BACKGROUND: Oxygen-derived free radicals are known to contribute to tissue injury during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. Recent in vitro studies have shown that propofol has potent antioxidant properties. The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of propofol on recovery of mechanical and coronary endothelial function in a myocardial stunning model. METHODS: Thirty-five dogs were acutely instrumented under halothane anesthesia to measure aortic and left ventricular pressure, pulmonary and left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) flow, and subendocardial segment length. After completion of the surgery, halothane was replaced by fentanyl- midazolam. Animals were then subjected to 15 min of LAD occlusion and 3 hrs of reperfusion under either intracoronary (i.c.) propofol (5 microgram/mL, n=11; 20 microgramg/mL LAD flow, n=12) or vehicle (saline, n=12) for 1 hr beginning 30 min before LAD occlusion. Percent segment shortening (%SS) and the slope of the preload recruitable stroke work (Mw), as an index of regional myocardial contractility, and peak lengthening rate (dL/dtmax) and percent post-systolic shortening (%PSS), as an index of regional diastolic function, were evaluated. Coronary endothelial function was assessed by examining LAD flow response to i.c. acetylcholine (ACh, 1 microgram over I min) and i.c. sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 20 microgram over I min). The myocardial content of malondialdehyde (MDA) from LAD area was measured to evaluate lipid peroxidation. RESULTS: Despite equally severe ischemic dysfunction during LAD occlusion, recovery of %SS was significantly improved during reperfusion by either dose of propofol compared to controls. However, Mw recovered to the baseline within 60 min of reperfusion in all three groups. In addition, propofol-treated dogs showed better recovery of both indices of regional diastolic function (dL/dtmax and %PSS) as compared to controls. Ischemia-reperfusion similarly attenuated the increases in the LAD flow by ACh in all the groups, whereas it had no significant effect on these increases in LAD flow by SNP. The increase in MDA induced by ischemia and reperfusion was significantly suppressed by either dose of propofol. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that propofol attenuates mechanical but not coronary endothelial dysfunction in postischemic, reperfused myocardium in an open-chest canine model. The protective action of propofol against mechanical dysfunction is probably due to its effect to reduce lipid peroxidation.
Acetylcholine ; Anesthesia ; Animals ; Coronary Vessels ; Dogs* ; Endothelium* ; Free Radicals ; Halothane ; Ischemia ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Malondialdehyde ; Midazolam ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Myocardial Stunning* ; Myocardium ; Nitroprusside ; Propofol* ; Reperfusion ; Stroke ; Ventricular Pressure

No abstract available.
Fosinopril* ; Humans ; Hypertension*

The significance of the angle of anteversion of the femur is widely recognised, especially incongenital dislocation of the hip, cerebral palsy, Legg-Calve-Perthes' disease, and in-toeing gait, And many methods of measuring the anteversion have been described since the early work by Drehmann (1909) who determined anteversion by fluoroscopy. But there has been no reliable method of measuring the angle until recently. The authors studied the comparative accuracy and reproducibility by the use of experimental model of femur on computerized tomography, axial technique(Dunn), biplanar method (Ryder-Crane) and fluoroscopic method(Rogers) and reported the results with consideration in clinical utility. 1. The most accurate and reproducible method is computerized tomography, but it has much clinical disadvantages such as uneconomic, limited supply, more time requiring in measuring, and also limited information until the ossification of the femoral head was not occur (below the 18 months of age). 2. The next accurate and reproducible method is fluoroscopic method and it is widely useful except the case of limited motion of hip joint. 3. The Ryder-Crane's biplanar method is very difficult in clincal use because of its poor accuracy and reproducibility, difficult mtasuring technique, limited in the situation of contracture, deformity around the hip. 4. The axial technique of Dunn are also useful in any state of hip joint and simplicity in its technique. 5. The more acceptable clinical slection of measuring the femoral anteversion are the combination of the above two or three methods and comparing it with the opposite hip.
Cerebral Palsy ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; Dislocations ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Fluoroscopy ; Gait ; Head ; Hip ; Hip Joint ; Methods ; Models, Theoretical ; Neck

