Telomere shortening has been suggested as an indicator of aging and psychiatric disorders. However, few studies have explored the relationship between telomere length (TL) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We investigated the association between TL and IBS in 43 IBS patients using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The clinical characteristics and severity of IBS, assessed by the visual analogue scale, were also analyzed. The average TL was 4.40 ± 3.87, with TL shortening tending to be associated with female sex and smoking. However, these associations did not reach statistical significance. Correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between IBS severity and TL (r = –0.285, p = 0.083), although this was not statistically significant. No other clinical characteristics were significantly associated with TL. This is the first study to examine the relationship between TL and IBS. Our findings suggest that TL may have potential as a predictor for IBS diagnosis.

Telomere shortening has been suggested as an indicator of aging and psychiatric disorders. However, few studies have explored the relationship between telomere length (TL) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We investigated the association between TL and IBS in 43 IBS patients using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The clinical characteristics and severity of IBS, assessed by the visual analogue scale, were also analyzed. The average TL was 4.40 ± 3.87, with TL shortening tending to be associated with female sex and smoking. However, these associations did not reach statistical significance. Correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between IBS severity and TL (r = –0.285, p = 0.083), although this was not statistically significant. No other clinical characteristics were significantly associated with TL. This is the first study to examine the relationship between TL and IBS. Our findings suggest that TL may have potential as a predictor for IBS diagnosis.

Telomere shortening has been suggested as an indicator of aging and psychiatric disorders. However, few studies have explored the relationship between telomere length (TL) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We investigated the association between TL and IBS in 43 IBS patients using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The clinical characteristics and severity of IBS, assessed by the visual analogue scale, were also analyzed. The average TL was 4.40 ± 3.87, with TL shortening tending to be associated with female sex and smoking. However, these associations did not reach statistical significance. Correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between IBS severity and TL (r = –0.285, p = 0.083), although this was not statistically significant. No other clinical characteristics were significantly associated with TL. This is the first study to examine the relationship between TL and IBS. Our findings suggest that TL may have potential as a predictor for IBS diagnosis.

Telomere shortening has been suggested as an indicator of aging and psychiatric disorders. However, few studies have explored the relationship between telomere length (TL) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We investigated the association between TL and IBS in 43 IBS patients using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The clinical characteristics and severity of IBS, assessed by the visual analogue scale, were also analyzed. The average TL was 4.40 ± 3.87, with TL shortening tending to be associated with female sex and smoking. However, these associations did not reach statistical significance. Correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between IBS severity and TL (r = –0.285, p = 0.083), although this was not statistically significant. No other clinical characteristics were significantly associated with TL. This is the first study to examine the relationship between TL and IBS. Our findings suggest that TL may have potential as a predictor for IBS diagnosis.

No abstract available.
Heart Diseases* ; Heart*

To investigate retinal hemodynamics in diabetic retinopathy, the perifoveral capillary leukocyte velocity for retinal microcirculation was measured in eyes of 16 control. 12 non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR) and 10 proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR) on the video fluorescein angiogram using a scanning laser ophthalmoscope(SLO 101, Rod-enstock, Munich, Germany) in 20 degrees retinal field. And the times of arm to retinal circulation, arterio-venous circulation and venous lamina flow for retinal macrocirculation were also measured in eyes of 18 control, 16 NPDR and 10 PDR in 40 degrees retinal field. There was not any statistically significant difference between control eyes(140.62 +/- 34.11 pixels/see, 1.21 +/- 0.29 mm/sec) and NPDR eyes(133.98 +/- 31.85 pixels/sec, 1.15 +/- 0.27 mm/sec) in mean perifoveal capillary leukocyte velocity(p=0.60). But it was significantly decreased in PDR eyes(108.80 +/- 26.19 pixels/see, 0.94 +/- 0.23 mm/sec) compared with control(p=0.01) and NPDR eyes(p=0.05). The were not any significant differences in the times of arm to retinal and arterio-venous circulation respectively(p>0.05) among the eyes of control(12.09 +/- 1.41 sec, 2.41 +/- 0.86 sec), NPDR(12.66 +/- 1.42 see, 2.32 +/- 0.96 sec) and PDR(12.90 +/- 1.51 see, 2.54 +/- 0.94 sec). But the venous lamina flow time was significantly decreased in eyes of NPDR(6.91 +/- 2.32 see, p=0.02) and PDR(7.03 +/- 1.89 sec, p=0.01) compared with that of control(5.46 +/- 1.18 see). These results indicate that a significant retinal microcirculatory deficit exists in the eyes of PDR, and venous lamina flow time may be a good index of retinal macrocirculatory deficit in diabetic retinopathy.
Arm ; Capillaries ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Fluorescein ; Hemodynamics* ; Leukocytes ; Microcirculation ; Ophthalmoscopes* ; Retinaldehyde*

