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

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The endoscopic mucosal resection has now been adopted for a useful modality in both curative therapy and accurate diagnosis of early gastric cancer. A retrospective study was done to evaluate the indication and the limitation of endoscopic mucosal resection of early gastric cancer. METHODS: We studied 20 cases of early gastric cancer treated by endoscopic mucosal resection in Chungnam National University Hospital from November, 1995 to July, 1997. RESULTS: 1) The size affected the curability: 83. 3% of lesions less than 2 cm and 50. 0% of those larger than 2 cm were resected completely. 2) The depth of cancer invasion affected the curability: 87. 5% of lesion confined to mucosa were resected completely, while all of submucosal cancers were resected incompletely. 3) Among fourteen cases resected completely, three cases of lesions larger than 2 cm were residual cancer and two of those less than 2 cm were recurred locally. CONCLUSIONS: To be a curative therapy by endoscopic mucosal resection of early gastric cancer, we think that careful selection of the lesion, that is lesion less than 2cm and confined to mucosa, is necessary
Chungcheongnam-do ; Diagnosis ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms*

We report a case of Neurofibromatosis in a 19-year-old male who showed a pinkish atrophic patch on the back. He presented with multiple caf au lait macules, neurofibromas and axillary freckling. Cervical and thoracic spine X-ray revealed wedge-shaped bony deformities due to neurogenic tumor involving the vertebral foramina. Histopathologic examination demonstrated dilated vessels in the papillary dermis, decreased collagen in the reticular dermis and entrapped eccrine gland. This case suggests pseudoatrophic macule should be regarded to be a rare cut manifestation in neurofibromatosis. To our best knowledge, this is the first report in korea to show atrophic patch in neurofibromatosis.
Collagen ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Dermis ; Eccrine Glands ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Neurofibroma ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Spine ; Young Adult

Cancer is considered to occur through abnormal growth and differentiation processes, in which oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are deeply related. Cellular responses to DNA-damaging agents are believed to be critical determinants of human tumorigenesis. Cell cycle arrests and DNA repair following DNA damage require the coordination of multiple gene products that, as a whole, serve to maintain the integrity of the genome. Within the cell cycle, both G1-S and G2-M phase transitions are under constant surveillance by checkpoint genes for the protection of cells from either exogenous or endogenous DNA-damaging agents. p53 tumor suppressor gene mediates cell cycle perturbations in response to DNA damage, and play a role in cell death, genetic stability, and cancer susceptibility. Recently, gene therapy with p53 tumor suppressor gene is expected as a new effective therapeutic strategy in many kinds of cancer. By using retroviral vector system, we transduced p53 tumor suppressor gene into human osteosarcoma cells, and analysed its growth suppression and apoptosis inducing effects. Combined effects of p53 gene therapy with chemotherapeutic agent or radiation were also analysed. Titer of ecotrophic p53 retrovirus was 5.0x10/ml, and that of amphotrophic p53 retrovirus was 2.0x10/ml when NIH3T3 cells were used as target cells. Human osteosarcoma cells infected with amphotrophic p53 retroviruses showed increased p21waf1 gene expression, which acts as a major cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor in DNA damage responses. In normal DMEM media, human skin fibroblasts infected with amphotrophic p53wt retroviruses showed very slow growing (1.7 fold increase in doubling time) and very low saturation density (50% decrease in cell density). In media containing chemotherapeutic agent, human osteosarcoma cells infected with p53wt retroviruses died rapidly; 75% of them died within 4 days and all of them died within 10 days of incubation with chemotherapeutic agent. Their DNAs were extracted and electrophoresed in agarose gel, and we identified DNA ladders characteristic of apoptotic cell death. When human osteosarcoma cells infected with p53 retroviruses were irradiated with ultraviolet light, more than 95% of cancer cells died within 1 day; whereas mock infected cells showed only less than 5% of cell death. These findings suggest that retroviral vector mediated p53 tumor suppressor gene transfer into cancer cells can suppress tumor cell growth and decrease tumor cell density effectively. These findings also suggest that effective induction of tumor cell apoptosis can be obtained when p53 gene therapy is used in combination with chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Apoptosis ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Count ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Death ; DNA ; DNA Damage ; DNA Repair ; Drug Therapy ; Fibroblasts ; Gene Expression ; Genes, p53 ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor* ; Genetic Therapy* ; Genome ; Humans ; Oncogenes ; Osteosarcoma ; Phase Transition ; Phosphotransferases ; Radiotherapy ; Retroviridae* ; Sepharose ; Skin ; Ultraviolet Rays ; Zidovudine

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

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

No abstract available.
Citrobacter* ; Enterobacter*

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

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