To investigate the adverse effects of clozapine on cardiovascular ion channels, we examined the inhibitory effect of clozapine on voltage-dependent K+(Kv) channels in rabbit coronary arterial smooth muscle cells. Clozapine-induced inhibition of Kv channels occurred in a concentration-dependent manner with an halfinhibitory concentration value of 7.84 ± 4.86 µM and a Hill coefficient of 0.47 ± 0.06.Clozapine did not shift the steady-state activation or inactivation curves, suggesting that it inhibited Kv channels regardless of gating properties. Application of train pulses (1 and 2 Hz) progressively augmented the clozapine-induced inhibition of Kv channels in the presence of the drug. Furthermore, the recovery time constant from inactivation was increased in the presence of clozapine, suggesting that clozapineinduced inhibition of Kv channels is use (state)-dependent. Pretreatment of a Kv1.5 subtype inhibitor decreased the Kv current amplitudes, but additional application of clozapine did not further inhibit the Kv current. Pretreatment with Kv2.1 or Kv7 subtype inhibitors partially blocked the inhibitory effect of clozapine. Based on these results, we conclude that clozapine inhibits arterial Kv channels in a concentrationand use (state)-dependent manner. Kv1.5 is the major subtype involved in clozapineinduced inhibition of Kv channels, and Kv2.1 and Kv7 subtypes are partially involved.

Most cystic lesions of the liver are found incidentally in imaging studies because they are not symptomatic, and generally do not require treatment. Rarely, however, symptomatic hepatic cysts may develop complications and require treatment. Here, we describe a case of a 77-year-old woman who developed biliary obstruction with abdominal pain due to compression of the bile duct by a simple hepatic cyst. We confirmed the diagnosis based on symptoms and imaging studies. The patient's symptoms improved after simple cyst ablation by sclerotherapy.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Bile Ducts ; Cholestasis ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Liver* ; Sclerotherapy

BACKGROUND: Pleomorphic carcinoma (PC) is a rare pulmonary malignancy. Because of its rarity and histological heterogeneity, cytopathologists might suspect PC only rarely on the basis of its cytological specimen. In addition, cytological findings from fine needle aspiration (FNA) specimens have rarely been described. Hence, we investigated the cytological features of FNA in the cases of PC. METHODS: We reviewed 7 FNA specimens of PC. The patients had undergone surgical resection at the Korea Cancer Center Hospital between 2007 and 2011. The cytological features of PC were assessed and compared with the histopathological features of the corresponding surgical specimen. Immunocytochemical analysis with cytokeratin and vimentin was performed on the cell blocks. RESULTS: The tumor cells were either dispersed or arranged in loose aggregates, and generally lacked any glandular or squamous differentiation. Pleomorphic or spindle shape tumor cells were observed, and mono-, bi-, or multi-nucleated giant cells were frequently observed. The background showed necrosis and contained numerous lymphocytes and neutrophils. Immunocytochemically, the tumor cells were positive for cytokeratin and vimentin. CONCLUSIONS: PC displays characteristic cytological features. It might therefore be possible to make an accurate diagnosis of PC by assessing the degree of nuclear atypia.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Giant Cells ; Humans ; Keratins ; Korea ; Lung ; Lymphocytes ; Necrosis ; Neutrophils ; Population Characteristics ; Vimentin

Heterotopia refers to the finding of normal tissue in foreign sites, entirely separate from the main organ. Heterotopic gastric mucosa has been observed throughout the alimentary tract, everywhere from the oral cavity to the rectum. However, occurrences in the umbilicus are an extremely rare and peculiar phenomena. We report the case of heterotopic gastric mucosa in the umbilicus.
Gastric Mucosa ; Mouth ; Rectum ; Umbilicus

PURPOSE: Critically ill patients frequently require rapid measurements of serum potassium. Analyses of serum samples take some time, but the results of blood gas analyses are often available more promptly. This study aims to determine the correlation between potassium concentrations measured by blood gas analyzer and automated chemical analyzer with a view to identifying whether the plasma potassium level can be used as an alternative to the serum values in the clinical management of selected patients in the Emergency Department (ED). METHODS: This prospective study of patients who were deemed by their treating doctor to require a blood gas analysis and chemistry analysis compared the potassium concentrations obtained from plasma and serum taken simultaneously. Data were analyzed using a Pearson correlation and a linear regression. RESULTS: Four hundred ninety-six patients were entered into the study. The potassium concentrations measured using two blood gas analyzers and two automated chemical analyzers were relatively highly correlated (coefficient=0.871), with an average difference between two methods of 0.449 mmol/L. There was also a high level of agreement between the methods with the 95% limits of agreement being -0.2 to 1.2 mmol/L. CONCLUSION: Compared with data from other previous test, our data were unsatisfactory. However our trial makes it possible in our ED to obtain serum potassium level from the plasma level. In addition, hypokalemia obtained by blood gas analyzer should be made an exception in treating it.
Blood Gas Analysis ; Chemistry ; Critical Illness ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Hypokalemia ; Linear Models ; Plasma ; Potassium* ; Prospective Studies

PURPOSE: The diagnosis and treatment of insulinoma are very important because the tumor can induce critical and permanent neurological deficit. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the clinical features of insulinomas and to establish the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. METHODS: 17 patients, preoperatively diagnosed with insulinomas and who had undergone surgical management between January, 1998 and March 2004, at the Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, were analyzed. RESULTS: After the operation the 17 patients were diagnosed pathologically; 13 insulinoma, 2 nesidioblastosis, 1 endocrine tumor and 1 endocrine carcinoma. The male to female ratio was 7: 10, with a mean age of 52.3 years. All the patients had symptoms of Whipple triad. The mean duration of symptoms to surgery was 18 months. The preoperative mean blood sugar, plasma insulin, C-peptide and insulin to glucose ratio were 39.6 mg/dl, 47.4muU/ml, 4.8 ng/ml and 1.02 respectively. Preoperative localization was achieved in 15 patients by combining ultrasonography, angiography, abdominal CT and intra-arterial calcium stimulated venous sampling and sensitivity of those examinations were 60, 61.5, 73.3 and 91.7%, respectively. Intraoperative localization was also performed by a combination of manual palpation and intraoperative ultrasonography in 15 patients, with retrospective sensitivities of 86.6 and 100% respectively. The frequenies of head, body and tail were 6: 3: 6. In 2 nesidioblastosis patients, the localization failed both pre- and intraperatively. The types of operations included 11 enucleations, 3 distal pancreatectomies, 2 blind subtotal pancreatectomies and a distal pancreatectomy combined with an extended left hemihepatectomy and intraoperative radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for one patient accompanied by multiple liver metastase. 13 insulinomas were benign, small (mean diameter 1.5 cm, maximum 2.3 cm) and solitary, with the exception of one patient with MEN I. The symptoms of hypoglycemia and the laboratory values were improved in all patients after the operation. CONCLUSION: Insulinomas may be readily localized using sensitive diagnostic tools, such as intra-arterial stimulated venous sampling or intraoperative ultrasonography with manual palpation. If possible, enucleation may be a curative and feasible procedure for benign insulinomas. However, in the case of a highly suspicious nesidioblastosis, a blind partial pancreatectomy may be used as a trail method.
Angiography ; Blood Glucose ; C-Peptide ; Calcium ; Catheter Ablation ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Glucose ; Head ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Insulin ; Insulinoma* ; Liver ; Male ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 ; Nesidioblastosis ; Palpation ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatectomy ; Plasma ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

Obstruction of the common bile duct (CBD) by direct extension of a tumor is occasionally found in patients with a hepatic neoplasm, but a bile duct tumor embolus caused by intrabiliary transplantation of a free floating tumor is a rare complication of a hepatocellular carcinoma. A patient of ours was recently observed with a fragment of tumor from a primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that obstructed the distal CBD. A-46-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a distal CBD mass, measuring 1.2x1.5 cm, found by a biliary computed tomography (CT) scan. Four month prior to his admission, he had undergone a right hemihepatectomy for a HCC accompanied by direct intrahepatic bile duct invasion, without obstructive jaundice. On admission, there were no abnormal findings in the physical and laboratory examinations. An Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and papillotomy had been performed, which showed an irregular shaped filling defect in the distal CBD. Endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) was carried out for biliary decompression. Partially extracted soft tissue from the CBD by ERCP revealed a HCC. On performed a pylorus- preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy, a 1cm sized tumor remnant was found attached to the mucosa of the intrapancreatic portion of the bile duct, but without any invasive growth into the submucosa. The tumor may have been an intrabiliary transplantation from the HCC in the right lobe through the bile duct. When an obstructive mass is found in the distal CBD, tumor embolus should be considered, and a radical pancreaticoduodenectomy can be adopted as a safe and effective treatment modality.
Bile Ducts ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Common Bile Duct* ; Decompression ; Drainage ; Embolism* ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Liver Neoplasms ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy