No abstract available.
Thromboangiitis Obliterans

No abstract available.
Blood Pressure* ; Metoclopramide* ; Rabbits*

No abstract available.
Hemangioma, Cavernous*

No abstract available.
Fractures, Compression* ; Vertebroplasty*

In this study, we aimed to synthesize PAMAMG3 derivatives (PAMAMG3-KRRR and PAMAMG3-HKRRR), using KRRR peptides as a nuclear localization signal and introduced histidine residues into the KRRR-grafted PAMAMG3 for delivering a therapeutic, carcinoma cell-selective apoptosis gene, apoptin into human primary glioma (GBL-14) cells and human dermal fibroblasts. We examined their cytotoxicity and gene expression using luciferase activity and enhanced green fluorescent protein PAMAMG3 derivatives in both cell lines. We treated cells with PAMAMG3 derivative/apoptin complexes and investigated their intracellular distribution using confocal microscopy. The PAMAMG3-KRRR and PAMAMG3-HKRRR dendrimers were found to escape from endolysosomes into the cytosol. The JC-1 assay, glutathione levels, and Annexin V staining results showed that apoptin triggered cell death in GBL-14 cells. Overall, these findings indicated that the PAMAMG3-HKRRR/apoptin complex is a potential candidate for an effective nonviral gene delivery system for brain tumor therapy in vitro.

In this study, we aimed to synthesize PAMAMG3 derivatives (PAMAMG3-KRRR and PAMAMG3-HKRRR), using KRRR peptides as a nuclear localization signal and introduced histidine residues into the KRRR-grafted PAMAMG3 for delivering a therapeutic, carcinoma cell-selective apoptosis gene, apoptin into human primary glioma (GBL-14) cells and human dermal fibroblasts. We examined their cytotoxicity and gene expression using luciferase activity and enhanced green fluorescent protein PAMAMG3 derivatives in both cell lines. We treated cells with PAMAMG3 derivative/apoptin complexes and investigated their intracellular distribution using confocal microscopy. The PAMAMG3-KRRR and PAMAMG3-HKRRR dendrimers were found to escape from endolysosomes into the cytosol. The JC-1 assay, glutathione levels, and Annexin V staining results showed that apoptin triggered cell death in GBL-14 cells. Overall, these findings indicated that the PAMAMG3-HKRRR/apoptin complex is a potential candidate for an effective nonviral gene delivery system for brain tumor therapy in vitro.

Although coagulase-negative staphyloccus is the most common organism causing peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, only one case of PD peritonitis due to Staphylococcus auricularis, the normal flora of external auditory meatus, has been reported over the world. Here we add a case of PD peritonitis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus auricularis, which was successfully treated with vancomycin. A 79-year-old male PD patient was admitted because of abdominal pain and cloudy peritoneal fluid. At admission, the exit site was clear, and no rebound tenderness was noted although the abdominal wall was diffusely tender. Gram stain of the peritoneal fluid did not reveal any organism, but white blood cell count was 1,210/mm3, with 80% polymorphonuclear cells and 10% lymphocytes. Empirical antibiotic therapy was started with intraperitoneal cefazolin and ceftazidime. Over the next few days, however, the peritoneal fluid was still turbid and showed an elevated cell count. Then, the result of peritoneal fluid culture identified that the organism was oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus auricularis. Thus the antibiotics were switched into vancomycin, and intraperitoneal vancomycin 1 gm was administered three times at 5 days' intervals to achieve completely clear peritoneal fluid. Staphylococcus auricularis should be considered as a new potential skin organism causing PD peritonitis.
Abdominal Pain ; Abdominal Wall ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Ascitic Fluid ; Cefazolin ; Ceftazidime ; Cell Count ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Methicillin Resistance ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritonitis ; Skin ; Staphylococcus ; Vancomycin

BACKGROUND: The intracoronary stent implantation is regarded as an effective treatment modality to reduce restenosis. However, subacute stent thrombosis and subsequent anticoagulation therapy have been major problems after stenting. The high-pressure inflation stenting reduced the incidence of stent thrombosis and resulted in less need of anticoagulation therapy. We intended to analyze the high-pressure inflation stenting with intravascular ultrasound(IVUS) and to evaluate different IVUS criteria of optimal stenting. METHOD: One hundred and forty eight patients with 160 lesions were treated with 175 stents of various types. IVUS images were obtained after angiographic optimization (<10% of residual stenosis) with high-pressure inflation stenting. The quantitative and qualitative off-line measurements of IVUS parameters were performed. RESULTS: More high-pressure or larger-sized balloon inflation was needed in 32 lesions (20%) after IVUS. The incomplete stent apposition was observed in 5 lesions (3%). The edge dissection occurred distally or proximally to stented site in 19 lesions (12%). The plaque prolapse was observed within the stent in 24 lesions (15%). In single stent implantation for discrete lesions, optimal stent expansion defined by IVUS was achieved in 69% with minimal stent lumen area of 90% of distal reference lumen area and in 75% with minimal stent lumen area of 80% of average reference lumen area. The IVUS criteria of minimal stent lumen area 9mm2 and 7-9mm2 was met in 29% and 29%, respectively. In stents implantation for diffuse lesions including long stent,multiple overlapping stents and hybrid stents implantation, optimal stent expansion defined by IVUS was achieved in 69% with minimal stent lumen area of 90% of distal reference lumen area and in 67% with minimal stent lumen area of 80% of average reference lumen area. The IVUS criteria of minimal stent lumen area 9mm2 and 7-9mm2 was met in 17% and 23%, respectively. CONCLUSION: IVUS provided a valuable informations leading to additional intervention in 20% of the lesions after angiographic optimization with high-pressure balloon inflation. Even though additional interventions were performed with IVUS-guidance, the optimal stent expansion by IVUS criteria was achieved in about 70%. Therefore, we suggest that IVUS might be used more generally to improve the acute results after coronary stenting.
Humans ; Incidence ; Inflation, Economic* ; Prolapse ; Stents* ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography*

BACKGROUND: Because hemodiafiltration (HDF) involves large amounts of ultra-filtration and substitution fluid infusion, its effects on serum electrolytes may be different from those of hemodialysis (HD). Serum sodium and blood pressures were compared between patients undergoing online HDF and high-flux HD (HFHD). METHODS: Thirty-two of 101 patients on HFHD switched voluntarily to online HDF. Their pre- and postdialysis serum measurements were compared with those of the remaining 69 HFHD patients. RESULTS: Online HDF patients had lower pre- and postdialysis systolic blood pressures (SBPs) than HFHD patients (predialysis, 136+/-21 vs. 145+/-19 mmHg, P<0.05; postdialysis, 129+/-22 vs. 142+/-25 mmHg, P<0.05). Pre- and postdialysis serum sodium concentrations were not significantly different between online HDF and HFHD (predialysis, 138+/-2 vs. 137+/-3 mEq/L; postdialysis, 134+/-2 vs. 134+/-2mEq/L). However, the change in serum sodium concentration after dialysis was greater in online HDF than HFHD patients (-3.7+/-2.2 vs. -2.5+/-2.8 mEq/L, P<0.05). The change in serum sodium concentrationwas correlated with postdialysis SBP (r=0.304, P<0.005) and pulse pressure (r=0.299, P<0.005). Predialysis SBP (r=0.317, P<0.005) and pulse pressure (r=0.324, P=0.001) were also correlated with the postdialysis serum sodium change. CONCLUSION: Compared with HFHD, online HDF has a greater serum sodium lowering effect. This might contribute to the ability of online HDF to stabilize both pre- and postdialysis SBP.
Blood Pressure ; Dialysis ; Electrolytes ; Hemodiafiltration ; Humans ; Renal Dialysis ; Sodium

BACKGROUND: To overcome the limitation of angiography, intravascular ultrasound(IVUS) is widely used to guide coronary stent implantation. We compared the quantitative measurements of IVUS and quantitaitve coronary angiographic(QVA) analysis after stent implantation. METHODS: Thirty nine patients with 39 coronary lesions underwent coronary stent implantation. The implanted stents were CrossFlex stent in 17, NIR stent in 13, Palmaz-Schatz stent in 6, Multilink stent in 2 patients, and Divysio stent in 1 patient. Post-stent IVUS procedure with automatic pullback device was performed successfully in all patients after angiographic optimization. IVUS and QCA measurements included the minimum lumen diameter at proximal and distal reference artery, and stented site after intracoronary administration of 0.2mg nitroglycerin. RESULTS: IVUS and QCA measurement of minimal luminal diameter(MLD) at proximal and distal reference artery, and stented site correlated reliably each other(r=0.62, p<0.01 ; r=0.77, p<0.01 ; r=0.73, p<0.01 respectively). Event if insignificant statistical difference, there was a tendency of larger MLD at proximal and distal reference artery by IVUS measurement than by QCA measurement(3.2+/-0.5mm vs. 3.1+/-0.4mm, p=0.2 : 3.1+/-0.6mm vs. 3.0+/-0.7mm, p=0.2, respectively). The MLD at stented site was significantly larger by QCA measurement than by IVUS measurement(3.2+/-0.6mm vs. 2.9+/-0.5mm, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded 1) the correlation between IVUS and QCA measurements of reference vessel and stented site was reliable. 2) There was a tendency of larger luminal diameter at reference vessel by IVUS than by QCA. 3) The minimal luminal diameter was measured significantly larger at stented site by QCA than by IVUS.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Nitroglycerin ; Phenobarbital ; Stents* ; Ultrasonography*