BACKGROUND: It has been shown that L-type calcium channel blockers increase the muscle relaxation effects of non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents whereas the potentiated neuromuscular blocking effects by L-type calcium channel blocker are resistant to reversal by neostigmine. The aims of this study were 1) to see whether the pretreatment of L-type calcium channel blocker, such as verapamil, aggravates the pipecuronium-induced muscle relaxation, 2) if so, to see whether these effects are reversed by anticholinesterase, such as neostigmine and edrophonium or potassium channel blocker, such as 4-aminopyridine. METHODS: The rat-phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragms (n=60) were prepared. Twenty microgram of pipecuronium was administered to all organ bath. All samples were divided into two groups according to the administration of 10uM of verapamil i.e. verapamil pretreated, non-pretreated group. The amounts of administered pipecuronium were gradually increased by 4ug until the force of twitch decreased to 10% of control value in both groups. Each group was subdivided into three groups according to the administration of 0.75 M of neostigmine, 12.4 uM of edrophonium or 40uM of 4-aminopyridine. RESULTS: The dose of pipecuronium required for the decrease of contractile force to 10% of control value was less in verapamil pretreated group than in non-pretreated group. And, the decrease of contractile force in both groups was more effectively reversed by 4-aminopyridine than neostigmine and edrophonium. CONCLUSIONS: Verapamil potentiates the pipecuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade and 4-aminopyridine is more effective to reverse verapamil pretreated, pipecuronium induced neuromuscular blockade.
4-Aminopyridine* ; Baths ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; Edrophonium* ; Muscle Relaxation ; Neostigmine* ; Neuromuscular Blockade* ; Neuromuscular Blocking Agents ; Pipecuronium* ; Potassium Channels ; Verapamil*

No Abstract Available.
Anisometropia*

No abstract available.
Candidiasis* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature*

ICAM-l(Intercellular adhesion molecule-1) is an important early marker of immune activation and response. ICAM-1 is expressed on varous cell types and observed in a variety of diseases, including patients with asthma, melanoma, prostatic cancer, ovarian and colon cancer. Some authors demonstrated the expression of ICAM-1 protein in high-grade intraepithelial squamous neoplasia of cervix by immunohistochemistry and suggested that the expression was related to human papillomavirus infection. The aim of this study was to determine the serum levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1) in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, Serum levels of sICAM-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), We evaluate invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix (40), carcinoma in situ (16) and control (15) patients. Serum levels of sICAM-1 in healthy volunteers, in parients with carcinoma in situ and invasive cervical cancer were 150.1+/-41.3, 182.7+/-105.9, 189.8+/-60.0 ng/ml, respectively. Although the serum levels of sICAM-1 in patients with carcinoma in situ did not increase, serum levels of ICAM-1 in patients with invasive cervical cancer were significantly increased (control vs invasive cervical cancer, p < 0,05). From the above results, sICAM-1 is shed from the cancerous tissue in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.
Asthma ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervix Uteri ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Melanoma ; Papillomavirus Infections ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

Several observation suggest that the antimelanocyte autoantibodies could play a role in melanocyte destruction. Some experiments indicate that melanocyte antibodies from patients with vitiligo can kill melanocyte in vitro. In these experiments, we demonstrated that vitiligo patient's sera containing antimelanocyte antibodies can lyse cultured human melanocytes by complement activation. Melanocyte cytotoxicity was measured using the ethidium bromide/ acridine orange viability assay. Significant melanocyte cytotoxicity was seen in sera from patients with both active and inactive vitiligo(p<0.01). Melanocyte cytotoxicity measured with complement-mediated cytotoxicity decreased after systemic steroid treatment(p<0.05) ; however melanocyte cytotoxicity showed no significant change with systemic PUVA therapy.
Acridine Orange ; Antibodies ; Autoantibodies* ; Complement Activation ; Ethidium ; Humans ; Melanocytes ; PUVA Therapy ; Vitiligo*

Hailey-Hailey disease(benign familial chronic pemphigus) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by blisters at sites of friction such as the neck, axillae and groin which are caused by suprabasal epidermal acantholysis. We report two cases of Hailey-Hailey disease in the one family. One of the two cases has asymptomatic multiple longitudinal white bands in the fingernails associated with typical skin lesions. The nail lesions have not been described until reported by Burge in 1992 and it may be a characteristic finding in Hailey-Hailey disease.
Acantholysis ; Axilla ; Blister ; Friction ; Groin ; Humans ; Nails ; Neck ; Pemphigus, Benign Familial* ; Skin

BACKGROUNDs: A retrospective study was performed to define objective radiologic parameters in diagnosing epiglottitis on soft-tissue lateral neck radiographic study. METHODS: Parameters of soft-tissue structures(epiglottis width, third vertebral body width, ratio of epiglottic width to third vertebral body width) in 30 adult patients compared with those of age and sex-matched controls with foreign body in throat whose radiographic reading was normal. RESULTS: Epiglottis width of more than 11mm, ratio of epiglottis width(EW) to the third vertebral body width(C3W) of more than 0.5 were, respectively, found to be 100% sensitive and specific in differentiating between patients with and without epiglottitis. CONCLUSION: These preliminary results suggest that EW/C3W ratio of more than 0.5, EW of more than 11mm, respectively, may be useful in the diagnosis of epiglottitis in adult patients.
Adult* ; Diagnosis* ; Epiglottis ; Epiglottitis* ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Neck ; Pharynx ; Retrospective Studies

We report two cases of recurrent extramarnmary Pagets disease after wide local excision. Both cases involved the scrotum and the penoserotal junction, respectively. On histopathological examination, we could observed many Paget cells confined to the epidermis and the hair follicle, but not invading the underlying dermis in both cases. There was no evidence of internal malignancy. Both cases were treated with wide local reexcision.
Dermis ; Epidermis ; Hair Follicle ; Paget Disease, Extramammary* ; Scrotum

Kaposis sarcoma is a multicentric neoplastic vascular tumor involving the skin or internal organs. We report a case of classic Kaposis sarcoma in a 69-year-old male who had positive serum cytomegalovirus antibodies and disseminated multiple erythematous to purplish colored confluent papules and edema on both lower legs. The histopathological finding showed abnormally proliferated and dilated vessels, vascular spaces, spindle cells, and extravasated erythrocytes. He was treated with radiotherapy, but died due to ventricular tachycardia.
Aged ; Antibodies ; Cytomegalovirus ; Edema ; Erythrocytes ; Humans ; Leg* ; Male ; Radiotherapy ; Sarcoma, Kaposi* ; Skin ; Tachycardia, Ventricular

The monoclonal antibody Ki-1(CD30) was first described in 1982 and was reported to react selectively with Reed-Sternberg cells in Hodgkins disease, highly activated B and T cells and large cell lymphomas of both T-and B-cell origin. Lymphomatoid papulosis(LyP) is characterized by recurrent erythematous papules or nodules that undergo spontaneous healing with hyperpigmentation and scarring. Histologically, two major types of LyP can be distinguished: type A is characterized by the presence of variable numbers of Ki-1+ large, atypical lymphocytes with some Reed-Sternberg like cells and type B is characterized by Ki-1- atypical cerebriform mononuclear cells similar to those in mycosis fungoides. We report a case of Ki-1+ lymphomatoid papulosis which was histopathologically recognized as a type B lesion but represented a Ki-1 positive reaction.
B-Lymphocytes ; Cicatrix ; Hodgkin Disease ; Hyperpigmentation ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma ; Lymphomatoid Papulosis* ; Mycosis Fungoides ; Reed-Sternberg Cells ; T-Lymphocytes