Heart failure is a recognized, although uncommon, cause of massive liver cell necrosis, the clinical consequence of which are intermingled with those of cardiac insufficiency in most case. But, hepatic coma is rerely caused by hepatic congestion only. We report the three cases with heart failure resulted in massive liver cell necrosis and fulminant hepatic failure. The manifestations of fulminant hepatic failure were hepatic encephalopathy, jaundice, marked increase of prothrombin time and serum transaminase and there were no evidences of viral hepatitis and toxic hepatitis as a cause of liver failure.
Drug-Induced Liver Injury ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Heart Failure* ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; Hepatitis ; Jaundice ; Liver ; Liver Failure ; Liver Failure, Acute* ; Necrosis ; Prothrombin Time

The authors reported here a 23 years-old female patient with acute renal failure and anaphylaxis induced by rifampicin, who was suffered from exudative pericarditis. The diagnosis was made by its reproducibility with rifampicin. The pathogenesis of acute renal failure and anaphylaxis in this case was thought to be immunologic mechanism, because of elevated IgE and depressed complements. Relevant literature was also reviewed.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Anaphylaxis* ; Complement System Proteins ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Pericarditis ; Rifampin ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Amlodipine* ; Humans ; Hypertension*

No abstract available.
Doxazosin* ; Hypertension*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia* ; Lovastatin*

This study attempted to clarify the morphological changes of the uriniferous tubules in the postobstructed kidneys of rabbits by electron microscopy. A total of l3 rabbits weighing about 2.5 kg were used. Under penthothal sodium anesthesia, complete ureteral obstruction was accomplished by ligation on the left ureter 1 cm above the ureterovesical junction. The experimental animals were sacrificed at the second and fourth week after the unilateral ureteral ligation. Tissue specimens taken from the renal cortex and medulla were fixed in a mixture of 2% paraform-aldehyde-2.5% glutaraldehyde (phosphate buffer, pH 7.2 ) prior to fixation in 1% osmium tetroxide (phosphate buffer, pH 7.2), and embedded in Epon 8l2. The sections were cut with LKB-III ultratome. Ultra thin sections were contrasted with uranyl acetate and lead citrate, and examine with a JEM-100B electron microscope. The results were as follows: 1. In the 2 weeks group of postobstruction, the abnormal morphology of the uriniferous tubules was: diminution in microvilli and basal invaginations, widening of intercellular space, focal necrosis of the epithelium, desquamation of tubular cells and splitting of the basal lamina. The degenerative changes were severe in the distal tubule, loop of Henle and collecting duct. However, the changes were mild in the proximal tubules. 2. In the 4 weeks group of postobstruction, the degenerative changes were more severe and generalized in all portions of the uriniferous tubules, and focal necrosis and desquamation of the epithelial cells were prominent in the distal tubules and collecting ducts. 3. In both groups of postobstruction, the epithelial cells with mild deformity, such as a decrease of microvilli and basal invaginations, were still preserved in all portions of the uriniferous tubules. From these findings in the obstruct nephropathy, degenerative changes are progressively expedited and partially produced in the urinary tubules.
Anesthesia ; Animals ; Basement Membrane ; Citric Acid ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Extracellular Space ; Glutaral ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Kidney ; Ligation* ; Loop of Henle ; Microscopy, Electron ; Microvilli ; Necrosis ; Osmium Tetroxide ; Rabbits* ; Sodium ; Ureter* ; Ureteral Obstruction

The effect of ketanserin, serotonin antagonist, among 19 korean patients over 55 years with essential hypertension was assessed in an open clinical trial for three months. patients were given Ketanserin 20mg bid with monthly follow-up visits. Mean values of systolic/diastolic blood pressures fell from 169+/-17/104+/-10mmHg to 155+/-14/94+/-9mmHg at 2 weeks(p<0.01) and to 147+/-10/87+/-6mmHg at end of treatment 12 weeks after(p<0.001). There was no significant change in heart rate. Transient mild side effects were observed in 5 patients. We conclude that Ketanserin is an effective and safe drug for the treatment of elderly hypertensives.
Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Ketanserin* ; Middle Aged* ; Serotonin

The authors accessed the effects of heart rate and age to echocardiographic right ventricular systolic time intervals in 27 cases with normal pulmonary artery pressure and correlation of pulmonary hemodynamic parameters with echocardiographic right ventricular systolic time intervals in 76 cases with congenital and acquired valvular heart diseases. The results were as follows; 1) As heart rate increased there was a diminution of the length of right ventricular ejection time(RVET)(r=0.642), but no significant changes in the length of right ventricular pre-ejection period(RVPEP) and the ratio of RVPEP/RVET were found. 2) As age increased there was an increase in the ratio of RVPEP/RVET(r=0.46), but no significant changes in the length of RVPEP and RVEF were found. 3) In patients with the RVPEP/RVET of 0.3 or more this ratio can predict that pulmonary artery systolic pressure is >30mmHg(sensitivity : 83%, specificity : 96%, accuracy 88%), pulmonary artery mean pressure >20mmHg(sensitivity : 87%, specificity : 96%, accuracy 90%), and pulmonary artery diastolic pressure >15mmHg(sensitivity : 86%, specificity : 90%, accuracy : 88%). 4) In patients with the RVPEP/RVET of 0.4 or more this ratio can predict that pulmonary artery systolic pressure is >50 mmHg(sensitivity : 75%, specificity : 98%, accuracy : 92%), pulmonary artery mean pressure >40mmhg(sensitivity : 93%, specificity : 96%, accuracy : 96%), pulmonary artery diastolic pressure >25mmHg(sensitivity : 75%, specificity : 98%, accuracy : 92%), pulmonary vascular resistance >6 units(sensitivity : 70%, specificity : 96%, accuracy : 89%), and Rp/Rs >0.25(sensitivity : 86%, specificity : 95%, accuracy : 93%). In conclusion, pulmonary hypertension, increased pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary arteriolar obstructive disease can be predicted by echocardiographic measurement of RVPEP/RVET.
Blood Pressure ; Echocardiography* ; Heart Rate ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Systole ; Vascular Resistance*

Doxorubicin(Adriamycin(R)) is effective in the treatment of various solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Because of dose-related cardiotoxicity, however, early inappropriate discontinuation of doxorubicin therapy may minimize its therapeutic efficacy in many patients. Consequently, clinically sensitive tests are needed to select patients in whom treatment must be stopped early. Various techniques have been used for early detection of subclinical doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, including electrocardiography, systolic time intervals, echocardiography, radionuclide angiography and endomyocardial biopsies. Most studies of doxorubicin cardiotoxicity have dealt with systolic function of the left ventricle and effects on diastolic function have not been reported. In order to determine whether impaired diastolic function may be an early sign of doxorubicin cardiotoxicity, a retrospective study was performed in 12 patients who had undergone serial radioangiography and were found to have left ventricular ejection fractions(LVEF)> or =55% prior to doxorubicin treatment and during follow-up. Average rapid filling velocity(RFV) and slow filling velocity(SFV) were both significantly reduced after doxorubicin treatment. RFV fell from 5.17+/-1.52 units/second to 4.18+/-0.96(P<0.01) and SFV fell from 2.20+/-1.32 units/second to 1.42+/-0.62(P<0.05). There were no significant changes in filling volume ratio, total diastolic time and diastolic time ratio. Since a change in left ventricular diastolic function can occur before ejection fraction falls to subnormal levels, diastolic function as well as systolic function should be examined in the early detection of doxorubicin cardiotoxicity.
Biopsy ; Doxorubicin* ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Ventricles ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Humans ; Radionuclide Angiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Systole

BACKGROUND: In order to investigate the efficacy and safety of cilazapril, a recently developed angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, a clinical study was performed in the patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. METHODS: The study subject consisted of 31 patients with diastolic blood pressure of 95mmHg~115mmHg (mean age : 56.0+/-8.1 years, 16 males and 15 females). Cilazapril was administered orally in a daily dose of 2.5mg~5.0mg Q.D. for 8 weeks. During cilazapril medication, anti-hypertensive efficacy, side effects and laboratory changes were monitored. RESULTS: Cilazapril decreased blood pressure from baseline value of 162.2+/-4.7/98.4+/-2.8mmHg to 144.6+/-10.0/89.7+/-5.7mmHg after 4weeks of medication (p<0.05) and 138.2+/-4.5/87.8+/-4.0mmHg after 8 weeks of medication (p<0.05). Heart rate change was not significant (72.3+/-4.7/min vs 71.7+/-3.6/min). Body weight change was not significant (66.6+/-9.8 Kg vs 66.8+/-9.9 Kg). There were no significant change in blood chemistry and hematologic examination except mild elevation of alanine transaminase and serum creatinine values but these date were within normal ranges. The side effects were dry cough (4 case, 12.9%), headache (2 case, 6.4%), indigestion (1 case, 3.2%) and dry mouth (1 case, 3.2%). One patient dropped out due to severe dry cough but others were mostly mild in nature. CONCLUSIONS: Cliazapril 2.5mg~5.0mg once daily regimen was effective and well tolerated in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.
Alanine Transaminase ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weight Changes ; Chemistry ; Cilazapril* ; Cough ; Creatinine ; Dyspepsia ; Headache ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Male ; Mouth ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Reference Values