BACKGROUND: Intracellular calcium overload is a common final feature of the ischemic-reperfused heart and mediates the genesis of irreversible cell damage. Reactive oxygen medabolites have been known to play and important role as toxic mediators in myocardial injuries resulting from ischemia and reperfusion. In order to investigate the mechanism of intracellular calcium accumulation in the ischemic-reperfused myocardium, the present study observed the possible contribution of the reactive oxygen metabolite to the calcium transport of cardiac mitochondria. METHODS: Mitochondrial were isolated from rabbit hearts. The effects of a reactive oxygen metabolite, H2O2 on calcium uptake and release, redox states of endogenous pyridine nucleotides and glutathiones of mitochondria respiring with succinate were observed. Calcium uptake and release were monitored by dual-wave length spectrophotometer using a calcium indicator, arsenaze III. Contents and redox states of pyridine nucleotides and glutathiones were measured by enzymatic methods using spectrofluorometer and HPLC. RESULTS: Hydrogen peroxide(10-500microM) promoted calcium release dose-dependently from CA++-preloaded mitochondria, but did not affect the mitochondrial calcium uptake. The H2O2-induced calcium release was accompanied by simultaneous oxidation of the pyridine nucleotides and decrease in the content of the reduced form of glutathione(GSH). When mitochondria were treated with BCNU(N,N=bis(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea) to inhibit glutathione reductase and so as to reduce the GSH content, there were no increase in calcium release from the mitochondria. These results may indicate that H2O2 increases the permeability of cardiac mitochondrial membrane to calcium in association with the changes in redox state of endogenous pyridine nucleotides, but not with that of glutathiones. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the reactive oxygen metabolites induce the release of calcium from mitochondria by altering the redox state of pyridine nucleotides, and it may partly be involved in the elevation of cytosolic calcium concentration in the ischemic-reperfused myocardial cells.
Calcium* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cytosol ; Glutathione Reductase ; Heart ; Hydrogen ; Ischemia ; Mitochondria* ; Mitochondrial Membranes ; Myocardium ; Nucleotides ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxygen* ; Permeability ; Reperfusion ; Succinic Acid

To Know the quantitative relation between the visual field defects and the disc cupping in glaucoma, 14 patients(26 eyes) with primary open angle glaucoma were studied. Visual field defects was measured with semi-automated Autofield-D perimeter. Optic disc was photograped with Canon CF-60Z wide angle camera and neuroretinal rim area was analyzed by using microcomputer (VAX-11/750) digitizer system. The following results were obtained: 1. Neuroretinal rim area on the nasal side was larger than that on the temporal side(p<0.05). There were no significance between superior and inferior side. 2. In the case of visual field defects, nasal side was larger than temporal side.(p<0.05). There was no significance between superior and inferior side. 3. The correlation between neuroretinal rim area and visual field area was significant in the mild visual field defects detected by using 2.9 filter and the moderate and marked field defects detected with either 2.4 or clear filter. 4. The correlation between neuroretinal rim area and visual field area(r=0.696) was higher than that between cup-disc ratio and visual field defects(r=0.568).
Glaucoma* ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; Microcomputers ; Visual Fields*

The gray vibrissae of Korean males(n =189) between 15 and 75 years old and females(n =111) between-15 and 74 years old who visited the department of otorhinolaryngology, Konkuk university Chungju hospital during 1996 to 1998, were counted for the purpose of estimating approximate age range in individuals of unknown age . The lowest age appearing gray hairs in both sexes was 15-year-old. The Pearson's correlation coefficient in both sexes was 0.490 (p<0.01). The age appearing gray vibrissae in females was slightly earlier than that of males, however, the differences between right and left sides of nasal cavity were insignificant. This method of counting gray vibrissae would be useful to estimate age range in personal identification together with other methods available until now.
Adolescent ; Aged ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Female ; Hair* ; Humans ; Male ; Nasal Cavity ; Otolaryngology ; Vibrissae*

Bart's syndrome was initially described as a genodermatosis characterized by congenital localized absence of the skin with blistering and nail deformities 1-3. However, it is considered as any type of epidermolysis bullosa(EB) with localized congenital absence of the skin on the extremities. A 33-day-old fbmale baby was presented with congenital absence of the skin over the left shin and dorsa of both feet which were covered with the thin, translucent, and brown-red glistening membranes. Blistering of the right calf and left great toe nail deformity were also noted. She was diagnosed as a recessive dystrophic EB by the histopathological, ultra- structural and immunomapping studies.
Blister ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Extremities ; Foot ; Membranes ; Skin ; Toes

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The most common cause of olfactory dysfunction is chronic rhinosinusitis, and endoscopic sinus surgery has been reported to yield beneficial outcome for the olfactory function. The purpose of this study was to study the benefits of endoscopic sinus surgery and investigate the influence of prognostic variables on the olfactory function in chronic rhinosinusitis patients. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We enrolled 52 patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis with olfactory dysfunction from July 2000 through April 2003 at Bundang CHA General Hospital, College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University. Patients were classified into 3 groups (well-healing, persistent olfactory disturbance and worse groups). We statistically compared various prognostic variables, such as CT scores, age, gender, allergy, duration of disease. and previous nasal surgery history among the 3 groups. KVSS test was used (Korean Version of Sniffin' Sticks test) for the evaluation of olfactory function. RESULTS: Of the prognostic variables examined, CT scores, gender, allergy, and duration of disease had no influence on the prognosis of olfactory improvement. However, old age and previous nasal surgery were found to have statistically significance on the worse prognosis. The olfactory function improved in 88% of the patients following the endoscopic sinus surgery. CONCLUSION: We concluded that olfactory function of many patients with conductive disorder improved after endoscopic sinus surgery. Gender, allergy, duration of disease had no singnificant influence on the prognosis of olfaction. The severity of sinusitis and the extent of polyps were not consistent with the degree of olfactory repairment
Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Nasal Surgical Procedures ; Polyps ; Prognosis ; Sinusitis* ; Smell

