For the purpose of elucidating relation between red cell electrolyte concentrations and serum digoxin level, measurement of red cell electrolyte concentrations and seum digoxin level by radioimmunoassay were done in 46 normal controls and 63 patients of CHF including 8 patients with digitalis intoxication. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Red cell sodium concentration and ratio of red cell sodium to red cell potassium concentration in normal males were significantly higher than those of females, and red cell potassium concentration in normal males was significantly lower than that of normal females. 2. Red cell potassium concentration in patients of CHF was significantly higher than that of normal controls, but there was no difference in the red cell sodium concentration between the groups. 3. There was no relation between red cell electrolyte concentrations and serum digoxin level, and red cell electrolyte concentration did not exactly estimate serum digoxin level. 4. Red cell electrolyte concentrations in the patient of CHF were valuable in detecting digitalis toxicity.
Digitalis ; Digoxin* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Potassium ; Radioimmunoassay ; Sodium

No abstract avaiable.
Glucose* ; Homeostasis*

There is no sport in which the knee does not play an integral role. Blazina described the clinical aspects and treatment of the “jumper's knee”. A jumper's knee is a tendinitis of the patella or less frequently quadriceps tendon at the inferior or superior pole of the patella, respectively. It is typically encountered in athletes who are involved in some type of repetitive activity such as jumping, climbing, kicking, or running. the pathology is still ill understood and further date on the etiology and treatment are scarce. Fourty seven cases of patella tendinitis were analyzed in clinical aspects. Results of the study are as follows: l. Of the 47 cases, male were 9 or 19.1%, female were 38 or 80.9%. 2. Complained pain on proximal pole of patella were 11 or 23.4%, both pole were 9 or 19.1%, distal pole were 27 or 57.4%. 3.0f 47 cases, 22 cases or 46.8% were Grade I, 20 cases or 42.5% were Grade II, 4 cases or 8.5% were Grade III, 1 case or 2.1% was Grade IV. 4. 1 case, Grade IV, was confirmed fracture on distal pole of patella by radiologic examination. 5. The Grade I & II patients had subsided an improved by a few days rest, Quadriceps and Hamstrings setting exercise, Ice massage and medication.
Athletes ; Female ; Humans ; Ice ; Knee ; Male ; Massage ; Patella ; Pathology ; Running ; Sports ; Tendinopathy ; Tendons

BACKGROUND: The effect of arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) during ischemia and reperfusion has been a controversial issue. In this study, the effect of PaCO2 during ischemia and reperfusion was evaluated by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). METHODS: Incomplete global cerebral ischemia was induced by ligation of carotid artery under lowered mean blood pressure (mean blood pressure= 40 mmHg) for 30 minutes followed by 2 hours of reperfusion. Eighteen cats were divided into 3 groups: For group 1 (n=6) (control group), animals were subjected to normocarbia (PaCO2=28~33 mmHg) during ischemia and reperfusion, for group 2 (n=6), animals were subjected to hypocarbia (PaCO2=18~23 mmHg) during ischemia and reperfusion, and for group 3 (n=6), animals were subjected to normocarbia during ischemia and hypocarbia during reperfusion. RESULTS: For group 1, the energy metabolism measured by [PCr/Pi] was recovered about 74.7 6.4%. For group 2, the energy metabolism failed to be completely recovered by 120 minutes of reperfusion (69.3 7.3%), whereas for group 3, the energy matabolism was completely recovered by 120 minutes of reperfusion (97.6 2.4%). There were statistically significant differences between group 1 and group 3 (p<0.05). The changes in pH were not significantly different among the groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, a condition of hypocarbia during reperfusion seems better for the energy metabolism after incomplete global ischemia of cats.
Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Brain Ischemia ; Brain* ; Carbon Dioxide ; Carotid Arteries ; Cats* ; Energy Metabolism* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Ischemia ; Ligation ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Reperfusion

