No abstract available.
Humans ; Tuberous Sclerosis*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Immunohistochemistry* ; Neurons* ; Rats* ; Substantia Nigra*

PURPOSE:Growth hormone(GH) therapy is very effective for the treatment of short stature, but it is unconvenient that GH should be injected daily because of short half-life. Sustained-release forms of GH preparation is needed for better compliance. This study aimed to measure peak pattern and duration of release of hGH from solid microparticles using sodium hyaluronate. METHODS:In group 1, hGH(EutropinTM) 285microg/kg was injected subcutaneously to 2 Jindo dogs everyday for 7 days. In group 2, hGH solution(EutropinTM) was continuously infused subcutaneously for 12 hours a day for the first 2 days via mini pump(minimed co.) and then for 24 hours a day thereafter until 7th day with the rate of 11.9microg/kg/hr. In group 3, dose of 2mg/kg hGH in sustained-release formulation using sodium hyaluronate, was injected subcutaneously to 3 Jindo dogs. In group 4, two dose levels of 1mg/kg and 2mg/kg hGH in sustained-release formulation using sodium hyaluronate, were injected subcutaneously to each group of 4 Beagle dogs. To evaluate side reactions from continuous injection of sodium hyaluronate, sustained release form of hGH 2mg/kg was injected to 4 Beagle dogs once a week for 4 weeks and compared to 4 control Beagle dogs. Blood samples were withdrawn half- hourly for 6 hour and 2-4 times a day thereafter in Jindo dogs and at 6hr, 12hr, 22hr in the first day and twice a day(at 9:00, 16:00 O'clock) for the following 6 days. RESULTS:In group 1, peak GH conc. of 122+/-27ng/ml was observed at 1 hour after hGH(EutropinTM) 285microg/kg injection and 1/2 of peak GH conc. at 4 hour. and decreased to 2ng/ml at 24 hour. GH AUC(Area under curve) was 670(ng/ml.hr). In group 2, initial steady state GH conc. of 25ng/ml occurred after 6 hour, however, GH conc. decreased gradually to 16ng/ml at the 7th day. GH AUC based on th initial steady state GH conc. was 600(ng/ml.hr). In group 3(Jindo dogs), GH conc. was peaked at 12 hour and 1/2 of peak GH conc at 30-46 hour and decreased to baseline at 70 hour. GH AUC was 2173(ng/ml.hr). In group 4(Beagle dog), peak GH concentrations of 56+/-7ng/ml and 108+/-12ng/ml were observed at 12 hour for the doses of 1mg/ kg and 2mg/kg, respectively and 1/2 of peak GH conc at 48 hour and decreased to baseline at 80 hour. GH AUC was 3560(ng/ml.h) for 2mg/kg treated dogs. Serum IGF-1 was increased to peak levels of 520ng/ml, and 580ng/ml for the doses of 1mg/kg 2mg/kg, respectively, and persisted above the baseline till 120 hour. There was no specific side reaction during experimental period. CONCLUSION: Sustained-release form of hGH with sodium hyaluronate released GH for 70-80 hour with the peak level lower than that resulted from the conventional aqueous formulation of the equivalent dose, and higher concentration IGF-I maintained for 120 hour after injection above baseline. More extensive study is needed to permit for new therapeutic application.
Animals* ; Area Under Curve ; Compliance ; Dogs ; Growth Hormone* ; Half-Life ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Polymers

PURPOSE: To analyse the parameters of in vivo pharmacokinetics such as absorption, distributionin , and excretion of adriamycin patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, and investigate the stagnation of adriamycin, in the liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five patients in whom hepatocellular carcinoma was diagnosed and who were admitted for transhepatic chemoembolization were involved in this study. Fifty mg of adriamycin was mixed with 2.5 mL of water-soluble contrast material and 12 -15 mL of lipiodol, and the emulsion was injected into a selected tumor-supplying artery using a 3-F catheter. Between 1 minute and 72 hours after chemoembolization, peripheral blood samples were then obtained, and from these the blood concentration curve of adriamycin was calculated and applied to a two-compartment model. Using the model, several pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated. RESULTS: The volume of the central and the peripheral compartment was 45 L and 4090.6 L, respectively. 75.14% of adriamycin was delivered to the liver directly, and the absorption rate constant was 2.448/hr. Distribution clearance was 969.3 L/hr, and excretion and metabolic clearance was 136.4 L/hr. CONCLUSION: Using a two-compartment model, the in vivo pharmacokinetics of adriamycin after hepatic arterial chemoembolization were successfully analyzed. On the basis of the parameters determined, it may be concluded that in these five patients, adriamycin remained in the liver in much greater quantities and for longer. Index words : Liver neoplasms Liver neoplasms, chemotherapeutic embolization Chemotherapy, regional
Absorption ; Arteries ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Catheters ; Doxorubicin* ; Drug Therapy ; Ethiodized Oil ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Neoplasms ; Pharmacokinetics*

The present study was performed to investigate the role catecholamine in the genesis of reperfusion injury of ischemic heart. The possible involvement of catecholamine in the xanthine oxidase-linked production of oxygen free radicals was studied. langendorff preparations of rat hearts were made ischemic for 60 min followed by reperfusion. Upon reperfusion norepinephrine(NE) was significantly released into the coronary effluent regardless of oxygenation of the perfusion solution. Both the increased releases of creatine phosphokinase(CPK) and malondialdehyde(MDA) and the production of superoxide anion in the ischemic-reperfused hearts were significantly reduced by the treatment with either reserpine, a catecholamine depletor, or propranolol, a beta-adrenergic receptor blocker. In the reserpinized hearts, infusion of exogenous NE reversed the releases of CPK and MDA and the superoxide anion production to the original higher levels. The releases of CPK and MDA as well as the production of superoxide anion induced by NE in the reserpinized hearts were significantly depressed either by allopurinol, a specific competitive inhibior of xanthine oxidase(XOD), or by the calcium removal from the perfusion solution. Compared with the XOD activity of control ischemic hearts, that of the hearts treated with reserpine or propranolol showed lower activity in the oxygen radical producing 0-form and higher activity in D/0-form. In the reserpinized ischemic hearts, infusion of exogenous NE increased 0-form, but decreased D/0-form of XOD. The changes in XOD activities induced by exogenous NE was prevented by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride(a serine protease inhibitor) and pimoxide(a calmodulin inhibitor) as well as by calcium removal from the perfusion solution. It is suggested from the results that in the inchemic-reperfused heart of rat catecholamine participates in D/0 to 0-form conversion of XOD by promoting the calcium-calmodulin-dependent proteolysis and plays a contributing role in the production of oxygen free radical.
Allopurinol ; Animals ; Calcium ; Calmodulin ; Creatine ; Free Radicals ; Heart* ; Oxygen ; Perfusion ; Propranolol ; Proteolysis ; Rats* ; Reperfusion Injury* ; Reperfusion* ; Reserpine ; Serine Proteases ; Superoxides ; Xanthine Oxidase* ; Xanthine*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of the arterial phase of dynamic spiral CT in the detection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma compared with the late phase. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two phase spiral CT images of seventeen patients with pathologically proven pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas were compared retrospectively. CT scans were performed with 5mm collimation at 1:1 pitch table speed. Images of arterial and late phases were obtained at 35 seconds and 180 seconds after initiation of administration of 100mL of contrast material(3mL/sec), respectively. Images of the arterial phase were compared with those of the late phase. RESULTS: Images of the arterial phase showed sufficient contrast between the tumor and adjacent pancreatic parenchyma in 12 cases, insufficient in four cases, and no significant contrast in one case. Images of the late phase showed sufficient contrast in five cases, insufficient in five cases, and no significant contrast in seven cases. Images of the arterial phase was superior to that of the late phase in 12 patients(70.6%). In six of the 12 patients, only the images of the arterial phase showed contrast between the tumor and the adjacent parenchyma. The images of late phase showed only one case of three metastasis detected on the images of the arterial phase. CONCLUSION: The arterial phase of spiral CT is superior to the late phase that is comparable with conventional CT in the detection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Spiral Computed* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Non-metrical morphologic variations of skull foramina were studied with 250 crania of Korean adults. Studied morphologic variationts were presence of supra-orbital foramen(33.3%), frontal foramen(27.7%), accessory infraorbital foramen(13.2%), accessory lesser palatine foramen(41.0%), Vesalius foramen (16.9%), Huschke foramen(18.8%), condylar canal(62.6%) and parietal foramen(49.8%). The ahsence of posterior ethmoidal foramen(0.2%), zygomaticofacial foramen(7.1%) and mastoid foramen(30.2%) was also observed. The variations were presence of the exsutural location of anterior ethmoidal foramen 30.8%), mastoid foramen(35.9%) and incomplete development of oval foramen(4.9%), foramen spinosum(9.6%), hypoglossal foramen(9.6%). And incidence of these variations were compared with 12 different geographical localitics.
Adult ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mastoid ; Rabeprazole ; Skull*

Intracerebral hemorrhage is the most serious complication of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVM). To identify angiographic characteristics of AVM which correlate with a history of hemorrhage, we retrospectively analyzed angiographic findings of 25 patients with AVM. Nine characteristics were evaluated; these include nidus size, location, arterial aneurysm, intranidal aneurysm, angiomatous change, venous drainage pattern, venous stenosis, delayed drainage and venous ectasia. These characteristics were correlated with hemorrhage, which was seen in 18 (72%) patients of CT or MR images. Venous stenosis (P<.05) and delaved venous drainage (P<.05) well correlated with a history of hemorrhage. Arterial aneurysm and intranidal aneurysm also had a tendency hemorrhage although they did not prove to be statistically significant. Detailed analysis of angiographic finding of AVM is important for recognition of characteristics which are related to hemorrhage and may contribute to establishing a prognosis and treatment planning.
Aneurysm ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dilatation, Pathologic ; Drainage ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To determine the accuracy of automated computer aided volumetry for simulated small pulmonary nodules at computed tomography using various types of phantoms MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three sets of synthetic nodules (small, calcified and those adjacent to vessels) were studied. The volume of the nodules in each set was already known, and using multi-slice CT, volumetric data for each nodule was acquired from the three-dimensional reconstructed image. The volume was calculated by applying three different threshold values using Rapidia(R) software (3D-Med, Seoul, Korea). RESULTS: Relative errors in the measured volume of synthetic pulmonary nodules were 17.3, 2.9, and 11.5% at -200, -400, and -600 HU, respectively, and there was good correlation between true volume and measured volume at -400 HU (r=0.96, p<0.001). For calcified nodules, relative errors in measured volume were 10.9, 5.3, and 16.5% at -200, -400, and -600 HU, respectively, and there was good correlation between true volume and measured volume at -400 HU (r=1.03, p<0.001). In cases involving synthetic nodules adjacent to vessels, relative errors were 4.6, 16.3, and 31.2 % at -200, -400, and -600 HU, respectively. There was good correlation between true volume and measured volume at -200 HU (r=1.1, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Using computer-aided volumetry, the measured volumes of synthetic nodules correlated closely with their true volume. Measured volumes were the same at each threshold level, regardless of window setting.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Seoul

PURPOSE: We evaluated the usefulness of quantitative spiral CT to predict postoperative lung function in patients undergoing pulmonary resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients in whom pneumonectomy or segmentectomy were performed underwent preoperative chest spiral CT and pulmonary function test(PFT). Six patients underwent postoperative follow-up PFT. Ten patients underwent preoperative radioisotope(RI) lung perfusion scan. Preoperative CT data were postprocessed with contiguous pixel method ranged from -9107HU to -500HU to quantify total functional lung volume(TFLV) and regional volume to be resected(RFLV). Postoperative lung function was predicted by following formula;Predicted postoperative PFT value=preoperative PFT x 1-RFLV/TFLV). CT predicted value was compared with postoperative measured PFT value and those value of RI perfusion scan. RESULTS: CT predicted values were very close to postoperative measured value and RI predicted value, and were correlated well with postoperative measured values (FVC: r=0.988, P<0.001 ;FEV1: r=0.994, P<0.001) and RI predicted values (FVC :r=0.976, P<0.001 ;FEVl: r=0.974, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Quantitative spiral CT was useful to predict postoperative lung function and could be an effective alternative to RI perfusion scan.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung* ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Perfusion ; Pneumonectomy ; Thorax ; Tomography, Spiral Computed*