BACKGROUND: The studies on cryopreserved arterial allograft have been focused on cooling methods, pre-treatment, cryoprotectant agents, and preservation temperature. But recently, several studies have reported that thawing methods also play an important role in the occurrence of macroscopic and microscopic cracks. This study was designed to investigate the cell injury after thawing, using a rabbit model to clarify the effect of thawing methods on cryopreserved arteries. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Segments of the rabbit aorta were obtained and divided into 3 groups (n=60) according to whether the specimens were fresh (control, n=20), cryopreserved and rapidly thawed (RT) at 37oC (n=20), or cryopreserved and subjected to controlled, automated slow thawing (ST)(n=20). Cell damage was established using the TUNEL method and the morphological changes were also evaluated. RESULT: In the group that was rapidly thawed, the expression of TUNEL (+) cells increased significantly more than in the slowly thawed group. In addition, the endothelial denudation, microvesicles and edema were significant in the rapidly thawed group compared with those changes in the slowly thawed group. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that the rapid thawing method may be one of the major causes of cellular damage and delayed rupture in cryopreserved arterial allografts. The expression of TUNEL (+) cells and structural changes were significantly low in the slowly thawed group, which might have contributed to the improvement of graft failure after transplantation.
Allografts ; Aorta* ; Arteries ; Cryopreservation ; Edema ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Rupture ; Transplants

Sulfonylureas are widely used as an antidiabetic drug. In the present study, the effects of sulfonylurea administered supraspinally on immobilization stress-induced blood glucose level were studied in ICR mice. Mice were once enforced into immobilization stress for 30 min and returned to the cage. The blood glucose level was measured 30, 60, and 120 min after immobilization stress initiation. We found that intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection with 30 microg of glyburide, glipizide, glimepiride or tolazamide attenuated the increased blood glucose level induced by immobilization stress. Immobilization stress causes an elevation of the blood corticosterone and insulin levels. Sulfonylureas pretreated i.c.v. caused a further elevation of the blood corticosterone level when mice were forced into the stress. In addition, sulfonylureas pretreated i.c.v. alone caused an elevation of the plasma insulin level. Furthermore, immobilization stress-induced insulin level was reduced by i.c.v. pretreated sulfonylureas. Our results suggest that lowering effect of sulfonylureas administered supraspinally against immobilization stress-induced increase of the blood glucose level appears to be primarily mediated via elevation of the plasma insulin level.
Animals ; Blood Glucose* ; Brain ; Corticosterone ; Glipizide ; Glyburide ; Immobilization* ; Insulin ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Plasma ; Tolazamide

Visnagin (4-methoxy-7-methyl-5H-furo[3,2-g][1]-benzopyran-5-one), which is an active principle extracted from the fruits of Ammi visnaga, has been used as a treatment for low blood-pressure and blocked blood vessel contraction by inhibition of calcium influx into blood cells. However, the neuroprotective effect of visnagin was not clearly known until now. Thus, we investigated whether visnagin has a neuroprotective effect against kainic acid (KA)-induced neuronal cell death. In the cresyl violet staining, pre-treatment or post-treatment visnagin (100 mg/kg, p.o. or i.p.) showed a neuroprotective effect on KA (0.1 microgram) toxicity. KA-induced gliosis and proinflammatory marker (IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and COX-2) inductions were also suppressed by visnagin administration. These results suggest that visnagin has a neuroprotective effect in terms of suppressing KA-induced pathogenesis in the brain, and that these neuroprotective effects are associated with its anti-inflammatory effects.
Ammi ; Animals ; Benzoxazines ; Blood Cells ; Blood Vessels ; Brain ; Calcium ; Cell Death ; Contracts ; Cytokines ; Fruit ; Gliosis ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Hippocampus ; Interleukin-6 ; Kainic Acid ; Khellin ; Mice ; Neurons ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Viola

The present study demonstrates the effect of fibrates, agonists of PPARalpha on cytokines-induced proliferation in primary cultured astrocytes. Alone or combination treatment with cytokines, such as IL-1beta (10 ng/ml), IFNgamma (10 ng/ml), and TNF-alpha (10 ng/ml) cause a significant increase of cell proliferation in a time-dependent manner. Treatment of astrocytes with bezafibrate and fenofibrate (0, 5, and 10 micrometer) reduced the IFNgamma and IL-1beta-induced cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. To address the involvement of IL-6 on the IFNgamma and IL-1beta-induced cell proliferation, released IL-6 level was measured. IFNgamma and IL-1beta cause an increase of released IL-6 protein level in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, pretreatment with IL-6 antibody (0, 0.1, 1, 2.5, and 5 ng/ml) dose-dependently inhibited the IFNgamma and IL-1beta-induced cell proliferation. However, bezafibrate and fenofibrate did not affect increased mRNA and protein levels of IL-6 in IFNgamma and IL-1beta-stimulated astrocytes. Taken together, these results clearly suggest that activation of PPARalpha attenuates the IFNgamma and IL-1beta-induced cell proliferation through IL-6 independent pathway.
Astrocytes ; Bezafibrate ; Cell Proliferation ; Cytokines ; Fenofibrate ; Fibric Acids ; Interleukin-6 ; PPAR alpha ; RNA, Messenger ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND: The pulmonary nodules (PN), when indicated, need thoracoscopic resection, especially in cases of non-diagnostic or technically infeasible PCNA (percutaneous needle aspiration). In the difficult situations of small or deeply seated PN, several techniques facilitating thoracoscopy have been used for detecting them. Our new protocol for managing PN was developed and prospectively reviewed. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In the procedure of PCNA, we firstly placed the tip of the needle in the center of, or just in contact with PN under CT guidance, and loaded one or two segments of platinum radiomarker inside the needle after removing the stylet. Then, we forced the radiomarker to move to the tip of the needle by pushing the stylet. Finally, if the tip of the needle was not within PN, it was reoriented to the their center to obtain the sample for PCNA. RESULT: Between May 1999 and May 2000, radiomarkers were successfully placed in 28 PN of 26 patients, with the exception of one. In 18 (85%) of 21 nodules needing throacoscopy, intraoperative fluoroscopy was used to detect them or guide stapling resection during thoracoscopy. CONCLUSION: The advantages of this technique are that there is that there is no need for further localization for thoracoscopy even in cases of unsuccessful PCNA, and it was more effective in respect to both cost and time. Therefore, this strategy for PN expecting thoracoscopy will be helpful to patients and medical staff alike.
Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Medical Staff ; Needles ; Platinum ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Prospective Studies ; Thoracoscopy

PURPOSE: Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreaks occurred in Korea during the year 2015, with the involvement of 186 patients in a relatively short period of time. The epidemiological pattern in South Korea was hospital-associated. Infection control plans for all hospitals were implemented to stop the spread of and to protect the healthcare workers from MERS infection. Such enhanced guidelines for infection control measures might affect healthcare workers. The purpose of this study was to determine the changes of tertiary emergency department healthcare workers' perception and compliance to hand hygiene and personal protective equipment (PPE) before and after the MERS outbreak. METHODS: A written questionnaire was administered to members in the emergency department at Samsung Medical Center. Participants were asked to rate the combined overall effectiveness of hand hygiene and PPE and to report their compliance on a 5-point scale. This survey was conducted between 11th and 26th of September 2015. RESULTS: The total number of participants was 123. Perception of effectiveness before and after the MERS outbreak was improved on hand hygiene, N-95 masks, gowns, eye protection, and gloves, except surgical masks (3.65 vs. 3.68, p=0.714). Respondents showed a statistically higher compliance with hand washing and PPE. Compliance with hand hygiene and PPE showed a dependency on their patients' symptoms; symptoms of fever or fever with upper respiratory symptoms were reported with statistically increased compliance, with the exception of surgical masks. CONCLUSION: Infection control measures except surgical masks were perceived to be more effective post the MERS outbreaks. The emergency department's workers reported increased compliance on hand hygiene and PPE, except surgical masks.
Compliance* ; Coronavirus Infections* ; Delivery of Health Care ; Disease Outbreaks ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Fever ; Hand Disinfection ; Hand Hygiene ; Humans ; Infection Control* ; Korea ; Masks ; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus ; Middle East* ; Personal Protective Equipment ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Tricuspid regurgitation has been considered as a secondary lesion when it is combined with left valvular heart diseases. However, there have been some reports which show that tricuspid regurgitation keeps going and results in congestive heart failure even after a successful operation for left valvular heart disease. So far, there are no definite operation indications and predictive factors for the tricuspid regurgitation which is resulted from the left sided valvular heart disease. We designed this study to evaluate the effects of pulmonary artery pressure and left ventricular ejection fraction on the prognosis of tricuspid regurgitation, and to make an operation indication for the patients with secondary tricuspid regurgitation. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent surgery for the left sided valvular heart disease with tricuspid regurgitation and were followed for more than 1 year with echocardiograms. There was a total of 114 cases. We compared the grades of tricuspid regurgitations and pulmonary artery pressures and left ventricular ejection fractions on the basis of echocardiograms which were checked preoperatively and on the last follow up. RESULT: There were 43 cases of tricuspid annuloplasty. In these patients, the grades of tricuspid regurgitations were improved in 42 cases (97.7%). But in 71 cases without annuloplasty, 29 cases (41%) were improved, 32 cases (45%) had no change, and 10 cases (14%) were aggravated. This finding shows significant differences in the prognoses of tricuspid regurgitations between the two groups (p<0.05). There was no difference in pulmonary artery pressures and ejection fractions between the patients who showed progression of tricuspid regurgitations and those who didn't (p>0.05). The improvements of tricuspid regurgitations are not statistically related to the changes of pulmonary artery pressures or left ventricular ejection fractions. CONCLUSION: This study shows that it is impossible to predict the prognoses of tricuspid regurgitations with preoperative pulmonary artery pressures or left ventricular ejection fractions. Also, the excellent results of tricuspid annuloplasty is proven in controlling the secondary tricuspid regurgitations. Therefore, when tricuspid regurgitation is detected preoperatively, the procedures to correct the tricuspid regurgitation at the time of the operation for the left-sided valvular heart disease must be considered positively, regardless of the grades of tricuspid regurgitations, to prevent significant tricuspid regurgitation that may develop later.
Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Failure ; Heart Valve Diseases* ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Prognosis* ; Pulmonary Artery ; Stroke Volume ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency*

We have recently demonstrated that some anti-diabetic drugs such as biguanide and thizolidinediones administered centrally modulate the blood glucose level, suggesting that orally administered anti-diabetic drugs may modulate the blood glucose level by acting on central nervous system. The present study was designed to explore the possible action of another class of anti-diabetic drugs, glinidies, administered centrally on the blood glucose level in ICR mice. Mice were administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) or intrathecally (i.t.) with 5 to 30 microg of repaglinide or nateglinide in D-glucose-fed and streptozotocin (STZ)-treated models. We found that i.c.v. or i.t. injection with repaglinide dose-dependently attenuated the blood glucose level in D-glucose-fed model, whereas i.c.v. or i.t. injection with nateglinide showed no modulatory action on the blood glucose level in D-glucose-fed model. Furthermore, the effect of repaglinide administered i.c.v. or i.t. on the blood glucose level in STZ-treated model was studied. We found that repaglinide administered i.c.v. slightly enhanced the blood glucose level in STZ-treated model. On the other hand, i.t. injection with repaglinide attenuated the blood glucose level in STZ-treated model. The plasma insulin level was enhanced by repaglinide in D-glucose-fed model, but repaglinide did not affect the plasma insulin level in STZ-treated model. In addition, nateglinide did not alter the plasma insulin level in both D-glucose-fed and STZ-treated models. These results suggest that the anti-diabetic action of repaglinide appears to be, at least, mediated via the brain and the spinal cord as revealed in both D-glucose fed and STZ-treated models.
Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Brain ; Carbamates ; Central Nervous System ; Cyclohexanes ; Glucose* ; Hand ; Insulin ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Phenylalanine ; Piperidines ; Plasma ; Spinal Cord ; Streptozocin

The possible roles of spinal histamine receptors in the regulation of the blood glucose level were studied in ICR mice. Mice were intrathecally (i.t.) treated with histamine 1 (H1) receptor agonist (2-pyridylethylamine) or antagonist (cetirizine), histamine 2 (H2) receptor agonist (dimaprit) or antagonist (ranitidine), histamine 3 (H3) receptor agonist (alpha-methylhistamine) or antagonist (carcinine) and histamine 4 (H4) receptor agonist (VUF 8430) or antagonist (JNJ 7777120), and the blood glucose level was measured at 30, 60 and 120 min after i.t. administration. The i.t. injection with alpha-methylhistamine, but not carcinine slightly caused an elevation of the blood glucose level. In addition, histamine H1, H2, and H4 receptor agonists and antagonists did not affect the blood glucose level. In D-glucose-fed model, i.t. pretreatment with cetirizine enhanced the blood glucose level, whereas 2-pyridylethylamine did not affect. The i.t. pretreatment with dimaprit, but not ranitidine, enhanced the blood glucose level in D-glucose-fed model. In addition, alpha-methylhistamine, but not carcinine, slightly but significantly enhanced the blood glucose level D-glucose-fed model. Finally, i.t. pretreatment with JNJ 7777120, but not VUF 8430, slightly but significantly increased the blood glucose level. Although histamine receptors themselves located at the spinal cord do not exert any effect on the regulation of the blood glucose level, our results suggest that the activation of spinal histamine H2 receptors and the blockade of spinal histamine H1 or H3 receptors may play modulatory roles for up-regulation and down-regulation, respectively, of the blood glucose level in D-glucose fed model.
Animals ; Blood Glucose* ; Cetirizine ; Dimaprit ; Down-Regulation ; Glucose ; Histamine* ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Ranitidine ; Receptors, Histamine H2 ; Receptors, Histamine H3 ; Receptors, Histamine* ; Spinal Cord ; Up-Regulation