OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP) during sustained ventricular fibrillation (VF), the effects of gliburide, a specific blocker of KATP channel and PCO400, an KATP opener, were studied in isolated and perfused swine right ventricular free walls (n=). METHODS: Recording of single cell transmembrane potentials was performed and constructed action potential duration restitution (APDR) curve by plotting APD 90%(APD90) versus preceding diastolic interval (DI). RESULTS: All isolated tissues fibrillated spontaneously. In this preparation, stable VF could persist over a 4-hour period if it was allowed to continue undisturbed (n=). Gliburide (1-5 uM) increased DI without significant changes in APD90 during VF, resulting in more regularization of VF. Higher concentration (10-20 uM) increased both APD90 and DI, and converted to monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (MVT) through the transitional period characterized by APD alternans. PCO400 (1-2.5 uM) caused a significant shortening of APD during MVT and a period of APD alternans became more evident before conversion from MVT to VF. Gliburide eliminated profibrillatory effect of PCO400. This antifibrillatory action of gliburide was accompanied by gradual decrease in the maximum slope of APDR curve during VF. CONCLUSION: KATP channel blockade causes a transition from VF to MVT via lengthening of DI and APD alternans, concomitantly with a reduction of the slope of APD restitution curve.
Action Potentials ; Membrane Potentials ; Potassium Channels ; Swine ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Ventricular Fibrillation*

PURPOSE: Glyphosate is widely used and its toxic exposures are not rare. Occasionally, glyphosate intoxication can lead to death. The aim of this study is to analyze clinical findings and fatality in glyphosate intoxication. METHODS: Clinical data on acute glyphosate intoxication were prospectively collected at 28 hospitals nationwide between August 2005 and July 2006. The patients' clinical symptoms and characteristics of fatalities were investigated and statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: Among 105 patients who were finally included, gastrointestinal symptoms(59%) were the most common. A significant difference in the amount ingested was observed between patients with higher systolic blood pressure and those with systolic blood pressure less than or equal to 80 mmHg (p<0.001). The more the patients ingested, the more aggravated their mental status became (p=0.004). Seven patients(6.7%) died, and all of them had ingested greater than or equal to 200 ml. Patients who died had ingested greater amounts than the survivors (p<0.001), and their mental status was worse (p<0.001), and systolic blood pressure was lower (p<0.001). According to the result of logistic regression analysis, relative risk was 24.1-fold higher in the 'poor' mental status group compared with 'good'. CONCLUSION: Patients who ingested large amounts of glyphosate showed poor mental status and lower blood pressure. Statistical difference in amount ingested, mental status, and systolic blood pressure was observed between survivors and patients who died. Ingested amounts and mental status were the most important factor of the prognosis of glyphosate intoxication.
Blood Pressure ; Herbicides ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Poisoning ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Survivors

BACKGROUND: Several studies suggested that T-wave normalization (TWN) in exercise ECG indicates the presence of viable myocardium. But the clinical implication of this phenomenon in patients with acute myocardial infarction who received proper revascularization therapy was not determined. Precisely the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between TWN in exercise ECG and myocardial functional recovery after acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: We studied 30 acute myocardial infarction patients with negative T waves in infarct related electrocardiographic leads and who had received successful revascularization therapy. Exercise ECG was performed 10 ~14days after infarct onset using Naughton protocol. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to presence (group I; n=14) or not (group II; n=16) of TWN in exercise ECG. Exercise parameters and coronary angiographic findings were compared between groups. Baseline and follow-up (mean 11 months) regional and global left ventricular function was analyzed by echocardiography. RESULTS: Exercise parameters were similar between groups. There was no difference in baseline ejection fraction and wall motion score between group I and II (EF; 56 +/- 12% vs 52 +/- 11%, p=ns. WMS; 21 +/- 3 vs 23 +/- 4, p=ns) and it was improved at the tenth month by similar magnitude (group I/group II, EF % change = 12 +/- 12% vs 7 +/- 6%, p=ns, WMS % change=6 +/- 6% vs 7+/- 5%, p=ns). The finding of no relation between TWN and functional recovery was observed also when the patients were analysed according to infarct location and presence or absence of Q-waves. CONCLUSION: As the exercise-induced TWN in patients with acute myocardial infarction was not related with better functional recovery of dysfunctional regional wall motion and ejection fraction, TWN does not appear to be an indicator of myocardial viability.
Aged ; Electrocardiography ; Exercise Test ; Female ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Myocardial Infarction/*physiopathology/surgery ; Myocardial Revascularization

BACKGROUND: Several studies has been reported that T-wave normalization(TWN) in exercise ECG indicates the presence of viable myocardium. But the clinical implication of this phenomenon in patients with acute myocardial infarction who received proper revascularization therapy was not determined. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between TWN in exercise ECG and myocardial functional recovery after acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: We studied 30 acute myocardial infarction patients with negative T waves in infarct related electrocardiographic leads and who received successful revascularization therapy. All patients performed exercise ECG, 10-14days after infarct onset using Naughton protocol. Patients were divided into 2 groups, according to presence (group I; n=14) or not (group II; n=16) of TWN in exercise ECG. Exercise parameters, coronary angiographic findings were compared between groups. Baseline and follow up (mean 11 months) regional and global left ventricular function was analyzed by echocardiography. RESULTS: Exercise parameters was similar between groups. There were no difference in baseline ejection fraction and regional wall motion between group I and II (EF; 56+/-12% vs 52+/-11%, p=ns. WMS; 21+/-3 vs 23+/-4, p=ns) and it was improved at the tenth month by similar magnitude. (group I/group II, EF % change = 12+/-12% vs 7+/-6%, p=ns, WMS % change = 6+/-6% vs 7+/-5%, p=ns) The findings of no relation between TWN and functional recovery was observed also when the patients were analysed according to infarct location and presence of Q-waves. CONCLUSION: As the exercise induced TWN in patients with acute myocardial infarction was not related with better functional recovery of dysfunctional regional wall motion, TWN dose not appears to be a sign of myocardial viability.
Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography* ; Exercise Test ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardium ; Ventricular Function, Left

No abstract available.
Brugada Syndrome* ; Bundle-Branch Block* ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac*

BACKGROUND: Perioperative lidocaine infusion improves postoperative outcomes, mostly after abdominal and urologic surgeries. Knowledge of the effect of lidocaine on peripheral surgeries is limited. Presently, we investigated whether intraoperative lidocaine infusion reduced anesthetic consumption, duration of ileus, pain intensity, analgesic consumption and hospital stay after breast plastic surgeries. METHODS: Sixty female patients, aged 20-60 years, enrolled in this prospective study were randomly and equally divided to two groups. One group (n = 30) received a 1.5 mg/kg bolus of lidocaine approximately 30 min before incision followed by continuous infusion of lidocaine (1.5 mg/kg/h) until skin closure (lidocaine group). The other group (n = 30) was untreated (control group). Balanced inhalation (sevoflurane) anesthesia and multimodal postoperative analgesia were standardized. End tidal sevoflurane concentration during surgery, time to the first flatus and defecation, visual analog pain scale (0-10), analgesic consumption and associated side effects at 24, 48, and 72 h after surgery, hospital stay, and patient's general satisfaction were assessed. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, intraoperative lidocaine infusion reduced by 5% the amount of sevoflurane required at similar bispectral index (P = 0.014). However, there were no significant effects of lidocaine regarding the return of bowel function, postoperative pain intensity, analgesic sparing and side effects at all time points, hospital stay, and level of patient's satisfaction for pain control. CONCLUSIONS: Low dose intraoperative lidocaine infusion offered no beneficial effects on return of bowel function, opioid sparing, pain intensity and hospital stay after various breast plastic surgeries.
Aged ; Analgesia ; Anesthesia ; Breast ; Defecation ; Female ; Flatulence ; Humans ; Ileus ; Inhalation ; Length of Stay ; Lidocaine ; Methyl Ethers ; Pain Measurement ; Pain, Postoperative ; Prospective Studies ; Skin

