No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the role of free fatty acids on the ischemic myocardium, influences of various free fatty acids upon transmembrane action potential and ATP-sensitive K+(KATP) channel activity were examined in the ventricular myocardium and single cardiac myocytes. METHODS: KATP channel activities were measured in the enzymatically (collagenase) isolated single rat ventricular cardiac myocytes by the method of the excised inside-out and the cell-attached patch clamp, and transmembrane action potentials were recorded using the conventional 3M-KCl microelectode techniques in the rat ventricular myocardium. RESULTS: Free fatty acids [FFAs; arachidonic acid (AA), linoleic acid (LA) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)] reduced the KATP channel activity in a dose-dependent manner in the inside-out patch, and 50%-inhibition concentrations (IC50) were 88 +/- 11.2, 49 +/- 12.5, and 188 +/- 17.4 M respectively. Both frequency of channel opening and the mean open-burst duration were markedly decreased, but the amplitude of single channel currents were not changed by the FFAs. AA (50 micrometer) and LPC (50 micrometer) did not affect the dinitrophenol (DNP, 50 micrometer)-induced KATP channel activity, whereas LA (50 micrometer) had a tendency to reduce the activity. The channel inhibition effects by 10 micrometer AA in the inside-out patch were significantly augmented by diclofenac (10 micrometer), but was not changed by nordihydroguaiaretic acid. FFAs never stimulated KATP channel activity, even in the inside-out patch where KATP channel activity reduced in the presence of internal ATP (100 micrometer). Time for 90% repolarization (APD90) significantly increased during superfusion of the FFAs, to 22 (50 micrometer AA), 24 (50 micrometer LA), and 18 (50 micrometer LPC) % from those of the contol at the time of 10 min superfusion, but the other action potential characteristics were not changed by the FFAs. AA (10 micrometer) attenuated cromakalim (10 micrometer)-induced APD90 shortening effects. CONCLUSION: It was inferred that FFAs inhibit the KATP channel activity directly by themselves and/or indirectly by their metabolites in the rat ventricular cardiomyocytes, and therefore, duration of action potential lengthens to be a burden over the ischemic myocardium accounting for the injury of myocardium at the late stage of ischemia.
Action Potentials* ; Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Arachidonic Acid ; Cromakalim ; Diclofenac ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified* ; Ischemia ; Linoleic Acid ; Lysophosphatidylcholines ; Masoprocol ; Myocardium* ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Potassium Channels* ; Potassium* ; Rats*

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the relationship between the levels of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the peritoneal fluid(PF) of women with and without endometriosis and infertile women. Design: Prospective and case-control study. Setting: University hospital. Patients: Twenty-nine women with laparotomy or laparoscopic findings of minimal to severe endometriosis, and twenty-eight women with no visual evidence of pelvic endometriosis and with benign gynecologic disease. Main Outcome Measures: PF IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels were determined using commercial ELISA. IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations were compared among women with and without endometriosis, and with infertile and fertile women, and then also compared according the revised American Fertility Society classification. RESULTS: IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations were higher than in the PF of women with endometriosis than in matched normal controls. Cyclic variations in IL-6 concentrations were seen in PF from patients with endometriosis: the concentrations in the secretory phase were significantly higher than those in the proliferative phase. IL-6 concentrations were higher than in the PF among of infertile women than in fertile women. A significant correlation between PF IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations and endometriosis stage III and IV was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Increased PF levels of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in patients with endometriosis may be relate to endometriosis-associated infertility and to the pathogenesis of endometriosis suggesting that partially contribute to the disturbed immune regulation observed in patients with endometriosis.
Ascitic Fluid* ; Case-Control Studies ; Classification ; Endometriosis* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Fertility ; Genital Diseases, Female ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular* ; Infertility ; Interleukin-6 ; Laparotomy ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Prospective Studies ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

No abstract available.
Anemia, Hypoplastic, Congenital*

The purpose of this study was to explore the change of muscle strength, muscle endurance, flexibility and activities of daily living to develop a rehabilitational program. The subjects were selected randomly among the patients who underwent kidney transplantations at one major transplantation hospital in Seoul, Korea. This study was carried out between November 23, 1999 and February 15, 2000. The subjects in this study consisted of 16 patients who had kidney transplantations between 1 month and 12 months ago prior to this study. They were all on steroids and did not take any physical exercise regularly. The muscle strength, muscle endurance, flexibility and activities of daily living were evaluated at 1st week and after 12 weeks. The data were analyzed with numbers, percentiles, mean, standard deviation and t-test. The results were as follows: 1. After 12 weeks, the grip strength was significantly decreased than 1st week (p=.0002). 2. After 12 weeks, the back lift strength was significantly decreased than 1st week (p=.0002). 3. After 12 weeks, the muscle endurance was increased than 1st week, but it was not significant(p=.5487). After 12 weeks, the flexibility was significantly decreased than 1st week (p=.0002). 5. After 12 weeks, the activities of daily living was significantly decreased than 1st week (p=.0006). Like the above result, the kidney transplant receipients' muscle strength, flexibility and activities of daily living were reduced. In order to solve this problem, the writer has found that program development to prevent the defects should be extremely required. Since now on the number of patients should expand. After the kidney transplantation, the periods of 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks are extended. The writer proposes to examine the different phase of change in each periods.
Activities of Daily Living* ; Exercise ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Kidney* ; Korea ; Muscle Strength* ; Pliability* ; Program Development ; Seoul ; Steroids ; Transplantation*

No abstract available.
Chlorpromazine* ; Nicotine* ; Skin*

Diffuse leiomyomatosis of the esophagus is a rare condition and usually extends from the mid-esophagus to the proximal third of the stomach. Macroscopically, there is a marked diffuse thickening of the esophageal wall, with or without nodularity, predominantly affecting the circular muscle coat. Microscopically, the disorder is characterized by the loss of the normal orientation of the smooth muscle fibers of all three layers. We report a case in a 37-year-old woman which was incidentally discovered at exploratory thoracotomy.
Female ; Humans

PURPOSE: The incidence of clinical nephritis is much higher especially in younger ages and in about one half of the cases, it also shows nephrotic syndrome. Thus, we examine the clinical and pathologic consideration of children with lupus nephritis and their treatment modality to improve the prognosis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Among 67 cases of children under eighteen who were diagnosed SLE, 50 patients with hematuria and proteinuria from Jan. 1980 to Dec. 1996 were selected for the review. RESULTS: The ratio of the male to female patient was 1:3.5 and the average age at the diagnosis was 11.85+/-3.2 years old. Most common clinical manifestations at the time of the diagnosis were fever and skin rashes and the common laboratory results were proteinuria, hematuria, Out of 50 cases, 33 cases had renal biopsy. The results were 17 cases of Class IV, 7 cases of Class lll, 5 cases of Class lll, 3 cases of Class V and 1 case of Class l. Different treatment modalities were carried out; Corticosteroid only 21 cases, Corticosteroid+Azathioprine 25 cases, Corticosteroid+Cyclophosphamide 3 cases, and Corticosteroid+Cyclosporine A 1 case. However, there were no significant difference in the recurrence and complete remission rate of lupus nephritis in between each treatment groups. Average follow-up period was 37+/-23 months. Of all the follow-ups, 7 patients were dead. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis should be carried out with renal biopsy, and should be considered for vigorous therapy, which currently includes high doses of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs. Among these immunosuppressive agents, azathioprine has a lower incidence of long-term complications and low costs might be recommended. In addition, regular check-up for anti-DNA antibody, serum complement concentration and appropriate moniroting and management for the adverse effects of the treatment should enable to reach the continuous remission.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Azathioprine* ; Biopsy ; Child* ; Complement System Proteins ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Incidence ; Lupus Nephritis* ; Male ; Nephritis ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Recurrence

The fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytologic findings in 16 cases of histologically confirmed thymoma are reported. The aspirates were obtained under fluoroscopic guidance. The cytologic diagnoses were inadequate sample in one case, thymoma in 12 (75%), small cell carcinoma or thymoma in 1, benign mesenchymal tumor in 1, and germ cell tumor in one. The cytologic features were detailed according to the constituent epithelial cell type, and to the ratio of epithelial cells and lymphocytes. Fifteen cases were classified into 4 small epithelial cell type, 6 intermediate epithelial cell type, 1 large epithelial cell type, 1 large pleomorphic epithelial cell type, and 3 spindle-shaped epithelial cell type. Cytologic differential diagnosis was discussed, and the important criteria for the cytologic diagnosis of thymoma were reviewed. This review leads us to think that nonoperative cytologic approaches in the diagnosis of the thymoma are possible, and that correct cytologic diagnosis of thymoma with FNAs can easily be made, if adequate samples are obtained. However, the invasiveness and histologic type could not be predicted by cytological features only. Knowing various cytologic and histologic features of thymoma will be helpful for the diagnosis of thymoma and the differential diagnosis of mediastinal tumors.
Diagnosis, Differential

Computed tomography (CT) seems to be the best imaging modality to diagnose an enterovesical fistula, but is not always able to demonstrate enterovesical fistula itself. In this case report, we present Tc-99m HMPAO white blood cell (WBC) scintigraphic findings of an enterovesical fistula complicating Crohn's disease. A 22 year-old male presented with a one-month history of urinary symptoms such as dysuria, hematuria, and frequency. The patient had intermittent right lower quadrant pain, diarrhea and hematochezia. Enterovesical fistula was highly suggestive in pelvic CT which showed air density in the urinary bladder, but cystoscopy failed to find an opening of the fistula. Tc-99m HMPAO WBC scintigraphy for evaluation of inflammatory bowel disease incidentally demonstrated enterovesical fistular tract. Crohn's disease was later confirmed by histologic examination of the surgical specimen. In our patient, Tc-99m HMPAO WBC imaging was helpful in determining the location of the fistula as well as assessing the disease activity and extent of the Crohn's disease.
Crohn Disease* ; Cystoscopy ; Diarrhea ; Dysuria ; Fistula* ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Leukocytes* ; Male ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime* ; Urinary Bladder ; Young Adult