BACKGROUND: When one of family members must be treated, the others are required to get various forms of changes including modification of their proper roles in the family. Particularily when he or she can not perform his or her activities of daily living(ADL) owing to functional impairment by himself or herself, there seems to be greater dependence upon his or her family. Accordingly, we tried to give help in the treatment of patients through the comparative analysis concerning functional impairment in both groups on the assumption that there is difference of family function between two family groups which have a patient in family, or not. METHODS: This study was carried out to 83 inpatients in Sun Hospital in Dae Jeon and local rehabilitation clinics in Iksan from 1. July. 1995 to 31. Jun. 1996. We evaluated activites of daily living by using modified Barthel Index(MBI) and classified them into dependent group with 60 points or less(6roup I ), and independent group with more than 60 points(Group II). We also used Family APGAR score and FACES III to evaluate their family functions. RESULTS: MBI scores to evaluate ADL were 42.9+/-15.6 in Group I and 82.1+/-17.9 in Group II. Family APGAR scores were 6.93+/-2.52 in Group I and 7.24+/-17.9 in Group II but there was no significance between two groups. Types of family according to Family APGAR score were highly functional, morderate dysfunctional, and severly dysfunctional one in order of frequency in both groups, but there was no significance in their frequencies in both groups. Types of Family in view of cohesion was disengaged, separated, connected, and enmeshed one in order of frequency in Group I, and separated, disengaged, connected, and enmeshed one in order of frequency in Group II but there was no significance between two groups. Types of family in view of adaptability were rigid, chaotic structured,and flexible one in order of frequency in Group I, and were flexible, structured, rigid, and chaotic one in orders in Group II, which showed significance between two groups. Extremal types of family structure were large in numbers in Group I, but it didnt show significance. CONCLUSIONS: Assuming that there were large numbers of rigid and chaotic family in Group I, it is considered that tne family which has a patient with severely impaired function seems to have weaker adaptability to their family stresses than otherwise. Therefore, it is desirable that physicians who take charge of such patients provide continuous and comprehensive medical care for them including their family with greater concerns and through analysis and assessment of their family functions.
Activities of Daily Living ; Apgar Score ; Daejeon ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Jeollabuk-do ; Rehabilitation* ; Solar System

No abstract available.
Diagnosis*

Dermal melanocytosis is observed in various congenital conditions including nevus of Ota, nevus of Ito and Mongolian spot. It usually appears at birth or in early childhood. Several types of acquired dermal melanocytosis which usually appear in adult life have been reported. As the late onset has been stressed, the term acquired is used. We report two cases of acquired dermal melanocytosis on the forearm and the back without any similar pigmentation elsewhere on the body. The first case is a 47-year-old man who had numerous grey-blue colored macules and patches on the upper back. Histopathologic findings showed a large number of spindle-shaped cells containing melanin granules in the dermis. On electron microscopy, dermal melanocytes with stage 3, 4 melanosomes and lipid droplet were observed. The second one is a 13-year-old girl who had a 3.8 X 2.5 cm sized dark grey colored patch on the left forearm. Histopathologic and EM finding were similar to case 1. We treated both cases with topical cream(retinoid and hydroquinone), but could not observe improvement. Their lesions have persisted without any change.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Dermis ; Female ; Forearm ; Humans ; Melanins ; Melanocytes ; Melanosomes ; Microscopy, Electron ; Middle Aged ; Mongolian Spot ; Nevus ; Nevus of Ota ; Parturition ; Pigmentation

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to find out the normal distal tibial articular surface angle in coronal plane in Koreans. This would be helpful as the basic data for ankle reconstruction after trauma or deformity correction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Weight bearing anteroposterior radiographs of 123 normal ankles were reviewed. A line parallel to the shaft of the tibia was made. Another line was drawn parallel to the articular surface of the distal tibia. The superolateral angle that subtended by these two lines was measured. RESULTS: There were 72 males and 51 females. The mean age overall was 35.7 years old. The mean age for males was 31.9 (28~36) years old. The mean age for females was 41.1 (37~45) years old. The mean distal tibial articular surface angle was 90.8 degrees. The mean distal tibial articular surface angle for males was 91.5 degrees and for females 89.9 degrees. CONCLUSION: The mean distal tibial articular surface angle in coronal plane for Koreans is 90.8 degrees. We can avoid the error of the varization at the ankle alignment when the correction was performed vertical or minimal valgus to tibia tuberosity axis in Korean people.
Ankle ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Tibia ; Weight-Bearing

No Abstract Available.
Cell Adhesion Molecules* ; Cell Adhesion* ; Collagen Type II*

BACKGROUND: The membrane permeability transition of mitochondria has been suggested to be involved in toxic and oxidative forms of cell injury. Mitochondrial dysfunction is considered to play a critical role in neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease. Despite the suggestion that indole beta-carbolines may be neurotoxic, these compounds provide a protective effect against cytotoxicity of other neurotoxins. In addition, the effect of indole beta-carbolines on change in the mitochondrial membrane permeability due to reactive nitrogen species (RNS), which may lead to cell death, has not been clarified. METHODS: Differentiated PC12 cells were used as the experimental culture model for the investigation of neuronal cell injury, which occurs in Parkinson's disease. The effect of indole beta-carbolines (harmalol and harmine) on differentiated PC12 cells against toxicity of S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP) was determined by measuring the effect on the change in transmembrane potential, cytochrome c release, formation of ROS, GSH contents, caspase-3 activity and cell viability, and was compared to that of R-(-)-deprenyl. RESULTS: Specific inhibitors of caspases (z-LEHD.fmk, z-DQMD.fmk) and antioxidants (N-acetylcysteine, dithiothreitol, melatonin, carboxy-PTIO and uric acid) depressed cell death in PC12 cells due to SNAP. beta-Carbolines and R-(-)-deprenyl attenuated the SNAP-induced cell death and GSH depletion concentration dependently with a maximal inhibitory effect at 25-50 microM. The compounds inhibited the nuclear damage, decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential, cytochrome c release and formation of reactive oxygen species caused by SNAP in PC12 cells. beta-Carbolines and R-(-)-deprenyl attenuated the H2O2-induced cell death and depletion of GSH. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that indole beta-carbolines attenuate the SNAP-induced viability loss in PC12 cells by inhibition of change in the mitochondrial membrane permeability, which may be caused by free radicals. Indole beta-carbolines appear to exert a protective effect against the nitrogen species-mediated neuronal cell injury in Parkinson's disease comparable to R-(-)-deprenyl.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; Carbolines* ; Caspase 3 ; Caspases ; Cell Death* ; Cell Survival ; Cytochromes c ; Dithiothreitol ; Free Radicals ; Melatonin ; Membrane Potentials ; Membranes ; Mitochondria ; Mitochondrial Membranes ; Neurons ; Neurotoxins ; Nitrogen* ; Parkinson Disease* ; PC12 Cells ; Permeability ; Reactive Nitrogen Species ; Reactive Oxygen Species

PURPOSE: A limited number of studies have examined the link between F-wave abnormalities and clinical presentation in pediatric Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Therefore, this study examined the importance of F-wave abnormalities as a prognostic factor in pediatric GBS patients. METHODS: The records and electrodiagnostic studies (EDS) of 70 GBS patients were retrospectively evaluated, and divided into 2 groups according to the results of EDS. Group A (n=33) presented with F-wave abnormalities, and group B (n=26) exhibited normal findings. We compared laboratory reports, clinical features, response to treatment, and prognosis between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Motor weakness was the most frequently observed symptom for either group. Clinically, the incidence of fever and upper respiratory symptoms differed between the 2 groups, while the prevalence of abnormal deep tendon reflex (DTR) was significantly higher in group A than B (P<0.05). Patients diagnosed with GBS had received intravenous immunoglobulin treatment: 94% in group A and 58% in group B. Furthermore, significantly greater numbers of patients in group A showed H-reflex abnormalities and poor prognosis compared with group B (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that F-waves are a clinically important prognostic factor in GBS. F-wave abnormalities were associated with abnormal DTR and poor prognosis in patients. Limited studies have examined the link between F-wave abnormalities and clinical results; therefore, further randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm the clinical characteristics and efficacy of treatments.
Child* ; Fever ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome* ; H-Reflex ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Incidence ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Reflex, Abnormal ; Retrospective Studies

We experienced a case of tuberculosis presented simultaneously with pseudoaneurysm of the aorta and ARDS. A 63-year-old man was admitted with complaints of fever and right upper quadrant abdominal pain for a week. Chest X-ray on admission showed a normal finding. Sub-diaphragmatic abscess on abdomen CT scan was suspected and serosanguinous fluid was aspirated from the abscess pocket. On day 2, he was getting more dyspneic and chest X-ray revealed extensive bilateral infiltration. Aspirated fluid revealed AFB. Later, follow-up abdomen CT scan revealed a leakage of dye from the aneurysmal sac of the descending aorta which was previously diagnosed as sub-diaphragmatic abscess. An aortic stent was placed, covering the opening into the aneurysm. The sputum also showed positive AFB. The patient was successfully weaned from the ventilator, and discharged with anti-tuberculous medication on day 42. Follow-up abdomen CT scan 6 months later showed that the aneurymal sac was completely disappeared.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Pain ; Abscess ; Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, False ; Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; Sputum ; Stents ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis ; Ventilators, Mechanical

BACKGROUND: Eicosanoids are metabolites of arachidonic acid that are rapidly biosynthesized and degraded during inflammation, and their metabolic changes reveal altered enzyme expression following drug treatment. We developed an eicosanoid profiling method and evaluated their changes on drug treatment. METHODS: Simultaneous quantitative profiling of 32 eicosanoids in liver S9 fractions obtained from rabbits with carrageenan-induced inflammation was performed and validated by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled to anion-exchange solid-phase purification. RESULTS: The limit of quantification for the devised method ranged from 0.5 to 20.0 ng/mg protein, and calibration linearity was achieved (R 2>0.99). The precision (% CV) and accuracy (% bias) ranged from 4.7 to 10.3% and 88.4 to 110.9%, respectively, and overall recoveries ranged from 58.0 to 105.3%. Our method was then applied and showed that epitestosterone treatment reduced the levels of all eicosanoids that were generated by cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenases. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative eicosanoid profiling combined with in vitro metabolic assays may be useful for evaluating metabolic changes affected by drugs during eicosanoid metabolism.
Animals ; Carrageenan/toxicity ; *Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/standards ; Cytokines/blood ; Disease Models, Animal ; Eicosanoids/*analysis/metabolism/standards ; Inflammation/etiology/metabolism ; Male ; Rabbits ; Reference Standards ; Solid Phase Extraction ; *Tandem Mass Spectrometry/standards