Effect of acetylcholine(ACh) and McN-A-343 on porcine coronary artery and rabbit thoracic aorta were investigated in isolated preparations with or without intact endothelium. In the porcine coronary artery, ACh produced concentration dependent contraction which was greater in rings without the endothelium than in intact endothelial rings, but McN-A-343 did not alter the basel tension in both tissues. ACh relaxed contraction induced by 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) in only intact endothelial rings, while NcN-A-343 inhibited the 5-HT induced tension in both preparations dose dependently. Carbachol elicited a prominent contraction in both tissues. The carbacol-induced tension was markedly inhibited by McN-A-343 in either rings with or without endothelium, while ACh contracted further the tension. ACh and McN-A-343 did not after the KCi induced tension, but clearly potentiated the contraction induced by Bay K 8644 in intact endothelial rings. In rabbit thoracic aorta, ACh elicited contraction in a concentration-dependent fashion which was potentiated by removal of endothelium, but McN-A-343 did not affect the basal tension of both rings. ACh inhibited the 5-HT-induced contraction in only intact endothelial ring, but McN-A-343 did not change the contraction of both rings. Conclusively, ACh produces endothelium-dependent relaxation in both arteries, while McN-A-343 elevated endothelium-independent inhibition to 5-HT or carbachol-induced tension.
(4-(m-Chlorophenylcarbamoyloxy)-2-butynyl)trimethylammonium Chloride* ; 3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester ; Acetylcholine* ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Arteries* ; Carbachol ; Coronary Vessels ; Endothelium ; Relaxation ; Serotonin

PURPOSE: It has been reported that retinoic acid, one of the most popular agents for chemoprevention could inhibit the proliferation of many cancer cells including neuroblastoma and glioblastoma. However, there is increasing demand reaccessing its in vitro inhibitory effect on the tumor proliferation because of the poor results from recent clinical trials of retinoic acid in the malignant brain tumor. Retinoicacid ptomoted the diffferentiation and apoptosis of tumor cell so that its effect might be obvious in the pediatric brain tumor. Therefore we are going to confirm the effectiveness of retinoic acid to inhibit the proliferation of the tumor cells; glioblastoma and medulloblastoma in childhood. METHODS: Medulloblastoma cells were derived from the primary culture of the patient's specimen, and glioblastoma cells were cell lines of 373-MG and 87-MG. We estimated growth inhibition rate of each tumor cells using MTT assay in the concentration from 10 M to 10((-5))M of all-trans and 13-cis retinoic acid. RESULTS: 13-cis retinoic acid in the concentration of 10 6M inhibited cell growth rate 10-22% on the 4th day of incubation, 10% on the 7th day, and 0-12% on the 14th day in the concentration from 10((-6))M to 10((-5))M. All-trans retinoic acid inhibited cell growth rate less than 5% in the concentration less than 10((-5))M though the whole incubation period, but 42% on the 4th day, 37% on the 7th day, and 0% on the 14th day in the concentration of 10((-5))M. 13-cis retinoic acid inhibited cell growth rate 30% on the 4th day, 20% on the 7th and 14th day in the concentration between 10((-6))M and 10((-5))M. Alltrans retinoic acid inhibited cell growth rate less than 5% on the 4th and 7th day. Medulloblastoma cells showed growth inhibition more than 25% by all-trans and 13-cis retinoic acid in the concentration less than 10((-6))M. 13-cis retinoic acid showed 25% growth inhibition in the concentration above 10((-6))M, but all-trans retinoic acid showed 40% growht inhibition in the same concentration. CONCLUSION: We could not find the effect of retinoic acid in the glioblastoma cells due to variable responses of the tumor cell growth inhibition in the concentration of maximum tolerable dose. However, there ia a significant inhibitory effect of medulloblastoma cell proliferation both in the 13-cis and all-trans retinoic acid.
Apoptosis ; Brain Neoplasms ; Cell Culture Techniques* ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Chemoprevention ; Glioblastoma* ; Isotretinoin* ; Medulloblastoma* ; Neuroblastoma ; Tretinoin

We studied thirty benign and twenty-one malignant brain tumors in order to investigate the relationship between p53, bcl-2, apoptosis and histologic grade of brain tumors. For the study of p53 and bcl-2 gene expression, we used immunohistochemical staining method using monoclonal antibodies to p53 and bcl-2; and, for apoptosis, In-situ end labeling technique was used. The malignant group showed significantly higher p53 and apoptosis positive index(PI) than the benign group(mean p53 PI, malignant: 16.0 benign: 0.9/mean apoptosis PI, malignant: 2.3 benign: 0.2)(p=0.003); but bcl-2 positive index was not significantly different between two groups (p=0.118). Correlation between p53 mutation and apoptosis PI was statistically significant(p=0.012, Pearson coefficient=0.349); but correlation between bcl-2 expression and apoptosis PI was not(p=0.318). Moreover, correlation between p53 mutation and bcl-2 expression was not statistically significant(p=0.583). These results suggest that higher p53 mutation tends to exist in the group of tumors with higher malignant histologic grades. Furthermore, it can be concluded that greater DNA damage reflected by higher frequency of apoptosis tends to exist in the group of higher malignant histologic grade.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Apoptosis* ; Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; DNA Damage ; Genes, bcl-2

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of emergent carotid artery stenting (CAS) for occlusion or high-grade stenosis of the internal carotid artery (ICA) in patients with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: From November 2004 to May 2007, 17 patients admitted to the hospital within 12 hours of symptom onset with occlusion or a high-grade stenosis of the proximal ICA underwent emergent CAS. We analyzed risk factors, imaging findings, functional outcome scales, and peri-procedural complication. The outcome was measured by the modified Rankin scale (mRS) 3 months later and classified into good (mRS score of 0 to 2) or poor (mRS score of 3 to 6). RESULTS: All patients were recanalized successfully. The median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 12.6 (range 4 to 24) just before the emergent CAS, which decreased to 9.4 and 8.2 at 1 day and 7 days after the stenting. Three months later, 12 patients showed good outcome while three had poor outcome and two of them died. Two patients (11.8%) exhibited symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation following the emergent CAS. Smoking status, and initial and immediate post-procedural NIHSS scores were associated with the outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Emergent CAS is a feasible and effective method in acute treatment of selected stroke patients with steno-occlusion of the proximal ICA.
Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stents ; Stroke ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Cholesterol* ; Coronary Angiography* ; Embolism, Cholesterol*

Symphysis pubis separation is an uncommon but not rare complication of delivery. Characteristic symptoms of symphyseal separation include suprapubic pain and tenderness which radiate to the back or legs, difficult ambulation, and bladder dysfunction. Clinical history, presenting symptoms, and response to therapy are sufficient to make the diagnosis, although radiographic documentation of symphyseal separation by x-ray or ultrasound are frequently used to confirm the diagnosis. The underlying etiology of symptomatic symphyseal separation has not been fully elucidated. Associations with macrosomia, pathological joint loosening, and increased force placed on the pelvic ring have been suggested as possible etiologies. Conservative therapy, including bed rest, pelvic binders, ambulation devices, and mild analgesics usually result in complete recovery within 4-16 weeks. Our experience of three cases of peripartum symphysis pubis separation delivered from 1998 to 1999 were reviewed with related articles.
Analgesics ; Bed Rest ; Diagnosis ; Joints ; Leg ; Peripartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder ; Walking

Several cases of pulmonary air embolisms during surgery have been reported. However, such incidences are very rare during endoscopic surgeries. A 5-year-old boy with third ventricular arachnoid cyst and hydrocephalus underwent endoscopic third ventriculostomy under the general anesthesia, during which continuous intraventricular irrigation was maintained with normal saline. During the procedure, arterial and transcutaneous oxygen tension and end-tidal carbon dioxide tension became suddenly decreased while arterial carbon dioxide tension increased. Within 3 minutes after the inspired gas mixture was changed to 100% oxygen, the patient's respiratory variables returned to near base line. The second attack occured about 10 minutes later and decreased arterial oxygen tension with increased arterial carbon dioxide tension continued for about 5 minutes. After waking up from anesthesia, the patient suffered a generalized seizure attacks that was managed with anticonvusant therapy. We believe that we are the first to report an attack of pulmonary air emblism during brain endoscopic procedure. It was reported with the review of literatures.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Arachnoid ; Brain ; Carbon Dioxide ; Child, Preschool ; Embolism, Air* ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Incidence ; Male ; Oxygen ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Seizures ; Ventriculostomy*

Retinoic acid has been used as a trial of chemotherapeutic agent in the field of cancer therapy and resulted some success in leukemia and breast cancer. Recently, it is being tried on the malignant astrocytoma. We evaluated the effect of all-trans and 13 cis-retinoic acid on C6 cell line cultures(14 day incubation) using MTT assay and counting of cell numbers for establishing the basis of clinical trial. The cell number counting showed 51.6% and 43.1% of control in the cell number at 10 -6M concentration of all-trans and 13 cis-retinoic acid. MTT assay showed 56.4% and 46.1% of control in the optical absorbance at 10 -6M concentration of all-trans and 13 cis-retinoic acid. These results indicate the possiblity of both drug as effective chemotherapeutic agents for glial cell tumors but in-vivo study will be needed for clinical trial.
Astrocytoma ; Brain Neoplasms ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cell Count ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Line* ; Glioma ; Leukemia ; Tretinoin*

Rheumatoid nodules are the most common extra-articular presentations of rheumatoid arthritis. Although rheumatoid nodules can develop anywhere in the body, they develop most commonly in the subcutaneous region, where they are easily exposed to repetitive trauma or pressure. However, an infrascapular presentation has not yet been reported. We report a case of giant bilateral rheumatoid nodules that developed in the infrascapular area, complicating its distinction from elastofibroma dorsi on radiological examination.

Objectives: This study surveyed the quality of the residency training program and clinical competence of Korean psychiatry residents and psychiatrists. Methods: Questionnaires regarding the quality of residency training and clinical competence were administered to Korean psychiatry residents (n=102) and psychiatrists (n=157). The authors analyzed the quality of training education according to the training environment and the correlation between the quality of training and the self-assessment competence level. Results: The average score of the quality of training evaluated by the residents (n=102) was 3.57 (±1.00). Groups with more than or equal to three residents (annual) scored higher (3.69±1.03) than the groups with less than or equal to two residents (3.52±0.99). Groups with more than or equal to seven teaching psychiatrists scored higher (3.42±1.03) than the groups with less than or equal to six teaching psychiatrists (3.42±1.03). The quality of training and self-assessment competence showed a significant static correlation in the residents (R2=0.488, p<0.01) and psychiatrists (R2=0.508, p<0.01). Conclusion This study shows that the quality of residency education varies according to the clinical area and the environment. The importance of training education is emphasized by the static correlation between the quality of education and clinical competence.