Severe hyperkalemia can induce life threatening cardiac rhythm disturbances, and usually produce classic electrocardiographic (EKG) manifestations. We report a case of severe hyperkalemia in which the EKG did not reveal the expected alterations. The patient was a 57-year-old man with adenocarcinoma of stomach. There were no significant abnormal findings in laboratory analysis, chest X-ray and EKG. His preoperative medications for hypertension consisted of furosemide, amiloride and enalapril. The tests for serum potassium concentration ([K ]) were performed on 20 and 7 days before the operation and the results were 4.5 and 4.9 mEq/l, respectively. Just after induction of anesthesia, we tried the blood gas and electrolyte analysis and the result revealed high [K ] of 8.5 mEq/l, but EKG did not show typical phenotype of hyperkalemia at that time. His intraoperative and postoperative courses were not eventful.
Adenocarcinoma ; Amiloride ; Anesthesia ; Electrocardiography* ; Enalapril ; Furosemide ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia* ; Hypertension ; Ions ; Middle Aged ; Phenotype ; Potassium ; Stomach ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: Midazolam is distinguished from other benzodiazepines by its water solubility, rapid onset, short duration, and lack of accumulation of active metabolites. These pharmacokinetic cbaracteristics support its use by continuous infusion. We evaluated the continuous infusion dose of midazolain for adequate sedation of ventilated patients with hemodynamic and respiratory monitoring. METHODS: We started continuous infusion of midazolam at a rate of 0.5~1.0 ug/kg/minute after bolus injection of 3.0 to 5.0 mg and adjusted infusion dose monitoring sedation scale in the 15 patients. Blood pressure, heart rate and central venous pressure were monitored before and 30 minute, 1, 2, 3 and 6 hours after midazolam infusion. Arterial blood gases were measured and peak inspiratory pressure was monitored. We evaluated liver and kidney function before start of infusion and after discontinuation of midazolam infusion. RESULTS: The mean loading dose, infusion rate and total dose of midazolam were 4.1+/-0.9 mg, 1.2+/-0.4 ug/kg/minute and 251.9+/-84.0 mg. The mean duration of infusion was 59.0+/-37.0 hours. After infusion, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate and central venous pressure remained stable when compared with those of the preinfusion state. Arterial blood gas and peak inspiratory pressure remained unchanged. The function of liver and kidney did not deteriorate after infusion. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous infusion of midazolam at a rate of 1.2+/-0.4 ug/kg/minute after 4.1+/-0.9 mg intravenous bolus injection was a safe and effective method for sedation of ventilated patients in intensive care unit without hemodynamic disturbance.
Benzodiazepines ; Blood Pressure ; Central Venous Pressure ; Gases ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Intensive Care Units* ; Critical Care* ; Kidney ; Liver ; Midazolam* ; Solubility ; Ventilation

Objective: This study aimed to improve the accuracy of PMI estimates in veterinary forensic cases by looking into how different humidity levels affect autolysis in different organs of rats. Methods: The study involved 38 male rats, examining histopathological changes in their heart, liver, and pancreas. These organs were subjected to controlled humidity levels (20%, 55%, and 80%) at a constant 22°C. Tissue samples were collected at several intervals (0 h, 12 h, 24 h, 3 days, and 8 days) for comprehensive analysis. Results: Distinct autolytic characteristics in animal organs emerged under varying humidity conditions. The low-humidity environment rapidly activated autolysis more than the high-humidity environment. In addition, it was found that lower humidity caused nuclear pyknosis, cytoplasmic disintegration, and myofiber interruption. The liver, in particular, showed portal triad aggregation and hepatocyte individuation. The pancreas experienced cell fragmentation and an enlarged intracellular space. High humidity also caused the loss of striations in cardiac tissues, and the liver showed vacuolation. Under these conditions, the pancreas changed eosinophilic secretory granules. Conclusions and Relevance: The study successfully established a clear connection between the autolytic process in PMIs and relative humidity. These findings are significant for developing a more accurate and predictable method for PMI estimation in the field of veterinary forensic science.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to compare the effects of low frequency needle transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and high frequency needle TENS on experimental pain threshold. METHOD: Twenty two healthy adult subjects were assigned randomly to a low-TENS group or to a high-TENS group. Experimental pain threshold at forearm was determined with pain threshold of electrical simulation using surface electrode and needle electrode. RESULTS: Low-TENS group showed that pain relief was developed after 10 minutes and persisted 3 hours after treatment cessation. Low-TENS group showed a significant increase in experimental pain threshold opposing to high TENS group. CONCLUSION: This results suggest that effect of low frequency needle TENS therapy is better and longer than high frequency needle TENS therapy.
Adult* ; Electrodes ; Forearm ; Humans ; Needles* ; Pain Threshold* ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation* ; Withholding Treatment

