The mechanisms involved in brain neuronal damage in ischemia are related to the elevation of cytosolic calcium concentration and calcium antagonist is considered as a promising drug that may alleviate ischemic neuronal damage. Using transient global ischemia model of Mongolian gerbil, we studied the effect of nimodipine, a cerebroselective calcium antagonist, on ischemic brain edema. We treated each gerbil intraperitoneally with nimodipine (lmg/kg) or the same amount of saline 30 minutes prior to ischemia, and transient global ischemia was induced by means of clipping both common carotid arteries either for 10 minutes or for 45 minutes. Three hours after reperfusion, the animals were decapitated and the water content of the bain was determined by oven dry method. With 10 minute ischemia the brain water content in nimodipine pretreatment group (78.6 +/- 0.2%) was lower than that in saline pretreatment group (79.1 +/- 0.4%) significantly (p<0.05). But with 45 minute ischemia nimodipine pretreatment did not reduce the postischemic increase of water content compared with saline pretreatment (79.8 +/- 0.4% and 79 6 +/- 0.4%, respectively; not significant). Our results suggest that nimodipine pretreatment may suppress the development of ischemic brain edema and its effect depends largely on the extent of brain ischemia.
Animals ; Brain Edema* ; Brain Ischemia ; Brain* ; Calcium ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Cytosol ; Gerbillinae* ; Ischemia ; Neurons ; Nimodipine* ; Reperfusion

LASIK procedure was introduced recently for the correction of high myopia because of many complications in high-myopic PRK. The characteristic procedures such as hinged flap formation and stromal ablation may increase decentration. We evaluated the amount of decentration relative to the pupil center in 80 eyes of LASIK and 52 eyes of PRK using corneal topography(Corneal Analysis System: EyeSys Laboratories). All treatments were performed using excimer laser, Aesculap-Meditec, MEL 60-94 and corneal light reflex was used for centering. The vacuum ring was used for globe fixation. Mean amount of decentration in LASIK(0.65+/-0.42mm) was statisticallysignificantly increased compared with 0.49+/-0.29mm in PRK(p=0.01). Under -12D of attempted correction, mean amount of decentration in LASIK was 0.54+/-0.38mm which was not significantly different from 0.49+/-0.29mm in PRK(p=0.07). No correlation was observed between the magnitude of decentration and the frequency of loss of best cerrected visual acuity and night glare(p>0.05). The decentration more than 1mm was associated with increased amount of attempted correction (p=0.003) and low preoperative best corrected visual acuity(p=0.01). We considered that the differencee of the magnitude of decentration was attributed to some difference in procedures between LASIK and PRK. When vaccum ring is not used in other reports with other device, the decentration of LASIK was approximately twice as much as in PRK. The use of vacuum ring for the maintenance of globe may be effective in LASIK in which patients self fixation during ablation is more difficult than in PRK because the ablation time is longer and the ablation is performed on the stroma after flap formation.
Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ ; Lasers, Excimer ; Myopia ; Pupil ; Reflex ; Vacuum ; Visual Acuity

The internal morphology of the right and left atria of rabbit, cat, pig, and human, particularly on the luminal structures of the auricle, were observed by stereomicroscope improving corrosion casting method using latex. Structures of the right auricular casts markedly differ from those of the left side, consisting of defined surface sturctures with distinct folds and branching patterns. The main atrial region consists of smooth surfaced single mass of the latex, and the auricular region is characterized by well developed branching patte and delicate small folds. The results of this study indicate that auricula have well organized duct-like luminal structures and many small pouches (out-pocketings) expanding the internal wall of the duct-like structures and small pouches. The endocardial nuclear imprints on the surface of the folds in the auricular region appeared larger and deeper than those on the atrium proper region of the atrial cast. These morphological observation will be aid in understanding structures of auricular lumen, regional differences of the endocardium and their function to the secretory process of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) release.
Animals* ; Cats ; Corrosion Casting* ; Corrosion* ; Endocardium ; Humans ; Latex ; Methods* ; Phenobarbital* ; Secretory Pathway

