This study was aimed at investigation of the stimulatory innervations on the rat urinary bladder. Detrusor muscle strips of 15 mm long were suspended in isolated muscle chambers containing 1 ml of PSS maintained at 37℃ and aerated with 95% O²/5% Co². Isometric myography was performed, and the results were as followings: Muscle strips showed “on-contraction” by electric field stimulation (EFS) frequency-dependently. The EFS-induced contraction was not affected by hexamethonium, a ganglion blocker, but abolished by tetrodotoxin, a nerve conduction blocker. Physostigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor enhanced the EFS-induced contraction which was inhibited by hemicholinium, an inhibitor of choline uptake at the cholinergic nerve ending. Such an EFS-induced contraction was antagonized by atropine only partially, and the atropine-resistant portion was completely abolished by the desensitization of purinergic receptors by prolonged incubating of the strips in the presence of high concentration of ATP. Bethanechol, a cholinergic agonist, elicited concentration-dependent contraction. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a purinergic agonist, induced a weak but concentration-dependent contraction of short duration. Bethanechol-induced contraction was not affected by ATP-desensitization, and ATP-induced contraction was not affected by tetrodotoxin. These results suggest that there are at least two main stimulatory components of innervations in the detrusor muscle, cholinergic muscarinic and purinergic; and those receptors are independent each other.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Atropine ; Bethanechol ; Choline ; Cholinergic Agonists ; Cholinesterases ; Ganglion Cysts ; Hemicholinium 3 ; Hexamethonium ; Myography ; Nerve Endings ; Neural Conduction ; Physostigmine ; Rats* ; Receptors, Purinergic ; Tetrodotoxin ; Urinary Bladder*

Acute interstitial pneumonia is a fulminant disease of unknown etiology that usually occurs in a previously healthy person and produces the histologic findings of the organizing phase of diffuse alveolar damage. We experienced an autopsy case of acute interstitial pneumonia of unknown etiology. The patient was a 48 year old man who had been healthy and had not been exposed to organic dusts or other toxic materials. The chief complaints represented were dyspnea and a dry cough for several weeks before hospitalization, and the chest radiographs showed bilateral interstitial infiltrates. Patchy consolidation of air space was also identified and ground-glass attenuation similar to those described in ARDS was detected on high-resolution computed tomography. Steroid pulse therapy, mechanical ventilation, and antibiotics for superimposed bacterial infection were performed, but the symptoms did not improve and the patient died of generalized respiratory insufficiency and severe hypoxemia 2 1/2 months after hospitalization. At autopsy the macroscopic and microscopic findings were confined mainly to the lungs. On the whole, both lungs were firm in consistency and the external surface showed a cobblestone appearance. The cut surface showed almost complete replacement of the normal lung parenchyma with gray to yellow fibrous tissue with a little residual functional area remaining. The pathology of both open lung biopsy and autopsy tissue showed marked hyperplasia of type II pneumocytes, hyaline membrane formation, thickening of the alveolar wall due to extensive fibroblast proliferation, and relatively abundant young collagen deposition in the interstitium. An immunohistochemical stain for cytokeratin revealed epithelial hyperplasia and showed that the alveolar spaces were markedly shrunken by fibrous tissue.
Anoxia ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Autopsy* ; Bacterial Infections ; Biopsy ; Collagen ; Cough ; Dust ; Dyspnea ; Fibroblasts ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Hyperplasia ; Keratins ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial* ; Membranes ; Middle Aged ; Pathology ; Pneumocytes ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency

PURPOSE: We evaluated the impact of three automatic optimization of parameters (AOP) modes of digital mammography on the dose and image quality. METHODS: Computerized Imaging Reference Systems phantoms were used. A total of 12 phantoms with different thickness and glandularity were imaged. We analyzed the average glandular dose (AGD) and entrance surface exposure (ESE) of 12 phantoms imaged by digital mammography in three modes of AOP; namely standard mode (STD), contrast mode (CNT), and dose mode (DOSE). Moreover, exposure factors including kVp, mAs, and target/filter combination were evaluated. To evaluate the quality of the obtained digital image, two radiologists independently counted the objects of the phantoms. RESULTS: According to the AOP modes, the score of masses and specks was sorted as CNT>STD=DOSE. There was no difference in the score of fiber among the three modes. The score of image preference was sorted as CNT>STD>DOSE. The AGD, ESE, and mAs were sorted as CNT>STD>DOSE. The kVp was sorted as CNT=STD>DOSE. The score of all test objects in the phantom image was on a downtrend with increasing breast thickness. The score of masses was different among the three groups; 20-21%>30%>50% glandularity. The score of specks was sorted as 20-21%=30%>50% glandularity. The score of fibers was sorted as 30%>20-21%=50% glandularity. The score of image preference was not different among the three glandularity groups. The AGD, ESE, kVp, and mAs were correlated with breast thickness, but not correlated with glandularity. CONCLUSION: The DOSE mode offers significant improvement (19.1-50%) in dose over the other two modes over a range of breast thickness and breast glandularity with acceptable image quality. Owning knowledge of the three AOP modes may reduce unnecessary radiation exposure by utilizing the proper mode according to its purpose.
Breast ; Mammography ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Radiation Dosage

