We have analyzed two (BclI and XbaI) intragenic restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) and St14 (DXS52) variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) by rapid PCR method in 97 unrelated normal subjects. The incidences for positive Bc1I and XbaI polymorphic sites in the Koreans were 81% and 72%, respectively, which were higher than other ethnic groups but similar to that reported in the Chinese or Japanese, giving the heterozygosity rate of 0.32 and 0.40, respectively. The amplified allele size was 880 bp with no other polymorphism in the analysis of St14 (DXS52) VNTR. This finding should be taken into account in the planning of a prenatal diagnosis program for ethnic Koreans
Base Sequence ; Gene Frequency ; Hemophilia A/epidemiology/*genetics ; *Heterozygote Detection/methods ; Human ; Korea/epidemiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Prevalence

PURPOSE: To investigate the growth inhibitory effects, and the underlying mechanism of human colon cancer cell (HT-29) death, induced by a new synthetic bile acid derivative (HS-1200). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human colon cancer cells (HT-29), in exponential growth phase, were treated with various concentrations of a new synthetic bile acid derivative (HS-1200). The growth inhibitory effects on HT-29 cells were examined using a trypan blue exclusion assay. The extent of apoptosis was determined using agarose gel electrophoresis, TUNEL assays and Hoechst staining. The apoptotic cell death was also confirmed by Western blotting of PARP, caspase-3 and DNA fragmentation factor (DFF) analysis. To investigate the involvement of mitochondria, we employed immunofluorescent staining of cytochrome c and mitochondrial membrane potential analyses. RESULTS: The dose required for the half maximal inhibition (IC50) of the HT-29 cell growth was 100~150 micro M of HS-1200. Several changes, associated with the apoptosis of the HT-29 cells, were reveal by the agarose gel eletrophoresis, TUNEL assays and Hoechst staining, following their treatment with 100 micro M of HS-1200. HS-1200 treatment also induced caspase-3, PARP and DFF degradations, and the western blotting showed the processed caspase-3 p20, PARP p85 and DFF p30 and p11 cleaved products. Mitochondrial events were also demonstrated. The cytochrome c staining indicated that cytochrome c had been released from the mitochondria in the HS-1200 treated cells. The mitochondrial membrane potential (deltaxm) was also prominently decreased in the HS-1200 treated cells. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the HS-1200 - induced apoptosis of human colon cancer cells (HT-29) is mediated via caspase and mitochondrial pathways.
Apoptosis* ; Bile ; Bile Acids and Salts ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Death ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Cytochromes c ; DNA Fragmentation ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; HT29 Cells ; Humans* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Mitochondria ; Sepharose ; Trypan Blue

BACKGROUND: Rapid-sequence intubation is a common technique to reduce anesthetic complication. Due to side effects of succinylcholine, nondepolarizing muscle relaxants have been tried. Rocuronium is a new nondepolarizing muscle relaxant with a brief onset of action, but devoid of the adverse reaction associated with succinylcholine. Most local anesthetics decrease neuromuscular transmission and pontentiate neuromuscular blocks of muscle relaxants. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of lidocaine on the onset time of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade in adults. METHODS: Fourty five patients, ASA physical status I or II, were randomly divided into three groups. Anesthetic induction with thiopental 5 mg/kg was made. Succinylcholine (1.0 mg/kg) was administered intravenously in group 1. Rocuronium (0.6 mg/kg) was given in group 2, additional lidocaine (1.0 mg/kg) was given intravenously 1 minute prior to the administration of rocuronium in group 3. Neuromuscular blockade was assessed by train-of-four at the adductor pollicis muscle with supramaximal stimulation of the ulnar nerve (2 Hz, 0.2 msec) every 10 seconds. The condition of intubation, the appearance of arrhythmias, side effects of drugs, and the changes of mean arterial pressure and heart rate were checked and compared in peri-induction periods. RESULTS: The onset time of group 1 (55.1 14.9 sec) was faster than that of group 2 (137.8 46.0 sec) and group 3 (139.3 41.0 sec), but there was no difference between the onset time of group 2 and that of group 3. Intubating conditions were good or excellent in all groups, but group 1 and 3 were better than group 2. There was no difference between the three groups in hemodynamics. More adverse effects were observed in group 1, that of group 2 and 3 were observed in only one case. CONCLUSIONS: The authors concluded that lidocaine is not effective on the onset time of rocuronium, but improves the intubating condition. Rocuronium is devoid of side effects of succinylcholine, but not a alternative to succinylcholine because its onset time is too slow when compared with succinylcholine.
Adult* ; Anesthetics, Local ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Arterial Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Intubation ; Lidocaine* ; Neuromuscular Blockade* ; Succinylcholine ; Thiopental ; Ulnar Nerve

BACKGROUND: Rapid-sequence intubation is a common technique to reduce anesthetic complication. Due to side effects of succinylcholine, nondepolarizing muscle relaxants have been tried. Rocuronium is a new nondepolarizing muscle relaxant with a brief onset of action, but devoid of the adverse reaction associated with succinylcholine. Most local anesthetics decrease neuromuscular transmission and pontentiate neuromuscular blocks of muscle relaxants. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of lidocaine on the onset time of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade in adults. METHODS: Fourty five patients, ASA physical status I or II, were randomly divided into three groups. Anesthetic induction with thiopental 5 mg/kg was made. Succinylcholine (1.0 mg/kg) was administered intravenously in group 1. Rocuronium (0.6 mg/kg) was given in group 2, additional lidocaine (1.0 mg/kg) was given intravenously 1 minute prior to the administration of rocuronium in group 3. Neuromuscular blockade was assessed by train-of-four at the adductor pollicis muscle with supramaximal stimulation of the ulnar nerve (2 Hz, 0.2 msec) every 10 seconds. The condition of intubation, the appearance of arrhythmias, side effects of drugs, and the changes of mean arterial pressure and heart rate were checked and compared in peri-induction periods. RESULTS: The onset time of group 1 (55.1 14.9 sec) was faster than that of group 2 (137.8 46.0 sec) and group 3 (139.3 41.0 sec), but there was no difference between the onset time of group 2 and that of group 3. Intubating conditions were good or excellent in all groups, but group 1 and 3 were better than group 2. There was no difference between the three groups in hemodynamics. More adverse effects were observed in group 1, that of group 2 and 3 were observed in only one case. CONCLUSIONS: The authors concluded that lidocaine is not effective on the onset time of rocuronium, but improves the intubating condition. Rocuronium is devoid of side effects of succinylcholine, but not a alternative to succinylcholine because its onset time is too slow when compared with succinylcholine.
Adult* ; Anesthetics, Local ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Arterial Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Intubation ; Lidocaine* ; Neuromuscular Blockade* ; Succinylcholine ; Thiopental ; Ulnar Nerve

This study evaluated the efficacy of an office bleaching gel (RemeWhite, Remedent Inc., Deurle, Belgium) containing 30% hydrogen peroxide. 31 volunteers were recieved office bleaching with the RemeWhite for 3 times at one visit, total 2 visits. As control group, the same gel in which hydrogen peroxide was not included was applied to 31 volunteers with the same protocol. The shade change (DeltaE*, color difference) of 12 anterior teeth was measured using Colorimerter and Vitapan classical shade guide. The shade change of overall teeth in the experimental group was significantly greater than that in the control group which was measured using Colorimeter. There was also a significant difference between baseline and 14 weeks or 26 weeks though color rebounding phenomenon occurred as time went by. Small shade change difference can be measured accurately using Colorimeter than using Vitapan classical shade guide.
Hydrogen ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Tooth

BACKGROUND: Laryngoscopic and tracheal intubation often causes an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of the duration of laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation on hemodynamic response. METHODS: We studied 110 patients undergoing elective surgery. Anesthesia was induced with fentanyl 1microgram/kg and thiopental 5 mg/kg, and rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg was administrated prior to intubation. The duration of laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation was defined as the interval between the insertion of a laryngoscope into a patient's mouth and its removal after successful tracheal intubation. Patients were divided into three groups according to the duration of intubation: Group 1 (duration < or = 15 seconds); Group 2 (15 < duration < or = 30 seconds); Group 3 (duration > 30 seconds). Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were measured before intubation, after induction, immediately after intubation, and 1 min and 3 min after intubation. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure at 1 min after intubation was significantly higher in Group 3 than in Group 1, but no significant differences were observed in diastolic blood pressure or heart rate. Regarding the correlation between systolic blood pressure and the duration of laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation, the linear regression r2 value was 0.03. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the duration of laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation is not significantly correlated with blood pressure. However, it also shows that when the time to intubation exceeds 30 seconds, that the systolic blood pressure is significantly increased. Thus, when the duration of tracheal intubation is anticipated to be prolonged, attempts to attenuate hemodynamic response to tracheal intubation are necessary.
Anesthesia ; Blood Pressure ; Fentanyl* ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Laryngoscopes ; Laryngoscopy ; Linear Models ; Mouth ; Thiopental*

PURPOSE: To assess the characteristic features of MR findings which would be useful for the differentiation of various spinal diseases involving paraspinal soft tissue mass. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed MR findings in 31 cases(M:F=20:11) of spinal disease in which paraspinal mass was involved. The breakdown of cases was as follows : spinal tuberculosis, 12; spinal metastasis, 13; multiple myeloma, 3; pyogenic spondylitis, 2; spinal aspergillosis; 1. RESULTS: The pattern of bone marrow invasion in spinal metastasis, multiple myeloma, spinal tuberculosis and aspergillosis was mixed ; focal, homogeneously diffuse and inhomogeneously patterns were seen. Pyogenic spondylitis showed inhomogeneously diffuse invasion; an intravertebral abscess was seen in the only five cases of spinal tuberculosis. Vertebral posterior compartment invasion was observed in seven cases of spinal tuberculosis, two of multiple myeloma, the one case of spinal aspergillosis and in all 13 cases of spinal metastasis. This and multiple myeloma showed no disc space invasion, in any case, but all cases of infectious spondylitis showed such invasion. Peripheral rim-enhancement in the paravertebral mass was seen in 11 cases of spinal tuberculosis, one case of pyogenic spondylitis and the case of aspergillosis. Bilobate anterior epidural mass was noted in 60% of spinal tuberculosis cases, 36% of spinal metastasis and one case of pyogenic spondylitis. CONCLUSION: MR findings of spinal disease involving a paraspinal soft tissue mass were useful for differentiation.
Abscess ; Aspergillosis ; Bone Marrow ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Multiple Myeloma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Diseases ; Spondylitis ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Spinal

Transforaminal lumbar epidural block is a common procedure for the patients with back pain and radiating pain. But during the procedure, complications such as subdural or intrathecal block can occur. Because the procedure is conducted with contrast media and fluoroscopy, anesthesiologists must have deep understanding of the normal radiologic findings of epidural, subdural and intrathecal contrast images. During attempted transforaminal lumbar epidural block with fluoroscopy, we observed an unusual shaped pulsatile contrast image accidentally. Based on our experience, we report the subdural contrast image during transforaminal lumbar epidural block in radiologic aspects.
Back Pain ; Contrast Media ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans

BACKGROUND: The recent studies shows that LV relaxation abnormalities are the important factors of heart failure in elders. To determine the association between LV diastolic functions and heart failure, we assessed LV diastolic functions in elderly patients with pulmonary congestion and in asymptomatic elders by using pulsed doppler echocardiography. METHODS: In order to assess LV diastolic function, we performed pulsed doppler echocardiography to elderly patients with pulmonary congestion and asymptomatic elders from Mar.2001 to Sep.2001. The following parameters were used as indices of LV diastolic function; Mitral E wave(E), Mitral A wave(A), Deceleration time(DT), Isovolumic relaxation time(IVRT), Systolic pulmonary venous flow(PVs), Diastolic pulmonary venous flow(PVd). RESULTS: In elderly patients groups, there was significant increase in deceleration time compared with asymptomatic elders(255.83+/-54.41 vs 210.80+/-48.53, p<0.05). There was significant increase in isovolumic relaxation time in elderly patient group compared with asymptomatic elders(123.06+/-25.07 vs 98.78+/-15.12, p<0.01). Although there was no significant difference, decreased E/A ratio and increased PVs/PVd were noted in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results shows that the impairments of LV diastolic function were noted in both groups. Especially DT and JVRT were significant increase in elderly patient group with pulmonary congestion. Therefore these parameters, such as DT, IVRT, can be helpful as predictive indices of diastolic heart failure in elders.
Aged* ; Deceleration ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Heart Failure ; Heart Failure, Diastolic ; Humans ; Relaxation

This study evaluated the safety of an office bleaching gel (RemeWhite, Remedent Inc., Deurle, Belgium) containing 30% hydrogen peroxide. 37 volunteers were recieved office bleaching with the RemeWhite for 3 times at one visit, total 2 visits. As control group, the same gel in which hydrogen peroxide was not included was applied to 34 volunteers with the same protocol. There was no difference between experimental group and control group using electric pulp test. In the result of gingival inflammation index and tooth sensitivity test, there was mild pain response in experimental group but it disappeared as time went by. Therefore, safety of the office bleaching gel containing 30% hydrogen peroxide was confirmed.
Hydrogen ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Inflammation ; Tooth