In order to compare the clinical results of Epikeratoplasty (EPK) with Laser in situ keratomileusis(LASIK) to be corrected of high myopia above -9 diopters, the effect of the procedure on 74 patients following EKP and 63 patients following LASIK who were followed up at least 1 year were analyzed retrospectively. Postoperative mean uncorrected visual acuity was reached 0.56 until 3 month in EKP group and 0.53 until 1 month in LASIK group. LASIK group recovered and stabilized more rapidly than EKP guoup(p<0.01). Also LASIK group had more rapid recovery in keratometryp(p<0.01) and mean refractive error than EKP group(p<0.01). But there was no significant difference between two groups in uncorrected visual acuity(p=0.62), keratometry(p=0.41) and mean refractive error(p=0.32) at postoperative 1 year. LASIK seems to have more rapid and effective visual recovery than EKP for high myopia treatment.
Epikeratophakia* ; Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ ; Myopia* ; Refractive Errors ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity

No abstract available.
Abscess ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Muscle, Skeletal

Bronchopulmonary lavage using a double-lumen endotracheal tube is an accepted modality for treatment of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis which characterized by filling of alveolar space with periodic acid-schiff positive proteinaceous material. Massive bronchopulmonary lavage is not without hazard. Improper positioning and inadequate cuff inflation of the endotracheal tube may lead drowning. So correct placement of double-lumen endotracheal tube and confirming complete seperation of the two lungs is important to prevent drowning. And periods of tidal drainage are accompanied with reperfusion to the non-ventilated lung and cause potentially dangerous levels of hypoxemia. One must investigate maneuvers to minimize perfusion to non-ventilated lung and to maximize gas exchange during unilateral lung lavage. The distribution of pulmonary blood flow during unilateral lung lavage can be manipulated by nonocclusive inflation of an ipsilateral pulmonary artery balloon. We report a case of sequential bronchoalveolar lavage in a patient with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis performed safely with pulmonary arterial catherter insertion.
Anoxia ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage* ; Drainage ; Drowning ; Humans ; Inflation, Economic ; Lung ; Perfusion ; Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis* ; Pulmonary Artery ; Reperfusion

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in many cancers. However, EGFR expression in melanoma and its role are conflicting. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate EGFR expression in distant metastatic melanoma and analyze its relationship with histologic and clinical characteristics and survival. Methods: Diagnostic tissues from 55 cases of distant metastatic melanoma was evaluated by immunohistochemistry for EGFR expression. Clinicopathologic features and survival outcomes were analyzed according to EGFR expression. Results: The positive EGFR expression in distant metastatic melanoma was significantly correlated with the absence of ulceration. The EGFR expression in distant metastatic melanoma was significantly associated with poor survival, under the conditions of male sex and primary cutaneous melanoma without ulceration or Breslow thickness ≤4.0 mm. This study bears limitations of a retrospective study in a single institution. Conclusion EGFR immunostaining had predictive values for survival outcome. The EGFR expression in distant metastatic melanoma in male, no ulcer, or Breslow thickness ≤4.0 mm appeared to be involved in disease progression.

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in many cancers. However, EGFR expression in melanoma and its role are conflicting. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate EGFR expression in distant metastatic melanoma and analyze its relationship with histologic and clinical characteristics and survival. Methods: Diagnostic tissues from 55 cases of distant metastatic melanoma was evaluated by immunohistochemistry for EGFR expression. Clinicopathologic features and survival outcomes were analyzed according to EGFR expression. Results: The positive EGFR expression in distant metastatic melanoma was significantly correlated with the absence of ulceration. The EGFR expression in distant metastatic melanoma was significantly associated with poor survival, under the conditions of male sex and primary cutaneous melanoma without ulceration or Breslow thickness ≤4.0 mm. This study bears limitations of a retrospective study in a single institution. Conclusion EGFR immunostaining had predictive values for survival outcome. The EGFR expression in distant metastatic melanoma in male, no ulcer, or Breslow thickness ≤4.0 mm appeared to be involved in disease progression.

No abstract available.
Humans