Embryos of most mammalian species grown in vitro would undergo developmental arrest at the approximate time of genomic activation. Stage-specific cell block and the resulting rapid loss of embryo viability in conventional culture media have limited the duration for which embryos may be cultured prior to transfer. As a result, embryos are usually transferred to the uterus at the 4-to 8-cell stage to avoid the loss of viability associated with long-term in vitro culture. Early transfer has led to asynchrony of the endometrium-trophectoderm interaction at the time of implantation and a resultant reduction in the rate of implantation. To overcome these problems, a variety of co-culture systems has been devised in which embryos can develop for a longer period prior to embryo transfer. Vero cells, derived from African green monkey kidney, share a common embryologic origin with cells from the genital tract. In addition, they are potentially safe to use, since they are highly controlled for viruses and other contaminants. Therefore, co-culture using Vero cells has been widely utilized to enhance embryo viability and development, although not without controversies. We thus designed a series of experiments to demonstrate whether Vero cells do indeed enhance mouse embryo development as well as to compare the efficacy of co-culturing mouse 1-cell embryos on Vero cell monolayer in both Ham's F-10 and human tubal fluid (HTF) culture media. 1-cell stage ICR mouse embryos were cultured either in the presence of Vero cells (Group A) or in conventional culture medium alone (Group B). In Ham's F-10 significantly more 3-to-8cell embryos developed in group A than group B (59.8 versus 10.0%; F<0.01). In contrast, there was no significant difference in embryonic development both group A and group B in HTF. However, significant differences were noted only in later embryonic stage (13 and 0%; p<0.05 of group A and B respectively, hatching or hatched). In Ham's F-10, we also could observe the beneficial effect of Vero cell on hatching process (70.7 and 42.1%; p<0.05 of group A and group B respectively).
Animals ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Coculture Techniques* ; Culture Media ; Embryo Transfer ; Embryonic Development* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Pregnancy ; Uterus ; Vero Cells*

The authors observed the anesthetic effects of an intravenous drip of ketamine hydrochloride supplemented with diazepam and nitrous oxide on the cardiovascular system and the psychotomimetic reaction in 38 relarively healthy patients who underwent abdominal surgery at Chonbuk National Hospital from May to Sept., 1985. The results were compared with those obtained from patients anesthetized with halothanenitrous oxide-oxygen. 1) The rate of intravenous drip of ketamine was 1mg/kg/hr, which adequately maintained the level of surgical anesthesia. The total amount of pancuronium required for satisfactory skeletal muscle relaxation was 40% more in the ketamine group than in the halothane group. 2) Following ketamine anesthesia, systolic pressure revealed a transient increase immediately after induction, and about 4minutes after the commencement of surgery it thereafter returned to the preinduction level and remained stable during the operation this is in contrast with halothane anesthesia in which the systolic pressure decreased and remained below the level of preinduction after a transient increase immediately after induction. 3) The difference in diastolic pressure between ketamine and halothane anesthesia was significant(p<0.05) as the pressure increased and remained at a high level in the ketamine group while it decreased to the preinduction level following a treansient increase after induction in the halothane group. 4) pulse rate exhibited a greater increase in the ketamine group than in the halothane group after induction, but there was no statistical significance between the two groups(p>0.05). 5) Contrary to halothane anesthesia, anticholinergic premedication could not completely prevent endotracheal secretion following ketamine anesthesia. 6) Premedication with diazepam could not completely relieve psychotomimetic reactions including convulsion and hallucination after ketamine anesthesia.
Anesthesia* ; Anesthetics ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular System* ; Diazepam ; Hallucinations ; Halothane ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Jeollabuk-do ; Ketamine ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Nitrous Oxide ; Pancuronium ; Premedication ; Relaxation ; Seizures

The management of pineal region tumors remains controversial. Advocates of a conservative approach emphasize the excellent results of radiotherapy, particularly with germinoma, while a number of recent reports have demonstrated the safety of direct surgery. We analyzed 8 cases of pineal region tumors which had been treated at our institution over the past 7 years. Tissue diagnosis was obtained in 3 patients before irradiation and 5 patients underwent irradiation without histological diagnosis. Among 5 irradiated patients initially, four patients had been achieved complete remission by radiotherapy thus they were presumptively germinoma, but other one patient had no response, so she had been underwent surgery. Among 3 biopsy proven cases, 2 were teratoma and other one was embryonal carcinoma. Complete gross microsurgical excision of well encapsulated tumor was possible in two teratoma cases. MRI and other neuroradiological studies have ben found to be useful in indicating the biological nature and histological type of pineal tumor. So, consideration of MRI scans together with tumor markers and response to small dose irradiation will generally allow a specific diagnosis with a high degree of probability. In this way, germinomas may be selected for radiotherapy and the tumor less likely to response may be subject to primary surgery to obtain complete tumor extirpation or tissue diagnosis.
Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Embryonal ; Diagnosis ; Germinoma ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pinealoma ; Radiotherapy ; Teratoma ; Biomarkers, Tumor

Selective inhibition of phosphodiesterase (PDE) 5 opened a new therapeutic approach for cardiovascular disorders. Therefore, the effect of PDE5 inhibition on the cardiac function should thoroughly be defined. The purpose of the present study was to define the effects of sildenafil, a selective inhibitor of PDE5, on the atrial cGMP efflux, atrial dynamics, and the release of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). By perfusing rabbit left atria to allow atrial pacing, changes in atrial stroke volume and pulse pressure, transmural extracellular fluid translocation, cGMP efflux, and ANP secretion were measured. SIN-1, an NO donor and soluble (s) guanylyl cyclase (GC) activator, and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), an activator of particulate (p) GC activator, were used. Sildenafil increased basal levels of cGMP efflux slightly but not significantly. Sildenafil in a therapeutic dose increased atrial dynamics (for atrial stroke volume, 2.84+/-1.71%, n=12, vs -0.71+/-0.86%, n=21; p<0.05) and decreased ANP release (-9.02+/-3.36%, n=14, vs 1.35+/-3.25%, n=23; p<0.05), however, it had no effect on the SIN-1- or CNP-induced increase of cGMP levels. Furthermore, sildenafil in a therapeutic dose accentuated SIN-1-induced, but not CNP-induced, decrease of atrial pulse pressure and ANP release. These data indicate that PDE5 inhibition with sildenafil has a minor effect on cGMP levels, but has a distinct effect on pGC-cGMP- and sGC-cGMP-induced contractile and secretory function.
Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; Blood Pressure ; Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5* ; Extracellular Fluid ; Guanylate Cyclase ; Humans ; Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type ; Stroke Volume ; Tissue Donors ; Sildenafil Citrate

BACKGROUND: The relation between pressure-derived fractional collateral flow (PDCF) and coronary arterial remodeling remains uncertain in acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: We evaluated the effect of arterial remodeling on the development of PDCF in 72 patients with first acute myocardial infarction (pain onset <12 h) treated with primary angioplasty. Intravascular ultrasound study was performed before intervention. The remodeling index (RI) was defined as a ratio of (lesion/proximal reference) external elastic membrane area. Positive remodeling was defined as a RI >1.0 and nonpositive remodeling as a RI < or =1.0. Using a 0.014-in. fiber optic pressure monitoring guide wire, the PDCF index was measured by simultaneous measurement of mean aorta pressure (Pao), distal coronary pressure during the balloon occlusion (Pocc), and central venous pressure (CVP):PDCF index=100x(Pocc-CVP)/(Pao-CVP). Sufficient collateral was defined as PDCF index >24% and insufficient collateral as PDCF index < or =24%. RESULTS: The RI was 1.04+/-0.15 in the lesions with sufficient collateral and 1.03+/-0.16 in the lesions with insufficient collateral (p=0.812). There was no significant difference in the frequency of positive remodeling between the 2 groups (55% vs. 54%, respectively, p=0.966). The PDCF index was 20+/-11% and 20+/-9% in positive and nonpositive remodeling, respectively (p=0.891). There was no significant correlation between RI and PDCF index (r=0.027, p=0.823). CONCLUSION: The pattern of coronary arterial remodeling might not influence the development of collateral blood flow in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty.
Angioplasty* ; Aorta ; Balloon Occlusion ; Central Venous Pressure ; Collateral Circulation ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Membranes ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

A 68-yr-old man complaining of sudden, postprandial chest pain visited the emergency room. His symptom had been aggravated during the preceding two days. Upper gastrointestinal contrast study with gastrographin showed leakage of dye from the epiphrenic diverticulum in the lower third of the esophagus. The primary repair was urgently carried out. Upper gastrointestinal contrast study 14 days after operation revealed an esophageal leakage which was small and confined. The patient was managed with conservative treatments such as intravenous hyperali-mentation and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Forty-two days after the operation, a gastrographin swallow study showed the absence of leaks. This is the first report-ed case of a perforated epiphrenic esophageal diverticulum repaired by delayed primary repair in Korea.
Aged ; Diverticulum, Esophageal/complications/*diagnosis/*surgery ; Esophageal Perforation/*diagnosis/etiology/*surgery ; Esophagectomy/*methods ; Humans ; Male ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome