To study factors related to release of atrial natriuretic polypeptide(ANP) in human subjects, instracardiac pressure and plasma ANP concentration in peripheral and central circulation were measured in patients with various heart disease (18 valvular heart disease, 4 congenital heart disease, 2 cardiomyopathy). 1) The concentration in peripheral venous plasma were increased in 14 patients with New York Heart Associaion (NYHA) functional class III-IV (87+/-38 pg/ml) as compared with that in 10 patients with NYHA functional class I-II (39+/-21 pg/ml, P<0.005)and 15 normal subjects (51+/-21 pg/ml, P<0.01). 2)The concentration of plasma ANP in inferior vena cava, right ventricle, pulonary artery, left ventricle and aorta were markedly increased in patient with NYHA functional class III-IV, elevated mean right atrial pressure (MRAP> or =8 mmHg) elevated mean pulmonary capllary wedge pressure (MPCWP> or =15 mmHg) and/or elevated pulminary artery systolic pressure (PASP> or =35 mmHg), as compared with those in patients with NYHA functional class I-II and/or lower intracardiac pressure (MRAP<8 mmHg, MPCWP<15 mmHg, and/or PASP<35 mmHg). 3) A step up in ANP concentration between inferior vena cava and right atrium was seen in patients with elevated MRAP (81+/-28pg/ml, 137+/-60pg/ml, P<0.05), MPCWP (74+/-37pg/ml,112+/-62pg/ml, P<0.05) and/or PASP (75+/-29 pg/ml,119+/-64 pg/ml, P<0.05). But there were no differences among intracardiac ANP concentrations from right atrium though aorta. 4) Plasma concentrations in right atrium, pulmonary artery, left ventricle and aorta correlated with MRAP (r=0.82, 0.63, 0.56, p<0.005 and r=0.52, P<0.01, respectively), MPCWP (r=0.86, 0.75, 0.73 and 0.72 respectively, P<0.005 in all) and PASP (r=0.73, 0.57, 0.68 and 0.59 respectively P<0.005 in all). 5) Left atrial diameter correlated with plasma ANP concentration in peripheral plasma (r=0.55, P<0.01), inferior vena cava (r=0.51, P<0.025), right atrium (r=0.45, P<0.05), right ventricle (r=0.55, P<0.01), pulmonary artery (r=0.52, P<0.01), left ventricle (r=0.55, P<0.01) and aorta (r=0.56, P<0.005). These results suggest that the heart secrets atrial natriuretic polypeptide into right atrium in response to increased mean right atrial pressure, mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, pulmonary artery systolic pressure and/or left atrial distention.
Aorta ; Arteries ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; Atrial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Heart ; Heart Atria ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Diseases* ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Plasma* ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure ; Vena Cava, Inferior

Purpose: To analyze the clinical features of delayed diagnosed acute angle-closure glaucoma (AACG) patients who were misdiagnosed with neurologic disease in an emergency room (ER). Methods: This study was conducted with a total of 77 patients (77 eyes) who had been diagnosed with AACG in the ER. Age, gender, laterality, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the affected eye at the time of the ER visit and at an outpatient clinic follow-up examination, bilateral intraocular pressure (IOP) at time of visit, previous eye-disease history, previous history of ophthalmic surgery, underlying systemic disease including metabolic syndrome, previous neurologic disease history, referral source, chief complaint, past history of migraine, residence, and specialty of the initial doctor in charge of the ER were statistically analyzed. Results: Among the 77 patients, 34 received a delayed diagnosis and 43 were diagnosed in a timely manner. Higher cases of delayed diagnosis were observed in patients who had lower BCVA at the time of the ER visit (p = 0.001), nonophthalmologic referral source visiting the ER (p < 0.001), a chief complaint of extra-ocular symptoms (p < 0.001), and a non-ophthalmologist as the initial doctor in charge of the ER (p < 0.001). None of the other factors, including IOP, previous eye-disease history, previous ophthalmic surgery, underlying systemic disease including metabolic syndrome, previous neurologic disease history, past history of migraine, or residence showed any statistically significant intergroup difference. Conclusions Among the AACG patients visiting the ER, many were delayed in their diagnosis and thus required much attention afterwards. Careful examination and a detailed recording of a patient’s medical history by an ophthalmologist is important for accurate and timely diagnosis in the ER.

Purpose: To analyze the clinical features of delayed diagnosed acute angle-closure glaucoma (AACG) patients who were misdiagnosed with neurologic disease in an emergency room (ER). Methods: This study was conducted with a total of 77 patients (77 eyes) who had been diagnosed with AACG in the ER. Age, gender, laterality, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the affected eye at the time of the ER visit and at an outpatient clinic follow-up examination, bilateral intraocular pressure (IOP) at time of visit, previous eye-disease history, previous history of ophthalmic surgery, underlying systemic disease including metabolic syndrome, previous neurologic disease history, referral source, chief complaint, past history of migraine, residence, and specialty of the initial doctor in charge of the ER were statistically analyzed. Results: Among the 77 patients, 34 received a delayed diagnosis and 43 were diagnosed in a timely manner. Higher cases of delayed diagnosis were observed in patients who had lower BCVA at the time of the ER visit (p = 0.001), nonophthalmologic referral source visiting the ER (p < 0.001), a chief complaint of extra-ocular symptoms (p < 0.001), and a non-ophthalmologist as the initial doctor in charge of the ER (p < 0.001). None of the other factors, including IOP, previous eye-disease history, previous ophthalmic surgery, underlying systemic disease including metabolic syndrome, previous neurologic disease history, past history of migraine, or residence showed any statistically significant intergroup difference. Conclusions Among the AACG patients visiting the ER, many were delayed in their diagnosis and thus required much attention afterwards. Careful examination and a detailed recording of a patient’s medical history by an ophthalmologist is important for accurate and timely diagnosis in the ER.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of automated measurements of the localized retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) defects area in patients with glaucoma. METHODS: Fifty one patients with localized RNFL defects in RNFL red-free photographs and 53 healthy subjects were included. All participants were imaged with 3D spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). The area of defects was measured with the RNFL significance map (red = p < 1% and yellow = p < 5%) using Image J manually and Matlab software automatically. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated for the RNFL defect area of the RNFL photograph and RNFL maps, circumpapillary RNFL thickness, optic disc parameter, and macular inner retina thickness. RESULTS: High correlation was observed between manually and automatically measured defect areas in the significance map (red area r = 0.904, red and yellow area r = 0.890). The AUC for manually and automatically measured defects area (0.987, 0.966; p < 5%, p = 0.31, respectively) in the significance map was comparable. The latter demonstrated slightly higher but insignificant difference in AUC for inferior quadrant circumpapillary RNFL thickness (0.936; p = 0.22) and was significantly higher than the inferior ganglion cell layer plus inner plexiform layer thickness (0.894) and vertical cup to disc ratio (0.869) (p = 0.018, p = 0.008, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The automated measurements of the RNFL defect area in the significance map performed adequately in detecting localized RNFL defects and had a better performance than macular inner retina and optic nerve parameters.
Area Under Curve ; Ganglion Cysts ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Nerve Fibers ; Optic Nerve ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde ; ROC Curve ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

BACKGROUND: Spinal anesthesia is a simple technique requiring a small dose of local anesthetic to provide intense and reliable block. And epidural anesthesia with the catheter technique gives a better control of the level of analgesia and a good postoperative pain relief using opioids, local anestheties or both. Therefore, the combined spinal epidural (CSE) anesthesia was evaluated to provide rapid onse of action, good muscle relaxation, prolonged duration of the block and postoperative pain relief. METHODS: All patients were placed in a lateral position. Using a midline approach at L interspace, a 18G Tuohy needle was introduced into the epidural space. A 27G Whitacre spinal needle was passed through the Tuohy needle until free flow cerebrospinal fluid, and than 0.5% heavy bupivacaine 3ml(15mg) was injected. The spinal needle was withdrawn and the epidural catheter was inserted. The dermatome level and time of sensory block was evaluated using loss of sensation of pinprick test every 1 minute for 30 minutes, until the maximum sensory block was established. Motor block was assessed using the Bromage scale. And postoperatively we interviewed the patients for opinioes on the blockade and complication. RESULTS: The mean values of maximum sensory block level were T8 (T8.0+/-1.7 dermatome) and at that time was 8min 30sec (8.5+/-1.2min). The motor blockade of lower extremity was Bromage 3 in all patients. Prolonged anesthesia over 2 hours of operation was accomplished by adding 0.5% bupivacaine through epidural catheter. Subjective evaluation by the patients about postoperative pain control was excellent. CONCLUSIONS: CSE anesthesia appears to combine the reliabiIity and rapid onset of spinal block, and the ability to extend the block and postoperative analgesia by using the epidural catheter while minimizing their drawbacks.
Analgesia ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Bupivacaine ; Catheters ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Epidural Space ; Humans ; Lower Extremity* ; Muscle Relaxation ; Needles ; Pain, Postoperative ; Sensation