Experiments were performed to investigate the effects of pinealectomy on the renin-angiotensin system in Sprague-Dawley rats. The results obtained were as follows. 1) There was no differences of systolic blood pressure, heart rate, water intake, and plasma electrolytes between pinealectomized and sham-operated rats. 2) Renin activity in plasma and pituitary gland did not differ in two experimental groups. 3) The pituitary gland contained the renin activity of about 50pg AI/hr/mg of wet weight. The results suggest that the pineal gland has no correlation with cardiovascular and renin-angiotensin system.
Angiotensins ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular System ; Drinking ; Electrolytes ; Heart Rate ; Pineal Gland ; Pituitary Gland ; Plasma ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley* ; Renin ; Renin-Angiotensin System*

PURPOSE: This study describes the CT and MR findings of mucoceles occurred in the post-operative maxillary sinuses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT and/or MR of 19 maxillary mucoceles in 16 patients who had been operated by CaldwelI-Luc procedure were reviewed. CT scans were performed after contrast enhancement in axial and coronal planes with 5mm thickness. Three cases were studied with a 2.0 T or 0.5 T MRI, which demonstrated multi-compartment lesions. RESULTS: The lesions were bilateral in 3 cases. Compartmentalization of the antral cavity was seen in 7 out of 19 involved sinuses. Surgical bone defect of the anterior wall was the most frequent route of extension (11 cases) and extension into the infratemporal fossa with erosion of posterolateral wall was seen in 7 lesions. In 6 cases, the lesions involved orbit. The expansile and erosive bone changes were localized in every case. In one case with multi-compartment lesion, both T1- and T2-weighted MR images showed different signal intensities in each compartment which represented different protein concentration. CONCLUSION: Post-operative maxillary mucocele showed CT findings of localized erosion and bulging most frequently at the anterior wall in which the bone windows were made during the previous surgery. Post-operative compartmentalization of maxillary antrum may cause eccentric expansion of mucocete and each compartment may show different signal intensities on MR.
Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Maxillary Sinus* ; Mucocele* ; Orbit ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to describe the anglographic findings of collateral vessels in cervicofacial vascular lesions with previously ligated carotid arteries and to evaluate the extent of anglographic assessmant needed before embolization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 10 cervicofacial vascular lesions with previously ligated carotid artery, which were 6 cases of arteriovenous malformation, 2 cases of carotid cavernous fistula, 1 case of hemangioma and 1 case of arteriovenous realformation with carotid cavernous fistula. The previously ligated arteries are proximal external carotid artery (n=5), branches of external carotid artery (n=2) and common carotid artery (n=3). Common carotid artery or internal carotid artery (n=9), vertebral artery (n=5), ipsilateral external carotid artery (n=4), contralateral external carotid artery (n=5), costocervical trunk (n=2), thyrocervical trunk (n=2) were assessed by conventional angiography. Angiography of both carotid and vertebral arteries was performed in 5 cases. RESULTS: The collateral vascular channels were inferolateral trunk of internal carotid artery (n=8), vertebral artery (n=5), contralateral external carotid artery (n=5), ipsilateral external carotid artery (n=4), deep cervical artery (n=2) and ascending cervical artery (n=l). Embolizations were performed in 9 cases with operative cannulation(n=4), embolization via collateral branches of ipsilateral external carotid artery (n=l), embolization via collateral branches of contralateral external carotid artery (n=3) and balloon occulusion via direct puncture (n=l). CONCLUSION: The collateral channels in cervicofacial vascular lesions with previouly ligated carotid artery were inferolateral trunk of internal carotid artery, contralateral or ipsilateral external carotid artery, vertebral artery, deep cervical artery and ascending cervical artery on angiography. Complete anglographic assessment of possible collateral channels is mandatory for the effective and safe embolization.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; Carotid Arteries* ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Carotid Artery, External ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Fistula ; Hemangioma ; Punctures ; Retrospective Studies ; Vertebral Artery

BACKGROUND: There are many documents about the hemodynamic changes during sympathetic blockade produced by epidural anesthesia, but few reports have addressed the effects of epidural anesthesia on renal blood flow and function. We evaluated the effects of epidural anesthesia on renal function in patients undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy with general anesthesia. METHODS: Thirty patients were randomized to groups I (n = 15) or II (n = 15). The epidural catheter was inserted via 17 gauge Tuohy needle through the L2-L3 intervertebral space of the patients in both groups, only in group II, the patients received 15 ml of 0.125% bupivacaine. All the patients were anesthetized with enflurane, nitrous oxide and oxygen. We measured mean arterial pressure and urine output, creatinine clearence, Na clearence, fractional excretion of Na and free water clearance during operation and compared the data between the two groups. RESULTS: Mean arterial pressure was lower in group II than in group I (P < 0.05), but other data were not different significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Renal function was maintained even though epidural anesthesia reduced mean arterial pressure.
Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, General* ; Arterial Pressure ; Bupivacaine ; Catheters ; Creatinine ; Enflurane ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Needles ; Nitrous Oxide ; Oxygen ; Renal Circulation ; Water

No abstract available.
Aging* ; Erythrocytes* ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation*

PURPOSE: The Purposes of this article are to illustrate the typical imaging features of eight patients with this syndrome and to discuss the advantage of each imaging modality with a concise review of literatures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed plain skull radiographs (6), computd tomographic(CT) scans(8), magnetic resonnance(MR) images(4) and cerebral angiograms(3) of eight patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome. We analyzed the radiographic findings of Stu rge-Weber syndrome and compared the findings of CT, MR and angiography. RESULTS: Plain radiographs showed characteristic gyriform calcifications(3) after 2 years of age. CT scans excellently demonstrated cortical calcifications(5), prominently enhancing choroid plexi(5) and dilated periventricular veins(2). MR revealed dilated deep cerebral veins as tubular or spot-like signal void structures at periventricular areas(3) and showed stripes of cortical enhancement after gadolinium infection(2). Angiograph showed dilated tortuous medullary and deep cerebral veins(3) as the collateral pathways of blood shunting. MR was superior to CT in the detection of parenchymal atrophy, venous abnormalities and the extent of angiomatous involvement. Angiography showed enlarged deep cerebral or medullary veins better than MR imaging. CONCLUSION: We think that each imaging modalit including CT, MR or angiography has unique advantages in the diagnosis of this syndrome but MR will be used frequently because of its superior ability for the detection of atrophy, vascular abnormalities and direct visualization of leptomeningeal angiomatosis with contrast enhancement.
Angiography ; Angiomatosis ; Atrophy ; Cerebral Veins ; Choroid ; Diagnosis ; Gadolinium ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Skull ; Sturge-Weber Syndrome* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Veins

PURPOSE: To evaluate ethanolamine oleate (EAO)-microfibrillar collagen (MFC) mixture as a new scleroembolic material for the interventions requiring both permanent obliteration of vascular lumen and atrophy of mass, such as for the facial AVM and other hypervascular soft tissue masses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine transcatheter transarterial embolizations of renal arteries were performed in six groups of rabbits classified by the EAO concentration and the addition of MFC. Postembolization angiography, gross morphological and microscopic examinations of embolized kidneys were performed immediately, 3 days, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after embotization. Analysing points were the usefulness as a scleroembolic material (endovascular retention, thrombogenic-sclerosing effect, perivascular fibrosis and inflammatory reaction), effects of the EAO concentration and the addition of MFC. RESULTS: EAO-MFC mixture satisfied all ideal conditions of scleroembolic agent;persistent endovascular retention, good thrombogenic-sclerosing effect with a mild inflammatory reaction and significant atrophy of kidney. The effect of increasing concentration of EAO was proximal embolization. The effects of MFC were promotion of proximal embolization, endovascular retention and sclerosing effect. CONCLUSION: EAO-MFC mixture can be used as a new effective scleroembolic material for the various hemodynamic situations in which embolic level can be controlled by EAO concentration and the addition of MFC.
Angiography ; Atrophy ; Collagen* ; Ethanolamine* ; Fibrosis ; Hemodynamics ; Kidney ; Oleic Acid* ; Rabbits* ; Renal Artery

We analyzed the records of 124 eyes of 124 perforating ocular injury patients retrospectively from June 1 1994 to examine the relationship between final visual acuity and preoperative factors such as age, sex, initial visual acuity, location of injury, length of injury, mechanism of injury, intraocular foreign body, traumatic catarcact, secondary operation, hyphema, vitreous hemorrhage. The preoperative factors that influence final visual were age, initial visual acuity, length of infury, vitreous hemorrahage, secondary operation. However, other factors such as gender, mechanism, location of injury, intraocular foreign body, traubatic cataract, and hyphema did not influence final visual acuity. Final visual acuity was better in the case of young patients, good initial visual acuity were age, initial visual acuity, length of injury, vitreous hemorrhage, secondary operation, However, other factors such as gender, mechanism, location of injury, intraocular foreign body, traumatic cataract, and hyphema did not influence final visual acuity. Final visual acuity was better in the case of young patients, good initial visual acuity, short wound length, absence of vitreous hemorrhage and secondary operation.
Cataract ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Hyphema ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity ; Vitreous Hemorrhage ; Wounds and Injuries

No abstract available.

Plexiform neurilemmoma is a relatively rare, benign peripheral nerve sheath tumor, whieh usually arises in either the dermis or subcutaneous tissue. These tumors may occur singly or as multiple lesions (plexiform neurilemmomatosis), We report an unusual case of plexiform neurilemmomatosis associated with cafe au lait spots reminiscent of neurofibromatosis clinically and another case of plexiform neurilemmoma on the finger. A Biopsy revealed the characteristic palisaded arrangement of spindle cells within well circumscribed elongated nodules, The skin lesions were completely excised without recurrence thereafter.
Biopsy ; Cafe-au-Lait Spots ; Dermis ; Fingers ; Neurilemmoma* ; Neurofibromatoses ; Peripheral Nerves ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Tissue