OBJECTIVES: There have been several evidences that the central nervous system defect is one of the etiologic factors in schizophrenia and high nailfold plexus visibility can reflect indirectly. These are particularly related to the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. In this study, we examined the relationship between nailfold plexus visibility and various clinical variables in schizophrenia. METHODS: Forty patients(20 males, 20 females) satisfying the DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia and forty normal controls(20 males, 20 females) were measured for Plexus Visualization Score(PVS) by using capillary microscopic examination. We used Positive and negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS). Uimann-Giovannoni Process-Reactive Questionnaire(PRQ), Phillips Premorbid Adjustment Scale(PAS). Continuous Performance Test, and Backward Masking for psychopathology and clinical variables. RESULTS: There was no significant relationship between schizophrenic subjects and normal controls in PVS. PVS was correlated with PANSS positively except negative symptom subscore. PVS was correlated with PRQ score negatively, and with PAS score positively. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows high PVS are associated with more severe psychotic symptoms and with clinical variables, such as disease process and premorbid adjustment, in some schizophrenics.
Adult* ; Capillaries ; Central Nervous System ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Humans ; Male ; Masks ; Psychopathology ; Schizophrenia

Fracture of the tibial shaft is one of the most common fractures of the long bones and frequently followed by malunion, delayed union and nonunion. We experienced the cases of further increase in the angulation after clinical union of the tibial shaft fractures treated by conservative method. So we analyzed 39 cases of tibial shaft fractures which were followed up from 12 weeks to 37 weeks after clinical union in adults. The results were as follows; l. 7 of the 39 cases(18%) showed the increase in the angulation, and all of them were male. 2. Increase in the angulation occurred more frequenlty in the comminuted fractures than simple fractures. 3. The increment of angulation was more marked in group of patients with higher angulation at the time of clinical union. 4. Increase in the angulation occurred more commonly in the cases not associated with fibula fracture than in the cases associated with fibula fracture. 5. Further increase in the angulation was less common in the cases in whom early weight bearing with PTB cast was started.
Adult ; Fibula ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Humans ; Male ; Methods ; Tibia ; Weight-Bearing

A retrospective study of 46 patients with primary superficial bladder tumor was performed to identify the prognostic parameters which affect tumor recurrence. We examined 4 parameters such as stage, grade, size and number of tumor and each parameter was compared with recurrence rate respectively. The recurrence rate of stage Ta and T1 within 2 years was 33.3 % and 71% (p<0.05) and that of grade I, II and III was 40%, 60% and 100% respectively(p<0.05). Tumor recurrence was observed in 44% of patients with single tumor, 76.2% of those with multifocal tumors(p>0.05) and tumor size had no effect on tumor recurrence(p>0.06). Early recurrence rate within 1 year of grade I, II and III was 20%, 32% and 100% respectively(p< 0.01 ) but stage, number of tumor and tumor size were not correlated significantly with early recurrence rate within 1 year. A separate evaluation of the 4 parameters showed that stage and grade have a significant influence on tumor recurrence. Therefore more aggressive therapy and intensive follow-up should be considered for patients with high stage and high grade tumors.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

We report a case of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita in a 53 year-old woman who had. extreme skin fragility, trauma induced blisters and erosions usually localized to extensor site of the skin surface, and healing with scars and milia for several years. Histologic findings of perilesional skin showed normal epidermis, subepid malblister and spirsely infiltration of inflammatory cells. Direct immuncofluorescence showed depositiori of IgCi and C3 in a linear pattern along the epidermal basement, membrane in the per ilesional skin. In indirect immuriofluorescence, using 1.0M sodium chloride separated nor mal human skin as the sntbstrate, antitodies(IgG at a titer of 1:40) were bound to dermal site of the separation, indicating that the patient serum yields the reaction in or below the lamiria densa. Electronmicroscopic findings showed the roof of the blister was located. below the basal lamiria.
Blister ; Cicatrix ; Epidermis ; Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita* ; Epidermolysis Bullosa* ; Female ; Humans ; Membranes ; Middle Aged ; Skin ; Sodium Chloride

A 46-year-old male patient had recurrent episodes of generalized pruritic wheals during hemodialysis. He has experienced urticaria during hemodialysis whenever he used a capillary dialyser sterilized by ethylene oxide(EO, Polysulfone-) gas which is used to sterilize hemodialysers and other medical equipment. On the other hand, capillary dialyser sterilized by Gamma ray (Hemophad) has not evoked urticaria. Although the presence of EO-specific antibodies was not detected, urticarial rash never developed when the equipment was switched to a gamma-sterilized one. We herein report a case referred to ethylene oxide induced cutaneous hypersensitivity during hemodialysis.
Antibodies ; Capillaries ; Ethylene Oxide ; Exanthema ; Gamma Rays ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Kidneys, Artificial ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Dialysis* ; Urticaria

