No abstract available.
Basal Ganglia Diseases/diagnostic imaging/drug therapy/*etiology ; Calcinosis/diagnostic imaging/drug therapy/*etiology ; Calcium/therapeutic use ; Dietary Supplements ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoparathyroidism/*complications/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Vitamin D/therapeutic use

BACKGROUND: Propafenone is a new class IC antiarrhythmic drug that has been found to be effective in both supraventricular and ventricular tachyarrhythmias. We studied the electrophysiologic and long-term effects of oral propafenone in the patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia(PSVT). METHODS: The electrophysiologic study was done in 15 patients with PSVT to assess the short-term efficacy of propafenone 450mg daily. For 10 patients with short-term efficacy, follow up study was done to assess the long-term efficacy of propafenone 450mg daily. RESULTS: The electrophysiologic mechanisms of PSVT were AV nodal reentry in 6 patients and AV reentry in 9 patients. During the electrophysiologic study, propafenone prolonged AH, HV and PR intervals significantly(p<0.05), but did not change the corrected SNRT, SACT, and the ERP of atrium, ventricle, AV node and accessory pathway(AP) significantly. The anterograde and retrograde 1:1 conduction capacity of AV node and AP seemed to decrease. Complete block of anterograde conduction over the AP was noted in 2 of 3 patients with manifest WPW syndrome and complete block of retrograde conduction was noted over the AV node in 1 patient with AV nodal reentry and over the AP in 1 patient with AV reentry. Propafenone was effective in 3 of 6 patients with AVNRT and 7 of 9 patients with AVRT. During long term administration for 3 to 11 months in 10 patients with short-term efficacy of propafenone, 7 patients did not report any episode of symptomatic tachycardia and 3 patients reported less frequent palpitation. There were no side effects during short-and long-term follow up except 2 patients with mild indigestion. CONCLUSIONS: Propafenone seems to be a safe, well tolerated and effective drug for short and long-term therapy of patients with PSVT, especially of orthodromic AV reentry.
Atrioventricular Node ; Dyspepsia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Propafenone* ; Tachycardia ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular* ; Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

The antihypertensive effect of Indapamide(Fludex(R)) was studied in 31 patients of essential hypertension and following results were obtained. 1) Daily dosage was 1mg b.i.d. and total duration of medication was weeks. 2) Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure declined by 23mmHg(14%) and 18mmHg(17%) respectively. 3) Good or fair controls were achieved in 78% of patients. 4) There was no significant change in heart rate during and after treatment. 5) There were no significant changes in fasting blood sugar, serum creatinine, K+, uric acid, ca++, transaminase and cholesterol levels before and after treatment. 6) In 5 patients transient side effects were observed which resolved spontaneously. In view of these results Indapamide appears to be effective agent for the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension and dose not cause significant change in blood chemistry.
Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Chemistry ; Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Fasting ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Indapamide ; Uric Acid

Radial glia are transdifferentiated into astrocytes within the developing brain and spinal cord. The neural retina contains Muller cells, which are retinal radial glia. Some of the cells that surround the optic nerve head among Muller cells in the chicken retina are called peripapillary glial cells (PPGCs). PPGCs express different molecules compared to typical Muller cells. However, an antigenic PPGC phenotype has not yet been clearly established. In this study, we classified the antigenic PPGC phenotypes and identified the differentiation stages of these cells. At embryonic day (E)8, alphaB-crystallin-positive PPGCs had a bipolar shape with long processes that traversed entire layers of the retina. Pax2 and vimentin were expressed in alphaB-crystallin-positive PPGCs. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity was not observed in PPGCs. At E18, alphaB-crystallin immunoreactivity disappeared from the vitread processes of PPGCs. However, the PPGC cell bodies and ventricular processes contained alphaB-crystallin protein, and the PPGCs retained the same Pax2-positive/vimentin-positive/GFAP-negative profile as that seen at E8. At post-hatch day 120, alphaB-crystallin and Pax2 immunoreactivity was not observed, but vimentin and GFAP expression was clearly observed in the presumptive location of the PPGCs. Furthermore, these two proteins overlapped within that location. Considering that vimentin expression is prolonged until the post-hatching period in chicken brain, these findings suggest that Pax2-negative/vimentin-positive/GFAP-positive PPGCs are phenotypically identical to mature astrocytes in this avian species.
Astrocytes ; Brain ; Chickens ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Neuroglia ; Optic Disk ; Phenotype ; Proteins ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde ; Spinal Cord ; Vimentin

In situ hybridization (ISH) using single-stranded DNA probe (ssDNA probe) is a useful method for observing the specific transcripts in cells, since it is convenient to prepare probe which is specific and sensitive. In this study, ssDNA probe for detection of alphaB-crystallin (aBC) mRNA, transcript of a heat shock protein, was prepared and aBC mRNA-expressed cells were spatiotemporally observed in the retina of the developing chick embryos. Single-stranded antisense probe produced by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction was identified as a specific probe for aBC mRNA in comparison to negative control using sense probe and immunohistochemistry for aBC protein. In the ISH experiment, aBC mRNA was expressed only in the peripapillary glial cells which are a specific cell type located in the avian retina adjacent to the optic nerve at E12 and E14 retinas. At E16, a small number of aBC mRNA-expressed cells were identified in the nerve fiber layer (NFL) of the retina. At E18, aBC mRNA-expressed cells were observed in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) as well as the NFL. At E20, the number of aBC mRNA-expressed cells was increased in the GCL and the NFL. Based on the same localization of nkx2.2 immunoreactive cells and aBC mRNA-expressed cells, aBC mRNA-expressed cells were identified as oligodendrocytes. These results indicate that ssDNA probe for aBC mRNA detection is very useful tool for oligodendrocyte research such as distribution, migration and differentiation of the cells.
DNA, Single-Stranded ; Ganglion Cysts ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Nerve Fibers ; Neuroglia ; Oligodendroglia ; Optic Nerve ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retina ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate the safety and clinical efficacy of Dihydroergocryptine (DHE) in Parkinson's disease. METHOD: Study subjects were 30 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. DHE was administered orally for 3 months. Parkinsonian severity was assessed by UPDRS, UPDRS-motor score, modified Columbia Rating Scale and the number of finger tapping in both hands for 20 seconds. Patients were asked to report any side-effects related to DHE. Various laboratory tests as well as EKG were performed to exclude possible side-effects. RESULTS: Eight patients were dropped out during the first month of DHE treatment. Although about half of the patients experienced dizziness, indigestion and nausea, most of them were mild and transient. Laboratory tests showed mild and reversible increase in liver enzyme level in 4 patients. Three-month DHE therapy significantly reduced parkinsonian severity that 32%, 44%, 52% reduction of UPDRS, UPDRS-motor and MCRS was observed respectively. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that DHE is a safe and effective dopamine agonist and can be used in treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Dihydroergocryptine* ; Dizziness ; Dopamine ; Dopamine Agonists ; Dyspepsia ; Electrocardiography ; Fingers ; Hand ; Humans ; Liver ; Nausea ; Parkinson Disease*

Objective: This study evaluated the clinical usefulness of mean platelet volume (MPV) for predicting functional outcomes in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of patients who were diagnosed with SAH in the emergency room. Based on their modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, patients were divided into two groups: 0-2 (good outcome) and 3-6 (poor outcome). Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to investigate whether MPV, along with other multiple factors, was associated with poor prognosis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the value of MPV as a predicting factor of neurological prognosis. Compared to other factors, Hunt Hess grade (HHG) and modified Fisher grade (mFG) considerably influenced the outcomes in both groups (Model 1; model including all factors). Hence, a new model (Model 2) was constructed, comprising multiple factors excluding these two factors. Results: A total of 143 patients were included in this study. Although MPV was different between the two groups, it was not a significant factor in Model 1 in the multivariable analysis. In Model 2, MPV (odds ration [OR], 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-2.8), age (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.03-1.1), and surgical treatment (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.15-0.87) were significant factors related to poor outcomes. Area under the curve (AUC) of Model 1 was 0.93, 0.85 in HHG; 0.78 in Model 2, 0.65 in mFG, and 0.62 in MPV. Conclusion Although MPV differed significantly between the good and poor outcome groups, it is insufficient to predict poor outcomes in SAH patients as an independent biomarker.

BACKGROUND: Second degree AV block is occasionally induced during AV nodal reentrant tachycardia by programmed electrical stimulation. This study was performed to determine the incidence, the block site, and the mechanism of AV block during AV nodal reentrant tachycardia. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study population was 67 consecutive patients with AV nodal reentrant tachycardia studied by programmed electrical stimulation. Among these patients, common types(slow pathway for anterograde and fast pathway for retrograde conduction) were 64 patients and uncommon types(fast pathway for anterograde and slow pathway for retrograde conduction) were 3 patients. Among 67 patients with AV nodal reentrant tachycardia 10 patients developed 2:1 AV block during tachycardia. The block site of AV block was infrai bundle in 9 patients and supraHis bundle in patient. There were intermittent aberrancies of RBBB and/or LBBB form during tachycardia in 5 patients with infraHis AV block. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of AV block during AV nodal reentrant tachycardia is not rare and might be related to the prematurity of atrial extrastimulation. The block sites of AV block were infraHis bundle in most cases and this finding suggests that distal common pathway of the reentry circuit is present in the AV node.
Atrioventricular Block* ; Atrioventricular Node ; Electric Stimulation ; Humans ; Incidence ; Tachycardia ; Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry*

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that recombinant human thyroid stimulating hormone (rhTSH) stimulation is an acceptable alternative to thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) when radioiodine remnant ablation is planned for thyroid cancer treatment, based on superior short-term quality of life with non-inferior remnant ablation efficacy. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of radioiodine remnant ablation using rhTSH, compared with the traditional preparation method which renders patients hypothyroid by THW, in Korean perspective. METHODS: This economic evaluation considered the costs and benefits to the Korean public healthcare system. Clinical experts were surveyed regarding the current practice of radioiodine ablation in Korea and their responses helped inform assumptions used in a cost effectiveness model. Markov modelling with 17 weekly cycles was used to assess the incremental costs per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) associated with rhTSH. Clinical inputs were based on a multi-center, randomized controlled trial comparing remnant ablation success after rhTSH preparation with THW. The additional costs associated with rhTSH were considered relative to the clinical benefits and cost offsets. RESULTS: The additional benefits of rhTSH (0.036 QALY) are achieved with an additional cost of Korean won 961,105, equating to cost per QALY of 26,697,361. Sensitivity analyses had only a modest impact upon cost-effectiveness, with one-way sensitivity results of approximately 33,000,000/QALY. CONCLUSION: The use of rhTSH is a cost-effective alternative to endogenous hypothyroid stimulation prior to radioiodine ablation for patients who have undergone thyroidectomy in Korea.
Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Delivery of Health Care ; Humans* ; Korea ; Quality of Life ; Quality-Adjusted Life Years ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyrotropin Alfa ; Thyrotropin*

BACKGROUND: Since reperfusion early after acute myocardial infarction has been demonstrated to reduce the infarct size and mortality, many drugs and interventions to reduce the reperfusion injury have been tried with limited success. Adenosine, a potent coronary vasodilator, has been reported to counteract a few mechanisms implicated with reperfusion injury, however, its effects and exact mechanisms to reduce the reperfusion injury have not been clearly elucidated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Effects of adenosine upon infarct size reduction and upon postulated mechanisms involved in the reperfusion injury such as no reflow phenomenon and neutrophil infiltration were evaluated in anesthetized open chest dog model where acute myocardial infarction was induced by 90 minute left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion followed by 240 minute reperfusion. Adenosine(3.75 mg/min) was administered intravenously for total 90 minutes from 30 minutes before reperfusion. Compared to control group(n=6), infarct area/risk area ratio was significantly lower in adenosine group(n=6)(34+12% vs. 22+/-11, p=0.04), although risk area/total left ventricular area ratio were similar in both groups. Myocardial blood flows(MBF), measured by radiolabelled microspheres, of the infarcted regions during coronary occlusion were similar in both groups, however, both subepicardial MBF(0.63+/-0.15ml/min/g vs. 0.95+/-0.31, p=0.02) and subendocardial MBF(0.45+/-0.08 ml/min/g vs. 0.69+/-0.27, p=0.02) were higher in daenosine group. Neutrophil infiltration, semiquantitatively measured under light microscope, were less severe in daenosine group,compared to control group. CONCLUSION: Intravenous adenosine administered before coronary reperfusion appears to reduce infarct size by limiting reperfusion injury through improving no reflow phenomenon and preventing neutrophil infiltration to the ischemic myocardium during reperfusion.
Adenosine* ; Animals ; Coronary Occlusion ; Coronary Vessels ; Dogs* ; Microspheres ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Myocardium ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; No-Reflow Phenomenon ; Reperfusion Injury* ; Reperfusion* ; Thorax*