BACKGROUND: AEB071, an orally available PKC inhibitor, prevents organ rejection after transplantation in rodents and man. Furthermore, pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory processes are important mediators of transplanted organ rejection. We therefore examined whether single or combination therapies of AEB071 and/or tacrolimus affect cytokine profiles in a rat cardiac allograft model. METHODS: AEB071 (60 mg/kg twice a day) and tacrolimus (0.6 or 1.2 mg/kg once a day) were orally administered daily after cardiac transplantation. Interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels in serum were subsequently measured 5 days after cardiac transplantation using a multiplex protein assay system. RESULTS: All cytokine levels were significantly depressed in cardiac transplanted rats treated with AEB071, whereas tacrolimus only reduced IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 levels. When administered in combination, AEB071 and low- or high-dose tacrolimus had additive effects on IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-6, and TNF-alpha. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that AEB071 inhibits T cell activation by blocking the production of proinflammatory cytokines, and that tacrolimus combined with AEB071 can effectively regulate inflammatory cytokines in the transplantation setting.
Animals ; Cytokines ; Heart Transplantation ; Immunosuppression ; Interferons ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Pyrroles ; Quinazolines ; Rats ; Rejection (Psychology) ; Rodentia ; Tacrolimus ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Transplants ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Extra ventricular neurocytoma (EVN) is a rare brain tumor with histologic features similar with a central neurocytoma, but located outside of the ventricular system. In this study, we present an unusual case of hypothalamic EVN in a 14-year-old patient. The patient underwent subtotal removal and had tumor relapse. The patient was then treated using intensity modulated radiation therapy, and the tumor remained stable for 24 months. This case report may be important in that this is the first pediatric case of EVN located in the hypothalamic region. EVN has similar radiologic features with pilocytic astrocytomas and therefore a hypothalamic EVN may be misdiagnosed as a hypothalamic glioma. Also, the pathologic-radiologic-clinical correlation of EVN located in the hypothalamic area may be different from that of EVNs originating from other usual sites.
Adolescent ; Astrocytoma ; Brain Neoplasms ; Glioma ; Humans ; Hypothalamic Neoplasms ; Neurocytoma* ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant* ; Recurrence

Extra ventricular neurocytoma (EVN) is a rare brain tumor with histologic features similar with a central neurocytoma, but located outside of the ventricular system. In this study, we present an unusual case of hypothalamic EVN in a 14-year-old patient. The patient underwent subtotal removal and had tumor relapse. The patient was then treated using intensity modulated radiation therapy, and the tumor remained stable for 24 months. This case report may be important in that this is the first pediatric case of EVN located in the hypothalamic region. EVN has similar radiologic features with pilocytic astrocytomas and therefore a hypothalamic EVN may be misdiagnosed as a hypothalamic glioma. Also, the pathologic-radiologic-clinical correlation of EVN located in the hypothalamic area may be different from that of EVNs originating from other usual sites.
Adolescent ; Astrocytoma ; Brain Neoplasms ; Glioma ; Humans ; Hypothalamic Neoplasms ; Neurocytoma* ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant* ; Recurrence

It has been known that right side bypass tract ablation is more difficult and has higher recurrence rate than that of left side bypass tract, and often associated with atrioventricular block in patients with septal bypass tract. Multielectrode basket catheter (MBC) allows simultaneous rapid acquisition of numerous electrical signals generated by a selected surface area or volume of myocardium. We experienced two cases of successful catheter ablation of atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia by right septal bypass tract which were mapped by MBC with greater ease.
Atrioventricular Block ; Catheter Ablation* ; Catheters* ; Humans ; Myocardium ; Recurrence ; Tachycardia*