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to examine whether the multifractal Hurst exponents of heart rate can estimate activating and deactivating spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity (SBRS). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Age and sex matched 24 healthy volunteers were placed in the supine position and head-up tilt position for 30 minutes, and the systolic blood pressure and heart rate were measured in an noninvasive manner. When the RR interval (RRI) sequence and systolic pressure sequence simultaneously increased or decreased for more than three successive beats, the slope of the linear regression line of systolic blood pressure and RR interval sequence was defined as the value of spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity (SBRS). From the RR intervals, very short-term (alpha range, < or =12 heartbeats), short-term (beta range, > or =12 heartbeats), and the multrifractal Hurst exponents were calculated to determine the linear correlation.coefficients for SBRS. RESULTS: In the supine position, the linear correlation coefficients (p) of SBRS and H-5alpha, H-4alpha, H-3alpha, H-2alpha, H-1alpha, H1alpha, H2alpha, H3alpha, H4alpha, H5alpha were -0.195 (NS), -0.207 (NS), -0.232 (NS), -0.282 (NS), -0.355 (NS), -0.621 (0.003), -0.650 (0.001), -0.677 (0.001), -0.699 (0.0006) and -0.708 (0.0005), respectively. In the tilting position, the linear correlation coefficients of SBRS and H-5beta, H-4beta, H-3beta, H-2beta, H-1beta, H1beta, H2beta, H3beta, H4beta, H5beta were 0.024 (NS), 0.020 (NS), 0.010 (NS), -0.028 (NS), -0.193 (NS), -0.627 (0.0034), -0.607 (0.0045), -0.598 (0.0053), -0.572 (0.0084) and -0.539 (0.0141), respectively. CONCLUSION: Some of the very short-term and short-term generalized Hurst exponents, such as H5alpha and H1beta, can be used for the estimation of spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity during patient placement in the supine and head-up tilt position, respectively.
Baroreflex* ; Blood Pressure ; Healthy Volunteers ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Supine Position

BACKGROUND: Platelets take part in repairing the lesions of endothelial damage. To understand the molecular mechanism of this process, we tested the hypothesis that CD154 expressed on activated platelets stimulates proliferation of human endothelial cells. METHODS: The expression levels of CD154 and CD40 on platelets and endothelial cells, respectively, were measured by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Function-blocking monoclonal antibody against CD154 was developed after immunization with CD154- transfected L cells. RESULTS: An anti-CD40 agonist antibody and soluble CD154 both induced significant proliferation of endothelial cells. In addition, a function-blocking anti-CD154 antibody inhibited the platelet-induced proliferation of endothelial cells, indicating that the CD154-CD40 pathway is involved in these cellular interactions. An anti-VEGF antibody failed to inhibit the proliferation. This, in addition to the fact that very small amounts of VEGF are released from platelets or endothelial cells, suggests that VEGF does not play an important role in the platelet-stimulated proliferation of endothelial cells. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that platelets induce proliferation of endothelial cells by CD154-CD40 interactions independently of VEGF.
Blood Platelets ; Endothelial Cells ; Flow Cytometry ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Immunization ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

BACKGROUND: Kidney transplantation from cadaveric donor is increasing in KOREA. Knowledge of donor factors that can influence early graft function should be an important guideline in determining the suitability of a donor kidney for transplantation. METHOD: From June 1989 to August 1995, sixty patients with end-stage renal disease underwent kidney transplantation from thirty-two cadaver donors in Asan Medical Center. In this study, we reviewed the clinical characteristics of the cadaver donors including vital sign, urine output, serum creatinine, amounts of vasopressor needed, as well as the cause of brain death and evaluated the effect of these parameters on the early post-transplantation graft function (up to 6 months). RESULTS: The data are given as median (range). The donors had been admitted for 40 hours (12-177) before nephrectomy. During admission, the lowest systolic blood pressure was 85mmHg (60-130). Platelet count was 112 X 10(3)/L (11-270 X 10(3)). Hour urine output was 447ml/h (212-937). These parameters did not have significant effects on the early post-transplantation graft function of our patients. Fifteen of thirty two donors had peak serum creatinine higher than 1.4mg/dl (mean 1.9mg/dl, range 1.5-3.6mg/dl) with serum creatinine 1.5mg/dl (1.5-2.0) at the time of nephrectomy. The declining tendency and lowest level of serum creatinine after renal transplantation in patients who received kidneys from donor with peak serum creatinine higher than 1.4mg/dl was not different from those in patients who received kidney with normal function. CONCLUSION: The transient hypotension or acute reversible mild to moderate deterioration of renal function in cadaver donor does not seem to have significant effect on the early post-transplantation graft function if underlying organic renal disease could be ruled out by careful history taking and clinical evaluation.
Blood Pressure ; Brain Death ; Cadaver* ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Creatinine ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Kidney* ; Korea ; Nephrectomy ; Platelet Count ; Tissue Donors* ; Transplants* ; Vital Signs

