BACKGROUND: It has been shown that L-type calcium channel blockers increase the muscle relaxation effects of non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents whereas the potentiated neuromuscular blocking effects by L-type calcium channel blocker are resistant to reversal by neostigmine. The aims of this study were 1) to see whether the pretreatment of L-type calcium channel blocker, such as verapamil, aggravates the pipecuronium-induced muscle relaxation, 2) if so, to see whether these effects are reversed by anticholinesterase, such as neostigmine and edrophonium or potassium channel blocker, such as 4-aminopyridine. METHODS: The rat-phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragms (n=60) were prepared. Twenty microgram of pipecuronium was administered to all organ bath. All samples were divided into two groups according to the administration of 10uM of verapamil i.e. verapamil pretreated, non-pretreated group. The amounts of administered pipecuronium were gradually increased by 4ug until the force of twitch decreased to 10% of control value in both groups. Each group was subdivided into three groups according to the administration of 0.75 M of neostigmine, 12.4 uM of edrophonium or 40uM of 4-aminopyridine. RESULTS: The dose of pipecuronium required for the decrease of contractile force to 10% of control value was less in verapamil pretreated group than in non-pretreated group. And, the decrease of contractile force in both groups was more effectively reversed by 4-aminopyridine than neostigmine and edrophonium. CONCLUSIONS: Verapamil potentiates the pipecuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade and 4-aminopyridine is more effective to reverse verapamil pretreated, pipecuronium induced neuromuscular blockade.
4-Aminopyridine* ; Baths ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; Edrophonium* ; Muscle Relaxation ; Neostigmine* ; Neuromuscular Blockade* ; Neuromuscular Blocking Agents ; Pipecuronium* ; Potassium Channels ; Verapamil*

BACKGROUND: It is known that methylmercury poisoning, Minamata disease is very toxic to human body. But, cardiotoxic mechanism of methylmercury is left unknown, Recent study has been reported that the cleavage of methylmercury produce oxygen radicals as well as methyl radicals, and also these radicals induce the release of excitotoxic amino acids(EAAs). So, oxygen radicals and EAA are regarded as a causative factors in the various diseases such as heart disease induced by toxicity of methylmercury. We studied to know the cardiotoxic effect of methylmercury on cultured myocardial cells derived from neonatal rat in order to evaluate the toxic mechanism of methylmercury. METHODS: Myocardial cells of neonatal rat were incubated with various concentrations of methylmercuric chloride for 1-96 hours. MTT90 and MTT50 values were measured and cell viability was determined by MTT assay. In addition, morphological study was performed by light microscope after cultured myocardial cells that were exposed to methymercuric chloride. RESULTS: MTT90 and MTT50 values were 1microM and 15microM of methylmercuric chloride in cultured myocardial cells of neonatal rat respectively. Exposure of cultured rat myocardial cells to methylmercuric chloride resulted in a significant cell death in a time-dependent manner. In the observation of morphological changes, cultured cells treated with methlymercuric chloride showed decrease of cell number and disconnection between cultured myocardial cells. CONCLUSION: These observation suggest that methylmercury has a severe myocardiotoxicity on cultured myocardial cells derived from neonatal rat by the decrease of cell viability and morphological changes.
Animals ; Cell Count ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Heart Diseases ; Human Body ; Mercury Poisoning, Nervous System ; Poisoning ; Rats* ; Reactive Oxygen Species

No abstract available.
Echocardiography, Doppler* ; Heart Diseases* ; Heart*

BACKGROUND: We compared factors associated with self-reported depression and, in particular, diagnosis and treatment of depressive symptoms in Korean adults. METHODS: The sample included 13,306 adults aged 19 years or older from the 2010 and 2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V). Data were applied to the chi2 test and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The following characteristics of individuals are significantly associated with self-reported depression: female (vs. male, OR [odds ratio]=3.35), ages 50-59 years (vs. 60+, OR=1.45), economic status (low vs. high, OR=1.35; middle-low vs. high OR=1.29), unemployed (vs. employed, OR=1.23), education (elementary vs. college, OR=1.18; middle school vs. college, OR=1.27; vs. high school vs. college, OR=1.18), current smoking (vs. no, OR=1.19), high-risk alcohol consumption (vs. no, OR=1.18), perceived health (good vs. very good/excellent, OR=1.156; poor/fair vs. very good/excellent, OR=2.65), chronic disease (vs. no, OR=1.26), activity limitation due to health problems (vs. no, OR=1.74), and being in a sickbed during the past month (vs. not in a sickbed, OR=1.69). Living in a metropolitan area (vs. rural, OR=1.40) is significantly associated with greater odds of being diagnosed with depression. The odds of being treated for depression are lower for female (vs. male, OR=0.53). Greater odds of being treated for depression was seen for those with chronic conditions (vs. no, OR=1.73) and activity limitation due to health problems (vs. no, OR=2.05), as well as, those in a sickbed (vs. not, OR=1.88). CONCLUSIONS: Applying our findings, policy makers should address the lower rates of depression diagnosed in non-metropolitan areas to reduce regional variations, and also promote treatment in females.
Administrative Personnel ; Adult* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Chronic Disease ; Depression* ; Diagnosis* ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Smoke ; Smoking

No abstract available.
Alcoholics* ; Humans

Zielke introduced new anterior instrumentation by modifying Dwyer system and called it the ventral derotation spondylodesis(VDS) system in 1976. This system is a powerful device and when the excised disc spaces are compressed with it, stable fixation can be obtained. But proper patient selection, meticulous operative technique and good post-operative care are essential to minimize serious complications. No results of this technique had been published in English-language literature until Moe reported the results of 66 cases of Zielke instrumentation in 1983. Zielke instrumentation was carried out in 12 cases of scoliosis;8 in idiopathic scoliosis and 4 in congenital scoliosis, at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, for 16 months from November 1984 to March 1986. Seven cases had been followed for more then 9 months and'following results were obtained. 1. Numbers of vertebrae involved in major curve and numbers of fused vertebrae were 6·3 respectively. 2. Average preoperative curve was 72.7 degrees and immediate postoperative curve was 17.6 degrees with 75.8% correction. There was only 1.0 degree loss of correction with an average follow-up of 14 months (9-16 months). 3. Zielke instrumentation has the advantage of shorter fusion and better correction in thoracolumbar and lumbar scoliosis.
Follow-Up Studies ; Orthopedics ; Patient Selection ; Scoliosis ; Seoul ; Spine

The wrist joint is exposed to trauma easily which is a small portion of human body. Because there are many structures(tendons, vessels and nerves) in the wrist, it is necessary to examine carefully and treat properly when it is damaged. We have treated 230 cases of soft tissue injuries around the wrist and the result can be summarized as follows; 1. Among the 230 cases, the male ratio was 85% and the highest incidence was in the third decade. 2. Right side injuries were more than left and flexor surface injuries were more than extensor surface. 3, The main cause of injury was glass, 149 cases(64.8%) and the next on was knife, 37 cases(16%). 4. Injuries in the night were more than daytime. 5. Injuries in the summer were more than winter.
Glass ; Human Body ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Tendons ; Wrist Joint ; Wrist

No abstract available.
Renal Dialysis* ; Urea*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Inpatients*

OBJECTIVE: This study is proposed to examine the relationship between bone loss after hormone replacement therapy for one year and initial bone markers. METHODS: One hundred postmenopausal women were studied for one year. At first visit, measurements were made of bone mineral density(BMD) at the lumbar spine and femoral neck, and of serum osteocalcin and urine deoxypyridinoline. After hormone replacement therapy was done for one year, BMD was rechecked. RESULTS: Serum osteocalcin was correlated with the rate of bone change(r=0.150, 0.262) and urine deoxypyridinoline was weakly correlated(r=-0.003, 0.038). The changes of femoral BMD in women with higher concentration of osteocalcin and deoxypyridinoline were significant different from those in women with normal concentration. At the lumbar spine, no significant differences were showed. In women with higher concentration of osteocalcin, the incidence of subjects with increased spine BMD was increased up to around 71.1%, which showed not significant increase compared with normal concentration of osteocalcin. And the incidence of increased spine BMD in women with higher concentration of osteocalcin was marked increased compared with the incidence of normal concentration. The level of the osteocalcin with increased spine BMD was 11.5+/-6.6 ng/ml, and the level with decreased spine BMD was 9.2+/-4.7 ng/ml, respectively. And the level of the deoxypyridinoline was 7.2+/-4.2 pmol/ mol cr in women with increased spine BMD and 7.2+/-2.7 pmol/ mol cr in women with decreased spine BMD, which was not statistically different. The concentration of deoxypyridinoline with increased and decreased in BMD in spine and femur was not statistically different. but the concentration of osteocalcin was 12.2 +/-5.5 ng/ml in significantly increased in BMD and 8.5 +/-4.5ng/ml in significantly decreased in BMD, which was showed significant different. CONCLUSION: Present study indicates that the serum osteocalcin more reflcets bone turnover changes at the menopause than deoxypyridinoline, however, the clinical utility of measurements of osteocalcin only to response to therapy is uncertain.
Bone Density* ; Female ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Hormone Replacement Therapy* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Menopause ; Osteocalcin ; Spine