BACKGROUND: Dobutamine and amrinone, phosphodiesterase-III inhibitor, are known to have both inotropic and vasodilatory properties. We evaluated the effects of both drugs on systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). METHODS: With Institutional Review Board approval, 45 patients whose mean pulmonary arterial pressure was greater than 30 mmHg were studied. After sternotomy under the steady state of anesthesia and controlled ventilation (30 mmHg < PaCO2 < 40 mmHg), patients recieved one of following drugs for 30minutes (min); dobutamine 5.0ug/kg/min (Group I), low dose amrinone (loading dose 1.0 mg/kg, followed by infusion 7.5 g/kg/min, Group II) or high dose amrinone (loading dose 2.0 mg/kg, followed by infusion 10 g/kg/min, Group III). Hemodynamic variables were measured at 10 min and 30 min after start of infusion. RESULTS: Dobutamine didn't decrease pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and cause no hemodynamic change while low and high dose amrinone reduced PAP and especcially decrease of PAP in low dose amrinone group was statistically significnat. High dose amrinone increased cardiac index (CI) and decreased both systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) and central venous pressure (CVP) more significantly than control value. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with chronic right ventricular failure associated with PH, amrinone may decrease the PAP and improve cardiac performance more effectively than dobutamin does. Increment of dosage of amrinone may not result in significant reduction of PAP.
Amrinone* ; Anesthesia ; Arterial Pressure ; Central Venous Pressure ; Dobutamine* ; Ethics Committees, Research ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Sternotomy ; Vascular Resistance ; Ventilation

To understand the mechanism of cell injury when exposed to HgCl2, monitoring of cytosolic ionized free Ca2+([Ca2+]i), viability test, measurement of the amount of ATP, and Ca-ATPase activity were evaluated in cultured rabbit renal tubular cells(RTC) exposed to HgCl2. The results were as follows: 1) HgCl2 was cytotoxic to rabbit RTC at all doses except 10 uM and the rate of killing displayed a dose- and time-dependent relationship. 2) The absence of extracellular Ca provided partial protection from irreversible injury induced by HgCl2. 3) The increasing pattem of [Ca2+]i varied according to the concentrations of HgCl2. At the low concentrations of HgCl2 (2.5-10 microM), the level of [Ca2+]i increased slowly over the flat 2-3 min and then achieved plateau-state. In contrast, at the high concentrations of HgCl2 (25-100 microM) the level of [Ca2+]i achieved peak within 1 min and then decreased to a plateau state under normal concentrations. 4) The level of ATP was decreased to 27.5% of that of normal control cells within 3 min by using a treatment of 100 microM HgCl2. 5) HgCl2 did not affect the Ca2+ ATPase activity by enzyme histochemical observation. These findings suggest that the elevation of [Ca2+]i in response to the HgCl2-induced injury is an important event in accelerating injury that ultimately leads to cell death. But other possibilities such as HgCl2 might have direct deleterious effects on the also should be considered.
Rabbits ; Animals

BACKGROUND: Low values of lung compliance have been reported in patients with increased pulmonary blood flow due to intracardiac left to right(L-R) shunt. The compliance had returned to within normal limits 4 to 6 weeks after surgical correction of the shunt. We investigated whether lung compliance was improved immediately after surgical correction of the shunt. METHODS: Fifty four pediatric patients who were undergoing repair of intracardiac L-R shunt were evaluated. Lung compliance, arterial oxygen tension(PaO2) and arterial to end-tidal carbon dioxide tension difference(Pa-ETCO2) were measured after induction of anesthesia and at the completion of surgery. Left atrial pressure(LAP) was monitored. Lung compliance and end-tidal carbon dioxide tension were measured by monitoring system built in Cato anesthetic ventilator system. RESULTS: Lung compliance was significantly lower after surgery(6.57+/-6.46 ml/mbar) than after induction of anesthesia(7.71+/-7.18 ml/mbar). After surgery, PaO2 was significantly decreased and Pa-ETCO2 significantly increased than after induction of anesthesia. The decrease in lung compliance after surgery significantly correlated with a decrease in PaO2(r=0.43) and an increase in Pa-ETCO2 (r=0.47) but not correlated with LAP. CONCLUSIONS: Although surgical correction of intracardiac L-R shunt reduces pulmonary blood flow, the lung compliance decreases in immediate postoperative period. Therefore a deterioration of postoperative lung compliance may need judicious management for pulmonary and hemodynamic instability.
Anesthesia ; Carbon Dioxide ; Compliance ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Lung Compliance* ; Lung* ; Oxygen ; Postoperative Period ; Ventilators, Mechanical

