This study was designed to investigate the effect of substitution of strontium for calcium on mechanical activity in isolated perfused spontaneously beating rat hearts. The mechanical activity of the hearts of Langendorff's preparation in conditions of low calcium and strontium-substitution for calcium was compared. The effect of norepinephrine and verapamil were also observed in those conditions. The results were as follows: 1. In low calcium, the mechanical activity of the heart preparation was significantly reduced, but when the equimolar strontium was substituted for the reduced calcium, the activity was kept at similar level to the normal condition. 2. When equimolar strontium was substituted for the total calcium in perfusate, the heart preparation stopped its beating, and it was not restored in spite of reperfusion with normal calcium perfusate. 3. Norepinephrine-induced positive inotropic effect was inhibited in low-calcium condition especially with low concentration of norepinephrine, but not in strontium-substitution for calcium. 4. Verapamil reduced the activity of the heart both in low-calcium and strontium-substitution as well as in normal calcium conditions. From above results, it was concluded that strontium served as a substitute of calcium in maintaining mechanical activity and in responsiveness to norepinephrine, and the influx of strontium through cell membrane is inhibited by verapamil as the influx of calcium.
Animals ; Calcium ; Cell Membrane ; Heart* ; Norepinephrine* ; Rats* ; Reperfusion ; Strontium* ; Verapamil

Cutaneous metastases from internal carcinornas are relatively rare. The frequency of metastases to the skin varies from 0.5-4.4%. We report a case of cutaneous metastasis suspected to originat from stomach cancer. A 44-year-old female, who had an episode of total gastrectony under diagnosis of stornach cancer three years ago, had multipe painless erythernatous nodules on the case and neck for one year. Histologic findings shows atypical anaplastic cell infiltration at the derr is and subcutaneous tissues. Cells with hyperchrornatic and erally displaced nuclei were recogniz d PAS staining shows positive reactions within the cells of glarid like structure. She died twelve month after the appearance of the cutaneous lesions.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Skin ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Stomach* ; Subcutaneous Tissue

No abstract available.
Reticulocyte Count* ; Reticulocytes*

No abstract available.
Reticulocyte Count* ; Reticulocytes*

BACKGROUND: Chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus(CCLE) is a well-known disease entity. But there has been no data about its clinical behavior and histopathologic features in Korea. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to elucidate the clinical, laboratory, and histopathologic features of CCLE, and the relationship between CCLE and SLE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated 48 cases of CCLE that visited the department of dermatology at the Seoul National University Hospital from January 1990 to June 1997. Medical records and biopsy slides were reviewed.
Biopsy ; Dermatology ; Korea ; Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous* ; Medical Records ; Seoul

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

BACKGROUND: Serologic markers are used to screen and diagnose the hepatitis B virus infection. In endemic area of hepatitis B, the coexistence of HBsAg and anti-HBs was frequently observed. This finding is unusual and difficult to interpret. In this study, we performed three molecular biologic assays-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), chemiluminescent molecular hybridization assay (CMHA), branched DNA (bDNA) nucleic acid hybridization assay- to detect HBV-DNA in the sera which showed both HBsAg and anti-HBs positivity. To define the patients` exact clinical conditions, we analysed the characteristics of the patients according to their diagnoses, other serologic markers and clinical findings. METHODS: HBsAg and anti-HBs were detected by EIA (Enzygnost, Behringwerke, Germany) from clinical specimens of Yonsei University College of Medicine Severance Hospital collected In the period between January 1996 and December 1996. Eighty three specimens from Severance Hospital and twenty two specimens from Health Care Center were randomly selected and were subjected to HBV PCR, HBV CMHA and HBV bDNA assay for the presence of HBV-DNA. RESULTS: The patients were arbitrarily divided into 4 groups on the basis of the optical density values of enzyme immunoassay results. Group I (high HBsAg and high antral-HBs) consisted of 6 cases; group II (high HBsAg and low anti-HBs) consisted of 70 cases, group III (low HBsAg and high anti-HBs) consisted of 1 case; group IV (low HBsAg and low antral-HBs) consisted of 6 cases. Among 83 cases, the positive rate was 51.8% (43 cases) using PCR method, 53.0% (44 cases) using CMHA, 60.2% (50 cases) using bDNA assay. HBeAg and anti-HBc IgM were helpful to predict the presence of HBV-DNA in the sera. CONCLUSIONS: More than half of the patients who showed both HBsAg and anti-HBs positivity were positive for HBV-DNA by molecular biologic methods. In contrast, no one whose serologic markers with only anti-HBc positivity with out HBsAg and anti-HBs positivity showed HBV-DNA positive in the sera from Health Care Center. Taken together, the management and follow-up of the patients of both HBsAg and anti-HBs positivity could be greatly aided by combined adoption of any one molecular biologic assay of HBY-DNA with other serologic markers such as HBeAg and anti-HBc IgM.
Biological Assay ; Branched DNA Signal Amplification Assay ; Delivery of Health Care ; Diagnosis ; DNA ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens* ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Immunoglobulin M ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

No abstract available.
Antibodies* ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Immunoglobulin M*

No abstract available.
Blood Platelets*

No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Sterilization, Tubal*