Torsade de pointes is a life-threatening, polymorphic ventricular tachycardia associated with prolongation of the QTc interval. Although torsade de pointes is found in many clinical settings, it is mostly drug induced. Similar problems have been described with nonsedating H1-selective antihistamines like terfenadine and astemizole. The increased risks of both H1-antihistamines were associated with exposure to supratherapeutic doses or concomitant exposure to the cytochrome P-450 inhibitors, ketoconazole, erythromycin and cimetidine. We report a 51-year-old woman with torsade de pointes and a long QTc interval caused by the combined use of terfenadine and itraconazole. After discontinuation of these drugs and treatments with electrical cardioversion and magnesium sulfate, torsade de pointes and prolonged QTc interval were no longer observed and she was discharged in good condition with a normal ECG. In conclusion, physicians should be aware that terfenadine and astemizole can cause torsade de pointes in rare cases.
Astemizole ; Cimetidine ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; Electric Countershock ; Electrocardiography ; Erythromycin ; Female ; Histamine Antagonists ; Humans ; Itraconazole* ; Ketoconazole ; Magnesium Sulfate ; Middle Aged ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Terfenadine* ; Torsades de Pointes*

Insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS) includes fasting or reactive hypoglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and the presence of insulin-binding antibodies in patients who have never been exposed to exogenous insulin. This report concems a 29-year-old male patient with Graves disease who had history of having taken methimazole for two months, without any consequence, 6 months previously. However, when methimazole was administered again for three weeks, the patient suffered hypoglycemia during the next fourth week. He denied history of diabetes mellitus (DM), of taking any oral hypoglycemic agent or of having received insulin injection. Laboratory data showed total serum insulin level > 300 pu/mL, C-peptide reactivity (CPR) 8.0ng/mL and insulin antibody 89%. After stopping methimazole, he was treated with radioiodine (131I). There was no episode of hypoglycemic attack during 8 months of follow-up.
Adult ; Antibodies ; C-Peptide ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fasting ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graves Disease* ; Humans ; Hyperinsulinism ; Hypoglycemia ; Insulin ; Male ; Methimazole

The neutron beam has higher relative biological effectiveness (RBE) than conventional X or gamma ray because it is densely ionizing radiation which is presented by high linear energy transfer (LET). This physical and radiobiological characteristic plays an important role in killing of cancer cells in the state of biologically radio-resistant to the conventional radiation. The rationale of high LET radiation in the application to clinical radiotherapy is summarized as, high oxygen enhancement ratio (OER), less repair of cell damage, and less dependence of radio-sensitivity on cell cycle. Neutron therapy alone or combined with conventional radiotherapy was performed in 12 patients with stage C or D1 prostatic cancer from Mar. 1987 to Dec. 1989 in Korea Cancer Center Hospital. Local control rate at the time of 24 months after therapy was 67% (4/6) in stage C and 67% (4/6) in stage DI. Two-year actuarial survival rate after therapy was 82% in stage C and 67% in stage D1. The problem of neutron therapy was relatively high incidence of major complication rate, but it could be lessened by the accumulation of experience for neutron therapy. We think neutron therapy to be one of adequate treatment modalities for local control of stage C or Dl prostatic cancer.
Cell Cycle ; Gamma Rays ; Homicide ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Linear Energy Transfer ; Neutrons* ; Oxygen ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Radiotherapy ; Relative Biological Effectiveness ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: The effects of the inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in cerebral ischemia have been debated. Recently, it has been suggested that it depends on the amount of the inhibitor used. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate the effects of the NOS in the acute ischemia-reperfusion of the cat model using variable amounts of the inhibitor. METHODS: Nineteen cats were divided into 3 groups: group 1 (n = 6), 10 mg/kg of N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME); group 2 (n = 7), 0.5 mg/kg; group 3 (n = 6), control group. Incomplete global cerebral ischemia was induced by ligation of both carotid arteries with arterial hypotension (-40 mmHg) for 30 minutes followed by 3 hours of reperfusion. The NOS inhibitor (L-NAME), was injected intraperitoneally 5 minutes before reperfusion. 31P and 1H MR spectroscopy were performed. A series of spectra was acquired in the time intervals before ligation, during ischemia, and after reperfusion. RESULTS: Phosphocreatine/inorganic phosphate (PCr/Pi) ratios for group 1 were significantly lower than for groups 2 and 3 (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between groups 2 and 3. Lactate/N-acetyl aspartate (Lac/NAA) and lactate/creatine (Lac/Cr) ratios at 180 minutes after reperfusion were higher for group 1 than for groups 2 and 3 (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in pH and lactate/choline (Lac/Cho) ratios among the 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: It is demonstrated that the effect of the NOS inhibitor is dosage dependent. A high dose (10 mg/kg) of L-NAME seems to have an adverse effect on recovery of the ischemia, but a low dose (0.5 mg/kg) seems to have no effect.
Animals ; Aspartic Acid ; Brain Ischemia ; Brain* ; Carotid Arteries ; Cats* ; Energy Metabolism* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hypotension ; Ischemia ; Ligation ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy* ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide Synthase* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Reperfusion

