Lidex' cream (Fluocinonide 0.05% in FAPG base) is a new fluorina,ted topical corticosteroid, and its clinical effect was assessed by applying topically three to four times daily to the lesions of 50 patients with a variety of inflamrnatory skin condi- tions. The results revealed excellent effect in 16 patients, moderate effect in 23 patients, slight improvement in 9 patients, and no effect in 2 patients. No unfavorable side effects were noted except blanching. The findings suggest that fluocinonide is an excelIent addition to the topical corticosteroid agents that are available for clinical use at the present time.
Fluocinonide ; Humans ; Skin

The nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the ribosomal DNA including the 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) have been determined for 11 species in order to analyze their intrageneric relationships. The total length of these sequences ranged from 530 nucleotides for Trichoderma reesei KCTC 1286 to 553 nucleotide for Trichoderma koningii IAM 12534. Generally speaking, the length of ITS1 region was about 30 nucleotides longer than that of the ITS2 region. Also, the sequences of 5.8S rDNA were more conserved in length and variation than those of ITS regions. Although the variable ITS sequences were often ambiguously aligned, the conserved sites were also found. Thus, a neighbor-joining tree was constructed using the full sequence data of the ITS regions and the 5.8S rDNA. The Trichoderma genus used to be grouped on the basis of the morphological features and especially the shape of phialides needs to be reexamined. The phylogenetic tree displayed the presence of monophylogeny in the species of Trichoderma. Therefore, it was difficult to distinguish the intrageneric relationships in the Trichoderma genus.
Base Sequence* ; DNA, Ribosomal* ; Nucleotides ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 5.8S ; Trichoderma*

PURPOSE: We investigated reproducibility of the quantification of left ventricular volume and ejection fraction, and grading of myocardial wall motion and systolic thickening when we used gated myocardial SPECT and Cedars quantification software. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed gated myocardial SPECT in 33 consecutive patients twice in the same position after Tc-99m-MIBI SPECT. We used 16 frames per cycle for the gatingof sequential Tc-99m-MTBI SPECT. After reconstruction, we used Cedars quantitative gated SPECT and calculated ventricular volume and ejection fraction (EF), Wall motion was graded using 5 point score. Wall thickening was graded using 4 point score. Coefficient of variation for re-examination of volume and fraction were calculated. Kappa values (k-value) for assessing reproducibility of wall motion or wall thickening were calculated. RESULTS: Enddiastolic volumes (EDV) ranged from 58 mi to 248 ml (122 ml +/- 42 ml), endsystolic volumes (ESV) from 20 mi to 174 mi (65 ml +1- 39 ml), and EF from 20% to 68% (51% +/- 14%). Geometric mean of standard deviations of 33 patients was 5.0 ml for EDV, 3.9 ml for ESV and 1.9% for EF. Their average differences were not different from zero (p>0.05). k-value for wall motion using 2 consecutive images was 0.76 (confidence interval: 0.71-0.81). k-value was 0.87 (confidence interval:0.83-0.90) for assessment of wall thickening. CONCLUSION: We concluded that quantification of functional indices, assessment of wall motion and wall thickening using gated Tc-99m-MIBI SPECT was reproducible and we could use this method for the evaluation of short-acting drug effect.
Heart ; Humans ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

No abstract available.
Aneurysm* ; Angiography* ; Circle of Willis*

No abstract available.

The authors experienced one case of Gronblad-Strandberg syndrome with subretinal neovascularization which showed characteristic signs of pseudoxanthoma elasticum(PXE) and angioid streak. PXE is an uncommon hereditary disorder which involves the elastic tissue of the dermis and may also involve the eye and the cardiovascular system. Angioid streaks are red or dark-brown jagged irregular lines extending in spoke like fashion toward periphery from an area of peripapillary atrophy. We report a case of Gronblad-Strandberg syndrome with subretinal neovasculari zation in a 49 year old korean female.
Angioid Streaks ; Atrophy ; Cardiovascular System ; Dermis ; Elastic Tissue ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum*

The use of osseointegrated implants is an accepted procedure for the treatment of Total, or partial edentulism and offers good predictability of long-term success. Osseointegration implies a firm and direct interlocking between vital bone and screw-shaped titanium implants. There should be not to interposed tissue between fixture and bone. This study was undertaken to assess the clinical condition, complication, and prosthodontic aftercare of different implant systems. One hundred fifty-nine patients treated with a total of 503 endosseous implants (364 Steri-oss threaded type, 69 Integral cylinder with HA coated type, 35 Steri-oss threaded with HA coated type, 21 Steri-oss cylinder with HA coated type and 14 3i implant type), Most of the implant were placed in type B and C bone quantity and type 2 and 3 bone quality according to Lekhorm and Zarb. The success rate of Steri-oss threaded type during healing and function was 92%, Steri-oss threaded type with hydroxyapatite coated was 91%, Steri-oss cylinder type with hydroxyapatite coated was 90%, Integral cylinder type with hydroxyapatite coated was 90% and 3i implant type was 93%. One hundred twenty-nine patients had been treated with implant prosthesis. 79 of these patients had received a fixed type prosthesis and 50 patients had received a removable type prosthesis. There were no differences between the implant systems with regard to age, gender. Failures were associated with poor bone quality, smaller implant sizes, a surgical installation technique and stress distribution when in function. Visual analgoue scales recorded as satisfied results functionally and esthetically, but 15% dissatified with chewing ability.
Aftercare ; Dental Implants* ; Durapatite ; Humans ; Mastication ; Mouth Rehabilitation* ; Mouth* ; Osseointegration ; Prostheses and Implants ; Prosthodontics ; Titanium ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to predict the factors related to psychiatric inpatients' violence in a mental hospital. This was a follow-up study to assess the psychopathology of patients and the quality of the initial therapeutic alliance between the patient and the therapist, as a predictor of the risk of violent behavior. METHODS: The subjects were 105 psychiatric inpatients admitted to St. Andrews' Neuropsychiatric Hospital from January 1998 to November 1998, but alcohol dependent patients and conduct disorder patients were excluded. Within the first five hospital days, we rated past history of violence, patients' psychopathology using Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and quality of initial therapeutic alliance. We also evaluated violent behaviors using Overt Aggression Scales during the two weeks before admission and during the two weeks of hospital stay and compared the 67 non-violent ingatients with 38 violent ingatients on the utility of socio-demographics variables, past history of violence, utility of the initial therapeutic alliance and psychopathology in evaluating the risk of violent behaviors. Multiple logistic analysis was conducted to analyze risk factors for violent behaviors. RESULTS: 1) The violent inpatients significantly were more closely related with the previous history of violent behavior. 2) The weaker the initial therapeutic alliance were, the significantly higher violent behavior exhibited. 3) Violent behavior was related significantly with higher BPRS-agitation-excitement factor score and higher BPRS-hostile-suspicious factor score. Violent behavior also was related with lower BPRS-withdrawal-retardation factor score. 4) According to the multiple logistic analysis, the predictors of violent behavior were past history of violence and initial therapeutic alliance and BPRS-agitation-excitement factor. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that initial therapeutic alliance and the specific psychopathology ane useful in evaluating patients' risk for violence.
Aggression ; Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale ; Conduct Disorder ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Length of Stay ; Psychopathology ; Risk Factors ; Violence* ; Weights and Measures

