BACKGROUND: Cyclosporin A (CsA), a potent immunosuppressant, has been reported to be effective in the treatment of severe atopic dermatitis (AD). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and side-effects of CsA in Korean patients with severe AD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 16 patients with recalcitrant AD took CsA for at least 6 weeks. Among them, 11 patients were followed up for more than 16 weeks. Initial dose was 5mg/kg/day (maximum 300 mg/day) and the dose was reduced according to their therapeutic responses. SCORAD (Scoring AD) was used to evaluate clinical efficacy of CsA. During the 1st month of therapy, the therapeutic efficacy and side-effects were evaluated every 2weeks and after 1 month, every month. We checked blood pressure and laboratory abnormalities including liver function test, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr) and urinalysis at each visit in addition to observing clinical adverse effects. RESULTS: Significant reduction of SCORAD was noted in 15 patients after 6 weeks of CsA therapy. Only one patient stopped CsA therapy because of the elevation of blood pressure. Three patients showed albuminuria, which disappeared after CsA dose reduction. CONCLUSION: CsA can be used effectively and safely in severe Korean AD patients. Albuminuria seems to be a peculiar side-effect in Korean patients.
Albuminuria ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Creatinine ; Cyclosporine* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; Liver Function Tests ; Urinalysis

Aging of the population in industrialized countries, as a result of increased life expectancy, is known to be associated with an increased risk of dementia, especially Alzheimer's disease. Estrogen use by postmentopausal women has been reported to have favorable effects on health, cognitive function, and prevention of Alzheimer's disease in old age, which now represents a revitalized area of clinical research. And may investigator reported that estrogen promotes the growth and survival of cholinergic neurons and could decrease cerebral amyloid deposition, both of which may delay the onset or prevent Alzheimer's disease. But more propective studies are needed to establish the dose and duration of estrogen required to provide these benefits and to assess its safety in elderly postmentopausal women.
Aged ; Aging ; Alzheimer Disease* ; Cholinergic Neurons ; Dementia ; Developed Countries ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Humans ; Life Expectancy ; Plaque, Amyloid ; Research Personnel

No abstract available.
Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome*

BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of motor evoked potentials(MEP) by transcranial magnetic timulations(TMS) in acute stroke has not been well established. To determine the value of MEP as predictors of motor and functional recovery we examined correlations of neurophysiological measurements of central motor conduction time(CMCT) and functional assessments. METHOD: A longitudinal study was performed on 32 first-ever acute ischemic stroke patients. The cortical and cervical motor evoked potentials(MEPs) along with the degree of extremity weakness, the NIH stroke scale, and the Barthel index were performed in the period immediately following stroke and after 3-4 months of the onset. RESULTS: Five groups of patients were divided on the basis of MEP responses following the cortical stimulation; initial normal response following the normal one (group I; 11), initial delayed response following a normal or still delayed one (group II; 3/group III; 0), and an initial absent response with the reappearance of CMCT or still absent one (group IV; 8/group V; 10). Patients in group I,II and IV had consistently lower scores in motor weakness degree and NIH scale and higher scores in the Barthel index both at initial and follow-up studies, and achieved significantly better functional recovery(p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Discordant results of MEP in predicting the prognosis of stroke may result from the disregard of group IV, which had previously been considered as a poor outcome group solely because no cortical MEP responses were recorded at the initial study. As the MEP alone during the acute stage could not differentiate group IV from group V which had a persistent absence of cortical MEP responses, the evaluation of the neurological deficit at the same time is needed for better prediction of prognosis.
Evoked Potentials ; Evoked Potentials, Motor* ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Longitudinal Studies* ; Prognosis ; Stroke*

No abstract available.
Acetylcholinesterase* ; Aluminum* ; Animals ; Brain* ; Choline O-Acetyltransferase* ; Choline* ; Rats*

OBJECTIVE: Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), which is also known as vascular permeability factor, induces angiogenesis and may play a key role in tumor-related neovascularization and peritumoral edema. There are many pathological conditions associated with VEGF expression, such as brain tumor, infection and trauma. Malignant brain tumor is characterized by its prominent neovascularization and severe peritumoral edema and it is known to express high VEGF activity. The aim of this study is to investigate any differences in cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) VEGF level among gliomas, and between tumors and non-tumorous conditions. METHODS: Cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected from 28 patients whose diagnosis had been surgically proven and they were centrifuged and stored at -73 degrees C. The concentration of VEGF was analyzed using commercially available ELISA kit. RESULTS: Glioblastoma patients showed much higher level of CSF VEGF than those of other gliomas and non-tumorous conditions. And higher CSF VEGF level was found in invasive pituitary adenoma, recurrent oligoden-droglioma, central neurocytoma and diffuse axonal injury. CONCLUSION: Absolute CSF VEGF level can be useful biological marker for primary malignant glioma, especially glioblastoma, and serial check-ups may contribute to early diagnosis of malignant transformation of low grade astrocytoma.
Astrocytoma ; Biomarkers ; Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Diagnosis ; Diffuse Axonal Injury ; Early Diagnosis ; Edema ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Glioblastoma ; Glioma ; Humans ; Neurocytoma ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

No abstract available.
Mouth* ; Pathology* ; Tongue* ; Ultrasonography*

No abstract available.
Cerebral Ventricles* ; Hydrocephalus*

BACKGROUND: Focal or segmental dystonic syndromes affecting cranial or upper limb muscles are well recognized. Restricted dystonic movements affecting axial muscle group are less common. Restricted involuntary movements of body parts such as ear and trunk which are not normally affected in isolation by movement disorders have been reported. Despite their unusual locations, the clinical and neurophysiologic characteristics of the movements were similar to dystonia and they were classified as focal dystonia. CASE: We report four patients who have focal dyskinesia affecting ear and abdomen. In two patients, dyskinesia affecting the ear developed after head or facial trauma and in the other two cases, dyskinesia affecting the abdomen occurred after surgical operation. The unusual locations and appearance distinguish these dyskinesias from recognized movement disorder syndromes. CONCLUSION: The characteristic features of these dyskinesia led us to classify it as dystonia. We'd like to underline that dystonia can affect any part of the body and peripheral factors may play a role in pathogenesis of the dystonia.
Abdomen* ; Dyskinesias* ; Dystonia ; Dystonic Disorders ; Ear* ; Head ; Human Body ; Humans ; Movement Disorders ; Muscles ; Upper Extremity

A 68-year-old man was admitted due to abdominal pain. He was diagnosed as having recurrent pancreatitis with a pseudocyst, which is communicated through the main pan- creatic duct. An endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy and insertion of a nasopancreatic tube into the main pancreatic duct via transpapillary drainage were performed. As a result, the pseudocyst disappeared and the pain was relieved. Thus it was concluded that transpapillary drainage via the main pancreatic duct is a safe and effective treatment for pancreatic pseudocysts, which is communicated through the main pancreatic duct.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Drainage* ; Humans ; Pancreatic Ducts* ; Pancreatic Pseudocyst* ; Pancreatitis