Antihypertensive and untoward effects of atenolol were studied in 20 cases of essential hypertension with their average pre-treatment systolic and diastolic blood pressures of approximately 160mmhg and 100mmhg, respectively. All patients were assigned to a single dose of 50mg atenolol once daily for a period of four weeks, and a weekly complete history and physical examination. Besides routine blood counts and urinalysis, blood chemistry relating to hepatic and renal functions, and electrolytes balance as well as fasting blood sugar levels were checked before and at the end of medication. In addition, in 10 cases, pulmonary function was studied before and after one week of treatment. With the therapy, the diastolic blood pressure fell to 90mmHg or below in 17 out of 20 cases(85%), and the pre-treatment diastolic blood pressure in the remaining three cases who responded poorly was 108mmHg or above. However two cases of the 17, who responded well and whose blood pressure became normal, had an initial diastolic pressure of 110mmHg each. The hypotensive effect of atenolol on both systolic and diastolic blood pressures was essentially similar, and the effect appeared during the first week with its peak effect occurring during the third week. There was no significant difference during treatment between recumbent and sitting blood pressures, both systolic and diastolic; thus no postural hypotension was observed. The comparison of the results of post-treatment laboratory tests with pre-treatment data revealed no significant changes. These suggest that atenolol can be used in patients with diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or cerebral sclerosis, which are frquently associated with essential hypertension. Also a once-daily dose with satisfactory hypotensive response is one of very practical advantages of atenolol, particularly from the patient's point of view, in the treatment of hypertension, in which a life-long therapy is needed in most cases. Thus atenolol seems to be one of the most attractive choices of drugs for the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension.
Atenolol* ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Chemistry ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Electrolytes ; Fasting ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Hypotension, Orthostatic ; Physical Examination ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; Urinalysis

No abstract available.

Antianginal and untoward effects of fenalcomine hydrochloride were studied in 24 cases of angina pectoris. Following discontinuation of all medications for 2 weeks except for liberal use of sublingual nitroglycerin for the relief of anginal attack, fenalcomine, 150mg a day in 3 divided doses, was given for 8 to 16 weeks. In 20 cases, routine blood counts including platelets, serum electrolytes and cholesterol as well as blood sugar level were checked before and at the completion of the medication. hepatic and renal functions were also studied. The effect of fenalcomine on severity, frequency and duration of anginal attack was excellent to good in 17 cases(70.9%), and was fair in 5 cases(20.8%). In the remaining 2 cases(8.3%), who responded poorly had angina pectoris for more than 3 years. It appeared that fenalcomine was similarly effective in those with or without associated hypertension or diabetes mellitus, or history of previous myocardial infarction. The comparison of the results of post-treatment laboratory tests with pre-treatment data revealed no significant changes. Furthermore, no untoward clinical reactions attributable to the drug was noted in all cases. These facts suggest that fenalcomine is a reliable and well tolerated antianginal agent which can be used singly or in combination with other agents.
Angina Pectoris ; Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Electrolytes ; Hypertension ; Myocardial Infarction ; Nitroglycerin

PURPOSE: Keratoconus is a bilateral noninflammatory ecstatic disease of cornea. Clinical manifestations and treatments are well-described , but the exact pathophysiology has many debates. There are many reports on pathologic abnormalities of keratoconus, but few reports on epithelial adhesion complex. The authors investigated the abnormalities in epithelial adhesion complex of keratoconus. METHODS: Using 4 corneas from 4 recipients of penetrating keratoplasty, examination was done with transmission electron microscope (Hitachi-600, Japan) after proper fixation and staining. Central and peripheral portion of each corneal tissues were examined. RESULTS: In two tissues, severe degeneration of basement membrane and Bowman's layer were found. Some degree of abnormalities was found in other tissues, which had minimal change. Some of hemidesmosomes, the most distinct part of adhesion complex, were found only in well-maintained tissue but the distribution was abnormal. CONCLUSIONS: The fact that basal plasma membrane had selectively more degenerations and changes than intercellular plasma membrane implies pathophysiology of keratoconus on adhesion complex, basal plasma membrane, basement membrane and Bowman's layer. Further study on this issue will reveal more information as to its pathophysiology.
Basement Membrane ; Cell Membrane ; Cornea ; Hemidesmosomes ; Keratoconus* ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Delivery of Health Care* ; Family Practice* ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Insurance* ; Korea*

