Background: Desflurane, a fluorinated methyl-ethyl ether, has some advantageous properties including low blood solubility, stability in soda lime, and resistance to biodegradation. Desflurane in vivo has demonstrated myocardial depressant property. The purpose of this study was to test the direct effects of desflurane on myocardial contractile function and coronary flow in the isolated heart. Methods: Twelve isolated rat hearts were continuously perfused with modified Krebs solution containing 6, 9 and 12 vol% of desflurane for 10 min at each concentration. Systolic left ventricular pressure and rate of change of ventricular pressure (dp/dt) were measured. Heart rate and coronary flow were also measured. To differentiate direct vasodilatory effect of desflurane from an indirect metabolic effect due to autoregulation of coronary flow, oxygen delivery, myocardial oxygen consumption and percent oxygen extraction were calculated. Results: Heart rate (control 266+/-22 beats/min) decreased to 250+/-23 beats/min at 6 vol%, 236+/-26 beats/min at 9 vol% and 223+/-22 beats/min at 12 vol% of desflurane. Systolic left ventricular pressure and dp/dt decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. In spite of decrement of myocardial oxygen consumption, coronary flow (control 12.0+/-1.2 ml/min) increased to 12.8+/-1.6 ml/min at 6 vol%, 12.9+/-1.6 ml/min at 9 vol% and 13.7+/-1.4 ml/min at 12 vol% of desflurane. Oxygen delivery increased proportionally with coronary flow. Percent oxygen extraction decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion: These results suggest that desflurane has a direct myocardial depressing and coronary vasodilating effect in a concentration-dependent manner.
Animals ; Ether ; Heart Rate ; Heart* ; Homeostasis ; Oxygen ; Oxygen Consumption ; Rats* ; Solubility ; Ventricular Pressure

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to find whether there is any effect on shortening the length of stay of long term patients due to issuing of hospitalization sheets by emergency department. METHODS: For the investigation, 27,948 patients who resided in hospitals over 6 hours from 2006 to 2007 were chosen as the subjects. The main materials for the investigation were various time variables according to the medical records. For the verification of each factor, Student's t-test and Pearson' correlation coefficient were used. RESULTS: There was statistically significant difference in regard to length of stay (p<0.01). The departments related to internal medicine showed that they required longer times in every aspect compared to those of non-internal medicine. There were statistically significant differences (p<0.01) in regard to the time of patients' length of stay and the time of issuing sheets for hospitalization according to the numbers of related department. However, there was no meaningful difference in regard to the waiting time for hospitalization. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, in the cases of long term patients who stayed over 6 hours in 2007 when the random sheets for hospitalization were issued by emergency department, the length of stay was significantly reduced. It was found that the time was more increased in the departments of internal medicine than the departments of noninternal medicine and when the related sub departments increased.
Emergencies ; Emergency Medicine ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records

BACKGROUND: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is a very important method to detect gastroduodenal lesions. But the investigation might be delayed due to its own discomfort and anxiety. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of relaxation music on relief of anxiety and physical discomfort during unsedated esophagogastroduodenoscopy. METHODS: From March 3 to May 14 2009, 104 clients who have undergone unsedated esophagogastroduodenoscopy more than once in the past were enrolled in this study. The subjects were randomly assigned to receive either relaxation music (music, N = 52) or no music (control, N = 52) before esophagogastroduodenoscopy. The subjects recorded their anxiety and physical discomfort about latest and today endoscopy by visual analogue scale (VAS). At pre and post music listening, systolic, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were measured. RESULTS: There was a significant difference of anxiety VAS between music and control group (music, decrease 1.1 +/- 2.1; control, increase 0.0 +/- 1.9; P = 0.008). Throat discomfort VAS was not significant (music, decrease 0.9 +/- 1.8; control, decrease 0.5 +/- 2.7; P = 0.33). Dyspnea VAS decreased in both groups (music, 0.6 +/- 2.2; control, 0.4 +/- 2.5; P = 0.68). Nausea & vomitting VAS also decreased in both group (music, 0.9 +/- 2.2; control, 1.1 +/- 2.1, P = 0.71). There were no significant vital sign changes premusic and postmusic, In both group vital signs increased. Mean differences of systolic pressure(1.0 +/- 11.4 vs. 1.6 +/- 11.1) and diastolic pressure (0.7 +/- 7.3 vs. 1.3 +/- 5.7) were lower in music group, and mean difference of heart rate (1.8 +/- 9.5 vs. 1.5 +/- 8.0) was lower in control group. But There were no significant vital sign changes premusic and postmusic (each P = 0.8, P = 0.62, P = 0.89). CONCLUSION: Listening relaxation music before unsedated esophagogastroduodenoscopy may reduced anxiety.
Anxiety ; Blood Pressure ; Dyspnea ; Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Heart Rate ; Music ; Nausea ; Pharynx ; Relaxation ; Vital Signs

BACKGROUND: Gastroscopy is the useful method to detect the upper gastrointestinal condition, but examinee have recognized it as the procedure causing the discomfort and anxiety. This study was conducted to identify the factors related to pre-procedural anxiety for gastroscopy . METHODS: From 9th March to 12th June 2009, Data were collected from 463 examinee undergone gastroscopy at a health promotion center of a university hospital by self-administered questionnaires about general characteristics (age, sex, education state, economic state, family history of gastric cancer), gastrointestinal symptom, histroy of gastrointestinal disease, sedated gastroscopy and previous experience of gastroscopy. Before gastroscopy procedure, pre-procedural anxiety was assessed using 20-items by Korean version of Spielberger State Triat Anxiety Inventory Form-Y (STAI-Y). RESULTS: The mean score of pre-procedural state anxiety was 38.1 +/- 10.2 in all participants. The mean score was the most highest in participants who had no previous experience of gastroscopy and would perform non-sedated gastroscopy as 42.1 +/- 10.3. Factors related to pre-procedural anxiety were female (odds ratio [OR], 3.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.94 to 4.64), low education state (OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.05 to 2.71) and the previous experience of gastroscopy (OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.24 to 0.88). Among participants who had the previous experienced gastroscopy, female (OR, 3.20; 95% CI, 1.97 to 5.22), low education state (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.06 to 3.02) and the good tolerance at previous gastroscopy (OR, 0.35; 95% CI 0.21 to 0.59) were related to pre-procedural anxiety. CONCLUSION: In health check examinee, female, low education state and the no previous experience of gastroscopy were related to pre-procedural anxiety. Endoscopists should be provide efforts to lower pre-procedural anxiety in those subjects as to increase effectiveness of interventions.
Anxiety ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Gastroscopy ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires

To quantify the reduction in workload during intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) therapy, indirect parameters are used, such as the mean arterial pressure during diastole, product of heart rate and peak systolic pressure, and pressure-volume area. Therefore, we investigated the cardiac energy consumption during IABP therapy using a cardiac electromechanics model. We incorporated an IABP function into a previously developed electromechanical model of the ventricle with a lumped model of the circulatory system and investigated the cardiac energy consumption at different IABP inflation volumes. When the IABP was used at inflation level 5, the cardiac output and stroke volume increased 11%, the ejection fraction increased 21%, the stroke work decreased 1%, the mean arterial pressure increased 10%, and the ATP consumption decreased 12%. These results show that although the ATP consumption is decreased significantly, stroke work is decreased only slightly, which indicates that the IABP helps the failed ventricle to pump blood efficiently.
Adenosine Triphosphate/*metabolism ; Arterial Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Heart Failure/pathology ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; *Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping ; *Models, Theoretical ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Function, Left

OBJECTIVES: It is widely accepted that estrogen has favorable effects on cardiovascular diseases, especially in the postmenopausal women. Endothelin-1(ET-I), released from the vascular endothelium, is a 21-amino acid peptide with strong vasoconstrictor activity. However, the effect of estrogen on the vasoconstriction to ET-1 has not been extensively studied. METHODS: To investigate the effect of estrogen (175beta-estradiol) on the vascular contraction to ET-1, porcine coronary artery(PCA) rings were suspended in organ chambers(37 degrees C, 95% O2/5% CO2) for measurement of isometric tension change. Endothelium was removed mechanically if necessary. In acute experiments, vascular rings were preincubated for 15minutes with 3different concentrations of 170beta-estradiol(10(-6), 10(-5), 10(-4)M) and concentration-contraction curves to cumulative doses of ET-1 were constructed. In the experiments after a longer exposure to 17beta-estradiol, the vessels with endothelium were exposed in the 5% CO2 incubator to 3different concentrations of 17beta-estradiol(10(-9), 10(-8), 10(-7)M) for 44-50 hours, and then concentrationcontraction curves to ET-1 were obtained. RESULTS: Incubation for 15minutes with 170beta-estradiol(10(-4)M) inhibited ET-1-induced contraction in the vessels with endothelium(area under the curve and maximal contraction, p<0.05 compared with control). This effect persisted regardless of the sex and the presence or absence of the endotheliurn. Incubation of the vessels far a longer time with 170beta-estradiol(44-50 hours) resulted in the inhibition of maximal contraction to ET-1(p<0.05) by a lower concentration of 175beta-estradiol(10(-7)M) than in acute experiments in male PCA rings, but an enhanced contraction to ET-1(area under the curve; p<0.05) by 10M of 175beta-estradiol was observed in female PCA rings. CONCLUSION: Short-time incubation with 17Pbeta-estradiol has an inhibitory effect on the contraction to ET-1 in PCA rings. This effect is independent of the presence of the endothelium and the sex of the pigs. A longer incubation with 17beta-estradiol results in a similar inhibitory effect on male(but not female) PCA rings, suggesting that a sex-related difference may exist concerning the effect of 17beta-estradiol on ET-1-induced contraction.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Coronary Vessels* ; Endothelin-1* ; Endothelins ; Endothelium ; Endothelium, Vascular ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Incubators ; Male ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Swine ; Vasoconstriction

Dental erosion is defined as tooth structure loss by acidic chemical substance. It is caused by extrinsic factors such as acidic foods, drugs, and working environments, and also intrinsic factors such as gastric acid regurgitation in gastro-esophageal disorder or intensive vomiting in bulimia nervosa. These lesions can be treated with direct resin filling, laminate or full contour crown depending on the intensity of clinical problem. This is a case report about treatment of rare clinical case: labial erosion of anterior tooth caused by frequent intake of acidic fruit and palatal erosion of anterior tooth caused by intensive vomiting in bulimia nervosa.
Bulimia Nervosa ; Crowns ; Fruit ; Gastric Acid ; Intrinsic Factor ; Tooth ; Vomiting

Acute cerebellitis is a clinically isolated condition showing cerebellar signs such as ataxia, dizziness and dysarthria. Most of them are associated with viral infection, which generally occur in childhood and show benign course without sequelae. Tuberculous cerebellitis is very rare and its outcome is not well described. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical features and course in a patient with tuberculous cerebellits. We will also discuss the possible prognostic factors in acute cerebellitis.
Adult ; Ataxia ; Cerebellum ; Dizziness ; Dysarthria ; Encephalitis ; Humans ; Tuberculosis

No abstract available.
Ultrasonography, Prenatal*

The concept of a super-aged society has led to a steady increase in the average lifespan and hence, interest in a healthy life has increased. Aging is a major risk factor for many diseases, including osteoporosis. Osteoporotic fractures have a significant impact on the quality of life of the elderly and hence, it is pivotal to provide effective treatment of osteoporosis after menopause. Osteoporosis requires proper management and the treatment must be centered on long-term goals. New drugs with diverse mechanisms have been developed for treating osteoporosis. Current management of osteoporosis generally focuses on the importance of risk-based strategies to maximize the effectiveness of existing treatments and mitigate potential negative side-effects. Additionally, there is a need for sequential treatment of osteoporosis in the future. This review discusses the dynamic strategies for osteoporosis treatment and the importance of long-term management in postmenopausal women.