{"title":"Inhibitory effect of ethanol on voltage-dependent potassium currents in single aortic smooth muscle cells.","authors":"S. -. Wu, C. Chao","doi":"10.6452/KJMS.199509.0514","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.6452/KJMS.199509.0514","url":null,"abstract":"The effect of ethanol on voltage-dependent K+ currents was examined in single aortic smooth muscle cells. The aortic smooth muscle cells were isolated from guinea pigs. The tight-seal patch clamp technique in whole cell configuration was employed. Ethanol (500 mM) reversibly inhibited voltage-dependent transient outward K+ current, the spontaneous transient oscillatory K+ current (STOC) and steady-state K+ current, whereas ethanol (50 mM) did not produce any change in these K+ currents. When the peak-height amplitudes of STOC were analyzed, the application of ethanol (50 mM) was noted to produce significant inhibition on both amplitude and frequency of STOC evoked at the holding potential of +10 mV. The results shown in the present study indicate that ethanol-induced inhibition of the voltage-dependent K+ channel, which is not required for the elicitation of either GTP-binding protein(s) or inositol triphosphate, may contribute to its vasoconstrictor effect because the inhibition of the voltage-dependent K+ channel may lead to the increase of cell excitability in vascular smooth muscle.","PeriodicalId":12495,"journal":{"name":"Gaoxiong yi xue ke xue za zhi = The Kaohsiung journal of medical sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1995-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76405176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The relationship of alveolar permeability and pulmonary inflammation in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.","authors":"S. Tsai, C. Kao, S. Changlai, J. Lan, S. J. Wang","doi":"10.6452/KJMS.199509.0521","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.6452/KJMS.199509.0521","url":null,"abstract":"The alveolar epithelium permeability (AP) in 34 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was measured by Tc-99m DTPA radioaerosol inhalation lung scintigraphy. The degree of AP damage in SLE was represented as the slope of the time-activity curve from the dynamic lung imagings. The patients were divided into two subgroups according to the following two criteria. [A] clinical feature: they were separated as stable or flare stage; and [B] chest X-ray findings: they were separated as positive or negative results. Meanwhile, the quantitative Gallium-67 (Ga) lung scan was performed as Ga uptake index (GUI) to evaluate the severity of inflammation in the lungs in SLE. The results show that [1] there were no significant statistical differences in the degree of AP damage between the two subgroups according to clinical features or chest X-ray findings, and [2] no good correlation between the degree of AP damage and inflammation of the lungs was found. In conclusion, the change of AP in SLE may be a mechanism not related to the presentation of clinical features or chest X-ray findings, and the degree of AP damage in SLE is not related to the severity of pulmonary inflammation.","PeriodicalId":12495,"journal":{"name":"Gaoxiong yi xue ke xue za zhi = The Kaohsiung journal of medical sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1995-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87400778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The physiologic and pathologic roles of Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein in urinary system.","authors":"C. Yu, C. Tsai","doi":"10.6452/KJMS.199509.0481","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.6452/KJMS.199509.0481","url":null,"abstract":"Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein (THG), a unique renal glycoprotein, is synthesized exclusively by the epithelial cells of the thick ascending loop of Henle and early segment of distal convoluted tubules. The protein is the primary constituent of urinary hyaline cast. The aggregation and gel formation of THG in response to increasing concentrations of electrolytes and low pH within physiologic ranges may affect the permeability of water in this segment. The dual effect of THG on mononuclear cells renders the molecule to become a potent immunomodulator. The cytokine-binding activity of THG lets the kidney an important tissue for cytokine catabolism. The aggregation characteristics of THG also plays a role in pathologic states and leads to the persistence of interstitial deposits in several tubulointerstitial diseases. The induction of immune responses to this protein, including urinary tract infection, reflux nephropathy chronic active hepatic damage, elicites immune complex tubulointerstitial nephritis. It is expected that the detection of THG or its antibodies may aid in the diagnosis of renal tubular disorders.","PeriodicalId":12495,"journal":{"name":"Gaoxiong yi xue ke xue za zhi = The Kaohsiung journal of medical sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1995-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83198467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Inhibitory effect of ethanol on voltage-dependent potassium currents in single aortic smooth muscle cells.","authors":"S N Wu, C T Chao","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The effect of ethanol on voltage-dependent K+ currents was examined in single aortic smooth muscle cells. The aortic smooth muscle cells were isolated from guinea pigs. The tight-seal patch clamp technique in whole cell configuration was employed. Ethanol (500 mM) reversibly inhibited voltage-dependent transient outward K+ current, the spontaneous transient oscillatory K+ current (STOC) and steady-state K+ current, whereas ethanol (50 mM) did not produce any change in these K+ currents. When the peak-height amplitudes of STOC were analyzed, the application of ethanol (50 mM) was noted to produce significant inhibition on both amplitude and frequency of STOC evoked at the holding potential of +10 mV. The results shown in the present study indicate that ethanol-induced inhibition of the voltage-dependent K+ channel, which is not required for the elicitation of either GTP-binding protein(s) or inositol triphosphate, may contribute to its vasoconstrictor effect because the inhibition of the voltage-dependent K+ channel may lead to the increase of cell excitability in vascular smooth muscle.</p>","PeriodicalId":12495,"journal":{"name":"Gaoxiong yi xue ke xue za zhi = The Kaohsiung journal of medical sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1995-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"18483595","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
P. Kuo, H. J. Liu, J. Chen, R. Wu, S. J. Lin, J. Chang
{"title":"Application of natural and amplification-created restriction sites in prenatal and preimplantation diagnosis of beta-thalassemia.","authors":"P. Kuo, H. J. Liu, J. Chen, R. Wu, S. J. Lin, J. Chang","doi":"10.6452/KJMS.199509.0496","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.6452/KJMS.199509.0496","url":null,"abstract":"We attempted the strategy of natural and amplification-created restriction sites for early prenatal and preimplantation diagnosis of Chinese beta-thalassemia. Mutagenesis primers were designed for 11 mutations reported for the Chinese population. The diagnosis was established after polymerase chain reaction and digestion of products by specific enzymes. The results were confirmed by direct sequencing of enzymatically amplified double-stranded DNA. The beta-globin gene was amplified from triploid embryos and isolated blastomeres using mismatched primers. The mutant and normal alleles can be distinguished clearly by this new method. Early prenatal diagnosis was successfully achieved in 9 cases. The beta-globin gene was successfully amplified from single blastomeres and tripronuclear embryos with mismatched primers. Natural and amplification-created restriction sites are a reliable method for rapid prenatal diagnosis of beta-thalassemia. Furthermore, the strategy provides a possible approach for the preimplantation diagnosis of beta-thalassemia.","PeriodicalId":12495,"journal":{"name":"Gaoxiong yi xue ke xue za zhi = The Kaohsiung journal of medical sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1995-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90255378","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"[The incidence and mortality rates of head injuries in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan (1991-1992)].","authors":"C L Chen, S L Howng","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Head injury is a leading cause of mortality, morbidity and disability in Taiwan. This study was based on data from the investigation of head injuries in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, during the period July 1, 1991 to June 30, 1992. The 3729 cases identified represented an overall incidence rate of 267/100,000--359/100,000 for males and 170/100,000 for females. The highest incidence rate was seen in the elderly group, followed by the 20-29 year age group. The population with the highest risk was males aged 20-29 years, with an incidence rate of 585/100,000. Seventy percent of all cases were from motor vehicle-related causes, followed by falls (15.3%) and assaults (8.7%). Of the motor vehicle-related head injuries, 70.9% resulted from motorcycle accidents. The incidence rate of motor vehicle head injuries was 188/100,000--248/100,000 for males and 125/100,000 for females. At all ages motor vehicle head injuries were higher in males than in females. Mortality rates from head injuries were 26/100,000--38/100,000 for males and 14/100,000 for females. The overall case fatality rate was 10%, and 61% of all deaths occurred prior to hospitalization. The case fatality rate was highest in older age groups. Initial clinical assessment was recorded using the Glasgow Coma Scale. Eighty-one percent of the cases were considered mild, and 19% moderate to severe in degree including 367 deaths. The males and the aged not only had a higher incidence of head injuries but also had a higher proportion of more severe ones. These findings indicate that head injuries are nonrandom and likely to occur in certain types of individuals under certain circumstances.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)</p>","PeriodicalId":12495,"journal":{"name":"Gaoxiong yi xue ke xue za zhi = The Kaohsiung journal of medical sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1995-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"18484331","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: a case report.","authors":"M. Lin, J. Hwang, I. Chong, M. Tsai","doi":"10.6452/KJMS.199508.0443","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.6452/KJMS.199508.0443","url":null,"abstract":"Aspergillus-associated pulmonary diseases are aspergilloma, invasive aspergillosis, and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is caused by a complex of immunologic reactions to the presence of the Aspergillus species colonizing the bronchial trees. The disease is not common in Taiwan. The major diagnostic criteria for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis are 1) bronchial asthma, 2) pulmonary infiltration, 3) peripheral eosinophilia, 4) positive skin test to Aspergillus fumigatus, 5) serum precipitin to Aspergillus fumigatus, 6) elevated serum Ig E, and 7) central bronchiectasis. We report a case who has had a chronic asthmatic-like cough for 5 years. He worked in a silo for two years before he was troubled by the disease. He was admitted to hospitals four times in the past, and received five bronchoscopic examinations and one open lung biopsy without definite diagnosis. Sputum eosinophilia directed our attention to the differentiation of eosinophilic lung diseases. A bronchogram which revealed central brochiectasis helped us to make the diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, despite negative sputum culture for Aspergillus fumigatus and negative serum precipitin to Aspergillus fumigatus.","PeriodicalId":12495,"journal":{"name":"Gaoxiong yi xue ke xue za zhi = The Kaohsiung journal of medical sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1995-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80745236","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S C Tsai, C H Kao, D Y Pan, S P ChangLai, S J Wang
{"title":"Effects of oral erythromycin on esophageal motility in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.","authors":"S C Tsai, C H Kao, D Y Pan, S P ChangLai, S J Wang","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fifteen patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) were included in the study. Esophageal motility, including esophageal mean transit time (MTT), residual fraction (RF), and retrograde index (RI), was evaluated and calculated by the radionuclide esophageal transit test (RETT). The baseline study was performed before the oral erythromycin therapy. After a 2-week course treatment, the subjects underwent a second study. The results showed that (A) in the baseline study, 93% (14/15) of NIDDM patients had a longer MTT, 67% (10/15) had a higher RF and 80% (12/15) had a higher RI; and (B) after treatment with erythromycin, 73% (11/15) of the patients had a shorter MTT and a lower RF, and 60% (9/15) of the patients had a lower RI. We conclude that (1) most of the NIDDM patients had esophageal motility disorders and (2) a 2-week oral erythromycin therapy can improve diabetic esophagoparesis, as evaluated by non-invasive REET.</p>","PeriodicalId":12495,"journal":{"name":"Gaoxiong yi xue ke xue za zhi = The Kaohsiung journal of medical sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1995-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"18677851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"[Assessing the effect of health belief, knowledge, and social support on compliance behaviors in chronic hemodialysis patients].","authors":"C C Lin, N Y Ko, L C Tsai, C H Chen","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of hemodialysis patients' health belief, knowledge on uremia, and social support upon their compliance behavior. The convenience sample of 330 hemodialysis (HD) patients was obtained at HD centers in southern Taiwan. With the use of a questionnaire developed by the researcher, all subjects were interviewed during hemodialysis. Data analyses were processed by a personal computer with SPSS/PC. Pearson correlation, ANOVA, chi-square, multiple regression and factor analysis were selected as the analysis methods for this study. The results indicated: (1) The average overall rate of compliance was 72.1% by patient self report for fluid limit, diet restriction and taking PBM. (2) Two factors of subject's health belief were identified by factor analysis. (3) Those who had more positive motivation for compliance with therapeutic regiments, more knowledge on uremia and stronger social support were positively correlated with compliance behaviors. (4) The best predictive variables of compliance behaviors of HD patients included positive motivation, knowledge on uremia, educational level, current daily urine amount and age; these five variables explained 23% of variance in compliance behaviors. (5) The instruments with a satisfactory validity and reliability developed by the researcher could provide a valuable basis for relevant future research. Implications of these findings for nursing practice are also discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":12495,"journal":{"name":"Gaoxiong yi xue ke xue za zhi = The Kaohsiung journal of medical sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1995-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"18678467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effect of coffee on solid-phase gastric emptying in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia.","authors":"L M Chang, G H Chen, C S Chang, H C Lien, C H Kao","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of coffee on solid phase gastric emptying in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD). Twenty-one NUD patients with an endoscopic negative finding or superficial gastritis were included in this study. Radionuclide labeled solid meals were used to assess the gastric emptying times (GET) of the stomach. A control meal was composed of radionuclide solid meal and 500ml 5% of glucose water. The study meal was made from addition of 4g of instant coffee into the control meal. Of the 21 total cases, 1 demonstrated prolonged GET, 6 had shortened GET, and the other 14 showed no significant difference in GET. There were no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) between the control and the study meal after coffee intake. Our data suggests that there may be some ingredient in coffee that promotes gastric motility, but this effect is counteracted by intestinal feedback, and the net effect is not significant.</p>","PeriodicalId":12495,"journal":{"name":"Gaoxiong yi xue ke xue za zhi = The Kaohsiung journal of medical sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1995-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"18677850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}