No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma

No abstract available.
Eating ; Functional Food ; Hypertrichosis ; Minoxidil

Operative reduction is not essential for mild to moderate spondylolisthesis, but some authors agree that reduction of spondylolisthesis is beneficial for widening of intervertebral canal and consequently for decompression of neural tissue even though the degree of slippage is grade I or II. In our institute, we sometimes reduced the slippage for these reasons. But at follow up study we would find redisplacement and the degree of it seemed to be associated with the kind of instruments. So we analyzed redisplacement rate according to the kind of instruments in 59 cases of spondylolisthesis that were followed more than one year. The conclusions were as follow; 1. There was no significant correlation between reduction and redisplacement rate with pathologic type, lesion site, age,iscectomy and clinical result at least in grade I or II spondylolisthesis (P>0.05). 2. The pedicle screw system was more useful in reduction and its maintenance than the Luque ring system (P<0.001). 3. Redisplacement was occurred mainly within 2 months after operation, 4. The cause of redisplacement after reduction seems to be associated with mechanical insecurity before consolidation of the grafted bone takes place.
Decompression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Spondylolisthesis* ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Indocyanine Green* ; Skin*

It has been known that the immunological functions against cancer cells were diminished, and these phenomena result from the inhibition of cell-mediated immunity by substance(s) secreted from cancer cells. It was also reported that the immunological functions decreased in patients with stomach cancer, which is the most frequent cnacer in Korean. However, the nature and function of the inhibitory factor(s) orignated from stomach cancer have not been identified. To elucidate effects of immuological inhibitory factor(s) secreted from cancer cells, SNU-1 (stomach cancer) and SW480 P109/R3P2 (colon cancer) were used in this study. Jurkat T cell line, an acute T cell leukemia, was pre-incubated with fractionated cancer cell culture supernatant for 3 days, then was stimulated with PMA, PWVanti-CD28 mAb or PMA/ionomycin for 8 hrs respectively. Fraction of SNU-1 (3 - 10 kDa) and above 10 kDa of SW480 P109/R3P2 inhibited the expression of IFN-r mRNA when Jurkat T cell was stimulated with PMA. However, there were no difference in IL-2 and IL-4 gene expression response to either PMA/anti-CD28 mAb or PMA/ionomycin. These results show that cancer cells secret some inhibitory factor(s) acting on the immune response, especially IFN-r gene expression of the Jurkat T cells response to PMA. Therefore, it suggests that the inhibitory factor(s) secreted from cancer cells influences on. the PKC-dependent pathway related to the signal transduction by PMA.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Line ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Leukemia, T-Cell ; RNA, Messenger ; Signal Transduction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; T-Lymphocytes

No abstract available.
Chronic Disease* ; Risk Factors*

No abstract available.
Blood Banks*

Psoriasis is a disorder caused by genetic and immunological factors. Leptin, a peptide hormone secreted predominantly from adipose tissue, regulates energy intake and expenditure, as well as the T-helper response. There have been conflicting reports regarding serum levels of leptin and adiponectin in patients with psoriasis. In the present study, we measured serum levels of leptin and adiponectin in Korean patients with psoriasis. Twenty-four patients with psoriasis and fifteen control subjects were included in the study. Serum leptin and adiponectin levels were determined by an immunometric sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mean serum leptin concentration in patients with psoriasis was higher than in controls, and the difference was statistically significant. In contrast, serum adiponectin levels in patients with psoriasis were significantly decreased compared with healthy controls. Leptin levels in vitamin D-deficient patients were statistically significantly higher than in vitamin D-sufficient patients. Serum adiponectin concentrations showed a negative correlation with body mass index (BMI) and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) in patients with psoriasis. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that leptin and adiponectin may play a role in the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis and may be useful biomarkers indicating severity of psoriasis in Korean patients.
Adiponectin/*blood ; Adult ; Aged ; Biological Markers/blood ; Body Mass Index ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation/immunology ; Leptin/*blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psoriasis/*blood/*epidemiology ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk ; Severity of Illness Index ; Vitamin D/blood ; Vitamin D Deficiency/*blood ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Acne vulgaris is the most common skin disease worldwide, with many available treatment modalities, including oral and topical medications and laser therapy. Recently, a novel device (Isolaz, Pleasanton, CA, USA) that combines vacuum pressure and a broadband light source (400 nm to 1,200 nm) was developed for the treatment of acne. OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical efficacy and safety of photopneumatic therapy for the treatment of acne vulgaris of the face. METHODS: Twenty adults with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris received 4 successive treatments on one side of the face with a combined photopneumatic device (intense pulsed light: fluence=5.8 J/cm2; negative pressure=iMP mode) at 2 week intervals. Acne lesions on the opposite side of the face were not treated. Lesion counts were performed at baseline, prior to each treatment session, and at 3 months after the final treatment session. RESULTS: Significant lesion improvements and reduced numbers of acne lesions were observed on the treated side of the faces. Most patients experienced global clinical improvement. No severe side effects occurred during the study, with only a few patients experiencing transient erythema, purpura and/or exacerbation of pre-existing acne. CONCLUSION: Photopneumatic therapy is a safe and effective treatment for mild to moderate acne vulgaris.
Acne Vulgaris ; Adult ; Erythema ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; Light ; Purpura ; Skin Diseases ; Vacuum

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A myocardial bridge(MB) is an anatomical arrangement in which an epicardial coronary artery becomes engulfed for a limited segment by myocardial fibers. Although it has generally been felt that most instance of bridge are benign. Recent reports have suggested that MB can be associated with evidence of myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia and sudden death. This study investigated clinical characteristics of myocardial bridge and significance of treadmill test(TMT). METHOD: Among 4317 consecutive coronary angiograms performed from November 1995 to June 1999, 52 patients had a myocardial bridge. For the patients with MB, the clinical data, coronary angiography and the results of treadmill tests were reviewed. RESULT: The overall prevalence of myocardial bridge was 1.22%. Stable angina, atypical chest pain, variant angina, AMI were 33(63%), 15(29%), 2(4%), 2(%) cases, respectively. Electrocardiographic finding were normal in 31 cases(59%), ST-T change in 20 cases(38%), OMI in 1 case(3%). Mean systolic stenosis of MB was 54%, Mean length of segment of MB was 11.96 4.96mm and all patients had MBs of left anterior descending(LAD) coronary artery. Among 23 cases which had been performed TMT, 17 were positive(77%). There was no significant statistical difference between TMT(+) and TMT(-) in clinical characteristic and coronary angiographic data. We divided the patients with MB into two groups [group I(34 cases): systolic compression < 50%(mean 35.1 10.7%), group II(18 cases): systolic compression 50%(mean 63.6 14.7%)] and there were no statistical difference in clinical characteristics, TMT and angiographic data. CONCLUSION: The patients with MB present variable clinical characteristics of stable angina, atypical chest pain, variant angina, acute myocardial infarction. There is no relationship between the degree of systolic compression and TMT positive in MB. We think that symptoms of MB are not developed only by mechanical compression but concerned with other variable mechanism.
Angina, Stable ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Chest Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; Death, Sudden ; Electrocardiography ; Exercise Test ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Prevalence