This study investigated the potential associations of dog characteristics with serum serotonin (5HT) concentration in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD). Client-owned dogs were prospectively recruited at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of Chungnam National University between 2010 and 2011. Forty-two dogs (22 females and 20 males) were enrolled in this study. DMVD dogs included Maltese (n=12), followed by Shih-tzu (n=10), mixed breed (n=5), Chihuahua (n=4), Miniature schnauzer (n=3), Miniature poodle (n=3), Miniature pinscher (n=1), Pomeranian (n=1), Yorkshire terrier (n=2), and Spitz (n=1). As inclusion criteria for the study, dogs had to show either direct or echocardiographic evidence of DMVD. Platelet count significantly differed among the three groups, as the moderate (P<0.05) and severe groups (P<0.05) showed significantly higher platelet counts than the mild DMVD group. Additionally, significantly higher LVIDd, LVIDs, fractional shortening (FS), and LA:Ao ratios were observed in dogs with moderate (P<0.05) and severe (P<0.05) DMVD compared to the mild group, respectively. Significant positive correlations between serum 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) concentration and platelet count (r=0.273, P=0.03), LA:Ao ratio (r=0.459, P=0.001), and LVIDd (r=0.319, P=0.013) were observed in DMVD dogs. Therefore, serum 5HT concentration may be a potential cause of DMVD progression.
Animals ; Blood Platelets ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Dogs* ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Mitral Valve* ; Platelet Count ; Prospective Studies ; Serotonin*

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical efficacy of Pamiray (iopamidol) as an intravenous nonionic contrast material in abdominal CT with that of Ultravist (iopromide), an established nonionic contrast agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients who had undergone abdominal CT using Ultravist during the previous two-year period underwent abdominal CT using Pamiray after written consent to its use had been obtained. During scanning using both of these media, the regions of interest facility was used to measure, in Hounsfield units, attenvation in the liver, bilateral kidneys, aorta, portal vein, and inferior vena cava, and the paired t test was used to assess the statistical significance of the findings. The severity of adverse effects, if any, experienced during contrast material injection was classified as mild or severe, and their frequency was examined. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between Pamiray and Ultravist in terms of the degree of contrast enhancement observed (p>0.05). During scanning in which Pamiray was used, three patients felt hot and two experienced mild nausea, but in none were adverse effects severe. CONCLUSION: For abdominal CT, Pamiray is comparable to Ultravist in terms of contrast enhancement. Where the use of a nonionic contrast medium is required, Pamiray could thus be a useful clinical alternative.
Aorta ; Contrast Media ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Nausea ; Portal Vein ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed* ; Vena Cava, Inferior