Dapsone, an antibiotic, has been used to cure leprosy. It has been reported that dapsone has anti-inflammatory activity in hosts; however, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of dapsone has not been fully elucidated. The present study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of dapsone on bone marrow cells (BMs), especially upon exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We treated BMs with LPS and dapsone, and the treated cells underwent cellular activity assay, flow cytometry analysis, cytokine production assessment, and reactive oxygen species assay. LPS distinctly activated BMs with several characteristics including high cellular activity, granulocyte changes, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) production increases. Interestingly, dapsone modulated the inflammatory cells, including granulocytes in LPS-treated BMs, by inducing cell death. While the percentage of Gr-1 positive cells was 57% in control cells, LPS increased that to 75%, and LPS plus dapsone decreased it to 64%. Furthermore, dapsone decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential of LPS-treated BMs. At a low concentration (25 µg/mL), dapsone significantly decreased the production of TNF-α in LPS-treated BMs by 54%. This study confirmed that dapsone has anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-mediated inflammation via modulation of the number and function of inflammatory cells, providing new and useful information for clinicians and researchers.
Bone Marrow Cells ; Bone Marrow ; Cell Death ; Dapsone ; Flow Cytometry ; Granulocytes ; Inflammation ; Leprosy ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Necrosis ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

The relapse of leukemia is usually classified as hematologic relapse and extramedullary relapse. The most common sites of clinical extramedullary relapse are the central nervous systems (CNS) and gonads. However, the relapse in the uterus is very rare. We experienced a very unusual case of uterine relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) after about a 6-year remission period. This female patient returned to our hospital with a two-month history of amenorrhea. Pelvic radiology confirmed an about 7 cm sized ill-defined ovoid mass in the uterus. There was no evidence of ALL relapse in the peripheral blood or CNS. The uterine biopsy showed diffused homogenous infiltration of numerous small round cells in uterine corpus, suggesting ALL relapse. The bone marrow study revealed 100% cellularity, most of which were lymphoblasts. Our patient received the bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and achieved the second complete remission (CR). Therefore, we here report our case with a brief review of literature.
Amenorrhea ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Central Nervous System ; Female ; Gonads ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Recurrence* ; Uterus

OBJECTIVES: Many studies showed that risperidone and olanzapine in the treatment of delirium were similar to haloperidol, in side effects were superior to that. Quetiapine is frequently used in delirious patients. However, the studies of quetiapine in the treatment of delirium are very few. This study was designed to compare the efficacy of risperidone and quetiapine in elderly patients with delirium. METHODS: We divided 2 groups (risperidone and quetiapine) of elderly patients with delirium. We compared the two groups of elderly patients with delirium by Korean Version of Delirium Rating Scale (K-DRS) and Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) at baseline and 1 week later. RESULTS: Our results showed that risperidone and quetiapine were efficacious in the treatment of elderly patients with delirium according to using K-DRS and K-MMSE. There were no significant differences in the degree of effects in both drugs. CONCLUSION: We compared the efficacy of risperidone and quetiapine in the treatment of delirium. Quetiapine was as efficacious as risperidone in the treatment of the elderly patients with delirium. In future, the sample size need to be increased in the studies of delirium. And the evaluation of long-term side effects related to quetiapine need to be performed.
Aged* ; Delirium* ; Haloperidol ; Humans ; Risperidone* ; Sample Size ; Quetiapine Fumarate

OBJECTIVE: To investigate a poly (A) microsatellite in vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and to evaluate its relationship with bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal Korean women. METHODS: The poly (A) polymorphism was analyzed in 417 postmenopausal Korean women. Serum CrossLaps (CTX), bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), osteocalcin and 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D3 levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and immmunoassay and BMD at the lumbar spine and proximal femur by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: When alleles of poly (A) microsatellite were classified into two groups, long (L: A18-22) and short (S: A12-17), based upon the length of the repeat, the prevalence of SS was 1.4%, LS 10.1%, and LL 88.5%. There was a significant correlation between BMD and poly (A) polymorphism. BMD at the femoral neck and trochanter in LS genotype was significantly lower than that in LL genotype. LL genotype was more prevalent in women with normal BMD compared with women with low bone mass while LS genotype was more prevalent in the latter group. There were no significant associations between the adjusted levels of the bone markers, 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D3 and poly (A) genotypes. CONCLUSION: The VDR gene poly (A) polymorphism is one of genetic factors which may affect BMD in Korean women.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Alleles ; Bone Density* ; Cholecalciferol ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Genotype ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats* ; Osteocalcin ; Prevalence ; Receptors, Calcitriol* ; Spine ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

Hemangioma is one of the most common congenital tumors in the region of the face and neck. Although histologically benign, these facial masses are clinically malignant for their deforming and inexorable growth, especially in so-called cavernous hemangioma. Today, hemagiomas have been treated by various methods; steroids, electrocoagulation, injection of sclerosing agent, cryotherapy, radiation therapy, laser therapy, and surgical treatment, etc. The response of treatment varies with the types, surgical skills, regions of hemangioma, the age of patient, but the appropriate method of the treatment has not been yet established. In the case of massive hemangioma, which involves most part of the face and neck, we prefer surgical treatment and consistently obtain better result than other treatment modalities. Wide excision and proper reconstruction of the face helps the patient for their better life aesthetically and functionally.
Cryotherapy ; Electrocoagulation ; Hemangioma* ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; Neck* ; Steroids

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to assess whether uterine intraendometrial or intramyometrial arterial blood flow impedance in Doppler sonography is related to the outcomes of IVF-ET cycles. METHODS: A total of 24 patients undergoing IVF-ET was recruited for the study. All patients received controlled ovarian hyperstimulation(COH) with GnRH agonist and gonadotropins. Doppler sonographic examinations were performed by using Combison 530(Medison) with 5.5 MHz transvaginal probe. Pulsatility index(PI) was evaluated for uterine, radial, and spiral arteries on the days of hCG administration, oocyte retrieval, and embryo transfer(ET). Serum E2 level was assayed on the hCG day. RESULTS: The overall pregnancy rate after IVF-ET was 29.2%(7/24). There was no significant difference in PI of uterine artery between pregnant and nonpregnant groups, No pregnancy occurred in 4(16.7%) patients without intraendometrial or subendometrial blood flow. Compared with nonpregnant group, PI of radial artery on the hCG day and PI of spiral artery on the hCG and oocyte retrieval days were significantly lower in pregnant group. There were no significant correlations between Serum E level on the hCG day and Pl of any three arteries. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the Doppler sonographic parameter, PI, of intraendometrial and intramyometrial arteries are more useful than that of uterine artery not only in predicting the success of IVF-ET, but also in assessing the endometrial receptivity.
Arteries* ; Electric Impedance ; Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pregnancy* ; Radial Artery ; Serum ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Doppler* ; Uterine Artery

OBJECTIVES: Patients with organic brain lesion can produce unique slow waves (delta and theta) in the EEG. Basic assumption of this study was that the low resolution electro magnetic tomography (LORETA), an inverse source localization program, can provide functional images representing increased slow wave activity in these patients compared to normal subjects. METHODS: The current study was performed by 18 channels digital EEG for 10 patients whose organic deficit have been visually confirmed by CT or MRI. The source images of slow wave (1-7 Hz) frequency were produced by LORETA-key program. RESULTS: We found that in eight out of ten subjects, LORETA successfully found out the source regions which were very closely matched to their original brain lesions. However in two subjects whose organic brain lesions were too small (<1 cm) and located out of gray matter, we failed to find any increased slow wave activity compared with normal control. CONCLUSION: We can conclude that LORETA could be a useful method to provide functional imaging in patients with gray matter deficits in their brain. Its usefulness and limitations were discussed.
Brain* ; Electroencephalography ; Functional Neuroimaging ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnets* ; Neuroimaging*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal Korean women, and to evaluate if VDR gene polymorphisms are associated with serum levels of 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D3 and bone turnover markers METHODS: The BsmI, TaqI, ApaI, and FokI polymorphisms were analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism in 443 postmenopausal Korean women. Serum CrossLaps (CTX), bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), osteocalcin and 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D3 levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and immmunoassay and BMD at the lumbar spine and proximal femur by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: BMD at the femoral neck and Ward' triangle in women with the Bb, and Tt genotype (uppercase letters signifying the absence and lowercase letters the presence of the restriction site) was lower than that in women with the bb, and tt genotype respectively. Haplotype analysis showed that BbTt genotype had lower BMD at all skeletal sites than bbtt genotype. No significant association between adjusted BMD at any skeletal site and the FokI or ApaI genotypes was observed. There were no significant associations between the adjusted levels of the bone markers and 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D3 and single or combined genotypes. CONCLUSION: The VDR gene BsmI, and TaqI polymorphisms are genetic factors which may affect BMD at the lumbar spine and proximal femur in postmenopausal Korean women, but does not affect serum levels of 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D3 and bone turnover markers.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Bone Density* ; Cholecalciferol ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Osteocalcin ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Receptors, Calcitriol* ; Spine ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Laparoscopy* ; Pleural Effusion*

BACKGROUND: Pneumonia is a common medical complication after acute stroke, and makes a considerable influence on the prognosis. It is potentially preventable or treatable if early recognized. Thus, the identification of which patients are at risk for the development of pneumonia is clinically significant. METHODS: A total of 240 patients with an acute stroke who were consecutively admitted to a Seoul National University Hospital were studied. The following prognostic factors were accounted for in the statistical analyses: age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, cardiac disease, smoking, recurrent stroke, NIHSS, modified Rankin scale (mRS), the presence of dysphagia, blood pressure, body temperature, white blood cell count, blood sugar, fibrinogen, Levin tube insertion, Foley catheter insertion, and subtype of stroke. RESULTS: Pneumonia was diagnosed in 36 (17.0%) patients during the acute stage of stroke, particularly within 2 weeks. Average admission stay of patients with pneumonia was 38.7 days, whereas it was 19.3 days for those without pneumonia. By multivariate analysis, Levin tube insertion, body temperature, recurrent stroke, and mRS were significant predictor of pneumonia development. Forty percent of patients with four or five points of mRS developed pneumonia, compared to 6% in less than four points. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that the patients who have Levin tube, high mRS, or recurrent stroke tend to develop pneumonia after acute stroke. It is important for early detection and prevention of pneumonia in patients with high mRS.
Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Temperature ; Catheters ; Deglutition Disorders ; Fibrinogen ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Leukocyte Count ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pneumonia* ; Prognosis ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stroke*