Many factors exert an influence on enzyme activity and thus on the rate of reactions that they catalyse. The most important of these factors are pH, temperature, substrate concentration, and the concentration of some inhibitors present. A solution of the enzyme diastase, which breaks down molecules of the polysaccharide starch to the disaccharide maltose by hydrolysis, was provided. Activity of these enzyme was measured by the rate at which starch was removed from the reaction mixture. These experiments were designed to study this reaction rate under varying conditions and the following results were obtained. 1. The range of optimum pH for this enzyme at room temperature was 4.0-7.0 and the optimum pH was 5.0. 2. The range of optimum temperatures for this enzyme at pH 7.0 was 30-50 degrees C and the optimum temperature was 40 degrees C. 3. The relationship between the enzyme activity and substrate concentration could be expressed by the Michaelis-Menten equation. The limiting velocity of these enzyme at room temperature and pH 7.0 was 415 microgram starch removed/ml of reaction mixture/min and Km, Michaelis constant, was 343 microgram/ml. 4. Inhibitors NaCl and HgCl2 blocked this enzyme activity completely at 1% and 0.01% respectively.
Amylases* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hydrolysis ; Maltose ; Mercuric Chloride ; Starch ; Water*

BACKGROUND: Since percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty(PMV) using balloon was introduced by Inoue in 1984, this procedure has been accepted as a new non-surgical therapeutic modality for the treatment of selected patients with mitral stenosis. Pregnant women with mitral stenosis has suffered from life threatening complication due to altered hemodynamic changes and heart failure. Surgical valvotomy has been performed after failure of medical therapy with high risk of fetal mortality and teratogenicity. PMV can be an adequate alternative to surgical valvotomy in pregnant women. METHODS: After precise echocardiographic examination of mitral valve and its surrounding structures including thrombi in left artrium was performed, antegrade transseptal procedure was done in all 3 cases with abdominal shield using Inoue balloon technique. RESULTS: Mitral valve area increased over 1.5cm2 and hemodynamic variables improved immediately after PMV. Symptoms subsided soon after PMV in all 3 cases. Healthy normal babies were delivered transvaginally without difficulties in all 3 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty is a safe and effective therapeuteic alternative to surgical valvotomy in a pregnant women with mitral stenosis who failed medical therapy, in a high risk or symptomatic pregnant women.
Echocardiography ; Female ; Fetal Mortality ; Heart Failure ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women

The deleterious effects of infected urine refluxing into the collecting system are well documented. The resultant renal scarring, parenchymal atrophy and interference with renal growth and function are recognized sequela that may profoundly affect the future of these children. Prevention of reflux nephropathy depends upon early identification off reflux and appropriate management with continuous antibiotic chemoprophylaxis or surgical correction. The ultimate goal of therapy for vesicoureteral reflux, whether medical or surgical , aims at protecting the kidney from scarring, improving the pre-existing renal function and allowing the fulfillment of renal growth potential. We report 11 patients(19 kidneys) with vesicoureteral reflux treated with ureteroneocystostomy during the past 4 years. Follow-up over 3 months was possible in 9 patients who have had no evidence of recurrent pyelonephritic episodes. In 9 patients(15 ureters), performed postoperative I.V.P. and V.C.U.G., reflux was disappeared in 8(14 ureters) and still persisted in only 1(1 ureter) with grade I. And 13 kidneys have been improved radiographically, but 2 which had been shown unilateral atrophy and contralateral compensatory hypertrophy, have not been changed postoperatively. Renal scarring in 8 kidneys(42%), associated with severe reflux(more than grade IV) and infection, have not been improved postoperatively, but the development of new scars and the progression of established scars have not been observed.
Atrophy ; Chemoprevention ; Child* ; Cicatrix ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Kidney ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux*

Three different chemical carcinogens, 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF), diethylnitrosamine(DENA), and 3'-methyl-4dimethylaminoazobenzene (3'-Me DAB) were used to induce hepatomas in rats. Plasma membrane surface proteins of normal rat liver cells and rat hepatomas were extracted with 3M KCI. From the analysis of the proteins of normal rat liver and rat hepatoma induced by 3'-Me DAB by discontinuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(Disc-PAGE), under nonreducing and nondenaturing conditions polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of SDS and 2-mercaptoethanol (SDS-PAGE), Sephadex G-200 gel permeation chromatography, DEAE-A50 ion-exchange chromatography and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, at least three tumor specific antigens were identified. One had a molecular weigh of 66,000 (pl=6.79) while the other two had the same molecular weight 73,000 but differed in their isoelectric points (7.58 and 7.81). For immunological analysis of tumor specific antigens, the absorbed antiserum was prepared. Plasma membrane surface proteins of rat hepatoma induced by 3'-Me DAB were used to obtain New Zealand White male rabbit antiserum. Rabbit antiserum was then reacted with the proteins isolated from the plasma membrane surface of normal rat liver and the absorbed antiserum reacting specifically with the tumor specific antigens derived by 3'-Me DAB was obtained. Using the absorbed antiserum, the immunoreactivities of plasma membrane surface proteins isolated from rat hepatomas induced by 3'-Me DAB, AAF, and DENA were compared by Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion analysis and immunoelectrophoresis. To characterize the proteins reacting to the absorbed antiserum, immunoglobulin G was separated from the absorbed antiserum and coupled to cyanogen bromide-activated Sepharose CL-4B. The isolated proteins from the plasma membrane surface proteins of 3'-Me DAB-induced hepatoma using this immunoaffinity chromatography had molecular weights of 66,000 and 73,000. The localization of these proteins on surface plasma membranes of rat hepatomas induced by 3'-Me DAB was confirmed by an immunofluorescence technique. The experimental results revealed the existence of cross-reacting common antigens on the plasma membrane surface of rat hepatomas induced by different hepatocarcinogens.
2-Acetylaminofluorene ; Animal ; Antigens, Neoplasm/*isolation and purification ; Antigens, Surface/isolation and purification ; Diethylnitrosamine ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/chemically induced/*immunology ; Methyldimethylaminoazobenzene ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Strains ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Crossed renal ectopia is an unusual congenital anomaly, probably produced by abnormal development of the ureteral bud. The deformity itself produces no symptoms and the clinical presentation generally is for obstruction and infection. The pediatric patients present most often with multiple congenital anomalies, especially of the skeletal system. We report the two cases of crossed renal ectopia with fusion with review of literatures.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Ureter

