Phosphorylation levels of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) negatively correlated with psychomotor stimulant-induced locomotor activity. Locomotor sensitization induced by psychomotor stimulants was previously shown to selectively accompany the decrease of GSK3β phosphorylation in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) core, suggesting that intact GSK3β activity in this region is necessary for psychomotor stimulants to produce locomotor sensitization. Similarly, GSK3β in the NAcc was also implicated in mediating the conditioned effects formed by the associations of psychomotor stimulants. However, it remains undetermined whether GSK3β plays a differential role in the two sub-regions (core and shell) of the NAcc in the expression of drug-conditioned behaviors. In the present study, we found that GSK3β phosphorylation was significantly lower in the NAcc shell obtained from rats expressing amphetamine (AMPH)-induced conditioned locomotor activity. Further, we demonstrated that these effects were normalized by treatment with lithium chloride, a GSK3β inhibitor. These results suggest that the behavior produced by AMPH itself and a conditioned behavior formed by associations with AMPH are differentially mediated by the two sub-regions of the NAcc.

Atherosclerosis has more than 60% of the causes of arterial occlusive diseases. The abdominal aorta and lower extremity arteries are the most common sites of occlusion. We have treated surgically 2 cases who had intermittent claudication and were diagnosed as simultaneous aortobifemoral and bilateral femoropopliteal obstruction by angiography, but had ineffective results from medical treatment or angioplasty. Simultaneously aortobifemoral bypass using Hemashield Y graft and bilateral femoropopliteal bypass using autologous greater saphenous vein were done. After operations, the symptom disappeared and there were no specific postoperative complications except abdominal wound dehiscence. In postoperative angiography, we had obtained good patency of bypass graft. We are following up patients through the out patient department without recurrence up to 16 months.
Angiography ; Angioplasty ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; Arteries* ; Atherosclerosis ; Humans ; Intermittent Claudication ; Lower Extremity* ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Saphenous Vein ; Transplants* ; Wounds and Injuries

A 49-year-old male patient was admitted with chief complaint of hemoptysis. Preoperative chest PA and CT scan revealed air-filled large cavitary lesion at the right upper lobe with typical meniscus sign. Serum anti-fungus antibody for Aspergillus was positive and he was diagnosed as aspergilloma. We planned RULobectomy but it was impossible due to severe pleural adhesion in apex and mediastinal pleura. Therefore, we performed a cavernostomy and serratus anterior muscle flap transposition in one stage. The patient recovered without complication and was followed up for 8 months without recurrence of hemoptysis.
Aspergillus ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pleura ; Recurrence ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Fibromatosis of the breast is a rare tumor. We describe here a case of mammary fibromatosis in a 37-year-old woman. The mass from the right breast was 3 cm at the greatest dimension. The lesion was poorly circumscribed, firm and white-gray on the cut surface. Histologically, the lesion infiltrated into the lobules of the breast, and the tumor was composed of relatively uniform fibroblasts and collagen. Neither mitotic activity nor cellular atypia was seen. On the immunohistochemistry, the cells were positive for vimentin and they were focally positive for smooth muscle actin. Staining results for estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor were negative.
Actins ; Adult ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Collagen ; Estrogens ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; Fibroma* ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Muscle, Smooth ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Vimentin

BACKGROUND: Increasing interest in the use of arterial conduits is based on the better patency of left internal thoracic artery (LITA) than that of saphenous vein (SV) graft and radial artery (RA) is emerging as one of them. We compared the early result of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using LITA and RA (RA group) with CABG using LITA and SV only (SV group). MATERIAL AND METHOD: We compared the early operative results of 45 cases in RA group with 45 cases in SV group selected from 165 cases who had CABG between January 2000 and December 2002. The two groups had similar profiles of age, sex, NYHA functional class, left ventricular ejection fraction and coronary angiographic anatomy. We analysed each group on the preoperative risk factors and operative results. RESULT: There were no statically signigicant difference between groups in operative mortality and each morbidities (stroke, IABP insertion, perioperative MI), respectively. However, the overall incidence of mortality and morbidities was lower in RA group compared to SV group (p<0.05). RA group (2.93+/-0.62 days) had shorter duration of ICU stay than SV group (3.55+/-0.95 days) (p<0.001). The patency on postoperative coronary angiography at 7~14 days after operation in RA group patients were 100% of LITA and RA and 94.9% of SV. CONCLUSION: We had better early operative results in RA group compared with SV group.
Arteries* ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Bypass* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mammary Arteries ; Mortality ; Radial Artery ; Risk Factors ; Saphenous Vein ; Stroke Volume ; Transplants

Amiodarone is an iodinated benzofuran derivative that has been proved effective in the control of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias refractory to other antiarrhythmic drugs. In patients treated with amiodarone, subsequent surgical intervention is a common clinical scenario, but unfortunately we do not have definite data about complications due to amiodarone after cardiac surgery. Some reports have shown that amiodarone treatment can be associated with a state of alpha-adrenergic and beta-adrenergic receptor blockade, which requires more pacing and epinephrine infusion for perioperative hemodynamic support. And some reports have also identified a severe form of ARDS in patients on amiodarone therapy which was associated with siginificant morbidity and mortality. We exprienced a patient who expired after mitral valve replacement due to amiodarone-induced ARDS; therefore, we report this case with a brief literature.
Amiodarone ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Epinephrine ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Mortality ; Thoracic Surgery

Corticosteroids are widely used in the treatment of various diseases because of its potent antiinflammatory effect. According to recent knowledge, bronchial asthma is also chronic inflammatory disease. Therefore antiinflammtory agent such as cromoyln sodium and corticosteroid is highly recommended for treament of chronic bronchial asthma. Especially hydrocortisone succinate (Solu-Cortef) is commonly used for treament. to acute .asthmatic attack via intravenous injection due to have rapid therapeutic onset and short duration. Since Sunaga et al. reported acute asthma attack after hydrocortisone injection in 1973, several cases of bronchospam with or without angioedema and urticaria after intravenous injection of hydrocortisone have been reported. We experienced a case of severe bronchospasm and acute respiratory failure after intraveous injection of hydrocortisone succinate in 64 year-old (tamale asthmatic patient who visited to emergency room for acute asthmatic attack. About 5 minites after Solu-Cortef injection, a severe bronchospasm with arterial hypoxemia was developed. In order to confirm the suspected relationship between the offending drug(Solu-Cortex and acute bronchospasm, we exacted intravenous and inhalation provocation test by hydrocortisone succinate and methylprednisolone (control). After administration of hydrocortisone succinate via intravenous and inhalation route, severe asthmatic attack occurred. But administration of intravenous methylprednisolone and orall triamcinolone and saline were not provoke bronchospasm. Skin test using hydrocortisone sodium succinate was also positive. Administration of hydrocortisone is very serious to asthmatic patient with hydrocortisone hypersensitivity. Therefore, the clinician must be have history taking about previous adverse reaction of steroid before its clinical use. And methylprednisone may be useful and safe drug to the treatment of acute asthmatic patient with hydrocortisone hypersensitivity.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Angioedema ; Anoxia ; Asthma ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Bronchial Spasm* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone* ; Hypersensitivity ; Inhalation ; Injections, Intravenous ; Methylprednisolone ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Skin Tests ; Sodium ; Succinic Acid* ; Triamcinolone ; Urticaria

BACKGROUND: The current study was undertaken to investigate the results of a modification in the conventional Maze III Procedure devised by the authors. The aim of the technical modification was in improving the left atrial contractility. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between July 1997 and December 1998, 34 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation for more than 1 year duration underwent a modified Maze III procedure. The assessment of the left atrial function was made by various echocardiographic measurements and SA nodal recovery was evaluated by HRV Holter monitoring. RESULT: All 34 patients were in sinus rhythm. On echocardiography, right atrial contraction was detected in 32 patients(94.1%) and left atrial contraction in 33 patients(97.1%). The echocardiographic A wave at 1, 6, and 12 months or more were 50.5+/-31.5, 62.1+/-25.1, 66+/-20.6 cm/sec, respectively, and the E wave measurements at the same time points were 152+/-31.1, 134.4+/-35.2, 133+/-27.5 cm/sec. The corresponding A/E ratios were 0.32+/-0.13, 0.48+/-0.18, 0.5+/-0.15, showing a rising trend. Treadmill evaluation at 6 months showed a mean 82% increase in heart rate after excising, and the SDNN and SDANN upon HRV Holter at 1 and 3 months postoperatively were 65.3+/-28.1/87.8+/-27.2 ms, and 60.0+/-24.1/83.4+/-25.7 ms, respectively, showing a predoinant autonomic recovery in the parasympathetic system(PSDNN = 0.01, PSDANN =0.015). CONCLUSION: The results of our data suggest that the current modification in the conventional Maze III Procedure was efective in enhancing the postoperative left atrial contractility.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Atrial Function, Left* ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Heart Rate ; Humans

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the fracture strength of the IPS Empress ceramic crown according to the incisal reduction (2.0mm, 2.5mm, 3.0mm) and axial inclination (4degrees., 8.degrees, 12degrees.) of the upper canine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After 10 metal dies were made for each group, the IPS Empress ceramic crowns were fabricated and each crown was cemented on each metal die with resin cement. The cemented crowns mounted on the testing jig were inclined 30 degrees and the universal testing machine was used to measure the fracture strength. RESULTS: 1. The fracture strength of the ceramic crown with 3.0mm depth and 12degrees inclination was the highest (839N). Crowns of 2.0mm depth and 12degrees inclination had the lowest strength (559N). 2. There was no significant difference in the fracture strength by axial inclination in the same incisal reduction group. 3. The fracture mode of the crowns was similar. Most of fracture lines began at the loading area and extended through proximal surface perpendicular to the margin irrespective of incisal reduction.
Ceramics ; Crowns* ; Resin Cements

The position of interventricular septum, which was measured by transitional zone of EKG, was compared with that measured by 2-D echocardiography in 51 patient. 1) The position of interventricular septum measured by 2-D echocardiography was very similar to that measured by transitional zone of EKG. 2) Extensive AMI (Anterior Myocardial Infarction) and LBBB showed moderate differences between two method. 3) RBBB and replaced mitral valve state showed severe differences between two methods. Transitional zone of EKG was helpful to define the position of interventricular septum except extensive AMI, bundle branch block and replaced mitral valve state.
Bundle-Branch Block ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography* ; Humans ; Mitral Valve