Total cholesterol and triglyceride were measured in sera of 40 cases of hypertension, 22 cases of myocardial infarction, 14 cases of cerebral thrombosis, 18 cases of subarachnoidal hemorrhage and 30 cases of normal control in Chungnam national University Hospital from October 1980 to September 1981, and the results are as follows; 1) The mean serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in normal control group are 153.57+/-40.60mg% and 150.82+/-51.76mg%. 2) The age incidence of these diseases were highest in 6th decade. 3) Serum cholesterol levels of myocardial infarction, hypertension, cerebral thrombosis and subarachinoidal hemorrhage group were higher than that of normal control group. 4) Serum triglyceride levels of acute myocardial infarction and hypertension were significantly higher than that of normal control group, but there is only slightly increases in cerebral thrombosis and subarachinoidal hemorrhage. 5) In general, serum lipid levels are higher in cardiovascular diseases(hypertension and myocardial infarction) than cerebrovascular diseases(cerebral thrombosis and subarachnoidal hemorrhage). 6) Serum Cholesterol and triglyceride levels decreased by administration of pancreatic mucopolysacharide for 1 or 2 months. In conclusion, it seems that high serum cholesterol and triglyceride level may play and important risk factor in development of hypertension and myocardial infarction.
Cholesterol ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Hemorrhage ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Intracranial Thrombosis ; Myocardial Infarction ; Risk Factors ; Thrombosis ; Triglycerides

OBJECTIVE & BACKGROUND: It has been shown that cerebral ischemia alters brain monoamine metabolism. In an attempt to elucidate the. Mechanism for ischen-iiainduced release of neurotransmitters in vitro, we examined the ischemia-induced release of (3H) norepinephrine (NE) from cerebral cortex of the rat. RESULTS: Ischemia, deprivation of oxygen and glucose, induced significant (about 12% of total tissue content) release of (3H)NE from cerebral cortex in vitro. This ischemia-induced release of (3H)NE from cerebral cortex was significantly attenuated by 1 mM TTX (tetrodotoxin), 1. 2 mM Mg2+, 10 mM MK-801, 10 mM ketamine, NMDA receptor antagonist, 30 mM DNQX, a kainate/AMPA receptor antagonist, or a 30 mM carbetapentane, an inhibitor of glutarnate release Dantrolene(30 mM) and ryanodine (100 nM), inhibitors of intraceuular Ca2+ release, flunarizine(5 mM) and w-conotoxin (100 nM), inhibitors of N-type Ca2+ channels, significantly attenuated the ischeniiainduced release of (3H)NF, but verapamil (5mM), an inhibitor of L-type Ca2+ channels, did not. Nisoxetine(100 nM), a relative NE transporter blocker, significantly inhibited the ischemia-induced release of (3H) NE. Removal of Ca2+ from the incubation media potently increased ischemia-induced (3H)NE release. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ischemia-evoked release of norepienphrine was caused by release of glutamate via activation of NMDA and non-NMDA receptors, and that Ca2+-dependent and -independent release processes are underlying in this phenomenon.
Animals ; Brain ; Brain Ischemia ; Cerebral Cortex* ; Dizocilpine Maleate ; Glucose ; Glutamic Acid ; Ischemia ; Ketamine ; Metabolism ; N-Methylaspartate ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Norepinephrine* ; Oxygen ; Rats* ; Ryanodine ; Verapamil

PURPOSE: To understand morphologic and hemodynamic variations in patients with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum(PA/IVS), and to decide the best treatment modalities, we measured right ventricular volume, inflow, and outflow valvular annulus size in these patients and compared them with those of normal newborns. METHODS: Eight patients with PA/IVS diagnosed by echocardiography from January to December 2001 were enrolled in this study. Among the total eight patients, five were male and three were female. The mean age of patients was 6.9 days(1-34 days), and the mean body weight was 3,343 gm (2,970-4,000 gm). Ten fullterm newborn infants with sepsis or hyperbilirubinemia without heart disease were enrolled as a control group. Echocardiographic and Doppler studies using Acuson Aspen (7Mh probe) were recorded on super-VHS videotape and later on, with review mode. We measured volumes of right and left ventricles, aortic, pulmonic, mitral and tricuspid valvular annulus sizes using an installed program, and then these parameters were compared with those of the control group. RESULTS: Mean Z-value of tricuspid valvular annulus in PA/IVS was -3.69+/-2.80(-8.4--0.45), and tricuspid/mitral valvular annulus size ratio 0.68+/-0.15(0.43--0.84). The more the tricuspid/mitral valvular annulus size ratio, the more Z-value of tricuspid valvular annulus(P=0.003, r=0.885). Those patients who underwent pulmonary valvuloplasty(balloon or surgical) had a tendency toward larger volume of the right ventricle, more Z-value of pulmonic and tricuspid valvular annulus, and more tricuspid/mitral valvular annulus size ratio than those patients who underwent a shunt operation. CONCLUSION: Compared to a measurement of the volume of the right ventricle, measurements of tricuspid/mitral valvular annulus size ratio and Z-value of tricuspid valvular annulus may be easier and better parameters to decide the treatment method and to predict prognosis in PA/IVS patients.
Body Weight ; Echocardiography* ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Ventricles ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Atresia* ; Sepsis ; Videotape Recording

BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is the major cause of patient's discomfort after surgery. Dexamethasone and ondansetron have been known to have some preventive effects on PONV. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects combination therapy of these drugs in the prevention of PONV after tympanomastoidectomy which has been known to be a high risk factor of PONV. METHODS: Ninty patients scheduled tympanomastoidectomy under general anesthesia were included. Patients were randomly divided into three groups and received dexamethasone 5 mg (group D), ondansetron 4 mg (group O), or dexamethasone 5 mg plus ondansetron 4 mg (group DO) at 30 min before the end of operation. The degree of PONV was assessed at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h after operation. RESULTS: The degrees of nausea in group DO during 0-6 h and 6-12 h were lesser than those of other groups. The overall incidences of nausea were 73% (group D), 62% (group O), and 23% (group DO, P < 0.05). The degrees of vomiting in group O and DO during 0-6 h were lesser than those of group D. The overall incidences of vomiting were 37% (group D), 17% (group O), and 7% (group DO, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of dexamethasone and ondansetron is more effective than single use of each drug for the prevention on PONV after tympanomastoidectomy.
Anesthesia, General ; Dexamethasone* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Nausea ; Ondansetron* ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting* ; Risk Factors ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Adenomatous polyps of the colon are believed to be precursor of colon cancer. Total polyp resection is indicated when they are identified. However, resection of the polyp is not always attainable at the initial colonoscopy. The aim of this study was to assess the validity of cold biopsy findings as representative of the whole polypectomy specimen, with regard to the histopathological features. METHODS: We analyzed 221 patients with colon polyps that were biopsied at their initial colonoscopy and had their adenomas subsequently removed by polypectomy within 2 weeks from the initial procedure. We analyzed the histopathological discrepancies between the cold biopsy and the polypectomy specimens. RESULTS: We analyzed 302 cases from 221 patients. There was 71.2% agreement between the forceps biopsy and the polypectomy. When colon polyps were diagnosed as carcinoma and villous adenomas, the diagnosis was the same in the polypectomy. Discrepancy between in forceps biopsy with polypectomy was found in the tubular adenomas obtained by forceps biopsy. Fifty tubular adenoma samples obtained by forceps biopsy had a deferent diagnosis than did the polypectomy. Fourteen of 50 tubular adenomas were underestimated by the forceps biopsy samples and seven of the 50 tubular adenomas were finally diagnosed as carcinoma from the polypectomy specimens. Seven villous adenomas were diagnosed as carcinoma and had severe dysplasia (n=4) or 1>=(n=1) size. CONCLUSIONS: Accurate tissue sampling of colorectal adenomas is crucial for their management. However, forceps biopsy does not accurately reflect the histology of colon polyps. Total resection of colon polyps is needed for an accurate diagnosis.
Adenoma ; Adenoma, Villous ; Adenomatous Polyps ; Biopsy ; Cold Temperature ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colonoscopy ; Humans ; Polyps ; Surgical Instruments

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The current study examines the expression of molecular biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and whether these findings correlate with the clinicopathologic features of the disease and patient survival. METHODS: We analyzed the immunohistochemical expression of p53, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), c-Met, and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) with the clinicopathologic features of 83 HCCs. RESULTS: p53 expression was higher in the male patients with undifferentiated histological tumor grades, cirrhosis, and portal vein invasion. High 48 c-Met expression correlated with cirrhosis, and high mTOR expression correlated with the tumor grade and cirrhosis. High IGF-1R expression correlated with the tumor grade and cirrhosis. A multivariate analysis identified a significant relationship between the high expression of p53, tumor grade, and portal vein invasion. In addition, a high expression of mTOR was related to tumor grade and cirrhosis, and a high expression of HSP70 was related to portal vein invasion in a multivariate analysis. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve for patients with high versus low Edmondson grades and p53 expression was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: p53, mTOR, and IGF-1R expression correlated with the Edmondson tumor grade in a univariate analysis, while p53 and mTOR correlated with the Edmondson tumor grade in a multivariate analysis. In addition, the tumor grade was found to predict survival. p53 was primarily related to the clinicopathologic features compared to other markers, and it is a poor prognostic factor of survival.
Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*metabolism/surgery ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*metabolism/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met/metabolism ; Receptor, IGF Type 1/metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Markers, Biological/*metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism

Previous studies reported that oxaliplatin is associated with sinusoidal obstruction syndrome. However few reports on oxaliplatin induced liver fibrosis are found in the literature. Furthermore pathogenesis of liver fibrosis is not well known. We report a case of 45-yr-old Korean man in whom liver fibrosis with splenomegaly developed after 12 cycles of oxaliplatin based adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer (T4N2M0). Thorough history taking and serological examination revealed no evidence of chronic liver disease. Restaging CT scans demonstrated a good response to chemotherapy. Five month after chemotherapy, he underwent right hepatectomy due to isolated metastatic lesion. The liver parenchyma showed diffuse sinusoidal dilatation and centrilobular vein fibrosis with necrosis without steatosis. We could conclude that splenomegaly was due to perisinusoidal liver fibrosis and liver cell necrosis induced portal hypertension by oxaliplatin. In addition, to investigate the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis, immunohistochemical stains such as CD31 and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) were conducted with control group. The immunohistochemical stains for CD31 and alpha-SMA were positive along the sinusoidal space in the patient, while negative in the control group. Chemotherapy with oxaliplatin induces liver fibrosis which should be kept in mind as a serious complication.
Actins/metabolism ; Antigens, CD31/metabolism ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/*therapeutic use ; Camptothecin/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Colonic Neoplasms/*drug therapy ; Fluorouracil/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal/etiology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Leucovorin/therapeutic use ; Liver Cirrhosis/*diagnosis/etiology/pathology ; Liver Neoplasms/secondary/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organoplatinum Compounds/*administration & dosage/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Splenomegaly/*diagnosis/etiology ; Thrombocytopenia/etiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed