BACKGROUND: This study was planned to evaluate the influence of propranolol and esmolol on cerebral circulation and to estimate clinical implications and usefulness. METHODS: This study was designed to measure vital signs, cerebrospinal fluid pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure and blood flow velocity of common carotid artery. This was measured by Doppler Flowmeter after intravenous administration of propranolol 12.5, 25, 50 microgram/kg (P-12.5, P-25, P-50, respectively), and esmolol 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mg/kg (E-0.5, E-1.0, E-2.0 group, respectively) at 1 or 2 minute intervals for 14 minutes. RESULTS: In the propranolol group (P-12.5, P-25 and P-50), the systolic blood pressure (SBP) significantly decreased since postinjection 1 minute and this decreased pressure continued throughout the entire experiment. But in esmolol group (E-0.5, E-1.0 and E-2.0), the SBP decreased significantly and rapidly recovered within 4 minutes. Heart rate significantly decreased in the propranolol group and continued throughout the experiment, but in the esmolol group the heart rate decreased and rapidly recovered within 10 minutes. The duration of the decreased heart rate in the esmolol group was shortened by decreasing the dosage. The blood flow velocity of the common carotid artery significantly decreased at 1 to 14 minutes after the injection of propranolol, but in group E-1.0, it was significantly decreased at 1 to 2 minutes, and in group E-2.0 at 1 to 3 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: The esmolol group showed less changes of SBP, heart rate and common carotid artery flow, and shorter duration of effect than the propranolol group. Mean blood pressure, cerebrospinal fluid pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure had no significant differences between propranolol and esmolol groups.
Administration, Intravenous ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Blood Pressure ; Carotid Artery, Common* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure ; Flowmeters ; Heart Rate ; Perfusion ; Propranolol* ; Rabbits* ; Vital Signs*

No abstract available.
Appendicitis* ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch*

BACKGROUND: Dry eye is a common disease, and coffee is a popular beverage that is heavily consumed in Korea and worldwide. We examined the correlation between coffee consumption and dry eye.METHODS: This study was performed using data from the 5th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which was a cross-sectional study of the Korean population conducted from 24 months. We included adults aged ≥19 years who underwent ophthalmologic examination and excluded those who had comorbid conditions with dry eye. The subjects were divided into dry eye and control groups. The dry eye group consisted of those who had been clinically diagnosed with dry eye. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the correlation between coffee consumption and dry eye.RESULTS: An inverse correlation was found between coffee consumption and dry eye in the group that consumed 3 cups of coffee a day (P=0.001). However, after multivariate adjustment, the statistical significance of the correlation disappeared (P=0.283).CONCLUSION: Consumption of 3 cups of coffee a day in comparison to non-consumption group was negatively correlated with dry eye in an univariate analysis model, but the correlation was not statistically significant after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, binge drinking, sun exposure time and history of eye surgery.
Adult ; Beverages ; Binge Drinking ; Body Mass Index ; Coffee ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dry Eye Syndromes ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Nutrition Surveys ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Solar System

PURPOSE: To investigate the production of long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) in response to tunicamycin-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and its role in ER stress-associated cell death, PTX3 expression was evaluated in the human retinal pigment epithelial cell line, ARPE-19. METHODS: PTX3 production in ARPE-19 cells was analyzed in the absence or presence of tunicamycin treatment by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. PTX3 protein and mRNA levels were estimated using western blot analysis and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Protein and mRNA levels of CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) and ARPE-19 cell viability were measured in the presence of tunicamycin-induced ER stress in control or PTX3 small hairpin RNA (shRNA)-transfected ARPE-19 cells. RESULTS: The protein and mRNA levels of PTX3 were found to be significantly increased by tunicamycin treatment. PTX3 production was significantly decreased in inositol-requiring enzyme 1α shRNA-transfected ARPE-19 cells compared to control shRNA-transfected cells. Furthermore, pretreatment with the NF-κB inhibitor abolished tunicamycin-induced PTX3 production. Decreased cell viability and prolonged protein and mRNA expression of CHOP were observed under tunicamycin-induced ER stress in PTX3 shRNA transfected ARPE-19 cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that PTX3 production increased in the presence of tunicamycin-induced ER stress. Therefore, PTX3 could be an important protector of ER stress-induced cell death in human retinal pigment epithelial cells. Inositol-requiring enzyme 1α and the NF-κB signaling pathway may serve as potential targets for regulation of PTX3 expression in the retina. Therefore, their role in PTX3 expression needs to be further investigated.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; C-Reactive Protein/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Cells, Cultured ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress/*drug effects/genetics ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger/*genetics ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium/*metabolism/pathology ; Serum Amyloid P-Component/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Tunicamycin/*pharmacology

PURPOSE: In order to determine whether the Tonicity responsive enhancer binding protein (TonEBP) is expressed by hypertonic and hyperosmolar stress, TonEBP expression was investigated in the retinal ganglion cell (RGC) line, RGC-5 cells. METHODS: After RGC-5 cells were cultured by Staurosporine, TonEBP expression was measured with Western immunoblotting analysis and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in 50 mM NaCl, 100 mM mannitol, 50 mM glucose, or 100 mM glucose at 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours after exposure to each environment. RESULTS: In this study, the protein expression of TonEBP was determined to be statistically significantly checked in 50 mM NaCl after 3, and 6 hours, in 100 mM mannitol after 6 hours, and in 100 mM glucose after 3, and 6 hours. TonEBP messenger Ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression was determined to be statistically significantly checked in 50 mM NaCl after 3 hours, in 100 mM mannitol after 3, and 24 hours, and in 50 mM glucose after 3, and 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that TonEBP was expressed by hypertonic and hyperosmolar stress at the protein and mRNA levels. Further studies are nedded to determine the role of TonEBP and the mechanism of expression and regulation of TonEBP.
Blotting, Western ; Glucose ; Mannitol ; NFATC Transcription Factors ; Osmotic Pressure ; Retinal Ganglion Cells ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Staurosporine

BACKGROUND: We investigated the significance of plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (pNGAL) level as an acute-phase reactant and an index for an increase in serum creatinine (sCr) level in patients with inflammatory diseases. METHODS: A total of 63 patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and 149 without SIRS were evaluated, and pNGAL level was determined using a fluorescence immunoassay. sCr levels were measured daily during three days, and the difference between the initial and follow-up sCr levels was defined as a delta sCr value. Serum albumin/sCr ratio (sACR) was calculated. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) level was determined using a latex turbidometric method. RESULTS: The median pNGAL level in the SIRS group (154 ng/mL) was significantly higher than that in the non-SIRS (86 ng/mL) and control (62 ng/mL) groups (P<0.001, respectively). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of pNGAL for diagnosing SIRS was 0.725 (95% CI, 0.664-0.781), which was not significantly different from that of hsCRP (0.749; 95% CI, 0.685-0.809; P=0.375). Multivariate regression analyses revealed that log-pNGAL was significantly associated with hsCRP (beta=0.546, P<0.001) and sACR (beta=0.351, P<0.001). The AUC of pNGAL for the positive delta sCr in 48-72 hr was 0.649 (95% CI, 0.542-0.746, P=0.023) in the SIRS group. CONCLUSIONS: pNGAL is comparable to hsCRP as an inflammation-related parameter, and its measurement may provide additional information for a potential increase in sCr during 48-72 hr in patients with SIRS.
Area Under Curve ; C-Reactive Protein ; Creatinine ; Fluorescence ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Latex ; Lipocalins* ; Neutrophils* ; Plasma ; ROC Curve ; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the neuroprotective effects of betaxolol (betaxolol hydrochloride) under hypoxic conditions using retinal ganglion cells (RGC-5) and determine whether heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression exerts cytoprotective effects. METHODS: In this study, cultured RGC-5 cells were incubated with different concentrations of betaxolol hydrochloride (0.1 microM, 1 microM or 5 microM) and with 10 microM zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP), in a hypoxia incubator (1% O2, 5% CO2, 94% N2) for 48 hours and the cell viability of each group was determined. Additionally, cell viability was measured after RGC-5 cells were incubated with 5 microM of brinzolamide (Azopt(R)), brimonidine tartrate (Alphagan(R)) or travoprost (Travatan(R)). RGC-5 cells were divided into three groups and incubated under three different conditions, normoxia group (20% O2, 5% CO2), hypoxia group (1% O2, 5% CO2) and the group with 5 microM of Betoptic S(R) treated under hypoxic conditions (hypoxia, Betoptic S(R)). After incubation for 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours, HO-1 expression was analyzed using Western blotting. RESULTS: Cell viability significantly increased in RGC-5 cells treated with Betoptic S(R) compared with other antiglaucoma agents. Increased levels of HO-1 expression indicate its relevance in cell viability. Furthermore, increased RGC-5 cell viability by Betoptic S(R) was significantly reduced in the HO-1 inhibitor ZnPP-treated group. CONCLUSIONS: We reaffirmed the known cytoprotective effects of Betoptic S(R) and the results suggests that HO-1 expression exerts cytoprotective effects against hypoxia.
Anoxia ; Betaxolol* ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Survival ; Heme Oxygenase-1* ; Heme* ; Incubators ; Neuroprotective Agents* ; Retinal Ganglion Cells ; Zinc ; Brimonidine Tartrate ; Travoprost

PURPOSE: Treatment of impotence has advanced considerably by an orally active, effective and well-tolerated drug, sildenafil citrate. However, Sildenafil citrate is not so effective for the treatment of severe organic impotence patients. Intracavernosal injection of vasoactive substance is still the most effective therapy for those patients but side effects, e.g. pain, priapism, require a more comfortable therapy. We performed this study to assess the feasibility of sildenafil citrate as a new intracavernosal agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In New Zealand white male rabbits (n=11), relaxations of precontracted cavernosal smooth muscle strips were studied after administration of sildenafil citrate, acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), respectively. In separate in vivo experiment, changes of intracavernosal pressure (ICP), duration of increased ICP and changes of systemic arterial blood pressure after retrograde selective internal pudendal arterial administration of four separate doses (0.1 mg, n=5; 0.3 mg, n=6; 0.5 mg, n=7; 1.0 mg, n=7) of sildenafil citrate were monitored in adult male cats (n=25). RESULTS: Acetylcholine, SNP and sildenafil citrate effectively relaxed the precontracted strips in a dose-dependent manner (3x10 8-3x10 3 M), respectively. Maximal relaxation of strips to acetylcholine, SNP and sildenafil citrate were 50.11%, 98.65%, and 68.32%, respectively. The order of potency was acetylcholine Acetylcholine ; Adult ; Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Cats ; Citric Acid* ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; New Zealand ; Nitroprusside ; Penis ; Priapism ; Rabbits ; Relaxation ; Sildenafil Citrate

Background and objectives: Carvedilol is a cardiovascular drug, beta- and alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist, currently approved for the treatment of hypertension, angina, congestive heart failure by FDA. Carvedilol has been shown to attenuate oxygen free radical-initiated lipid peroxidation and to inhibit neointimal formation of aorta following vascular injury by balloon angioplasty. We have investigated the effect of carvedilol on DNA synthesis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Rat aortic smooth muscle cells were obtained by the combined collagenase and elastase methods. Cells between the 4th and 8th passages were used for the experiments. Incorporated radioactivity of [3H]-thymidine was measured by liquid scintillation spectrometry. RESULTS: PDGF-BB (1 nM) increased [3H]-thymidine incorporation about 70-100% over basal value in cultured VSMC. PDGF-stimulated increase in DNA synthesis was significantly suppressed by simultaneous administration of carvedilol. In contrast, propranolol did not significantly affect 3[H]-thymidine uptake in rat aortic VSMC. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrate that carvedilol significantly inhibits the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cell in our condition. These results indicate that carvedilol may be effective in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases principally associated with abnormal vascular smooth muscle growth.
Angioplasty, Balloon ; Animals ; Aorta ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cell Proliferation ; Collagenases ; DNA ; Heart Failure ; Hypertension ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Oxygen ; Pancreatic Elastase ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; Propranolol ; Radioactivity ; Rats ; Spectrum Analysis ; Vascular System Injuries

BACKGROUND: This study is aimed to elucidate the developmental pattern of human fetal lip by histological and immunohistochemical examinations. METHODS: Totally 231 normal human lip tissues obtained from autopsied fetuses were fixed with 10% buffered formalin, sectioned in cross and longitudinal directions, routinely stained for H&E and performed for immunohistochemistry with antibodies of S-100 protein, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), transglutaminase C (TGase-C), metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, MMP-10, tenascin, KL1, K8.12, E-cadherin, tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, TIMP-2 and total keratin (TK). RESULTS: The lip structure first appeared as an orifice of stomodeum around the 7-8th week of gestation, and a major structure of the midface was observed by the 11-12th week. As the squamous epithelium of the lip became thick and was keratinized, the vermilion border became distinguished in the 15-16th week, and the lip structure was almost completed with the presence of orbicularis oris muscle in the lingual side of vermilion border by the 17-18th week. Immunohistochemically, the vermilion border showed strong reactions for tenascin, E-cadherin and MMP-3 and increased positivity for PCNA, cytokeratins (TK, KL1, K8.12), and TGase-C. CONCLUSIONS: With the above findings we suppose that the cytodifferentiation of vermilion border epithelium plays an important role for the development of human fetal lip.
Antibodies ; Cadherins ; Epithelium ; Fetus ; Formaldehyde ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratins ; Lip* ; Pregnancy ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; S100 Proteins ; Tenascin ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2