No abstract available.
Dacarbazine* ; Gabexate*

Systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) is a disease of unknown etiology in which multiple organs are damaged by pathogenic autoantibodies and immune complexes. Neuropsychiatric manifestations in SLE were first described by Kaposi in 1872. These are so diverse that they include psychosis, depression, stroke, seizure and cognitive dysfunction etc. These patients are frequently consulted for psychiatric evaluation. Neuropsychiatric manifestations in SLE are also among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality and associated with poor long-term outcome. So it is essential to recognize and intervene these symptoms early. But the clear diagnostic criteria for CNS involvement in SLE have not been formulated, and diversity and fluctuation of illness make it difficult to confirm it. The authors reported three cases of SLE with severe neuropsychiatric manifestations. These patients showed symptoms such as disorientation, auditory and visual hallucibation, delusion and mood instability. They became frequently impulsive and violent and had risks to injure themselves or others. Although CNS involvement in SLE is not well known, we reviewed the pathogenesis, classification, diagnosis, clinical manifestation and treatment of them.
Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Autoantibodies ; Classification ; Delusions ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Mortality ; Psychotic Disorders ; Seizures ; Stroke

Redox-regulating molecule, recombinant human thioredoxin (rhTRX) which shows anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative effects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated inflammation and regulate protein expression levels. LPS-induced reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) and NO production were inhibited by exogenous rhTRX. We identified up/downregulated intracellular proteins under the LPS-treated condition in exogenous rhTRX-treated A375 cells compared with non-LPS-treated cells via 2-DE proteomic analysis. Also, we quantitatively measured cytokines of in vivo mouse inflammation models using cytometry bead array. Exogenous rhTRX inhibited LPS-stimulated production of ROI and NO levels. TIP47 and ATP synthase may influence the inflammation-related lipid accumulation by affecting lipid metabolism. The modulation of skin redox environments during inflammation is most likely to prevent alterations in lipid metabolism through upregulation of TIP47 and ATP synthase and downregulation of inflammatory cytokines. Our results demonstrate that exogenous rhTRX has anti-inflammatory properties and intracellular regulatory activity in vivo and in vitro. Monitoring of LPS-stimulated pro-inflammatory conditions treated with rhTRX in A375 cells could be useful for diagnosis and follow-up of inflammation reduction related with candidate proteins. These results have a therapeutic role in skin inflammation therapy.
Animals ; Antioxidants/*pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Inflammation/metabolism ; *Lipid Metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Proteome/genetics/metabolism ; Skin/drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Thioredoxins/*pharmacology

PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate nurses' knowledge of, and compliance with the multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) infection control guidelines. METHODS: A survey questionnaire was developed based on the institutional and national guidelines and was administered to a convenience sample of 306 nurses in a university hospital. RESULTS: The mean score for knowledge was 33.87 (percentage of correct answers: 82.61%). The percentages of correct answers for basic concepts, route of transmission, hand washing/protective devices and environment management were 74.27%, 94.29%, 92.90% and 75.54% respectively. The mean compliance score was 4.15 (range: 1-5). The compliance scores for education, communication, contact precaution, disinfection, surveillance culture, and hand washing were 3.29, 4.05, 4.20, 4.50, 4.40 and 4.48 respectively. Nurses indicated "lack of time (30.06%)", "lack of means (10.78%)" and "lack of knowledge (9.48%)" as reasons for noncompliance. CONCLUSION: While most educational programs have focused on hand washing or use of protective devices to prevent transmission of MDRO in acute care settings, hospital nurses' knowledge of the basic concepts of MDRO and environmental management has remained insufficient. Nurses are relatively non-compliant to the guidelines in the areas of education (staff, patient, family) and communication. Comprehensive educational programs are needed to decrease hospital infection rates and to improve the health of patients.
Adult ; Attitude of Health Personnel ; *Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Female ; Guideline Adherence ; *Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Infection Control/methods/*standards ; Nursing Staff, Hospital/education/*psychology ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Questionnaires

Angiomyolipoma arising from the liver is a rare primary benign lipomatous tumor of the lever. We experienced a case of surgically proven hepatic angiomyolipoma, which was preoperatively diagnosed by definning of its characteristic histologic components and benign radiologic nature with various imaging modalities including ultrasound, dynamic computed tomography, angiography, and magnetic resonance imaging. It was the first reported case in the world that full radiologic evaluation was taken and internal vascular proliferation was defined by using dynamic bolus CT prior to angiography.
Angiography ; Angiomyolipoma* ; Liver* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Ultrasonography

Angiomyolipoma arising from the liver is a rare primary benign lipomatous tumor of the lever. We experienced a case of surgically proven hepatic angiomyolipoma, which was preoperatively diagnosed by definning of its characteristic histologic components and benign radiologic nature with various imaging modalities including ultrasound, dynamic computed tomography, angiography, and magnetic resonance imaging. It was the first reported case in the world that full radiologic evaluation was taken and internal vascular proliferation was defined by using dynamic bolus CT prior to angiography.
Angiography ; Angiomyolipoma* ; Liver* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Ultrasonography

