Although it has been suggested that the calcium antagonist verapamil has beneficial effects on ischemic myocardium, its effect during coronary reperfusion has not been studied in detail. The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of verapamil on myocardial damage quantitatively using 111 In-anticardiac myosin antibody (ACM Ab) and qualitatively using electronmicroscopic method. Anesthetized open-chest dogs were subjected to 1 hour of occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) followed by 90 minutes of reperfusion. Regional myocardial blood flow was determined by injecting 85Sr-microsphere prior to LAD reperfusion, and regional myocardial damage was measured by injecting 111In-ACm Ab at 30 minutes after LAD reperfusion. Six dogs were randomly selected as saline control and verapamil-treated (0.6 mg/kg. hr) groups each. Saline or verapamil was infused at 40 minutes after LAD occlusion and continued through the experiment. 1) Verapamil produced significant (P<0.05 by Wilcoxon rank sum test) decrease in heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure and double product. There was no significant change in pulmonary hemodynamics or cardiac output. 2) Stroke volume was reduced significantly (P<0.05 by Wilcoxon rank sum test) after 30 minutes of LAD reperfusion in the control group, but it was preserved in the verapamil-treated group. 3) There was an inverse exponential relationship between 111In-ACm Ab localization and regional blood flow in both control (r=-0.86) and verapamil treated (r=-0.71) groups. Significant difference between the two groups was found in exponential curve (p[t]<0.05). 4) A lesser uptake of 111in-ACM Ab was observed in the verapamil treated group compared with that in the control group in the region where the regional blood flow was lower than 30+/- of normal. 5) In the control group, the myocardium showed swelling, contraction bands, and electron dense granules in the mitochondria which were proven to be calcium aggregates. In the verapamiltreated grooup, the myocardium showed fewer electro dense granules and mild degree of contraction bands. This study supports the concept that verapamil reduces the myocardial damage following coronary reperfusion in myocardial infarction and may reduce contraction band necrosis.
Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Calcium* ; Cardiac Output ; Coronary Vessels ; Dogs ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Mitochondria ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardial Reperfusion* ; Myocardium* ; Myosins ; Necrosis ; Regional Blood Flow ; Reperfusion ; Stroke Volume ; Verapamil

The purpose of this study was to improve bone formation and shorten the period involved in distraction osteogenesis using sodium fluoride (NaF). This has been used in managing osteoporosis for several decades. This study was carried out on 40 New Zealand white rabbits. Twenty animals were used for a control group (no medication) and 20 for the experimental group. NaF 1 mg/kg/day was administered to each experimental animal via drinking water beginning 4 weeks prior to surgery and continued until sacrifice for examination. A distraction device was applied to the left mandible along a plane perpendicular to the direction of osteotomy. After a 5-day latent period, the mandibles were lengthened at 1 mm per 24 hours for 10 days. Five rabbits from each group were sacrificed on the 1st day, 2nd week, 4th week and 8th week of the consolidation period. After lengthening, all the rabbits developed a severe cross-bite. By the 4th week, cortical continuity was seen. Bone densities at the site of bony lengthening were measured by quantitative computer tomography (QCT) and dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The results were as follows: the measurements of the experimental group were significantly higher than of the control group by the 1st day of the consolidation period (p>0.05) and insignificantly higher after the 2nd week. Histologically, in the experimental group, there were more osteoblasts, increased and thickened trabeculae and more mature lamellar bones than in the control group. This study showed that osteogenesis of the experimental group was significantly higher during and immediately after distraction. Our study suggested that the use of NaF could improve bone formation and decrease the period of distraction osteogenesis if a safe dose and method of fluoride administration can be determined for growing humans.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Animals ; Bone Density ; Drinking Water ; Fluorides ; Humans ; Mandible* ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Osteogenesis, Distraction* ; Osteoporosis ; Osteotomy ; Rabbits* ; Sodium Fluoride* ; Sodium*

This retrospective study was undertaken to provide information when considering aspects of future prevention and quantifying demand fir medical services. And it comprised 835 patients with facial bone fractures in various accidents and treated in the department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the Yeungnam University Hospital during the past five years from January 1991 to December 1996. The medical records of this 835 patients(1,210 fractures) were reviewed and analyzed in order to obtain the clinical pattern and understand the therapeutic tendency. The following results were obtained; 1. The greatest number of patients were sustained facial bone injuries between midnight and 3:00. The monthly incidence showed in September at the most and at the least in December. The increase of facial bone injuries of 11.3% per year was shown. 2. The mean age of patients was 30 years. The most prevalent age group was at third decade(31.9%). Males were predominated more than female(3.6 : 1). 3. The most common cause was traffic accidents(41.6%) followed by violence, fall, industrial accidents and others. 4. The most common fracture was found in the nose(35.1%) followed by mandible(22.6%), zygoma(21.1%), and maxilla(11.2%). 5. Associated injuries were as following order of frequency; ophthalmologic injury(21.0%), other facial bone fractures(18.2%), head injury(10.2%). 6. Open reduction was used for 53.9% of total cases while 40.6% of total cases required closed reduction, and 5.5% of total cases treated conservatively. The complication rate was 18.5% and complications were as following order of frequency; facial asymmetry(37.2%), diplopia and enophthalmos(19.4%), and local infection(12.8%).
Accidents, Occupational ; Diplopia ; Facial Bones* ; Head ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Medical Records ; Plastics ; Retrospective Studies ; Violence

