BACKGROUND: It has been shown that L-type calcium channel blockers increase the muscle relaxation effects of non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents whereas the potentiated neuromuscular blocking effects by L-type calcium channel blocker are resistant to reversal by neostigmine. The aims of this study were 1) to see whether the pretreatment of L-type calcium channel blocker, such as verapamil, aggravates the pipecuronium-induced muscle relaxation, 2) if so, to see whether these effects are reversed by anticholinesterase, such as neostigmine and edrophonium or potassium channel blocker, such as 4-aminopyridine. METHODS: The rat-phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragms (n=60) were prepared. Twenty microgram of pipecuronium was administered to all organ bath. All samples were divided into two groups according to the administration of 10uM of verapamil i.e. verapamil pretreated, non-pretreated group. The amounts of administered pipecuronium were gradually increased by 4ug until the force of twitch decreased to 10% of control value in both groups. Each group was subdivided into three groups according to the administration of 0.75 M of neostigmine, 12.4 uM of edrophonium or 40uM of 4-aminopyridine. RESULTS: The dose of pipecuronium required for the decrease of contractile force to 10% of control value was less in verapamil pretreated group than in non-pretreated group. And, the decrease of contractile force in both groups was more effectively reversed by 4-aminopyridine than neostigmine and edrophonium. CONCLUSIONS: Verapamil potentiates the pipecuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade and 4-aminopyridine is more effective to reverse verapamil pretreated, pipecuronium induced neuromuscular blockade.
4-Aminopyridine* ; Baths ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; Edrophonium* ; Muscle Relaxation ; Neostigmine* ; Neuromuscular Blockade* ; Neuromuscular Blocking Agents ; Pipecuronium* ; Potassium Channels ; Verapamil*

The purpose of this study was to survey bacteria which was known as a fecal bacteria living in the human and animal gastro and intestinal tract. The colony density of the fecal coliform and fecal streptococci was 280 and 130 in 100ml sample amounts respectively. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa which is usually exist in swimming pool and was known as indicator of the pool water contamination was detected.
Animals ; Bacteria* ; Humans ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Rivers* ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Swimming Pools

No abstract available.
Thumb*

We are calling the erupting ground water as drug water or mineral water in Korea and thinking those water and food making water. Authors tried to investigate the evidence of contamination by user on the 10 erupting ground water and gained following results: 1. All of the mineral waters on 10 area in Seoul were unfittable to drinking water standard. 2. In the view of the bacteriology 80% were contaminated by coliform group. 3. The highest value of the free carbon dioxide contents were 652.96 ppm at Sam Sun Mineral Water.
Bacteriology ; Carbon Dioxide ; Drinking Water ; Groundwater ; Korea ; Mineral Waters* ; Seoul* ; Solar System ; Thinking ; Water

The serodiagnostic test of syphilis employed with the greatest freguency in this country is the VDRL procedure which is one of the flocculation test utilizing cardiolipin-lecithin as an antigen. As well known, the immunologically nonspecific nature of this test relegates it only to screening test, so that all the sera displaying weakly reactive or reactive VDRL in the absence of definite evidence of present or past syphilis should be confirmed by using the specific treponemal antigen tests. However, there are only lirnited numbers of institutions at which the specific treponemal antigen tests are carried out, because the tests usually need quite coaiplicatnl technology and specifically trained personnel. The Treponema. pallidum hema.gglutination assay (TPHA) which was first described by Rathlev in 1965 and established as more improved and standardized procedure in serodia,gnosis of syphilis by Tornizaxva and Kasamatsu (1966) has been found to h as sensitive and specific as the technically more complicated Fluorescent treponemaI antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) or Treponema pallidum immobilization (TPI) po cedure by rnany investigators from different parts of the world during these 10 years. The TPHA has also been found to have definite advantage over the other tests because it is easy to perform and economic. The present authors felt. that the TPHA meight be the most reasonable method to be used in this country and decided to evaluate it in the serodiagnosis of problem cases. Sera from 516 presumed normal persons, 686 pregnant women ancl 1345 patients with various diseases other than syphilis were screened with the standard VDRL procedure as described and recommanded by USPHS. Out of these, 475 of t.he presumed normal persons, 646 of the pregnant women and 1243 of the patient group wit;h various diseases other than syphilis v;ere serologically nonreactive and 10, 12 and Rl sera from each of the above groups, respectively, were found to be true syphilitc with definite evidence of clinical signs or history of syphilis. Thirty-one out of the presumed normal persons, 28 out of the pregnant women and 71 out of the patient group with various diseases other than syphilis showed either weakly reactive or reactive VDRI, in undiluted sera without definite evidence of syphilis and these 130 sera from 130 persons were the subject of the present study. The TPHA was carried out on these 130 sera. according to the ma.nual MEA-TP instructed by National Institute of Health, Japan. The reagents used in this study rvere rnanufactured and supplied hy the Fujizoki Pharmaceutical Co. Ten (32.3%) out of the R1 sera from preaumed normal persons, 11 (39.4%) out of the 28 sera from pregna.nt women a.nd 28 (69.4%) out of the patient group with various disea ses other then syphilis showed reactive TPHA. Eighty-seven of the total 130 sera showed weakly reactive VDRL so called rough result and 19 (21.8%) Of these 87 sera showed reactive TPHA, while 30(69.8%) of the 43 sera which showed reactive VDRL were found to be TPHA reactive. These results arc in general agreement with those of other investigators confirmed by the more complicated FTA-ABS or TPI. The overall incidence of syphilis was 3.87%, 3.35% and 4.38% in presumed normal persons, in pregnant women and in patient group with various diseases other than syphilis respectively. Considering the relative lack of study concerning to the false positive reactions in this country, these results may be helpful to the clinician to rnake a cert.ain diagnostic decision when they meet such a patient whose VDRL is weakly reactive or reactive in the absence of definite evidence of syphilis. The authors concluded that: the MHA-TP technique is easy in performance, economic and highly specific in serodiagnosis and that this technique is highly recommanded in this country. * The authors thank Fujizoki Pharrnaceutical Company, Tokyo, Japan which provided the TPHA reagents used in this study.
Absorption ; Bezafibrate ; False Positive Reactions ; Female ; Flocculation Tests ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Incidence ; Indicators and Reagents ; Japan ; Mass Screening ; Pregnant Women ; Research Personnel ; Serologic Tests* ; Syphilis* ; Treponema ; Treponema pallidum ; United States Public Health Service

No Abstract Available.
Trabeculectomy*

No abstract available.
Motor Endplate*

No abstract available.
Fingers* ; Toes*

Since the first experimental nerve graft by Philipeaux and Vulpian in 1870, many successful graft have been reported by Bunnell, Boyes, Millesi, Sunderland and Seddon. Advances in microsurgery techniques prompted Millesi to introduce the concepts of interfascicular nerve grafting whereby groups of fascicles, and not whole nerve, are connected together. Hunt and Taylor described a free vasculized nerve graft with microvascular anastomoses and obtained rapid axonal advance and maturation of grafted nerve in a clinical case. It is true that a nerve graft should be inferior to an end-to-end nerve repair, because in the case of nerve grafting the axon have to cross two suture lines instead of one. On the other hand, nerve grafting is indicated whenever a significant gap is produced in a nerve as a result of injury. In a retrospective study of 46 patients, defect of the nerve with treated by nerve graft were analyzed from March, 1983 to January, 1993 and following results were obtained. 1. Nerve graft was useful method to repair nerve whenever a significant gap is produced in a nerve as a result of injury. 2. The sural nerve was used as a donor nerve and vasculized nerve graft can be useful. 3. Postoperative results of cases caused by electric burns were worse than others. 4. There were little significant value in the treatment results between epineural and perineural nerve graft. 5. Recovery of intrinsic function in median and ulnar nerve lesion above the elbow was poor and recovery of the intrinsic function in median nerve graft at the forearm level was better than level for lesion in the ulnar nerve at the same level.
Axons ; Burns, Electric ; Elbow ; Forearm ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Median Nerve ; Methods ; Microsurgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Sural Nerve ; Sutures ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants ; Ulnar Nerve

Preperative radiologic indices, such as cortical index of Engh, morphological cortical index of Sportono and Romagnoli, canal flare index of Noble, and their relationship to the postoperative canal filling, femoral stem fitness, stability and clinical result at last follow up were analyzed in 111 hips of 96 patients treated with bipolar or total hip arthroplasty at the Department of Chthopedic Surgery, Korea University Hospital, between January 1985 and May 1993. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The cortical index had no correlations with age, metaphyseal filling and clinical result but isthmic filling was proportional to the cortical index. In femoral stem fitness and stability, most cases of press fit and optimal stability were obtained in group 3 and 4 that have thick cortex. 2. The morphological cortical index had no correlation with age, canal filling and clinical results. But it was proportional to the postoperative femoral stem fitness and stability. 3. The canal flare index had no correlation with age. The metaphyseal filling was increased in the stove piped canal group(less than 3.0 canal flare index), but isthmic filling was increased in normal canal group(3.0-4.7 canal flare index). The most cases of press fit and optimal stability were obtained in normal canal group. More satisfactory clinical results were obtained in nomal canal group. Above results suggest that straight type of cementless femoral component could get better press fit fixation, postoperative stability and more satisfactory clinical results in the cases of cortical index larger than 2.0, mophological cortical index larger than 2.7 and canal flare index larger than 4.0 but metaphyseal filling is unsatisfactor.
Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Humans ; Korea