Background and Objectives: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) elicit therapeutic effects against liver fibrosis in animal models. Human liver stem cells (HLSCs) are cells isolated from human liver tissue that have mesenchymal morphology and express MSC markers. HLSCs also possess intrahepatic stem cell properties. We introduce a rat model of liver fibrosis and trans-portal transplantation of HLSC to demonstrate alleviation of liver fibrosis. Methods: and Results: Liver fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of Carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ). Sprague Dawley rats underwent simultaneous partial hepatectomy of the left hepatic lobe and HLSC transplantation via the portal vein. Gross appearance of the liver observed following CCl 4 injection showed cholestasis and surface nodularity. Sirius red staining revealed deposition of collagen fibers in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Following HLSC transplantation, human albumin secreting cells were detected by immunohistochemistry in liver specimens. Quantitative measurements of fibrosis area stained by Sirius red were compared between baseline and post-HLSC transplant (1×10 7 cells) following 10 weeks of CCl 4treatment liver specimens. Fibrosis area (p＜0.05), serum markers of liver inflammation and fibrosis (AST, ALT levels and APRI, p＜0.05) significantly decreased from baseline after HLSC transplantation. RNA expression in liver tissues revealed significant decrease in tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1), TIMP2 expression and increase in hepatocyte growth factor expression following HLSC transplantation (p＜0.05). Conclusions HLSC transplantation effectively reduced the area of liver fibrosis with increased expression of factors promoting ECM degradation. These findings suggest the potential therapeutic role of HLSCs in various liver diseases presenting with liver fibrosis.

PURPOSE: The clinical efficacy of allergen-immunotherapy is known to be dose dependent. However, optimal maintenance dosage has not yet been determined for sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). Furthermore, since companies adopt their own units for expression of allergenicity, the allergen concentrations of individual reagents cannot be compared easily. We sought to measure and compare the allergenicities of 3 commercially available house dust mite (HDM) SLIT regents and a subcutaneous immunotherapy reagent. METHODS: We measured the HDM allergenic potency of the maintenance dosages of three SLIT reagents: Staloral(R) (300 index of reactivity [IR] /mL, recommended maintenance dosage [MD]: 120 IR), SLITone(R) (1,000 standard therapeutic unit [STU]/mL, recommended MD: 200 STU), Wolwopharma(R) (100 microg/mL, recommended MD: 20 microg), and subcutaneous immunotherapy regents of Hollister-Stier (10,000 allergy unit [AU] /mL). The allergenic potency was assessed by measuring the total protein concentrations, mite group 1 and 2 allergens using 2-site ELISA, and an inhibition test against IgE specific to Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. RESULTS: The protein content of the Wolwopharma(R) reagent was 1.5-261.4 times higher than that of the other 2 SLIT reagents. The concentration of group 1 major allergens in Staloral(R) (132.03 microg/mL) was 33- to 44.5-fold higher than in SLITone(R) (4.00 microg/mL) and Wolwopharma(R) (2.97 microg/mL). The concentration of group 2 major allergen was also 8.9- to 10.5-fold higher in Staloral(R) (15.7 microg/mL) than in SLITone(R) (1.8 microg/mL) or Wolwopharma(R) (1.5 microg/mL). An ELISA inhibition study against HDM-specific IgE showed that the allergen potency of Staloral(R) reagent is 8.5-fold and 21-fold higher than that of SLITone(R) or Wolwopharma(R), respectively. The differences between the maintenance dosages are further exaggerated by the differences in the recommended volumes of SLIT reagents. CONCLUSIONS: The allergen potencies of commercially available HDM SLIT reagents are markedly different. Consensus regarding the optimal allergen concentration for SLIT reagents used to treat HDM respiratory allergies is needed.
Allergens ; Consensus ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunotherapy ; Indicators and Reagents* ; Mites ; Pyroglyphidae* ; Sublingual Immunotherapy*

Corrections for Table. 1 in page 125 are needed. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused.

PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to identify risk factors associated with anastomotic leakage (AL) after an anterior resection (high anterior resection+low anterior resection) for rectal cancer. METHODS: Between January 1998 and December 2007, 356 patients underwent an anterior resection for rectal cancer. Early anastomotic leakage (EAL) was defined as leakage identified during hospitalization. Late anastomotic leakage (LAL) was defined as leakage identified in outpatients. RESULTS: AL (EAL+LAL) occurred in 30 patients (8.4%, mean time: 15.4 days). Among of them, EAL occurred in 20 patients (5.6%, mean time: 5.1 days), and LAL occurred in 10 patients (2.8%, mean time: 36.0 days). In the univariate analysis, the size of the tumor, the tumor level from the anal verge, and the level of anastomosis were significantly associated with AL. In EAL, the size of the tumor, the tumor level from the anal verge, the level of anastomosis, the operation type, and the value of serum albumin on day 3 after the operation were risk factors. In LAL, the tumor level from the anal verge and the level of anastomosis were risk factors. In the multivariate analysis, tumor size >7 cm (AL: P<0.001, EAL: P<0.001) and tumor level from the anal verge < or =8 cm (AL: P=0.014, EAL: P=0.001) were independent risk factors. CONCLUSION: AL and EAL after an anterior resection for rectal cancer were related to the size of the tumor and the level of the tumor from the anal verge.
Anastomotic Leak ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Outpatients ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Risk Factors ; Serum Albumin