No abstract available.
Replantation*

No abstract available.
Ascites* ; Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation of Lung, Congenital*

It is well known that there is close relation of the left atrial pathology to atrial fibrillation(AF) in patients with mitral valvular disease. To evaluate such relation is existed or not in the right atrium, the right atrial wall biopsy was performed in 31 patients with mitral valvular disease during valve surgery. The specimens obtained were interpretated by the pathologist who had no information about the patients. The specimens were graded according to severity of morphological change. In Grade I, the atrial myocardium is degenerated and has moderate fibrosis in it. Grade II shows the atrial myocardial layer of the atrium and severe degenerated with pre and postoperative heart rhythm. Four patients had Grade I change and 3 patients among them had pre and postoperative AF. Eleven patients had Grade III changes and 9 among them had pre and postoperative AF. The results show there is strong tendency that the patients with pre and postopeative AF had Grade III change in the right atrium and the relation of the right atrial pathology to AF is same as that of the left atrium.
Atrial Fibrillation* ; Biopsy ; Fibrosis ; Heart ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Myocardium ; Pathology*

OBJECTIVE: We used music as a rhythmic cue in gait training of patients with hemiplegia and analysed its effect on gait parameters. METHOD: Twenty hemiplegic patients were included in the study. Gait cycle, foot contact area, and center of pressure pathway were measured by F-scan with and without music. Four subjects were followed after 3 weeks of gait training using rhythmic cue with music. RESULTS: 1) In involved limb, stance phase was slightly increased from 65.8+/-9.9% to 67.8+/-7.9%, and single limb support was changed from 17.1+/-6.3% to 17.2+/-6.2%, without statistical significance. 2) Stance and swing symmetry was slightly increased from 0.77+/-0.13 and 0.52+/-0.21 to 0.83+/-0.09 and 0.54+/-0.16 respectively, without statistical significance. 3) Foot contact area and anteroposterior distance of center of pressure were not changed significantly. 4) All 4 subjects who were followed after 3 weeks showed increased single limb support of involved limb (from 14.5% to 18.8%) and swing symmetry (from 0.47 to 0.67). CONCLUSION: Though it was not proved to be effective for every hemiplegics, use of rhythmic cue with music in gait training may be helpful in some patients. Further study is needed to confirm these results.
Cues ; Extremities ; Foot ; Gait ; Gait Disorders, Neurologic* ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Music Therapy ; Music* ; Rehabilitation

Pathophysiological conditions such as sepsis and hepatitis are frequently associated with cholestasis. Cholestasis in patients with sepsis has been attributed to the effects of endotoxin(lipopholysaccharides, LPS) and LPS-induced cytokines(TNF-a, IL-6, IL-1, etc.). LPS and cytokines reduced bile acid uptake in cultured hepatocyte. Perfusion of LPS decrease the bile flow in the isolated liver. Bile flow is increased by intravenous infusion of secretin, but it's effect remains unclear in sepsis. The aim, of this study is to elucidate the effect of LPS on the bile flow and bile composition and to test the effect of secretin on the bile flow. The animals used in this study were Korean wild cats. Under the general anesthesia, the incision was made on the midline. Common bile duct was cannulated with polyethylene tube after cholecystectomy. Bile was collected every five minutes and its volume was measured. E. coli LPS(1 mg/kg), secretin(0.1mg/kg) and H3-taurocholic acid(0.2uCi/kg) were infused via mesenteric vein. Bile was collected every 5 minutes, and the volume and its composition were analyzed. Radio-activity of the bile was quantified by Packard 1600 TR liquid scintillation analyzer. LPS of E.coli (1mg/kg) had a little effect on the blood pressure. LPS decreased the bile flow by 37% compared with the control group. Maximal impairment of the bile secretion appeared 15 minites after LPS infusion, and then secreted stablely thereafter. Secretin increased the bile flow in the normal control group. It, however, did not make any change in the bile flow after LPS infusion. LPS also reduced H3-taurocholate secretion(maximum 56%), and peak level was delayed about 10 minites compared with control group. In the composition of the bile, LPS decreased the secretion of bile acids significantly compared with the control group. Conclusively, LPS decreased the bile flow and the bile acid secretion. Secretin did not stimulate the bile flow in the LPS group. It also reduced the bile acids secretion compared with the control group. These findings will contribute to the understanding and treatment of the cholestasis and impairment of the liver function of sepsis. The findings, of reduced bile acids secretion in the LPS group may explain the pathogenesis of intrahepatic gallstone partly.
Anesthesia, General ; Animals ; Bile Acids and Salts ; Bile* ; Blood Pressure ; Cats* ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholestasis ; Common Bile Duct ; Cytokines ; Escherichia coli* ; Escherichia* ; Gallstones ; Hepatitis ; Hepatocytes ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Interleukin-1 ; Interleukin-6 ; Liver ; Mesenteric Veins ; Perfusion ; Polyethylene ; Secretin ; Sepsis

PURPOSE: Many investigators suggested that changes in hormonal environment in the postmenopausal women functionally or histologically effect the clitoris and vagina. We investigated the mechanism of female se xual dysfunction occurring in the decreased hormonal status, and aimed to establish and experimental base for the hormone replacement in postmenopausal women to correct sexual dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty mature female New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups; control group, oophorectomy group, estrogen replacement group after oophorectomy. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and the degree of expression of neuronal NOS (nNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS), collagen content in clitoral tissues were analysed. RESULTS: nNOS and eNOS were significantly increased in the oohporectomized group while decreased in the estrogen replacement group (p<0.01). NOS activity showed the similar pattern of change (p<0.05). Oophorectomy induced a significant increase in collagen content, while the ratio of smooth muscle content was increased significantly after the estrogen replacement (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Estrogen deficiency induces collagen synthesis and decreases the content of smooth muscle in clitoris, resulting in a structural relaxation difficulty. We believe that NOS becomes more active to improve the relaxation difficulty and that hormone replacement helps to restore the normal state of smooth muscle relaxation. Considering these findings, we suggest that estrogen down-regulates NOS and its activity.
Clitoris* ; Collagen ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Humans ; Muscle, Smooth ; Neurons ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Ovariectomy ; Rabbits ; Relaxation ; Research Personnel ; Vagina

No abstract available.
Aneurysm* ; Subclavian Artery*

We report a case of pneumonia in 36 year-old male patient who presented acute respiratory failure and associated radiologic findings of bilateral ground-glass opacity with focal cystic changes, showing rapidly aggravating course and was diagnosed as concomitant Pneumocystis carinii and Cytomegalovirus pneumonia accompanied by acquired immunodeficiency syndrome through antemortem open lung biopsy.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Biopsy ; Cytomegalovirus ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Pneumocystis carinii ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory Insufficiency*

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the effect of topical analgesic effects of a liposome encapsulated mixture of local anesthetics (lipo-MLA) compared with EMLA. METHODS: 3% lipo-MLA (0.5% tetracaine base, 2.5% lidocaine base) and 5% lipo-MLA (1% tetracaine base, 4% lidocaine base) were encapsulated into liposomal vesicles made with egg yolk phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol and phosphatidyldioleoyl. 3% lipo-MLA and EMLA were applied to volunteers' forearms bilaterally with and without an occlusive dressing. The topical anesthetic effects of the lipo-MLA and EMLA as a control were evaluated by the pinprick test in 28 adult volunteers after 60 minutes of application. The analgesic influence of the concentration of local anesthetics was also compared with 3% and 5% lipo-MLA under a non-occlusive dressing. RESULTS: Analgesic effects of the 3% lipo-MLA were similar with EMLA under an occlusive dressing for 60 minutes. In addition, analgesic effects of the 3% lipo-MLA under a non-occlusive dressing were more potent than EMLA. Lipo-MLA under a non-occlusive dressing showed more potent analgesic effect than lipo-MLA under an occlusive dressing. 5% lipo-MLA was more potent than 3% lipo-MLA under a non-occlusive dressing. CONCLUSIONS: Lipo-MLA has more potent analgesic effects than EMLA without an occlusive dressing and 5% lipo-MLA is more potent than 3% lipo-MLA. Therefore, lipo-MLA appeared to be an improved topical analgesic formulation which provides a more potent and convenient topical application.
Adult ; Anesthetics* ; Anesthetics, Local* ; Bandages ; Cholesterol ; Egg Yolk ; Forearm ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Liposomes* ; Occlusive Dressings ; Phosphatidylcholines ; Tetracaine ; Volunteers

BACKGROUND: Biodegradable microspheres are a useful method of drug delivery because they are both injectable and biodegradable. Previous work in our group has characterized implantable preparations of local anesthetics in pellets for prolonged regional anesthesia. In this paper we evaluated injectable suspensions of lidocaine-polymer microspheres for extended period of percutaneous sciatic nerve blockade in rats. METHODS: Microspheres were prepared using poly (lactide-co-glycolide) loaded with 50 wt% lidocaine by a solvent evaporation method. In vitro release rate of lidocaine from microspheres was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Percutaneous blockade of the rat sciatic nerve was performed, and sensory blockade of the nerve was assessed using an analgesiometer. RESULTS: Lidocaine was released in a controlled manner in vitro. In general 60% of the drug released in the first day, 80% in two days. Sciatic nerve blockade duration ranged from 8 to 12 hours. Incorporation of dexamethasone 0.05 wt% into the microspheres resulted in significant prolongation of block. CONCLUSION: Prolonged percutaneous blockade of peripheral nerve is achieved using biodegradable polymeric lidocaine microspheres.
Anesthesia, Conduction* ; Anesthetics, Local ; Animals ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Dexamethasone ; Lidocaine* ; Microspheres* ; Peripheral Nerves ; Polymers* ; Rats ; Sciatic Nerve ; Suspensions