The dynamic blood flow is regulated by the numerous complex mechanisms. Since blood flow varies directly with the radius of the vessel, blood flow is markedly affected by small changes in the caliber of the vessels. Using the hotoplethysmography, we assessed the relative changes of blood flow after topical application of the vasoactive drugs to the femoral arteries of the rabbits. It is the purpose of this study to evaluate the immediate and delayed effects of the vasoactive drugs such as epinephrine, methylergonovine, chymopapain, and lidocaine in course of time when the drugs applied topically to the vessel. 60 rabbits were divided into 6 experimental groups. In group I, the femoral artery was surgically exposed only. In Group g-A, epinephrine was applied to the femoral artery after surgical exposure. In Group Il-B, after spplication of epinephrine, the effect of epiniphrine was reversed with lidocaine. Another drugs were applied as follows methylergonovine in Group Hl-A, methylergonovine and lidocaine in Group Ill-B as in group Il-B, Chymopapain in Group lV. The relstive changes of blood flow were measured by the photoplethymograph for 3 weeks. The results are as follows ; 1. The amplitude of the photoplethysmographic wave decreased immediately after the topical application of epinephrine, methylergonovine and chymopapain. Such an effect could be observed until the 3rd week after the topical application of the drugs, 2. The delayed dffect of reducing the amplitude could be seen during the 1st week in the epinephrine and methylergonovine treated groups. However, it was seen after 1st week in the chymopapain treated group. 3. The delayed effect of epinephrine and methylergonovine could be reversed with lidocaine. 4. It seems that lidocaine can be used clinically to preyent the delayed effect of epinephrine and methylergonovine.
Blood Vessels ; Chymopapain ; Epinephrine ; Femoral Artery ; Lidocaine ; Methylergonovine ; Photoplethysmography ; Rabbits ; Radius

Arthroscopic surgery of the knee is now a widely performed orthopedic technique. Of this, arthrosoopic surgery of discoid meniscus is one of the most technically demanding procedures of this field. In our experience, discoid meniscus was appeared to be frequently accompanied with villous hypertrophied synovium, which obstructed the arthroscopic view. The purpose of this study is to prove the presence of synovial hypertrophy in discoid meniscus and to develop an adequate portal of entry for successful arthroscopic surgery of discoid meniscus. 155 cases of arthroscopy of the knee were performed at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, College of Medicine, Seoul National University between January 1987 and March 1988. Of these, 25 cases were discoid menisci and they were all lateral. Operative findings were observed through arthroscopy and they were also reviewed by recorded video tapes in 25 cases of arthroscopic surgery of discoid meniscus and 57 cases of non-discoid meniscal lesions for the presence of synovial hypertrophy. Synovial biopsy was performed in selected cases with synovial hypertrophy for observation of histological findings. Hypertrophied synovium in discoid meniscus was mainly localized in anterior compartment and intercondylar area of tibia. Therefore, when conventional anterolateral or anteromedial portals were used, much difficulty was confronted because hypertrophied synovium obstructed the visual field and crowding with surgical instruments was occurred in restricted space of discoid meniscus. Much more clear visual field was obtained when the medial midpatellar portal was used instead of conventional portals. The conclusions of this study are as follows : 1. The incidence of discoid meniscus was 16.1%. 2. Synovial hypertrophy was present in all 25 cases of discoid meniscus and 21 cases among 57 non-discoid meniscal lesions(35%) on operative findings 3. Synovial biopsy of hypertrophied synovium showed irritative nonspecific inflammatory lesions but there was no histologicsl differences between discoid and non-discoid meniscus. 4. Medial midpatellar portal is considered to be better approach than conventional portals for clear visual field and less crowding with instruments in arthroscopic surgery of lateral discoid meniscus.
Arthroscopy ; Biopsy ; Crowding ; Hypertrophy ; Incidence ; Knee ; Orthopedics ; Seoul ; Surgical Instruments ; Synovial Membrane ; Tibia ; Visual Fields

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the lifestyle associated with weight gain and persistent overweight for 2 years. METHODS: The subjects were 580 workers (109 men, 471 women) at one university affiliated hospital. Their height and weight were measured twice in 2000 and 2002. A questionnaire, about lifestyle was filled out in 2000. The questionnaire included the average amount of alcohol intake and the number of days per week in which alcohol was consumed, smoking status, and the number of days per week in which exercise was done. Their weight change in 2 years was calculated and their weight status was classified into two groups: persistent normal weight (BMI <23 kg/m2) and persistent overweight (BMI> or =23 kg/m2). RESULTS: Among the total, 54.3% of men and 10.0% of women had persistent overweight over 2 years. Overall 93.4% of overweight men and 68.7% of overweight women remained overweight after 2 years. Compared with male non-smokers and male ex- smokers, current male smokers gained weight as much as 1.17 kg over 2 years after adjusting for age and initial BMI (P=0.033). Compared with females who exercised less than 3 per week, those who exercised 3 or more per week lost weight as much as 1.21 kg over 2 years after adjusting for age and initial BMI (P=0.005). Compared with males who consumed alcohol an average of< or =30 g per consumption, those who consumed an average of > 30 g were 4.1 times (95% C.I. 1.04~16.21) more likely to maintain persistent overweight over 2 years after adjustment for age and frequency of alcohol use. However no particular lifestyle was shown to predict the risk of persistent overweight for women. CONCLUSION: Regular exercise of moderate intensity and modest alcohol consumption seemed to prevent weight gain and persistent overweight. Such lifestyle may be encouraged to maintain healthy weight.
Alcohol Drinking ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Life Style* ; Male ; Overweight* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Weight Gain*

