No abstract available.
Echocardiography* ; Endocarditis*

As a series of systematic classification of paramphistomes, in the first step, paramphistomes in the rumen and reticulum were collected on 170 Korean cattles (2-3 years age, male) slaughtered at Jeonju abattoir from July 1984 to September 1985 and were classified by means of morphology of the worms. Afterwards, the karyotype of Paramphistomum explanatum (Creplin, 1849) which is the common in Korean cattle was detected by means of modified air-drying method from testis cells of the worm. The following is a brief summary of the leading facts gained through the experiment. Most of the cattle slaughtered at the abattoir were infected with paramphistomes. The 5 species of the worms were detected on 170 Korean cattle and the worm burden per head was from 2 to 784 (on the average 170) worms, 120(70.59 percent) heads out of them involving 2-100 worms. In 28,900 individuals of paramphistomes obtained on 170 Korean cattle, appearance rates of various worms were as follows : 49.74 percent in P. explanatum, 48.08 percent in P. cervi, 0.98 percent in Orthocoelium orthocoelium, 0.89 percent in Fischoederius cobboldi and 0.14 percent in Cotylophoron cotylophorum. The chromosome number of 620 P. explanatum in the haploid and diploid cells was n=9 and 2n=18, and abundant cells in meiotic division were observed; 1,420 haploid and 38 diploid cells were reliable. Nine pairs of mitotic chromosomes were homologous and the chromosomes were composed of five medium-sized metacentrics (m), subtelocentrics (st) or submetacentrics (sm)and four small-sized subtelocentrics (st) or submetacentrics (sm), while meiotic metaphase chromosomes were composed of five medium and four small-sized. The haploid of the testis cells showed C-band in the centromeric region from 8 of them, whereas the remaining chromosome No. 5 included heterochromatin on the tip region, and chromosomes No. 3 and No. 7 showed a remarkable C-band distinguished from other chromosomes.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; karyotype ; chromosome ; Paramphistomum explanatum ; Paramphistomum cervi ; Orthocoelium orthocoelium ; Fischoederius cobboldi ; Cotylophoron cotylophorum

BACKGROUND: The contraction of smooth muscle depends on an increase in the concentration of intracellular calcium ion and the source of this increase to various stimuli is different according to organs or species. Nevertheless, there have been only a few studies on human stomach smooth muscle. This study was designed to identify the source of the calcium utilized in the muscle contraction induced by carbachol, which is an important factor among various stimuli. METHODS: After the administration of carbachol with various conditions in cultured human stomach smooth muscle cells, fura-2-acetoxymethyl ester was used to measure the increase in the intracellular calcium concentration. RESULTS: (1) The carbachol-induced increase in the intracellular calcium concentration was not attenuated after removal of extracellular calcium. (2) Carbachol induced a small increase in the intracellular calcium concentration even after the depletion of intracellular calcium store. (3) Repeated histamine administration blocked the carbachol-induced increase in the intracellular calcium concentration in calcium-free extracellular solution. CONCLUSION: The main source of calcium utilized in human stomach smooth muscle contraction by carbachol is intracellular calcium store, particularly inositol triphosphate(IP3)-sensitive calcium stores. However, extracellular calcium also contributes to the carbachol-induced increase in the intracellular calcium concentration.
Calcium* ; Carbachol* ; Histamine ; Humans* ; Inositol ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle* ; Stomach

No abstract available.
Cell Line* ; Glioma*

BACKGROUND: Tracheal extubation, as well as intubation, causes hypertension and tachycardia. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of verapamil, lidocaine to lidocaine-verapamil combination in attenuating the cardiovascular changes following tracheal extubation and emergence from anesthesia. METHODS: Eighty patients (ASA physical status 1) were randomly assigned to one of four groups (n=20 each) ; saline (control), 1 mg/kg lidocaine, 0.05 mg/kg verapamil and lidocaine-verapamil combination. These medication were given intravenously 2 min before tracheal extubation. Changes in blood pressure and heart rate were measured following tracheal extubation. RESULTS: Lidocaine, verapamil and their combination all attenuated the changes of heart rate and blood pressure. The inhibitory effect on changes of heart rate and blood pressure were miximum in group of the combination of lidocaine and verapamil. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the verapamil 0.05 mg/kg and lidocaine 1 mg/kg given iv concomitantly 2 min before tracheal extubation is a more effective prophylaxis than verapamil or lidocaine for attenuating the cardiovascular changes associated with tracheal extubation.
Airway Extubation* ; Anesthesia ; Blood Pressure* ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intubation ; Lidocaine* ; Tachycardia ; Verapamil*

PURPOSE: To determine the electronic spin relaxation times, T1e, of three commercially available Gd-chelated MR contrast agents, Gd-DTPA, Gd-DTPA-BMA and Gd-DOTA, using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance(EPR) technique. Material and Methods: The paramagnetic MR contrast agents, Gd-DTPA(Magnevist), Gd-DTPA-BMA(OMNISCAN) and Gd-DOTA(Dotarem), were used for this study. The EPR spectra of these contrast agents, which were prepared 2:1 methanol/water solution, were obtained at low temperatures, from-160degrees C~-20degrees C. The glassy-state EPR spectra for these contrast agents were then fitted by the simulation spectra generated with different zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameters by a computer simulation program 'GE N', which generates the EPR powder spectrum using a given ZFS in 3X3 tensor. Finally, the spin relaxation times of the contrast agents were then determined from the T2e, D, and E values of the best simulation spectra using the McLachlan's theory of average relaxation rate. Results: The electronic transverse spin relaxation times, T2e's, of Gd-DTPA, Gd-DTPA-BMA and Gd-DOTA were 0.113ns, 0.147ns and 1.81ns respectively. The g-values were 1.9737, 1.9735 and 1.9830 and the electronic spin relaxation times, T1e's, were 18.70ns, 33.40ns and 1.66micros, respectively. Conclusion: The results of these studies reconfirm that the paramagnetic MR contrast agents with larger ZFS parameters should have shorter T1e's. Among three contrast agents used for this study, Gd-DOTA chelated with cyclic ligand structure shows better electronic property then the others with linear structure. Thus, it is concluded that the exact determination of ZFS parameters is the important factor in evaluating relaxation enhancement effect of the agents and in developing new contrast agents.
Computer Simulation ; Contrast Media* ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Relaxation*

PURPOSE: The water exchange rate between bulk water and bound water is an important parameter in deciding the efficiency of paramagnetic contrast agents. In this study, we evaluated the water exchange rates of various Gd-chelates using oxygen-17 NMR technique. MATERIAL AND MEHTODS: The samples (Gd-DTPA, Gd-DTPA-BMA, Gd-DOTA, Gd-EOB-DTPA) were prepared by mixing 5% (17)O-enriched water (Isotech, USA). The pH of the samples was adjusted to physiological value (pH=7.0) by buffer solution. The variable temperature (17)O-NMR measurements were performed using Bruker-600 (14.1 T, 81.3 MHz) spectrometer. Bruker VT-1000 temperature control units were used to stabilize the temperature. The (17)O spin-spin relaxation times (T2) were measured using Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) pulse sequence with 24 echo trains. The variable temperature T2 relaxation data were then fitted into Solomon-Bloembergen equations using least square fit algorithm to estimate the water exchange times. RESULTS: From the measured (17)O-NMR relaxation rates, the determined water exchange rates at 300K are : 0.42 microsecond for Gd-DTPA, 1.99 microsecond for Gd-DTPA-BMA, 0.27 microsecond for Gd-DOTA, and 0.11 microsecond for Gd-EOB-DTPA. The Gd-DTPA-BMA showed slowest exchange whereas Gd-EOB-DTPA had fastest water exchange rate. In addition, it was found that the water exchange rates of all samples had exponential temperature dependence with different decay constant. CONCLUSION: (17)O-NMR relaxation rate measurements, when combined with variable temperature technique, provide a solid tool for studying water exchange rate, which is very important in investigating the detailed mechanism of relaxation enhancement effect of the paramagnetic contrast agents.
Contrast Media* ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Relaxation

Surgical treatment of compressive ulnar neuropathy at the elbow has been performed with a wide variety of techniques. Among these techniques, anterior submuscular transposition of the ulnar nerve has been regarded as the method of choice by many authors. It has many advantages including a low recurrence rate, scar-free vascular bed, and protection from repeated trauma to the nerve. However, anterior submuscular transposition is technically demanding and requires more extensive soft tissue dissection. On the other hand, anterior subfascial transposition is less invasive, requires a relatively shorter operation time than the submuscular technique, and also can be done safely even in patiensts with elbow arthritis. We evaluated the clinical results of anterior submuscular transposition compared with anterior subfascial transposition. Fifteen patients underwent anterior submuscular transposition and ten patients underwent anterior subfascial transposition of the ulnar nerve. The mean follow-up time was 15 months (range 10 to 38 months) in the anterior submuscular transposition group and 7 months (range 6 to 15 months) in the anterior subfascial transposition group. According to the outcome status determination algorithm devised by Mowlavi, 3 patients (20%) showed total relief, 10 patiensts (66.7%) improvement and 2 patients (13.3%) no changes in the anterior submuscular transposition group. In the anterior subfascial transposition group, 2 patients (20%) showed total relief, 7 patients (70%) improvement and 1 patient (10%) displayed no changes. Statistically there was no significant difference of the clinical results between the two surgical techniques. Therefore we would suggest anterior subfascial transposition of the ulnar nerve as a preferred method for treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome.
Arthritis ; Cubital Tunnel Syndrome ; Elbow ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Ulnar Nerve ; Ulnar Neuropathies

BACKGOUND: Recently it has been reported that several cytokine gene polymorphisms regulate cytokine production and play an important role in immune and inflammatory response. We evaluated IL-1beta IL-1Ra, and TNF-alpha gene polymorphism in patients with primary glomerulonephritis to determine the association between cytokine polymorphism and disease susceptibility. METHODS: In this study, we enrolled 118 patients with primary glomerulonephritis and healthy 300 persons who had visited the health screening center. We analyzed -511C/T polymorphism of IL-1beta tandem repeats polymorphism in intron 2 of IL-1Ra and -308G/A polymorphism of TNF-alpha We classified primary glomerulonephritis according to pathologic finding and clinical diagnosis. RESULTS: There were no differences with IL-1betaand TNF-alpha gene polymorphism between patient and control group. The carriage of IL1RN*2 was significantly associated with an increased risk of primary glomerulonephritis (patients:control=12.75:5.4%, p<0.01). IL1RN*2 was significantly frequent in patients with membranous GN or minimal change disease (p<0.05). When we classified glomerulonephritis according to clinical diagnosis, IL1RN*2 carriage rate was higher in patients with nephrotic syndrome and RPGN or acute nephritic syndrome than patients with asymptomatic urinary abnormalities (p<0.05). IL-1beta(TT) genotype was more prevalent in acute glomerulonephritis (68.4%) than asymptomatic urinary abnormalities or other glomerulonephritis. TNF2 carriage rate showed a lower tendency in patients with asymptomatic urinary abnormalities. CONCLUSION: IL1RN*2 is significantly associated with an increased risk of development of primary glomerulonephritis. We suggest cytokine gene polymorphism is also related to clinical manifestations of glumerulonephritis.
Diagnosis ; Disease Susceptibility ; Genotype ; Glomerulonephritis* ; Humans ; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein* ; Introns ; Mass Screening ; Nephrosis, Lipoid ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Tandem Repeat Sequences ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship among optical coherence tomography (OCT), ultrasound pachymetry, and Orbscan in central corneal thickness measurement and to evaluate the reproducibility of flap thickness using an IntraLase femtosecond laser. METHODS: Central corneal thickness was measured by OCT, ultrasound pachymetry, and Orbscan in 59 eyes of 30 patients before LASIK. After IntraLASIK, the corneal flap thickness measured using OCT was compared with the intended corneal flap thickness. RESULTS: Central corneal thickness measured by OCT was thinner than that measured by other instruments preoperatively, but there was no significant difference among these methods (p>0.01), and corneal thickness values obtained by ultrasound pachymetry and Orbscan correlated well with those obtained by OCT (r ranged from 0.804 to 0.889, p<0.01). After IntraLASIK, there was no significant difference between the mean measured flap thickness and the intended flap thickness (p>0.01). CONCLUSIONS: OCT is a relatively accurate instrument for measuring corneal thickness and can easily measure the corneal flap thickness after LASIK. Compared with the results of a previous study, the mean measured flap thickness in this study was more reproducible with the IntraLase femtosecond laser.
Corneal Pachymetry ; Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ ; Tomography, Optical Coherence* ; Ultrasonography