No abstract available.
Muscle, Smooth* ; Relaxation*

BACKGROUND: Recent studies revealed that inhalational anesthetics (IA) attenuate NO production. But the hemodynamic changes produced by IA in septic syndrome patient are still sufficient to threaten patient, surgeon and anesthesiologist. So we examined which IA is proper to maintain vascular contractile force and evaluated the effects of NOS inhibitors on contractile force of septic rat aorta under IA. METHODS: Aortic ring preparation was obtained from LPS-treated (1.5 mg/kg, i.p. for 18h) rats. The development of sepsis was confirmed by iNOS activity and iNOS expression using RT-PCR. Contractile responses of aorta to phenylephrine admministation in the presence or absence of halothane, enflurane and isoflurane were evaluated. We also evaluated the effects of NOS inhibitors, one is NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and the other is aminoguanidine. Statistical significances (p<0.05) were analyzed according to data characteristics by unpaired t-test and paired t-test. RESULTS: The contractile responses to phenylephrine admministration were attenuated in LPS-treated rings. Isoflurane, even at the dose of 2 MAC, didn't affect the contractile response while both halothane and enflurane decreased the contractile response even at the dose of 1 MAC. The potentiation of contractile responses by NOS inhibitors were not affected during administeration of IA. CONCLUSIONS: From these results, it is suggested that isoflurane is the safest inhalational anesthetic and NOS inhibitors, especially L-NAME, may be very useful in the therapy of septic shock patients during general anesthesia.
Anesthesia, General ; Anesthetics* ; Animals ; Aorta ; Enflurane ; Halothane ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Isoflurane ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide Synthase* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Phenylephrine ; Rats* ; Sepsis ; Shock, Septic

Four hundred one eyes of 219 patients underwent laser in situ keratomileusis(LASIK) at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital from March 1997 to June 1998. Of those, 33 eyes of 25 patients were retreated. Among 33 eyes, we presumed that 3 eyes had decreased visual quality mainly associated with decentration. The mean reftactive error and the amount of decentration of 3 eyes were -1.00 diopter and 2.66mm. After retreatment of these 3 eyes, uncorrected and corrected visual acuity, and visual quality were improved by correction of residual refractive errors, even though the amount of decentration was the same. In cases of decreased visual quality which is suspected to be mainly associated with decentration, we need differentiation between decentration and residual rfractive errors as causes of decreased visual quality. Even though decentration is suspected as a cause of decreased visual quality, visual quality can be improved by correction of residual refractive errors.
Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ* ; Refractive Errors ; Retreatment ; Visual Acuity

Four hundred one eyes of 219 patients underwent laser in situ keratomileusis(LASIK) at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital from March 1997 to June 1998. Of those, 33 eyes of 25 patients were retreated. Among 33 eyes, we presumed that 3 eyes had decreased visual quality mainly associated with decentration. The mean reftactive error and the amount of decentration of 3 eyes were -1.00 diopter and 2.66mm. After retreatment of these 3 eyes, uncorrected and corrected visual acuity, and visual quality were improved by correction of residual refractive errors, even though the amount of decentration was the same. In cases of decreased visual quality which is suspected to be mainly associated with decentration, we need differentiation between decentration and residual rfractive errors as causes of decreased visual quality. Even though decentration is suspected as a cause of decreased visual quality, visual quality can be improved by correction of residual refractive errors.
Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ* ; Refractive Errors ; Retreatment ; Visual Acuity

One of the most frequent structural chromosomal anomaly is t(8;21)(q22;q22) that occurs in approximately 5-15% of all acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, t(3;21)(p21;q22) and t(2;11)(q31;p15) translocations are rarely reported in AML. Here, we report a unique case of AML with two translocations, t(3;21;8)(p21;q22;q22) and t(2;11)(q31;p15). Using multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, we identified a RUNX1-RUNX1T1 fusion gene. Following a second relapse, the patient did not respond to therapy and died 55 months following the first diagnosis. We believe that this is the first case describing concurrent chromosomal aberrations involving three-way t(3;21;8) and two-way t(2;11) translocations in de novo acute myeloid leukemia.
Chromosome Aberrations* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recurrence ; Reverse Transcription

H-reflex is a kind of late respons which can be used for the proximal nerve conduction study. Also it is a useful and widely used nerve conduction technique es to look electrically at the monosynaptic reflex. Although recordable from all muscles theoretically, H-reflexes are most commonly recorded from the calf muscles following stimulation of the tibial nerve in the popliteal fossa. But in this study, We tried to establish the normal data and to evaluate the significance of the H-reflex study in cervical radiculopathy. H-reflexes were recorded from flexor carpi radialis (FCR) muscle, extensor carpi radialis (ECR) muscle, brachioradialis (BR) muscle, and abductor digiti minimi (ADM) muscle in 31 normal adults (62 cases) and 12 patients with cervical radiculopathy. The mean values of H-reflex latency in normal control group were 16.16+/- 1.65 msec in FCR; 15.99+/- 1.25 msec in ECR; 16.47+/- 1.59 msec in BR; 24.46+/- 1.42 msec in ADM. And the mean values of side to side difference of H-reflex latency were 0.47+/- 0.48 msec in FCR; 0.68+/- 0.72 msec in ECR; 0.63+/- 0.43 msec in BR; 22.31+/- 1.24 msec in ADM. Mean values of side to side differences of interlatency time were 0.49+/-0.47 msec in FCR; 0.73+/- 0.62 msec in ECR; 0.79+/- 0.71 msec in BR; 0.69+/- 0.44 msec in ADM. Also, there were no significant differences in H-reflex latency between right and left side. H-reflex tests in patient group with cervical radiculopathy revealed abnormal findings in 11 out of 12 patients. These results suggest that H-reflex in the upper extremity would be helpful in the diagnosis of the cervical radiculopathy.
Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity is reduced in iron depletion. MPXI (mean peroxi-dase index) can replace MPO activity as a hematologic parameter in laboratory medicine. We tried to discuss MPXI in iron deficiency anemia (IDA) that was performed with the hematology autoana-lyzer H*2. METHODS: We studied 58 cases of normal control and 53 cases of IDA that showed the complete absence of iron storage in bone marrow. These cases included 17 cases (group I) which did not have any inflammation, or neoplasm and did not use drugs. There were 36 cases (group II) with inflammation, neoplasm and used drug. We also investigated the hematologic parameters and MPXI in 7 cases among 53 previous cases of IDA for follow- up study after iron replacement. The correlations among hematologic, iron parameters and MPXI were investigated in group I and group II. RESULTS: Group I MPXI (-7.7 +/- 3.4) and group II MPXI (-6.4 +/- 3.6) were statistically lower than the normal control MPXI (1.3 +/- 3.6) (P<0.001). Group I MPXI was correlated with Hb, MCV, MCH, MCHC, HDW, serum iron, transferrin saturation rate and serum ferritin (P<0.05) but was not correlat-ed with age, RDW, WBC, platelet count and transferrin binding capacity. Group II MPXI was not correlated with other hematologic or iron parameters. The normal control MPXI was not correlated with other normal controls, hematologic or iron parameters. After iron replacement, the MPXI, hemoglobin and RBC indices tended to increase and HDW tended to decrease in the follow-up IDA. CONCLUSIONS: MPXI reduced in iron deficiency anemia and appeared to be affected by various state of the patients. MPXI increased after iron replacement, which suggested that MPO activity was restored.
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency* ; Bone Marrow ; Ferritins ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematology* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Iron* ; Peroxidase* ; Platelet Count ; Transferrin

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gout is a common inf lammatory arthritis triggered by the crystallization of uric acid in the joints. Serum uric acid levels are highly heritable, suggesting a strong genetic component. Independent studies to confirm the genetic associations with gout in various ethnic populations are warranted. We investigated the association of polymorphisms in the ABCG2 and SLC2A9 genes with gout in Korean patients and healthy individuals. METHODS: We consecutively enrolled 109 patients with gout and 102 healthy controls. The diagnosis of gout was based on the preliminary criteria of the America College of Rheumatology. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood samples. We identified single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) changes in the ABCG2 and SLC2A9 genes using a direct sequencing technique. rs2231142 in ABCG2 and rs6449213 and rs16890979 in SLC2A9 and nearby regions were amplified by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Patients with gout had significantly higher A/A genotype (29.3% vs. 4.9%, respectively) and A allele (52.8% vs. 26.5%, respectively) frequencies of rs2231142 in ABCG2 than did controls (chi2 = 29.42, p < 0.001; odds ratio, 3.32; 95% confidence interval, 2.11 to 5.20). We found novel polymorphisms (c.881A>G and c.1002+78G>A) in the SLC2A9 gene. The univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the c.881A>G and c.1002+78G>A SNPs were significantly higher in patients than in controls. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated a significant association between rs2231142 in the ABCG2 gene and gout and identified novel SNPs, c.881A>G and c.1002+78G>A, in the SLC2A9 gene that may be associated with gout in a Korean population.
ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/*genetics ; Arthritis, Gouty/blood/diagnosis/ethnology/*genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics ; Biomarkers/blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Association Studies ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative/*genetics ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Neoplasm Proteins/*genetics ; Odds Ratio ; Phenotype ; *Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Uric Acid/blood

Transarterial embolization is accepted as effective and safe for the acute management in hemodynamically unstable patients with pelvic ring injury. However, transarterial embolization has potential complications, such as gluteal muscle/skin necrosis, deep infection, surgical wound breakdown, and internal organ infarction, which are caused by blocked blood flow to surrounding tissues and organs, and many studies on the complications have been reported. Here, we report an experience of the management of gluteal necrosis and infection that occurred after transarterial embolization, with a review of the relevant literature.
Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Infarction ; Necrosis ; Surgical Wound Infection

We experienced 3 cases of Candida esophagitis in infancy which were diagnosed by esophageal endoscopy. First case, 10 month-old boy with combined immune deficiency had suffered from oral thrush and poor feeding for more than 4 months. Esophageal endoscopy revealed multiple whitish creamy patches on the friable erythematous and necrotic mucosa of the esophagus. He was firstly treated with amphotericin-B but in vain. Then he was treated with fluconazole (5 mg/kg/day) and in a few days oral thrush nearly disappeared and endoscopy after 2 weeks revealed complete healing of the esophagitis. Second case, 6 month-old boy with some cellular immue defect also suffered from oral thrush, poor feeding and intermittent fever. He was treated with fluconazole and oral thrush was imporved. He was discharged without follow up endoscopy. Third case, 4 month-old girl with liver cirrhosis due to infantile cholestasis had Candida sepsis. Esophagitis was found incidentally during the endoscopic examination of esophageal varix. First 2 cases showed multiple small filling defects and decreased motility on esophagography. Candida antigen was not detected in the sera of all 3 cases of candidiasis. We conclude that Candidia esophagitis should be suspected when an infant has been suffering from long-term treatmet-resistant oral thrush and poor feeding and that esophageal endoscopy can be easily performed in infants also and useful in diagnosing esophagitis and assessing the outcome of treatment.
Candida* ; Candidiasis ; Candidiasis, Oral ; Cholestasis ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Esophagitis* ; Esophagus ; Female ; Fever ; Fluconazole ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Sepsis