• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.131-144
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• 1990

It is well known that the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) has a prepro-hormone of 151 amino-acids which loses their hydrophobic signal peptide to form 126 amino acid prohormone. The whole prohormone is released and then cleaved by proteases into more than one circulating forms. Recently, Winters et al. (1988a, b) reported that high concentrations of N-terminal fragments of prepro-ANP $(26{\sim}55),\;(56{\sim}92)\;and\;(104{\sim}123)$ were detected in human plasma. However, their physiological roles have not been established. The present study was conducted to determine whether the N-terminal fragments of pro-ANP have any effect on the renal function and to compare the effect with those of G-terminal fragments of pro-ANP The results indicate that intrarenal arterial infusions of prepro-ANP $(26{\sim}41),\;(26{\sim}55),\;(56{\sim}92)\;and\;(104{\sim}123)$ induced no significant changes in renal function. Whereas ${\alpha}-human$ ANP $(prepro-ANP,\;124{\sim}151)$ and pro-ANP caused a significant increase in urine volume, renal plasma flow, glomerular filtration rate, urinary excretions of sodium, chloride and potassium, and fractional excretion of sodium. These results suggest that the N-terminal fragments of pro-ANP are ineffective, while the C-terminal fragments retain the natriuretic and diuretic activities.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.478-480
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• 2017

A Cocker spaniel (7-year-old, female) was presented with one week of anorexia, halitosis, oral ulcer, intermittent vomiting, acute weight loss and 3-day history of oliguria. The patient was diagnosed with acute on chronic kidney disease and pancreatitis. Hemodialysis was continued three times a week (total 7 sessions) with improved clinical signs and kidney panel, but presented with another episode of abdominal distention, respiratory distress, and large bowel diarrhea. Echocardiography revealed nearly totally occlusive thrombus in the cranial vena cava, as well as a right atrial mass of approximately $2cm{\times}1cm$. The patient was treated with catheter removal, thrombolysis and anticoagulation therapy with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator. During anticoagulation therapy, size of atrial thrombus was not changed and heart function was not improved after treatment. Since clinical signs were deteriorated, the patient was euthanized by owner's request. Catheter-related giant thrombus in right atrium is a rare complication and treatment guideline for atrial thrombus does not exist. This case is first report of hemodialysis catheter-induced thrombus in Korea.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.609-612
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• 2004

Even though the Cox-Maze III procedure is the gold standard in the therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF) and its outcome is excellent, the complexity of the operation, longer cardiopulmonary bypass time and the risk of bleeding have tended to dissuade cardiac surgeons from its application. The recent data of the pathogenesis of AF and the development of alternative energy sources have facilitated the development of the modified Cox-Maze procedure rapidly. We reported that atrial fibrillation was conversed to sinus rhythm by the epicardial microwave ablation without cardiopulmonary bypass and the normal sinus rhythm was observed during 33 months of follow-up period.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.203-206
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• 2016

Patients with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) frequently suffer from pulmonary edema due to left ventricular dysfunction that accompanies left heart dilatation, which is caused by left atrial hypertension. The problem can be resolved by left atrium (LA) decompression. We performed a successful percutaneous LA decompression with an atrial septostomy and placement of an LA venting cannula in a 38-month-old child treated with venoarterial ECMO for acute myocarditis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.212-217
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• 2007

In atrial myocytes, lacking t-tubules, $Ca^{2+}$ current ($I_{Ca}$)-initiated $Ca^{2+}$ release at the peripheral junctional sites propagates into the interior of the cell by diffusion of $Ca^{2+}$. We have previously reported that time of activation of the central sites is independent of $I_{Ca}$. In the present study we have probed the effects of Bay K 8644 on $Ca^{2+}$ propagation wave to the center of the myocyte using rapid 2-D confocal $Ca^{2+}$ imaging in the rat atrial myocytes. Enhancement of $I_{Ca}$ by Bay K 8644 accelerated the rate of peripheral $Ca^{2+}$ release, but did not affect the speed of propagation of central release. In contrast, enhancement of $I_{Ca}$ by intracellular cAMP reduced the magnitude of peripheral and central $Ca^{2+}$ transients, but significantly accelerated the speed of central $Ca^{2+}$ release. Our data suggest that the speed of central $Ca^{2+}$ propagation triggered by $I_{Ca}$ is not regulated by the magnitude of either $I_{Ca}$ or local cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ releases.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 1996

Atrial Natriuretic Peptide(ANP) is a hormone with potent natriuretic, diuretic and relaxing properties of vascular smooth muscle. Specific chemical modulator responsible for the ANP secretion has not yet been found. Although atrial stretch of stretch-release is to be a major stimulus for the secretion of ANP, the precise mechano-molecular transduction mechanism responsible for its evoked secretion remains to be elucidated. It is interested to clarify the effect of superoxide anion in the stretch-induced ANP secretion. In order to investigate the effectg of $H_2O_2$ in the regulation of ANP secretion, a perfused model of left atrium of rats was used. The results obtained were as follows; 1. The ANP secretion and the extracellular fluid(ECF) translocation were accentuated by the effect of repetitive atrial distension-reduction volume at atrial pressure($4cmH_2O$). 2. The dilution curve showed to be in parallel between pure atriopeptin III (AP III) and perfusated buffer. 3. $H_2O_2(5{\times}10^{-4}M)$ accenturated a strectch-release induced increase of the ANP secretion. The amount of released ANP was significantly(p<0.01) increased. These results suggest that the superoxide anion may be involved in the regulatory mechanism of mechanically activated ANP release.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.239-243
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• 2009

Multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT) is a rare arrhythmia in the newborn. MAT can be difficult to diagnose; it is frequently confused with atrial fibrillation. MAT is difficult to treat but often resolves spontaneously within the first year of life. A newborn with a rapid and irregular pulse rate was diagnosed with multifocal atrial tachycardia by eletrocardiography (ECG) using a hand-made transesophageal electrode. Treatment with propranolol was attempted but ineffective. Treatment with digoxin and sotalol was attempted. The heart rhythm gradually reverted to a sinus rhythm with this treatment. We report our experience managing a neonate with MAT diagnosed by ECG using a hand-made transesophageal electrode.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2014

Background: Recently, a hybrid surgical-electrophysiological (EP) approach for confirming ablation lines in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) was suggested. The aim of this approach was to overcome the limitations of current surgery- and catheter-based techniques to yield better outcomes. Methods: Ten consecutive patients with AF underwent total thoracoscopic ablation (TTA) following transvenous catheter EP ablation (residual gap and cavotricuspid isthmus [CTI] ablation). Holter monitoring was performed 6 months postoperatively. Results: Ten patients (90% with persistent AF) underwent successful hybrid procedures, and there was no in-hospital mortality. An EP study was performed in 8 patients and showed that successful antral ablation in all pulmonary veins was achieved in 7 of them. The median follow-up duration was 7.63 months (range, 6.7 to 11.6 months). Nine patients underwent Holter monitoring 6 months postoperatively, and the results indicated an underlying sinus rhythm without AF, atrial flutter, or atrial tachycardia lasting more than 30 seconds in all of the patients. There was no recurrence of AF during follow-up. Conclusion: A hybrid approach that consists of TTA followed by transvenous catheter EP ablation (residual gap and CTI ablation) yielded excellent outcomes in our patient population. A hybrid approach should be considered in patients with a high risk of AF recurrence.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1 s.31
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• pp.329-335
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• 1996

Rehmannia Radix is a thick tuberous root about 3-6 cm diameter. The tuberous root is repared for medicine. The material in the fresh state is shengdihuang (生地黃). The material in the dried state is gandihuang (乾地黃). Shudihuang (熱地黃) is made by taking juicy roots, washing them in millet wine, steaming on a willow frame in a percelain vessel, drying, and resteaming and redrying nine times. The aim of this experiments was to investigate the effect of Rehmannia Radix Water extracts on the plasma renin activity and plasma levels of aldosterone and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in rats. The results of study were as follows: Plasma renin activity was not changed after administration of Rehmannia Radix water extracts. Plasma levels of aldosterone was decreased significantly after administration of Shudihuang (熱地黃) water extracts. Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide was increased significantly after administration of Shudihuang (熱地黃) water extracts.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.9-17
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• 1975

The adrenergic blocking activity and refractory period of cardiac muscle on isolated rabbit atria were measured after administration of Scutellaria. In rabbits and cats the antiarrhythmic action of Scutellaria on atrial and ventricular arrhythmias produced by epinephrine or ouabain was examined and also compared with that of propranolol and quinidine. The alcoholic extract of Scutellaria produced a marked decrease in heart rate and contractile amplitude of the isolated rabbit atria. Pretreatment with Scutellaria rendered the atria to fail to respond to epinephrine, indicating that this crude drug possesses an adrenergic blocking activity. The extract produced a marked prolongation of the refractory period of atrial muscle. The extract effectively abolished the spontaneous arrhythmia occurring in the isolated rabbit atria. As propranolol and quinidine it also suppressed the atrial arrhythmia induced by ouabain. The extract prevented, as propranolol and quinidine, the induction of ventricular arrhythmia arising from excessive dose of epinephrine in anesthetized rabbits and cats. With regard to the ventricular arrhythmia induced by a continuous infusion of ouabain, the alcoholic extract of Scutellaria exerted some suppressive effect in anesthetized rabbits but no effect on cats. From the above results, it may be concluded that Scutellaria is effective against atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. The antiarrhythmic effects of this drug may be the result of adrenergic beta receptor blocking and cardiac depressive activities including prolongation of the refractory period of cardiac muscle.