No abstract available.

Intussusception can develop at any age but about 95% of patients are children under 2 years-old. Adult intussusception is a rare condition. Unlike children, nearly all adults with intussusception have a lead point such as benign or malignant small bowel tumors, intestinal tuberculosis, or Meckel's diverticulum. First case is a 48-year-old male who was admitted with 2 days of diffuse abdominal cramping pain and no other associated gastrointestinal symptoms. Barium enema revealed ileocolic intussusception with a round cecal mass after barium reduction. An ileocecectomy was performed electively. The pathologic report was cecal cyst, which was an intraluminal structure with an epithelial lining of colonic mucosa. The second case, a 53-year-old male, was admitted with 1 week of diffuse abdominal cramping pain and watery diarrhea. Barium enema revealed ileocecal intussusception. Emergency surgery (ileocecectomy), revealed a polypoid small bowel mass. The pathologic report was lipoma. Recently, we experienced two cases of adult intussusception and report these cases with a brief review of the literature.
Adult* ; Barium ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Colic ; Colon ; Diarrhea ; Emergencies ; Enema ; Humans ; Intussusception* ; Lipoma ; Male ; Meckel Diverticulum ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: To investigate the role of alpha-adrenergic receptors in the development of delayed afterdepolarization, the effect of alpha-adrenoceptor stimulation and blockade on ouabain induced delayed afterdepolarization(DDAD) was examined in rabbit heart Purkinje fibers. METHODS: Purkinje fibers, taken from adult rabbit(1.8 - 2.0kg) heart anesthetized with penobarbital, were mounted in a Luicite chamber and superfused with Tyrode's solution. The transmembrane potentials were measured by the conventional microelectrode technique while the fibers were being stimulated with rectangular pulses of 50% above threshold voltage. The delayed afterdepolarizations were induced by overdrive excitation in the presence of ouabain. RESULTS: Delayed afterdepolarizations were not observed during superfusion of the control Tyrode's solution containing propranolol(5x10(-7)M). However, the addition of ouabain in the presence of propranolol elicited DADs which were dose-, time- and drive cycle length- dependent. Phenylephrine(PE ; 10(-7)M), and alpha-adrenoceptor agonist, potentiated the ouabain-induced DAD during the initial superfusion(for 10 or 20 min) of the test Tyrode's solution. However, it was followed by attenuating-effects after a superfusion time of 50 to 60 min. Both effects showed ouabain dose-dependence. Ouabain(2x10(-7)M), in the presence of propranolol, depolarized the maximum diastolic potential and shortened the action potential duration, and the addition of PE(10(-7)M) did not affect the characteristics of action potential except a decrease in velocity of phase 0 depolarization. Prazosin, an alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist, inhibited the PE's enhancing effects of ouabaininduced DDAD at 20 min superfusion, but did not affect the attenuating-effects of PE at 60 min superfusion. On the other hand, yohimbine, an alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist, did not affect the PE's DAD potentiating-effects at 20 min superfusion, but inhibited the attenunating-effects of PE at 60 min superfusion. CONCLUSION: It is inferred that alpha-adrenergic stimulation induce delayed afterdepolarization and triggered activity in the rabbits, being responsible for the arrhythmia development, and the effects are mainly due to the action of alpha1-subtpe adrenoceptor stimulation.
Action Potentials ; Adult ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Hand ; Heart ; Humans ; Membrane Potentials ; Microelectrodes ; Ouabain ; Prazosin ; Propranolol ; Purkinje Fibers ; Rabbits ; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha* ; Yohimbine

No abstract available.
Exophiala* ; Phaeohyphomycosis*

Hu protein R (HuR) binds to the AU-rich element (ARE) in the 3'UTR to stabilize TNF-alpha mRNA. Here, we identified chemical inhibitors of the interaction between HuR and the ARE of TNF-alpha mRNA using RNA electrophoretic mobility gel shift assay (EMSA) and filter binding assay. Of 179 chemicals screened, we identified three with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) below 10 micrometer. The IC(50) of quercetin, b-40, and b-41 were 1.4, 0.38, and 6.21 micrometer, respectively, for binding of HuR protein to TNF-alpha mRNA. Quercetin and b-40 did not inhibit binding of tristetraprolin to the ARE of TNF-alpha mRNA. When LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells were treated with quercetin and b-40, we observed decreased stability of TNF-alpha mRNA and decreased levels of secreted TNF-alpha. From these results, we could find inhibitors for the TNF-alpha mRNA stability, which might be used advantageously for both the study for post-transcriptional regulation and the discovery of new anti-inflammation drugs.
*3' Untranslated Regions ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/*pharmacology ; Antigens, Surface/metabolism ; Antioxidants/pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Mice ; Protein Binding/drug effects ; Quercetin/*pharmacology ; RNA Stability/*drug effects ; RNA-Binding Proteins/*antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/*biosynthesis

A 65-year-old woman visited our hospital with a complaint of acute onset dyspnea and radiological manifestations of pulmonary thromboembolism. The patient underwent an exploratory surgery to find a whitish-blue colored mass occupying almost the whole lumen of the main pulmonary arteries. Based on the pathological and radiological findings, the patient was diagnosed to have a pulmonary arterial intramural hematoma. Intramural hematomas are usually observed in the walls of the aorta, and we believe that an isolated intramural hematoma in the pulmonary artery has not been described previously.
Aged ; Contrast Media/diagnostic use ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Hematoma/*diagnosis/*surgery ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; *Pulmonary Artery ; Thromboembolism/diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative facet joint syndrome requiring radiofrequency neurotomy (RFN) is a relatively common problem following microscopic discectomy. However, the efficacy of repeated RFN after microscopic discectomy has not been clearly documented. The purpose of this study was to determine the success rate and symptom-free duration of repeated RFN for facet joint syndrome after microscopic discectomy. METHODS: Medical records from 56 patients, who had undergone successful initial RFN following microscopic discectomy, experienced recurrence of pain, and subsequently had repeated RFN, were reviewed and evaluated. Responses of repeated RFN were compared with initial radiofrequency neurotomy for success rates and duration of relief. The criterion for RFN to be successful was defined as greater than 50% relief from pain and sufficient satisfaction of patients with prior RFN to have repeated RFN. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients (41 women and 15 men; mean age=48 years) had repeated RFNs, which were successful in all except three patients. RFN denervated three bilateral segments (L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1) in all patients. Mean duration of relief after initial RFN was 9.2 months (range 3-14). The mean duration of relief after secondary RFN in 53 patients was 9.0 months (range 4-14). The success rates and duration of relief remained consistent after subsequent RFNs. CONCLUSION: Repeated RFN for lumbar facet joint pain after microscopic discectomy is an effective palliative treatment. It provided a mean duration of relief of 9.0 months and >94% success rate.
Diskectomy* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Palliative Care ; Recurrence ; Zygapophyseal Joint*