OBJECTIVES: Psychogenic contractures in the hand are a rare topic in the medical literature and psychoflexed hand is rarely mentioned even in orthopedic textbooks. By reporting a case with classic catatonic features of the catatonic type of schizophrenia associated with proximal interphalangeal joint flexion contracture in non-dominant hand, the existence of this rare and almost unknown entity is emphasized and the diagnostic and therapeutic importance facing the clinicians dealing with psychological related symptomatology is suggested. CASE: A 54-year-old, single, right-handed woman who lived alone presented to emergency department in catatonic stupor state, severe dehydration due to refusal of oral intake for about 15 days. She had received a diagnosis of schizophrenia, catatonic type at age 33 and had been hospitalized with catatonic motor and behavioral symptoms for a long time. She was hospitalized in medical intensive care unit and abnormal results of laboratory studies at admission including hypernatremia due to severe dehydration, prerenal azotemia, and hemoconcentration was corrected. Catatonia was confirmed by CRS Catatonia Rating Scale (CRS). Her catatonic and other psychotic symptoms began to resolve with treatment, but the patient was found to have had the psychogenic hand deformity characteristics of proximal interphalangeal joint flexion contractures of left 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th finger which started about 20 years ago. She allowed us to try to have a appropriate diagnostic evaluation but as she had experienced a full resolution of catatonic and other psychotic symptoms, she began to resist all the orthopedic treatments. She was discharged by caregiver's request because of economic problems. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the importance of having specific and systemized medical workups for catatonia of schizophrenia in order to prevent the sequelae of severe psychopatholgy such as flextion contractures and other potential complications.
Azotemia ; Behavioral Symptoms ; Catatonia ; Contracture ; Dehydration ; Disulfiram ; Emergencies ; Female ; Fingers ; Hand ; Hand Deformities ; Humans ; Hypernatremia ; Intensive Care Units ; Joints ; Middle Aged ; Orthopedics ; Schizophrenia ; Schizophrenia, Catatonic ; Stupor

Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor, but it can cause severe hemodynamic disturbances during anesthesia, and particularly in patients whose pheochromocytoma was not diagnosed preoperatively. We report here on a case of unilateral pulmonary edema during laparoscopic adrenalectomy, and this edema was due to pheochromocytoma that was not diagnosed preoperatively.
Adrenalectomy ; Anesthesia ; Edema ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Pheochromocytoma ; Pulmonary Edema

BACKGROUND: Allodynia, hyperalgesia, and spontaneous pain are symptoms characterized by chronic central pain which was frequently observed following a spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the underlying mechanism has not been fully understood. This study was conducted to investigate whether the loss of the GABAergic system in the spinal dorsal horn was involved in the development of central pain following a spinal cord injury. METHODS: SCI was induced by a hemisection of the spinal cord at T13 in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Mechanical allodynia was tested by measuring paw withdrawal frequency in response to repeated applications of a von Frey hair to the plantar surface of the hind-paw. Single neuronal activity of the dorsal horn neurons (L4 L6) was recorded extracellularly using a carbon filament-filled glass microelectrode (2 4 MOhm). The drugs were intrathecally or topically administrated on the spinal surface for behavioral and electrophysiological experiments, respectively. RESULTS: After a left spinal hemisection at T13, behavioral signs of mechanical allodynia developed on both hind-paws and responsiveness of spinal dorsal horn neurons increased on both sides of the spinal dorsal horn. GABA receptor agonists including GABAA and GABAB receptor subtypes suppressed mechanical allodynia on both sides of hind-paws and decreased responsiveness of spinal dorsal horn neurons on both sides of spinal cord. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that a loss of the GABAergic system within the spinal cord plays a key role on the development of central pain following a spinal cord injury.
Adult ; Animals ; Baclofen ; Carbon ; GABA Agonists ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Glass ; Hair ; Horns ; Humans ; Hyperalgesia ; Male ; Microelectrodes ; Muscimol ; Neurons ; Posterior Horn Cells ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord*