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*

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

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

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: The effect of Video Display Terminals(VDT) Syndrome is well documented. The purpose of this study is to examine the difference in systemic subjective symptoms between long term users of computers with that of the general population and to help plan to avoid the risk of developing Video Display Terminal Syndrome. METHOD: Data was collected for this study between August 1996 and February 1997. Two groups consisting of seventy(70) long term computer users(Exposed Subjects) and fifty nine(59) non users (Non Exposed Subjects), were selected for the survey. Data was gathered from the exposed subjects through their response to the survey questionnaire posted on the internet requiring detailed responses concerning ten systemic subjective symptoms that were experienced as a result of the long term exposure to VDT. Data was gathered from the non exposed subjects through written responses to the questionnaire. RESULTS: Among the more significant difference was the experience of ocular symptoms among the exposed group. The exposed group experienced in descending order eleven items of ocular symptoms. Congestion, strain, decreased visual acuity, ocular pain, and dryness. Among seven items of lifestyle, the exposed group characteristically exercised less(P<0.05) and did more home activity (P<0.05), characteristically lead healthier life than the non exposed group. Participation in exercise differed most among the groups. The exposed group participating in moderate exercise scored 517+/-551.6 compared to the non exposed group which exercised very vigorously(p<0.05). In comparison of subjective symptom and life styles per daily exposure time(over 8,10,16 hours daily) there was significant difference between 8 and 10hour exposers only in the stress item(P<0.05). In the exposure group there were less cardiovascular symptoms(P<0.05) due to more art activity(P<0.05), more cardiovascular symptoms and less sleep activity(P<0.001) and more ocular symptoms(P<0.05) due to higher levels of stress. CONCLUSIONS: By exercising, exposers can decrease the respiratory symptoms, and by seeking methods that enable efficient management of work time, the subjects can benefit from the reduced work time, and by seeking methods so that one receive less stress and can resolve them they can reduce their ocular symptoms, sleep problems, cardiovascular symptoms. And in their spare time, the subjects can be recommended to involve in art activity for each person, through PC indirectly. Designing the development of cyber gallery, museum, literature room, concert can reduce the oecur-rence rate of cardiovascular symptoms.
Computer Terminals ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Humans ; Internet ; Life Style* ; Museums ; Visual Acuity ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.