BACKGROUND: The aging process may be induced, at least in part, by reactive oxygen species(ROS). It has been though that the lung could be a good source of ROS because it has a high oxygen tension. In the present study, we invetigated the inducibility of the first and last lines against oxidative stress, superoxide dismutases (Cu/Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD) as a scavenger of O2- and metallothionein(MT) as a scavenger of OH·, respectively, in mouse lungs with age. METHODS: Oxidative stress was induced by paraquat, an intracellular superoxide generator, at 1, 4, 8, and 12 months of age and then SODs and MT mRNAs were determined by RT-PCR method. RESULTS: The steady-state level of Mn-SOD mRNA increased from 1 to 8 months but decreased thereafter. However, Mn-SOD mRNA was not induced by paraquat after 1 month. On the other hand, there was no change in the steady-state level of Cu/Zn/-SOD mRNA, which decrease abruptly at 12 months of age. Additionally, Cu/Zn/-SOD mRNA was not induced by paraquat at any age. There was no change in the steady-state level of MT mRNA with age whereas its inducibility by paraquat was intact at all ages. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that lack of induction of SODs with age may be one of the causative factors in the aging process while induction of MT may play an important role in the defense against oxidative stress. It is therefore implicated that the tissue antioxidant/proxidant balance could be one determinants of meal life span.
Aging* ; Animals ; Hand ; Lung* ; Meals ; Metallothionein* ; Mice* ; Oxidative Stress ; Oxygen ; Paraquat* ; RNA, Messenger ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Superoxides*

Transient osteoporosis of the hip is a self-limited condition of uncertain etiology and pathogenesis that affects young and middle aged adults. Even its clinical features are similar to the features of osteonecrosis the prognosis and clinical end result are quite different. So differential diagnosis between the two is very important. We present a case of transient osteoporosis of the hip in middle aged man, which was completely reeovered after conservative treatment.
Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hip ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Osteonecrosis ; Osteoporosis ; Prognosis

No abstract available.
Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular*

Laser in situ keratomileusis[LASIK] is a refractive surgical procedure that is effective in treating myopia and astigmatism. The incidence of corneal infection after LASIK is approximately 0.02% according to international experience. We experience the case of a 20-year old man who developed endophthalmitis; corneal edema, epithelial defect, hypopyon was found 2 days after LASIK. He was immediately given intravenous and subconjuntival injection[tobramycin and ceftazidime] and topical fortified eyedrop[tobramycin and ceftazidime]. The microbiologic study revealed Serratia marcescens as the causative organism. Three days after therapy was instituted, the hypopyon resolved. After 4 months of LASIK, visual acuity was 1.0 and maintained recently. We report a case of endophthalmitis after LASIK by Serratia marcescens which detected early and treated by antibiotics. In addition, close postoperative surveillance and education for hygiene was required on early postoperative period.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Astigmatism ; Corneal Edema ; Education ; Endophthalmitis* ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Incidence ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ ; Myopia ; Postoperative Period ; Refractive Surgical Procedures ; Serratia marcescens ; Visual Acuity ; Young Adult

In an attempt to investigate the sequential histological changes in the tissue surrounding intracerebral hematoma, an experimental model of intracerebral hematoma was made by an injection of 0.7ml of autologous whole blood, with the stereotaxic frame, into the right basal ganglia of the anesthetized rabbit. The total of 60 adult rabbits weighing 1.6 to 2.5kg were divided into 10 groups and sacrified in 0.5, 3, 6, 9 and 12 hours, and 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 days after the formation of intracerebral hematomas. The sequential microscopical changes in the brain tissue surrounding hematoma were observed. The results obtained were as follows : 1) At the earlier stages, in 0.5 to 24 hours after hematoma formation, edema, migration of RBCs, perivascular hemorrhage and infiltration of neutrophils were observed in the surrounding brain tissues. These changes began to appear in 3 to 6 hours and were aggravated rapidly in 12 to 24 hours. At the later stages, in 2 to 7 days after hematoma formation, infiltration of macrophage, proliferation of vessels and fibrin were observed in the surrounding brain tissue. These changes in the process of tissue repair seemed to begin in 2 days and promote in 3 to 7 days after hematoma formation. 2) The experimental data suggested that in the clinical practice the removal of intracerebral hematoma might as well be carried out in the early stage of hemorrhage, particularly within 12 hours, before the degree and extent of necrosis in the surrounding brain tissue would be marked.
Adult ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Edema ; Fibrin ; Hematoma* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Macrophages ; Models, Theoretical ; Necrosis ; Neutrophils ; Rabbits

BACKGROUND: The mechanically ventilated patient's stay in the emergency department (ED) is brief but ventilatory management and intervention must be optimal. Agitation, anxiety, distress, and discomfort are common complications far the ventilated patient. So, sedation is necessary to reduce these complications. METHODS: Patients were monitored and mechanically ventilated. Midazolam was intravenously administered as loading dose(3-5mg), followed by continuous infusion at a rate of 0.06mg/kg/hr, titrated to achieve a predetermined sedation level (Ramsay's sedation score: 2-5 points, Glasgow coma score scathe : 8-11 points). RESULTS: After onset of predetermined sedation, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate remained stable during continuous infusion when compared with those of the initial state. Arterial blood gas and peak inspiratory pressure remained unchanged but respiratory rate was decreased to allowable ranges. CONCLUSION: A short-term continuous infusion of midazolam was a safe and erective method for sedation of ventilated patients in ED.
Anxiety ; Blood Pressure ; Coma ; Dihydroergotamine ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Midazolam* ; Respiratory Rate

Recently. the endopyelotomy has been used as a first choice of treatment in selected cases of ureteropelvic or ureteral strictures. 24 consecutive cages of endourologic-tomy procedure including 12 cases of endopyelotomy. 8 cases of endoureterotomy and 4 cases of endocalicotomy were performed from Nov. '89 to May '91. The causes of stricture were previous operation (7 cases), congenital (6 cases). tuberculosis (5 cases) and others. They were all followed more than 3 months. The overall success rete was 83.3%. The success means improvement of clinical symptoms and radiographic findings. The complications were upward migration of stent (1 case), granuloma (1 case) and re-stricture (2 cases). Especially in 1 cases of caliceal stricture the success rate was 100% with no complication. Our experience indicates that endourologic-tomy procedure has relatively good success rate, low morbidity, Low complication and a shorter recovery time. Especially endocalicotomy is one of the best method to treat caliceal stricture.
Constriction, Pathologic* ; Granuloma ; Neck* ; Stents ; Tuberculosis ; Ureter*

Dizziness is one of the most commonly presenting complaints in clinical practice. However, a systematic diagnostic approach to the dizzy patient remains challenging due to the wide range of diagnostic possibilities. As a symptom, dizziness is quite subjective and is resulted from diverse conditions. Therefore, classifying the patient's complaints into the etiology oriented categories through detailed histories should be the first step of the approach. Physicians should be acquainted with skills for the history taking and a brief but comprehensive neuro-otologic examination which can be done easily in clinical practice. This article focused on practical skills for history taking and bedside examination in the diagnostic approaches to the patient with dizziness.
Dizziness ; Humans ; Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular ; Resin Cements

BACKGROUND: Pregabalin is an anticonvulsant and analgesic agent that interacts selectively with the voltage-sensitive-Ca(2+)-channel alpha-2-delta subunit. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the analgesic action of intrathecal (IT) pregabalin is associated with KATP channels in the rat formalin test. METHODS: IT PE-10 catheters were implanted in male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300 g) under inhalation anesthesia using enflurane. Nociceptive behavior was defined as the number of hind paw flinches during 60 min after formalin injection. Ten min before formalin injection, IT drug treatments were divided into 3 groups: normal saline (NS) 20 microl (CON group); pregabalin 0.3, 1, 3 and 10 microg in NS 10 microl (PGB group); glibenclamide 100 microg in DMSO 5 microl with pregabalin 0.3, 1, 3 and 10 microg in NS 5 microl (GBC group). All the drugs were flushed with NS 10 microl. Immunohistochemistry for the KATP channel was done with a different set of rats divided into naive, NS and PGB groups. RESULTS: IT pregabalin dose-dependently decreased the flinching number only in phase 2 of formalin test. The log dose response curve of the GBC group shifted to the right with respect to that of the PGB group. Immunohistochemistry for the KATP channel expression on the spinal cord dorsal horn showed no difference among the groups 1 hr after the formalin test. CONCLUSIONS: The antinociceptive effect of pregabalin in the rat formalin test was associated with the activation of the KATP channel. However, pregabalin did not induce KATP channel expression in the spinal cord dorsal horn.
Anesthesia, Inhalation ; Animals ; Catheters ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; Enflurane ; Formaldehyde ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Glyburide ; Horns ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; KATP Channels ; Male ; Pain Measurement ; Prostaglandins B ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord ; Thienamycins ; Pregabalin

Primary role of ultrasound in patients with thyroid nodule is to determine the multiplicity and detect occult carcinoma. We analyzed US findings of 53 thyroid carcinomas with multiple nodular lesions from january 1988 to december 1991. The results were as follows: 1. 109 malignant nodules in 53 cases and 24 benign in 23 were comfirmed. 2. The nature of the masses were solid in 72 malignant nodules (74.2%), and complex in 25 (25.8%) of which 19 were predominantly solid. 3. The echo pattern of the solid and solid predominant masses were hypoechoic in 78 malignant nodules (80.4%), hyperechoic in 10 (10.3%), and isoechoic in 3 (9.3%) 4. Internal punctate calcifications within the masses were observed in 31 malignant nodules (31.9%). 5. Halo sign was present in 16 malignant nodules(16.5%). 6. The preoperative sonographic diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma was made in 39.4% of 53 cases with multiple nodules on US. In conclusion, the number, and halo formation of nodules were insignificant to differentiate the benign nodule from the malignant. The heterogeneous hypoechoic nodules with size greater than 4cm, multiple stippled calcifications, displacement of the trachea or other surrounding structures of combined lymph node enlargements seem to indicate the possibility of malignancy.
Diagnosis ; Goiter* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroid Nodule ; Trachea ; Ultrasonography