Higenamine is known to possess stimulatory activity on beta-receptor of the heart. Chronotropic actions of higenamic were studied in spontaneously beating right atrial muscle isolated from rabbits. The frequency of spontaneous beating and the relative threshold voltage of the right atrium were examined. The relative threshold voltage was defined as the minimal voltage of the given impulse above which the right atrium could be paced at the frequency of 20% of higenamine was also observed. Higenamine caused the postive chronotropic effect. This response became prominent as the ca2+ concentration in the bathing solution lowered. When tetrodotoxin was added to the bathing solution, the effect of higenemine altered and became similar to that of epinephrine. Higenamine reduced the relative threshold voltage of the right atrium in the bathing solution with [ca2+] of 0.5mM. Such effect was abolished by tetrodotoxin. The effects of verapamill on the spontaneous rate and the relativel threshold voltage were inhibited by higenemine. The above results suggest that, aithough the main action og higenamine is on the Ca channel, higenamine also have a minor effect of augmenting the Na channel.
Baths ; Epinephrine ; Heart ; Heart Atria* ; Heart Rate ; Rabbits ; Tetrodotoxin ; Verapamil

No abstract available.
Fibroblasts*

The success rate of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy in epiphopa patients was evaluated. We anaylzed 57 patients, 62 cases from February 1997 to March 1998. Mean follow-up period was 7.17 months. There were 51 cases(82.3%) of female Causes of the disease were idiopathic(52 cases), trauma(3 cases) and congenital(3 cases). Primary success rate was 67.8% while total success rate was 80.6%. We used mitomycin C in 20 cases. Primary success rate in mitomycin C used group was 70.6% while total success rate was 95.0%. The success rate in mitomycin C used group was higher than that without mitomycin C. Endoscopic darcryocystorhinostomy has advantages such as less scar and short postoperarive recovery time but low success rate limits its use. However the success rate in endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy is incresasing due to surgical improvement and instrument development.
Cicatrix ; Dacryocystorhinostomy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mitomycin

The widespread use of diagnostic radiography, especially using magnetic resonance imaging, has helped to increase the diagnosis of paralabral cysts in patients with chronic shoulder pain. These paralabral cysts are frequent in the anterior, the superior, and the posterior compartment of the shoulder joint but are rare in the inferior compartment. Paralabral cysts in the shoulder appear particularly in men in their third and fourth decades but rarely in elderly patients. We report a case of an inferior paralabral cyst in an elderly patient whom we treated through arthroscopic decompression.
Aged* ; Arthroscopy ; Decompression* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Radiography ; Shoulder Joint ; Shoulder Pain ; Shoulder*

PURPOSE: To determine the clinical efficacy of SS-cream, the topical agent made from the extracts of natural products for treating premature ejaculation(PE), a double blind, randomized placebo controlled phase III study on the patients with primary PE was performed in three medical centers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mean age of patient with primary PE was 38.7+/-0.6 years and duration of suffer from PE was 15.8+/-0.4 years. We investigated the ejaculatory latency calculated by stop watch and sexual satisfaction rate after the treatment(1 placebo and 5 SS-cream 0.2gm). Patients were instructed to apply the cream on the glans penis 1 hour before sexual intercourse in double blind randomized fashion. Clinical efficacy was compared with the prolongation of ejaculatory latency and improvement of sexual satisfaction rate. RESULTS: 106 patients with primary premature ejaculation completed this study. Mean ejaculatory latency tested at screening period was 1.37+/-0.1 min and both of patient and partner were not satisfied with their sexual lives. The mean ejaculatory latency was significantly prolonged as 10.92+/-1.0 min with SS-cream, while 2.45+/-0.3 min with placebo. In 79.8%, there was prolongation of ejaculatory latency longer than 2 minutes with SS-cream, while in 15.1% with placebo. The sexual satisfaction rate was also significantly improved as 82.2% with SS-cream, while 12.6% with placebo. 103 (16.2%) out of 636 trials of SS-cream showed mild local irritation including 82 mild burning senses and 21 mild pain, which disappeared in less than 1 hour. No adverse effect on sexual function and partner and no systemic side effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: With these results, SS-cream is effective and safe in the treatment PE with mild local side effect.
Biological Products ; Burns ; Coitus ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Penis ; Premature Ejaculation*

