Inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate(InsP,) is a second messenger for obilizing intracellular Cal'. It can be dephosphorylated by soluble and particulate forms on InsP, 5-phosphatase, or phosphorylated to produce inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate(InsP,) by InsP, 3-kinase. These enzymes represent possible targets for the regulation of the InsP,AnsP. signal. InsP, 3-kinase which catalyses th ATP-dependent phosphorylation of InsP, was purified from bovine brain tissue. All operation were carried out at 41C. Fresh tissure was homogenized and centrifuged. The supernatant was pooled. Proteins were precipitated from 10% polyethylene glycol, and suspended solution was applied to DEAE cellulose column for chromatography. As the result of above procedure, two isozymes of InsP, 3-kinase, I and U were obtained. Each isozyme was applied to Matriz green gel, Calmodulin-Affigel 15 column and subsequent phenyl-TSK HPLC column. Specific activites(SA) and fold of puriety were observed at each purification step of chromatography. At DEAE cellulose chromatography, SA were 1, 0.6 and 11, 4.8 nM/min/mg, and folds
Brain* ; Catalysis ; Chromatography ; Chromatography, DEAE-Cellulose ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; DEAE-Cellulose ; Inositol* ; Isoenzymes ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases* ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Second Messenger Systems

To investigate the effect of hyperoxia on EKG findings and to evaluate the applicability of EKG as noninvasive monitoring index of oxygen toxicity, 38 rabbits were continuously exposed to 6 different conditions-3 hyperbaric oxygenations (HBO-2.5, 3.5 and 5ATA, 100% O2), normobaric oxygenation (NBO, 100% O2), hyperbaric aeration (HBA-5ATA, 21% O2) and normobaric aeration (NBA, 21% O2)-for 120 minutes and their EKG and time to dyspnea and convulsion were recorded. Dyspnea and death were observed in exposure conditions of HBO-3.5 and HBO-5 (Positive rate of dyspnea; 10%, 100%, death; 10%, 25%, respectively) only, and convulsion in 4 oxygenation groups (NBO; 20%, HBO-2.5; 20%, HBO-3.5; 20%, HBO-5; 88%). Abnormal EKG findings included arrhythmia and ST-T changes and the incidences was increasing with doses(partial pressure of oxygen). In addition to EKG change, findings observed during exosure were dyspnea and convulsion in the order of appearence and when non specific ST-T change was accepted as positive (abnormal) finding, the frequency of abnormal EKG was statistically significant(p<0.01), but when it was excluded from positive results, the frequency of EKG change was not significant(p>0.05). These results suggest that the effect of hyperoxia on heart is myocardial ischemia and arrhythmia, that oxygenation more than 3.5ATA causes myocardial damage in 120 minutes exposure, and that EKG is valuable as monitoring index of oxygen toxicity.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Dyspnea ; Electrocardiography* ; Heart ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; Hyperoxia* ; Incidence ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Oxygen ; Rabbits* ; Seizures

Systemic sclerosis is a generalized connective tissue disorder. It is characterized by fibrosis, degenerative changes and vascular lesions affecting the skin, joints, skeletal muscles and multiple internal organs. Clinical renal disease in systemic sclerosis ranges from scleroderma renal crisis to more subtle abnormalities. Scleroderma renal crisis is characterized by malignant hypertension and rapidly progressive renal failure. It can be successfully treated with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, but remains the most feared complication of systemic sclerosis. We have experienced a 57 year old female patient who visited emergency room with a sudden onset of mental deterioration, azotemia and oliguria. She was under symptomatic treatment for Raynaud's phenomenon for 2 years. Renal biopsy of the patient showed onion-skin configuration in the interlobular arteries which is characteristic of scleroderma renal crisis. She proceded to maintenance hemodialysis despite a angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor treatment. We report a case of SRC with a brief review of literature.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; Arteries ; Azotemia ; Biopsy ; Connective Tissue ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Malignant ; Joints ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Oliguria ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Several abnormalities of the autonomic regulation of the heart have been noted after acute myocardial infarction(AMI). Measurement of heart rate(HR) variability has been reported to provide indirect, noninvasive estimate of the cardiac efferent parasympathetic activity. The purposes of this study were to get the information on heart rate variability after AMI and to determine its relation to clinical and hemodynamic data. METHODS: We measured HR variability in 28 patients(23 men and 5 women : mean age, 56.6+/-10.4 years) 3-15days after AMI, in 25 patients with unstable angina and in 21 normal subjects by using triangular interpolation of the frequency distribution histogram om normalto-normal RR intervals from Holter tapes. RESULTS: HR variability was lower in AMI than unstable angina patients(357.9+/-118.6 versus 426.1+/-122.5 msec : p<0.05) and normal subjects(525.1+/-137.4 msec : p<0.025). There was no difference for infarct site, thrombolytic therapy, presence of Q-wave. HR variability was significantly related to mean 24-hour HR, left ventricular ejection fraction(all p<0.0001), left ventricular end diastolic diameter(p<0.05). HR varability was lower in patients belonging to Killip class 2-4 and who reqired the use of diuretics or digitalis(all p<0.05). CONCLUSION: After AMI, HR variabillity was reduced and significantly related to clinical and hemodynamic indexes of severity. Measurement of HR variability early after AMI may offer important clinical information for the early high stratification of patients.
Angina, Unstable ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Diuretics ; Female ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Thrombolytic Therapy

PURPOSE: Circumcision is widely practiced in Korea. Circumcision has been popularly performed with mechanical devices such as the Gomco clamp, the Plastibell device and other modified devices. We investigate the effect of using a new device (the circumcision clamp). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study between December 2003 and February 2004 on 75 patients who wanted circumcision. 25 patients were operated on by performing conventional circumcision, and 50 patients were operated on by using the circumcision clamp. RESULTS: The mean operation time for the new device group was shorter than that for the conventional circumcision group (p<0.05). No significant difference of complications was noted between the conventional circumcision group and the circumcision clamp group. CONCLUSIONS: The new method with using the circumcision clamp has a benefit as it is designed to expose the glans and it saves operating time.
Circumcision, Male* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Differences between sexes in sensitivity to nociceptive stimuli and response to analgesics have been noted in humans and animals. Male rats are more sensitive than female rats to the antinociceptive properties of morphine. Kappa-opioid analgesia is greater in women than in men. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the difference between the sexes in postoperative analgesic responses to patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) with butorphanol or fentanyl in 0.05% bupivacaine solution. METHODS: After obtaining their consents, 30 men and 30 women, less than 60 years old, undergoing elective gastrectomy under general anesthesia were randomly allocated into four groups of 15; butorphanol-female, butorphanol-male, fentanyl-female and fentanyl-male. An epidural catheter was introduced at the T7-8 or T8-9 interspinous space before the operation. Postoperative analgesia was provided with PCEA with butorphanol 50 microgram/ml or fentanyl 5 microgram/ml in a 0.05% bupivacaine solution. When patients first required analgesics after complete recovery of consciousness from anesthesia, a bolus of 5 ml was initially administered. The PCEA device was set to deliver a bolus of 2 ml, a lockout interval of 10 min and no basal infusion. PCEA consumption, pain intensity using a 10-cm visual analog score (VAS), patient's satisfaction to PCEA and side effects were evaluated at 3, 6, 24, and 48 h after the surgery. RESULTS: Cumulative PCEA consumption with butorphanol was less in the butorphanol-female group than in the butorphanol-male group at 24 and 48 h postoperatively. VAS pain scores and patients' satisfaction to PCEA were not different between the butorphanol-female group and the butorphanol-male group. Cumulative PCEA consumption with fentanyl was less in the fentanyl-male group than in the fentanyl-female group at 6, 24 and 48 h postoperatively. VAS pain scores and patients' satisfaction to PCEA were not different between the fentanyl-female group and the fentanyl-male group. There was no differece in side effects in both butorphanol groups and in both fentanyl groups. CONCLUSION: For postoperative analgesia with PCEA, butorphanol may be better for females than males, and fentanyl may be better in males than in females.
Analgesia ; Analgesia, Epidural* ; Analgesics ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Animals ; Bupivacaine ; Butorphanol* ; Catheters ; Consciousness ; Female ; Fentanyl* ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Morphine ; Rats

We found an error in this article. The author's affiliation.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition in maintenance hemodialysis(HD) patients has been referred to underdialysis with low protein intake and to metabolic acidosis. However, the respective effects of underdialysis, protein intake and metabolic acidosis have not been clearly demonstrated. To evaluate the role of the dialysis dose, protein intake and metabolic acidosis on nutrition, we measured the predialysis serum HCO3, pH, serum albumin, PCRn, Kt/V, and BMI in 41 uremic patients on maintenance bicarbonate HD for 66.93+/-51.86 months. Patients with chronic liver diseases, malignancies, diabetes and cachexia were excluded. RESULTS: Mean age was 46+/-13 years; Kt/V, 1.22+/-0.27; PCRn, 0.90+/-0.16g/kg/day; serum albumin, 4.2+/-0.21g/dL; BMI, 20.47+/-2.09kg/m2; HCO3, 18.4+/-2.9mEq/L; Serum albumin showed a significant direct correlation with PCRn(p=0.001), and a significant inverse correlation with serum HCO3(r=0.43, p<0.01) but no correlation with Kt/V and BMI. PCRn showed a significant inverse correlation with serum HCO3(p<0.01), and a direct correlation with Kt/V(p<0.05). Multiple regression analysis confirmed the significant role of protein intake but not of Kt/V and serum bicarbonate, on serum albumin concentrations. Dividing patients into two groups, serum albumin was 4.05+/-0.34g/dL in those with HCO3 <20mEq/L and 3.95+/-0.24g/dL in those with HCO3 >or=20mEq/L. PCRn in the former was 0.94+/-0.6g/kg/day and in the latter 0.80+/-0.14g/kg/day(p<0.05). The role of PCRn appeared to be more important than metabolic acidodsis in determining the serum albumin levels. CONCLUSIONS: In patients hemodialyzed with relatively adequate Kt/V and whose serum bicarbonate levels maintained within mild acidosis range, PCRn may exert a detrimental effect on serum albumin concentration.
Acidosis ; Cachexia ; Dialysis ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Liver Diseases ; Malnutrition* ; Renal Dialysis* ; Serum Albumin

To investigate the presence of apparent accommodation in monocular pseudopakic eyes and contact lens wearing monocular aphakic eyes, we measured it in 54 monocular pseudophakic eyes (54 patients) and 40 contact lens wearing monocular aphakic eyes (40 patients). The mean apparent accommodation was 1.68+/-1.25 diopters in monocular pseudophakic eyes and 1.74+/-0.73 diopters in contact lens wearing monocular aphakic eyes, and there was no statistically significant difference between them. Apparent accommodation was not related either to type of intraocular lenses or pupil size in pseudophakic eyes and not related to target size in aphakic eyes, but it was influenced by pupil size in aphakic eyes. In the group of patients aged between 45 and 55, accommodation in phakic eyes was significantly greater than apparent accommodation in contralateral contact lens wearing monocular aphakic eyes.
*Accommodation, Ocular ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aphakia, Postcataract/*physiopathology ; Child ; *Contact Lenses ; Humans ; Middle Aged

The Association between myofascial pain syndrome and some tests was assessed in a cross-sectional study of 904 female telephone operators using video display terminals(VDTs). 105 cases were diagnosed as Myofascial pain syndrome with symptom questionnaire, laboratory examination and physician's physical examination and 550 controls were defined to show only musculoskeletal symptoms using NIOSH symptom criteria. Data on demographics, musculoskeletal symptom and visual analogue scale(VAS) were obtained by questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements, pressure pain threshold, Grip and Pinch strength and laboratory test were conducted. No significant difference between case and control at comparing of demographics, occupational history and body measurements were observed. But, Grip strength, pressure pain threshold and VAS showed the statistical difference between case and control. Age, pressure pain threshold of Rt. Upper trapezius and VAS were associated with myofascial pain syndrome in multivariate logistic regression analysis. This results suggest that, to diagnose of myofascial pain syndrome, the consideration of the objective aspects among patients' subjective symptom complaints through the VAS and pressure pain threshold is required.
Computer Terminals ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Demography ; Female* ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes* ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Pain Threshold ; Physical Examination ; Pinch Strength ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Superficial Back Muscles ; Telephone*