No abstract available.
Animals ; Clomipramine* ; Preoptic Area* ; Rats* ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors* ; Serotonin*

PURPOSE: We conducted a study to determine which factors may be useful as predictive markers in identifying Kawasaki disease (KD) patients with a high risk of resistance to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and developing coronary artery lesions (CAL). METHODS: We enrolled 287 patients in acute phase of KD at a single center. The demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected retrospectively. RESULTS: There were 34 patients in the IVIG resistant group. The IVIG resistant group had significantly higher serum N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic protein (NT-proBNP) levels (P<0.01) and polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) percentage (P<0.01) in comparison to the IVIG responders. The results yielded sensitivity (78.8%, 60.6%), specificity (58.2%, 90%) and cutoff value (628.6 pg/mL, 80.3%) of NT-proBNP and PMN respectively, in predicting IVIG resistance. Despite IVIG administration, 13 of the 287 patients developed CAL. The patients in the CAL group had higher NT-proBNP levels (P<0.01) and higher PMN percentage (P<0.01). In these patients, the results yielded sensitivity (73.3%, 56.7%), specificity (67.9%, 88.9%) and cutoff value (853.4 pg/mL, 80.3%) of NT-proBNP and PMN respectively, for predicting CAL. The area under the curve (AUC) for predicting resistance to IVIG was NT-proBNP 0.712, PMN 0.802. The AUC for predicting CAL was NT-proBNP 0.739, and PMN 0.773. CONCLUSION: Serum NT-proBNP levels and PMN percentage were significantly elevated in patients with KD with IVIG resistance and CAL. Thus, they may be useful predicting markers for IVIG resistance and development of CAL in KD patients.
Area Under Curve ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins* ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Neutrophils ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: Studies have been conducted to identify predictive factors of resistance to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for Kawasaki disease (KD). However, the results are conflicting. This study aimed to identify laboratory factors predictive of resistance to high-dose IVIG for KD by performing meta-analysis of available studies using statistical techniques. METHODS: All relevant scientific publications from 2006 to 2014 were identified through PubMed searches. For studies in English on KD and IVIG resistance, predictive factors were included. A meta-analysis was performed that calculated the effect size of various laboratory parameters as predictive factors for IVIG-resistant KD. RESULTS: Twelve studies comprising 2,745 patients were included. Meta-analysis demonstrated significant effect sizes for several laboratory parameters: polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) 0.698 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.469-0.926), C-reactive protein (CRP) 0.375 (95% CI, 0.086-0.663), pro-brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP) 0.561 (95% CI, 0.261-0.861), total bilirubin 0.859 (95% CI, 0.582-1.136), alanine aminotransferase (AST) 0.503 (95% CI, 0.313-0.693), aspartate aminotransferase (ALT) 0.436 (95% CI, 0.275-0.597), albumin 0.427 (95% CI, -0.657 to -0.198), and sodium 0.604 (95% CI, -0.839 to -0.370). Particularly, total bilirubin, PMN, sodium, pro-BNP, and AST, in descending numerical order, demonstrated more than a medium effect size. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, laboratory predictive factors for IVIG-resistant KD included higher total bilirubin, PMN, pro-BNP, AST, ALT, and CRP, and lower sodium and albumin. The presence of several of these predictive factors should alert clinicians to the increased likelihood that the patient may not respond adequately to initial IVIG therapy.
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Bilirubin ; C-Reactive Protein ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins* ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Neutrophils ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Sodium

No abstract available.
Animals ; Flowmeters* ; Magnets* ; Male ; Models, Animal* ; Penile Erection* ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether radial rigidity measured using RigiScan(R) represents the intracorporeal pressure effectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1998 to May 1999, total of 23 patients with erectile dysfunction were evaluated by RigiScan(R) and duplex ultrasonography after the intracorporeal injection of prostaglandin E1. Peak systolic velocity and end diastolic velocity were measured by duplex ultrasonography and then the resistance index was calculated as (peak systolic velocity-end diastolic velocity)/(peak systolic velocity). Radial rigidity of penile tip and base was measured by RigiScanR . The results were analyzed statistically by PC-SPSS version 7.5. RESULTS: There were statistically significant correlations between radial rigidity of penile tip and base and the resistance index by Spearman's correlation analysis, respectively (r=0.680, p<0.001)(r=0.703, p<0.001). When radial rigidity of penile tip and base exceeded 60% of maximum, radial rigidity of penile tip and base again correlated well with the resistance index, respectively (r=0.659, p=0.020)(r=0.759, p=0.011). Based on clinically determined degree of erection, radial rigidity of penile tip and base represented the intracorporeal pressure effectively. CONCLUSIONS: Radial rigidity measured by RigiScan(R) represents the intracorporeal pressure effectively.
Alprostadil* ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Male ; Ultrasonography

The distributions and morphological characteristics of neurons displaying immunoreactivity to the catecholamine synthetic enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH), and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT) were examined in the adjacent sections of the whole brain in the Striped Field Mouse (Apodemus agrarius coreae) The medulla oblongata were divided into 3 parts (rostral medulla oblongata, area postrema portion of medulla oblongata and caudal medulla oblongata) in this study. In the rostral medulla oblongata, adrenergic (TH-, DBH- and PNMT-positive) neurons were found in dorsal motor nucleus of vagus, nucleus tractus solitarius, dorsal strip and medial longitudinal fasciculus. In the ventrolateral medullary tegmentum of rostral medulla oblongata, adrenergic neurons were found between gigantocellular reticular nucleus and paragigantocellular reticular nucleus. In the area postrema portion of medulla oblongata, noradrenergic neurons were found in the nucleus tractus solitarius, and area postrema. And dopaminergic or adrenergic neurons were also found in dorsal motor nucleus of vagus. In the caudal medulla oblongata, noradrenergic neurons were found in the medial part of nucleus tractus solitarius and superior part of the lateral reticular nucleus.
Adrenergic Neurons ; Animals ; Area Postrema ; Brain ; Immunohistochemistry ; Medulla Oblongata* ; Mice ; Murinae* ; Neurons* ; Solitary Nucleus ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase* ; Tyrosine*

PURPOSE: It is known that alpha-2 receptor is found at the presynaptic serotonergic nervous system and a consequence of increased activation of alpha-2 receptor decreases the serotonin release. So Alpha-2 blockers may have the effect on the release of serotonin. The major serotonergic innervation is found at the hippocampus. This study was performed to investigate the effect of the alpha-2 receptor blocker to serotonin release in rat hippocampus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The hippocampus from the male rat brain was sliced. After 30 minutes preincubation in the normal buffer, the slices were incubated for 20 minutes in a buffer containing 0.1 microM[3H]5-HT for uptake, and washed. After administration of alpha 2 receptor blockers, yohimbine (10-5M), the release of [3H]5-HT into the buffer was measured, the radioactivities in each buffer and the tissue were counted and the results were expressed as a percentage of the total activity. The value of released [3H]5-HT was expressed as percent of the value at 50 minutes when a steady state of [3H]5-HT release was obtained. RESULTS: After adminstration of yohimbine (10-5M), the values(mean+/-SE, %) were 147.5+/-9.2 at 60 minutes and 143.8+/-7.3 at 70 minutes compared to the values of control group, 96.6+/-1.9 at 60 minutes and 89.6+/-2.3 at 70 minutes. The release was increased significantly after adminstration of yohimbine. CONCLUSIONS: Alpha-2 receptor blockers increased the release of serotonin. It is suggested that the consideration of the increase of serotonin release by alpha-2 receptor blockers may be helpful to understand the effect of serotonin on sexual function.
Animals ; Brain ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Male ; Nervous System ; Radioactivity ; Rats* ; Serotonin* ; Yohimbine

No abstract available.
Follow-Up Studies* ; Hydronephrosis*

No abstract available.
Stroke*