It is well known that the murine T helper cell clones are divided by their lymphokine secretory activities. One is the Th-1 cell, producing IL-2 and IFN after stimulation and the other is the Th-2 cell, producing the IL-4 and IL-5. This study was undertaken to evaluate the immunomodulatory properties of the bacterial lipopolysaccharide(LPS) on the lymphokine production in vivo and in vitro. The results were as follows: There were no effects on the lymphokine secretion by the in vitro treatment of the LPS. The in vivo treatment of the LPS decreases the capability of the production of IL-2 and IFN , whereas it increases the capability of IL-4 production. The altered capacity of the lymphokine production was recovered about 2 weeks after the treatment of the LPS. There were no differences on the lymphokine production between E-coli LPS and salmonella LPS. The capacity of the lymphokine production was the same in the treatment of a non-heated LPS or heated-LPS. The lymphokine production of the mice which were desensitized by the long term treatment of the LPS was not different from the control mice. The in vitro treatment of RU486 can block the alterations of the lymphokine production after the treatment of the LPS. In summary, one can tell that the LPS increases the secretion of the IL-4 through the endogenous secretion of the glucocorticoids.
Animals ; Clone Cells ; Glucocorticoids ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; Mice ; Mifepristone ; Salmonella ; T-Lymphocytes* ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer

No abstract available.
Mass Screening* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

This is a case report of the familial olivo-ponto-cerebellar atrophy (Menzel type OPCA, OPCA III with retinal degeneration). The patient is a 37 year-old male with 5 years history of slowly progressive cerebellar ataxia, dysarthria, visual change, horizontal nystagmus and signs of pyramidal dysfunction. The CT brain scan shows significant atrophy of brain stem and cerebellum with dilatation of cisterns. His younger sister, also, has similar clinical manifestations and radiological abnormalities, but mild. By history, his mother who died at 47 years of her age looked like to have same kind of chronic disease.
Adult ; Atrophy ; Brain ; Brain Stem ; Cerebellar Ataxia ; Cerebellum ; Chronic Disease ; Dilatation ; Dysarthria ; Humans ; Male ; Mothers ; Nystagmus, Pathologic ; Olivopontocerebellar Atrophies* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Siblings

PURPOSE: To describe the early experience of analyzing variations and time trends in bladder volume of the rectal cancer patients who received bladder ultrasound scan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 20 consecutive rectal cancer patients who received whole pelvic radiotherapy (RT) and bladder ultrasound scan between February and April 2012. Before simulation and during the entire course of treatment, patients were scanned with portable automated ultrasonic bladder scanner, 5 times consecutively, and the median value was reported. Then a radiation oncologist contoured the bladder inner wall shown on simulation computed tomography (CT) and calculated its volume. RESULTS: Before simulation, the median bladder volume measured using simulation CT and bladder ultrasound scan was 427 mL (range, 74 to 1,172 mL) and 417 mL (range, 147 to 1,245 mL), respectively. There was strong linear correlation (R = 0.93, p < 0.001) between the two results. During the course of treatment, there were wide variations in the bladder volume and every time, measurements were below the baseline with statistical significance (12/16). At 6 weeks after RT, the median volume was reduced by 59.3% to 175 mL. Compared to the baseline, bladder volume was reduced by 38% or 161 mL on average every week for 6 weeks. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this study is the first to prove that there are bladder volume variations and a reduction in bladder volume in rectal cancer patients. Moreover, our results will serve as the basis for implementation of bladder training to patients receiving RT with full bladder.
Humans ; Observer Variation ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Ultrasonics ; Urinary Bladder

PURPOSE: To define risk factors for and to analyze changes in hyperopic refractive error during development of postoperative exotropia (XT) after bilateral medial rectus (BMR) recession to treat infantile esotropia. METHODS: We retrospectively examined 50 patients with infantile esotropia who underwent BMR recession from January 2005 to December 2010. All were < 10 years of age and underwent ≥36 months of follow-up. We recorded age at operation, the preoperative strabismus angle, the extent of medial rectus recession, strabismus status, pre- and post-operative changes in the refractive errors of both eyes, any postoperative overcorrection, any dissociated vertical deviation (DVD), and inferior oblique overaction (IOOA) status. RESULTS: Consecutive XT developed in 18 (36%) patients. The preoperative refractive error was +0.90 ± 0.79 D in the consecutive XT group and +1.94 ± 1.48 D in the surgical success (SS) group (p = 0.019). The extent of hyperopic decrease was significantly greater in the consecutive XT group than the SS group (consecutive XT group: 1.59 ± 1.38 D, SS group: 2.86 ± 1.97 D) at 3 years of post-operative follow-up (p = 0.008). Postoperative IOOA was detected in 10 (70.5%) patients in the consecutive XT group and 3 (29.55%) in the SS group (p = 0.002). No significant between-group difference in the incidence of overcorrection or DVD was apparent. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of hyperopia (>+2.0 D) prior to BMR recession and a marked fall in the extent of hyperopia (−1.0 D/year) after recession may be associated with a high risk of consecutive XT. Thorough follow-up is necessary when IOOA develops after BMR recession.
Esotropia ; Exotropia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperopia ; Incidence ; Refractive Errors ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Strabismus