The Effect of Lipo-PGE1 on Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury and Endothelin-1 Concentrations After Canine Partial Liver Transplantation / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIM: The lipo-PGE1, known for being more stable during pulmonary circulation and having more targeting effect, has been reported to inhibit ET-1 induced stellate cell contraction. We assessed the effect of lipo-PGE1 on the change of ET-1 concentration and the relationship between ET-1 concentration and the liver damage. METHODS: Mongrel dogs weighing about 25 kg were divided into a control (n=6) and a lipo-PGE1 (n=6) group. Partial liver allotransplantation was performed. In the lipo-PGE1 group, lipo-PGE1 was slowly infused through splenic venous cannulation during the donor liver harvesting procedure (50 microgram) and continuously infused (60 microgram/day) for 48 hours after reperfusion. The AST, ALP, LDH and ET-1 concentrations were monitored RESULTS: The AST and ALP levels of the lipo-PGE1 group were significantly lower than those of the control group both at 1 hour and 48 hours after reperfusion. The LDH level in the lipo-PGE1 group was lower at 1 hour and 48 hours after reperfusion. But there was no statistical difference between the two groups. The baseline ET-1 concentration of the lipo-PGE1 group was eight times higher than that of the control group. The ET-1 concentration was elevated gradually in the control group. There was no significant difference between the two groups at 48 hours. There was no correlation between ET-1 concentrations and AST, ALP, LDH levels. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the hepatoprotective effect of the lipo-PGE1 against ischemia-reperfusion injury in canine partial liver allotransplantation. However, the baseline ET-1 level was eight times higher in the lipo-PGE1 group than that of the control group in spite of the hepatoprotective effects of the lipo-PGE1.

EFFECTS OF BONE ENGAGEMENT TYPE&IMPLANT LENGTH ON STRESS DISTRIBUTION: A THREE DIMENSIONAL FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS / 대한치과보철학회지

A finite element analysis has been utilized to analyze stress and strain fields and design a new configuration in orthopedics and implant dentistry. Load transfer and stress analysis at implant bone interface are important factors from treatment planning to long term success. Bone configuration and quality are different according to anatomy of expecting implantation site. The purpose of this study was to compare the stress distribution in maxilla and mandible according to implant length and bone engagement types. A three dimensional axi-symmetric implant model(Nobel Biocare, Gothenburg, Sweden) with surrounding cortical and cancellous bone were designed to analyzed the effects of bone engagement and implant length on stress distribution ANSYS 5.5 finite element program was utilized as an interpreting tool. Three cases of unicortical anchorage model with 7, 10, 13mm length and four cases of bicortical anchorage model with 5, 7, 10 and 13mm lenght were compared both maxillary and mandibular single implant situatiion. Within the limits of study, following conclusions were drawn. 1. There is difference in stress distribution according to cortical and cancellous bone thickness and shape. 2. Maximum stress was shown at the top of cortical bone area regardless of bone engagement types. 3. Bicortical engagement showed less stress accumulation when compared to unicortical case overall. 4. Longer the implant fixture length, less the stress on cortical bone area, however there is no difference in mandibular bicortical engagement case.

Clinical Investigation of 11 Cases of Chronic Eosinophilic Pneumonia Reported in Korea / 결핵

BACKGROUND: Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia(CEP) presents with profound systemic symptoms, including fever, malaise, night sweats, weight loss, and anorexia together with localized pulmonary manifestations such as cough, wheeze, and sputum. It is an illness occurring predominantly in women. The chest radiogragh shows fluffy opacities that often have a characteristic peripheral configuration. The hallmark of CEP is the peripheral blood eosinophilia and a prompt response to oral corticosteroid therapy. We investigated characteristics of eleven patients of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, reported in Korea. METHOD: There were eleven reports of CEP from 1980 to 1996, including three cases experienced in our hospital. The journals were analysed in respects of clinical history, laboratory, and radiographic findings. RESULTS: 1) Male vs. female ratio is 3 : 8. The peak incidence occurred in forty and fifty decades. The atopic diseases were present in 6 cases. Asthma was the commonest manifestation. 2) The presenting symptoms were as follows: cough, dyspnea, sputum, weight loss, fever, general weakness, night sweats, urticaria with the descending incidence. 3) Peripheral blood eosinophilia was present in all patients(mean; 38.4%) and serum Ig E level was elevated in nine patients(mean; 880IU/ml). CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia is based on classic symptoms, including fever, night sweats, weight loss with a typical roentgenogram of peripheral pulmonary infiltrates and peripheral blood eosinophilia, and that is confimed by lung biopsy and/or bronchoalveolar lavage. Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia is responsive to corticosteroid promptly and recommended at least 6 months of therapy to prevent relapse.

Relationship between Bronchial Sensitivity and Bronchial Reactivity in Asthma / 결핵

BACKGROUND: Airway hyperreponsiveness is a cardinal feature of asthma. It consists of both an increased sensitivity of the airways, as indicated by a smaller concentration of a constrictor agonist needed to initiate the brochoconstrictor response and an increased reactivity, increments in response induced subsequent doses of constrictor, as manifested by slopes of the dose-response curve. The purpose of this study is to observe the relationship between bronchial sensitivity and reactivity in asthmatic subjects. METHOD: Inhalation dose-response curves using methacholine were plotted in 56 asthmatic subjects. They were divided into three groups(mild, moderate and severe) according to clinical severity of bronchial asthma. PC20 were determined from the dose-response curve as the provocative concentration of the agonist causing a 20% fall in FEV1. PC40 were presumed or determined from the dose response curve, using the PC20 and the one more dose after PC20. Reactivity was calculated from the dose-response curve regression line, connecting PC20 with PC40. RESULTS: PC20 were 1.83mg/ml in mild group, 0.96mg/ml in moderate, and 0.34mg/ml in severe. PC4O were 7.17mg/ml in mild group, 2.34mg/ml in moderate, and 0.75mg/mI in severe. Reactivity were 24.7+/-17.06 in mild group, 46.1+/-22.10 in moderate, and 59.0+/-5.82 in severe. There was significant negative correlation between PC2O and reactivity (r=-0.70, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Accordingly, there was significant negative correlation between bronchial sensitivity and brochial reactivity in asthmatic subjects. However, in some cases, there were wide variations in terms of the reactivity among the subjects who have similar sensitivity. So both should be assessed when the bronchial response tor bronchoconstrictor agonists is measured.