepared for isometric myography in isolated muscle chamber bubbled with 95% / 5%-OZ / CO2 at 371C, and the pH was maintained at 7.4 Detrusor strips. contracted responding to the.. electrical field stimulation (EFS) by 2 Hz, 2U msec, monophasic square wave of 60 VDC. The initial peak of EFS-Induced contraction was tended to be suppresed by a,p-methylene-adenosine 5'-triphosphate (mATP), a partial agonist of purinergic receptor, and baclofen, a GABAB receptor agonist (statistically nonsignificant). The late sustained contraction by EFS was suppressed significantly (p < 0.05) by additions of atropione, a cholinergic muscarinic receptor antagonist and baclofen. The adenosine 5'-triphosphate-induced contraction was completely abolished by mA TP but not by baclofen. In the presence of atropine, the subsequent addition of acetylcholine could not contract the muscle strips: but the addition of acetylcholine in the presence of baclofen evoked a contraction to a remarkable extent.
Acetylcholine ; Adenosine ; Animals ; Atropine ; Baclofen* ; Decapitation ; Exsanguination ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Myography ; Rats* ; Receptors, Muscarinic

Amorphous silica particles, whose applications are increasing in many biomedical fields, are known to be less toxic than crystalline silica. In this study, the inflammatory effects of amorphous silica nanoparticles were investigated using 30-nm amorphous silica nanoparticles and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) or purified monocytes. As a result, production of IL-1beta and IL-8 were increased. In addition, the mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected, which may lead to mitochondrial membrane disruption. Most importantly, inflammasome formation was observed. Therefore, these results provide immunological information about amorphous silica nanoparticles and suggest that amorphous silica nanoparticles can evoke innate immune reactions in human monocytes through production of IL-1beta and IL-8.
Crystallins ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; Mitochondrial Membranes ; Monocytes ; Nanoparticles ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Silicon Dioxide

PURPOSE: To assess the CT and histological findings after cryoablation in the normal lung of rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After performing chest CT on rabbits, we inserted a cryoneedle toward the lower lobe of the right lung. We performed percutaneous cryoablation that was composed of freeze-thaw-freeze cycles (25 minutes) for group 1 animals and one cycle of variable freezing time (10-20 minutes) for group 2 animals. We measured the longest (Dl) and shortest diameter (Ds) of the ablated zones that were determined after cryoablation for all of the CT images. After cryoablation, we performed a pathological examination. RESULTS: The mean Dl and Ds of the ablated zone was 28.1+/-3.9 mm and 16+/-1.6 mm, respectively, for group 1 rabbits. For group 2 rabbits, the mean Dl and Ds was 28.7+/-6.3 mm and 14.4+/-3.8 mm, respectively, for one cycle of 20 minutes freezing time. Based on the histological findings, the ablated zone was composed of a necrotic, hemorrhagic, and inflammatory area, in order from the center to the outside. Although each area was well differentiated in group 1 rabbits, only freezing for one cycle of 20 minutes for the group 2 rabbits gave the same results as for the group 1 rabbits. CONCLUSION: A total freezing time of at least 20 minutes and two more freeze-thaw-freeze cycles might be important factors for providing a sufficient area of the ablated zone and uniform necrosis during cryoablation.
Animals ; Catheter Ablation ; Cryosurgery ; Cryotherapy ; Freezing ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Necrosis ; Rabbits ; Thorax

PURPOSE: Malnutrition and failure to thrive have long been recognized as common systemic consequences of congenital heart disease(CHD). But there is little data about the prevalence and severity of malnutrition with CHD in Korea. We designed this study to determine the prevalence of malnutrition among hospitalized children with CHD. METHODS: We reviewed 100 hospitalized children with CHD who were randomly selected from consecutive admissions at department of pediatrics and thoracic surgery of Asan Medical Center from Jul. 1998 to Jun. 1999. A cross-sectional, retrospective study was done. Acute malnutrition was determined by calculating a ratio of the children's weight to the mean weight for the children's height. Chronic malnutrition was assessed by obtaining a ratio of the children's height to the mean height for the children's age. According to these criteria, malnutrition is divided into mild, moderate, and severe categories. RESULTS: Acute and chronic malnutrition occurred in 39% and 31% of the children, respectively. Age, diagnosis, and symptoms were analysed with the presence of the malnutrition. Forty nine percent of infants diagnosed as suffering from acute malnutrition, and cyanosis appear to be the ones the most severely important factor(P<0.001). Cyanotic children with pulmonary hypertension are the ones most severely affected(P<0.001). Acute or chronic malnutrition occurred in more than 44% of children with cyanosis and/or congestive heart failure but in only 11% of children with neither(P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Malnutrition in CHD is relatively high. We suggest nutritional screening and intervention for the children with CHD should be considered.
Child ; Child Nutrition Disorders* ; Child, Hospitalized ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Cyanosis ; Diagnosis ; Failure to Thrive ; Heart ; Heart Defects, Congenital* ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Infant ; Korea ; Malnutrition* ; Mass Screening ; Pediatrics ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Surgery

OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep-related breathing disorder that is characterized by repetitive collapse or partial collapse of the upper airway during sleep in spite of ongoing effort to breathe. It is believed that OSA is usually worsened in REM sleep, because muscle tone is suppressed during REM sleep. However, many cases showed a higher apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) during NREM sleep than during REM sleep. We aimed here to determine the characteristics of REM sleep-dependent OSA (REM-OSA) and NREM sleep-dependent OSA (NREM-OSA). METHODS: Five hundred sixty polysomnographically confirmed adult OSA subjects were studied retrospectively. All patients were classified into 3 groups based on the ratio between REM-AHI and NREM-AHI. REM-OSA was defined as REM-AHI/NREM-AHI > 2, NREM-OSA as NREM-AHI/REM-AHI > 2, and the rest as sleep stage-independent OSA (IND-OSA). In addition to polysomnography, questionnaires related to subjective sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and emotion were completed. Chi-square test, ANOVA, and ANCOVA were performed. RESULTS: There was no age difference among subgroups. The REM-OSA group was comprised of large proportions of mild OSA and female OSA patients. These patients experienced poor sleep and more negative emotions than other two groups. The AHI and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) were lowest in REM-OSA. Sleep efficiency and N3 percentage of REM-OSA were higher than in NREM-OSA. The percentage of patients who slept in a supine position was higher in REM-OSA than other subgroups. IND-OSA showed higher BMI and larger neck circumference and abdominal circumference than REM-OSA. The patients with IND-OSA experienced more sleepiness than the other groups. AHI and ODI were highest in IND-OSA. NREM-OSA presented the shortest total sleep time and the lowest sleep efficiency. NREM-OSA showed shorter sleep latency and REM latency and higher percentage of N1 than those of REM-OSA and the highest proportion of those who slept in a lateral position than other subgroups. NREM-OSA revealed the highest composite score on the Horne and Östberg questionnaire. With increased AHI severity, the numbers of apnea and hypopnea events during REM sleep decreased, and the numbers of apnea and hypopnea events during NREM sleep increased. The results of ANCOVA after controlling age, sex, BMI, NC, AC, and AHI showed the lowest sleep efficiency, the highest AHI in the supine position, and the highest percentage of waking after sleep onset in NREM-OSA. CONCLUSION: REM-OSA was associated with the mild form of OSA, female sex, and negative emotions. IND-OSA was associated with the severe form of OSA. NREM-OSA was most closely related to position and showed the lowest sleep efficiency. Sleep stage-dependent characteristics could provide better understanding of OSA.
Adult ; Animals ; Apnea ; Female ; Horns ; Humans ; Neck ; Oxygen ; Polysomnography ; Respiration ; Retrospective Studies ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* ; Sleep, REM ; Supine Position

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the welfare status of nurses and the status of fixed night shifts and flexible work arrangements in both general hospitals and advanced general hospitals in Korea. METHODS: A total of 167 hospitals participated in this study, done from April to October 2018. RESULTS: There were 103 hospitals utilizing the fixed night shift system, 22 in the two-shift system, 3 in the fixed holiday shift, 79 in the fixed shift system, and 39 in the short-time working system. The average welfare benefits for nurses increased to 33.02 million won on average. However, welfare services for the nurses were poor: 41.8% of the respondents had a nurses' lounge, 81.7% were given dormitory space at their place of employment, 41.8% had access to welfare facilities, and 56.4% were provided with welfare support countermeasures. CONCLUSION: The results show an increasing trend of hospitals to utilize fixed night shift and flexible work arrangements. An institutional strategy at the national policy level should be established to implement flexible work arrangements including the fixed night shift system, which has a poor level of welfare.
Employment ; Holidays ; Hospitals, General ; Korea ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Epidemiologic Studies*

Kawasaki disease is an acute systemic vasculitis of unknown origin. Giant coronary aneurysm is one of the most serious complications, although peripheral artery vasculitis can produce life-threatening events. Myocardial ischemia and infarction can be caused by coronary artery stenosis, aneurysm, and stagnation of blood flow in coronary arteries which triggers thromboembolism. Atypical presentation in young infants often interferes with prompt diagnosis and timely treatment, resulting in poor outcomes. We describe a 3-month-old infant with multiple giant coronary aneurysms with flow stagnation, stenosis and large mural thrombus due to Kawasaki disease. He presented with a prolonged course of severe coronary involvement in spite of all measures to reduce coronary complications. Finally, surgical intervention was tried because of the worsening coronary artery abnormalities. The patient died of acute cardiorespiratory failure shortly after weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass.
Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Aneurysm* ; Coronary Stenosis ; Coronary Thrombosis ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Infant* ; Infarction ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Systemic Vasculitis ; Thromboembolism ; Thrombosis* ; Vasculitis ; Weaning

Sequential lymphoma is defined as two different types of lymphoma that occur in the same patient at different anatomic sites and times. In most cases, the two distinct histologies belong to the same lineage (B- or T-cell lymphoma), though cases with both have been observed. A few cases of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphomas arising in patients with angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL) have been reported. Immune deficits inherent in AITL, combined with the immunosuppressive effects of the therapy, may have allowed unchecked EBV-induced proliferation of latently or newly EBV-infected B cells with eventual clonal selection and progression to aggressive B-cell lymphoma. Here, we report a case of AITL in which EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) arose 9 months after the initial diagnosis of AITL.
B-Lymphocytes ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; T-Lymphocytes