No abstract available.

No abstract available.

The third equation on page 44 should be corrected.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a disease affecting blood vessels and connective tissue, which are damaged by deposition of pathogenic autoantibodies and immune complexes. Although a complex disease, SLE provides a number of insights into autoimmune pathogenesis. Autoimmune disease, in general, is characterized by B cell hyperactivity which results in hypergammaglobulinemia and production of a variety of autoantibodies reactive to organ-nonspecific antigens such as DNA, RNA, and cell membrane structures. SLE patients usually show a marked increase in the number of activated and immunoglobulin-producing circulating B cells. Recently, cytokines with specific effects on immune regulation have been detected and extensively studied. One of them, Interleukin-6 (IL-6), is an activated monocyte derived factor which stimulates B cell growth and differentiation. We investigated the serum IL-6 levels of SLE patients in an attempt to demonstrate their relationship with the patients' clinical manifestation, and the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), circulating immune complexes (CICs,) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R). The study subjects consisted of 22 patients with SLE who had visited Severance Hospital from July 1986 to September 1987 and 10 normal controls. The patients' sera were stored at -70degrees C and later analyzed. The serum levels of IL-6 were measured by ELISA method with Inter Test-6X Human IL-6 ELISA kit; the serum CRP levels by fluorescence polarization immunoassay; the serum CIC levels by solid phase Clp binding assay; and the serum sIL-2R levels ELISA method. The results were as follows: The mean serum IL-6 level of SLE patients (1,366 pg/ml) was higher that of the controls (98pg/ml) (p<0.05). Among the SLE patients studied. the mean serum IL-6 level was higher in those with vasculitis than those without. ln the SLE patients studied. a linear correlation was present between the measured serum IL-6 and CIC levels; however no correlation was present either between IL-6 and CRP levels, or between IL-6 level and platelet count. The mean sIL-2R level of the SLE patients studied (1,864 U/ml) was higher than that of the controls (300 U/ml). However, in the SLE patients studied, no correlation was present between the serum IL-6 and sIL-2R levels measured. The high serum IL-6 level might play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE.
Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Autoantibodies ; Autoimmune Diseases ; B-Lymphocytes ; Blood Vessels ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cell Membrane Structures ; Connective Tissue ; Cytokines ; DNA ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay ; Humans ; Hypergammaglobulinemia ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-6* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Monocytes ; Platelet Count ; RNA ; Vasculitis

No abstract available.
Schizophrenia*

The equations on page 162 should be corrected.

Fibrous pseudotumor of paratesticular region is rare, but one of the most common neoplasm of that region. It has also been called as nodular fibrous proliferation, pseudofibromatous periorchitis, benign fibrous paratesticular tumor, and fibrous mesothelioma(pseudofibroma). We herein report a case of fibrous pseudotumor with characteristic histological findings. The patient is a 59 year-old male who had incidentally found scrotal mass and undergone radical orchiectomy. There was two separate nodules at tunica vaginalis and proximal spermatic cord which had bulging whitish-gray cut surface with focal myxoid change. Histologically, the mass was composed of dense collagenous tissue with scattered lymphoid follicles and numerous chronic inflammatory cells. There was a proliferation of spindle or stellate shaped cells, some of which featured enlarged hyperchromatic nuclei with prominent nucleoli, and abundant basophilic cytoplasm. These cells stained positive for vimentin and actin immunohistochemically, suggesting that this lesion might derive from proliferation of myofibroblasts.
Male ; Humans

In the published version of this article, the contents of Table 1 (‘Demographic characteristics of subjects’) are incorrect.

The number of clinical trials sponsored by global pharmaceutical companies performed in countries other than the U.S. and Western Europe has been steadily increasing over the past decade. Among those emerging countries, Korea deserves attention for its rapid growth in the number of trials and sites. As of 2009, Korea was ranked the tenth country in the number of clinical trials registered at http://clinicaltrials.gov. This is remarkable growth given that it was not included in the top 30 countries in 2005. High population density, qualified medical professionals, regulatory changes including Investigational New Drug-New Drug Application (IND/NDA) separation, acceptance of International Conferences on Harmonization-Good Clinical Practices (ICH-GCP) by Korea Food&Drug Administration (KFDA), and governmental policies to boost clinical trials were the most influential factors that caused such an outstanding achievement. The Korean National Enterprise for Clinical Trials (KoNECT), an organization founded to lead initiatives to improve the milieu for clinical trials, has been playing a pivotal role in the steering of 15 regional clinical centers designated by the government. Based upon improvements in infrastructure so far, diversity in therapeutic areas and the proportion of early phase trials are expected to grow. Korea has grown to be one of the major countries in the clinical trial market, which was made possible by the cooperation of industry, academia and government. Further investment and efforts to solve current challenges will allow such growth to continue into the next decade.
Achievement ; Congresses as Topic ; Europe ; Investments ; Korea ; Population Density

This tutorial deals with basic concepts of volume of distribution, the second most important parameter in pharmacokinetics but often challenging for students in clinical pharmacology. Its relationships with dose, concentration and amount in the body are discussed using a physical model and examples of commonly used drugs, as well as its physiological aspects pertaining to the physical volume of differing organs. Finally, application of volume of distribution to the calculation of loading dose and half-life is used to show how it is essential in pharmacotherapy and clinical pharmacology.
Drug Therapy ; Half-Life ; Humans ; Pharmacokinetics ; Pharmacology, Clinical