BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide(NO), a multifunctional mediator, is known as a endothelium-derived relaxing factor, a neurotransmitter, and a killer molecule formed by activated immune cells and participates in tissue destruction via apoptosis. In the skin, an increase in apoptotic cells has been desribed in the epidermis in various lichenoid diseases, in response, to ultraviolet radiation, and in neoplasia. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether a positive correlation occurs between iNOS(inducible nitric oxide synthase) expression and apoptosis index in psoriasis vulgaris(PV), lichen planus(LP), and Bowen's disease(BD). METHODS: TUNEL staining and immunohistochemical staining with anti-iNOS antibody were done in paraffin-embedded tissue sections of 4 cases of PV, 4 cases of LP, and 2 cases of BD.
Apoptosis* ; Bowen's Disease* ; Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors ; Epidermis ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Lichen Planus* ; Lichens* ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Nitric Oxide ; Psoriasis* ; Skin

Aspirin(ASA) and NSAIDs can induce bronchoconstriction in 10~20% of adult asthmatics patients. Inhalation of lysine-ASA(L-ASA) has been described as an alternative method for diagnosis of ASA-sensitive asthma. To further understand the characterlstics of ASA-sensitive asthmas. we studied 38 asthmatic patients with ASA -sensitivity (36 intrinsic and 2 extrinsic asthma) proven by L-ASA bronchoprovocation test (BPT). Most were female (male to female ratio was 27:73). Twenty (53%) of them had no previous history of adverse reactions when exposed to ASA. Twenty nine (79%) had rhino-sinusitis symptoms. Early asthmatic response was observed in 16 (42%) patients, late only response in 16(42%), and dual response in 6(16%) patients. The threshold of L-ASA to provoke a positive response ranged from 11.2 to 180 mg/ml and most (68.3%) had a positive response after the inhalation of 180 mg/ml. Concurrent sensitivity to sulfite was noted in 14 (36%) patients, followed by sensitivity to tartrazine in one (3%) patient. None showed a positive response to sodium benzoate. After the avoidance from ASA/ NSAIDs with administration of anti-asthmatic medications, symptom and medication scores reduced in 26(87%) patients among 30 followed patients. They were classified into the improved group: four (13%) patients belonged to the not-improved group. There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics between the improved and not- improved group (p>0.05). In conclusion, L-ASA BPT could be considered as a useful method to diagnose ASA -sensitive asthma and be used to screen the causative agent for asthmatic patients with intrinsic type, especially in female patients with rhino-sinusitis and/or nasal polyp, even though they do not have arty history of adverse reactions. Cessation of exposure and proper treatment may allow to reduce symptom and medication scores.
Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Asthma* ; Bronchoconstriction ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Nasal Polyps ; Sodium Benzoate ; Tartrazine

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head after renal transplantation, evaluate plain radiographic and MR findings, and compare known predisposing factors between the AVN group and the control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between August 1990 and June 1998, 256 renal transplantations were carried out at the Maryknoll hospital. The incidence of AVN was determined clinically, and in the AVN group, plain radiographic and MR findings were evaluated. A control group of 29 cases was randomly selected from among the remaining 241 patients, and acute rejection, mean daily steroid dose and osteopenia were compared between the AVN group and the control group. RESULTS: The incidence of AVN of the femoral head was 5.9 %(15/256). Involvement was bilateral in nine cases and unilateral in six and 24 femoral heads were thus affected. The mean period required for diagnosis of this condition was 10.7 months(within 6 months: 2 hips, between 6 -12 months: 10, between 12 -24 months: 9, over 24 months: 3). Plain radiographs showed that three cases were Ficat stage I, five were stage II, seven were stage III, and nine were stage IV. MRI indicated that 15 cases were Mitchell class A, one was class C, and three were class D. Correlation between Ficat stage and the period required for diagnosis showed that the longer the latter, the higher the Ficat stage. A comparison of risk factors between the AVN group and the control group showed that the incidence of acute rejection and osteopenia, and the mean daily steroid dose, were higher in the AVN group than in the rejection group and that the difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The incidence of AVN of the femoral head after renal transplantation was 5.9 %. The longer the period required for diagnosis of AVN, the higher the Ficat stage. A comparison of risk factors between the AVN group and the rejection group showed that the incidence of acute rejection and osteopenia as well as the mean daily steroid dose, were higher in the AVN group than in the rejection group, and these may thus be pre-disposing factors for AVN. In patients with these risk factors, even though plain radiographic findings are normal, MRI is necessary if AVN is to be diagnosed during its early stages.
Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Causality ; Diagnosis ; Head* ; Hip ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Necrosis* ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: To develop reliable tools for measuring communication skills in schizophrenia, the present study proposed the concept of communication intelligence, consisting of conversational competence, emotional competence, and empathic competence, and explored its neurobiological underpinnings using regional gray matter volume with healthy people. METHODS: Communicative intelligence scores were obtained from 126 healthy young participants. Correlation analyses between regional volume distributions and communication intelligence subcomponents were conducted using voxel-based morphometry of structural MRI. RESULTS: The significant positive correlations between the regional gray matter volumes with conversational competence were found mainly at the ventromedial frontal gyrus while the negative correlations between the bilateral middle frontal gyrus. With emotional competence, the volume of right superior temporal gyrus was positively and that of bilateral insula was negatively correlated. With empathic competence, the volume of the left middle frontal gyrus was positively and that of the insula was negatively correlated. CONCLUSION: Each of the subcomponents of communicative intelligence scores showed distinctive neurobiological underpinnings. The regions for the subcomponents, which constitute a common network for social cognition and emotion, are highly associated with the regions of the schizophrenia pathology. In conclusion, communicative intelligence scales have neurobiological basis to evaluate social skills of patients with schizophrenia.
Cognition ; Humans ; Intelligence* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mental Competency ; Pathology ; Schizophrenia ; Weights and Measures

Human untreated costal cartilage was compared with lyophilized human costal cartilage which was treated with defatting solution for 48 hours and freeze drying for 72 hours (-70degree C, 10??bar) on the tendency of distortion. All cartilages, which were taken from six cadavers, were carved 5x5x30mm in size on principle of the balanced cross section. Their distortions were evaluated by two methods at intervals of one week, one month, three months, six months after experiment. At first, the degree of distortion was grossly graded with four steps: grade O; no distortion / grade I; minimal distortion / grade II; moderate distortion / grade III; severe distortion. Second method is measurement and quantification of distortion in the horizontal and vertical plane of cartilage.Untreated cartilage is shown to be an unsatisfactory material, with only three(12%) of the 25 cartilages being cosmetically acceptable(grade 0 and 1) after 6 months. In lyophilized cartilage, 18(94%) of the 19 cartilages were cosmetically acceptable(grade 0 and 1) at 6 months. This figure is highly significant(p<0.01). In another method, distortion in the horizontal(h) and vertical (v) planes of cartilage were measured, and mean values of ???? were calculated. In untreated group, the mean values of ???? were 0.82 at 1 week, 0.91 at 1 month, 1.13 at 3 months, and 1.31 at 6 months. In lyophilized group, the mean values were 0.27 at 1 week, 0.29 at 1 month, 0.40 at 3 months and 0.47 at 6 months. All values were statistically significant(p<0.01).
Cadaver ; Cartilage* ; Freeze Drying ; Humans

Eccrine nevus is a rare benign cutaneous lesion, frequently present at birth or at an early age. Herein we report on a 1-year-old girl with erythematous papules in a zosteriform arrangement associated with hyperhidrosis on the left side of her trunk.
Female ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis ; Nevus* ; Parturition

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate whether an individualized cancer patient education would increase selfcare knowledge and performance. Eventually, it was to reduce side effect and promote self-care for chemotherapy. METHOD: This study utilized a nonequivalent control group pre-post test design. The subjects included 50 patients with cancer 25 in the experimental group, and 25 in the control group. The study was performed from January 2006 to June 2006 for the patients who were first treated by chemotherapy in a university hospital. RESULTS: Individualized education was significantly increased in self-care knowledge and performance. Self-care knowledge and performance showed significant correlations as well. CONCLUSIONS: Individualized patient education was an effective nursing intervention in increasing self-care knowledge and performance for chemotherapy.
Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Humans ; Patient Education as Topic ; Self Care

In order to investigate working conditions of underground coal mines, this work was undertaken to evaluate the respirable dust and the concentration of quartz in Taeback and Kangneung areas. The concentration of quartz was determined by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry. The results were as follows; 1) The concentration of respirable dust of drilling and coal face in Taeback and Kangneung areas were as followed. 2) Distribution of respirable dust was well fitted to the long-normal distribution and geometric mean value was log(-1) 0.37+/-log(-1) 0.47 (2.34+/-2.95) mg/m3. 3) The difference of respirable dust concentrations in Taeback and Kangneung areas was not significant statistically (p>0.05). 4) The concentration of quartz of drilling and coal face in Taeback and Kangneung areas were as followed. 5) Distribution of quartz concentrations was well fitted to the log-normal distribution and geometric mean value was log(-1) 0.33+/-log(-1) 0.45 (2.14+/-2.82)%. 6) The difference of quartz concentrations in Taeback and Kangneung areas was not significant (p>0.05), but significant at drilling sites and coal faces (p<0.05).
Coal* ; Dust* ; Fourier Analysis ; Gangwon-do* ; Quartz* ; Spectrophotometry, Infrared

The aim of this study was to determine whether losartan, an angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 (AT1) receptor could influence the CA release from the isolated perfused model of the rat adrenal medulla. Losartan (5~50 micrometer) perfused into an adrenal vein for 90 min produced dose- and time-dependent inhibition of the CA secretory responses evoked by ACh (5.32 mM), high K+ (56 mM, a direct membrane depolarizer), DMPP (100 micrometer) and McN-A-343 (100 micrometer). Losartan failed to affect basal CA output. Furthermore, in adrenal glands loaded with losartan (15 micrometer) for 90 min, the CA secretory responses evoked by Bay-K-8644 (10 micrometer, an activator of L-type Ca2+ channels), cyclopiazonic acid (10 micrometer, an inhibitor of cytoplasmic Ca2+-ATPase), veratridine (100 micrometer, an activator of Na+ channels), and Ang II (100 nM) were markedly inhibited. However, at high concentrations (150~300 micrometer), losartan rather enhanced the CA secretion evoked by ACh. Collectively, these experimental results suggest that losartan at low concentrations inhibits the CA secretion evoked by cholinergic stimulation (both nicotininc and muscarinic receptors) as well as by membrane depolarization from the rat adrenal medulla, but at high concentration it rather inhibits ACh-evoked CA secretion. It seems that losartan has a dual action, acting as both agonist and antagonist to nicotinic receptors of the rat adrenal medulla, which might be dependent on the concentration. It is also thought that this inhibitory effect of losartan may be mediated by blocking the influx of both Na+ and Ca2+ into the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells as well as by inhibiting the Ca2+ release from the cytoplasmic calcium store, which is thought to be relevant to the AT1 receptor blockade, in addition to its enhancement of the CA release.
(4-(m-Chlorophenylcarbamoyloxy)-2-butynyl)trimethylammonium Chloride ; 3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester ; Adrenal Glands ; Adrenal Medulla ; Angiotensin II ; Animals ; Calcium ; Chromaffin Cells ; Cytoplasm ; Dimethylphenylpiperazinium Iodide ; Indoles ; Losartan ; Membranes ; Rats ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; Veins ; Veratridine

Angiolipomas are usually found in the soft tissues of the extremity, trunk, or neck. Spinal angiolipomas are rare, accounting for between 0.14% and 1.2% of spinal axis tumors, and the majority are extradural. We report a case of surgically proven extradural spinal angiolipoma with a high vascular content and involving the thoracic level.
Angiolipoma* ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Extremities ; Neck