BACKGROUND: The dysfunction of multiple organs is found to be caused by reactive oxygen species as a major modulator of microvascular injury after hemorrhagic shock. Hemorrhagic shock, one of many causes inducing acute lung injury, is associated with increase in alveolocapillary permeability and characterized by edema, neutrophil infiltration, and hemorrhage in the interstitial and alveolar space. Aggressive and rapid fluid resuscitation potentially might increased the risk of pulmonary dysfunction by the interstitial edema. Therefore, in order to improve the pulmonary dysfunction induced by hemorrhagic shock, the present study was attempted to investigate how to reduce the inflammatory responses and edema in lung. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Male Sprague-Dawley rats, weight 300 to 350 gm were anesthetized with ketamine (7 mg/kg) intramuscular. Hemorrhagic Shock (HS) was induced by withdrawal of 3 mL/100 g over 10 min. through right jugular vein. Mean arterial pressure was then maintained at 35~40 mmHg by further blood withdrawal. At 60 min. after HS, the shed blood and Ringer's solution or 5% albumin was infused to restore mean carotid arterial pressure over 80 mmHg. Rats were divided into three groups according to rectal temperature level (37 degrees C [normothermia] vs 33degrees C [mild hypothermia]) and resuscitation fluid (lactate Ringer's solution vs 5% albumin solution). Group I consisted of rats with the normothermia and lactate Ringer's solution infusion. Group II consisted of rats with the systemic hypothermia and lactate Ringer's solution infusion. Group III consisted of rats with the systemic hypothermia and 5% albumin solution infusion. Hemodynamic parameters (heart rate, mean carotid arterial pressure), metabolism, and pulmonary tissue damage were observed for 4 hours. RESULT: In all experimental groups including 6 rats in group I, totally 26 rats were alive in 3rd stage. However, bleeding volume of group I in first stage was 3.2+/-0.5 mL/100 g less than those of group II (3.9+/-0.8 mL/100 g) and group III (4.1+/-0.7 mL/100 g). Fluid volume infused in 2nd stage was 28.6+/-6.0 mL (group I), 20.6+/-4.0 mL (group II) and 14.7+/-2.7 mL (group III), retrospectively in which there was statistically a significance between all groups (p <0.05). Plasma potassium level was markedly elevated in comparison with other groups (II and III), whereas glucose level was obviously reduced in 2nd stage of group I. Level of interleukine-8 in group I was obviously higher than that of group II or III (p <0.05). They were 1,834+/-437 pg/mL (group I), 1,006+/-532 pg/mL (group II), and 764+/-302 pg/mL (group III), retrospectively. In histologic score, the score of group III (1.6+/-0.6) was significantly lower than that of group I (2.8+/-1.2)(p <0.05). CONCLUSION: In pressure-controlled hemorrhagic shock model, it is suggested that hypothermia might inhibit the direct damage of ischemic tissue through reduction of basic metabolic rate in shock state compared to normothermia. It seems that hypothermia should be benefit to recovery pulmonary function by reducing replaced fluid volume, inhibiting anti-inflammatory agent (IL-8) and leukocyte infiltration in state of ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, it is considered that other changes in pulmonary damage and inflammatory responses might induce by not only kinds of fluid solutions but also hypothermia, and that the detailed evaluation should be study.
Acute Lung Injury ; Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Edema ; Fluid Therapy* ; Glucose ; Hemodynamics ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypothermia* ; Jugular Veins ; Ketamine ; Lactic Acid ; Leukocytes ; Lung* ; Male ; Metabolism ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Permeability ; Plasma ; Potassium ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury ; Resuscitation ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock ; Shock, Hemorrhagic*

No abstract available.

The objective was to identify the correlation between the sign of lower limb swelling and unilateral deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with brain lesions. A total of 194 patients, between May 12th, 2011 and December 30th, 2015, who had initially elevated plasma D-dimer level (> 0.55 mg/L) and underwent enhanced DVT computed tomography (CT) were recruited in this study. The circumference of bilateral lower limbs in CT image, below 10 cm and above 15 cm from the prominence of tibial tuberosity, were measured by a single intra-observer using NIH ImageJ software. The difference of 2 cm or more between both sides was considered as significant swelling. We also evaluated patients' range of mobility and cognitive function and its relation to lower limb swelling in DVT in patients with brain lesions. Thirty-five patients were diagnosed with DVT. The presence of lower limb swelling was not statistically significant between patients with DVT and those without DVT in the proximal limb (p = 0.330) and distal limb (p = 0.405). In DVT patients (n = 35), there was no statistically significant correlation between lower limb swelling and other covariates of the patient group. There was no statistically significant correlation between lower limb circumference and DVT.
Brain* ; Cognition ; Extremities ; Humans ; Lower Extremity* ; Plasma ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Venous Thrombosis*