No abstract available.
Carcinogenesis* ; Humans* ; Oncogenes*

No abstract available.
Carcinogenesis*

Human uniparental gestations such as androgenetic hydatidiform moles provide a model to evaluate the integrity of parent-specific gene expression,-i.e, genomic imprinting,- in the absence of a complementary parental genetic contribution. Several imprinted genes are characterized so far including the insulin-like growth factor-2 gene (IGF2) coding for a fetal growth factor and the Hl9 gene whose normal function is unknown but which is likely to act as an untranslated mRNA for its tumor-suppressing function. IGF2 is expressed exclusively from the paternal allele while Hl9 from the maternal allele. Such an alternate expression is quite interesting because both Hl9 and IGF2 genes are located close to each other on chromosome 11p15.5. An in situ hybridization analysis has shown strong expression of Hl9 and IGF2 alleles in nine hydatidiform moles. Especially, a prominent expression of Hl9 and IGF2 was detected in cytotrophoblast and the cellular localization was almost paralleled in Hl9 and IGF2 transcripts . Hl9 and IGF2 genes could be expressed either biallelically or monoallelically in the moles. However, IGF2 biallelic expression did not affect allele-specificity of Hl9 expression.. These results suggest that both H19 and IGF2 transcripts are expressed in the same cells and that the functional imprinting of H19 and IGF2 genes in hydatidiform moles can be controlled individually and independently of each other.
Alleles ; Chromosome Aberrations* ; Clinical Coding ; Female ; Fetal Development ; Genomic Imprinting* ; Humans* ; Hydatidiform Mole* ; In Situ Hybridization ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II* ; Parents ; Pregnancy ; RNA, Messenger ; Trophoblasts

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE: Of thalamic stroke syndrome, according to previous reports, the syndrome of hemiataxia and hemisensory loss (thalamic ataxia syndrome) is known to have localizing value confined to the lesion of posterolateral thalamus. And ataxia in thalamic ataxia syndrome is due to interruption of cerebellar outflow pathways. We observed the clinical characteristics of cerebellar manifestations in patients with thalamic ataxia syndrome to clarify intrathalamic cerebellar pathways because it is known that parts of cerebellar efferent fibers do not pass through the thalamus. METHODS: Ten patients with ataxia (5 men, 5 women ; mean age 64), out of 47 thalamic stroke patients admitted to Kyung Hee University Hospital from Jan. 1994 to May. 1995, were selected. The localization of the lesion was based on CT or MR imaging and ataxia was characterized in view of cerebellar functions - coordination of movement, regulation of equilibrium and muscle tone. RESULTS: Out of 10 patients, 4 patients were thalamic hematoma, 4 patients thalamic hematoma with intraventricular hemorrhage, 2 patients thalamic infarction. Four patients were hemiataxia-hemiparesis-hemisensory loss, 4 patients hemiataxia-hemisensory loss, 2 patients hemiataxia-hemiparesis. Posterolateral thalamus was involved in 4 patients, dorsal thalamus in 3 patients, posterolateral and dorsal thalamus in 3 patients. All patients had dysmetria, dysdiadochokinesia, kinetic tremor. Two patient has gait ataxia. Speech and ocular motility disturbances were not noted. CONCLUSION: Thalamic ataxia syndrome appeared in the lesion of posterolateral and dorsal thalamus. Common cerebellar manifestations symptoms of incoordination.
Ataxia* ; Cerebellar Ataxia ; Female ; Gait Ataxia ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Stroke* ; Thalamus ; Tremor

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate surgical outcomes of canalicular trephination with lacrimal trephine and endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy in patiens with common canalicular or canalicular obstruction. METHODS: 35 patients (38 eyes) diagnosed as common canalicular or canalicular obstruction undergoing surgery between December 1999 and August 2003. Patients have been followed up more than 5 months after surgery. RESULTS: The average age of patients was 57.3 years old and the average follow-up period was 7.1 months. The overall success rate was 92.1%. With obstructions within lower canaliculus, the success rate was 75.0%. The success rate of the cases with obstructions within upper canaliculus and upper and lower canaliculus was 100%, and the success rate of the cases with obstructions within common canaliculus was 95.2%. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical success rate of canalicular trephination with lacrimal trephine and endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy was better than canaliculodacryocystorhinostomy and this seems to be adequate as an primary procedure before Jones tube bypass surgery.
Dacryocystorhinostomy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Trephining*