The author investigated the zinc concentrations in sera of 110 methamphetaimine abusers (male 87, female 23) and of 41 healthy official workers(male 29, female 12) using inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer. The serum zinc concentrations were analysed according to hepatitis C virus antibody(Anti HCV), hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) value in both groups. The analytical results were obtained as follows; 1. The mean zinc concentration of MAP abuser group(298.5+/-246.9 microgram/100 microliter) was 2.5 times higher than that of control group(118.8+/-25.4 microgram/100 microliter). 2. The distribution of zinc concentration in both groups were skewed pattern. 3. The zinc concentration were higher in Anti HCV-positive group and abnormal ALT value group than Anti HCV-negative group and normal ALT value group. But HBs-Ag positive group had lower zinc concentration than HBs-Ag negative group. 4. The number of anti HCV-positive subjects was increased and the zinc concentration were decreased in proportion to the abusing duration of MAP.
Alanine Transaminase ; Female ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Humans ; Methamphetamine* ; Plasma ; Zinc*

No abstract available.
Case-Control Studies* ; Placenta Previa* ; Placenta* ; Risk Factors*

Retroperitoneal fibrosis sometimes causes urological problem involving the ureter, but the mechanism is uncertain. An aortic aneurysm, including an iliac artery aneurysm, is thought to be one of the mechanisms of retroperitoneal fibrosis. However, cases caused by an isolated iliac artery aneurysm are very rare, and symptoms tend to be non-specific; therefore, no definitive treatment has been established. Herein, we report our recent experience of a patient with a left common iliac artery aneurysm involving the ureter, who underwent successful surgical therapy.
Aneurysm* ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Humans ; Iliac Artery* ; Retroperitoneal Fibrosis* ; Ureter*

No abstract available.
Erythrocytes*

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the time course of the bradycardia and hypotensive effects of esmolol. METHODS: Thirty patients who undergoing gynecologic operation were anesthetized with nitrous oxide and enflurane. After the steady state of anesthesia was achieved, esmolol 500microgram/kg for 1 minute followed by 25, 50, or 100microgram/kg/min for 60minuts infused by intravenous catheter. Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, cardiac index, stroke volume, and systemic vascular resistance was measured by 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, and 60 minutes. RESULTS: Heart rate was changed abruptly within 3 to 5 minutes, and decreased rapidly for 15minutes. Mean arteral pressure was decreased rapidly for 30 minutes, but slower than heart rate. Cardiac index was decreased rapidly for 20 minutes and differed significantly on the dose of 25, 50, 100microgram/kg. Stroke volume was decreased for 30 minutes, and systemic vascular resistance was increased rapidly for 10 minutes. It was decided the onset time that was expressed 90% of ultimate response of esmolol effect, and was calculated in each group. The onset time of heart rate of esmolol 25, 50, 100microgram/kg were 8.0 +/- 4.1, 4.8 +/- 2.3, 8.1 +/- 4.4 minutes, the time of mean arterial pressure were 30.0 +/- 7.5, 21.1 +/- 6.2, 19.9 +/- 7.8 minutes, and the time of cardiac index were 25.1 +/- 4.7, 14.8 +/- 5.0, 14.2 +/- 4.6 minutes. Thus heart rate, mean arterial pressure, cardiac index, stroke volume, and systemic vascular resistance responses of administration of esmolol did not occur with equal rapidity. CONCLUSIONS: Thus although esmolol has an ultrashort kinetic half life, only the heart rate effect can be considered to have an ultrashort onset.
Anesthesia ; Arterial Pressure ; Bradycardia ; Catheters ; Enflurane ; Half-Life ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Nitrous Oxide ; Stroke Volume ; Vascular Resistance

No abstract available.
Abortion, Spontaneous* ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocytes* ; Pregnancy

No abstract available.
Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive*

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the characterization calretinin-immunoreactive displaced amacrine cells in the ganglion cell layer using immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. METHODS: For immunohistochemistry, sections from guinea pig retina were incubated with mouse monoclonal antibody directed against calretinin. For double label studies, sections were incuated in mixture of mouse monoclonal anti-calretinin or rabbit polyclonal anti-calretinin with following antibodies: goat polyclonal anti-ChAT, rabbit polyclonal anti-GABA, mouse monoclonal anti-GABAA receptor alpha1, beta2/3. Sections were analyzed using Bio-rad Radiance Plus confocal scanning microscope. Stained sections from three guinea pig were observed with transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: Calretinin immunoreactivity was present in displaced amacrine cells and ganglion cells gaving rise to processes ramified in the inner part of the inner plexiform layer in stratum 4. The same stratum was also occupied by the dendrites of ON-cholinergic amacrine cells. Double-labeling demonstrated that dendrites and cell bodies of displaced amacrine cells colocalized with ON-cholinergic amacrine cells and dendrites of ganglion cells directly overlapped with dendrites of ON-cholinergic amacrine cells. The synaptic connectivity was identified by electron microscopy. Ganglion cell dendrites received synaptic input from ON-cholinergic amacrine cell. GABAA receptor beta2/3 subunit bands cofaciculates the dendrites of displaced amacrine cell and ganglion cell that are juxtapose to the alpha1 subunit of GABAA receptor. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that ON-cholinergic amacrine cells modulate calretinin-labeled ganglion cell via GABAA receptor beta2/3 in the guinea pig retina.
Amacrine Cells ; Animals ; Calcium-Binding Protein, Vitamin D-Dependent ; Dendrites ; Electrons ; Ganglion Cysts ; Goats ; Guinea ; Guinea Pigs ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Microscopy, Electron ; Retina

BACKGROUND: While the effect of the flashlamp pumped dye laser in the treatment of telangiectasia and other vascular disease has been reported by many authors, there have been a few reports on the therapeutic effect of the copper vapor laser(CVL) on telangiectasia and other vascular lesions. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to assess the clinical results in Korean patients who had cutaneous vascular disorders that were treated with the CVL at 578 nm. METHODS: A total of 23 patients with vascular lesions such as telangiectasia were involved. The effect of the laser treatment was evaluated 3 months after the last treatment. RESULTS: Of the 15 patients with telangiectasia, 12 patients showed good or excellent responses. 2 out of 3 patients with strawberry hemangioma showed good results. As for the other lesions, 2 out of the remaining patients 5 showed excellent results. CONCLUSION: The CVL has a beneficial effect and is a good alternative treatment modality for vascular lesions.
Copper* ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; Humans ; Lasers, Dye ; Lasers, Gas* ; Telangiectasis ; Vascular Diseases

No abstract available.
Gonadal Dysgenesis, Mixed*