Synergistic effects of sildenafil on relaxation of rabbit and rat cavernosal smooth muscles when combined with various vasoactive agents.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate which vasoactive agents have synergistic effects on the cavernosal smooth muscles of rabbits and rats when the agents are combined with sildenafil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relaxation responses of cavernosal smooth muscle to single agents (phentolamine, moxisylyte, sodium nitroprusside, forskolin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, VIP, papaverine and sildenafil) in the rabbit, and prostaglandin-E1 and sildenafil in the rat, and to combinations of each agent plus sildenafil, were assessed in vitro. The response to sildenafil of the rabbit strips with and without incubation with l-arginine (1 mmol/L) for 20 min was also evaluated. The effective concentrations for a half-maximal response of single agents and combination solutions were compared. RESULTS: All single agents induced concentration-dependent relaxation of the rabbit and rat cavernosal smooth muscles. There was significant synergism on rabbit cavernosal smooth muscle when the sildenafil was combined with forskolin, sodium nitroprusside, VIP or phentolamine. There was also significant synergism with sildenafil plus prostaglandin-E1 in rat cavernosal muscles. There were no synergistic effects of combinations of sildenafil plus moxisylyte, papaverine or l-arginine. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest potentially effective combined therapies of sildenafil and intraurethral or intracavernosal prostaglandin-E1, intracavernosal forskolin or VIP, or oral phentolamine for patients with erectile dysfunction who have no success after monotherapy with these agents.     

Epiduroscopy in patients with chronic low back pain without remarkable findings on magnetic resonance imaging]

Two patients with chronic low back pain and sciatica failed to respond to conservative treatments. In these patients, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed no remarkable findings corresponding to their symptoms. We treated these patients using epiduroscopy. Epiduroscopic visualization of the spinal canal permits efficient adhesiolysis and irrigation. One patient got better after two epiduroscopic procedures, and the other did not. Epiduroscopy may be an effective, minimally invasive treatment as well as examination for patients with chronic low back pain without remarkable findings on MRI.     

Case report of CABG for progressive coronary artery stenosis after 22-year history of Kawasaki disease

More than 30 years has passed since Kawasaki disease was recognized as an independent disease entity, but the cardiovascular complications of Kawasaki disease are still not well known. We report an 22-year-old woman who underwent triple coronary artery bypass grafting because of a coronary artery aneurysm and multiple coronary artery stenoses, 22 years after the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease. A 2 cm coronary artery aneurysm due to Kawasaki disease was diagnosed when she was 10 years old, when she first presented with the symptom of dyspnea on effort. Since then, she was followed at the outpatient clinic. When she was 19 years old, the first coronary catheterization was performed. Two years later, the second coronary catheterization revealed progression of coronary artery disease. Therefore, coronary artery bypass grafting was performed. This case is rare from the point of view of long-term progression of coronary artery disease.     

Effects of the frequency of ostomy management reinforcement education on self-care knowledge,self-efficacy,and ability of stoma appliance change among Korean hospitalised ostomates

Patients who undergo stoma surgery experience difficulties in adapting physically and psychologically. The priority is to support them in learning self-care for successful rehabilitation and psychosocial adaption to a new life. In order to do this, it is important to provide ostomates with repetitive reinforcement education on self-care in a continuous and individual manner, not just to increase knowledge or perform related skills. This study aims to evaluate the effects of ostomy management reinforcement education (OMRE) in ostomates and to identify the optimal frequency of reinforcement education using an equivalent control group post-test design. Participants were 60 ostomates admitted to a university hospital after ostomy formation surgery, and they were randomly assigned to a control and two experimental groups of this study. The OMRE was given to the control group (n = 20), experimental group 1 (n = 20), and experimental group 2 (n = 20) once, twice, and three times, respectively. Participants' self-care knowledge, self-efficacy, and ability of stoma appliance change were evaluated before and after the OMRE. Major results of this study were as follows: the self-care knowledge score of post-test was higher than the pretest in the control, experimental 1, and experimental two groups (P < 0.001). The self-efficacy score of post-test was higher than the pretest in the control, experimental 1, and experimental 2 groups (P < 0.001). The self-care knowledge score according to the frequency of OMRE did not differ among the control, experimental 1, and experimental 2 groups (F = 1.921, P = 0.156). The self-efficacy score according to the frequency of OMRE was significantly different between the control and experimental groups (F = 8.616, P = 0.001), but there was no difference between the experimental 1 and experimental 2 groups (Scheffe's post-hoc analysis: a < b, c). The ability of stoma appliance change score according to the frequency of OMRE was significantly different between the control and experimental groups (F = 49.546, P < 0.001), but there was no difference between the experimental 1 and experimental 2 groups (Scheffe's post-hoc analysis: a < b, c). Results of this study suggested that the OMRE was effective for promoting hospitalised ostomates' self-care knowledge, self-efficacy, and ability of stoma appliance change, and two sessions of the OMRE was the most effective. Findings of this study may be useful in planning education programmes designed to improve self-care ability for hospitalised ostomates.     

Vasoactive intestinal peptide decreases inflammation and tight junction disruption in experimental necrotizing enterocolitis

Background and PurposeExcessive inflammatory cell infiltration and accumulation in the intestinal mucosa are pathological features of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) leading to intestinal barrier disruption. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a potent anti-inflammatory agent that regulates intestinal epithelial barrier homeostasis. We previously demonstrated that VIP-ergic neuron expression is decreased in experimental NEC ileum, and this may be associated with inflammation and barrier compromise. We hypothesize that exogenous VIP administration has a beneficial effect in NEC.MethodsNEC was induced in C57BL/6 mice by gavage feeding, hypoxia, and lipopolysaccharide administration between postnatal day (P) 5 and 9. There were four studied groups: Control (n = 6): Breast feeding without stress factors; Control + VIP (n = 5): Breast feeding + intraperitoneal VIP injection once a day from P5 to P9; NEC (n = 9): mice exposed to NEC induction; NEC + VIP (n = 9): NEC induction + intraperitoneal VIP injection. Terminal ileum was harvested on P9. NEC severity, intestinal inflammation, (IL-6 and TNFα), and Tight junctions (Claudin-3) were evaluated.ResultsNEC severity and intestinal inflammation were significantly decreased in NEC + VIP compared to NEC. Tight junction expression was significantly increased in NEC + VIP compared to NEC.ConclusionVIP administration has a beneficial therapeutic effect in NEC by reducing inflammation and tight junction disruption.     

Hesperidin Shows Protective Effects on Renal Function in Ischemia-induced Acute Kidney Injury (Sprague-Dawley Rats)

ObjectiveHesperidin is a well-known flavanone glycoside copiously found in sweet orange and lemon, which was recently reported to possess significant anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a major problem after renal transplantation. Furthermore, inflammatory responses to I/R exacerbate the resultant renal injury. In the present study, we investigated whether hesperidin exhibits renoprotective effects against I/R-induced acute kidney injury in a rat model.MethodsWe fed Sprague-Dawley rats either hesperidin (100 mg/kg/d) or saline. One week later, ischemia was induced by bilateral renal pedicle occlusion for 30 minutes followed by reperfusion. The rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, which were treated as follows: 1. the sham operated group; 2. the I/R group; 3. the I/R-hesperidin groupResultsCompared to the sham group, the I/R group had higher expression of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine and lower expression of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, antioxidants, and nitric oxide. Compared to the I/R group, the I/R-hesperidin group had higher expression of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, antioxidant, and nitric oxide and lower expression of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine.ConclusionsHesperidin improved acute renal I/R injury through its antioxidant effects. These findings suggest that hesperidin is a potential therapeutic agent for acute ischemia-induced renal damage.     

股骨近端锁定加压钢板治疗股骨转子间骨折

目的 探讨股骨近端锁定加压钢板（LCP）内固定治疗股骨转子间骨折的临床疗效.方法 采用股骨近端LCP治疗23例股骨转子间骨折的患者.随访观察骨折愈合时间,按Harris评分标准评价疗效.结果 23例均获随访,时间6~12（9±1.4）个月.骨折愈合时间14~20（17±1.7）周.髋关节Harris评分：优13例,良9例,一般1例.结论 股骨近端LCP内固定治疗股骨转子间骨折创伤小、出血少、对骨膜影响小,符合解剖形态,临床疗效满意.     

Malignant gastric outlet obstructions: treatment by means of coaxial placement of uncovered and covered expandable nitinol stents

PURPOSE: To assess whether coaxial placement of uncovered and covered expandable nitinol stents overcomes the disadvantages of the increased migration rate seen with covered stents and the tumor ingrowth seen in uncovered stents in the treatment of malignant gastric outlet obstructions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two types of expandable nitinol stent were designed: an uncovered stent and a covered stent. Under fluoroscopic guidance, the uncovered and covered stents were placed coaxially with complete overlap in 39 consecutive patients with malignant gastric outlet obstruction caused by stomach cancer. Food intake capacity was graded on a scale of 0-4. Stent patency rate was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Technical success rate was 97% (38 of 39 patients). After stent placement, food intake capacity improved at least one grade in 36 patients. Stent migration occurred in three patients (8%), that is, partial (n = 2) or complete (n = 1) upward migration of the inner covered stent into the stomach. Two of these patients were treated by placement of an additional covered stent. During the mean follow-up period of 134 days (range, 15-569 d), 10 patients developed recurrent symptoms of obstruction with tumor overgrowth being the most common cause. Nine underwent placement of an additional covered stent with good results. The median period of primary stent patency was 157 days (mean, 278 d). The 30-, 60-, and 180-day patency rates were 97%, 91%, and 39%, respectively. Four patients (10%) died within 1 month after the procedure. CONCLUSION: Coaxial stent placement technique seems to contribute to decreasing the migration rate of the stent and decrease the rate of recurrent obstruction by preventing or delaying tumor ingrowth.     

The leftward deletion alpha-thal-2 haplotype in a black subject with hemoglobin SS

We have identified a black individual with homozygous sickle cell anemia who is the silent carrier of alpha-thalassemia (genotype - alpha/alpha alpha) due to heterozygosity for the leftward deletion alpha-thal-2 haplotype. This deletion has not been described previously in a black subject and is the only leftward deletion that we have found among 255 alpha-thal-2 chromosomes from sickle cell subjects. Its effects on the clinical, hematologic, biosynthetic, and cellular pathology of sickle cell anemia resemble those reported for the common alpha-thalassemia genotypes of the black population.