Although our present knowledge of the etiology of peptic ulcer is incomplete, the presence or absence of peptic ulcer is determined by the delicate interplay between aggressive factors (secreted gastric acid and pepsin) and defensive factors (mucosal resistance). Peptic ulcer is produced when the aggressive effects of acid-pepsin dominate the protective effects of gastric or duodenal mucosal resistance by predominance of aggressive factors or interruption of defensive factors. KU-54 enhances mucosal resistance to tissue injury by the increase of gastric mucosal blood flow, the stimulation of gastric mucosal metabolism, the increase of glycoprotein of gastric mucus, and the increase of ATP of gastric mucosa. We have treated 38 cases of gastric ulcers with KU-54 300 mg daily for 4-12 weeks for the evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy. Endoscopic, clinical, and laboratory assessments were undergone before and after 4 ~ 12 weeks of the treatment. Major symptoms of gastric ulcer have been improved in 83.3% after the medication with KU-54. The healing rate of gastric ulcer evaluated by endoscopy was observed in 33.3% after 4 weeks, 73.3% after 8 weeks, 76.6% after 12 weeks of the medication with KU-54. The utility rate of KU-54 was 86.7%. We could conclude that KU-54 is the utilizable drug for gastric ulcer.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Endoscopy ; Gastric Acid ; Gastric Mucosa ; Glycoproteins ; Metabolism ; Mucus ; Peptic Ulcer ; Stomach Ulcer*

Acid ingestion causes a coagulative necrosis of the surface epithelium of the upper gastromtestinal tract. Its late sequence is luminal stenosis which frequently requires surgical repair. Nevertherless, in many cases, non-operative dilatation of luminal stenosis have been applicated, such as bouginations, balloon dilatations, endoscopic laser therapy, endoscopic electrocoagulation, endescopic microwave coagulation. These methods may give some considerable benefits in unoperable cases. Recently, we experienced a case of a 60-year-old man who had severe corrosive esophageal and gastric angular strictures by accidentally ingested hydrochloric acid and after many tiems of application of non-operative dilatation was able to have normal diet without dysphagia. So, we report this case with a review of literatures.
Constriction, Pathologic* ; Deglutition Disorders ; Diet ; Dilatation* ; Eating ; Electrocoagulation ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Hydrochloric Acid ; Laser Therapy ; Microwaves ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Phenobarbital

The intravenous administration of midazolam is widely used as sedative premedication for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. We performed a study to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of midazoiam as premedication for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Between June 1995 and October 1995, 112 patients of diagnostic esophago-gastroduodenoseopy were enrolled in the study. The patients were recieved a bolus midazolam 0.~03mg/kg or placebo, followed by typical anesthesia. The blood pressure, pulse and oximeter values were monitored. The systolic blood pressure and heart rate were increased during endoscopy in compared with before premedication, and normalized immediately. There was no significant change of arterial oxygen saturation. Midazolam induced amnesia completely in 49.2% and partially in 27.2%, and all patients were recovered completely in 1 hour. The tolerance score is higher in the midazolam group as compared with the placebo group(p<0.05), and midazolam group would accept the same sedation for repeated endoscopies(p<0.01). We conclude that midazolam has beneficial effects as premedication for upper gastrointastinal endoscopy without significant altteration in cardiopulmonary parameters. This suggest that midazolam may be used more frequently as premedication, especially in the cases of repeated endoscopy.
Administration, Intravenous ; Amnesia ; Anesthesia ; Blood Pressure ; Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Midazolam* ; Oxygen ; Premedication*

Endoscopic nasobiliary drainage(ENBD) has been developed as a safe and effective noninvasive biliary drainage method for initial decompression in the benign or malignant biliary obstruction, dissolution of biliary stones by injection of litholytic agents through the tube, and proper causative diagnosis of biliary obstruction by cytologic, bacteriologic and parasite investigation of drained bile. Generally, endoscopic sphicterotomy (EST) is performed before the insertion of an ENBD tube in order to make the procedure easy and to prevent acute pancreatitis that may develop by compression of the pancreatic orifice of the inserted tube. Nevertheless, in some cases EST is difficult to perform or should not be performed due to their coagulopathy. In such cases, ENBD without EST may be necessary. To evaluate the safety, successfullness and effectiveness of ENBD without EST, ENBD without EST using 5, 6 or 7 Fr pigtail tubes were performed in 81 cases(49 malignant, 32 benign). ENBD without EST was successfully performed in 78 out of 81 cases(96.3%). This effectiveness for decompression of bile duct, evaluated by decreasing total bilirubin values, was good in 66 out of 73 casee (90. 2%). The complications of this procedure were noted in 6 out of 78 cases(7. 7%). e. g. cholangitis in 3, migration of ENBD tube in 2, acute pancreatitis in 1 case. Particularly, regardless of our concern that ENBD without EST may develop acute pancreatitis acute panereatitis was noted in only one case. In conclusion, ENBD without EST is a safe and effective method which can be applied to the cases who have benign or malignant obstructive jaundice.
Bile ; Bile Ducts ; Bilirubin ; Cholangitis ; Decompression ; Diagnosis ; Drainage* ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Pancreatitis ; Parasites

No abstract available.
Animals* ; Hypertension, Portal* ; Models, Animal*

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: This study focused on in vitro cell differentiation and surface characteristics in a magnesium coated titanium surface implanted on using a plasma ion source. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 40 commercially made pure titanium discs were prepared to produce Ti oxide machined surface (M) and Mg-incorporated Ti oxide machined surface (MM). Surface properties were analyzed using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). On each surface, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, alizarin red S staining for mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells, and quantitative analysis of osteoblastic gene expression, were evaluated. Actin ring formation assay and gene expression analysis of TRAP and GAPDH performing RT-PCR were performed to characterize osteoclast differentiation on mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs). RESULTS: MM showed similar surface morphology and surface roughness with M, but was slightly smoother after ion implantation at the micron scale. M was more hydrophobic than MM. No significant difference between surfaces on ALP activity at 7 and 14 days were observed. Real-time PCR analyses showed similar levels of mRNA expression of the osteoblast phenotype genes; osteopontin (OPN), osteocalcin (OCN), bone sialoprotein (BSP), and collagen 1 (Col 1) in cell grown on MM at 7, 14 and 21 days. Alizarin red S staining at 21 days showed no significant difference. BMMs differentiation increased in M and MM. Actin ring formation assay and gene expression analysis of TRAP showed osteoclast differentiation to be more active on MM. CONCLUSION: Both M and MM have a good effect on osteoblastic cell differentiation, but MM may speed the bone remodeling process by activating on osteoclast differentiation.
Actins ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Bone Remodeling ; Cell Differentiation ; Collagen ; Gene Expression ; Integrin-Binding Sialoprotein ; Macrophages ; Magnesium* ; Mice ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Osteoblasts* ; Osteocalcin ; Osteoclasts* ; Osteopontin ; Phenotype ; Plasma ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Surface Properties ; Titanium*

Death by drowning is a major cause of unnatural death worldwide. It is therefore important to conduct forensic examination of immersed bodies following drowning, in order to determine the diagnosis of drowning, because no specific methods have been established thus far. Therefore, we performed a series of rat experiments to compare autopsy findings between seawater and fresh water drowning cases, which included the presence of pleural effusion and histologic findings of the lung. The results showed that the volume of pleural effusion increased in the seawater drowning group compared to the fresh water drowning group, and the total weight of lung was affected by the type of drowning medium and postmortem interval. However, histologic findings of the lung showed no significant difference between the 2 types of drowning mediums.
Animals ; Autopsy ; Drowning ; Fresh Water ; Lung ; Pleural Effusion ; Rats ; Seawater

Recently the syndrome of mitral valve prolapse with associated auscultatory and other clinical findings has generated considerable interest. Although this syndrome was originally described as benign, more recent observations have demonstrated that the patients are subject to sudden death, life threatening arrhythmias, bacterial endocarditis or hemodynamically significant mitral regurgitation. It is therefore important to identify such patients so that appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis and antiarrhythmic therapy may be instituted. Since earlier reports of this syndrome by Barlow et al. in 1963, various names or descriptions have been applied to the condition based upon pathologic findings, on cinical investigators has stressed different aspects of the entity. Now it is well known that the syndrome is no longer a benign condition. We have recently had the opportunity to study 15 cases of mitral valve prolapse, which was confirmed by left ventricular cineangiography. Among them 9 cases had associated other cardiac anomalies, most frequently secundum type of atrial septal defect. Among 15 cases 8 were female and the ages ranged from 20 to 52. Selective cine-coronary arteriography was also performed in 2 cases who complained of severe chest pain. We discussed generally the clinical features including hemodynamic and angiocardiographic findings, and pertinent literature published until recently were reviewed.
Female ; Humans

No abstract available.
Humans ; Lung Compliance* ; Lung Diseases* ; Lung*