Backgound: The aim of this study was to compare the levels of perception of and compliance with handwashing between the groups of direct patient contact and indirect contact in a tertiary-care university hospital. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a university hospital with 4,500 employees. A questionnaire, containing questions on demographic data and the perception of and compliance with handwashing, was distributed to and collected from a total of 1,087 employees from June 25 to July 10, 2005. RESULTS: The study subjects washed their hands an average of 11.2 times (range, 1-100) per day: nurses washed their hands more frequently than others. The average duration of handwashing by employees was 18.8 seconds. Those in the direct patient contact group scored significantly higher points than did those in the indirect contact group in both perception (P<.021) of and compliance (P<.001) with handwashing. CONCLUSION: Education for handwashing is needed direction employees who have indirect contact with patients to improve their compliance with handwashing.
Compliance* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education ; Hand ; Hand Disinfection* ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare tumor among all populations of the world and accounts for less than 2% of cancers found at autopsy and between 10% and 20% of all primary liver cancers. The tumor originates either from the intrahepatic small duct radicles(peripheral type) or the major hepatic ducts at or near the junction of the right and left hepatic ducts(hilar type). Included in the latter are the small intraduct carcinomas arising at the bifurcation of the hepatic ducts. (continue...)
Autopsy ; Cholangiocarcinoma* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Hemobilia* ; Hepatic Duct, Common ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive* ; Liver Neoplasms

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) in the acute postoperative setting is a syndrome that presents with various symptoms such as microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, fever, renal failure, and change of the patient's mental status. Though most of the previous reports of postoperative TTP have been in conjunction with cardiac or vascular surgery, it has also been reported following orthopedic and abdominal surgeries. We present here a case of a 78 year-old female who was diagnosed with rectal cancer and who developed TTP the 2nd day following her cancer surgery. Because the presentation can be confused with other early postoperative complications, TTP should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the patient who develops unexplained anemia and thrombocytopenia following an abdominal surgery. Awareness of this syndrome is essential because starting plasmapheresis early can be life-saving.
Anemia ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Orthopedics ; Plasmapheresis ; Postoperative Complications ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic ; Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Renal Insufficiency ; Thrombocytopenia ; Thymine Nucleotides

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Melena*

PURPOSE: To analyze the treatment outcomes, complications, prognostic factors after a long-term follow-up of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with radiation therapy (RT) alone or concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between December 1981 and December 2006, 190 eligible patients with non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated at our department with a curative intent. Of these patients, 103 were treated with RT alone and 87 patients received CCRT. The median age was 49 years (range, 8~78 years). The distributions of clinical stage according to the AJCC 6th edition included I: 7 (3.6%), IIA: 8 (4.2%), IIB: 33 (17.4%), III: 82 (43.2%), IVA: 31 (16.3%), IVB: 29 (15.3%). The accumulated radiation doses to the primary tumor ranged from 66.6~87.0 Gy (median, 72 Gy). Treatment outcomes and prognostic factors were retrospectively analyzed. Acute and late toxicities were assessed using the RTOG criteria. RESULTS: A total of 96.8% (184/190) of patients completed the planned treatment. With a mean follow-up of 73 months (range, 2~278 months; median, 52 months), 93 (48.9%) patients had relapses that were local 44 (23.2%), nodal 13 (6.8%), or distant 49 (25.8%). The 5- and 10-year overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 55.6% and 44.5%, 54.8% and 51.3%, in addition to 65.3% and 57.4%, respectively. Multivariate analyses revealed that CCRT, age, gender, and stage were significant prognostic factors for OS. The CCRT and gender were independent prognostic factors for both DFS and DSS. There was no grade 4 or 5 acute toxicity, but grade 3 mucositis and hematologic toxicity were present in 42 patients (22.1%) and 18 patients (9.5%), respectively. During follow-up, grade 3 hearing loss in 9 patients and trismus in 6 patients were reported. CONCLUSION: The results of our study were in accordance with findings of previous studies and we confirmed that CCRT, low stage, female gender, and young age were related to improvement in OS. However, there are limitations in the locoregional control that can be achieved by CCRT with 2D conventional radiation therapy. This observation has led to further studies on clarifying the efficacy of concurrent chemotherapy by intensity modulated radiation therapy.
Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Mucositis ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Trismus