Background: Recognition and ingestion of opsonized microorganisms by neutrophils induces the burst of oxidative metabolic activity. Products of the respiratory burst activity provide powerful oxygen dependent killing mechanism. Measurement of respiratory burst activity has been a major indicator of the functional capacity of neutrophils. We determined the respiratory burst activity of neutrophils in patients with pneumonia and observed the changes during the clinical course of pneumonia. Methods: The EDTA blood was drawn from 24 normal controls and same numbers of pneumonia patients. The respiratory burst activity(with the production of H2O2 which changes nonfluorescent DCF-DA to green fluorescent DCF) in the non-stimulated state and the stimulated state with fMLP and PMA of neutrophils was measured by flowcytometry at day 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 of admission. Results: The respiratory burst activity of neutrophils was mildly increased by stimulation with fMLP. But there was no statistical significance between normal control and patients with pneumonia. The respiratory burst activity of neutrophils was markedly increased by stimulation with PMA in both groups. There was a significant difference in response to PMA between normal control and patients with pneumonia. The production of hydrogen peroxide from neutrophils was decreased during early course of pneumonia and it was recuperated gradually to normal level in 9 days. Conclusion: Hydrogen peroxide production from neutrophils was suppressed during early course of pneumonia and restored after treatment. It is suggested that the production of oxygen radical in response to PMA stimulation from each neutrophils is decreased rather than increased during the early course of pneumonia.
Eating ; Edetic Acid ; Homicide ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Neutrophils* ; Oxygen ; Pneumonia* ; Respiratory Burst

Background: Recognition and ingestion of opsonized microorganisms by neutrophils induces the burst of oxidative metabolic activity. Products of the respiratory burst activity provide powerful oxygen dependent killing mechanism. Measurement of respiratory burst activity has been a major indicator of the functional capacity of neutrophils. We determined the respiratory burst activity of neutrophils in patients with pneumonia and observed the changes during the clinical course of pneumonia. Methods: The EDTA blood was drawn from 24 normal controls and same numbers of pneumonia patients. The respiratory burst activity(with the production of H2O2 which changes nonfluorescent DCF-DA to green fluorescent DCF) in the non-stimulated state and the stimulated state with fMLP and PMA of neutrophils was measured by flowcytometry at day 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 of admission. Results: The respiratory burst activity of neutrophils was mildly increased by stimulation with fMLP. But there was no statistical significance between normal control and patients with pneumonia. The respiratory burst activity of neutrophils was markedly increased by stimulation with PMA in both groups. There was a significant difference in response to PMA between normal control and patients with pneumonia. The production of hydrogen peroxide from neutrophils was decreased during early course of pneumonia and it was recuperated gradually to normal level in 9 days. Conclusion: Hydrogen peroxide production from neutrophils was suppressed during early course of pneumonia and restored after treatment. It is suggested that the production of oxygen radical in response to PMA stimulation from each neutrophils is decreased rather than increased during the early course of pneumonia.
Eating ; Edetic Acid ; Homicide ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Neutrophils* ; Oxygen ; Pneumonia* ; Respiratory Burst

OBJECTIVES: Culture of sputum is apt to be contaminated through oral cavity and proximal airway. Therefore, identification of true etiologic agents by sputum culture is not always reliable. In order to differentiate the pulmonary infection from non-infectious disease and to identify the true etiologic agent of acute pulmonary infection, we used PSB(Protected Specimen Brushing) and evaluated the efficacy of PSB. METHODS: In 168 patients with acute febrile illness with pulmonary infiltrations(male 106, female: 61, mean age: 49.5+/-17.6), we performed PSB via a bronchoscope and compared the results along with blood culture and sputum culture. Protected specimen brush was introduced through biopsy channel of bronchoscope and was rotated within the purulent secretions. Tip of the brush was severed with aseptic technique and was immersed in 1cc of Ringer's lactate solution and vigorously mixed for 1 minute. The specimen was submitted for quantitative culture within 15 minutes and was regarded positive culture if colony forming units were above 10(3)/ml. RESULTS: Using PSB for the diagnosis of pulmonary infection, sensitivity was 71.1% and specificity was 84.296. PSB was helpful in identifing true etiologic agent among several potentially pathogenic organisms. Using PSB for the diagnosis of UAP (ventilator associated pneumonia), sensitivity was 72.4% and specificity was 100%. CONCLUSION: Use of PSB can be a helpful method for the diagnosis of pulmonary infection and identification of its etiologic agents.
Biopsy ; Bronchoscopes ; Diagnosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; Mouth ; Pneumonia ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sputum ; Stem Cells

No abstract available.
Glomus Tumor*