No abstract available.
Animals ; Interleukin-2* ; Interleukin-6* ; Mice* ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa* ; Pseudomonas*

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether longitudinal changes in positive and negative symptoms affect cognitive functioning in chronic schizophrenia. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients diagnosed with DSM-IV schizophrenia were examined on two occasions over 6 months for symptoms and cognitive changes. Symptoms were measured by PANSS. Cognitive functions were examined for sustained attention, executive function, concentration and attention, and verbal memory and learning using Degraded Stimulus Continuous Performance Test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Digit Span, and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, respectively. Twenty control subjects were assessed to compare the cognitive scores of remitted schizophrenic patients. RESULTS: Patients showed significant improvement in symptoms and all cognitive tests after 6 months treatments. Significant improvements in positive and negative symptoms did not predict improvements in any aspect of cognitive functioning measured. Normal controls performed significantly better than remitted schizophrenic patients on all cognitive tests. The results show no relationship between change in symptoms and change in cognition in chronic schizophrenia. CONCLUSION: We suggest that symptomatic and cognitive impairment may be a distinct construct. These findings highlight the importance of treating cognitive impairment in addition to the clinical symptoms of schizophrenia.
Cognition ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Executive Function ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Learning ; Memory ; Schizophrenia* ; Verbal Learning ; Wisconsin

No abstract available.
Foot* ; Polydactyly* ; Syndactyly*

The malar bones are major determinants of mid-facial shape. In an oriental population, malar prominences are considered an unpleasing and undesirable feature because they give the face a triangular shape and may produce an emaciated and sunken appearance. There are two main operative approaches to malarplasty. One is a coronal approach and the other is a intraoral approach. The former possess advantages of symmetricity, accuracy and superiorly, medially and posteriorly aesthetical transposition of the malar bone. However, it has drawbacks such as a long visible scar on the scalp and extensive operation. Though the latter is a simple method avoiding a visible scar, it has some problems of asymmetricity, cheekdrooping, partial transposition of the malar complex and difficulty of aesthetic transposition. The authors intended to perform intraoral malarplasty for symmetrically aesthetic transposition of the whole malar bone without cheekdrooping. From February 1996 to January 1999, 9 female patients with prominent malar complex, in whom the coronal incision was objectionable, had intraoral malarplasty performed with 2-point fixation after L-shaped osteotomy involving the zygomatic process of maxilla, resulting in symmetric and aesthetically desirable three dimensional transposition of the malar bone.
Cicatrix ; Female ; Humans ; Maxilla* ; Osteotomy ; Scalp ; Zygoma

Truncus arteriosus is characterized by a single arterial vessel arising from the base of the heart and giving origin to the systemic, pulmonary and coronary circulation. To evaluate the incidence, types, and associated anomalies, 18cases of truncus arteriosus diagnosed by angiocardiography, were reviewed and were compared with other reports. Ten of them were confirmed by operation. The overall incidence of truncus arteriosus was 0.127%. Accordin to Collett and Edwards classification. Type I was encountered in 11cases(61%), type II in 4cases(22%), and type III in 3cases(17%), All the patients had subtruncal ventricular septal defects. Eight patients showed truncal valve regurgitation and valve stenosis was noted in one case. A right aortic arch was present in 9 cases. Associated anomalies were atrial septal defect(8cases), patent ductus arteriosus(3cases), coarctation of the aorta(2cases), isolation of the left subclavian artery(2 cases), and right aortic arch with an aberrant left subclavian artery(1case). Truncus arteriosus is an uncommon congenital cardio vascular malformation. In the group of cases which we encountered, type I was the most common anomaly. Frequently associated anomalies were right aortic arch, incompetent truncal valve and atrial septal defect.
Angiocardiography ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Classification ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Circulation ; Heart ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Truncus Arteriosus* ; Vascular Malformations