This study is performed to investigate whether free transplanted iliac physis can grow in the resected epiphyseal plate and prevent growth arrest secondary to an injury of epiphyseal plate. Growth arrest, angulation and regeneration of epiphyseal plate after free physeal transplantation from iliac crest in the partial resection of epiphyseal plate on the lateral aspect of the distal femoral epiphysis were analysed in process of time and compared with those of the simple partial resection of epiphyseal plate of distal femur. Seventy-six skeletally immature, three month-old rabbits with an initial weight of about 1200 to 1400gm were used for this study. The following experimental groups were made after partial resection of epiphyseal plate on lateral aspect of distal femoral epiphysis(2×7×3mm). Group A: partial resection alone(19 rabbits); Group B: muscle piece interposition(19 rabbits); Group C: free autogenous iliac crest physeal transplantation (38 rabbits). The opposite side of the leg was used as a control. Animals were killed and examined at the following time-intervals(14, 21, 30, 60 and 90 days after operation). The following results were obtained. 1. In the group of partial resections alone, the bone-brige formation between the femoral epiphysis and metaphysis revealed as early as 14 days, and this bridging was found consistently in all anlmals, which led to the growth arrest and valgus deformity. 2. In the group of muscle piece interpositions, the interposition materials were found temporarily effective for the prevention of epiphysiometaphyseal bone-bridge formation, but the effect was not significant to regain bone growth. 3. Histological studies showed that the grafted physis united with the residual part of the original femoral physis at 14 days after transplantation, and regained its columnar arrangement. The physeal graft appeared to be viable and contribute endochondral bone formation in following section (60, 90 days). 4. In the grodp of free autogenous iliaccrest physeal transplantations, the transplanted physis prevented or minimized the formation of a bone brige, growth arrest, and valgus deformity in most animals. Although not all of the physeal transplants were successful, physeal grafts would be most suceessful method regaining bone growth after focal injury of epiphyseal plate.
Animals ; Bone Development ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Epiphyses ; Femur ; Growth Plate ; Leg ; Methods ; Osteogenesis ; Rabbits ; Regeneration ; Transplants

The study was conducted to confirm the construct of individual perception and preference for work characteristics as personal factors influencing Korean nurses' job satisfaction. The subjects of the study were 231 nurses who are currently working in intensive care units and have been for a minimum of 6 months. The study used the Staff Perception and Preference Scale(Song et al., 1997) to measure the individual's perception and preference on the technical, practice, and management components of the ideal work environment. The Korean version of the Staff Perception and Preference Scale consists of 16 items on perception and 13 on preference with each item related on a scale from 1 (not at all) to 4 (a great deal). Psychometric testing revealed that the preference and perception scale is internally consistent with Chronbach's alphas of .83 for perception scale and .80 for preference scale. The subscales of the perception and preference scale also showed acceptable reliability for the early stage of the development of the instruments with Chronbach alphas of .62-.76 and .69-.83 respectively. Criterion0related validity of the scale was tested by examining correlations with individual growth need that is conceptually close to individual preference, but not to individual perception. Individual growth need was significantly related to individual preference(r=.63, p<.05), but the correlation with the perception scale was not significant. A separate factor analysis for the each of perception and preference scales was performed with a three-factor loading solution based on a previous study. The results on the staff perception scale confirmed with varimax rotation that the items were cleanly and strongly loaded on technique, practice and management components, which together explained 50.7% of the variance. The factor analysis on the staff preference scale also yielded a three factor solution that explained 56.7% of the variance, but items on technique and management components were loaded together. This phenomena may due to the current nursing delivery system in Korea where nurses never experience either shared governance nor case management, and as a results they may not be able to consider management roles as their potential extended roles. Therefore, more efforts should be given to enhance nurses' autonomy and decision making in the technique, practice and management components of their work environment. Meanwhile, there is a need for continuously confirming and developing tools for individual perception and preferences to effectively enhance job satisfaction among Korea nurses through innovative work environments.
Case Management ; Decision Making ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Job Satisfaction ; Korea ; Nursing ; Psychometrics ; Weights and Measures*

The purposes of this study were to determine the factors that influence job satisfaction for ICU nurses and to analyze group differences in job satisfaction based on the nurses' preference and perception of the work environment with an enhanced professional role. A total of 231 nurses who had been working in Intensive Care Units at least for 6 months at selected university hospitals participated in the study while head nurses or those with administrative positions were excluded. The study participants had an average of 33 months of clinical experience with an age range of 23 to 40 years. The data were analyzed by utilizing SPSSWIN and the results are as follows. 1) Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that work characteristics defined by Job characteristics theory and nurses' preference/ perception of ideal work environment together explained 33% of variance in job satisfaction. Skill variety, task identity and autonomy as well as individual perception of work environment were significant variables for explaining job satisfaction. Job satisfaction was not significantly related to age, marital status, education, and clinical experience. 2) The groups classified by nurses' preference and perception of work environment were significantly different in their job satisfaction. Nurses with high preference and high perception showed significantly higher general and specific job satisfaction than other nurses. The nurses who showed high preference but perceived their work environment as not reflecting ideal job characteristics reported the lowest job satisfaction among the groups. In conclusion, the role of individual preference and perception of the work environment in explaining the relationship between the redesign of work environment and job satisfaction was supported by the study. The preferences of nurses to the innovative work characteristics should be considered in the process of enhancing job characteristics to lead job satisfaction and low turn over and ultimately to improve quality of care.
Education ; Hospitals, University ; Intensive Care Units ; Job Satisfaction* ; Marital Status ; Nursing, Supervisory ; Professional Role

No abstract available.
Latency Period (Psychology)* ; Osteogenesis, Distraction* ; Rabbits*

We have reviewed our experiences of computerized tomography(CT) in the fracture of the spine. Between December 1983 and June 1985, we treated 33 fractures of the spine in 32 patients. We have used CT for the diagnosis of fractures of the spine in 29 cases (28 patients). Also we have used Louis scoring system to evaluate the stability of the fractured spine. The results are as follows. 1. CT has many advantages that were not given from simple radiograp hies or laminagrams. It reveals the vertebral body, vertebral column, posterior compartments and surrounding soft tissues excellently, and it is easy to interpretate. Also it can be done comfortably and rapidly without the need of manipulations. 2. We could acquire many informations from post-operative or long term following up of CT examinations. 3. If the Louis score is higher than 3, we should think it is unstable, and should take internal fixation of the vertebral column. 4. There is a correlation between Louis score and neurologic signs (p < 0.01). If there was a neurologic sign with low Louis score, less than 1, the recovery was soon, less than 24 hours. 5. According to CT findings for fragmentation or location of fragment, we can alternate an anterior decompression or a posterior decompression. 6. It is necessary to use CT as a initial diagnostic procedure with the simple radiographic examination in spine fracture.
Clinical Study ; Decompression ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Spine

Osteopoikilosis is an asymptomatic osteosclerotic dysplasia, initially described by Albers-Schönberg and Ledoux-Lebard and associates. This disorder is described as extremely rare. Inherited and sporadic cases of osteopopikilosis have been reported. A Case of familial osteopoikilosis is presented with a brief review of literatures.
Osteopoikilosis

OBJECTIVES: Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia(PCP) is one of the most common life-threatening opportunistic infections in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(AIDS). This study reports the clinical charac teristics of PCP in the patients with AIDS and prognostic factors for short-term survival of them. METHODS: We investigated 43 patients of AIDS to evaluate the frequency of PCP in patients in AIDS by retrospective analysis, and classified the 17 patients with PCP into survivors and non-survivors to compare epide miology, clinical characteristics and laboratory findings. We also analyzed whether the these findings influenced the short-term survival in patients with PCP that was combined with AIDS. RESULTS: In this retrospective study of 43 patients of AIDS, the frequency of PCP in AIDS patients was relatively high as 17 patients(39%), of whom eight pa tients(47%) died of PCP. The epidemiologic findings such as age, route of human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) infection and co-existing disease were not significantly different between survivors and non-survivors. Coughing was the most common symptom and bilateral infiltrates of lung was the most common form in the chest X-ray examination. But these clinical features were similar in the both groups. Total lymphocyte count, CD4 cell count, serum albumin level and arterial oxygen tension were decreased and serum LDH was increased in patients with PCP that was the first episode in patients with AIDS. Lymphocyte and CD4 cell count were significantly lower in the non-survivor group (p=.002 and p=.03, respec tively). Survivors had higher serum albumin level and arterial oxygen tension than non-survivors (p=.02 and p=.04, respectively). And non-survivors were found to have higher serum LDH level than survivors (p=.02). CONCLUSION: Lymphocyte and CD4 cell counts, serum albumin and LDH, and arterial oxygen tension may be considered as the prognostic factors for short-term sur vival of patients with PCP that is combined with AIDS.
CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Cough ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocytes ; Opportunistic Infections ; Oxygen ; Pneumocystis carinii* ; Pneumocystis* ; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Serum Albumin ; Survivors ; Thorax