The electrocadiographic and vectorcardiographic findings were reviewed in 49 cases of tetralogy of Fallot, confirmed by cardiac catheterization and angiocardiographic findings and/or, by surgery. In most cases, the electrocardiographic findings were right axis deviation and right ventricular hypertrophy. Vectorcardiographic findings were as following; 1) The initial vector directed to anterior and slightly left or right. 2) The maximum vector directed to right, anterior or posterior and inferior. 3) The terminalvector directed to right, posterior and inferior. 4) The loop inscription of horizontal plane and frontal plane were mainly clockwise. Five cases out of 49 showed somewhat atypical electrocardiographic findimgs. In 2 cases, rS pattern all through the chest leads were observed and in another 2, right chest leads showed the RS pattern(predominantly S) and left chest leads showed the not tall R waves and in the remaining 1, left axis deviation was noticed. The vectorcardiogram of these 5 cases showed the less Rx and Qz, larger Sx and Rz. In horizontal plane, main area is shifted to the third quadrant and direction of the maximum vector is right, posterior and inferior, and the inscription of loop is counterclockwise or figure of 8. The vectorcardiographic findings of tetralogy of Fallot which showed rS pattern were not different from those of single ventricle which showed rS pattern all through the precordial leads. Counterclockqwise or figure of 8 herizontal inscription is known to suggest mild tetralogy of Fallot but counterclocwise or figure of 8 inscription with small Rz and Qz may suggest severe tetralogy of Fallot.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Electrocardiography* ; Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular ; Tetralogy of Fallot* ; Thorax

Purpose: In periprosthetic osteolysis, cytokines, which are secreted from macrophages by the stimulation of particles, up-regulate the signaling for osteoclast activation through RANKL (Receptor activator of Nuclear Factor Kappa-B Ligand). This study compared the reaction to the particles and RANKL in the macrophages by examining the changes in the pro-inflammatory signals. In addition, because erythromycin has an anti-inflammatory effect, the effect of erythromycin on the pro-inflammatory signals by particles and RANKL was also analyzed to clarify the mechanism for the anti-resorptive effect with particles. Materials and Methods: The Raw 264.7 cell line (murine macrophage cell line) was used for these experiments. The particles were made from PMMA (poly-methyl-meth-acrylate) and UHMWPE (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) to enhance their stimulatory effects. Under the same culture conditions used for macrophages, the cells were treated with either particles or RANKL. The differences in the production of TNF-α, activities of MAP kinase, I-κB and reactive oxygen species (ROS) between the particle and RANKL treated macrophages were examined. The influence of erythromycin on these models was also observed. Results: Erythromycin inhibited ERK and p38 phosphorylation in both models, and suppressed the increase in H2O2 production in the particle-treated macrophages. However, erythromycin inhibited neither the production of TNF- in both models nor the production of H2O2 in the RANKL-treated macrophages. In addition, erythromycin reversed the suppression of I-κB by the particles. Conclusion: For the response of macrophages, erythromycin mainly suppresses the particle induced ROS and NF-κB activation compared with RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis signaling. Erythromycin might suppress particle-induced osteolysis through these anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, further studies on the downstream signals of osteoclastogenesis will be needed.
Cell Line ; Cytokines ; Erythromycin* ; Macrophages ; Molecular Weight ; Osteoclasts ; Osteolysis ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Reactive Oxygen Species

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Excessive alcohol consumption has harmful health effects, including alcohol hangovers and alcohol-related liver disease. Therefore, methods to accelerate the alcohol metabolism are needed. Laurus nobilis is a spice, flavoring agent, and traditional herbal medicine against various diseases. This study examined whether the standardized aqueous extract of L. nobilis leaves (LN) accelerates the alcohol metabolism and protects against liver damage in single-ethanol binge Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.MATERIALS/METHODS: LN was administered orally to SD rats 1 h before ethanol administration (3 g/kg body weight [BW]) at 100 and 300 mg/kg BW. Blood samples were collected 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 h after ethanol administration. The livers were excised 1 h after ethanol administration to determine the hepatic enzyme activity. The alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities in the liver tissue were measured. RESULTS: LN decreased the serum ethanol and acetaldehyde levels in ethanol-administered rats. LN increased the hepatic ADH and ALDH activities but decreased the alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase activities in the ethanol-administered rats. In addition, LN inhibited lipid peroxidation and increased the activities of SOD and GPx. CONCLUSIONS LN modulates the mediators of various etiological effects of excessive alcohol consumption and enhances the alcohol metabolism and antioxidant activity, making it a potential candidate for hangover treatments.

PURPOSE: We analyzed the pulmonary function and risk factors of allergic rhinitis (AR) in dust mite-sensitized children with current AR and no history of asthma. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, demographic and disease-related information was obtained from 1,792 Korean children aged 9-12 years using a questionnaire, skin-prick testing, spirometric analysis, and methacholine challenge testing. RESULTS: A total of 672 children were analyzed. The control group consisted of 583 children without any allergic diseases who were not sensitized to 16 common allergens. The group with current AR and dust mite sensitization consisted of 89 children. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that helminth infection (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-6.77) and antibiotic use during infancy (aOR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.10-3.25) were the risk factors. Pet ownership (aOR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.15-0.69) and older siblings (aOR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.35-0.96) were protective factors. Spirometry results did not differ between the control and dust mite-induced AR groups. None of the children showed a bronchodilator response. However, 8.5%, 7.1%, and 2.1% of the control-group children and 28.7%, 23.0%, and 8.0% of the dust mite-induced AR-group children showed methacholine PC20 (provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 second) values of < or =25 mg/mL, < or =16 mg/mL, and < or =8 mg/mL, respectively (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of current dust mite-induced AR may be reduced by controlling environmental factors. Even though the spirometry results seemed to be normal, bronchial hyperresponsiveness occurred more frequently in children with dust mite-induced AR than in normal children.
Allergens ; Asthma ; Bronchial Hyperreactivity ; Child ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dust* ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Helminths ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Lung* ; Methacholine Chloride ; Mites ; Odds Ratio ; Ownership ; Prevalence ; Rhinitis* ; Risk Factors* ; Siblings ; Spirometry

It has been proposed that oxidative modification of LDL (oxLDL) plays a significant role in the pathogenicity of atherogenesis. We tested the hypothesis that chitin and chitosan may function as antioxidants with respect to 0.1 mg cholesterol/ml LDL incubated with 5 micrometer Cu2+ alone or in the P338Dl mouse macrophage system using L-ascorbic acid as a standard classical antioxidant. The degree of oxLDL formation was ascertained by the relative electrophoretic mobility (rEM) in the combination of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels, and the cytotoxicity of oxLDL was detected by macrophage viability. The oxLDL uptake and foam cell formation of macrophages were measured by Oil Red O staining. Incubation with Cu2+ and macrophages increased rEM of LDL and stimulated TBARS formation. Culture of macrophages with LDL in the presence 5 micrometer Cu2+ induced macrophage death. In cell-free system 200 microgram/ml water-soluble chitosan and chitosan-oligosaccharide blocked oxLDL formation. Water-soluble chitosan and chitosan-oligosaccharide blocked oxLDL formation near-completely relative to L-ascorbic acid, whereas water-soluble chitin and chitin-oligosaccharide had no measurable antioxidant effect. In macrophage system water-soluble chitosan and chitosan-oligosaccharide blocked oxidation of LDL with a significant increase in cell viability, and decreased TBARS in medium. As for the inhibitory effect on macrophage foam cell formation, chitosan and its oligosaccharide, but not watersoluble chitin, revealed the effectiveness. The endothelial expression of lectin-like oxLDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) was tested by Western blot analysis, and chitosan, chitosan-oligosaccharide and chitin-oligosaccharide blocked LOX-1 expression. These results indicate that water-soluble chitosan and its oligosaccharide showed the inhibitory effect on Cu2+-induced LDL oxidation of macrophages, and chitosan, chitosan-oligosaccharide and chitin-oligosaccharide had blocking effect on oxLDL receptor expression in the human umbilical vein endothelial system. Thus, water-soluble chitosan and its oligosaccharides possess anti-atherogenic potentials possibly through the inhibition of macrophage LDL oxidation or endothelial oxLDL receptor expression depending on chemical types.l types.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; Ascorbic Acid ; Atherosclerosis ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Survival ; Cell-Free System ; Chitin* ; Chitosan ; Foam Cells ; Humans ; Lipoproteins* ; Macrophages* ; Mice ; Oligosaccharides ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ; Umbilical Veins ; Virulence

We report a case of Alport syndrome associated with esophageal leiomyomatosis, presenting as recurrent pneumonia. A 5-year old girl who had a history of cataract visited the out patient clinic with a complaint of recurrent wheezing and respiratory difficulty which had started five months previously. Chest magnetic resonance image(MRI) and esophagography, checked on the suspicion of achalasia, revealed esophageal leiomyomatosis and renal biopsy revealed Alport syndrome. In the pediatric population, this tumor is a rare cause of dysphagia and is often misdiagnosed as an esophageal motility disorder. Although a number of Alport syndrome associated with leiomyomatosis were reported in the literature, this is a second case report presented with recurrent pneumonia in Korea.
Biopsy ; Cataract ; Child, Preschool ; Deglutition Disorders ; Esophageal Achalasia ; Esophageal Motility Disorders ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Leiomyomatosis* ; Nephritis, Hereditary* ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory Sounds ; Thorax

BACKGROUND/OBSECTIVE: Airway inflammation by eosinophils, neutrophils and alveolar macrophages is a characteristic feature of asthma that leads to pathological subepithelial thickening and remodeling. Our previous study showed that oxidative stress in airways resulted in eosinophilia and epithelial apoptosis. The current study investigated whether glutathione-containing dry yeast extract (dry-YE) ameliorated eosinophilia, goblet cell hyperplasia and mucus overproduction. MATERIALS/METHOD: This study employed 2 µg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- or 20 ng/mL eotaxin-1-exposed human bronchial epithelial cells and ovalbumin (OVA)-challenged mice. Dry-YE employed in this study contained a significant amount of glutathione (140 mg in 100 g dry yeast). RESULTS: Human bronchial epithelial cell eotaxin-1 and mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) were markedly induced by the endotoxin LPS, which was dose-dependently attenuated by nontoxic dry-YE at 10-50 µg/mL. Moreover, dry-YE inhibited the MUC5AC induction enhanced by eotaxin-1, indicating that eotaxin-1-mediated eosinophilia may prompt the MUC5AC induction. Oral supplementation with 10-100 mg/kg dry-YE inhibited inflammatory cell accumulation in airway subepithelial regions with a reduction of lung tissue level of intracellular adhesion molecule-1. In addition, ≥ 50 mg/kg dry-YE diminished the lung tissue levels of eotaxin-1, eosinophil major basic protein and MUC5AC in OVA-exposed mice. Alcian blue/periodic acid schiff staining revealed that the dry-YE supplementation inhibited goblet cell hyperplasia and mucus overproduction in the trachea and bronchiolar airways of OVA-challenged mice. CONCLUSIONS: Oxidative stress may be involved in the induction of eotaxin-1 and MUC5AC by endotoxin episode and OVA challenge. Dry-YE effectively ameliorated oxidative stress-responsive epithelial eosinophilia and mucus-secreting goblet cell hyperplasia in cellular and murine models of asthma.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Asthma* ; Chemokine CCL11 ; Eosinophil Major Basic Protein ; Eosinophilia* ; Eosinophils ; Epithelial Cells ; Glutathione ; Goblet Cells ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Inflammation ; Lung ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; Mice ; Mucin 5AC ; Mucins ; Mucus* ; Neutrophils ; Ovalbumin ; Ovum ; Oxidative Stress ; Trachea ; Yeasts

A 42 day-old male infant visited to our emergency room with chief complaints of convulsion. Prenatal and birth histories were unremarkable. The patient appeared well except persistent jaundice and had no signs of increased intracranial pressure. The head circumference at birth was not measured. The head circumference at 42 days was 39cm(50th percnntile) At the age of 42 days, tonic convulsion developed suddenly and soon fell into coma. The patient died, 20 hours after arrival. Postmortem examiation revealed a large necrotic tumor mass in the left lateral ventricle of the cerebral hemispheres. The tumor growths were histologically composed of partly papillary but most undifferentiated carcinoma arising from the choroid plexus of the left lateral ventricle. In addition to celluar anaplasia many mitoses were observed. The tumor masses invaded periventricular while matter and also extended to subarachnoid space of the cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres. The central part of the tumor was undergoing necrosis and massive hemorrhage which extended into surrounding brain parenchyme.
Anaplasia ; Brain ; Carcinoma ; Cerebrum ; Choroid Plexus Neoplasms* ; Choroid Plexus* ; Choroid* ; Coma ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Head ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infant* ; Intracranial Pressure ; Jaundice ; Lateral Ventricles ; Male ; Mitosis ; Necrosis ; Parturition ; Reproductive History ; Seizures ; Subarachnoid Space

With proper guidance, virtual reality (VR) can provide psychiatric therapeutic strategies within a simulated environment. The visuo-haptic-based multimodal feedback VR solution has been developed to improve anxiety symptoms through immersive experience and feedback. A proof-of-concept study was performed to investigate this VR solution. Nine subjects recently diagnosed with panic disorder were recruited, and seven of them eventually completed the trial. Two VR sessions were provided to each subject. Depression, anxiety, and VR sickness were evaluated before and after each session. Although there was no significant effect of the VR sessions on psychiatric symptoms, we could observe a trend of improvement in depression, anxiety, and VR sickness. The VR solution was effective in relieving subjective anxiety, especially in panic disorder without comorbidity. VR sickness decreased over time. This study is a new proof-of-concept trial to evaluate the therapeutic effect of VR solutions on anxiety symptoms using visuo-haptic-based multimodal feedback simultaneously.

BACKGROUND: Propofol can be used to provide general anesthesia or sedation. The objectives of this study were to assess propofol as sedative agents for outpatient GI endoscopy, amnestic effects, hemodynamic state and oxygenation during the procedure. METHODS: From April and June 2000, 50 patients scheduled outpatient gastrointestinal endoscopy were enrolled in this study. 30 healthy outpatients requesting sedation at diagnostic gastroscopy were received a bolus dose of propofol 2.5 mg/kg and compared with 20 patients with non-sedation. Pulse rate, blood-pressure and arterial oxygen saturation was monitored. RESULTS: Statistically significant decrease in arterial oxygen saturation were observed since 5 min after endoscopy in patients receiving propofol (p=0.006). Patients receiving sedative endoscopy, pulse rate during endoscopy was significantly increased compared with propofol group (p=0.009). Patients receiving propofol are more tolerable than patients with non-sedative endoscopy (p=0.001), therefore all patients receiving propofol wanted the same sedative endoscopy in their next endoscopy. CONCLUSION: Propofol is believed to be a useful, safe sedative agent for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with satisfactory sedation and conditions. However, due to its untoward effect of hypoxia, careful monitoring is recommended.
Anesthesia, General ; Anoxia ; Conscious Sedation* ; Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal* ; Gastroscopy ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Outpatients ; Oxygen ; Propofol*