BACKGROUND: The effects of a newly synthesized potassium channel opener, KR-30816((-)(nitro-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methy-2H-1-benzopyran-4-y1)pyridine oxide) on the action potential of papillary muscles of guinea pigs and the ATP-sensitive potassium channel current(IKATP) of single ventricular muscle cells of rats were examined to make clear its action mechanism of the KATPchannel. METHODS: We used the conventional microelectrode and the excised inside-out patch configuration. RESULTS: KR-30816 caused a shortening of the action potential duration in dose-dependent manner, which was inhibited by glibenclamide(3microM). Before run-down of the K+channel, KR-30816 activated the cardiac ATP-sensitive K+ channel only in the presence of ATP and shifted the dose-response relation curve between [ATP]i and the channel activity to the right in parallel. After run-down of the KATP channel, KR-30816 did not after the channel opening either in the absence or in the presence of UDP. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that KR-30816 antagonizes the inhibitory effect of ATP on the KATPchannel in a competitive manner, thereby enhancing the channel openings.
Action Potentials ; Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Guinea Pigs ; Heart ; Microelectrodes ; Muscle Cells ; Papillary Muscles ; Potassium Channels* ; Potassium* ; Rats ; Uridine Diphosphate

BACKGROUNG AND OBJECTIVES: It was reported that low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) was more effective than unfractionated heparin in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Recent studies have shown that the pathophysiology of restenosis in stented lesions was different from those of nonstented lesions. Treatment strategies designed to limit cellular proliferation that were ineffective in nonstented lesions may be efficacious in reducing in-stent restenosis. This study was aimed to compare the clinical and angiographic results of LMWH (nadroparin) after coronary stenting with those of conventional ticlopidine regimen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were eligible for inclusion if they had angina and/or objective evidence of myocardial ischemia, and a significant (>50%) stenosis that was documented on a recent coronary angiogram. After stenting, prospective randomized comparison study was performed. Patients were randomly assigned to either nadroparin (200 IU/kg, sc, bid) or ticlopidine (250 mg bid) plus aspirin (200 mg qd) treatment groups. Repeat coronary angiography (KERN=*)was performed at 236+/-90days after stenting, and quantitative coronary angiographic analysis (QCA) was done. RESULTS: Intracoronary stent implantation was performed in eighty five lesions in eighty one patients (ticlopidine:40, nadroparin:41). There was no significant difference in any baseline clinical/angiographic variables between the two treatment groups. There were no subacute stent thrombosis, infarction and death in both groups. Six-month event-free survival was 36 (90%) in the ticlopidine group and 35 (85.4%) in the nadroparin group. Follow-up quantitative angiographic data such as late loss (1.35+/-0.70 vs 1.32+/-0.69), loss index (0.53+/-0.70 vs 0.56+/-0.23) and restenosis rate (36% vs 25.8%) were not different between ticlopidine and nadroparin groups. CONCLUSION: Effects of nadroparin were not different from those with ticlopidine therapy in the prevention of restenosis and subacute stent thorombosis after coronary stenting. Clinical outcomes between two strategies were similar. Low molecular weight heparin may be an alternative to ticlopidine in patients that ticlopidine cannot be administered because of severe adverse effects.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Aspirin ; Cell Proliferation ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heparin ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; Humans ; Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Nadroparin* ; Prospective Studies ; Stents* ; Thrombosis ; Ticlopidine*

