BACKGROUND: Since the demonstration of the fact that vascular relaxation by acetylcholine(Ach) results from the release of relaxing factor from the endothelium, the identity and physiology of this endothelium-derived relaxing factor(EDRF) has been the target for many researches. EDRF has been identified as nitric oxide(NO). With the recent evidences that EDRF is an important mediator of vascular tone, there have been increasing interests in defining the role of the EDRF as a potential mediator of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. But the role of EDRF in modulating the pulmonary circulation is not compeletely clarified. To investigate the endotbelium-dependent pulmonary vasodilation and the role of EDRF during hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, we studied the effects of N(G)-monornethyl-L-arginine(L-NMMA) and L-arginine on the precontracted pulmonary arterial rings of the rat in normoxia and hypoxia. METHODS: The pulmonary arteries of male Sprague Dawley(300~350g) were dissected free of surrounding tissue, and cut into rings. Rings were mounted over fine rigid wires, in organ chambers filled with 20ml of Krebs solution bubbled with 95 percent oxygen and 5 percent carbon dioxide and maintained at 37℃. Changes in isometric tension were recorded with a force transducer(FT. 03 Grass, Quincy, USA). RESULTS: 1) Precontraction of rat pulmonry artery with intact endothelium by phenylephrine(PE, 10(-6)M) was relaxed completely by acetylcholine(Ach, 10(-9) -10(-5)M) and sodium nitroprusside (SN, 10(-9) -10(-5)M), but relaxing response by Ach in rat pulmonary artery with denuded endothelium was significantly decreased. 2) L-NMMA(10-4M) pretreatment inhibited Ach(10(-9) -10(-5)M)-induced relaxation, but L-NMMA(10-4M) had no effect on relaxation induced by SN(10(-9) -10(-5)M). 3) Pretreatment of the L-arginine(10(-4)M) significantly reversed the inhibition of the Ach(10(-9) -10(-5)M)-induced relaxation caused by L-NMMA(10(-4)M). 4) Pulmonary arterial contraction by PE(10(-6)M) was stronger in hypoxia than normoxia but relaxing response by Ach(10(-9) -10(-5)M) was decreased. 5) With pretreatment of L-arginine(10(-4)M), pulmonary arterial relaxation by Ach(10(-9) -10(-5)M) in hypoxia was reversed to the level of relaxation in normoxia. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that rat pulmonary arterial relaxation by Ach is dependent on the intact endothelium and is largely mediated by NO. Acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction is related to the suppression on NO formation in the vascular endothelium.
Animals ; Anoxia ; Arginine ; Arteries ; Carbon Dioxide ; Endothelium ; Endothelium, Vascular ; Humans ; Male ; Nitric Oxide* ; Nitroprusside ; omega-N-Methylarginine ; Oxygen ; Physiology ; Poaceae ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Circulation ; Rats* ; Relaxation* ; Vasoconstriction* ; Vasodilation

PURPOSE: To report the voiding pattern and continence stati in male patients having undergone a radical cystectomy and orthotopic bladder substitution. MATERIALS AND MATHODS: Between March 2000 and June 2005, 20 men with advanced bladder cancer had a radical cystoprostatectomy and urinary diversion via an ileal orthotopic bladder substitution. The voiding pattern and continence stati were assessed using patient interviews, frequency- volume charts and pad tests at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after catheter removal. RESULTS: The mean age and follow-up were 60.5 years (41-72) and 34.1 months (12-69), respectively. Neobladder substitution was performed with an ileum in all patients. 17 patients had reconstruction with a Studer neobladder and 3 with a W-pouch Hautmann. All patients had transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) and their tumor stages ranged from T1G3 to T4aN1M0. The frequency of voiding ranged from 4 to 12 times during the day, and 0 to 5 times during the night, with a mean maximum neobladder capacity of 336ml (200-620) and maximum flow rate of 24.6ml/sec (12-46) 12 months after removal of the catheter. No patient required intermittent self-catheterization. All-time continence rates were 15, 30, 65 and 85%, and all-time incontinence rates were 55, 25, 10 and 5% at 1, 3, 6 and 9 months after catheter removal, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Orthotopic bladder substitution has an excellent functional outcome over time, resulting in high daytime and nighttime continence rates within 9 months of catheter removal.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; Catheters ; Colonic Pouches ; Cystectomy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ileum ; Male* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Diversion

PURPOSE: Ileus is the most common complication following radical cystectomy. Ileus causes prolonged fasting, significant patient discomfort and prolongation of the hospital stay. We retrospectively examined the risk factors for ileus following radical cystectomy MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January, 2000 and June, 2007, 59 patients underwent radical cystectomy with urinary diversion at our institution. 30 patients underwent creation of an ileal conduit and 29 patients underwent orthotopic bladder substitution with using ileum. Ileus was defined as the persistent absence of flatus on postoperative day 7 or the generalized findings of ileus on simple abdominal film. The potential risk factors were analyzed between the ileus and non ileus groups, including the patient's age and gender, the American Society of Anesthesiologists score, the preoperative serum albumin level, prior abdominal surgery, the operative time, combined operation, the estimated blood loss, the type of urinary diversion, use of N2O, use of intestinal stapler, complications, the ICU stay and the pathologic stage and grade. RESULTS: 24%(14/59) of patients had postoperative ileus. The difference of the ASA score between the two groups was statistically significant (p=0.03). Patients with ileus(67.5+/-7.2) were older than the non-ileus patients(63.0+/-9.4)(p=0.103). Ileus was more frequent in men(29.5%, 13/ 44) than in women(6.6%, 1/15)(p=0.09). CONCLUSIONS: Ileus following radical cystectomy was more frequent in patients with a high ASA score. Older aged men tend to have ileus after radical cystectomy.
Cystectomy* ; Fasting ; Flatulence ; Humans ; Ileum ; Ileus* ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Operative Time ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Serum Albumin ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Diversion

Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia Type II (herditary erythroblatic multinuclearity with positive acidified serum test; HEMPAS) is characterized by binuclearity, multinuclearity, pluripolar mitoses, karyorrhexis of normoblasts, and the presence of abnormal antigens on the red cells. We experienced a case of HEMPAS in a 2 month old girl patient who had an intermittent fever, abdominal distention with palpable liver & spleen, and generalized jaundice. The blood analysis revealed anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Peripheral blood smear showed an averge of 6 mature normoblast per 100 leukocyte count. The red cells showed moderate anisocytosis, poikilocytosis, irregularly crenated, contracted cells and occasional spherocytes. The leukocytes showed relative lymphocytosis, and there were occasional villous lymphocytes. The marrow smear showed abnormality in erythroid series. About ten percent of the erythroblasts showed 2~7 nuclei or lobulated nuclei. The mitotic forms of the erythroid precursors were also increased in frequency. The M:E ratio was 1:3.2. Blood culture on this patient showed a pure growth of Coxiella burnetti. Medical treatment with Doxycycline and Rifampin was performed. After treatment, she became afebrile showing improved general condition with decreased size of liver & spleen. In spite of clinical improvement, she died suddenly 3 weeks after initial treatment.
Anemia ; Anemia, Dyserythropoietic, Congenital* ; Bone Marrow ; Coxiella ; Doxycycline ; Erythroblasts ; Female ; Fever ; Hempa ; Humans ; Infant ; Jaundice ; Leukocyte Count ; Leukocytes ; Liver ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphocytosis ; Mitosis ; Rifampin ; Spherocytes ; Spleen ; Thrombocytopenia

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic gynecologic surgery is a standard procedure today for its small skin incision and short hospital admission stay. However pneumoperitoneum (PP) and Trendelenberg position induce adverse effects in hemodynamics and pulmonary gas exchange. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of propofol compared with enflurane for pulmonary gas exchange in the Trendelenberg position and pneumoperitoneum. METHODS: Twenty women were randomly allocated to either the enflurane (n = 10) or propofol (n = 10) with fentanyl-N2O/O2 anesthesia. PaCO2, PaO2, PETCO2 were checked at pre-PP, 10 min after PP, 30 min after PP, and 10 min after CO2 deflation. In addition the Vd/Vt ratio was calculated according to the Bohr equation. Vital sign and peak airway pressure were checked at each stage. RESULTS: PaCO2 and PETCO2 increased and PaO2 decreased significantly during PP in both groups. Vd/Vt increased significantly in the enflurane group at 30 min after PP. Peak airway pressure increased significantly in both groups. Blood preassure and heart rate were not changed significantly. All of the parameters were not significantly different between groups. CONCLSIONS: Propofol compared with enflurane did not show any advantage in gas exchange during gynecologic laparoscopic surgery under Trendelenberg position and PP.
Anesthesia* ; Enflurane* ; Female ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Laparoscopy* ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Propofol* ; Pulmonary Gas Exchange ; Skin ; Vital Signs

The accumulation of abnormal protein aggregates is a major characteristic of many neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease (PD). The intracytoplasmic deposition of alpha-synuclein aggregates and Lewy bodies, often found in PD and other alpha-synucleinopathies, is thought to be linked to inefficient cellular clearance mechanisms, such as the proteasome and autophagy/lysosome pathways. The accumulation of alpha-synuclein aggregates in neuronal cytoplasm causes numerous autonomous changes in neurons. However, it can also affect the neighboring cells through transcellular transmission of the aggregates. Indeed, a progressive spreading of Lewy pathology among brain regions has been hypothesized from autopsy studies. We tested whether inhibition of the autophagy/lysosome pathway in alpha-synuclein-expressing cells would increase the secretion of alpha-synuclein, subsequently affecting the alpha-synuclein deposition in and viability of neighboring cells. Our results demonstrated that autophagic inhibition, via both pharmacological and genetic methods, led to increased exocytosis of alpha-synuclein. In a mixed culture of alpha-synuclein-expressing donor cells with recipient cells, autophagic inhibition resulted in elevated transcellular alpha-synuclein transmission. This increase in protein transmission coincided with elevated apoptotic cell death in the recipient cells. These results suggest that the inefficient clearance of alpha-synuclein aggregates, which can be caused by reduced autophagic activity, leads to elevated alpha-synuclein exocytosis, thereby promoting alpha-synuclein deposition and cell death in neighboring neurons. This finding provides a potential link between autophagic dysfunction and the progressive spread of Lewy pathology.
Adenine/analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Animals ; *Autophagy/drug effects ; Cell Line ; *Exocytosis/drug effects ; Extracellular Space/*metabolism ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins/deficiency/metabolism ; Phagosomes/drug effects/metabolism ; Protein Structure, Quaternary ; Protein Transport/drug effects ; alpha-Synuclein/chemistry/*metabolism/secretion/toxicity

