Relation of QT-interval variability to ventricular arrhythmias during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

The present study investigated the role of the dispersion of QT interval in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)-induced ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Patients with effort angina without a previous myocardial infarction (n = 22), who had single-vessel disease of the anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), underwent PTCA if the coronary lesion was 75% or more stenosed in segment 6 or 7 of the LAD. The standard 12-lead ECG was continuously recorded during the procedure. Averaged QTc and QTac intervals, where QTac was the interval from the beginning of QRS complex to the nadir of T wave corrected by Bazett's formula, did not change significantly during PTCA. Of the 22 patients, 7 showed ventricular arrhythmias during PTCA. The maximum difference (deltaQTc) and the standard deviation (QTcSD) of the corrected QT interval in the standard 12-lead ECG increased significantly during PTCA in the 7 patients with ventricular arrhythmias, whereas they decrreased in the 15 patients without ventricular arrhythmias. deltaQTac and QTacSD were not affected by PTCA regardless of ventricular arrhythmias, which shows that the increases in the variation of the ventricular repolarization process play a role in PTCA-induced ventricular arrhythmias.     

Vertical root fracture treated by bonding fragments and rotational replantation

Abstract – These case reports describe a new treatment method for complete vertical root fractures. This method is composed of two steps. First, the fractured tooth is intentionally extracted atraumatically, and then the separated fragments are bonded with an adhesive resin cement. The restored tooth is replanted by rotating approximately 180° into the original socket and fixing with an orthodontic wire. For both cases reported here, bone regeneration was observed at the 3-year follow-up. Since this modality adopts the respective advantages of both intentional replantation and adhesive treatment, it might be the treatment of choice in cases of vertical root fracture.     

Stimulatory effect of ginsenosides on DNA, protein and lipid synthesis in rat bone marrow and participation of cyclic nucleotides.

Effects of several kinds of ginsenosides, saponins from Panax ginseng on DNA, RNA, protein and lipid synthesis in bone marrow were investigated. Single i.p. injection of 0.5--1 mg/100 g body weight of ginsenosides Rb2, Rc, Re and Rg1 4 h prior to the sacrifice increased DNA synthesis in bone marrow cells. RNA, protein and lipid synthesis were also increased. The direct addition of ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2 and Rc mixture (GNS) enhanced DNA synthesis. Cyclic AMP levels in bone marrow cells were decreased 20 min after i.p. injection of ginsenosides Rb2, Rc and Rg1 and the direct addition of ginsenosides Rb2, Rc and Rg1 also decreased cyclic AMP levels. While cyclic GMP levels were increased by administration of ginsenosides Rb2, Re and Rg1. Relationship between chemical structure and actions of ginsenosides and the role of cyclic nucleotides in the stimulatory action of ginsenosides on DNA synthesis in bone marrow cells were discussed.     

Variant angina due to deficiency of intracellular magnesium by anorexia nervosa

A 51-year-old man who had a past history of gastric resection for medically uncontrollable gastric ulcer has loss of appetite that recurs periodically. And he has frequently presented spontaneous angina early in the morning since 1984. He was diagnosed as having variant angina by the documentation of typical ST elevation during anginal attack and also by showing coronary artery spasm (#2 and #12) during hyperventilation on coronary arteriography. A large quantity of calcium blocking agents and nitrates could not improve his symptoms. Lack of intracellular magnesium by loss of appetite was suspected from a daily excretion of urine magnesium (5.3 mEq) and magnesium tolerance test (56.7%). To confirm the effect of magnesium administration, the second coronary arteriography was performed. After magnesium sulphate (80 mEq, hourly) was injected, coronary artery spasm could not be induced by ergonovine. And orally magnesium oxide, calcium blocking agents and nitrates were started. Anginal attack disappeared with increasing urine magnesium.