Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in the patterns of power spectra of R-R interval variability of diabetic patients who are subject to autonomic neuropathy. Methods: The changes in power spectra of eight diabetic patients were compared with those of eight normal persons while changing positions from supine to Trendelenburg and from supine to standing each. Results: Low, high and total frequency power densities of diabetic patient group were significantly lower than those of control group in resting supine position. Low frequency power density and ratio of low frequency power to high frequency power of control group increased significantly while changing position from supine to standing compared with those of diabetic patient group. And low frequency power density of control group decreased significantly compared with that of diabetic patient group while changing position from supine to Trendelenburg. Conclusions: The decrease in power densities of low, high and total frequency suggest depressed overall autonomic activities in diabetic patient group and significantly decreased changes in low frequency power and ratio of low frequency power to high frequency power while changing positions from supine to standing suggest attenuated sympathetic activity in diabetic patient group, reflecting autonomic changes in diabetic group rapidly.
Diabetic Neuropathies* ; Humans ; Supine Position

A 23-year-old woman with Down syndrome presented erythematous keratotic plaques with whitish scales on the elbows, forearm, knee and leg. Histopathological findings revealed acanthosis with broad and short rete ridges, alternating orthokeratosis and parakeratosis oriented in both vertical and horizontal directions, and dermal superficial perivascular lymphocytic infiltration, compatible with pityriasis rubra pilaris.
Down Syndrome* ; Elbow ; Female ; Forearm ; Humans ; Knee ; Leg ; Parakeratosis ; Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris* ; Pityriasis* ; Weights and Measures ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To characterize strain-specific differences in radiation response in murine tissues with different radiosensitivity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six-week old male mice of 2 strains, C57Bl/6J and C3H/HeJ, were given whole body gamma-radiation with a single dose of 10 or 25 Gy. At different times after irradiation, mice were killed and tissues with different radiosensitivity, thymus and liver, were collected. Each tissue sample was stained with hematoxylin and eosin and apoptotic cells were scored. Expression of p53, Bcl-2, Bcl-x, and Bax was analysed by western blotting and densitometry. RESULTS: Radiation induced massive apoptosis in thymus with a peak level at 8 h after radiation. With 10 Gy irradiation, apoptotic indices in C57Bl/6J and C3H/HeJ were 81.0 2.5% and 59.4 4.0%, respectively (p<0.05). Radiation upregulated the expression of p53, Bcl-x, and Bax, but not Bcl-2; p53 with a peak level of 2.5 fold (C57Bl/6J) and 1.4 fold (C3H/HeJ) at 4 h, Bax with a peak level of 2.6 fold (C57Bl/6J) and 1.3 fold (C3H/HeJ) at 8 h, and Bcl-x with a peak level of 11.1 fold (C57Bl/6J) and 8.2 fold (C3H/HeJ) at 8 h after radiation. In liver, however, radiation-induced apoptosis was minimal (peak apoptotic index of 2.1% in C57Bl/6J and 1.7% in C3H/HeJ). None of p53, Bcl-2, Bcl-x, and Bax was significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: Induction of apoptosis and regulation of related genes by radiation were tissue specific. Strain difference of radiation-induced apoptosis was well coupled with theinduction of related genes in thymus, a radiosensitive tissue. This study shows that quantitative difference of radiation induced apoptosis by strain is regulated at the gene level with the involvement of multiple genes.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Densitometry ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Liver ; Male ; Mice ; Radiation Tolerance ; Thymus Gland

There are some kinds of neoplasms to be differentiated in the clival area, such as chordoma, invasive pituitary adenoma, craniopharyngioma, trigeminal neuroma, epidermoid cyst, and epidermoid tumor. A 12-year-old girl had admitted with a chief complaint of diplopia. On computed tomography and magnetic resonance(MR) image , cystic mass of about 4cm in diameter which partially destroyed bony structure at posterior part of the clivus was compressing brainstem slightly at anterior direction. This mass showed hyperintensity on T2-weighted MR image, hypointensity on T1-weighted MR image and especially hyperintensity on diffusion image, but no contrast enhancement. So, We suspected a epidermoid cyst and planned biopsy through a transsphenoidal approach. Fortunately, tumor was removed completely. This tumor was considered as epidermoid cyst on MR image. But, it was confirmed as chordoma in pathologic diagnosis. Therefore, we report this case and it may be helpful to make a differential diagnosis in clival cystic chordoma preoperatively that has multilobulation, bony erosion, and calcification on radiologic findings.
Biopsy ; Brain Stem ; Child* ; Chordoma* ; Cranial Fossa, Posterior ; Craniopharyngioma ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diffusion ; Diplopia ; Epidermal Cyst ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neuroma ; Pituitary Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Citrobacter* ; Enterobacter*

No abstract available.
Leptospira interrogans* ; Leptospira*

There has recently been an increased interest in the use of hypertonic saline for the fluid resuscitation of trauma victims and to control intracranial hypertension. In this study, the cerebral and hemodynamic effects of a 3.2% hypertonic saline solution were compared with those of either a 0.9% saline or 20% mannitol solution in a rabbit model of brain injury. Forty-five minutes following the creation of a left hemispheric cryogenic brain lesion, equal volumes of hypertonic saline, 0.9% saline, or mannitol were infused over a 5 minute period. Monitored variables over the ensuing 120 minutes included mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure, intracranial pressure, hematocrit and serum osmolality. Upon conclusion of the two hour study period, regional cortical water content was determined by the specific gravity method. There were no significant differences in mean arterial pressure between the three groups at any point during the experiment. Plasma osmolality was signifieantly increased by 10-11 mOsm/kg in the mannitol and hypertonic groups. The infusion of either mannitol or hypertonic saline produced a transient decrease in intracranial pressure lasting approximately 60 minutes, whereas animals in the saline group demonstrated a continual increase in intracranial pressure. The lesioned hemisphere demonstrated a significantly greater water content than the non-lesioned hemisphere. There was no difference in regional cortical water content at any sampling site between the various groups.
Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Brain Edema ; Brain Injuries* ; Brain* ; Central Venous Pressure ; Hematocrit ; Hemodynamics* ; Intracranial Hypertension ; Intracranial Pressure ; Mannitol* ; Osmolar Concentration ; Plasma ; Resuscitation ; Saline Solution, Hypertonic ; Specific Gravity

No abstract available.
Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis*

No abstract available.
Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis*

This study was undertaken to determine whether intravenous lidocaine could prevent the acute increase in intraocular pressure associated with laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. Twenty surgical patients(ASA class 1) who do not have any disease influencing on the intraocular pressure(IOP)(e.g. ophthalmic diseases, diabetes, hypertension, etc.) were studied and divided into two groups, experimental group(n= 10) and control group(n=10). After measurement of preinduction IOP, anesthesia was induced by pentothal 5 mg/kg and vecuronium 0.15 mg/kg, and maintained with 100% oxygen for 3 minutes and baseline IOP was measured. Then, saline and lidocaine(1.5 mg/kg) were injected to controls and experimental group, respectively. One minute and 30 seconds after this, IOP was measured and trachea was intubated. After intubation, anesthesia was maintained with 100% oxygen and 1,5 vo1% halothane and IOP was measured on 1, 3 and 5 minutes after intubation. The results were as follows. 1) One minute and 30 seconds after saline or lidocaine injection(immediately before intubation), IOP was significantly lower in lidocaine group than control group. 2) Peak increases in IOP after intubation were significantly less in lidocaine group than control group. From the above results, the use of 1.5 mg/kg of intravenous lidocaine approximately 1 minute and 30 seconds before tracheal intubation significantly attenuates the increase in IOP. This procedure will be useful in the induction of anesthesia in patients in whom the increase in IOP should be avoided.
Anesthesia ; Halothane ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intraocular Pressure ; Intubation* ; Laryngoscopy ; Lidocaine* ; Oxygen ; Thiopental ; Trachea ; Vecuronium Bromide