In order to observe the development of ventricular arrhythmia during regional myocardial ischemia and reperfusion, especially under the presence or absence of ST-T electrical alternans on epicardial EKG. The proximal left descending coronary artery(LAD) was ligated for 20 minutes and then reperfused suddenly in twenty-three cats. Standard lead EKG(Lead??, chest lead EKG and epicardial lead EKG were recorded simultaneously during the occlusion and reperfusion respectively. During the ligation of LAD, STEA was observed in thirteen cats(56.5%). In occlusion period, the incidence of ventricular tachycardia in STEA positive group was significantly higher than in the negative group(p<0.01) and arrhythmic score was significantly higher(p<0.005) also In the reperfusion period the incidence of vefntricular fibrillation in STEA positive group was significantly higher than in the negative group(p<0.025). But there was the tendency to be higher in arrhythmic score of STEA positive group. There were no differences in heart rate, systolic left ventricular pressure, ST elevation and ST width in both groups. Most forms of ST-T of sinus rhythm before and after development of ventricular premature beat was low form(L). It was concluded that at the presence of STEA on EKG, the incidence of ventricular arrhythmia was more prevalent. So, STEA can be available as a marker of ventricular arrhythmia and prognostic factor.
Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac* ; Cardiac Complexes, Premature ; Cats ; Electrocardiography* ; Heart Rate ; Incidence ; Ligation ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Reperfusion ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Thorax ; Ventricular Pressure

A major problem in the repair of the torn Achilles tendon has been providing the restoration of the anatomic continuity such that virtually normal plantar flexion power and ankle mobility result. Continuity should be restored without subsequent pain, disconfiguration, occupational limitations. If possible, postoperative complications, or tendon-rerupture should be avoided. Surgeons have long advocated the use of strips of facia and other tissues, including the plantaris tendon, to reinforce the repair of the torn Achilles tendon, The repair effected by these methods not infrequently is bulky and not too secure. Non-absorbable suture materials utilizing in the end to end anastomosis of the torn Achilles tendon cause sinus formation and discharge of suture materials. A secure method of repair for the tom Achilles tendon, which decreases sinus formation and is not bulky, should be required. The plantaris tendon, which has been used as a reinforcing material, can be utilized in the end-to-end anastomosis of the torn Achilles tendon by detaching from the muculotendinous junction. The 11 patients with the torn Achilles tendon were treated by end-to-end anastomosis using the plantaris tendon as suture material. The postoperative results were staisfactory without significant functional deficit and complication.
Achilles Tendon ; Ankle ; Humans ; Methods ; Postoperative Complications ; Surgeons ; Sutures ; Tendons

No abstract available.
Antibodies* ; Rheumatic Diseases*

BACKGROUND: It has been known that Ginseng extract causes the hypotensive action while it rather produces the hypertensive action. Some studies have suggested that Ginseng extract causes a biphasic response on blood pressure, namely, transient fall followed by prolonged elevation. It has been also shown that administration of Korean Red Ginseng powder has no effect on blood pressure in normotensive and hypertensive rats. The present study was designed to examine the effect of total Ginseng saponin on contractile responses of vasoconstrictors in the rat aorta and to establish the mechanism of its action. METHODS: The ring segment of aorta was mounted in a muscle bath filled with oxygenated Krebs solution for the measurement of isometric tension. After the equilibration period, under the presence of total Ginseng saponin, isometric tension induced by some vasoconstrictors were observed and compared to the control responses. The data were expressed as % of the control tension. RESULTS: Phenylephrine (an adrenergic alpha1-receptor agonist) and high potassium (a membrane depolarizing agent) caused greatly contractile responses in the rat aorta, respectively. However, in the presence of total ginseng saponin (600 g/ml), the contractile responses of phenylephrine (10(-6) and 10(-5) M) and high potassium (3.5 x 10(-2) and 5.6 x 10(-2) M) were markedly potentiated whereas prostglandin F2alpha(5 x 10(-6) M)-induced contractile responses was not affected. The contractile responses induced by phenylephrine (10(-5) M) and high potassium (3.5 x 10(-2) M) even under the presence of total ginseng saponin (600 g/ml) were greatly inhibited by the pretreatment of nicardipine (10(-6) M), a calcium channel blocker. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these experimental results suggest that total ginseng saponin can enhance the contractile responses evoked by stimulation of adrenergic alpha1-receptor and the membrane depolarization in the isolated rat aortic strips, which seems to be associated to calcium influx.
Animals ; Aorta* ; Baths ; Blood Pressure ; Calcium ; Calcium Channels ; Membranes ; Nicardipine ; Oxygen ; Panax* ; Phenylephrine ; Potassium ; Rats* ; Saponins* ; Vasoconstriction ; Vasoconstrictor Agents*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Rectal carcinoid tumors can be resected with endoscopy, and it is important to assess their prognostic factors. We evaluated the potential of Ki-67 expression as a prognostic factor in rectal carcinoid tumors. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 37 patients with rectal carcinoid tumors who got endoscopic resection from January 2001 to January 2011 at Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital. We analyzed their endoscopic and histologic findings, Ki-67 expression, clinical outcome, and prognosis. RESULTS: The mean age (+/-SD) of the patients was 56.3+/-10.7 years, and the male : female ratio was 3.6:1. The mean tumor size was 0.5+/-0.4 cm, 33 patients showed grade 1 tumors (89.2%) and the average Ki-67 expression was 0.7+/-1.2%. Thirty five patients underwent endoscopic mucosal resection, and two required endoscopic submucosal dissection. Eight patients had positive margins after resection, but no cases of lymphovascular invasion were identified. The median follow-up duration was 21.4+/-25.4 months, and no recurrences were observed. CONCLUSIONS: In low grade rectal carcinoid tumors which are lack of central depression on colonoscopy, the expression of a molecular marker of malignant potential, Ki-67, was low. Therefore, endoscopic resection seemed to be a safe and effective treatment for these tumors.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Carcinoid Tumor/*diagnosis/metabolism/pathology ; Colonoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ki-67 Antigen/*metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Rectal Neoplasms/*diagnosis/metabolism/pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Factors

BACKGROUND: The expression of adhesion molecules contribute to development of systemic diseases. Vascular cell adhesion molecule-l(VCAM-1) is an endothelial cell membrane glycoprotein that has been implicated in leukocyte/endothelial cell interactions in inflammation. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to characterize the surface expression and regulation of VCAM-1 on two different endothelial cells. METHOD: We examined the effects of the expression of VCAM-1 in two different endothelial cells, isolated from human umbilical cords and human glomerulus. Expression of VCAM-1 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and flow cytometry. RESULTS: In human umbilical cord endothelial cells(HUVECs), both interleukin-l B(IL-lB) and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) increased VCAM-1 expression. VCAM-1 expression increased by TNF-a was higher than that increased by IL-lB. In human glomerular endothelial cells(HGECs), IL-lB and TNF-a markedly increased VCAM-1 expression. Conclusion. The regulation of VCAM-1 appears to be somewhat different in HGECs compared with HUVECs. These differences between the responsiveness of the two cells may possibly indicate inherent differences in endothelial cell derived from different vascular beds.
Cell Adhesion ; Cell Communication ; Cytokines* ; Endothelial Cells* ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans* ; Inflammation ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Necrosis ; Umbilical Cord ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1*

BACKGROUND: Acute myocardial infarction (MI) is a life-threatening disease and surgical revascularization plays a major role in selected cases. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the left ventricular contractility improvement by examining the wall motion score index (WMSI) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients who underwent surgical revascularization under diagnosis of acute MI. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From January, 2001 to December, 2004, 149 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery within 2 weeks of acute MI were included. We evaluated pre- and postoperative left ventricular contractility by measuring WMSI and LVEF and examined the associating factors. RESULT: WMSI decreased from 1.54+/-4.30 to 1.43+/-0.40 (p<0.001) and LVEF increased from 48.1+/-12.2% to 49.7+/-12.3% after surgery (p=0.009). Off-pump technique, non-Q wave, anterior MI, and surgery within 7 days after MI were favorable factors for LVEF improvement (p=0.046, p=0.006, p=0.003, p= 0.005, respectively). Conversely, aforementioned factors were irrelevant with WMSI improvement. For triple vessel disease, complete revascularization was favorable factor for WMSI improvement (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Coronary artery bypass surgery can improve WMSI and LVEF in patients with acute MI. In case of anterior MI with non-Q wave, early surgical revascularization within 7 days may be most beneficial in LVEF improvement. Regarding WMSI, complete revascularization may be essential.
Coronary Artery Bypass ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Stroke Volume

Motor loss caused by herpes zoster is less well known but occurs in a significant number of cases, probably far more frequent than is recognized because the weakness is readily obscured by pain. The incidence of herpetic motor involvement was reported to be between 0.5% and 31%. A 65-year-old male patient with herpes zoster on the right lower limb had complained with progressive weakness of the limb, during treatment. We examined the limb using electromyographic(EMG) and motor nerve conduction velocity(MNCV) studies. Thereafter we concluded he had motor paralysis caused by herpes zoster. The weakness progressed to the complete motor loss of the right limb. Presenty, he still suffers from the paralysis of the right limb.
Aged ; Extremities ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Neural Conduction ; Paralysis*

No abstract available.
Arterial Occlusive Diseases/complications/*diagnosis/radiography ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ileal Diseases/radiography/surgery ; Ileocecal Valve/blood supply ; Infarction/pathology/*surgery ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior/*radiography ; Middle Aged ; Thromboangiitis Obliterans/complications/*diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Intracranial pressure monitoring gives useful information in many neurosurgical conditions. And, measurement of the extradural pressure has always seemed an attractive alternative for intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring. Also, choice of anesthetic agent may affect the management of intracranial pressure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of propofol, isoflurane and enflurane on ICP by measuring lumbar epidural pressure. METHODS: Forty seven adult patients scheduled for elective orthopedic surgery were randomly allocated to three groups according to anesthetic agent for maintenance: group I (isoflurane, n = 15), group P (propofol, n = 17), and group E (enflurane, n = 15). Premedication was performed by intramuscular injection of 0.2 mg of glycopyrrolate. ECG, noninvasive blood pressure monitoring device, and pulse oximeter was used for patient monitoring. A twenty gauge epidural catheter was placed 3-4 cm above the insertion site (L3-4). The pressure monitoring kit was connected to a catheter and was zeroed at the middle ear level. Epidural pressure was cheked every 10 min and compared to the control and among groups during maintenance of anesthesia. RESULTS: Demographic data showed no difference among groups. Preinduction epidural pressures were 7.4 +/- 1.4, 7.1 +/- 1.1, 7.2 +/- 1.0 mmHg in group P, I and E, respectively. During maintenance, group I did not show any statistically significant changes in epidural pressure, but pressure was reduced in group P and elevated in group E significantly 100 min after administering the maintenance anesthetics. CONCLUSIONS: Among the three anesthetic agents, propofol may be a more suitable maintenanace anesthetic agent for patients with increased ICP.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Anesthetics ; Blood Pressure Monitors ; Catheters ; Ear, Middle ; Electrocardiography ; Enflurane* ; Glycopyrrolate ; Humans ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Intracranial Pressure ; Isoflurane* ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; Orthopedics ; Premedication ; Propofol*