Objective: Microtubule (MT) stability in neurons is vital for brain development; instability is associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. The present study examined the effects of social defeat stress (SDS) on MT-regulating proteins and tubulin polymerization. Methods: After 10 days of SDS, defeated mice were separated into susceptible (Sus) and unsusceptible (Uns) groups based on their performance in a social avoidance test. Using extracted brain tissues, we measured the expression levels of α-tubulin, acetylated α-tubulin, tyrosinated α-tubulin, MT-associated protein-2 (MAP2), stathmin (STMN1), phospho stathmin serine 16 (p-STMN1 [Ser16]), phospho stathmin serine 25 (p-STMN1 [Ser25]), phospho stathmin serine 38 (p-STMN1 [Ser38]), stathmin2 (STMN2), phospho stathmin 2 serine 73 (p-STMN2 [Ser73]), 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP-78), and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)-homologous protein (CHOP) using Western blot assay. The tubulin polymerization rate was also measured. Results: We observed increased and decreased expression of acetylated and tyrosinated α-tubulin, respectively, decreased expression of p-STMN1 (Ser16) and increased expression of p-STMN1 (Ser25), p-STMN2 (Ser73) and GRP-78 and CHOP in the prefrontal cortex and/or hippocampus of defeated mice. A reduced tubulin polymerization rate was observed in the Sus group compared to the Uns and Con groups. Conclusion Our findings suggest that SDS has detrimental effects on MT stability, and a lower tubulin polymerization rate could be a molecular marker for susceptibility to SDS.

BACKGROUND: It is difficult to manage intractable pain from advanced carcinoma of the upper abdomen. One method used to control pain associated with these malignancies is to block the splanchnic nerve. We investigated that VAS (visual analogue scale) difference before and after splanchnic nerve block (SNB) and pain relief day. Also we studied relationship between VAS before SNB and pain relief day. METHODS: A rewiew of 70 patients who took splanchnic nerve block (SNB) from September 1994 to February 1998 was carried out to assess age, sex, primary diseases, pain sites, VAS before and after SNB, date of diagnosis, date of SNB, date of death and pain relief day, etc. RESULTS: Of 70 patients, 44 were males and the remaining 26 were females. The causes of pain were stomach cancer 28 (40%), pancreatic cancer 18 (25%), gall bladder cancer 7 (10%), hepatoma 6 (8.6%) respcectively. Average day from diagnosis to SNB was 272 and average day from diagnosis to death was 341. So, patients died on the average 69 days after they took the splanchnic nerve block in pain clinic. VAS average before SNB was 8.01 and VAS average after SNB was 3.64. Patients felt pain relief during 35 days after SNB. Pain relief day of patients who had lower VAS before SNB was longer than that of patients who had higher VAS before SNB. CONCLUSION: Early application of splanchnic nerve block will make the patients endure the cancer pain more easily.
Abdomen ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; Humans ; Male ; Pain Clinics ; Pain, Intractable ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Splanchnic Nerves* ; Stomach Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Humans

We had examined the invasive blood pressure monitoring of superficial temporal, radial and femoral artery in two eases of Takayasus syndrome with mitral regurgitation and acute renal artery infarction. Mitral valve replacement and aorto-renal bypass graft were done by using cardiopulmonary bypass and one-lung ventilation respectively, The results are ; 1) Superficial temporal artery monitoring was more reliable and less fluctuant than femoral and radial artery monitoring in blood pressure. But we dont know the relationship of adequate cerebral perfusion pressure and superficial temporal artery pressure. 2) The femoral artery pressure monitoring was not adequate when the patients had a problem with ascending and descending aorta patency. 3) We had good results in the patient management by the monitoring of superficial temporal artery pressure.
Aorta, Thoracic ; Blood Pressure Monitors* ; Blood Pressure* ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Femoral Artery ; Humans ; Infarction ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; One-Lung Ventilation ; Perfusion ; Radial Artery ; Renal Artery ; Temporal Arteries ; Transplants

Epidural morphine injection was done in nineteen patients who had been admitted from March to August 1990 to the Intensive Care Unit, Severance Hospital, Yonsei Medical Center for respiratory care including ventilator care. Morphine suplphate, 2.67 +/- 0.27 mg was injected one to three times to four patients after chest trauma, and to fifteen patients after thoracotomy. Tidal volume and vital capacity were increased from 4.45 +/- 0.48 and 8.31 +/- 0.50 to 6.91 +/- 0.41 and 12.81 +/- 0.73 mg/kg. However, respiratory rates decreased from 26.07 +/- 1.41 to 20.07 +/- 1.16/min. Inspiratory force increased from -13.40 +/- 1.31 to -26.53 +/- 1.82 cmH2O. Pain score decreased from 9.22 +/- 0.57 to 3.56 +/- 0.83 during this period. PaCO2 did not differ significantly (39.33 +/- 1.13 and 39.48 +/- 1.42 mmHg). Side effects such as pruritis and urinary retention were treated with naloxone 7 approximately 10 ng/kg/min. Mean arterial pressure and pulse rates stayed stable during the study periods. Ventilator hours and ICU stays differed from the control group. However, the duration was not statistically significant. The control group consisted of patients who were admitted during the six months from September 1989 to February 1990 to the ICU for respiratory care, without epidural morphine injection.
Adult ; Female ; Hemodynamics/drug effects ; Human ; Injections, Epidural ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Middle Age ; Morphine/*administration & dosage ; Pain/drug therapy ; Prospective Studies ; Respiration/*drug effects/physiology ; Thoracic Injuries/*physiopathology ; Thoracotomy ; *Ventilators, Mechanical

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract*

No abstract available.
Diazepam* ; Hemodynamics* ; Morphine* ; Pancuronium* ; Respiration, Artificial*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Intensive Care Units* ; Critical Care* ; Poisoning*

No abstract available.
APACHE* ; Intensive Care Units* ; Critical Care*

It is believed that catecholamine secretion is increased during cardiopulmonary bypass. However, the periods of maximum increase in catecholamine levels during cardiopulmonary bypass are different among several authors. 15 patients having valvular surgery were studied. Plasma epinephrine and norepine- phrine were determined by high performance liquid chromatography at 8 stages of the operation. During bypass plasma catecholamine levels continued to rise and maximally increased until aortic cross clamp off, and decreased gradually. Norepinephrine also showed the same results initially, but then increased gradually after the end of bypass. During bypass the maximum increases in epinephrine and norepinephrine were sixfold and twofold respectively in comparison with the levels prior to induction, which suggests that the predominant humoral response to cardiopulmonary bypass appears to be adrenomedullary release of epinephrine. The catecholamine levels at the period of aortic cross clamp off was higher than that of the lowest body temperature. There was no correlation between the increases in catecholamines and mean arterial pressure. Temperautures and eatecholamines also showed no correlations.
Arterial Pressure ; Body Temperature ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass* ; Catecholamines ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Epinephrine* ; Humans ; Norepinephrine* ; Plasma