PURPOSE: To compare chest radiographic findings of pulmonary tuberculosis in non-AIDS immunocom- promised adult patients with those in immunocompetent patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Eighty six patients who had pulmonary tuberculosis were included in the study. Of these, 41 were non-AIDS immunocompromised adult patients and 45 were immunocompetent adult patients. Chest radiographs obtained from 86 patients were retrospectively evaluated with regard to the followings ;the anatomic distribution and extent of tuberculous lesions, typical or atypical patterns of radiographic findings. We then compared the results in non-AIDS immunocompromised adult patients with those in immunocompetent adult patients. RESULTS: The characteristic manifestation of pulmonary tuberculosis was a tendency of pulmonary lesions to localize in the apico-posterior segments of the upper lobe and the superior segment of the lower lobe in both groups but more wide distribution such as the anterior segment and the lingular segment of the upper lobe and the basal segments of the lower lobe was frequently identified in non-AIDS immunocompromised adult patients, and also bilateral, multisegmental and multilobular extents were common findings. in immunocompetent adult patients, more common findings were in local exudative and productive lesions and several cavities in preferential sites. Atypical plain radiographic findings were more common in non-AIDS immunocompromised adult patients, and which were multiple cavitary lesions, wide extent of bronchogenic spread and tuberculous pneumonia, and .miliary disseminations and mass like lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary tuberculosis in non-AIDS immunocompromised adult patients is characterized by frequent bilateral distribution, wide pulmonary extent, and atypical radiographic findings.
Adult* ; Humans ; Pneumonia ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

BACKGROUND: Diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) was designed to detect the random molecular otion of water in tissue. DWI has gained increasing interest recently because it can demonstrate yperacute stroke earlier than any other imaging methods so far. The purpose of our study was to etermine the clinical usefulness and significance of DWI compared with those of Fast Spin Echo T2-weighted image (SE T2WI) and Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) image in acute and subacute ischemic stroke. METHOD: Twenty-five adult patients with clinical diagnoses of acute or subacute cerebral infarctions were imaged with fast SE T2WI, FLAIR and DWI using a 1.5-T image. RESULTS:All the patients had areas of high signal intensity indicating acute or subacute lesions on DWI and these lesions provide an excellent clinicoanatomic correlation. CONCLUSIONS: DWI is most useful in the diagnosis and localization of acute or subacute lacuna or subcortical infarction in patients with preexisting chronic infarctions or white matter hyperintensity showing high signal intensity similar to acute or subacute infarctions on T2WI or FLAIR image.
Adult ; Brain ; Cerebral Infarction ; Diagnosis ; Diffusion* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Stroke*

The surgical outcome of excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy(PRK) depends on the accuracy of ablation and the smoothness of the surface ablated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical usefulness of a new eyeball fixation device(EK fixation device). First, the PRK was done on the cornea of New Zealand white rabbit (-8 D, 5.5 mm). The surface with the device was smoother compared to that without. Second, The PRK (-4 D, 6 mm)was done on the surface of the contact lens over the cornea of human volunteers. The ablation surface with the device was smoother than that without(0.20+/-0.04 micrometer vs. 0.34 +/-0.14 micrometer, p=0.028). The epithelial healing experiment in New Zealand white rabbit after myopic PRK (-8 D, 5.5 mm)showed more rapid wound healing in the fixation group (66.49+/-0.03 micrometer/hr vs 47.93+/-1.80 micrometer/hr, p=0.0001). In conclusion, the EK fixation device during the PRK procedures creates a smoother ablation surface and enhances corneal epithelial healing, thus may be a useful clinical device.
Cornea ; Healthy Volunteers ; Lasers, Excimer ; New Zealand ; Wound Healing

PURPOSE: To compare, with the use of chest radiographic findings, improvement and complications in newborns treated with exogenous surfactant for hyaline membrane disease(HMD), and an untreated control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six patients with HMD were randomly assigned to a control group (n=18) or surfactant treated group (n=18). As part of an initial evaluation of their pulmonary status, we then performed a retrospective statistical analysis of chest radiographic findings obtained in exogenous surfactant treated and untreated infants within the first 90 minutes of life. Subsequent examinations were performed at less than 24 hours of age. RESULTS: Chest radiograph before treatment showed no significant differences between the two groups, but significant improvement was noted in the surfactant treated group, in contrast to the control group. The most common chest radiographic finding after surfactant administration was uniform (n=15) or disproportionate (n=2) improvement of pulmonary aeration. Patent ductus arteriosus developed in three treated neonates and in four cases in the control group. Air leak occurred in three cases in the treated group and in five cases in the control group. In one treated patient pulmonary hemorrhage developed and intracranial hemorrhage occurred in three treated neonates and in four cases in the control group. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia was developed in 6 cases of treated group and 3 cases of control group. CONCLUSION: A chest radiograph is considered to be helpful in the evaluation of improvement and complications of HMD in infants treated with surfactant.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyalin* ; Hyaline Membrane Disease* ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Membranes ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: The aim of study was to evaluate the efficacy of medical and/or laparoscopic surgical treatment for improvement of reproductive outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in the patients with endometriosis. METHODS: 296 IVF-ET cycles except 18 cycles of cancelled embryo-transfer (unfertilization; 16 cycles, high risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome; 2 cycles) in 191 infertile women with endometriosis from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 1998 were included in this study. All women's ages were < or = 35 and the factor for infetility was endometriosis only and day 3 follicle stumulating hormone (FSH) level of all the cycles was < or = 10 mIU/ml in this study. All the baseline study about infertility was done before initiating treatment of infertility. The stage of endometriosis was recorded during diagnostic laparoscopy by WHO critera. Medical treatment (GnRH agonist or danazole) or laparoscopic surgery was done independently or combinedly by the physician's decision according to the disease entity and symptoms. Short or long protocols were used for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and 3 day embryos were transferred (maximally 4 embryos) by standard procedures in our institute. We classified the cases as 4 groups : group 1 (without pre-treatment, 80 cycles), goup 2 (laparoscopic surgery only, 37 cycles), group 3 (medication only, 140 cycles), group IV (combined pre-treatment, 39 cycles). RESULTS: The mean age (years old, mean +/- SEM) was 31.5 +/- 0.3 (group 1), 31.6 +/- 0.5 (group 2), 31.5 +/- 0.2 (group 3), 31.7 +/- 0.4 (group 4) respectively. The duration of infertility (months) was 57.7 +/- 3.3, 64.5 +/- 4.8, 59.1 +/- 1.9, 52.0 +/- 3.7 respectively among groups. The viable pregnancy rate (over 28 gestational weeks, VPR) was 12.5 % (10/80) in goup 1, 13.5 % (5/37) in goup 2, 14.3 % (20/140) in group 3, 30.8 % (12/39) in group 4 and there was statistically significant difference between group 1 and group 4 (P=0.03, Chi square test). The total used gonadotropins (ampules) for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation were 28.2 +/- 0.6.
Embryo Transfer ; Embryonic Structures ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Infertility ; Laparoscopy* ; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome ; Pregnancy Rate* ; Pregnancy*

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Proximal contact plays an important role in the stability and maintenance of the integrity of the dental arches. However, it is difficult to evaluate quantitatively the tightness of proximal tooth contact (TPTC). PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to measure the TPTC in permanent dentition. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten young adult volunteers with healthy dentition participated in this experiment. The TPTC between the teeth of both the maxilla and the mandible was measured at rest state by a novel device which records the TPTC by pulling of a stainless steel strip (0.03 mm thick) using the electric motor. One-way ANOVA test was used to compare the values in all measured area. When a statistically significant difference was calculated, Bonferroni correction was applied. Independent samples t-test was used to compare the values in male and female. RESULTS: The lowest TPTC and the highest TPTC was measured between the lower central incisors (0.87 +/- 0.20 N), and between the lower left first molar and second molar (1.99 +/- 0.68 N), respectively. All TPTC per quadrant demonstrated a similar pattern of a continuous increased gradient in an anterior-posterior direction. There are no significant difference between the maxilla and mandible. CONCLUSION: The TPTC was measured quantitatively by a novel device and decreased progressively in a posterior-anterior direction.
Dental Arch ; Dentition ; Dentition, Permanent ; Female ; Humans ; Incisor ; Male ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Molar ; Stainless Steel ; Tooth ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Successful resuscitation of the brain requires unimpaired blood recirculation. However, unfortunately there are several factors against the successful recirculation. No-reflow phenomenon, characterized by a lack of reperfusion after cerebral ischemia, is the most important pathogenic factor during the early period of spontaneous circulation(ROSC). This study addresses question that pentoxifylline(PTX) ameliorates no-reflow phenomenon after cardiac arrest. METHODS: Fourteen rats were divided three group ; Sham group(n=2), 12 minutes cardiac arrest group without PTX(group I, n=6), and 12 minutes cardiac arrest group pretreated with PTX(group II, n=6). Group II were premedicated by intravascular injection of 5mg/kg PTX into the external jugular vein before 5minutes of the arrest-induction. We induced cardiac arrest with endotracheal clamping and muscle relaxant. And then, resuscitation was initiated. Arterial blood samples were drawn at the femoral artery before 5 minutes of arrest-induction and at the 5 minutes after restoration of ROSC. Reperfusion of brain was visualized by injection of 0.3g/kg of 15% FITC-albumin at 5 minutes after restoration of ROSC, and the animals were decapitated 2 minutes later. The left hemisphere was fixed with 4% formalin, and coronal sections of 200um thickness at three different standard levels of the rat brain were investigated with fluorescence microscopy. Density of microvasular filling were identified and calculated. RESULTS: Our observation demonstrated that 1. There were no significant differences of blood pressures, heart rates, and results of blood gas analysis between group I and II during the prearrest steady state. 2. There were no significant differences of blood pressures, heart rates, and results of blood gas analysis between group Iand II at 5minutes after ROSC. 3. Group II premedicated with PTX, showed significant increased capillary refiling(0.310+/-0.035)than group I without PTX(0.181+/-0.040). CONCLUSIONS : The results showed that during the prearrest steady state, premedication of PTX ameliorated the no-reflow phenomenon in the rat model of the asphyxial arrest. Further experimental studies are required to focus on the effects of postarrest infused PTX, The neurologic outcome, and the clinical applications.
Animals ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Brain ; Brain Ischemia ; Capillaries ; Constriction ; Femoral Artery ; Formaldehyde ; Heart Arrest* ; Heart Arrest, Induced ; Heart Rate ; Jugular Veins ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Models, Animal ; No-Reflow Phenomenon* ; Pentoxifylline* ; Premedication ; Rats* ; Reperfusion ; Resuscitation

INTRODUCTION: To prevent hemodialysis-related infections, it is important to maintain hemodialysis system without microbial contamination. In May 2003, routine surveillance showed that dialysis water from dialysis port was contaminated with bacteria. To identify the causes of the contamination, we conducted an investigation as follows. METHODS: Patients undergoing dialysis were carefully monitored to see whether evidences of pyrogenic reactions or infections were present. Factors that could have influence on bacterial contamination in hemodialysis systems were thoroughly examined. In addition, microbiologic surveillances were done 7 times in 1 month. RESULTS: Although pyrogenic reactions or bacteremia did not occur, R. pickettii was repeatedly isolated above the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) standards from almost all dialysis units. Bacterial counts of specimens were higher in the proximal part of the water supply tube than the other parts in all dialysis machines. The colony count of R. pickettii exceeded the maximum level of technical limit in the specimens collected from the dialysis machines in the early morning after intermission of 48 hours. The structure of the supply tube was suspected as the origin of the colonization because stagnant water is a reservoir for bacterial multiplication. After remodeling the structure of the water supply tube, neither R. pickettii nor any other bacteria were isolated. CONCLUSION: Our investigation successfully identified the source of R. pickettii contamination of reverse osmosis water. Appropriate corrective measures for water distribution systems of hemodialysis center could prevent outbreak of dialysis-associated illnesses.
Bacteremia ; Bacteria ; Bacterial Load ; Colon ; Dialysis ; Humans ; Osmosis ; Ralstonia ; Ralstonia pickettii ; Renal Dialysis ; Water ; Water Supply