BACKGROUND/AIMS: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) act by irreversibly binding to the H+-K+-ATPase of the proton pump in parietal cells and may possibly affect the vacuolar H+-ATPase in osteoclasts. METHODS: We investigated the effect of 8 weeks of PPI treatment on the parameters of bone turnover and compared PPI with revaprazan, which acts by reversibly binding to H+-K+-ATPase in proton pumps. This study was a parallel randomized controlled trial. For 8 weeks, either a PPI or revaprazan was randomly assigned to patients with gastric ulcers. The parameters of bone turnover were measured at the beginning of and after the 8-week treatment period. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients (PPI, n=13; revaprazan, n=13) completed the intention-to-treat analysis. After the 8-week treatment period, serum calcium and urine deoxypyridinoline (DPD) were increased in the PPI group (serum calcium, p=0.046; urine DPD, p=0.046) but not in the revaprazan group. According to multivariate linear regression analysis, age > or =60 years was an independent predictor for the changes in serum calcium and urine DPD. CONCLUSIONS: In elderly patients, administering a PPI for 8 weeks altered bone parameters. Our study suggested that PPIs might directly alter bone metabolism via the vacuolar H+-ATPase in osteoclasts.
Aged ; Amino Acids/drug effects/urine ; Bone Remodeling/*drug effects ; Bone and Bones/*metabolism ; Calcium/blood ; Female ; Humans ; Intention to Treat Analysis ; Linear Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Osteoclasts/*metabolism ; Prospective Studies ; Proton Pump Inhibitors/*pharmacology ; Pyrimidinones/*pharmacology ; Tetrahydroisoquinolines/*pharmacology

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is a recently recognized complication of chronic kidney disease. In this study, we investigated the association between PHT, peripheral vascular calcifications (VCs), and major cardiovascular events. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we included 172 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing dialysis [hemodialysis (HD)=84, peritoneal dialysis=88]. PHT was defined as an estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure >37 mmHg using echocardiography. The Simple Vascular Calcification Score (SVCS) was measured using plain radiographic films of the hands and pelvis. RESULTS: The prevalence of PHT was significantly higher in HD patients (51.2% vs. 22.7%). Dialysis patients with PHT had a significantly higher prevalence of severe VCs (SVCS> or =3). In multivariate analysis, the presence of severe VCs [odds ratio (OR), 2.68], mitral valve disease (OR, 7.79), HD (OR, 3.35), and larger left atrial diameter (OR, 11.39) were independent risk factors for PHT. In addition to the presence of anemia, severe VCs, or older age, the presence of PHT was an independent predictor of major cardiovascular events in ESRD patients. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of PHT was higher in HD patients and was associated with higher rates of major cardiovascular events. Severe VCs are thought to be an independent risk factor for predicting PHT in ESRD patients. Therefore, in dialysis patients with PHT, careful attention should be paid to the presence of VCs and the occurrence of major cardiovascular events.
Anemia ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Dialysis* ; Echocardiography ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Mitral Valve ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pelvis ; Prevalence ; Pulmonary Artery ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Vascular Calcification* ; X-Ray Film

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite significant improvement in the field of angioplasty, restenosis remains a major obstacle to the long-term success of the procedure. Radiation can effectively inhibit neointimal hyperplasia by causing the arrest of mitosis during cell division and limiting proliferation by reducing the number of regenerating clonal progenitors. Balloon injury could induce the cell adhesion molecule, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, on SMCs and regenerating endothelial cells (ECs). ICAM-1 and/or VCAM-1 may play a role in the progression of neointimal hyperplasia induced by balloon injury and external radiation may effectively inhibit neointimal hyperplasia by attenuating their expression. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of external radiation against ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on neointimal hyperplasia after balloon injury in rat carotid arteries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A standardized carotid balloon catheter arterial injury was produced in 51 rats and external beam radiation with doses from 5-20 Gy were delivered in 28 rats (radiation treated group) at 24 hours after injury. To investigate the effect of the external radiation on neointimal hyperplasia, the intima area and the intima/medial area of arteries were measured at day 14 after injury. The expressions of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 at day 2, day 7, and day 10 after injury were studied in control group and radiation treated group by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Means of intimal area and intima/medial ratio in radiation treated group were significantly lower than those in control group and significantly reduced with increasing radiation dosage. At day 2 after injury, medial SMCs of injury group extensively expressed ICAM-1, while it was focally expressed with 10 Gy radiation treated group. At day 7 and day 10 after injury, ICAM-1 expression on medial SMCs was attenuated and neointimal ICAM-1 expression was increased. As compared with control group, ICAM-1 expression after radiation was weak and focal just around the internal elastic lamina. At 2 days after injury, medial SMCs moderately expressed VCAM-1, which was weakly and focally expressed with 10 Gy radiation treated group. At day 7 and day 10 after injury, focal expression of VCAM-1 was noted around the internal elastic lamina, but there was no VCAM-1 expression on neointima with radiation. CONCLUSION: External radiation after carotid arterial injury may potentially inhibit SMC proliferation and neointimal hyperplasia, and balloon injury-induced or upregulated expressions of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 may be attenuated with external radiation.
Angioplasty ; Animals ; Arteries ; Carotid Arteries ; Catheters ; Cell Adhesion* ; Cell Division ; Endothelial Cells ; Hyperplasia* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1* ; Mitosis ; Neointima ; Radiation Dosage ; Rats* ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is released from the cardiac ventricles in response to increased wall tension. Early diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF) and assessment of the left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) are thought to be important in the diagnosis, treatment and follow up of patients with CHF. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Between March, 2002 and November, 2002, 50 patients, who were admitted for treatment and hemodynamic monitoring, were studied. For the BNP measurement, 3 to 5ml blood samples were collected into tubes containing EDTA. The BNP was measured with a fluorescence immunoassay kit (Triage, Biosite, San Diego, U.S.A.). Cardiac Catheterization was performed for the assessment of the LVEDP. RESULTS: Of the 50 subjects, 34 with CHF had a mean BNP level of 483.1+/-77.8 pg/mL, whereas those without CHF had a level of 79.2+/-24.0 pg/mL. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p=0.005). A significant positive correlation was seen between the BNP and the LVEDP (r=0.53, p=0.001). The correlation between the BNP and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was not statistically significant (r=-0.226, p=0.198). CONCLUSION: The plasma BNP was significantly increased in CHF, and might reflect the LVEDP. Further study will be required to see whether the BNP is a useful parameter for the staging and treatment of CHF.
Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Edetic Acid ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Fluorescence ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Failure* ; Heart Ventricles ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain* ; Plasma ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Pressure

BACKGROUND: The rapid platelet function assay (RPFA) has recently been developed and used to monitor the antiplatelet effects on the P2Y12 ADP receptor. We describe the platelet response to clopidogrel and ticlopidine using the RPFA and identify the clinical factor related to laboratory resistance in patients with ischemic stroke. METHODS: Of the 172 outpatients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) enrolled in this study, 86 were taking clopidogrel (75 mg/day) and 86 were taking ticlopidine (500 mg/day). Demographic data, vascular risk factors, stroke subtypes, and the results of blood tests were recorded. Inhibition is described as the percentage change from baseline aggregation, and is calculated from the P2Y12 reaction unit (PRU) and the base PRU on the RPFA. Those patients who displayed ineffective aggregation-inhibition (inhibition <20%) on the RPFA were defined as nonresponders. RESULTS: The response of platelet aggregation-inhibition to clopidogrel and ticlopidine exhibited a variable distribution (PRU; coefficient of variability, 0.477). Ineffective platelet inhibition was detected in 25.6% of the clopidogrel group and 3.5% of the ticlopidine group (p<0.001). In addition to clopidogrel, TIA and diabetes exhibited significantly higher ineffective platelet inhibition in a univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, clopidogrel and TIA remained significant, and diabetes fell to borderline significance (p=0.061). CONCLUSIONS: The response to clopidogrel and ticlopidine can vary between patients. Platelet inhibition is lower for clopidogrel than for ticlopidine on the platelet function test in patients with ischemic stroke. The clinical impact of these results remains uncertain; further investigations are needed.
Blood Platelets ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; Multivariate Analysis ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Outpatients ; Platelet Function Tests ; Receptors, Purinergic P2 ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; Ticlopidine

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the management of pediatric patients who were referred to the pain center. METHODS: The data was collected based on 32 pediatric patients referred to the pain center from March 2002 to August 2006. The number of patients each year, gender distribution, age, requested departments, clinical causes of consultation, and the pain management before and after the consultation were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: 32 pediatric patients (19 males and 13 females), aged 3- 17 years, were enrolled in this study. Fifty-six percent of patients were in adolescence. The major need for the consultation was cancer pain (50.0%), myofascial pain syndrome (10.0%) and central pain (10.0%). Before the consultation, 62.1% of the patients were managed by opioid-based medications of which 26.1% were managed by only partial agonists and 29.6% were managed by only PRN. At the pain center, opioid-based medication was also the main treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The number of pediatric patients referred to the pain center has increased. Under this condition, the pain physician should be concerned about pediatric pain patients and their management.
Adolescent ; Age Distribution ; Humans ; Male ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes ; Pain Clinics* ; Pain Management ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord stimulation is a well-established method for the management of several types of chronic and intractable pain. This form of stimulation elicits a tingling sensation (paresthesia) in the corresponding dermatomes. The goal of this study was to establish a correlation between the spinal levels of the implanted epidural electrodes and the paresthesia elicited due to stimulation of the neural structures. METHODS: Thirty five patients, who received trial spinal cord stimulation, were evaluated. After the insertion of the lead to the selected position, the areas of paresthesia evoked by stimulation were evaluated. RESULTS: Seventy-one percent of cases showed paresthesia in the shoulder area when the tip of the electrode was located between the C2 C4 levels. At the upper extremities, paresthesia was evoked in 86 93% of cases, regardless of the location of the electrode tip within the cervical spinal segments. The most common tip placement of the leads eliciting hand stimulation was at the C5 level. The most common level of electrode tip placement eliciting paresthesia of the anterior and posterior thigh and the foot were at the T7 T12, T10 L1 and T11 L1 vertebral segments, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Detailed knowledge of the patterns of stimulation induced paresthesia in relation to the spine level of the implanted electrodes has allowed the more consistent and successful placement of epidural electrodes at the desired spine level.
Electrodes* ; Electrodes, Implanted ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Pain, Intractable ; Paresthesia* ; Sensation ; Shoulder ; Spinal Cord Stimulation* ; Spinal Cord* ; Spine ; Thigh ; Upper Extremity

BACKGROUND: Emergence agitation frequently occurs after desflurane anesthesia in children.Nalbuphine, because of its sedative and analgesic properties, might be useful for the management of this side effect.We studied the effect of nalbuphine on recovery characteristics and emergence agitation after desflurane anesthesia in children for strabismus surgery. METHODS: 41 patients (3-14 yr) scheduled for pediatric strabismus surgery were included.All children received ketamine 0.5 mg/kg intravenously before entering the operating room.After intravenous induction with thiopental and rocuronium to facilitate endotracheal intubation, patients were randomly assigned to receive saline, or nalbuphine 0.2 mg/kg respectively. Anesthesia was maintained with desflurane 4-6% with N2O : O2 = 2 : 1.At the end of anesthesia, time to cough, extubation, movement, eye opening and discharge were recorded.Emergence agitation was recorded by three point rating scale. RESULTS: Agitation scores were significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.01).Time to extubation and movement were similar between two groups.Time to eye opening was significantly increased in nalbuphine group (P < 0.05).But, there was no difference in time to discharge from the recovery room to the ward between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In children undergoing strabismus surgery with desflurane anesthesia, nalbuphine 0.2 mg/kg administered immediately after induction reduced incidence of emergence agitation without delaying discharge from recovery room.
Androstanols ; Anesthesia ; Child ; Cough ; Dihydroergotamine ; Eye ; Eye Movements ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Isoflurane ; Ketamine ; Nalbuphine ; Recovery Room ; Strabismus ; Thiopental

BACKGROUND: Although emerging evidence suggests that intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) is a predictor of the development of acute kidney injury (AKI), it remains unclear whether the presence of IAH is a predictor of prognosis in patients with AKI. The purpose of this study was to assess whether the presence of IAH could predict prognosis in critically ill patients with AKI. The prognostic value of urinary biomarkers was also determined. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, we enrolled 57 patients with established AKI, who were admitted to the intensive care unit between February 2012 and June 2014. IAH was defined as a sustained elevation in intra-abdominal pressure of > or =12 mmHg, in three consecutive measurements performed daily on the first 3 days. Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), liver-type fatty acid-binding protein, and simplified acute physiology score II score at the time of admission were also examined. RESULTS: IAH was observed in 78.9% of patients. The in-hospital mortality was 21.1%, and renal recovery during hospitalization was achieved in 40.4% of patients. Although high urinary NGAL [odds ratio (OR), 1.015] and liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (OR, 1.003) were found to be independent predictors of renal recovery, IAH was not. High urinary NGAL (OR, 1.003) and a high simplified acute physiology score II score (OR, 1.102) were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality, while IAH or urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein was not. CONCLUSION: Although IAH is prevalent in critically ill patients with AKI, it did not predict AKI prognosis. However, urinary NGAL was found to be a useful predictor of both renal recovery and in-hospital mortality.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Biomarkers ; Critical Illness* ; Hospital Mortality* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Intra-Abdominal Hypertension* ; Lipocalins ; Neutrophils ; Observational Study ; Physiology ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies

Neuroendocrine tumor is a very heterogenous group arising from the neuroendocrine cells. Especially, large cell neuroendocrine tumor of the ovary is a extremely rare aggressive neoplasm, characteristically arising in association with a surface epithelial tumor. This report describes a mixed type of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the ovary. A 63-year old woman presented with abdominal distension and discomfort underwent staging laparotomy under the impression of ovarian cancer. The operation revealed an small ovarian mass with invasion of multiple region in peritoneal cavity by the tumor. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analysis confirmed the neuroendocrine nature of the tumor. The adenocarcinoma in this case is mixture of mucinous and endometrioid type. A diagnosis of stage IIIc mixed large cell neuroendocrine tumor and adenocarcinoma of the ovary was rendered. She is subsequently being treated with Paclitaxel and Carboplatin combination chemotherapy.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Carboplatin ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Middle Aged ; Mucins ; Neuroendocrine Cells ; Neuroendocrine Tumors* ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Ovary* ; Paclitaxel ; Peritoneal Cavity