• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.377-387
• /
• 2000

There are a few tanycytes between the general ependymal cells lining the ependymal layer of the brain ventricle. These cells are considered as modified ependymal cells which possess a long basal process. Tanycytes are known to have an ability to communicate by absorbing substances from cerebrospinal fluid and transporting them to the blood vessels and/or to the neurons in the CNS. The third and fourth ventricular tanycytes were mainly studied as subjects but it's rare to find reports about the tanycytes of the area postrema. Glial fibrillary acidic protein is an intermediate filament protein that is expressed especially in astrocytes of the CNS. But GFAP is also found in filament of the tanycytes and its process. Therefore this study was carried out for the examination of the GFAP immunoreactive tanycytes lining the area postrema of the bat, and we also examined the ultrastructure of tanycytes using electron microscope. GFAP immunoreactive tanycytes were located in the caudal portion of the fourth ventricle, and especially mainly in the transitional zone between the floor of the caudal fourth ventricle and ependymal layer lining the area postrema. A few GFAP immunoreactive tanycytes were also found in the ependymal layer lining the area postrema, and some groups of tanycytes were found in the ependymal layer of the area postrema near the floor of the caudal fourth ventricle , The processes of tanycytes were stained deeply with anti-GFAP antibody. Especially the GFAP immunoreactive tanycytes lining the area postrema had very long processes that cross the whole width of the area postrema. In the electron microscope, the cell body of ependymal tanycyte was located on the ependymal layer and had a long basal process. Intermediate filaments were observed around the nucleus and well developed in the process of tanycrte. Longitudinal oriented long mitochondria and a few lipid droplets were also found in this process. After immunocytocheical staining, the gold particles were found only in the intermediate filaments. We could not determine the function of the tanycytes in the area postrema. Thus, further investigation is required to determine the functional relationship between the tanycytes and the area postrema in hibernating animal, the bat.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.59-71
• /
• 1984

To explore the regulatory roles of CNS on the renal function, clonidine, a specific presynaptic ${\alpha}-adrenoceptor$ agonist, was administered into a lateral ventricle of the brain (icv) and the changes of renal function were studies in urethane-anesthetized rabbits. $5{\mu}g/kg$ icv elicited no significant changes in renal function. However, $15{\mu}g/kg$ induced marked natriuresis and kaliuresis for 20 min. Neither RPF nor GFR changed significantly. The fractional sodium reabsorption was significantly reduced, indicating that the renal action was of the tubular origin. Changes of systemic blood pressure were not contributory to the renal action. Yohimbine, a specific antagonist for presynaptic ${\alpha}-adrenoceptor$, when given icv in doses of $100{\mu}g/kg$ 20 min prior to clonidine, completely abolished the renal action of icv clonidine. Yohimbine icv did not produce any significant changes in renal function. Intravenous clonidine, $15{\mu}g/kg$, elicited antidiuresis and decrement of renal function immediately after administration, followed by a slight tendency toward natriuresis, but no natriuresis corresponding to those seen after the icv clonidine were observed, indicating that in the renal action of icv clonidine no direct action is involved. These observations indicate that the central sympathetic tone plays a role in the regulation of renal function in the rabbit.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.50 no.11
• /
• pp.1055-1060
• /
• 2007

Right-sided heart failure is a major problem among patients with congenital heart diseases, due to the prevalence of congenital heart defects and the association of pulmonary hypertension. More attention is focused on the structure of the right heart particularly in association with congenital heart defects and chronic lung disease. The right ventricle (RV) may support the pulmonary circulation, and sometimes the systemic circulation (systemic RV) in congenital heart defects. Despite major progress being made, assessing the RV remains challenging, often requiring a multi-imaging approach and expertise (echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear and cineangiography). Evidence is accumulating that RV dysfunction develops in many of these patients and leads to considerable morbidity and mortality. While there is extensive literature on the pathophysiology and treatment of left heart failure, the data for right-sided heart failure is scarce. Therefore RV function in certain groups of congenital heart disease patients needs close surveillance and timely and appropriate intervention to optimise outcomes. An understanding of RV physiology and hemodynamics will lead to a better understanding of current and future treatment strategies for right heart failure. This will review right-sided heart failure with the implications of volume and pressure loading of the RV in congenital heart diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.16 no.2 s.27
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 1980

As it has been reported that morphine induce antidiuresis, and antinatriuresis along with decrease in renal hemodynamics when given intracerebroventricularly[ivt], the renal action of nalorphine, a partial antagonist of morphine action, and its influence upon the morphine action were investigated in this study. $10{\mu}g/kg$ of nalorphine given into the lateral ventricle of the rabbit brain tended to decrease renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate and increase the reabsorption of free water in the tubules. $100{\mu}g/kg$ ivt significantly decreased urine flow rate and increased free water reabsorption, and tended to increase electrolyte excretion in spite of decrease in renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration, suggesting that ADH also involved in the antidiuresis. Morphine hydrochloride, $10{\mu}g/kg$, ivt, produced marked decrement in renal hemodynamics along with decreased excretions of sodium, potassium and water, and these morphine actions were alleviated by nalorphine given 20 min later. The natriuretic action of ivt nalorphine manifested itself uninfluenced by the morphine. These observations indicate that nalorphine ivt produces renal actions similar to those of morphine, though less potent, and that it can antagonize the latter action. It is suggested that morphine influences renal hemodynamics through nerve by stimulating the 'morphine receptor' in the brain, whereas nalorphine liberates ADH by the agonistic action on the 'nalorphine receptor'.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.55 no.4
• /
• pp.221-225
• /
• 2015

This study evaluated the effects of alfaxalone (3 mg/kg, intravenously) on echocardiographic examination in healthy dogs using echocardiography. Six adult Beagle dogs were used for this study. Left ventricular dimensions with systolic indexes, trans-blood flow at all cardiac valvular annulus and trans-mitral tissue Doppler values were measured from routine transthoracic echocardiography. Although the changes were not statistically significant, heart rate, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, peak velocities of tricuspid A-wave and transpulmonic flow were increased after alfaxalone induction, while systolic blood pressure, fractional shortening, left ventricular ejection fraction, peak velocities of mitral E-wave, mitral A wave, tricuspid E-wave, transaortic flow and medial e'-, a'- and s'-peaks decreased after alfaxalone induction. No dogs showed hypoxemia during sedation, regardless of intubation and oxygen supply. Although alfaxalone showed mild cardiovascular depression, this protocol could be a good alternative sedative protocol for echocardiographic examination in healthy dogs because the cardiovascular depression was statistically and clinically insignificant. However, further studies in dogs with heart diseases should be conducted to confirm these findings after alfaxalone induction.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.55 no.1
• /
• pp.47-52
• /
• 2015

The purpose of this study was to determine if contrast media would enhance visualization of the endocardium for assessment of left ventricle (LV) function. In addition, differences between pre- and post-contrast evaluation for the cardiac output measurements including the modified Simpson's method and automated contour tracking (ACT) method were examined. Ten clinically healthy adult beagle dogs (three males and seven females) between 2~3 years old and weighing 6.6~10.8 kg were used. Echocardiographic examinations were performed to compare pre- and post-contrast LV endocardium visualization using a segmental scoring method. Two different methods for measuring cardiac output were also compared. LV visualization was significantly enhanced in post-contrast echocardiography (p < 0.01). Significant differences between pre- and post-contrast measurements for the modified Simpson's method (p < 0.05) were also observed. No significant difference was found for the ACT method. Contrast echocardiography provides better LV chamber opacification and significantly improves wall segment visualization. Furthermore, contrast echocardiography for measuring cardiac output is helpful for the modified Simpson's method.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.356-360
• /
• 2018

The fermentation of medicinal herbs facilitated by microbes is assumed to exert promising therapeutic efficacy on the absorption, bioavailability, and pharmacological effects by speeding up the making or conversion of active constituents into their metabolites. We examined the cardioprotective potential of fermented ginseng, GBCK25, against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic and functional illnesses as following the essential analysis such as electrocardiographic parameters, alterations of body and organ weights, and echocardiographic studies. The results exhibited that body weights were significantly reduced and the gain of different organ weights were partly eased by GBCK25 treatment. Echocardiography results proposed the amelioration of heart function through normalized levels of left ventricle systolic pressure, ejection fraction, and fractional shortening. These outcomes deliver straight confirmation that GBCK25 could be a potential nutraceutical source for the relief of HFD-induced obesity mediated cardiac dysfunctions.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.24 no.12
• /
• pp.1200-1220
• /
• 2023

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the most common types of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. DCM is characterized by left ventricle (LV) dilatation and systolic dysfunction without coronary artery disease or abnormal loading conditions. DCM is not a single disease entity and has a complex historical background of revisions and updates to its definition because of its diverse etiology and clinical manifestations. In cases of LV dilatation and dysfunction, conditions with phenotypic overlap should be excluded before establishing a DCM diagnosis. The differential diagnoses of DCM include ischemic cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease, burned-out hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, and non-compaction. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is helpful for evaluating DCM because it provides precise measurements of cardiac size, function, mass, and tissue characterization. Comprehensive analyses using various sequences, including cine imaging, late gadolinium enhancement imaging, and T1 and T2 mapping, may help establish differential diagnoses, etiological work-up, disease stratification, prognostic determination, and follow-up procedures in patients with DCM phenotypes. This article aimed to review the utilities and limitations of CMR in the diagnosis and assessment of DCM.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2008

Background: The Damus-Kaye-Stansel (DKS) procedure is a proximal MPA-ascending aorta anastomosis used to relieve systemic ventricular outflow tract obstructions (SVOTO) and pulmonary hypertension. The purpose of this study was to review the indications and outcomes of the DKS procedure, including the DKS pathway and semilunar valve function. Material and Method: A retrospective review of 28 patients who underwent a DKS procedure between May 1994 and April 2006 was performed. The median age at operation was 5.3 months ($13\;days{\sim}38.1\;months$) and body weight was 5.0 kg ($2.9{\sim}13.5\;kg$). Preoperative pressure gradients were $25.3{\pm}15.7\;mmHg$ ($10{\sim}60\;mmHg$). Eighteen patients underwent a preliminary pulmonary artery banding as an initial palliation. Preoperative main diagnoses were double outlet right ventricle in 9 patients, double inlet left ventricle with ventriculoarterial discordance in 6,. another functional univentricular heart in 5, Criss-cross heart in 4, complete atrioventricular septal defect in 3, and hypoplastic left heart variant in 1. DKS techniques included end-to-side anastomosis with patch augmentation in 14 patients, classical end-to-side anastomosis in 6, Lamberti method (double-barrel) in 3, and others in 5. The bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt and Fontan procedure were concomitantly performed in 6 and 2 patients, respectively. Result: There were 4 hospital deaths (14.3%), and 3 late deaths (12.5%) with a follow-up duration of $62.7{\pm}38.9$ months ($3.3{\sim}128.1$ months). Kaplan-Meier estimated actuarial survival was $71.9%{\pm}9.3%$ at 10 years. Multivariate analysis showed right ventricle type single ventricle (hazard ratio=13.960, p=0.004) and the DKS procedure as initial operation (hazard ratio=6.767, p=0.042) as significant mortality risk factors. Four patients underwent staged biventricular repair and 13 received Fontan completion. No SVOTO was detected after the procedure by either cardiac catheterization or echocardiography except in one patient. There was no semiulnar valve regurgitation (>Gr II) or semilunar valve-related reoperation, but one patient (3.6%) who underwent classical end-to-side anastomosis needed reoperation for pulmonary artery stenosis caused by compression of the enlarged DKS pathway. The freedom from reoperation for the DKS pathway and semilunar valve was 87.5% at 10 years after operation. Conclusion: The DKS procedure can improve the management of SVOTO, and facilitate the selected patients who are high risk for biventricular repair just after birth to undergo successful staged biventricular repair. Preliminary pulmonary artery banding is a safe and effective procedure that improves the likelihood of successful DKS by decreasing pulmonary vascular resistance. The long-term outcome of the DKS procedure for semilunar valve function, DKS pathway, and relief of SVOTO is satisfactory.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.39-45
• /
• 1986

Resting gated blood pool scan was used to derive left ventricular functional changes in normals (N=13, mean age=43) and in patients with coronary artery disease (N=50, mean age=53). Peak filling rates, average filling rates, and ejection fractions were significantly depressed in coronary artery disease. (p<0.0005, each other). And in coronary artery disease with normal ejection fraction (N=21), peak filling rates and average filling rates were depressed also, and peak filling rates of coronary artery disease with normal ejection fraction were abnormal in 61.2% and average fillin rates were abnormal in 71.4%. It appears that (1) resting peak filling rates and average filling rates were sensitive and easily obtainable parameters of the diastolic dysfunction assosiated with coronary artery disease, (2) a significant proportion of coronary artery disease patients without any evidence of abnormal systolic function have depressed resting peak filling rates and average filling rates of the left ventricle.