Chronic hypophosphatemia caused by decreased intestinal absorption or increased renal clearance, may lead to rickets or osteomalacia independently of other predisposing abnormalities. The conditions commonly associated with increased renal clearance of phosphate are X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets, tumor associated rickets/osteomalacia, RTA and Fanconi syndrome. Recently we experienced 3 men with adult-onset, histologically proven osteomalacia associated with increased renal clearance of phosphate. None of them had a family history of bone disease, tumors or other tubular defects. All of these had remarkable biochemical and clinical improvement with medical treatment such as 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D and phosphate supplementation. Although we did not find tumors yet, we could not rule out the possibility of tumor-associated osteomalcia since it often takes several years to make a diagnosis because of small size, benign nature and unusual location of tumors. Thus, careful long-term follow up for tumor occurrence will be maintained in these patients with sporadic nonfamilial hypophosphatemic osteomalacia.
Bone Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Familial Hypophosphatemic Rickets ; Fanconi Syndrome ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypophosphatemia ; Intestinal Absorption ; Male ; Osteomalacia ; Rickets

We report a case of a spermatic cord liposarcoma in a 67-year-old male. His chief complaint was painless mass in the right hemiscrotum for about two years, which was firm and solid in nature and 20 x 11 x 10 cm. in demension. The mass did not transmit light. Scrotal ultrasonography showed huge, homogenous, echogenic mass on right spermatic cord with intact testicle and epididymis. Radical inguinal orchiectomy was performed. Postoperative abdominal computerized topography (CT) excluded the presence of nodal involvement He has been free of disease, until eights months after surgery.
Aged ; Epididymis ; Humans ; Liposarcoma* ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; Spermatic Cord* ; Testis ; Ultrasonography

Migration of an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) into the urinary bladder is very rare. We experienced a case of a foreign-body migrating into the bladder of a 35-year-old women who has been suffering from frequency and dysuria for the recent 5 months. The IUD had originally been inserted 10 years ago. Removal of the IUD had been performed for achieving pregnancy, but the IUD was not detected at the correct site 7 years ago. One year later, the patient had given birth without complication. It is thought that it took less than 6 years for the IUD to invade the bladder wall.
Adult ; Dysuria ; Female ; Foreign-Body Migration ; Humans ; Intrauterine Devices* ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Urinary Bladder*

BACKGROUND: Left atrial thrombi(LAT) and spontaneous echo contrast(SEC) are known as major risk factors for thromboembolic complication in patients with mitral valvular heartdisease. Recent clinical introduction of transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) makes it possible to improve the diagnostic accuracy of these risk facors compared to conventional transthoracic echocardiography(TTE). The aims of the present study were to evaluate diagnostic accuracy of TEE for detection of LAT and to determine if clinical and echocardiographic variables can predict the presence of LAT and/or SEC at TEE. METHODS: From July 1991 to April 1993, both TTE and TEE were performed in 84 patients with mitral valvular heart disease before open heart surgery. The incidence and diagnostic accuracy of TTE and TEE for LAT detection were confirmed at surgery for mitral valve replacement in all cases. Biplane with 5.0 MHz transducer was used in TEE. The following clinical and transthoracic echocardiographic variables were analyzed:age, totoal or recent embolism, atrial fibrillation, left atrial dimension, ejection fraction, mitral valve area, and mitral regurgitation. RESULT: 1) THe sensitivity of TEE for detection of LAT was 100%, which was significantly higher than that of TTE(60.8%). There was no statistical difference in specificity of both techniques(98.3% vs 93.4%). In eleven patients (11/24,45.8%), LAT was confined to the left atrial appendage and TEE was far superior to TTE(sensitivity : 100% vs 27.2%) in detection of appendegeal thrombi. 2) SEC was found in 43 patients(51.2%). Patients with SEC had higher rates of LAT(p<0.001) and embolic episodes (p=0.001) than patients without SEC. There was no association between the severity of SEC and the embolic episodes. 3) Patients with SEC or LAT were characterized by more frequently associated with recent embolic episodes, smaller mitral valve orifice, abscence of mitral regurgitation than those without SEC and LAT. CONCLUSION: TEE is superior to TTE in detection of LAT and appendegeal thrombi. SEC is frequently noted in TEE and also strongly associated with left atrial blood stasis and left atrial thrombi in mitral valve disease.
Atrial Appendage ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal* ; Embolism ; Heart Valve Diseases* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Risk Factors ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thoracic Surgery ; Thrombosis* ; Transducers