Background & Objective: Hiccups is a disabling condition of lateral medullary infarction (LMI). Unlike other symptoms of LMI, the anatomical lesions of hiccups are not well known. Few studies have evaluated the relationship between the lesional location of LMI and hiccups. We performed this study to correlate hiccups and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based lesional location in pure LMI. Methods: Between January 1997 and February 2013, we identified 24 patients with pure LMI who presented with hiccups in addition to typical lateral medullary syndrome. Sixty six pure LMI patients without hiccups were included as a control group. Clinical and radiologic findings were compared between the two groups. MRI-identified lesions were classified rostrocaudally as rostral, middle and caudal, and horizontally as typical, ventral, large, lateral and dorsal. Results: The pure LMI patients with hiccups had significantly more frequent aspiration pneumonia (P = 0.001) and longer hospital stay (P = 0.03). The patients with hiccups significantly more often had dorsal rather than ventral lesion at horizontal levels (P = 0.012). But, there were no rostro-caudal differences at vertical levels (P = 0.162). Conclusions: We suggest that pure LMI associated with hiccups often locates in the dorsal medulla at horizontal correlation. This MRI-based comparative study has advanced the understanding of the neural substrate for hiccups in LMI, and indicates that hiccups become predictable when specific lesional locations in the lateral medulla are considered.

Three children with osteogenesis imperfecta who were treated with fragmentation, realignment and intramedullary rod fixation (Sofield and Millar, 1959) have been followed up for considerable period. Repeated fractures in other sites as well as deformities occurred in overgrown part as the children grew up necessitated further operations of same kind. However, level of activity afterwards was found very much enhanced by the operations in general.
Child ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Osteogenesis Imperfecta ; Osteogenesis

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: The clinical syndrome of unilateral finger ischemia, caused by digital artery occlusions from embolization from the palmar ulnar artery associated with repetitive striking of the palm, has been called the hypothenar hammer syndrome(HHS). We report the case of a man with this unique disease probably caused by manual work. METHODS: A 52-year-old male left-hand dominant manual worker complained of pain and coldness in the left 4,5th finger. On physical examination, there was a tip necrosis and the result of Allen's test was mildly positive(sluggish filling of hand from the ulnar artery). Arteriograms confirmed occlusion of the distal ulnar artery without direct perfusion of the superficial palmar arch and distal digital artery. Surgical bypass with reverse autologous vein grafting was performed between ulnar artery and superficial palmar arch, common digital artery. RESULTS: He had an uneventful postoperative course and has remained asymptomatic for 18 months since discharge. Patency has been confirmed by color doppler with resolution of cold intolerance and successful digital preservation. CONCLUSION: We introduce a very unique pattern of vascular ischemic disease and recommend the arterial bypass with vein interpositional grafting.
Arteries ; Cold Temperature ; Fingers ; Hand ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Perfusion ; Physical Examination ; Strikes, Employee ; Transplants ; Ulnar Artery ; Veins

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify the regions of the brain associated with recurrent nocturnal chronic hypoxic episodes in patients with untreated obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) using low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) and quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG). METHODS: Nocturnal polysomnograph (NPSG) and subsequent morning electroencephalograph (EEG) were measured in 20 subjects with OSAS. Mild (n=10 ages 39.5+/-12.1 years) and severe (n=10 ages 41.7+/-13.6 years) right-handed male OSAS subjects were selected by interview and questionnaires including the NPSG, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The LORETA and QEEG were compared between the severe and mild OSAS groups by frequency bands (delta 1-3 Hz, theta 4-7 Hz, alpha 8-12 Hz, beta1 13-18 Hz, beta2 19-21 Hz, beta3 22-30 Hz, and total 1-30 Hz) made by spectral analysis during resting with the eyes closed. RESULTS: The LORETA analysis showed decreased alpha activity at the right posterior cingulate gyrus (Brodmann area 23) in cases with severe OSAS compared to mild OSAS (p<0.05). For the QEEG, the absolute power of the alpha activity (8-12 Hz) was decreased in P3 (p=0.047), PZ (p=0.039) and O2 (p=0.04) in cases with severe OSAS compared to mild OSAS cases. The LORETA and QEEG analyses had similar results with regard to band, activation and location. CONCLUSION: The decreased activity of the alpha frequency in the right posterior cingulate gyrus, in patients with severe OSAS compared to those with mild OSAS, suggests that chronic repeated short-term hypoxia during sleep, in OSAS, could provoke cortical brain dysfunction associated with cognitive dysfunction such as memory and attention.
Anoxia ; Anxiety ; Brain ; Depression ; Electroencephalography ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Humans ; Hypoxia, Brain ; Magnets* ; Male ; Memory ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive*