No abstract available.
Calcinosis* ; Heel* ; Humans ; Infant*

Tri- and tetra-cyclic antidepressants are known to cause dry mouth among other several major complications. The present study was designed to compare the degree of reduced salivation due to antidepressants and to explore whether intracellular calcium-increasing agents ameliorate the salivation. Effects of antidepressants and agents increasing intracellular calcium on the cholinergic submandibular secretion and blood flow induced by the chorda stimulation or intra-arterial acetylcholine were observed in anesthetized cats. Effects of antidepressants and calcium-mobilizing agents on K+ efflux were also observed in excised gland slices. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Salivary secretion in response to the chorda stimulation (3 V, 20 Hz, 1 msec) was significantly attenuated by antidepressants in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the blood flow was not affected. 2. Salivary secretion and increased blood flow evoked by intra-arterial acetylcholine (20 microgram/kg) were markedly diminished by antidepressants, the magnitude of which was amitryptyline>imipramine >mianserin in order. 3. Cholinergic salivation was significantly decrease by cyclopiazonic acid, a calcium pump inhibitor of the endoplasmic reticulum, or by BAPTA/AM, a specific intracellular calcium chelator. 4. Caffeine and ryanodine potentiated the cholinergic salivation and ameliorated the depressed salivary secreation due to antidepressants. 5. Calcium ionophore A 23187 ameliorated the depressed salivation due to antidepressants. 6. Antidepressants inhibited the K+ efflux, which were restored by caffeine or A 23187. These results suggest that the depressed salivary secreation due to antidepressants is ameliorated by increasing intracellular calcium levels.
Acetylcholine ; Animals ; Antidepressive Agents ; Caffeine ; Calcimycin ; Calcium* ; Cats ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Mouth ; Ryanodine ; Salivation*

Williams syndrome was first reported in 1961, it is characterized by distinct facial changes, growth deficiency, mental retardation, congenital heart defect (particularly the supravalvular aortic stenosis), associated at times with infantile hypercalcemia. The diagnosis of this disease relied on phenotype, after recent acknowledgement of its genetic basis on the 7th chromosomal locus q11.23 involving elastin gene on the PCR. Recently, commercial probe of elastin gene for FISH was supplied and diagnosed this disease easier. Using PCR has some benefits concerning whether the origin of the genetic defect is maternal or paternal. The diagnosis of this disease is difficult due to low sensitivity, below 50%. But FISH is widely used because it is faster with high positive predictibility. We report Williams syndrome diagnosed by FISH with a brief review and related literatures.
Diagnosis ; Elastin ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Hypercalcemia ; Intellectual Disability ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Williams Syndrome*

BACKGROUND: In pregnancy, paternal human leukocyte antigen (HLA) that the fetus possesses can induce the development of cytotoxic HLA antibodies in the pregnant women. We investigated the frequency and the characteristics of HLA antibodies during the pregnancy in Koreans. METHODS: Sera from 192 pregnant women (46 in the 1st trimester, 120 in the 2nd and 26 in the 3rd trimester) were tested for the presence of HLA antibody. Home made lymphocyte panel from 36 volunteers whose HLA-A, B and C antigens had been already identified 3nd formerly frozen in a liquid nitrogen tank were dispensed in duplicate into 72-well microplates and used as testing trays Test sera of one pregnant women with one negative control serum were dispensed in each plate and the plates were tested by microlymphocytotoxic method using anti-human immunoglobulin. The results were observed under fluorescence microscope and PRA (panel reactive antibody) values were determined by the percentage of wells showing positive reactions. HLA antibody specificities were identified by analysis of reaction characteristics. RESULTS: Among the 192 sera, 22 (11.5%) showed positive PRA value (PRA > 0%) in HLA antibody screening tests, in which 20 were less than 50% and 2 were more than 50% of PRA value. Two of the 46 subjects (4.3%) in the 1st trimester, 15 of the 120 (12.5%) in the 2nd and 5 of the 26 (19 2%) in the 3rd trimester were positive for HLA antibody. Among the 22 positive sera , specificities of HLA antibodies were identified in 14 (64%) sera: 8 sera had HLA antibody against single private HLA antigen. 5 had HLA antibodies against two or more antigens. and 1 sera showed anti-Bw4 antibody. CONCLUSION: In 192 pregnant women, 22 (11.5%) had HLA-A, B antibodies and they showed higher frequencies with the progress of pregnancy. Most of the pregnant women who were positive for HLA antibodies showed PRA value less than 50%. HLA antibody specificities were identified in 14 out of 22 positive sera (64%).
Antibodies* ; Antibody Specificity ; Female ; Fetus ; Fluorescence ; HLA-A Antigens* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Leukocytes ; Lymphocytes ; Mass Screening ; Nitrogen ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Volunteers

Juxtaductal coarctation is usually distal to the origin of the left subclavian artery, occasionally the orifice of the subclavian artery is involved in the coarctation and partially obstructed. An anomalous origin of the right subclavian artery from the descending aorta below the coarcted segment is also occasionally encountered. Reversed vertebral artery flow to a subclavian artery arising at or below a coarctation may produce the subclavian steal syndrome. Rarely both subclavian arteries arise beyond the coarctation. These abnormal subclavian arteries are important in clinical diagnosis and treatment. We report a case of Turner syndrome with coarctation, which present as juxtaductal type and the left subclavian artery from the descending aorta below the coarcted segment with reversed vertebral artery flow to a subclavian artery producing the subclavian steal syndrome. Resecton of coarctation segment and end-to-end anastomosis was successfully performed after transfer of left subclavian artery to distal segment of descending aorta.
Aorta, Thoracic* ; Aortic Coarctation ; Diagnosis ; Subclavian Artery* ; Subclavian Steal Syndrome* ; Turner Syndrome* ; Vertebral Artery

No abstract available.
Cervix Uteri* ; Female

No abstract available.
Liver* ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

The health-related habits dietary behaviors and nutrient intakes of the elderly living in Cheongju were investigated by interviews with a questionnaire from August to September in 1996. The responses of 169 free-living elderly aged over 65(male 91, female 78) were analyzed. Thirty-six percent of the subjects smoked currently, 33%, drank alcoholic beverages, and 52% exercise regularly. Exercise was mostly in the from of walking for 1/2-1 hour. Significantly higher proportions of males smoked, drank, and exercised as compared to females. Food groups eaten at every meal were examined on a 5-point scale, and the consumption scores were compared with groups according to sex, age, smoking, drinking, and exercise habits. The elderly who exercised regularly got significantly higher scores in their calcium intakes and the variety of the 6 food groups than the elderly who did not exercise. The dietary assessment data showed that the energy intakes of males and females were 81.9% and 72.8% of the RDAs, respectively. The proportions of the elderly consuming less than 75% of RDAs of vitamin A and calcium were 96.5% and 91.1% of the total subjects, respectively. Higher educational status, more pocket money and regular exercise had positive effects on nutrient intakes, while smoking and drinking among females, but not males, had negative effects. Therefore, to improve nutritional status of the elderly, intake of vitamin A-and calcium-rich food such as milk with regular exercise should be emphasized on the education program.
Aged* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Alcoholic Beverages ; Calcium ; Chungcheongbuk-do* ; Drinking ; Education ; Educational Status ; Female ; Food Habits* ; Humans ; Male ; Meals ; Milk ; Nutritional Status* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Vitamin A ; Vitamins ; Walking ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Child* ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Humans

A 36-year-old woman was presented with extensive anterior wall myocardial infarction. We tried to perform direct coronary angiography for the purpose of primary stenting. However, coronary angiogram revealed normal coronary arteries without intracoronary thrombi. We continued further evaluations to find out the cause of normal coronary myocardial infarction. The findings of severe hypertensive retinopathy and concentric left ventricular hypertrophy suggested that she had secondary hypertension. The detailed history, laboratory and radiological findings revealed the pheochromocytoma. The tumor was successfully removed by operation.
Adult ; Anterior Wall Myocardial Infarction ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertensive Retinopathy ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Stents