Ethyl alcohol is believed to inhibit the secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) from the neurohypohysis, and an increase in urinary volume and reduction in the extracellular fluid volume may follow. In the case of acute alcohol intoxication, the red cells may be exposed. to the increasing level of the blood alcohol, and are in danger of being oxidized and/or hemolysed, for which the blood glutathione may exert a protective action. The aim of this study is to elucidate the acute effect of alcohol on the hematocrit, assuming that the decreased secretion of ADH will result in an increased value of the hematocrit, and also the change of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and reduced glutatbione (GSH) of the blood following by the adminstration of alcohol. Albino rats were used throughout the experiment, and a rat was given 50% ethyl alcohol in the dose of l. 5 ml per 100 gm of body weight by the oral intubation. In all the alcohol administered cases, the rat immediately following the intubation became comatose and no voluntary effort to intake food or water was observed for at least twenty hours. The rat was sacrificed first by a strong blow on the head and the thorax was immediately opened. The blood sample for both hematocrit and glutathione was drawn from the thoracic cavity with the heart puncture if necessary after cutting the pulmonary and carotid arteries. The experiment was performed at 1,3,6,12 and 24 hours after the alcohol administration, and hematocrit was determined by the conventional hematocrit centrifuge and reader. The blood GSH was measured by the method of Ellman, and GSSG was measured by the method described by Dohan and Woodward. Controls were set which received the same amount of distilled water in place of alcohol.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Carotid Arteries ; Coma ; Ethanol ; Extracellular Fluid ; Glutathione Disulfide ; Glutathione* ; Head ; Heart ; Hematocrit* ; Intubation ; Punctures ; Rats* ; Thoracic Cavity ; Thorax ; Water

19 cases of non-pineal intracranial germ cell tumors were reviewed retrospectively with both radiologic andclinical featurses. The results were as follows: 1. The age distribution was 8 to 32 year old (16 year old of meanage) and the sex distribution shows male predominence(15:4). 2. The histopathologic diagnosis included 11 cases ofgeminoma, 2 cases of mixed germ cell tumor, 1 case of embryonal cell carcinoma and 5 cases of unknown. 3. Thelocation of tumors was the suprasellar region in 8 cases, the left basal ganglia and thalamus in 5 cases, and theright frontal lobe in 1 case. Among 11 cases of geminoma, 6 cases involve the suprasellar region and 3 cases theleft basal ganglia and thalamus. 4. In clinical features, there were visual disturbance, diabetes insipidus,increased ICP signs, motor weakness, hormonal disorders, and personal changes in order. 5. In tumor marker studyof 6 cases of geminoma, 5 cases show increase in HCG, titie, but all 6 cases were normal in AFP titer. 6. In brainCT, most of all revealed well-defined homogeneous high density with or without small central low density andhomogenous enhancement at solid portion,and there was calcification in only case with mixed germ cell tumor.
Age Distribution ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Diagnosis ; Frontal Lobe ; Germ Cells ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Distribution ; Thalamus

Cardiovascular respons follwing ethanol ingeation was conapared in two groups of male college studenta; 20 who ahowed visble facial flushing and 25 whe showed on flushing. Ethanol was administered as 25% Korean liquor (Kumbokju) a dose of 2ml per kg body weight, the heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate were measured. The reaults areas follows. The heart rate after ethanol ingestion increased significantly in both flushing and non-flushing groups. However, the degree of the heart rate increased in the flushing group was aignificantly higher than that in the non-flushing group. The blood pressure was decreased significantly from 40minutes after ethanol ingestion in both groups. Howyer, the flushing group showed higher systolic pressure, and lower diastalic pressure and mean arterial pressure than the non-flushing group. The reapiratory rate following ethanol administration was increased in the flushing group but decreased in the non-flishing group when compared with the resting respiratory rate. The results clearly indicate that a signifcant difference in cardiovascular resoponrses to ethanol exists the flushing and non-flushing groups. The flushing group shows a greater tachycardia and greater fall in. mean arterial pressure followig ethanol ingestion than the non-flushing group.
Male ; Humans

The routine screening of patients for hypercalcemia has increased the incidence of hyperpa-rathyroidism, But, Primary hyperparathyroidism is relatively rare disease in korea. Especially, primary hyperparathyroidism caused by parathyroid chief cell hyperplasia has not been reported. The numbers of patients with bone disease, renal stones, other severe complication has declined, but the numbers of patients with psychiatric and neuromuscular disturbance or with asymptomatic disease has increased. We experienced a case with severe bone diseases due to primary hyperparathyroidism caused by parathyroid chief cell hyprepiasia which was confirmed through the mearsurement of serum calcium and parathyroid hormone, neck CT scanning and surgical exploration and which was managed by total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation.
Asymptomatic Diseases ; Autografts ; Bone Diseases* ; Calcium ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Hyperparathyroidism, Primary* ; Hyperplasia* ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Neck ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Parathyroidectomy ; Rare Diseases ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Cardiovascular complications are major sources of morbidity and mortality in hypertensive patients. To assess the prevalence of anatomical and functional abnormalities of the heart in such patients, we studied total 67 sujects with systemic hypertension and hypertensive cardiovascular disease by echocardiography. Accordingly normal values of echocardiography from 27 control subjects, we found each significant change(p<0.05). of the septal thickness, left ventricular mass, mitral valve E-F slope and aortic dimension on the both groups, but functional measurements did only show significant change on the hypertensive cardiovascular group in contrast to hypertensive subjects group. The prevalence of the echocardiographic abnormalities on the simple hypertensive subjects group who have no abnormal 12-lead E.C.G. or Chest X-rays are orderly 14 subjects(64%) on the aortic root dimension, 9 subjects (41%) on the left ventricular posterior free-wall thickness and 7 subjects(32%) on the septal thickness. These findings demonstrated a high prevalence of cardiac abnormalities in a population of asymptomatic hypertensive subjects. And these abnormalities can be detected well by echocardiography before they were otherwise apparent.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Echocardiography* ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Mitral Valve ; Mortality ; Prevalence ; Reference Values ; Thorax

Premature ejaculation is the most common male sexual dysfunction and defined as persistent or recurrent occurrences of ejaculation before or shortly after penetration. But there has never been any effective oral agents for the patients with premature ejaculation. Recently, fluoxetine, a potent serotonin reuptake inhibitor, being used as antidepressant, has been suggested to be helpful for the patients with premature ejaculation. Twenty three male outpatients with premature ejaculation were randomly divided into fluoxetine (n=12) and placebo (n=11) group. In the fluoxetine group, the dose of fluoxetine was 20 mg/day for the first one week and 40 mg/day for the remaining 5 weeks. Patient and his female partner were interviewed separately before starting medication, three weeks and six weeks after medication. The mean intravaginal ejaculation latency time increased to 187.5 seconds after 3 weeks and 254.2 seconds after 6 weeks front 46.7 seconds before treatment (p<0.05). Only 1 out of 12 patients in the fluoxetine group was able to have thrusts over 30 times before treatment. After 3 weeks of Treatment, 8of 12 patients and after 6 weeks of treatment, 7 patients were able to have thrusts over 30 times. There was no significant improvement of intravaginal ejaculation latency time and number of thrusts in the placebo group. Symptomatic improvement was noticed in 75% with fluoxetine group and 18.2% with placebo group. Side reactions of fluoxetine, fatigue and yawning, were noticed in 41% of the patients, but they did not interfere with their daily activities. These findings suggest that fluoxetine can be safely used as a good pharmacotherapeutic treatment for the patients with premature ejaculation.
Ejaculation ; Fatigue ; Female ; Fluoxetine* ; Humans ; Male ; Outpatients ; Premature Ejaculation* ; Serotonin ; Yawning

OBJECTIVE: We wanted to evaluate the short-term effects of balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) for treating gastric variceal bleeding, in terms of the portal hypertensive changes, by comparing CT scans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 27 patients who underwent BRTO for gastric variceal bleeding and they had CT scans performed just before and after BRTO. The pre- and post-procedural CT scans were retrospectively compared by two radiologists working in consensus to evaluate the short-term effects of BRTO on the subsequent portal hypertensive changes, including ascites, splenomegaly, portosystemic collaterals (other than gastrorenal shunt), the gall bladder (GB) edema and the intestinal wall edema. Statistical differences were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test and the paired t-test. RESULTS: Following BRTO, ascites developed or was aggravated in 22 (82%) of 27 patients and it was improved in two patients; the median spleen volumes increased from 438.2 cm3 to 580.8 cm3, and based on a 15% volume change cut-off value, splenic enlargement occurred in 15 (56%) of the 27 patients. The development of new collaterals or worsening of existing collaterals was not observed in any patient. GB wall edema developed or was aggravated in four of 23 patients and this disappeared or improved in five; intestinal wall edema developed or was aggravated in nine of 27 patients, and this disappeared or improved in five. Statistically, we found significant differences for ascites and the splenic volumes before and after BRTO (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) CONCLUSION: Some portal hypertensive changes, including ascites and splenomegaly, can be aggravated shortly after BRTO.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Ascites/diagnosis/etiology ; Balloon Occlusion/adverse effects/*methods ; Cholecystography ; Contrast Media/administration & dosage ; Edema/diagnosis/etiology ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices/complications/*therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/etiology/*therapy ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal/*diagnosis/etiology ; Intestines/radiography ; Iohexol/analogs & derivatives/diagnostic use ; Liver Cirrhosis/complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Observer Variation ; Organ Size ; Retrospective Studies ; Spleen/radiography ; Splenomegaly/diagnosis/etiology ; Time Factors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods ; Treatment Outcome

Changes in plasma level of arginine vasopressin (AVP), arterial pressure, and urine flow were studied before, during and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in 11 patients with congenital heart disease. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental sodium (3-5 mg/kg) and was maintained with enflurane (1.0-1.5%), 50% N2O in O2 and morphine (0.5 mg/kg). Concentration of plasma AVP increased slightly from 3.8 +/- 1.5 pg/ml after induction and increased 3-fold after sternotomy. Plasma AVP level increased to 132 +/- 26 pg/ml and 218 +/- 54 pg/ml after 5 and 60 min on CPB, respectively. When the circulation returned to normal, plasma AVP level decreased gradually but was still significantly higher at 24 hr (13.4 +/- 2.5 pg/ml). Marked osmolar diuresis was induced with mannitol in the priming solution used during the CPB: increases in urine flow, Na excretion and osmolar clearance. Possible mechanisms of marked increase in AVP release and differences of AVP responses during CPB reported by other investigators are discussed.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Arginine Vasopressin/*blood/pharmacokinetics ; Blood Pressure ; *Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; *Enflurane ; Heart Defects, Congenital/surgery ; Humans ; *Morphine ; Osmolar Concentration

Acute eosinophilic pneumonia is reported as a specific disease entity. But, it is different from chronic eosinophilic pneumonia in its onset, clinical course and recurrence. Badesh et al reported the following diagnostic criteria os acute eosinophilic pneumonia a less than one-month history of symptoms prior to diagnosis, no evidence of asthma, the absence of other organic disease, no obvious etiology and an evidence of recurrent disease. We experienced a case of acute eosinophilic pneumonia in 37 old male. Pathologically eosinophilic pneumonia is confirmed and other features meet Badesh's criteria.
Asthma ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Eosinophilia* ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: Isometric handgrip exercise (IHE) is an easy and accessible form of exercise that has beneficial effects on blood pressure (BP). However, it remains unclear whether IHE is similar benefits on arterial stiffness and endothelial function compared with aerobic exercise (AE) in elderly hypertensive patients. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of IHE versus AE on arterial stiffness and endothelial function in elderly hypertensive patients.METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial with a three-arm design. Fifty-four elderly hypertensive patients (15 men; mean age, 69±6 years; systolic blood pressure, 131.2±14.7; diastolic blood pressure, 80.2±7.9 mm Hg) were randomized to IHE training (n=18), AE training (n=21), or non-exercise control group (n=21) for 12 weeks. Bilateral IHE training was performed four times of 2 minutes at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction with three times per week. AE training was performed brisk walking for 30 minutes at moderate intensity with three times per week. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index heart rate corrected (AIx@75 bpm) and brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) as indices of arterial stiffness and endothelial function were measured at baseline and after the intervention.RESULTS: Following 12-week intervention, resting BP was significantly decreased in both IHE (p=0.001) and AE groups (p=0.002). AIx@75 bpm and FMD were unchanged in the all groups. However, PWV was significantly decreased in both IHE and AE groups (IHE, 10.9±2.3 to 9.9±2.1 m/s [p<0.001]; AE, 10.5±2.0 to 9.4±1.6 m/s [p=0.001]), without any change in the control group.CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that both IHE and AE trainings were comparable effect in improving arterial stiffness in elderly hypertensive patients.
Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Brachial Artery ; Exercise ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Isometric Contraction ; Male ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Vascular Stiffness ; Vasodilation ; Walking