BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cardiac myocardium exposed to such sublethal stress as a brief period of ischemia or whole-body hyperthermia resists to ischemia/reperfusion injury (preconditioning effect). Heat shock protein 70 (HSP 70) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) may have a role in this mechanism. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the expression of HSP 70 and MnSOD activity in the myocardium of rabbit at 4 hours after ischemic preconditioning and compare them with heat shock model. METHODS: The experimental procedures were undergone in seventeen New Zealand white rabbits. Ischemic preconditioning was performed through three 3-minute episodes of coronary ligation separated by 5 minutes of reperfusion. Whole-body hyperthermia (rectal temperature was raised to 42 Celsius degrees for 15 minutes by wrapping rabbits in an electric warming blanket) was treated to heat shock group. Control rabbits did not undergo ischemic preconditioning or whole-body hyperthermia. Immunohistochemical staining for demonstrating HSP 70 was done with monoclonal antibody. The activity of MnSOD was examined with SOD-525 kit. RESULTS: In ischemic preconditioning group, myocardial HSP 70 expression was significantly increased in ischemic area compared with non-ischemic area (P<0.01). HSP 70 expression in ischemic area was more increased in both ischemic preconditioning and heat shock group(P<0.01) versus the control group. The same trend was observed in non-ischemic area (P<0.01). In ischemic preconditioning group, the activity of MnSOD was significantly enhanced in ischemic area compared with non-ischemic area (3.82+/-0.15 vs 0.11+/-0.16, P<0.05). The MnSOD activity was more enhanced in ischemic area of ischemic preconditioning group than in both heat shock and control group (3.82+/-0.15 vs 0.67+/-0.72, 0.65+/-0.29, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: We found difference between ischemic preconditioning and heat shock in the level of expression of HSP 70 and activity of MnSOD. Both preconditioning effect may have different mechanism on myocardial tolerance to ischemia/reperfusion injury.
Fever ; Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Hot Temperature* ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Ischemia ; Ischemic Preconditioning* ; Ligation ; Myocardium ; Rabbits ; Reperfusion ; Shock ; Superoxide Dismutase* ; Superoxides*

No abstract available.
Tenosynovitis*

No abstract available.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Humans

The thickness of the glomerular basement membrane may vary not only in glomerular disease, but also in normal persons according to age and sex. But there has been no data on the normal thickness of the basement membrane in Korea. This study was designed to determine the glomerular basement membrane thickness as a reference value according to age and sex, in 50 cases of minimal change disease obtained from patients aged 2~67 years. Measurement of glomerular basement membrane was made on electron micrograph using an image analyzer. The thickness of each case was estimated by the arithmetic and harmonic mean methods. The mean thickness of the glomerular basement membrane was 291.9 47.9 nm by harmonic mean method and 284.2 43.7 nm by arithmetic mean method. And the harmonic mean thickness of the glomerular basement membrane according to age was 249.1 32.5 nm (1~5 years), 256.6 45.3 nm (6~10 years), 279.2 57.9 nm (11~15 years), 303.2 43.8 nm (16~20 years), 335.3 37.5 nm (21~30 years), and 291.1 22.5 nm (over 30 years), respectively. There was a trend that the thickness of glomerular basement membranes increased with the age till 30 years of age. There was no significant sex-related difference. In conclusion, the mean glomerular basement membrane thickness is comparable to the data from western people and shows a trend of increasing thickness according to the age.
Basement Membrane ; Glomerular Basement Membrane* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Korea ; Nephrosis, Lipoid* ; Reference Values

We present 9 cases of plexiform schwannoma examined at Severance hospital from January, 1980 to September, 1987. The predilection sites of plexiform schwannoma included head and neck including oral cavity. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 32 years. The difference of sex ratio was not apparent. Histopathological findings revealed multiple round to oval nodules encapsulated by thin fibroconnective tissue with nuclear palisading and Verocay body in each nodule. There was mild to moderate cellular atypia in some area, but mitotic figure was not found. The Bielschowsky's silver stain did not demonstrate any axon within or outside of the nodule. The thin capsule was positive with reticulin stain.

BACKGROUND: Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is known to increase blood flow to the innervations area of the stellate ganglion. Near infrared spectroscopy reflects an increased blood volume and allows continuous, non-invasive, and bedside monitoring of regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2). We investigated the influence of SGB on bilateral cerebral oxygenation using a near infrared spectroscopy. METHODS: SGB was performed on 30 patients with 1% lidocaine 10 ml using a paratracheal technique at the C6 level and confirmed by the presence of Horner's syndrome. The blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and rSO2 were measured before SGB and 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes after SGB. Tympanic temperature of each ear was measured prior to SGB and 20 minutes after SGB. RESULTS: The increments of the rSO2 on the block side from the baseline were statistically significant at 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes. The rSO2 on the non-block side compared with the baseline, however, decreased at 15 and 20 minutes. The difference between the block and the non-block sides was significant at 15 and 20 minutes. The BP at 10, 15 and 20 minutes was increased and the HR was increased at 10 and 15 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: We observed an increment of the rSO2 on the block side from the baseline; however, the rSO2 on the non-block side decreased.
Blood Pressure ; Blood Volume ; Ear ; Heart Rate ; Horner Syndrome ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Oxygen ; Spectrum Analysis ; Stellate Ganglion

No abstract available.
Umbilical Cord*

No Abstract available.
Ankle* ; Sarcoidosis* ; Tenosynovitis*

PURPOSE: We aimed to analyze the clinical features of herpetic endotheliitis and to investigate the risk factors for recurrence of herpetic endotheliitis and corneal decompensation. METHODS: The medical records of 58 patients (58 eyes) who were diagnosed with herpetic endotheliitis were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with a follow-up period of less than 6 months and a previous history of ocular inflammation were excluded from this study. We recorded visual acuity, intraocular pressure, central corneal thickness, and endothelial cell density on both initial and final visit, and recorded clinical findings of the anterior and posterior segments of the eye only on initial visit. Factors affecting the recurrence of herpetic endotheliitis and corneal decompensation were also analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 58 patients, 45 patients had disciform type endotheliitis, 11 patients had diffuse type, and 2 patients had linear type. There were no significant differences between final clinical manifestations according to subtype. 14 patients exhibited recurrence of herpetic endotheliitis. High intraocular pressure and high-grade anterior chamber cells were associated with the recurrence of herpetic endotheliitis. On multivariate analysis, the only risk factor for the recurrence of herpetic endotheliitis was high intraocular pressure. We found that 8 patients exhibited corneal decompensation, and high intraocular pressure, high anterior chamber cell grade, and a history of cataract surgery were associated with corneal decompensation. On multivariate analysis, the risk factors for corneal decompensation were high anterior chamber cell grade and cataract surgery history. CONCLUSIONS: For herpetic endotheliitis, the subtype did not affect the final records of clinical manifestation, and the only risk factor for the recurrence of herpetic endotheliitis was high intraocular pressure. Additionally, the risk factors of corneal decompensation were found to be high-grade anterior chamber cells and a history of cataract surgery. Initial examinations of clinical manifestation are important for the successful treatment of herpetic endotheliitis.
Anterior Chamber ; Cataract ; Endothelial Cells ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intraocular Pressure ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Visual Acuity

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of partial weight bearing (PWB) harness with comparison of traditional exercise program by gait analysis in non-ambulatory acute stroke patients. METHOD: Nine patients participated with PWB harness on the treadmill, and nine patients with traditional exercise. In harness group, the gait training with 30% weight reduction was offered on treadmill, they were treated daily and gait training was done for 20 minutes. In no-harness group, traditional gait training was done by physical therapists. Variables were gait parameters assessed by VICON 370 Gait Analyzer, other function tested by Motricity Index and Functional Ambulatory Category. RESULTS: In linear parameter, the harness group had faster gait speed, longer stride length, and more decreased double support time compared to the no-harness group. In kinematic parameters, the maximal flexion of knee was significantly increased in harness group, but no significant differences was in hip and ankle motion. In kinetic parameters, hip flexion moment of normal side was increased in harness group at heel strike phase, knee flexion moment of normal side was decreased in harness group at heel strike phase. CONCLUSION: The gait training with partial weight bearing harness was more effective in acute stroke patients than traditional therapy, and was influenced in gait pattern, functional ability.
Ankle ; Gait* ; Heel ; Hip ; Humans ; Knee ; Physical Therapists ; Strikes, Employee ; Stroke* ; Weight Loss ; Weight-Bearing*