OBJECTIVE: This study was done to investigate the genetic polymorphism of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase (ALDH) II and Tryptophan Hydroxylase (TPH) and examine effects of socio-demographic, psychological and genetic factors on the alcohol use in freshmen of a university in Korea. METHODS: ALDH II (N=534) and TPH (N=504) genotypes of 551 subjects were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism method. The severity of alcohol drinking was assessed by average alcohol use per drinking episode and frequency of drinking per month. Characteristics of alcohol related behaviors, socio-demographic information, and motives and expectancies of drinking in the subjects, were assessed by designed questionnaires and selfreport scales. RESULTS: The frequencies of NN, ND, and DD genotype of ALDH II (N=534) were 64.0%, 30.1%, and 5.8%, while those of AA, AC, and CC genotypes of TPH (N=504) were 31.7%, 48.4%, 19.8% respectively. The distribution of ALDH II genotypes was not correlated with that of TPH genotypes. Subjects with D (-) (NN) genotype showed more average alcohol use per drinking episode (chi2 trend=29.42, p=0.001) and higher severity index of alcohol drinking (F=9.36, df=2, p=0.000) compared with those with D (+) (ND or DD) genotypes. Subjects with D (-) genotype showed higher frequency of heavy drinking behavior (chi2 trend=5.25, p=0.022) and blackout episode (chi2 trend=17.84, p=0.001). Socio-demographic, psychological, and genetic factors seemed to contribute to the severity of alcohol drinking in the subjects. CONCLUSIONS: C allele of TPH genotypes is important in determining the severity of drinking in subjects with NN genotype of ALDH II. Social motive, gender, and D allele of ALDH II genotype are contributing factors to determine the severity of drinking in total subjects. D allele of ALDH II genotypes plays an important role in determining the severity and motives of drinking, and other alcoholrelated behaviors.
Alcohol Drinking ; Aldehyde Dehydrogenase* ; Alleles ; Drinking ; Drinking Behavior ; Genotype* ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Psychology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tryptophan Hydroxylase* ; Tryptophan* ; Weights and Measures

Systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) is an autoimmune disease involving many organs. Mesenteric vasculitis is one of the serious organ involvement in this disease. Mesenteric vasculitis may produce mucosal ulceration, bowel edema with paralytic ileus, hemorrhagic ileitis, intussusception, perforation and mesenteric infarction. Because of high mortality rate, early diagnosis and treatment of this manifestation is very important. We experienced a case of SLE with extensive smell bowel infarction due to mesenteric vasculitis. She was 29 years old. She was suffered frem severe abdominal pain for three days. Abdominal computed tomography showed diffusse wall thickening of the small intestinal wall. After high dose intravenous steroid, her abdominal symptoms were improved. She was discharged with low dose oral steroid(15mg/day) treatment. Seven months later, she presented with sudden abdominal pain. Intravenous methylprednisolon(2mg/Kg) was started. Three days later, her abdominal symptoms were not subsided. On the plain radiograph of the abdomen, marked ileus was demonstrated. Mesenteric angiography showed diffuse decreased small bowel vascularity. A provisional diagnosis of small bowel infarction and obstruction, we performed exploratory laparotomy. She undergone small bowel segmental resection. The diagnosis was small bowel infaction due to mesenteric vasculitis.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Angiography ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Edema ; Humans ; Ileitis ; Ileus ; Infarction* ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; Intussusception ; Laparotomy ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Mortality ; Smell ; Ulcer ; Vasculitis*

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in Korean preschool children, we performed national survey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We surveyed kindergardens in seven representative cities of Korea. Before performing urine culture, we selected children by urine dipstick screening method(leukocyte esterase and nitrite test). And we analysed the incidence according to sex, age and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: Total registered population was 2,239 children and male to female ratio was 1.16. Overall, asymptomatic bacteriuria was found in 1.03%(23 children). In the male the incidence was 0.3%(3 children) and in the female it was 2.0%(19 children). Less than 4 years old children showed higher incidence (2.9%) than those of any other age groups, such as, 0.5% in 4, 1.1% in 5 and 1.3% in 6 years old. High, middle and low socioeconomic status groups showed the incidence as 0%, 0.9% and 1.4%, respectively The number of leukocyte esterase positive children was 184(8.2%) and that of nitrite positive children was 115(5.1%). Among them urine culture was performed in 175children and 23 children showed significant bacteriuria(colony count> 100,000/ml), so predictability of asymptomatic bacteriuria by dipstick test was 13.1% Radiologic study was performed in 9 children who had bacteriuria, but none of them showed urological abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: From the above data, we found that asymptomatic bacteriuria is more common in female, younger age and lower socioeconomic status among the Korean preschool children. Considering cost-benefit aspects of the screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria, however, we should re-evaluate the necessity of our study on these particular age groups.
Bacteriuria* ; Child ; Child, Preschool* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Mass Screening* ; Social Class