BACKGROUND: The electrophysiological effects of purinergic receptor agonists, adenosine triphosphate(ATP) and adenosine were examined using conventional microelectrode technique in rat atrial muscle fibers under superfused with a normal or a simulated ischemic(hypoxic, hyperkalemic and acidotic) physiologic salt solution(PSS) in vitro. METHODS: Action potential parameters, such as maximal diastolic potential(MDP), action potential amplitude(APA), rate of phase 0 depolarization(dv/dtmax) and action potential duration(APD90) were measured in electrically paced, physiologic salt solution(Tyrode's) superfused left rat atrium. In the experiment of ischemic simulation in vitro, normal physiologic salt solutions(NPSS0 were modified(MPSS) and superfused in substitute for normal Tyrode's solution. To investigate the effects of purinergic receptor agonists, ATP or adenosine was added to the superfused tyrode's solutions(NPSS or MPSS) in molar concentration. RESULTS: Under superfused with normal PSS, ATP(10(-3), 10(-4)M) elicited slight hyperpolarization in MDP, and both ATP(10(-6)-10(-3)M) and adenosine(10(-6)-10(-3)M) shortened the duration of normal action potential in a dose-dependent manner. The other paramaters were not affected by the drugs. Superfusion with ischemic PSS caused reductions in MDP as well as APA, dv/dtmax and, especially, APD90. The effects produced by the initial 10 minutes of superfusion with ischemic PSS almost completely disappeared during a subsequent period of continued superfusion with normal PSS, but, those by the initial 20 min lasted in some degree. Both ATP(10(-4)M) and adenosine(10(-4)M) attenuated the reduction in the rate of phase 0 depolarization and the amplitude of the action potential amplitude produced by the ischemic PSS. CONCLUSION: Purinergic receptor agonists, ATP and adensoine, caused a concentration-dependent shortening of the action potential duration in rat atrial muscle fibers and they attenuated the reductions in the rate of phase 0 depolarization and action potential amplitude in fibers superfused with ischemic PSS.
Action Potentials ; Adenosine ; Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Ischemia ; Microelectrodes ; Molar ; Purinergic Agonists* ; Rats ; Receptors, Purinergic

In recent years the rate of the spine Injury tends to be on the increase year by year as the rate of traffic and industrial accidents are increased. During industrial, sports and automobile accidents are occurred, the various forces were exerted by the mechanism, “flexion, extension, flexlon-rotation, vertlcal compression and shearing.” These exercise their effects on the vertebral bodies, the neural arches and intervertebral disc and the contents of the spinal cord, depending on direction and intensity of the trauma, and the posture and muscular attitude existent at the movement. Once the neurological Iesion has been diagnosised and the type of vertebral injury has been established and particularly after a decision has been made as to whether the spinal injury is stable or unstable, a rational method of treatment can be decised upon: Our treatment consists of providing the best condition for recovery from the spine injury, preventlng further neurologlcal damage in the unstable area, achieving stable bone and llgament heallng ln satisfactory position, preventing metabolic compllcations from being fatal, mobllizing the patient early, and rehabilitating to provide maximum fuctlonal independence with the remaining-muscle power avallablc to the cord injury patient. One hundred and fifty seven spine fracture and dislocation patients were clinically observed and evaluated from Jan. 1972 to Dec. 1978 in our study. The result of this study may be summerized as follows: 1. Out of the patients, there were 135 male and 22 female cases. The ratio between male and female was 6.1:1. The majority (84.7%) of the spine injuries was found in the age of 20 to 50 years. Fifty-two percent of the cases was caused by industrial accidents. 2. The most common site of the lesion occurred between T-11 and L-2 vertebrae (71.8%). 3. In cervical injury, fracture dislocation type was most common (50%), and especially, pure dislocation by extension mechanism was 12.5% but in thoracolumbar iniury, simple anterior wedge compression fracture was most common (66.6%) and there were no pure dislocations just like cervical spine injury cases. 4. Fifty seven cases of the total were complicated by paraplegia, of which 62.5% in cervical region and 31.6% in thoracolumbar region were noticed. The most frequent type of the injury in which paraplegia developed was the fracture dislocation (73.8%) and the most common site of the lesion was between the T-12 and the L-2 vertebrae. 5. Open reduction was performed in 9 cases out of 24 cervical spine injury patients and in 41 cases out of 133 thoracolumbar injury patients. 6. Prognosis of neurologic recovery in initially complete lesion was poor, regardness of treatment. In the cervical lesion cases there were no patients who were recovered. But in the other sites about 10.5% of initially complete lesion showed partial neural recovery comparing to 62.5% of initially incomplete lesions. 7. Progressive deformity is often noted as a complication of spine fracture or dislocation when solid fusion fails to develop. The increment of kyphosis after treatment is as follows: Simple wedge fracture
Accidents, Occupational ; Automobiles ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Clinical Study ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Diagnosis ; Dislocations ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Kyphosis ; Laminectomy ; Male ; Methods ; Paraplegia ; Posture ; Prognosis ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Injuries ; Spine ; Sports ; Urinary Bladder

Malformations of the hand in newborn infants are comparatively uncommon, and the forms which these malformations assume are extremely varied, some being so bizzare as to almost defy description. The etiology of congenital anomalies of the hand has not been conclusively established, but at the present time the most acceptable theories are those of maldevelopment due to teratogens or of mutations which are subsequently inhereted. This paper is based upon our own series of 99 anomalies in 93 patients who were hospitalized and treated at Severance Hospital during the period between 1965 and 1979 and the following results were obtained. 1. There were 56 males and 37 females in 93 patients and the ratio between male and female was 1.5: 1. 2. Right hands were involved in 49 patients, left hands were in 33 patients, and both hands were in 11 patients. 3. The most common type of anomalies were polydactylism (60.6%), next were syndactylism (24.3%), and the following anomalies were found; congenital finger deficiency, congenital constriction band, camptodactyly, cleft hand, congenital clasped thumb, and symphalangism. 4. 33 associated congenital anomalies were found in 27 patients, in which, anomalies of the foot were most common. 5. Prenatal history such as drug ingestion, eclampsia or difficult labor, and prematurity were found, but no genetic or familial history could be obtainable. 6. Treatment was stressed upon the function of hand rather than cosmetic appearance.
Clinical Study ; Constriction ; Eating ; Eclampsia ; Female ; Fingers ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Polydactyly ; Pregnancy ; Teratogens ; Thumb

No abstract available.
Asphyxia* ; Brain Stem* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Parturition*

Avascular necrosis of the carpal lunate (Kienbock's Disease) was first described by Peste in 1843. It's etiology is still unknown. Since Lippman, in 1949, there have been many operative treatments for this disease but they had many complications and technical difficulties. The treatment of Kienbock's disease by resection of the lunate and replacement with fascia lata through the dorsal approach is very simple in operation method and its results were satisfactory in follow up study for postop 12, 18 months. We report two cases of Kienbock's disease with brief review of literature.
Fascia Lata ; Fascia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Methods ; Necrosis ; Osteonecrosis

A number of genetic and environmental factors influence athletic performance. Cardiovascular fitness is an important factor of athletic success, and ACE gene is a good candidate for regulating cardiac and vascular function. Because younger subjects have less chance of being exposed to environmental factors than older ones, genetic factors have a relatively greater influence on younger subjects. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of I/D polymorphism in the ACE gene between Korean young controls and athletes. By association study, there were no significant differences in genotype and allele distributions between two groups, respectively (P> 0.05). When stratified by sporting disciplines, the significant difference in distribution was not also detected in our study (P> 0.05). These results do not support the hypothesis that the I/D polymorphism in the ACE gene is associated with endurance performance in Korean young subjects.
Alleles ; Athletes* ; Athletic Performance ; Genotype ; Humans ; Sports

Pigmented lesions of palmar and plantar skin may cause diagnostic problems, because some features of benign lesions in these sites may raise the suspicion of melanoma if considered alone. Transepidermal elimlnation is a mechanism by which a substance is eliminated through the epidermis, and it is apt to be confused with a feature of melanoma that tumor cells are located at all layers of the epidermis. We report a case of transepidermal elimination of nevus cells in acral letiginous nevus which needs a differential dignosis of melanoma.
Epidermis ; Melanoma ; Nevus* ; Skin

No abstract available.
Fever*

The malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) was first introduced in 1963 to refer to a group of soft-issue tumors characterized by a storiform or cartwheel-ike growth pattern and predominantly fibroblastic appearance. It was postulated that they were derived from histiocytes that could assume the appearance and function of fibroblasts. MFH has been recognized to be the most common sarcoma in the soft tissue of late adult life which involves the deep fascia or skeletal muscles of the extremities or retroperitoneum. It has been noted in other organs, however, it rarely arises in the liver. We report two cases of primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the liver histopathologically confirmed after surgical resection-storiform pleomorphic and myxoid subtypes in the 55 year old male and 49 year old female patients, respectively, and describes the clinical courses, characteristics and pathologic aspects with review of the related literatures.
Adult ; Extremities ; Fascia ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; Histiocytes ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous* ; Humans ; Liver* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Sarcoma

PURPOSE: To investigate the time course and occurrence of foveal retinal detachment presenting with symptoms of metamorphopsia and decreased visual acuity after successful surgery for macula-off retinal detachment. METHODS: This study included 9 eyes of 9 patients who were diagnosed with foveal retinal detachment using optical coherence tomography (OCT) among 198 patients who had decreased visual acuity and metamorphopsia after successful rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery. RESULTS: All eyes were diagnosed with foveal retinal detachment by OCT. Foveal retinal detachment occurred after scleral buckling surgery in 8 eyes (88%) and after vitrectomy and pneumoretinopexy in 1 eye. The degree and frequency of foveal retinal detachment was milder and lower after vitrectomy and pneumoretinopexy than after scleral buckling surgery. All foveal retinal detachments were reattached spontaneously after 9 months (range, 5~14 months). In all eyes, the symptom of metamorphopsia was improved and visual acuity increased after the foveal retinal detachment was reattached. CONCLUSIONS: OCT can be used to diagnose foveal retinal detachment in cases when the fundus and fluorescein angiography do not show specific findings but, presenting symptoms of decreased visual acuity and metamorphopsia. In all cases evaluated, the foveal retinal detachment was reattached spontaneously without treatment.
Fluorescein Angiography ; Humans ; Retinal Detachment* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Scleral Buckling ; Tomography, Optical Coherence* ; Vision Disorders ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy