BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) is a selective pulmonary vasodilator, and inhaled NO has bronchodilatory action due to their relaxation effect on conducting airway smooth muscle. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of inhaled NO on respiratory system mechanics in cats. METHODS: Nineteen cats were divided into 3 groups according to the doses of NO administered; group C (control, n=7), group 20 (20 ppm of NO, n=7), and group 40 (40 ppm of NO, n=5). After measuring the baseline value, methacholine chloride 25 microgram/kg/min was infused to induce bronchoconstriction. Inhalation of NO was started for each group 15 minutes after methacholine infusion. Pressure, volume, and flow rate were monitored with Bicore CP100 pulmonary monitor and the data were transferred to a personal computer and analyzed by a processing software. Respiratory system, airway and tissue viscoelastic resistances, and dynamic and static compliances were calculated. RESULTS: Methacholine infusion increased both airway and tissue resistances. Fifteen minutes after inhaling NO, airway resistances for NO 20 ppm and 40 ppm decreased to 65.8+/-8.5% and 62.2+/-8.9% of the control value (p<0.05). The values of tissue resistances for NO 20 ppm and 40 ppm decreased to 72.4+/-10.8% and 78.2+/-10.5% of the control value respectively (p<0.05). And thirty minutes after inhaling NO, there were also decreases of airway and tissue viscoelastic resistances in both groups but had no differences compared with fifteen minutes' values. There were no significant differences between the NO 20 ppm and 40 ppm in the values of airway and tissue viscoelastic resistances. CONCLUSION: Inhaled NO of 20 ppm and 40 ppm decreased both airway and tissue viscoelastic resistances and airway resistance was decreased more markedly than tissue resistance. There were no significant differences between 20 ppm and 40 ppm of NO in respiratory system mechanics in cats.
Airway Resistance ; Animals ; Bronchoconstriction* ; Cats* ; Inhalation ; Mechanics* ; Methacholine Chloride ; Microcomputers ; Muscle, Smooth ; Nitric Oxide* ; Relaxation ; Respiratory System*

No abstract available.
Macrophages* ; Mistletoe* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of smoking on the clinical, radiographic outcome of surgical peridontal therapy. The outcome of periodontal surgery was evaluated in 51 systemically healthy subjects that had received maintenance care. The study subjects consisted of 26 smokers and 25 non-smokers. The average age of smoking patients was 51 years old and non-smoking patients was 48 years old. Changes of probing pocket depth(PPD) and radiographic bone height, and number of missing teeth compared between smokers and non-smokers during maintenance period after surgical therapy. The clinical parameters were less favorable in the smoking group compared with non-smoking group. The number and percentage of missing teeth were greater in smokers(21.6%) than non- smokers(12.4%), especially in molars. The mean presurgery PPD was similar in smokers and non-smokers, molars and premolars, but significantly decreased at least 2 years after surgery. The mean PPD reduction was significantly greater in nonsmokers than smokers. Both in the smoking and non-smoking group, the mean PPD reduction was significantly greater in premolars than molars. The radiographical evaluation was also less favorable in the smoking group than non-smoking group. The radiographic evaluation of bone height in smokers showed bone loss. On the contrary, bone height of nonsmokers showed bone gain during the period of maintenance. But there was no significant difference between molars and premolars. The clinical and radiographic outcomes of the smoking group was less favorable than those of the nonsmoking group. Therefore, smoking seems to influence on the clinical and radiographic outcomes of surgical periodontal therapy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the sonographic features of mesenteric lymphadenopathy in childhood epidemic aseptic meningitis and to assess their clinical significance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients (25 male, 8 female; mean age, 8.6 years) with a diagnosis of aseptic meningitis were prospectively evaluated with abdominal ultrasonography for the presence of enlarged mesen-teric nodes. The size and number of enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes were analyzed in relationship with the pa-tient's age, between the patients with abdominal pain or diarrhea (16 cases, 48%) and asymptomatic patients(17 cases, 52%). RESULTS: Mesenteric lymphadenopathy was seen in 31 patients (94%), all 16 symptomatic and 15 of the 17 asymp-tomatic patients. The number of enlarged nodes was most prevalent between 6 -10, seen in 16 patients (52%) and the largest node ranged in size from 4 to 8 mm. Among the 31 patients with mesenteric lymphadenopathy, the mean size of the largest node was statistically different between the symptomatic (6.0 mm) and asympto-matic (5.0 mm) groups (p = 0.021). The number of enlarged nodes and the patient's age were not statistically d-ifferent between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Mesenteric lymphadenopathy was seen in almost all cases of childhood epidemic aseptic meningitis, and may be related to the mesenteric lymphadenitis caused by enterovirus.
Abdominal Pain ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Enterovirus ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases* ; Male ; Meningitis, Aseptic* ; Mesenteric Lymphadenitis ; Prospective Studies ; Ultrasonography*

PURPOSE: Hepatic resection is the treatment of choice for small malignant tumor, intrahepatic cholelithiasis having normal liver function and so on. Partial hepatectomy for liver disease has been performing more commonly than the past. Postoperative mortality and morbidity are decreasing as the operative technique is developed. This report describes a review of our experience for hepatic resection and an analysis of potential risk factors affecting the morbidity and the mortality in a hepatectomy. METHODS: Between Jan. 1997 and Mar. 2001, we performed 112 cases of partial hepatectomy and retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological features of the cases. RESULTS: The most common disease needing hepatic resection was intrahepatic duct stone (46). The mean operative time was 377 minutes. The overall in-hopital mortality and morbidity rates were 6.8% (6/112) and 25% (59/112), respectively. Various postoperative complications developed; 16 wound infections (14.2%), 6 Bile leakage (5.3%), 6 intraabdominal abscess (5.3%), 5 cardiopulmonary complications (4.4%), 2 hepatic failure (1.7%), 2 postoperative bleeding (1.7%). The old had more cardiopulmonary complications. The significant risk factors for perioperative mortality were preoperative serum bilirubin level, alkaline phosphatase, prothrombin time, partial prothrombin time, perioperative transfusion and bleeding. CONCLUSION: This paper presents risk factors of hepatectomy in our hospital. The results state importance of selection of patients and perioperative bleeding managements to reduce of morbidity and mortality of hepatectomy.
Abscess ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Bile ; Bilirubin ; Cholelithiasis ; Hemorrhage ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Failure ; Mortality ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Prothrombin Time ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Wound Infection

Dental Occlusion ; Humans ; Incisor ; Malocclusion ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Skull ; Skull Base

BACKGROUND: Korean mistletoe (Viscum album) extract has been found to posses immunostimulatory activity. In this study, Korean mistletoe extract, M11C (non-lectin components), was used to know whether this extract might activate mouse peritoneal macrophages to produce interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta). METHODS: Hemagglutination assay was carried out to examine whether M11C contained a lectin or not . To know the effect of M11C on the production of IL-1 beta, the macrophages were treated by the M11C, and then collected the supernatant (M11C stimulated macrophages-conditioned media; MMCM). MMCM was analyzed for the IL-1 beta quantification and mRNA expression by means of ELISA and RT-PCR, respectively. RESULTS: Maximum effective dose and time of M11C on IL-1 beta production from macrophages were 20 micro gram/ml and 8 hours, respectively . This ELISA data was reconfirmed by immunoblotting assay . indicating that M11C is a good candidate for an immunomodulator. The dose and time dependent effect s of M11C on the expression of IL-1 beta mRNA from macrophages was also shown in expression of mRNA detected by RT-PCR. Treatment dose and time for the maximum expression of IL-1 beta mRNA were 20 micro gram/ml and 4 hours, respectively . Maximum gene expression of IL-1 beta was much earlier than maximum production of it. CONCLUSION: As results, Korean mistletoe extract, M11C, may be used for an immunomodulator. This will be able to make up for and solve the problems caused by existent immunoagent with many adverse effects through many other studies in future including one molecule extraction.
Animals ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression ; Hemagglutination ; Immunoblotting ; Interleukin-1beta ; Macrophages* ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; Mice ; Mistletoe* ; RNA, Messenger

PURPOSE: Cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) is associated with an increased recurrence rate and distant metastases. In this study, we analyzed the predictive factors of lateral metastasis in patients with PTMC. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 1,030 patients with PTMC who underwent thyroidectomy. The clinicopathological characteristics and radiological findings upon ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) were then analyzed to evaluate the predictability of lateral metastasis of PTMC. RESULTS: The overall rate of lateral metastasis was 3.3% for the 1,030 patients with PTMC. All patients underwent central lymph node dissection (CLND), and 119 of these patients (11.6%) underwent either prophylactic or therapeutic selective neck dissection (SND). Among patients who underwent lateral node evaluation, 28.6% had lateral metastasis. We found that lateral metastasis was associated with larger tumor size, extrathyroidal extension, multiple tumors, bilateral tumors, CLN metastasis, and positive expression of thyroid peroxidase. Positive findings of CLN and lateral metastases on ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) were significantly associated with lateral metastasis. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that, for patients with PTMC, larger tumor size, extrathyroidal extension, multiple tumors, bilateral tumors, CLN metastasis, positive expression of thyroid peroxidase, and positive CLN and lateral metastases identified on US and CT were significantly associated with lateral metastasis. Further studies with a large prospective study and longer follow-up are needed to clarify the predictive value of these factors.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Iodide Peroxidase ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes* ; Medical Records ; Neck Dissection ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroidectomy ; Ultrasonography

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective evaluation. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the effect of cervical lordosis on cervical disc degeneration in patients with a high T1 slope. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: The T1 slope is known to be a parameter that may be very useful in evaluating sagittal balance. We previously reported that a low T1 slope was a potential risk factor for cervical spondylosis, especially in the C6–7 cervical segment. However, no study has analyzed the effect of cervical lordosis in patients with a high T1 slope (>25) on cervical disc degeneration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-seven patients with a high T1 slope who underwent cervical spine MRI in our orthopedic clinic were enrolled. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to cervical compensation. The radiologic parameters obtained from radiography and cervical spine MRI were compared between the uncompensated group (cervical lordosis <25) and the compensated group (cervical lordosis ≥25). RESULTS: In the uncompensated group, the average degeneration grade of each segment was 2.72 (±0.70) in C2–3, 3.00 (±0.76) in C3–4, 3.02 (±0.91) in C4–5, 3.37 (±0.95) in C5–6, and 2.95 (±0.98) in C6–7. The average degeneration grade of each segment in the compensated group was 2.38 (±0.78) in C2–3, 2.38 (±0.60) in C3–4, 2.62 (±0.60) in C4–5, 2.82 (±0.72) in C5–6, and 2.41 (±0.74) in C6–7. The degeneration grade was significantly higher in the uncompensated group than in the compensated group for all cervical segments. The risk of high-grade degeneration of C3–4 was significantly higher in the uncompensated group (odds ratio = 6.268; 95% CI, 2.232–17.601; p<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a high T1 slope without compensation of cervical lordosis had a higher grade of degeneration in all cervical segments.
Animals ; Compensation and Redress ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Lordosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Orthopedics ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Spine ; Spondylosis

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the effect of cervical lordosis on cervical disc degeneration in patients with a high T1 slope.SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: The T1 slope is known to be a parameter that may be very useful in evaluating sagittal balance. We previously reported that a low T1 slope was a potential risk factor for cervical spondylosis, especially in the C6–7 cervical segment. However, no study has analyzed the effect of cervical lordosis in patients with a high T1 slope (>25) on cervical disc degeneration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-seven patients with a high T1 slope who underwent cervical spine MRI in our orthopedic clinic were enrolled. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to cervical compensation. The radiologic parameters obtained from radiography and cervical spine MRI were compared between the uncompensated group (cervical lordosis <25) and the compensated group (cervical lordosis ≥25). RESULTS: In the uncompensated group, the average degeneration grade of each segment was 2.72 (±0.70) in C2–3, 3.00 (±0.76) in C3–4, 3.02 (±0.91) in C4–5, 3.37 (±0.95) in C5–6, and 2.95 (±0.98) in C6–7. The average degeneration grade of each segment in the compensated group was 2.38 (±0.78) in C2–3, 2.38 (±0.60) in C3–4, 2.62 (±0.60) in C4–5, 2.82 (±0.72) in C5–6, and 2.41 (±0.74) in C6–7. The degeneration grade was significantly higher in the uncompensated group than in the compensated group for all cervical segments. The risk of high-grade degeneration of C3–4 was significantly higher in the uncompensated group (odds ratio = 6.268; 95% CI, 2.232–17.601; p<.001). CONCLUSIONS Patients with a high T1 slope without compensation of cervical lordosis had a higher grade of degeneration in all cervical segments.