BACKGROUND: It has been known that arteries of hypertensive animals and patients are generally thicker and more rigid than those of normal subjects, resulting from the morphological changes induced by an increased stress on the vessel wall. Factors proposed to be responsible for these changes are smooth muscle hypertrophy, increased amount of collagen, hyperplasia of smooth muscle cell and changes in cross-linkages of the fibrous proteins. The present study was conducted to define whether enalapril, a converting enzyme inhibitor of angiotensin II generation from angiotensin I, can restore the structural alterations of aortic media in spontaneously hypertensive rat(SHR). METHODS: For this purpose, SHR were treated for 22 weeks with 2mg/kg/day enalapril and morphologic changes were compared between enalapril-treated SHR and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats. RESULTS: The increased thickness of the aortic media in SHR was reduced and intervening elastic laminae were narrowed by enalapril treatment. Subcellular analysis of cytoplasmic composition and nucleus in the aorta of hypertensive rats revealed some modification with enalapril. Some irregularly arranged collagen fibrils in aortic media of SHR were regularly distributed and the periodic bands of the fibrils which were the fragmented were clearly apparent by enalapril treatmed SHR group. CONCLUSIONS: From the above experimental results, it is concluded that subcellular changes of smooth muscle cells and collage fibrils of aortic media in SHR could be repaired by long-term treatment with enalapril.
Angiotensin I ; Angiotensin II ; Animals ; Aorta ; Arteries ; Collagen ; Cytoplasm ; Enalapril* ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Hypertrophy ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR* ; Scleroproteins

Echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular function permits the demonstration of preclinical diabetic cardiomyopathy. In order to define the relationship between diabetic retinopathy and precence of myocardial dysfunction, M-mode echocardiograms were recorded in three groups of diabetics ; group 1, no retinopathy, group 2, background retinopathy, group 3, proliferative retinopathy, and normal controls without evidence fo coronary heart disease. The resultant traces were digitized, and systolic and diastolic parameters were evaluated. None of parameters fo systolic function was modified. however peak velocity of posterior wall thinning was decreased in group 3(p<0.005), peak velocity of left ventricular demension increase was decreased in all three groups(p<0.005, P<0.001, P<0.001 respectively), duration of rapid thinning of posterior wall increased in group 2 and 3(p<0.001, p<0.001 respectively), and duration of rapid inflow of left ventricle was increased in group 3(p<0.005). These results indicate a diminution of myocardial compliance and relaxation in diabetics with retinopathy. It is concluded that abnormalities of left ventricular diastolic function is present in diabetics when left ventricular systolic function is normal and that more severe abnormalities of left ventricular diastolic function in diabetics with proliferative retinopathy reflect a subclinical diabetic cardiomyopathy due to small vessel disease.
Compliance ; Coronary Disease ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Cardiomyopathies ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Echocardiography* ; Heart Ventricles ; Relaxation ; Ventricular Function, Left*

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prognostic significance of argyrophilic nucleoalr organizer regions (AgNORs) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) by using DMBA hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis which provides a good experimental model in reproducing steps from precancerous lesions to invasive squamous cell carcinomas. The buccal pouches of 50 Syrian hamsters were applied with 0.5% DMBA in mineral oil three times a week to reproduce various lesions from precancerous ones such as hyperkeratosis or epithelial dysplasia to invasive squamous cell carcinomas. Their sections were stained with H & E, and silver colloid, and processed immunohistochemically by being applied with monoclonal antibody to PCNA. The histopathologic examainations were done and the counts of AgNORs were evaluated. The PCNA labelling indices on each lesions were evaluated. The correlation between histopathological grades and counts of AgNORs or PCNA labelling indices were evaluated. The number of AgNORs was 2.22+/-0.22 in control group, 3.46+/-0.72 in carcinoma in situ (CIS), 3.78+/-0.63 in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), respectively. AgNORs significantly increased in severe epithelial dysplasia, CIS, and SCC compared with normal tissue (P<0.05). The PCNA Labeling Index (LI) was 39.47+/-6.68% in control group, 79.61+/-4.14% in CIS, and 85.43+/-6.25% in SCC, respectively. PCNA LI also significantly increased in epithelial dysplasia, CIS, and SCC compared with normal tissue (P<0.05). The number of AgNORs, AgNOR area, and PCNA LI slightly increased in the advancing front than in the center of SCC, but, it was not statistically significant. It appeared that there were a good correlation between the number of AgNORs and PCNA LI (Pierson correlation coefficient : 0.649, P<0.001). These results suggested that the number of AgNORs and the PCNA LI could be useful markers for evaluating the risk of malignant transformation and prognosis of SCC. It was thought that the clinical usefulness of these markers should be verified by using human tissue specimens.
9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene ; Animals ; Carcinogenesis* ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Colloids ; Cricetinae* ; Humans ; Mesocricetus ; Mineral Oil ; Models, Theoretical ; Prognosis ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen* ; Silver

No abstract available.
Aneurysm* ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Foramen Ovale, Patent*

No abstract available.
Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Head* ; Hematoma*

No abstract available.
Cor Triatriatum*

The clinical analysis of cranial nerve injuries was performed on 435 cases with cranoicrerbral trauma. This prospective study included the correlation between cranial nerve injuries and risk factors such as intracranial hematoma, initial Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS) score, pneumocephalus, and other combined injuries. The results were revealed as follows : 1) 133 cranial nerve injuries(on 97 patients) were noted among 435 craniocerebral trauma victims(97/435=22.2%). 2) The order of frequent cranial nerve injuries was facial nerve(7.3%), olfactory nerve(6.9%), oculomotor nerve(4.4%), abducens nerve(3.9%), optic nerve(3.2%), etc. 3) Bilateral involvment of cranial nerve injuries was noted in 16.5%(22/133). 4) The incidence of immediate onset of cranial nerve injuries was 66.9%(89/133). 5) The incidence of cranial nerve injuries was significantly high in patients with pneumocephalus and low initial GCS score. 6) The functional recovery of injured cranial nerve within 3 months was noted in 30.1%(40/133).
Coma ; Cranial Nerve Injuries* ; Cranial Nerves* ; Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pneumocephalus ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

A propecive analysis of 50 patients with acute interhemisphric subdural hemorrhage and tentorial hemorrhage, an unusual pattern of acute subdural hematoma, who were managed in a uniform way was analyzed to related outcome to hemorrhagic site, initial Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS) and combined injuries. The incidence of acute interhemisphric subdural hemorrhage(ISH) and tentoria hemorrhage(TH) after head trauma was 3.83%, 50 cases among 1303 head injured cases. And 80% of the above hemorrhage disapperaed within two weeks after trauma. There was no significant relationship between feature of hemorrhage and intial GCS(P>0.05), but there was highly significant relationship between initial GCS and Glasgow Outcome Scale(GOS) (p<0.001). There noted significant relationship between initial combined injury and GOS(p<0.01), and also brainstem injury and GOS(p<0.001).
Brain Stem ; Coma ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Head ; Hematoma, Subdural* ; Hematoma, Subdural, Acute ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Incidence

To get basic data for the development of health care toward the staff of a university, an evaluation study of the risk factors for the cardiovascular disease utilizing data from questionnaire and health examination performed in 1994 for 1233 staff of Chosun University and its affiliated Hospital. The results are as follows: 1. The mean values of systolic blood pressure was 122.0+/-14.7mmHg for the male and 111.8+/-12. lmmHg for the female. The mean values of diastolic blood pressure was 82. 5+/-12.0mmHg for the male and 73.7+/-10.0mmHg for the female. The mean values of serum total cholesterol was 185.6+/-33.4mg/dl for the male and 173.5+/-32.6mg/dl for the female. The mean values of body mass index(BMI) was 23. l+/-2.4kg/m2 for the male and 21.5+/-2.3kg/m2 for the female. The smoking rate of the male was 47. 6% and that of the female was 0.4%. 2. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels increased with age in both sexes. Under 55 years of age the mean blood pressures of the male were higher than that of the female, but the levels of both sexes at 55-64 year old group did not show any big difference. The mean values of serum total cholesterol and BMI also increased with age in both sexes. Under 45 years of age, the serum cholesterol and BMI levels of the male were higher than that of the female, but on the contrary, levels of the male were lower than that of the female at 55-64 year old groups. The mean cholestrol and BMI levels of both sexes at 45-54 year old group was similar. As the age increases, the rate of exsmoker increased and the rate of current smoker decreased among the male. 3. The additive cardiovascular risk scores were calculated considering the values of blood pressure, serum total cholesterol level and the smoking status. The distribution curve of risk scores for the male showed 39. 1% under 4 points and 60.9% above 4 points with the peak at 4 points. 61.7% of the female showed that the risk scores were under 4 points and the rest was more than 4 points with maximum 9 points. As a whole the risk scores of the female were lower than that of the male. 4. By the analysis of association between the risk score of cardiovascular disease and the subjective symptom under the stratification of age and sex, the prevalence of exertional dyspnea was significantly higher at 35-44 year male group and prevalence of dizziness was significantly higher at 45-64 year male group as the risk score of cardiovascular disease increased. Among 25 34 year and 45-64 year female group persons with lower risk score of cardiovascular disease showed higher prevalence of dizziness than persosns with higher risk score.
Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Delivery of Health Care ; Dizziness ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Exercise testing with Thallium imaging is widely used for the noninvasive evaluation of patients suspected of having coronary artery disease. However, many patients referred for stress testing connot exercise adequately for either physical or psychological reasons, and as a result may have nondiagnostic or suboptimal test results. Intravenous dipyridamole in conjunction with Thallium imaging is as effective alternative method without exercise. But, myocardial imaging using the standard scintillation camera technique(planner view) is hampered by superposition of proximal & distal cardial walls and by the segmental nature of myocardial ischemia. For this reason, Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography(SPECT) reslut in high specificity & sensitivity rates for the detection of coronar artery disease compared with conventional technique. So we performed dipyridamole Th-201 myocardial scintigraphy on 25 subjects who have suspicious angina or myocardial infarction instead of exercise Th-201 myocardial scintigraphy, and compared SPECT view with conventional plannar view. The results obtained are as follows : 1) T1-201 scintigraphic findings in 17 patients with suspicious angina were as follows ; redistribution defect was seen in 4 cases in plannar view and 13 cases in SPECT view. 2) T1-201 scintigraphic findings in 8 patients with myocardial infarction were as follows ; in planner view, perfusion defect was seen in all cases and 1 cases of them, redistribution defect was accompained, and in SPECT view, perfusion defect was seen in all cases and 6 cases of them, redistribution defect was accompained. 3) During dipyridamole infusion, the mean systolic & diatolic pressure decreased from 133+/-22.7/86+/-13.5 to 121+/-23.9/78+/-13.1mmHg and the heart rate increased from 68+/-12.4 to 84+/-12.4beats/min. 4) Adverse effects of dipyridamole were noted in 14(56%) of the subjects, but in 12 of these, the symptoms were mild in severity and subsided spontanously. To summarize, Dipyridamole-201 myocardial imaging is a useful and test for coronary artery disease, and the new tomographic technique, SPECT view, is more useful than the conventional plannar view.
Arteries ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Dipyridamole* ; Exercise Test ; Gamma Cameras ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Myocardial Perfusion Imaging ; Perfusion Imaging* ; Perfusion* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thallium* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*