Vaginitis is one of the most common disease in gynecologic field in recent days. About 90% of these patients suffer from the infection of the vagina caused by Gardnerella vaginalis, Candida, or Trichomonas, either alone or in combination. For the effective diagnosis and management, it is essential to get an accurate identification of the causative agent. Applying simple and easy diagnostic methods such as pH of vaginal discharge, amine test and microscopic examination of wet mount preparation of normal saline and 10% KOH to 549 cases of randomly selected patients visiting Out-patient Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Yeungnam University Hospital through May 1st to Sept. 31st, 1987, the following results were obtained. 1. In the Gardnerella vaginitis vaginal pH was more than 5.0 in 81.0% of total cases, positive amine test in 62.8%, decreased lactobacilli in 77.4% & decreased WBC counts in 70.1%, In the Trichomonas vaginitis vaginal pH more than 5.0 was noted in 93.3% of the cases, negative amine test in 90%, decreased showed vaginal pH of 3.0~4.0 in 83.2%, negative amine test in 90%, decreased lactobacilli in 90% & increased WBC counts in 93.3%, whereas Candida vaginitis and normal groups showed vaginal pH of 3.0~4.0 in 83.2%, negative amine test in 100%, normal distribution of lactobacilli in 89.7%, normal WBC counts in 72.4%. 2. The accuracy rates of physical diagnosis by wet mount preparation of normal saline and 10% KOH revealed 26.3%, 47.5%, 70.0% in Gardnerella vaginitis, Candida vaginitis, and Trichomonas vaginitis, respectively. The vaginal pH and amine test showed 83.2% of accuracy rate in Candida vaginitis group, 60.6% in Gardnerella vaginitis group and 83.3% in Trichomonas vaginitis group. 3. In 23 cases of Gardnerella vaginitis showing vaginal pH of 3.0 or 4.0 and positive amine test, the clue cells were observed in 10% or less in 12 cases, 30% in 5 cases, 50% in 4 cases and 50% or more in 2 cases. In summary vaginal pH and amine test could be useful in screening and differentiating the different types of infectious vaginitis. Furthermore by adding microscopic examination of normal saline and 10% KOH wet mount preparation to them, they not only could obtain higher diagnostic accuracy rate but would be more valuable in selecting the patients requiring cultures to confirm the diagnoses.
Candida ; Diagnosis ; Gardnerella ; Gardnerella vaginalis ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration* ; Mass Screening ; Obstetrics ; Outpatients ; Trichomonas ; Trichomonas Vaginitis ; Vagina ; Vaginal Discharge* ; Vaginitis*

Muscle wasting is commonly seen in patients with sepsis as a consequence of the catabolic response in skeletal muscle. Muscle wasting can occur in cases that have an imbalance between degradation and synthesis of muscle proteins. Although decrements in the synthesis of muscle proteins may contribute to sepsis-induced muscle wasting, it has been recognized that increments in its degradation play a more essential role in muscle wasting. Muscle wasting in sepsis patients has some significant clinical consequences such as reduced ambulation and exercise tolerance, and an increased risk for pulmonary and thromboembolic complications. Several mechanisms have been proposed for sepsis-induced muscle wasting. Increased proteolysis via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and the calpains system is one of the principal mechanisms of muscle wasting induced by sepsis. Calpains are activated by calcium, which increases in patients with sepsis. The activation of the calpains system disrupts the sarcomere of the myofibrils, resulting in the release of myofilaments that are subsequently ubiquitinated and degraded by the 26S proteasome complex. Recent studies have suggested that transcriptional factors such as NF-kappaB and FoxO, and the apoptosis and autophagy-lysosome pathways may also be involved in sepsis-induced muscle wasting. This review briefly summarizes the contribution of these mechanisms of muscle wasting in patients with sepsis and the possible therapeutic agents to treat it.
Apoptosis ; Atrophy ; Calcium ; Calpain ; Exercise Tolerance ; Humans ; Muscle Proteins ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Muscles ; Myofibrils ; NF-kappa B ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex ; Proteolysis ; Sarcomeres ; Sepsis ; Ubiquitin ; Walking