Most local anesthetics intravenously administered inhibit neuromuscular transmission or enhance the neuromuscular block of both nondepolarizing and depolarizing musde relaxants. Local anesthetics used to treat cardiac arrhythmias intraoperatively or postoperatively may, therefore, greatly augment a residual neuromuscular block. To obtain adequate balanced anesthesia and postoperative analgesia, general anesthesia with epidural anesthesia is frequently selected. In the present study we investigated the effects of lidocaine HC1 administered into epidural space on the neuromuscular blocking action of vecuronium. Eighty adult gynecological patients of ASA class I or II were studied. Patients were divided into four groups as follows ; Group I (n=20); vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg iv administered only Group II(n=20); vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg iv and lidocaine 6 mg/kg administered into epidural space Group III(n=20); vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg iv and lidocaine 8 mg/kg administered into epidural space Group IV(n=20); vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg iv and lidocaine 10 mg/kg administered into epidural space Patients of experimental groups II, III and IV were anesthetized by epidural block with 2 % lidocaine followed by general anesthesia 15 minutes later. Before induction with fentanyl(3 ug/kg), droperidol(0.04 mg/kg), thiopental sodium (5 mg/kg) and vecuronium(0.1 mg/kg) iv, neuromuscular monitoring was set by using ABM(Anesthesia and Brain activity Monitor, Datex Co, Finland) which stimulating ulnar nerve at the wrist with supramaximal stimuli at a frequency of 2 Hz and 20 seconds interval. The electromyographic response of hypothenar muscles was recorded. Following stabilization of the control twitch height, vecuronium(0.1 mg/kg) was intravenously injected, and tracheal intubation was performed when the first twitch height of the train of four twitch response(T1) was 5 % of the controL Anesthesia was maintained with O2 (2 L/min) and N2O (4 L/min). The time of onset of action (time from vecuronium iv to 0 % of T1), time of maximal twitch depression (time from loss of T1 to reappearance of T1), Recovery index (time from recovery of 25 % of T1 to 75 % of T1) and T4 ratios (ratio of the height of the fourth twitch to T1) at 25 %, 50 % and 75% of T1 were measured and compared among the groups. The results were as follows ; 1. The time of onset of action was 3.99+/-0.92 minutes in the control group and 2.94+/-0.89 minutes in the lidocaine 10 mg/kg administered group(P<0.05). 2. The time of maximal twitch depression was 19.055.46 minutes in the control group and 24.02+/-6.94, 25.33+/-5.84, 27.07+/-5.26 minutes in the lidocaine 6 mg/kg, 8 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg administered groups(P<0.05). 3. Recovery index was 14.76+/-5.40 minutes in the control group and 20.39+/-4.56, 22.36+/-7.98 minutes in the lidocaine 8 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg administered groups(P<0.05). 4. The lidocaine administered into epidural space has little effect on the recovery of T4 compared with that of T1(P>0.05). These results suggest that the effect of lidocaine HC1 administered into epidural space on the neuromuscular blocking action of vecuronium showed prolonged depression and recovery time, and reduced time of the onset of action with dose larger than lidocaine 8 mg/kg.
Adult ; Analgesia ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthetics, Local ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Balanced Anesthesia ; Brain ; Depression ; Epidural Space* ; Humans ; Intubation ; Lidocaine* ; Muscles ; Neuromuscular Blockade* ; Neuromuscular Monitoring ; Thiopental ; Ulnar Nerve ; Vecuronium Bromide* ; Wrist

We conducted this cohort analytic study to determine whether women with unexplained elevations of maternal serum hCG at 15-18 weeks' gestation are at increased risk for pregnancy complications and adverse perinatal outcomes. The inclusion criteria were a singleton gestation, a confirmed gestational age, and an hCG level greater than 2.0 multiples of the median (MoM). The exclusion criteria were fetal anomalies, an abnormal karyotype, molar pregnancy, and an MSAFP level greater than 2.5 multiples of the median (MoM). A group of randomly selected women with hCG levels under 2.0 MoM served as controls. Patients with elevated levels of hCG had a significantly higher risk for PIH (17.9% versus 4.5%; P <.05) and preterm delivery (17.9% versus 3.5%; P<, 05) than control. But no significant differences were observed in the incidence of intrauterine growth restriction and low birth weight and in the newborn weight. We suggested that pregnancies with unexplained elevated hCG levels should be regarded as high-risk pregnancies. And these patients require careful monitoring with adequate obstetric management.
Abnormal Karyotype ; Chorionic Gonadotropin* ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans* ; Hydatidiform Mole ; Incidence ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, High-Risk

No abstract available.
Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Mucormycosis*

To verify the accuracy and reproducibility of corneal thickness measurements obtained with Orbscan (Orbtek, Inc., Salt Lake City, USA), the measurements were compared with those taken with an ultrasound pachymeter (Omega Compuscan, Storz). Central corneal thickness was measured by each method in 100 eyes of 50healthy subjects. The averages by the two methods were compared. One examiner took the measurements twice by each method in 20 eyes of 10 subjects, and intraexaminer reproducibility was evaluated. Two examiners measured the thickness in 20 eyes of 10 subjects and interexaminer reproducibility was assessed. The average corneal thickness was 550.27+/-3.56 micrometer in the Orbscan measurements and 526.62+/-3.70 micrometer in the ultrasound pachymetry: There was a statistically significant difference between the two methods. Significant difference was noticed but this showed a constant corresponding correlation with the Orbscan showing a 4.4%lower average. The intraexaminer and interexaminer reproducibility showed high reliability(Guttman split-half point<0.99). The Orbscan pachymetry is a highly reliable method and may be widely used in clinical practice.
Corneal Pachymetry* ; Lakes ; Ultrasonics* ; Ultrasonography