No abstract available.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Scalp*

No abstract availalbe.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Inpatients*

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of PTSD on memory funtion and hippocampal volume, and to identify major variables correlated to hippocampal volume and memory function. Thirty four Vietnam veterans were collected for this study, among whom eighteen were PTSD patients and sixteen were combat control subjects. The author used Impact of Event Scale(IES), Combat Exposure Scale(CES), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HDRS) and Beck Depression Inventory(BDI). Korea Memory Assessment Scale(K-MAS) was assessed for memory function. Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) was used to measure hippocampal volume. There were significant differences between PTSD and Non-PTSD veterans in IES, HDRS and BDI. Significant difference was found in verbal memory and total memory of K-MAS between PTSD and Non-PTSD veterans. There was significant difference in hippocampal volume between PTSD and Non-PTSD veterans. Short term memory, verbal memory and total memory were positively correlated to hippocampal volume. Hippocampal volume was negatively correlated to IES, HDRS, and BDI. These results suggest that PTSD severity be associated with hippocampal atrophy and memory dysfunction. Reduced or smaller hippocampal volume may be preexisting risk factor for stress exposure or the development of PTSD on combat exposure.
Atrophy ; Depression ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Korea ; Memory* ; Risk Factors ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* ; Veterans ; Vietnam

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors in veterans for posttraumatic stress disorder and to find the correlation between the disorder and the characteristics of the variables. METHODS: We compared the risk factors in veterans between 40 diagnosed PTSD patients and 78 controls, using psychiatric by psychiatrists and measurement instruments such as CES, Mississippi scale, and BDI RESULTS: 1) There was statistically significant difference in prevalence on pre-military factor with regard to age at recruit(p<0.05) 2) PTSD on military factor was closely correlated with CES score(p<0.05) 3) There was statistically significant difference in PTSD on post-military factor with regard to occupation(p<0.05) 4) Scores of Mississippi scale, and BDI in PTSD were higher than those in control subjects(p<0.05, p<0.05) CONCLUSION: This results suggest that the likehood of developing PTSD in veterans depends on pre-military and post-military factors in addition to features of the trauma itself. Age of entry into the military, CES score, and occupation had statistically significant relationships with PTSD.
Humans ; Military Personnel ; Mississippi ; Occupations ; Prevalence ; Psychiatry ; Risk Factors* ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* ; Veterans*

PURPOSE:Growth hormone(GH) therapy is very effective for the treatment of short stature, but it is unconvenient that GH should be injected daily because of short half-life. Sustained-release forms of GH preparation is needed for better compliance. This study aimed to measure peak pattern and duration of release of hGH from solid microparticles using sodium hyaluronate. METHODS:In group 1, hGH(EutropinTM) 285microg/kg was injected subcutaneously to 2 Jindo dogs everyday for 7 days. In group 2, hGH solution(EutropinTM) was continuously infused subcutaneously for 12 hours a day for the first 2 days via mini pump(minimed co.) and then for 24 hours a day thereafter until 7th day with the rate of 11.9microg/kg/hr. In group 3, dose of 2mg/kg hGH in sustained-release formulation using sodium hyaluronate, was injected subcutaneously to 3 Jindo dogs. In group 4, two dose levels of 1mg/kg and 2mg/kg hGH in sustained-release formulation using sodium hyaluronate, were injected subcutaneously to each group of 4 Beagle dogs. To evaluate side reactions from continuous injection of sodium hyaluronate, sustained release form of hGH 2mg/kg was injected to 4 Beagle dogs once a week for 4 weeks and compared to 4 control Beagle dogs. Blood samples were withdrawn half- hourly for 6 hour and 2-4 times a day thereafter in Jindo dogs and at 6hr, 12hr, 22hr in the first day and twice a day(at 9:00, 16:00 O'clock) for the following 6 days. RESULTS:In group 1, peak GH conc. of 122+/-27ng/ml was observed at 1 hour after hGH(EutropinTM) 285microg/kg injection and 1/2 of peak GH conc. at 4 hour. and decreased to 2ng/ml at 24 hour. GH AUC(Area under curve) was 670(ng/ml.hr). In group 2, initial steady state GH conc. of 25ng/ml occurred after 6 hour, however, GH conc. decreased gradually to 16ng/ml at the 7th day. GH AUC based on th initial steady state GH conc. was 600(ng/ml.hr). In group 3(Jindo dogs), GH conc. was peaked at 12 hour and 1/2 of peak GH conc at 30-46 hour and decreased to baseline at 70 hour. GH AUC was 2173(ng/ml.hr). In group 4(Beagle dog), peak GH concentrations of 56+/-7ng/ml and 108+/-12ng/ml were observed at 12 hour for the doses of 1mg/ kg and 2mg/kg, respectively and 1/2 of peak GH conc at 48 hour and decreased to baseline at 80 hour. GH AUC was 3560(ng/ml.h) for 2mg/kg treated dogs. Serum IGF-1 was increased to peak levels of 520ng/ml, and 580ng/ml for the doses of 1mg/kg 2mg/kg, respectively, and persisted above the baseline till 120 hour. There was no specific side reaction during experimental period. CONCLUSION: Sustained-release form of hGH with sodium hyaluronate released GH for 70-80 hour with the peak level lower than that resulted from the conventional aqueous formulation of the equivalent dose, and higher concentration IGF-I maintained for 120 hour after injection above baseline. More extensive study is needed to permit for new therapeutic application.
Animals* ; Area Under Curve ; Compliance ; Dogs ; Growth Hormone* ; Half-Life ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Polymers

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Interleukin-1* ; Keratinocytes*

No abstract available.
Gastric Stump*

We report a case of morphea profunda in a 21-year-old male who had diffuse brown sclerotic plaques on his extremities. Laboratory findings showed peripheral eosinophilia and an increased titers for anti-DNA and anti-nuclear antibodies. Histopathologic findings showed diffuse fibrosis and a thickening of the lower dermis and subcutaneous tissue. He has been treated with hydroxychloroquine 400mg per day and the sclerosis of the skin improved.
Antibodies ; Dermis ; Eosinophilia ; Extremities ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Hydroxychloroquine ; Male ; Scleroderma, Localized* ; Sclerosis ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The loss of estrogen and progesterone receptors appeats to be associated with a progression to less differentiated and hormone-independent tumors. The gain of hormone independency over time even in estrogen receptor-positive tumors has become another obstacle to endocrine therapy for breast cancer. We tried to regain the hormone dependency in estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer cells by lipofecting estmgen receptor cDNA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The mutant human estrogen receptor cDNA (pSGS-HEO) was lipofected into estrogen receptor-negative human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, in an attempt to restore their sensitivity to antiestrogen. Then the effects of 17p-estradiol and tamoxifen were studied by counting viable cell numbers after treating the lipofected cell line with either one or together. RESULTS: Culture medium cantaining phenol red, a weak estrogen, has growth advantages compared with culture medium without it. In both culture conditions, cell growth was most profoundly inhibited in 4 days after lipofection with mutant human estrogen receptor cDNA, which was overcome after that day. Tamoxifen, as an antiestrogen, showed a growth inhibitory effect slightly stronger tban combined conditions of tamoxifen and 17- estradiol compared to estrogen-treated group and to control, and the inhibitory effect was lasted 4 days. CONCLUSION: The temporary induction of estrogen receptor by lipofection with pSGS-HEO on estrogen receptor-negative human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 showed negative growth control on these cells by tamoxifen, indicating that liposome-mediated estrogen receptor transfection may be used as a novel therapeutic strategy for hormane independent human breast cancers in the near future.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cell Count ; Cell Line ; DNA, Complementary ; Estradiol ; Estrogen Receptor Modulators ; Estrogens* ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans* ; Phenolsulfonphthalein ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Tamoxifen ; Transfection