OBJECTIVE: We examined the vasoconstricting poperties of endothelin (ET) on isolated arteries from pregnant as well as non-pregnant uterus. METHODS: Arteries of the uterus were obtained from both hysterectomized uterus and during pregnany hysterectomy for control group and cesarean section for pregnant group. Rings of uterine artery were suspended on muscle chambers at their optimal length for generating tension and contractile properties were examined. RESULTS: ET-1 and ET-2 induced concentration-dependent constriction of both isolated arterial strips from non-pregnant and pregnant uterus. The contraction to ET-1 and ET-2 were more enhanced in full-term pregnancy. Furthermore, in pregnant group, sarafotoxin S6c and IRL 1620, ET. agonists, induced a dose-dependent contraction, which was not shown in those from non-pregnant human. Pretreatment of human uterine arterial strips from pregnant uterus with BQ610, an ET. antagonist, for 10 min resulted in a dose-related rightward shift of ET-1 response curve with diminution of maximal response. Schild plot analysis yielded a pA value of 7.29 with a slope of 0.98. However, BQ788, an ET antagonist, did not produce any rightward shift. The contraction to lower concentration (10-8~3*10-7 M) of sarafotoxin S6c was not affected by BQ788, whereas that to higher concentration (10-s-8*10-7 M) was marked diminished. However, BQ610 did not exnt any efFect on sarafotoxin S6c-induced contraction in arterial staips from pregnant uterus. When the bath solution was replaced with Ca-free physiological salt solution (PSS) containing 1 mM EGTA for 10 min prior to adding sarafotoxin S6c, sarafotoxin S6c-induced contraction was completely abolished. Sarafotoxin S6c (10 nM)-induced contraction was prefetentially blocked by a protein kinase C antagonist, H-7, whereas it was less sensitive to a calmodulin antagonist, calmidazolium, CONCLUSION: Based on above results, we concluded that ET plays an important role in regulating uterine blood flow through the activation of ETa and ETB receptors. Furthermote, ETB receptors may predominantly contribute to the modulation of human uterine circulation in full-term pregnancy.
1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine ; Arteries* ; Baths ; Calmodulin ; Cesarean Section ; Constriction ; Egtazic Acid ; Endothelin-2 ; Endothelins* ; Female ; Humans* ; Hysterectomy ; Pregnancy ; Protein Kinase C ; Receptors, Endothelin ; Uterine Artery ; Uterus*

Articular cartilage can be damaged by trauma or by progressive degradation caused by disease. Unfortunately, it has a extremely limited capacity for repair and regeneration. The use of joint prosthesis has revolutionized but remains limited in its use. To know the possibility of clinical application of clinical application of autogenous bone-articular graft in open complicated intraarticular fractures we studied the change of bone-articular cartilage defect in medial femoral condyle of rabbits and viability of autogenous bone-articular graft stored within abdominal wall of rabbits. The results were obtained as follows: 1. There was over 90% viability of subchondral bone after 10 days storage in the adbominal wall but the articular cartilage showed degenerative change about 40% after 5 days passed. 2. The bone-articular defect was replaced by undifferentiated mesenchymal tissue and fibrous tissue, postoperative 6 weeks later. 3. In implanted bone-articular cartilage graft at 3 days, the chondrocyte of basal cell layer in articular cartilage was relatively well preserved but in 7 days, transplanted articular cartilage graft showed almost necrotic chage. Most of subchondral bones were well healed with host bone without regard to duration of implantation.
Abdominal Wall ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular ; Chondrocytes ; Intra-Articular Fractures ; Joint Prosthesis ; Rabbits ; Regeneration ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Ammonium Compounds* ; Ammonium Sulfate* ; Animals ; Bromodeoxyuridine* ; CHO Cells* ; Chromosome Aberrations* ; Cricetinae ; Humans ; Siblings* ; Sister Chromatid Exchange*

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Femoral Neck Fractures* ; Femur Neck* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Arthroplasty* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip*

PURPOSE: We assessed the accuracy of a portable ultrasound device (BladderScan(TM) BVI 3000) used to measure the postvoid residual urine volume (PVR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively measured the volume of residual urine in 160 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms between August 2000 and April 2001. After voiding, PVR measurements were performed immediately using ultrasound bladder scanning, followed by Nelaton catheterization, with the patient was in the supine position, and compared the results of the two techniques. RESULTS: The ultrasound bladder scanning correlated well with the catheterization for measuring the PVR (r=0.946). The ultrasound bladder scanning had a sensitivity and specificity of 95.4 and 100%, respectively, in detecting a PVR>or=100ml, and 83.4 and 91.5%, respectively, in cases where the PVR was less than 50ml. A multiple regression analysis, and a two sample t-test, showed that the difference was not related to: age, sex, weight, height, body mass index (BMI) or related diseases (p>0.05). Age, weight, height, BMI were not significant variables when comparing the sexes (p>0.05). There was a significant difference in patient's satisfaction and the required time of the procedure between bladder scanning and catheterization (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Portable ultrasound bladder scanning is quick, easy to use, non-invasive, readily repeatable, and specific for determining the PVR. Therefore, portable ultrasound bladder scanning can be used as an alternative to catheterization in the determination of residual urine volume.
Body Height ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Supine Position ; Ultrasonography* ; Urinary Bladder

No abstract available.
Depression, Postpartum* ; Female ; Postpartum Period*

Esophageal ulcers induced by doxycycline is a rare complication. These patients usually complain of sudden onset of symptoms, ie acute substernal or chest pain and odynophagia without prior hietory of esophageal syraptoms. On esophagoscopic examination, there are upper or midesophageal ulcers, which heal after diseontinuation of the drug within 2 weeks. A history of ingestion of the doxycycline,with liquid jost before bedtime can be elicited. The exact eause of the xaucosal ulceration is not clear, but a direct irritant effeet on esophageal mucosa seems most likely. We report 5 cases of esophageal uleeration secondary to the ingestion of doxycydine. Esophagoscopy revealed esophageal ulcers in all patients and the patients hecame asymptomatic following stopping of tbe drugs and taking antacids.
Antacids ; Chest Pain ; Doxycycline* ; Eating ; Esophagoscopy ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Ulcer*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Cytogenetics* ; Korea* ; Oncogenes* ; Stomach Neoplasms*