The effect of amiodarone on reperfusion arrhthmias after release of left anterior descending coronary artery(LAD) occlusion was studied in 22 anesthetized cats. All cats underwent 20 minutes LAD occlusion followed by reperfusion and amiodarone(20mg/Kg) or normal saline was given on cats which had reperfusion arrhythmias through the left ventricular catheter to observe the antiarrhythmic effect of amiodarone. And also the incidence and type of arrhymias during occlusion and reperfusion were analyzed. During the 20 minute LAD occlusion, 10 of 22 cats(45%) had no arrhythmias, and 12 cats(55%) had nonsustatined ventricular tachycardia. After release of occlusion, 5 of 22 cats(23%) had no arrthmias, and 17 cats(77%) developed sustained ventricular arrhythmias(ventricular tachycardia (n=5), ventricular fibrillation(n=12)). The 17 cats which had reperfusion arrhythmias were randomly divided and given normal saline(control(n=8)) or amiodarone(amiodarone group(n=9)). There was no difference on 2 groups. The reperfusion arrhythmias disappeared in 6 out of 9 cats(66.7%) vs none of 8 controls(P<0.01). We conclude that amiodarone seems to be the effective antiarrhythmic drug on reperfusion arrhythmias after release of LAD occlusion in anesthetized cats, and might be useful for the treatment of reperfusion arrhythmias in human.
Amiodarone* ; Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac* ; Catheters ; Cats ; Humans ; Incidence ; Reperfusion* ; Tachycardia ; Tachycardia, Ventricular

BACKGROUND: It is well-known that organic solvents can cause various neurologic toxicities, and in particular, it had been reported that Parkinson's syndrome can be caused by organic solvents. CASE REPORT: A 53-year-old man who had worked for 13 years as a shipyard spray and brush painter and manifested with moderate cognitive disorder and was diagnosed with chronic toxic encephalopathy. We can assume he had had considerable exposure to organic solvents considering the estimates of the amounts of organic solvents in his work place. He had no specific medical history. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) showed mild cognitive deficit, depression, and anxiety. Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) indicated a slightly decreased flow at the edge of the left temporal brain area, while T2 brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed no specific signs except for ischemic changes in small vessels in the periventricular and subcortical white matter. He was also diagnosed with both carpal tunnel syndrome and peripheral neuropathy through a neuroconductive study. Several years later, he developed progressive bradykinesia and rigidity and, later, resting tremors in the left hand. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and treated with dopaminergic agents, but there was no effect. After that, he was given deep brain stimulation, both. As a result, his tremor is improved. but, the rigidity remained. Three years later, He has continuously received dopaminergic therapy. but, he complains about tremors in both hands and more greatly reduced cognitive function. CONCLUSION: In this case, we assumed by patient's work history and exposure estimates that he was exposed to excessive levels of organic solvents. The clinical symptoms of this patient were very similar to those from Parkinson's disease, but the psychological symptom appeared earlier than the other symptoms and there was no response to dopaminergic agents. We conclude that this case is likely Parkinson's syndrome caused by organic solvents.
Anxiety ; Brain ; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Deep Brain Stimulation ; Depression ; Dopamine Agents ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Hypokinesia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; MMPI ; Neurotoxicity Syndromes ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Parkinson Disease ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Solvents ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; Tremor ; Workplace

BACKGROUND: It is well-known that organic solvents can cause various neurologic toxicities, and in particular, it had been reported that Parkinson's syndrome can be caused by organic solvents. CASE REPORT: A 53-year-old man who had worked for 13 years as a shipyard spray and brush painter and manifested with moderate cognitive disorder and was diagnosed with chronic toxic encephalopathy. We can assume he had had considerable exposure to organic solvents considering the estimates of the amounts of organic solvents in his work place. He had no specific medical history. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) showed mild cognitive deficit, depression, and anxiety. Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) indicated a slightly decreased flow at the edge of the left temporal brain area, while T2 brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed no specific signs except for ischemic changes in small vessels in the periventricular and subcortical white matter. He was also diagnosed with both carpal tunnel syndrome and peripheral neuropathy through a neuroconductive study. Several years later, he developed progressive bradykinesia and rigidity and, later, resting tremors in the left hand. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and treated with dopaminergic agents, but there was no effect. After that, he was given deep brain stimulation, both. As a result, his tremor is improved. but, the rigidity remained. Three years later, He has continuously received dopaminergic therapy. but, he complains about tremors in both hands and more greatly reduced cognitive function. CONCLUSION: In this case, we assumed by patient's work history and exposure estimates that he was exposed to excessive levels of organic solvents. The clinical symptoms of this patient were very similar to those from Parkinson's disease, but the psychological symptom appeared earlier than the other symptoms and there was no response to dopaminergic agents. We conclude that this case is likely Parkinson's syndrome caused by organic solvents.
Anxiety ; Brain ; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Deep Brain Stimulation ; Depression ; Dopamine Agents ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Hypokinesia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; MMPI ; Neurotoxicity Syndromes ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Parkinson Disease ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Solvents ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; Tremor ; Workplace

It was well known that atrial myocytes systhesize atrial natriuretic peptide[ANP], and secrete it into the atrial lumen through the atrial endocardium. But the mechanism for regulation of ANP secretion has not been clearly elucidated, because there was little information of the atrial morphology concerning basal lamina. Basal lamina is surmised as one of barriers that control the movement of ANP, a large molecule. This study was attempted to elucidate the morphological characteristics of basal lamina and connective tissue fibers of atrial endocardial layer by scanning electron microscopy. Basal lamina was exposed by removal of the overlying endothelium. This was achieved by using OsO4 maceration, immersion in aqueous boric acid or EDTA treatment. After removal of the endothelial cell, the specimens were exposed to ultrasonic vibration in case of need. The external surface of basal lamina showed a fairly smooth appearance on the whole, although a few irregular folds are often encountered. Fenestrations, 0.1-1 micrometer in diameter, were randomly observed on the basal lamina, and they were circular to oval in shape. Margin of fenestrations was somewhat distinct and some was divided into two parts by linear structures. The structural differences of fenestrations between right and left atria were not found. The fibroreticular lamina under the basal lamina was revealed by removal of the endothelial cells and their basal lamina. This layer was consisted of interwoven fine fibers. These fine fibers were repeatedly divided and fused, forming reticular network. Some fine fibers connected with basal lamina. Some connective tissue fibers below fibroreticular layer were collected into thick bundles running parallel to myocytes. Above results may serve as a basis for the physiological and morphological studies of atrium.
Animals ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; Basement Membrane* ; Connective Tissue ; Edetic Acid ; Endocardium* ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium ; Immersion ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Muscle Cells ; Rats* ; Running ; Ultrasonics ; Vibration

Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a necrotizing renal infections characterized by intrarenal and occasional perirenal gas production. Although uncommon (89 cases in the literature), it occurs almost exclusively in diabetic patients (87% of the cases). Prompt and aggressive management is required to sahage these patients. We describe a recent case of a diabetic woman with emphysematous pyelonephritis due to E. Coll, successfully managed with unilateral nephrectomy.
Female ; Humans ; Nephrectomy ; Pyelonephritis*

No abstract available.
Intussusception* ; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome*

No abstract available.
Alendronate* ; Animals ; Diphosphonates ; Rats*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Spontaneous progression of severe congestive heart failure is structurally characterized by cellular degeneration and multiple foci of myocardial cell death. The cardiac troponin I (cTnI), one of the subunits of the troponin regulatory complex, binds to actin and inhibits interaction between actin and myosin. cTnI is uniquely expressed in the adult human myocardium, and an increase in its circulating levels is highly indicative of myocardial injury. In this study, we addressed the usefulness of cTnI as a sensitive and specific molecular marker for severity in patients with congestive heart failure. MethodscTnI, creatinin kinase-MB (CK-MB), and myoglobin were assessed in 59 patients with severe congestive heart failure diagnosed by the echo-cardiography and gated equilibrium blood pool heart scan. Also we assesed cTnI, creatinin kinase-MB (CK-MB), and myoglobin in 25 persons without cardiac disease in echocardiography. RESULTS: 1) The cTnI con-centration was 89.6+/-69.3 pg/mL in patients with congestive heart failure and its level was greater than that of the control group (22.4+/-17.1, p=0.001). 2) The cTnI level differed significantly according to left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), 117.3+/-73.8 pg/mL in patients with EF\<40% (28 patients), 66.3+/-44.5 pg/mL in patients with EF> or =40% (31 patients), 22.4+/-17.1 pg/mL in the control group (25 persons) (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: cTnI was useful as a specific and sensitive serum molecular marker in patients of congestive heart failure. And its level reflected the severity of congestive heart failure.
Actins ; Adult ; Cell Death ; Echocardiography ; Equidae ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Heart ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure* ; Humans ; Myocardium ; Myoglobin ; Myosins ; Stroke Volume ; Troponin I* ; Troponin*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The death rates of pancreaticoduodenectomy decreased dramatically in experienced centers and it depends on many variability including nutritional status, better patient selection, hospital volume. We reviewed our experience of 100 pancreaticoduodenectomy for 10 years, 1000 beds hospital METHOD: Between 1990 and 2000, 100 patients underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy in Dong-A University hospital. Annual number of cases, the disease entity, operative procedures, operation time and transfusion, radicality, external or internal pancreatic stent methods, morbidity and mortality were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: 10 cases or less per year until 1998: thereafter, the number of cases increased reaching 24 cases per year recently. Diseases entities were 35 pancreas head carcinomas, 22 common bile duct carcinomas, 20 ampulla vater carcinomas, 8 duodenum carcinomas, 9 chronic pancreatitis, 3 gallbladder carcinomas etc. Operative procedures were 53 whipple's operations, 23 Total pancreaticoduodenectomy, 22 pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy, 2 hepatopancreaticoduodenectomy. Postoperative morbidity has been decreasing, however, pancreatic leakage is still unresolved problem. Under 10 case annually the overall mortality was 22%, over 15 case annually the mortality reduced 12%(P=0.242). There were no mortality consecutive 30 cases since June, 1999 after changing the internal pancreatic duct stent to external pancreatic duct stent with preoperative total parenteral nutrition, Indocyanine green (ICG) test. The death rate was reduced(P=0.156). CONCLUSION: Pancreaticoduodenectomy has been increasing due to increased incidence of indication and improved resectability. Also preoperative total parenteral nutrition, ICG test, external pancreatic duct stent, successful postoperative embolization techniques decreased mobidity & mortality. It was suggested, pancreaticoduodenectomy could be safely performed in centers with more than 15 pancreatoduodenectomy annually.
Common Bile Duct ; Duodenum ; Gallbladder ; Head ; Humans ; Incidence ; Indocyanine Green ; Mortality ; Nutritional Status ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Pancreatitis, Chronic ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total ; Patient Selection ; Pylorus ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Surgical Procedures, Operative

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to measure the decline in the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) associated with some diseases in South Korean adults. METHODS: The EQ-5D health states in the 2005 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHNES) and the Korean EQ-5D valuation set were used to obtain the EQ-5D indexes of the study subjects. Each disease group was defined when the subjects reported to the NHNES that they were diagnosed with the corresponding disease during the previous 1 year by physicians. Since the distributions of the EQ-5D indexes in each subgroup were negatively skewed, median regression analysis was used to estimate the effects of specific diseases on the HRQoL. Median regression analysis produced estimates that approximated the median of the EQ-5D indexes and there are more robust for analyzing data with many outliers. RESULTS: A total of 16,692 subjects (6,667 patients and 10,025 people without any disease) were included in the analysis. As a result of the median regression analysis, stroke had the strongest impact on the HRQoL for both males and females, followed by osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatic arthritis, and herniation of an intervertebral disc. While asthma had a significant impact on the HRQoL only in men, cataract, temporo-mandibular dysfunction, and peptic ulcer significantly affected the HRQoL only in women. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke and musculoskeletal diseases were associated with the largest losses of the HRQoL in Korean adults.
Adult ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Musculoskeletal Diseases/etiology ; *Quality of Life ; Questionnaires ; Regression Analysis ; Sex Factors ; Sickness Impact Profile ; Stroke/etiology