No abstract available.
Adult* ; Humans ; Lung* ; Pneumocytes* ; Pneumonectomy* ; Rabbits*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Gaucher Disease* ; Humans ; Siblings*

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of smoking in schizophrenic patients (74-92%) is higher than that of all psychiatric patients (34-54%) or general population (30-35%). This higher smoking Prevalence is demonstrated even after controlling for known confounders, such as marital status, alcohol use, and socioeconomic status. This study was conducted to determine whether there would be any difference in nicotine intake and metabolism between schizophrenics and normal controls. METHODS: Sixteen schizophrenic patients and sixteen normal controls were collected. All subjects were supplied with a pack of cigarette a day. Urinary cotinine excretion was measured by using gas chromatographic mass spectrometric method. RESULTS: Cotinine excretion was significantly increased in schizophrenic patients compared to normal controls (p<0.05). None of variables such as age at initial smoking, the average number of cigarettes at initial smoking, pack year (packs daily smoked x smoking year), abstinence history were found to influence cotinine levels when examined via the ANOVA, even when the interaction with diagnosis was considered. CONCLUSION: This result suggests that nicotine intake and consumption are increased in schizophrenic patients compared to normal controls, which can be an attempt to improve sensory inhibition and counteract neuronal effect of antipsychotic medications.
Cotinine* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Marital Status ; Metabolism ; Neurons ; Nicotine ; Prevalence ; Schizophrenia ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Social Class ; Tobacco Products

BACKGROUND: The P50 which is the oxygen tension corresponding to 50% saturation at pH 7.40, PCO2 40 mmHg and temperature 37oC is an accepted and useful reference to characterize the oxygen affinity for hemoglobin. This study evaluated the accuracy of P50 calculated from a single measurement of pH, PO2 and SO2 compared with linear regression and sigmoid Emax model in patients undergoing general anesthesia. This study also compared P50 of just after anesthetic induction to P50 of 90 min later. METHODS: This study was conducted in 10 patients undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy. Just after induction of anesthesia, 20G catheter was indwelled at cephalic vein of forearm and venous return was occluded with a tourniquet. After 4 min, 6 blood samples were obtained every one minute. After 90 min, 6 blood samples were obtained with same method. All blood samples were analyzed with blood gas analyzer within 30 min after withdrawal. P50 was calculated from three methods of calculation, linear regression and sigmoid Emax model. The difference between the actural P50 and calculated P50 was evaluated. RESULTS: P50's calculated from three methods were 25.8+/-1.1, 26.1+/-1.1, 26.0+/-1.2 mmHg respectively. P50's 90min after anesthetic induction (26.1+/-1.3, 26.3+/-1.2, 26.2+/-1.2 mmHg) were significantly greater than P50's just after anesthetic induction (25.5+/-0.8, 25.8+/-1.0, 25.9+/-1.1 mmHg)(P<0.05). Difference between calculated P50 and actual P50 of 120 blood samples from 10 patients according to SO2 were -5.7+/-4.5 (SO2<20%), 0.0+/-1.9 (20%90%). Sigmoidicity of oxygen dissociation curves from 10 patients with sigmoid Emax model was 2.78+/-0.13 (mean SD). CONCLUSIONS: The method calculating P50 from a single measurement of pH, PO2, SO2 was relatively reliable to estimate the change of oxygen dissociation curve of a patient. The affinity of hemoglobin to O2 was reduced during general anesthesia.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General* ; Catheters ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Forearm ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration* ; Hysterectomy ; Linear Models ; Oxygen ; Tourniquets ; Veins

BACKGROUND: In recent years, Acinetobacter baumannii isolates acquired resistance to cefepime have increased significantly. The aim of this study was to survey the prevalence of PER-1 extendedspectrum beta -lactamase (ESBL)-producing A. baumannii isolates in a University Hospital, Busan, Korea. METHODS: Antimicrobial susceptibilities were tested by the disk diffusion method, and double disk synergy test was performed for screening of ESBL-production. MICs were determined by agar dilution method. The isoelectric points of beta -lactamases were determined by isoelectric focusing. Transferability of cefepime-resistance were tested by conjugation. blaPER-1 and blaPER-2 alleles were detected by PCR, and the DNA sequences of amplified products were determined by using the dideoxy-chain termination method. RESULTS: Among 51 clinical isolates of A. baumannii intermediate or resistant to cefepime, 10 isolates (19.6%) showed positive results in double disk synergy test. PCR-based experiments detected blaPER-1 gene in all the 10 isolates. All the isolates contained three beta -lactamase bands: pI 5.3, 7.9, and 9.4. MICs of ampicillin, piperacillin, cephalothin, cefoxitin, cefoperazone, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, cefepime, and aztreonam were >256 mg/L, respectively, and them of imipenem were 8-16 mg/L. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of PER-1-producing A. baumannii strains in Busan was less than that of in Seoul. But an outbreak of infection caused by this strain in an intensive care unit shows that spread of PER-1-producing A. baumannii strains can be anticipated in a near future. Prevention of hospital infection by these resistant microorganisms are needed.
Acinetobacter baumannii* ; Acinetobacter* ; Agar ; Alleles ; Ampicillin ; Aztreonam ; Base Sequence ; Busan* ; Cefoperazone ; Cefotaxime ; Cefoxitin ; Ceftazidime ; Cephalothin ; Cross Infection ; Diffusion ; Imipenem ; Intensive Care Units ; Isoelectric Focusing ; Isoelectric Point ; Korea* ; Mass Screening ; Piperacillin ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence* ; Seoul

OBJECTIVES: Nasal packing after endoscopic sinus surgery is frequently used to control postoperative bleeding, enhance the wound healing process, and prevent lateralization of the middle turbinate, which causes insufficient ventilation. Many biodegradable materials have been developed to reduce pain and mucosal damage during packing removal. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of Guardcel (Genewel Co.) middle meatal packing with a traditional nonabsorbable middle meatal packing, Merocel (Medtronic Xomed), on wound healing and patient satisfaction. METHODS: In this prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled study, we enrolled 32 consecutive patients (64 nostrils) undergoing bilateral endoscopic sinus surgery at Korea University Guro Hospital from February 2015 to August 2015. Guardcel and Merocel were inserted postoperatively into a randomly assigned side. Objective findings about bleeding, hemostasis, adhesion, and infection were evaluated with nasal endoscopy. Patients’ symptoms including pain and nasal obstruction were evaluated with a visual analog scale. Each evaluation was done at 2–3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: At 2–3 days after endoscopic sinus surgery, the Guardcel side had a significantly less hemostasis time than the Merocel side (P=0.001). During this period, the pain during packing removal was significantly lower on the Guardcel-inserted side than the Merocel-inserted side (P=0.002). At two weeks after surgery, the adhesion score on the Guardcel side was significantly lower than that of the Merocel side (P=0.011). Other parameters during the study follow-up periods were not statistically significant. There were no severe adverse reactions. CONCLUSION: Guardcel, a newly developed packing material, appeared to shorten the hemostasis time and reduce pain sensation at 2–3 days after surgery; it also prevented adhesion formation 2 weeks after surgery when compared with the control. Guardcel can be an effective and safe candidate to replace conventional packing materials after endoscopic sinus surgery.
Endoscopy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Korea ; Nasal Obstruction ; Patient Satisfaction ; Prospective Studies* ; Sensation ; Turbinates ; Ventilation ; Visual Analog Scale ; Wound Healing

In this experiment, pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 100mg/kg of alltrans retinoic acid at 10th day of gestation. Pregnant rats were sacrificed at gestation day 14, 15, 16 and 18. Fetuses were delivered, and palatal processes were dissected. The specimens were prepared with fibronectin immunohistochemical stain, and mesenchymal changes were observed with electron microscope. The results were as follows. 1. In the findings fo fibronectin immunohistochemial stain, a part of the mesenchyme of the palatine process of the control group showed weak positive reaction at 14th gestation day, and the reactivity increased progressively by each day. In retinoic acid treated group, the positive reaction was trace at 14th day of gestation, and the reactivity increased progressively, but it was weaker than that of the control group. 2. Examination under transmission electron microscopy revealed well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, Goigi apparatus, mitochondrias which were found at the palatine process of the control group. In the retinoic acid treated group, at 16th and 18th day of gestation, the mesenchymal cells of the elevated palatine process had fragmented, sacculated rough endoplasmic reticulums, their mitochondrias were swollen and dissolved, In all cases with retinoic acid treated group, mitotic cells at various stages were more frequently found than in control group. In conclusion, the retinoic acid induces alterations of the intracytoplasmic organells. This finding suggests that retinoic acid is ditectly cytotoxic to mesenchymal cells. Positive fibronectin reaction was demonstrated before palatal elevation at th 15th day of gestation. Therefore, it could be postulated that mesenchymal cells synthesize and release the fibronectin. In the retinoic acid treated group, fibronectin showed positive reaction before and after palatal elevation, and it suggests that fibronectin would be involved in palatal elevation.
Animals ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Fetus ; Fibronectins ; Mesoderm* ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mitochondria ; Pregnancy ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tretinoin*

We report a case of intracranial dissemination developing approximately 4 months after partial removal of a spinal cord anplastic astrocytoma in a 22-year-old male. He presented with paraplegia on initial admission at a local hospital. Spinal magnetic resonance (MR) images disclosed multiple intramedullary lesions at the T3-11. The tumor was partially removed. The final histologic diagnosis was anaplastic astrocytoma. Four months after the operation, he was admitted with the symptoms of headache and deterioration of consciousness. MR images showed enhanced lesions in the anterior horn of the left lateral ventricle, and septum pellucidum. He underwent computed tomography-guided stereotactic biopsy and histological appearance was consistent with anaplastic astrocytoma. The clinical course indicates that the tumor originated in the spinal cord and extended into the subarachnoid space, first the spinal canal and later intracranial.
Animals ; Astrocytoma ; Biopsy ; Consciousness ; Headache ; Horns ; Humans ; Lateral Ventricles ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Paraplegia ; Septum Pellucidum ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Cord ; Subarachnoid Space ; Young Adult

Arterial restenosis frequently develops after open or endovascular surgery due to intimal hyperplasia. Since tissue transglutaminase (TG2) is known to involve in fibrosis, wound healing, and extracellular matrix remodeling, we examined the role of TG2 in the process of intimal hyperplasia using TG2-null mice. The neointimal formation was compared between TG2-null and wild-type (C57BL/6) mice by two different injury models; carotid ligation and carotid loop injury. In ligation model, there was no difference in intimal thickness between two groups. In loop injury model, intimal hyperplasia developed in both groups and the intimal/medial area ratio was significantly reduced in TG2-null mice (P = 0.007). TG2 was intensely stained in neointimal cells in 2 weeks. In situ activity of TG2 in the injured arteries steadily increased until 4 weeks compared to uninjured arteries. Taken together, intimal hyperplasia was significantly reduced in TG2-null mice, indicating that TG2 has an important role in the development of intimal hyperplasia. This suggests that TG2 may be a novel target to prevent the arterial restenosis after vascular surgery.
Animals ; Carotid Arteries/pathology/*surgery ; Disease Models, Animal ; GTP-Binding Proteins/deficiency/genetics/*metabolism ; Hyperplasia ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Transglutaminases/deficiency/genetics/*metabolism ; Tunica Intima/*pathology