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of incisor protrusion on the mucogingival parameters including the width of attached gingiva. Thirty-seven young adults with lower anterior crowding were selected for this study. From the study model, the degrees of relative and absolute protrusions were measured for each lower incisor. Clinical crown height, the width of keratinized gingiva, probing depth and the width of attached gingiva were measured with digital vernier calipers and Florida Probe System. Through comparing the difference of the above measurements between protruded and non-protruded incisors, and correlation analysis between each measurement, following results were obtained: 1. The protruded incisor showed narrow width of keratinized and attached gingiva comparing to non-protruded incisor. 2. The protruded incisor showed greater clinical crown height comparing to non-protruded side while there was no difference in the probing depth between protruded and non-protruded side. 3. The difference in the width of attached gingiva between protruded and non-protruded incisors showed higher significance in the lateral incisor than in the central incisor. 4. The degree of relative protrusion showed higher correlation with the width of attached gingiva than the degree of absolute protrusion. 5. Clinical crown height showed higher correlation with the width of attached gingiva than the degree of protrusion.
Crowding ; Crowns ; Florida ; Gingiva* ; Humans ; Incisor ; Overbite ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of synthetic fibronectin (FN) fragments, including fibrin binding sites from amino-terminal FN fragments containing type I repeats 1 to 5, on osteoblast-like cell activity. METHODS: Oligopeptides ranging from 9 to 20 amino acids, designated FF1, FF3, and FF5, were synthesized by a solid-phase peptide synthesizing system, and we investigated the effects of these peptides on cell attachment and extent of mineralization using confocal microscopy, 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays, and Alizarin red S staining. RESULTS: FF3 and FF5 peptides increased the number of attached human osteoblastic cells, and FF3 administration led to prominent cell spreading. Mineralization was increased in FF3 and FF5 compared to FF1 and the untreated control. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, it can be concluded that the fibrin-binding oligopeptides FF3 and FF5 enhanced cell attachment and mineralization on osteoblast-like cells. These results indicate that FF3 and FF5 have the potential to increase osteoblast-like cell activity. Performing an in vivo study may provide further possibilities for surface modification of biomimetic peptides to enhance osteogenesis, thus improving the regeneration of destroyed alveolar bone.
Amino Acids ; Anthraquinones ; Binding Sites ; Biomimetics ; Fibrin ; Fibronectins ; Humans ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Oligopeptides ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Peptides ; Regeneration ; Tetrazolium Salts ; Thiazoles

No abstract available.
Perfusion*

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome is a systemic disease with a clinical spectrum ranging from subcorneal pustules, patterned exfoliation to extensive erosion and peeling of skin by the exfoliative toxin of group II Staphylococcus aureus. This disease occurs mainly in infancy and children below five years and it isn't easy to differentiate from other vesicular diseases clinically, but skin biopsy shows an epidermal split at the granular layer. The form and severity of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome will vary according to defense system and toxic factors. Treatment is effective antibiotics, and the mortality rate increases to 5% in children. In our four cases, symptoms were erythema and fever, followed by formation of large bullae and denuded skin. On laboratory findings, leukocytosis was noted in three cases, and S. aureus was confirmed by culture of eye discharge in all cases. Our cases improved with antibiotic therapy. We experienced four cases of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome which were presented with vesicle and exfoliative skin lesion and treated successfully.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Biopsy ; Child ; Erythema ; Fever ; Humans ; Leukocytosis ; Mortality ; Skin ; Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome* ; Staphylococcus aureus

PURPOSE: The tension-free vaginal tape SECUR(R) (TVT-S) is a new, minimally invasive sling procedure for treating female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). However, results of comparisons of the TVT-S with the transobturator tape (TOT) sling are lacking. Therefore, we investigated outcome and satisfaction of the TVT-S procedure compared with the TOT procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 64 patients with SUI who underwent the TVT-S (n=31) or TOT (MONARC(R), n=33) procedure and were followed up for more than 1 year. The preoperative evaluation included history taking, pelvic examination, consecutive 3-day voiding diary, and urodynamic study including Valsalva leak point pressure. Postoperatively, continence status and subjective patient satisfaction were evaluated. Cure was defined as the absence of any episodes of involuntary urine leakage during stressful activities and a stress cough test. RESULTS: The TVT-S group (71.0%) showed a slightly lower cure rate than did the MONARC group (84.8%); however, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups (p=0.179). Nine of the patients who underwent the TVT-S showed incontinence postoperatively. Among them, the H approach was used in 7 patients and the U approach was done in 2 patients. Following TVT-S and MONARC, the patients' reported satisfaction was 80.6% and 78.8%, respectively. Patient satisfaction did not differ significantly between the two groups (p=0.854). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that the TVT-S and MONARC procedures may be comparable in terms of cure rate and patient satisfaction after more than 1 year of follow-up.
Cough ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gynecological Examination ; Humans ; Patient Satisfaction ; Suburethral Slings ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Incontinence ; Urinary Incontinence, Stress ; Urodynamics

No abstract available.
Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Fibronectins* ; Osteoblasts* ; Titanium

Homeodomain transcription factors functioning downstream of BMP ventral pathway have been reported to share similar domain of roles in mesoderm patterning along the dorsal-ventral axis. To elucidate the differential role of PV.1 in the aspect of relationship between dorsal and ventral region, we tried to screen PV.1- interacting proteins. Twenty-four PV.1-interacting proteins were identified by yeast two-hybrid screening. Xvent-2 and Xclaudin-6 among these, went under domain study. The C-terminus of PV.1, more specifically 197-241 region was found to interact with Xclaudin-6. Meanwhile Xvent-2 has mild affinity to overall C-terminal region of PV.1. At the same time it was found that Xvent-2 homodimerizes and also binds to Xclaudin-6.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Mass Screening* ; Mesoderm ; Transcription Factors ; Xenopus laevis ; Yeasts