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to identify the CT findings that help detect pleural dissemination from lung cancer and to evaluate the usefulness of selected diagnostic criteria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After a computerized database search of 606 patients who had undergone thoracotomy for primary lung cancer, 23 patients were identified as h aving surgically documented pleural dissemination. From the same database, 50 patients without pleural dissemination during thoracotomy were randomly selected as controls. Preoperative CT scans and medical records were rev i ewed retrospectively, and findings were compared between the two groups. RESULT: One or more of three types of pleural thickening (plaque-like, nodular, and fissural) were identified on CT as the most discriminating finding (sensitivity, 74 % ; specificity, 60 %; p = 0.007). The following findings were also significantly discriminating (p<0.05): contiguity of primary tumor with the pleural surface as seen on CT; adenocarcinoma in cell type; and a peripheral tumor defined as one in which bronchoscopy revealed no endobronchial lesion. The use of combinations of these findings in addition to pleural thickening rendered diagnostic criteria more specific at the cost of the sensitivity. CONCLUSION: During preoperative CT evaluation of lung cancer, the recognition of subtle pleural thickening helps detect pleural dissemination. The likelihood that subtle pleural thickening represents pleural dissemination is increased when a primary tumor is contiguous with the pleural surface, is an adenocarcinoma, or is peripherally located.
Adenocarcinoma ; Bronchoscopy ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thoracotomy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Scalp* ; Skin* ; Transplants*

As modern society becomes increasingly complex, there has been a steady increase in violence, as well as in automobile and industrial accidents. This has resulted in an increased incidence of facial injuries, including mandibular fractures. Many methods have been advocated to achieve reestablishment of normal feature and function. The choice generally depends upon such factors as location of the fractures, displacements, status of the dentition and favorability of the fracture line. Many cases of mandibular fracture are treated by intermaxillay fixation using an arch bar or bite block(acrylic splint)for rapid bone union and minimal displacement. However, there had been some problems, such as discomfort to patients, limitation to eating and weight loss, poor oral hygiene, and temporomandibular joint ankylosis. As a consequence, we have modified the shape of the acrylic splint and method of fixation for circum-mandibular fixation instead of intermaxillary fixation. Acrylic splints are rigid, strong, easily adjusted and repaired, translucent, lightweight and well tolerated by the oral mucosa. The splints are properly secured to each tooth and bind all the teeth together as a single unit. Authors have used modified acrylic splints as tools of circum-mandibular fixation in 12 cases of mandibular symphysis and body fracture from May 1997 to August 1998, achieving the results of very good occlusal relationship, oral hygiene and comfort to patients.
Accidents, Occupational ; Ankylosis ; Automobiles ; Dentition ; Eating ; Facial Injuries ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mandibular Fractures* ; Mouth Mucosa ; Oral Hygiene ; Splints* ; Temporomandibular Joint ; Tooth ; Violence ; Weight Loss

The most important basic requirements for successful skin grafting are the accurate approximation of the edge of the skin graft to that of the wound and the application of even pressure to the graft by a carefully designed dressing. Pressure dressing is indicated for the protection of the graft and the prevention of shearing between the graft and its bed. One of the most widely used methods of pressure dressing is tie-over dressing. The traditional technique is based on the application of long silk sutures along the margin of the graft that are tied over bolus of antibiotics oint-impregnated nonadherent fluffed gauze. With the traditional tie-over dressing, it is impossible to inspect the graft bed for possible hematoma and seroma during the application of dressing. So we adopted another modification of the previously described tie-over dressing methods. From January 1997 to July 1997, we had performed 27 skin graft surgeries and 8 subdermal shavings in 35 patients with our new method of tie-over dressing. We can apply even pressure to the grafts by twisting the long silk sutures instead of typing.In comparison with the plethora of devices and techniques described previously in tie-over dressing construction, our technique offers simplicity and reliable fixation of the graft to the bed and allows further adjustment of the dressing by individual tightening of the threads. Other particularly attractive features are the ability to inspect the graft at any time with little difficulty and the reapplicability of tie-over dressing with the remaining long threads if needed.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bandages* ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Seroma ; Silk ; Skin ; Skin Transplantation ; Sutures ; Transplants ; Wounds and Injuries

Folliculosebaceous cystic hamartoma (FCH) is a recently recognized adnexal tumor and is composed of follicular, sebaceous and mesenchymal elements such as small vessels, adipocytes and neural component in the fibrous stroma. It usually presents as an exophytic papule or nodule on the central part of the face. We describe a 39-year-old woman with FCH on the right upper back, which is an unusual site. A biopsy specimen demonstrated a follicular structure in infundibuiar nature, sebaceous lobules attached to it, and compactly laminated fibrous stroma with an increased number of vessels in it. Immunohistochemically, many of the vessels in the stroma showed positive reaction for CD34, and Factor VIII.
Adipocytes ; Adult ; Biopsy ; Factor VIII ; Female ; Hamartoma* ; Humans