BACKGROUND: Recent evidences suggest that anesthetic action within the spinal cord is important in suppressing somatic responses to painful stimuli. Intrathecal endothelin-1 (ET-1) is known to have antinociceptive effect. The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether intrathecal ET-1 may influence the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane in rats and access the role of the spinal cord as the sites of anesthetic action in blocking somatic responsiveness. METHODS: In Sprague-Dawley rats fitted with an indwelling intrathecal catheter, we determined the MAC of isoflurane using a tail-clamp technique as a painful stimulus, combined with end-tidal anesthetic sampling. In experiment 1, the control MAC was determined and changes of control MAC were observed after intrathecal ET-1 (4x10-2 nmol, 4x10-3 nmol) administration. In experiment 2, we observed the effects of L or N type Ca++ channel blocker such as verapamil (50 g) or W-conotoxin (0.5 g) on the MAC after measurement of the control MAC. In experiment 3, after measurement of the control MAC, ET-1 (10-2 nmol) was administered intrathecally and the MAC was determined again. Next, intrathecal verapamil (50 g) or W-conotoxin (0.5 g) was injected. After that, the MAC was determined again. RESULTS: In experiment 1, ET-1 decreased the MAC of isoflurane and its effect was sustained over 2 hours. In experiment 2, the MAC, determined following administration of verapamil or W-conotoxin, was not different from that of the control. In experiment 3, the MAC was decreased after ET-1 administration and then increased following injection of verapamil or W-conotoxin. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that ET-1, in relation to calcium, might play an important role in determining the MAC of isoflurane in the spinal cord.
Animals ; Calcium ; Catheters ; Endothelin-1* ; Isoflurane* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord ; Verapamil

The purpose of this study was designed to develope and test the structural model that explains alcohol consumption behaviors among university students in Republic of Korea. The hypothetical model was constructed on the basis of the literature review and Pender's Health promotion model. Data was collected from questionnaires from 512 university students in Republic of Korea, from August to September, 2000. The reliability of instruments was adequate (Cronbach's alpha= .69-.90). Data analysis was done with SAS 6.12 for descriptive statistics and LISREL 8.13 program for covariance structural analysis. The results are as follows;1. The overall fit of the hypothetical model to the data was moderate. Thus it was modified by male and female models.2. The revised model has become parsimonious and had a better fit to the empirical data (male: x2=87.21 p=.00, GFI=.97, AGFI= .94, NFI=.99, NNFI=1.0, CN=619.17, female: x2=49.29 p=.31, GFI=.45, AGFI= .95, NFI=.99, NNFI=1.0, CN=370.02).3. Self-efficacy was most significant factor and personality of novelty seeking, reward compensation, alcohol expectancy and drinking attitude have significant effects on male alcohol consumption behavior. 4. Personality of novelty seeking was most significant factor and personality of harm avoidance, friend influence, self-efficacies, alcohol expectancy and drinking attitude have significant effects on female alcohol consumption behavior.
Alcohol Drinking* ; Compensation and Redress ; Drinking ; Female ; Friends ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Models, Structural ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Reward ; Self Efficacy ; Statistics as Topic

For the assessment of the effect of succinylcholine(SCh) on pancuronium, 62 adult patients undergoing elective surgery under gerieral anesthesia were subjected tc this study in which the EMG response(twitch hight) of the hand to TOF stimulation(0.2 Hz) of ulnar nerve was monitored and recorded with Datex Relaxograph. According to the amount and mode of the drugs administered, the patients were divided into four experimental groups: 1) Group I, a bolus intravenous injection of pancuronium in dose of 0.05 mg/kg. 2) Group II, intravenous injection of pancuronium 0.1 mg/kg, a double dose of group I. 3) Group III, intravenous injection of pancuronium(0.05 mg/kg) after 25 to 50 recovery of initial twitch height from twitch height depression induced by SCh(1 mg/kg). 4) Group IV, mixed intravenous injection of SCh(1 mg/kg) and pancuronium(0.05 mg/kg). Followings were the results. 1) Mean onset time of the effect of pancuronium, was 15.6+/-1.1 minutes in group I and 13.8+/-1.5 minutes in group II, to 2,9+/-0.4 and 1.3+/-0.1 minutes in group III and IV respectively, and decreased(p< 0.001). 2) Duration of action of pancuronium was 47.1+/-4.5 minutes in group I and 87.7+/-7.4 minutes in group II, the prolongation of the latter being significantg<0.001). It was, however 48.3+/-5.2 minutes in group III, indicating that SCh showed a little effect, while it was 21.2+/-1.9 minutes in group IV, being significantly shorter than those of group I and III(p<0.001), 3) Potency of pancuronium expressed by the percentage changes of initial twich height was 34.3+/-6.0% in group I and it was noted to decrease significantly to 4.0+/-1.0% in group II and 0% in group IV(p<0.001). This pattern of decrease was almost similar to group II. 4) Presence of pancuronium(0.05 mg/kg) in group IV did not have any effect on the intensity of fasciculation induced by SCh. These results indicate that succinylcholine could potentiate the onset time and action potency of pancuronium by facilitating quick action on the receptor, but it have an antagonistic effect on the duration of action of pancuronium.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Depression ; Fasciculation ; Hand ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Pancuronium* ; Succinylcholine* ; Ulnar Nerve

For the assessment the effect of succinylcholine (SCh) on pipecuronium, 52 adult patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia were subjected to this study in which the EMG response (twitch height of the hand to TOF stimulation with 2Hz) of ulnar nerve was monitored and recorded with Datex Relaxograph. According to the amount and mode of the drugs administered, the patients were divided into four experimental groups: 1) Group I: a bolus injection of pipecuronium in dose of 0.05 mg/kg. 2) Group II: pipecuronium 0.1 mg/kg, a double dose of group l. 3) Group IU: pipecuronium 0.05 mg/kg given when the depressed twitch height by SCh (1 mg/kg) recovered to 25%6 of initial twitch height. 4) Group IV: mixed injection of SCh (1 mg/kg) and pipecumnium (0.05 mg/kg). The results were as follows ; 1) Mean onset time of pipecuronium was 6.5+/-0.5 minutes in group I and 4.1+/-0.5 minutes in group II, the latter being significantly shorter than group I (p<0.01). In group Ill, it was 2.1+/-0.23 minutes being significantly shorter than group I, II (p<0.001). In group IV it was 1.1+/-0.1 minutes which was more significantly shorter than group I, II, and IU. 2) Mean action duration of pipecuronium was 50.9+/-6.7 minutes in group I and 141.9+/-15.4 minutes in group II, the latter being longer significantly (p<0.001). In group IIl, it was 53.9+/-5.2 minutes which was similar to group I, but it was 69.8+/-6.5 minutes in group IV, being significantly longer than those of group I and III (p<0.05). 3) Mean potency of pipecuronium expressed by the percentage change of initial twitch height was 7.6+/-1.9% in group I, but it was significantly decreased to 4.2+/-0.9% in group II (p<0.05). In group III, it was 0.2+/-0.1% being sinificantly decreased than group I, II (p<0.001). In group IV, it was 0.0+0.0% being more significantly decreased than other groups (p<0.001). 4) Presence of pipecuronium in group IV did not affect on the intensity of fasciculation induced by SCh. These results indicate that succinylcholine may potentiate the pipecuronium based on the findings that succinylcholine increased the potency and lengthened the duration of action of pipecuronium.
Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; Fasciculation ; Hand ; Humans ; Pipecuronium* ; Succinylcholine* ; Ulnar Nerve

We investigated fifty four patients with spontaneous intracerebral lobar hemorrhage who were admitted to the Seoul National University Hospital Neurology Sercice during a period of five and a half years. Of these patients 25 (46.3%) had hypertension as the probable cause of hemorrhage Of the remaining cases, 12(22.2%) had other etiologies including 5 arteriovenous malforrnations. 3 aneurysms, 2 tumors, 1 Moyamoya disease and 1 superior sagittal sinus thrombosis, while 14(25.2%) had no apparent etiology. But some of them seemed to be due to cerebral amyloid angiopathy or occult vascular malformation. Parietal region was the most frequent site of hemorrage(23 cases, 42.6%). Six cases had multiple intracerebral hematoma. Common clinical manifestations were headache, vomiting, hemiparesis, seizure in order of frequency. Mortality rate was 16.7%, which was correlated with the size of hematoma (P<0.05) and consciousness level at the initial stage (p<0.05). But not with the presence of intraventricular or subarachnoid hemorrhage. Hypertension or age of onset.
Age of Onset ; Aneurysm ; Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy ; Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Consciousness ; Headache ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Mortality ; Moyamoya Disease ; Neurology ; Paresis ; Rabeprazole ; Seizures ; Seoul ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Superior Sagittal Sinus ; Thrombosis ; Vascular Malformations ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical 3 months postoperative results of three different 1-piece aspheric intraocular lenses (IOLs): AcrySof IQ SN60WF (Alcon Laboratories, INC, Fort Worth, TX), TECNIS 1-piece ZCB00 (AMO Inc., Santa Ana, CA) and the newly developed enVista MX60 (Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY). METHODS: In a total of 62 eyes, 1 of the 3 1-piece aspheric IOLs, AcrySof IQ SN60WF, TECNIS 1-piece ZCB00 or enVista MX60 was implanted after cataract extraction. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), and spherical equivalent were assessed 3 months postoperatively. Total spherical aberration, high order aberration, and modulation transfer function were analyzed. RESULTS: There were no significant differences of UCVA, BCVA, the accuracy of postoperative refractive power, and modulation transfer function among the 3 IOLs. Higher order aberrations of the entire eye and internal optics showed almost no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: The newly developed IOL, enVista MX60, showed equivalent clinical outcomes as both AcrySof IQ SN60WF and TECNIS 1-piece ZCB00.
Cataract Extraction ; Eye ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Visual Acuity

The major issue in the development of nucleic acid based therapeutics is the inefficient delivery of these agents into cells. We prepared cholesterol conjugated spermine and evaluated its usefulness as a delivery modality for antisense oligonucleotides in HeLa-Luc cells. A 2'-O-methyl antisense oligonucleotide sequence, designed to correct splicing at an aberrant intron inserted into a normal luciferase reporter gene, was used for complex formation with cholesterol conjugated spermine. Effective delivery of this antisense agent into nucleus would results in the expression of a luciferasereporter gene product. The cholesterol-spermine formed stable complexes with the antisense oligonucleotide and showed modest delivery activity. Furthermore, this delivery activity was maintained even in the presence of serum proteins, mimicking in vivo conditions. Cholesterol-spermine thus has potential as a delivery system for antisense oligonucleotides into cells.
Blood Proteins ; Cholesterol* ; Genes, Reporter ; Introns ; Luciferases ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; Spermine*

BACKGROUND: Intravenous (IV) morphine is commonly used for postoperative pain management. Ketorolac has been proposed as a potent analgesic for treatment of moderate to severe pain. The purpose of this study was to determine the equianalgesic dose of morphine and ketorolac using intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) system in human volunteers. METHODS: Fourty-five patients undergoing elective total abdominal hysterectomy were randomly assigned to receive either morphine (n=22) or ketorolac (n=23) when postoperative pain first increased to 40/100 mm (by visual analogue scale; VAS). Until postoperative pain decreased to 40/100 mm, morphine and ketorolac group received repeated IV boluses of 3 mg of morphine and 18 mg of ketorolac respectively and then followed by a IV-PCA with morphine (basal infusion 0 mg/hr, PCA dose 1 mg/1 ml, lock-out interval 5 min) and ketorolac (basal infusion 0 mg/hr, PCA dose 5 mg/1ml, lock-out interval 5 min). Analgesic efficacy with VAS (0~100 mm), PCA demand ratio and rate, analgesics consumptions, patient satisfaction and side effects were compared. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in VAS, PCA demand ratio and patient satisfaction. Mean 48-hour morphine and ketorolac consumptions were 35 (SEM=2.9) mg and 224 (SEM=16.5) mg, respectively (ratio=1:6.4). Morphine group experienced side effects such as pruritus (45%), nausea and vomiting (41%) and respiratory depression (5%). However, ketorolac group only showed side effects such as nausea and vomiting (26%). CONCLUSION: We concluded the ratio of equianalgesic dose of morphine versus ketorolac using intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) after total abdominal hysterectomy was 1 versus 6.4.
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled* ; Analgesics ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Ketorolac* ; Morphine* ; Nausea ; Pain, Postoperative ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Patient Satisfaction ; Pruritus ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: Intravenous (IV) morphine is commonly used for postoperative pain management. Ketorolac has been proposed as a potent analgesic for treatment of moderate to severe pain. The purpose of this study was to determine the equianalgesic dose of morphine and ketorolac using intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) system in human volunteers. METHODS: Fourty-five patients undergoing elective total abdominal hysterectomy were randomly assigned to receive either morphine (n=22) or ketorolac (n=23) when postoperative pain first increased to 40/100 mm (by visual analogue scale; VAS). Until postoperative pain decreased to 40/100 mm, morphine and ketorolac group received repeated IV boluses of 3 mg of morphine and 18 mg of ketorolac respectively and then followed by a IV-PCA with morphine (basal infusion 0 mg/hr, PCA dose 1 mg/1 ml, lock-out interval 5 min) and ketorolac (basal infusion 0 mg/hr, PCA dose 5 mg/1ml, lock-out interval 5 min). Analgesic efficacy with VAS (0~100 mm), PCA demand ratio and rate, analgesics consumptions, patient satisfaction and side effects were compared. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in VAS, PCA demand ratio and patient satisfaction. Mean 48-hour morphine and ketorolac consumptions were 35 (SEM=2.9) mg and 224 (SEM=16.5) mg, respectively (ratio=1:6.4). Morphine group experienced side effects such as pruritus (45%), nausea and vomiting (41%) and respiratory depression (5%). However, ketorolac group only showed side effects such as nausea and vomiting (26%). CONCLUSION: We concluded the ratio of equianalgesic dose of morphine versus ketorolac using intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) after total abdominal hysterectomy was 1 versus 6.4.
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled* ; Analgesics ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Ketorolac* ; Morphine* ; Nausea ; Pain, Postoperative ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Patient Satisfaction ; Pruritus ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Vomiting

For the assessment the effect of succinylcholine (SCh) on atracurium, 59 adult patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia were subjected to this study in which the nEMG response (twitch height) of the hand to TOF stimulation (0.2 Hz) of ulnar nerve was monitored and recorded with Datex Relaxograph. According to the amount and mode of the drugs administered, the patients were divided into four experimental groups;1) Group I, a bolus injection of atracurium in dose of 0.5 mg/kg 2) Group II, atracurium 1.0 mg/kg, a double dose of group I 3) Group III, atracurium 0.5 mg/kg after 25 to 50% recovery of initial twitch height from twitch height depression induced by SCh (1 mg/kg) 4) Group IV, mixed injection of SCh (1 mg/kg) and atracurium (0.5 mg/kg) Followings were the results. 1. Mean onset time of the atracurium, which was 4.5+/-0.6 minutes in group I and 4.00.7 minutes in group II, changed to 2.7+/-0.6 and 4.0+0.8 minutes in group III and IV respectively, showing no significance. 2. Mean action duration of atracurium was 49.1+/-3.4 minutes in group I and 72.0+/-3.7 minutes in group II, the latter being significant (p<0.001). It was, however, 49.0+/-3.6 minutes in group III, indicating that SCh shnwed a little effect, while it was 38.1+/-1.8 minutes in group IV, being significantly shorter than those of group I and IlI (p<0.01). 3. Mean potency of atracurium expressed by the percentage change of initial twich height was 0.7+/-0.5% in group I and it was decreased to 0% in group II but it was not sinificant. In group III, it was increased to 0.9+/-0.6% but it was also no significance. In group IV, it was decreased to 0.4+/-0.2% which was not significant. 4. Presence of atracurium (0.5 mg/kg) in group IV did not have any effect on the intensity of fasciculation induced by SCh. These results indicate that succinylcholine did not attect the onset time and action potency of atracurium. However, in group of the mixed injection, SCh shortened only the duration of action of atracurium.
Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; Atracurium* ; Depression ; Fasciculation ; Hand ; Humans ; Succinylcholine* ; Ulnar Nerve