Pregnolone[5beta-pregnan-3alpha-ol-one(5beta3alpha)] and allopregnanolone [(5alpha-pregnan-3alpha-ol-20-one(5alpha3alpha))] are neuroactive steroids that are reduced metabolites of progesterone. It was reported that Neuroactive steroids may have anxiolytic and anticonvulsant action similar to benzodiazepines and barbiturates. Therefore, the present study was designed to assess the interaction of steroids with GABAA-benzodiazepine receptor complex. The effect of steroids on the ligands binding to GABAA receptor complex was investigated using rat cortices. 5beta3alpha and 5alpha3alpha enhanced the binding of [3H] flunitrazepam to GABAA receptor, but testosterone, progesterone and dexamethasone did not. GABA also showed the enhancement of [3H] flunitrazepam binding, but did not show the additive effect. Unlike to GABA, 5beta3alpha and 5alpha3alpha did not affect on the [3H] muscimol binding to rat cortices. From these findings, it can be concluded that Neuroactive steroids are potent positive modulators of the GABA A receptor, and do not act at GABA binding site.
Animals ; Barbiturates ; Benzodiazepines ; Binding Sites ; Dexamethasone ; Flunitrazepam ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Ligands ; Muscimol ; Pregnanolone ; Progesterone ; Rats ; Receptors, GABA-A ; Steroids* ; Testosterone

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of retaining holes on the denture base, as well as primer application, on the shear bond strength of denture base resin to the denture base. Using Trubyte Biotone artificial teeth, we selected a maxillary first molar and prepared a total of 80 teeth. Each prepared tooth was polished flat using a dental bar. The polished specimens were placed in the center of a silicon mold (diameter 30 mm, height 23 mm) and were embedded with clear acrylic resin (Ortho Jet, Lang Dental, USA). Forty specimens were shaped, using Fisher bar # 701 at the central part of the alveolar surface, to form retention holes. Each denture base resin was transferred to the resin after surface treatment, as instructed by the manufacturer. The highest shear bond strength (36.2 MPa) was achieved by heat-polymerized resin, when the retention hole and the primer were applied to the artificial tooth. The lowest shear bond strength (11.8 MPa) was achieved by auto-polymerized resin, when the primer was applied to the artificial tooth. The combination of heat-polymerized resin and artificial tooth resulted in a complex fracture pattern, whereas auto-polymerized resin and artificial tooth showed an adhesive fracture pattern.
Adhesives ; Denture Bases ; Dentures ; Fungi ; Molar ; Silicon ; Tooth ; Tooth, Artificial

No abstract available.
Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic

INTRODUCTION: Adult stem cells generate differentiated cells beyond their own tissue boundaries. To prove that stem cells derived from bone marrow is capable of therapeutic application in cerebral ischemic patients, we performed this study. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We transplanted adult stem cells derived from bone marrow of the patient's iliac bone to 5 patients with cerebral infarction. Of 5 patients, two patients had internal carotid artery occlusion, two patients had severe stenosis of the middle cerebral artery, remaining one patient had occlusion of the branch of the middle cerebral artery. At first, we performed extracranial-intracranial bypass surgery in all patients, and then implanted bone marrow stem cell in the infarcted brain and boder zone area directly under the microscopic navigator and also injected bone marrow stem cells through the grafted vessel to the infarcted area. Two weeks after bypass surgery, we confirmed the patency of bypass graft with external carotid angiography. In the same setting, mesenchymal stem cells acquired from autologous bone marrow were superselectively injected into the bypass graft via a microcatheter. Postoperative evaluation of the patients was decided to the neurological status and the degree of reduction of the high signal area on the T2 image of the postoperative MRI. RESULT: All patients who underwent bypass surgery with stem cell implantation had an uneventful postoperative course and showed some improvement of preoperative neurologic dysfunction. Postoperative significant improvement of cerebral vasoreactivity to acetazolamide was showed in all patients. On postoperative 3 months MRI, three patients showed significant reduction of the high signal area on the T2 image, and also improved neurological status on those patients. Other one patient showed moderate degree of the reduction of the high signal area on T2 image of the postoperative MRI, but neurological status of that patient slightly improved. Remaining one patient who showed poor circulation via bypass graft does neither reduction of the high signal area on T2 image of the postoperative MRI nor improvement of the neurological status of that patient. CONCLUSION: In patients of fixed cerebral infarction with major neurologic deficit, EC-IC bypass surgery is not effective, even though infarcted area filled by grafted vessel extensively. In those patients, autologous bone marrow stem cell implantation combined with bypass seems to be expect neuronal regeneration.
Acetazolamide ; Adult Stem Cells ; Angiography ; Bone Marrow* ; Brain ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Neurons* ; Regeneration* ; Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Stem Cells* ; Transplants