BACKGROUND: In epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, it has been recognized that there exists heterogeneity in the clinical and serologic/immunopathologic features. OBJECTIVE: We examined patients with epidermolysis bullosa acquisita to see if there were any associated clinical and serological features which may predict disease activity or prognosis in the disease. METHODS: Clinical and some serologic features were compared. between 2 groups of patients with epidermolysis bullosa acquisita; one with complete remission of the symptoms and signs of the disease for more than 2 years and the other group with persistent disease activities of longer than 5 years.
Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita* ; Epidermolysis Bullosa* ; Humans ; Population Characteristics ; Prognosis

BACKGROUND: As undergoing general anesthesia for Cesarean Section, we usually maintain a light anesthesia until delivery. It provokes the high incidence of waketulness for the mothers. We surveyed the incidence of maternal wakefulness when thiopental was used as an induction agent. METHODS: Forty pregnant women (ASA class I or II) at term who underwent general anesthesia and cesarean section received thiopental, 4mg/kg. As the 'isolated forearm technique', a pressure cuff was inflated to isolate one arm from the the effects of succinylcholine so that wakefulness during anesthesia could be assessed by asking the patient to move her hand. To assess wakefulness,the patient was commanded to squeeze the investigator's hand a specified number of times. If the patient promptly squeezed the investigator's hand the appropriate number of times, the command was repeated but a different number of times specified. Only if the patient responded correctly both times, then we noted as a positive response. This test was repeated at 1 minute intervals beginning 1 minute after thiopental injection through the delivery. RESULTS: Five of the forty patients (12.5%) showed wakefulness. Twenty nine of the forty patients showed 'reaching movements'. One patient showed both wakefulness and 'reaching movements'. CONCLUSIONS: When we undergo general anesthesia for Cesarean Section, especially using thiopental as an induction agent, we should consider the maternal wakefulness seriously.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Obstetrical ; Arm ; Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Forearm* ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mothers ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Succinylcholine ; Thiopental ; Wakefulness*

No abstract available in English.
Blood Pressure ; Immobilization ; Orthopedics

Through the clinicopathologic study of pathergy test sites of 16 patients with Behrets disease in the active or inactive stage, the following results were obtained; 1. In the active stage, six of 16 patients (37.5%) showed positive reactions in clinical pathergy tests, which are much higher than that in the inactive stage when only one patient showed a positive reaction. The severity of the ciniral pathergy reaction was directly related to the activity of the disease. 2. The characteristic histopathologic finding in the active stag was a dermal inflammatory cellular infiltration composed mainly of polymorphonuclear lukocytes and of lymphomononuclear cells accompanied by leukoctocylasia. Two of 16 patients showed true leukocytoclastic vasculitis. 3. Although the type of disease and the reactivity of the clinical pathergy test were related in terms of the severity of the histopathologic findings, there were some notible histopathologic changes even in the cases with negative clinical pathergy reactions. We concluded that the histopathologic findings of the pathergy test sites were more reliable for the diagnosis of Behcet's disease than the clinical findinigs.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Vasculitis

No abstract available.
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Gonadotropins*

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: To evaluate intrahepatic nodular lesions detected on CTAP but not on conventional contrast CT in regard to its relationship with satellite nodules or borderline malignancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 1991 to March 1994, CTAP was undertaken in 132 cases with confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), of which 35 cases having 82 lesions were suitable for analysis(excluding the cases which had no follow-up studies, showed segmental abnormal portal perfusion, no additional lesions and, or inumerable lesions). The CTAP findings were compared with those on artery dominant imaging studies (angiography, DSA, bolus dynamic CT, arterial CT, Lipiodol CT) taken during the same period(to confirm the presence of lesions) and the findings on follow-up imaging studies(to assess the developemerit of malignancy). RESULTS: Arterial vascularity was identified in 35 of 82 lesions(42.7%) on arterial dominant imaging studies. Developement into malignancy was identified on follow-up imaging studies in 25 of remained 47 lesions(53.2%). CONCLUSION: The total positive predictive value of nodules on CTAP was 73.2%(35+25/82), but the predictive value for HCC by follow-up only was 53.2%. Given'the difficulties in detecting intranodular arterial flow and the short follow-up duration in many patients, the actual positive value might be higher.
Arteries ; Ethiodized Oil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Perfusion

PURPOSE: To evaluate intrahepatic nodular lesions detected on CTAP but not on conventional contrast CT in regard to its relationship with satellite nodules or borderline malignancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 1991 to March 1994, CTAP was undertaken in 132 cases with confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), of which 35 cases having 82 lesions were suitable for analysis(excluding the cases which had no follow-up studies, showed segmental abnormal portal perfusion, no additional lesions and, or inumerable lesions). The CTAP findings were compared with those on artery dominant imaging studies (angiography, DSA, bolus dynamic CT, arterial CT, Lipiodol CT) taken during the same period(to confirm the presence of lesions) and the findings on follow-up imaging studies(to assess the developemerit of malignancy). RESULTS: Arterial vascularity was identified in 35 of 82 lesions(42.7%) on arterial dominant imaging studies. Developement into malignancy was identified on follow-up imaging studies in 25 of remained 47 lesions(53.2%). CONCLUSION: The total positive predictive value of nodules on CTAP was 73.2%(35+25/82), but the predictive value for HCC by follow-up only was 53.2%. Given'the difficulties in detecting intranodular arterial flow and the short follow-up duration in many patients, the actual positive value might be higher.
Arteries ; Ethiodized Oil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Perfusion

For parthenogenetic activation as a model system of nuclear transfer, microinjection and electroporation as activation treatments in bovine metaphase II oocytes were administered to each of three groups as follows: control group (treatments with Ca2+, Mg2+ -free PBS+100 micro M EGTA), IP3 group (control+25 micro M IP3) and IP3+ ryanodine group (control+25 micro M IP3+10 mM ryanodine). In experiments using microinjection, no significant differences were observed between any of the developmental stages of the electroporation experiment. For electroporation, cleavage rates were significantly higher in the IP3+ryanodine group than in the IP3 or control group (85.6% vs 73.7% or 67.6%, respectively). In the subsequent stages of embryonic development, such as morula and blastocyst formation, the IP3 and ryanodine group exhibited significantly higher rates of morula fomation than the IP3 or control groups (40.6% vs 24.2% or 16.7%, respectively). Similarly, the rate of blastocyst formation in the IP3+ryanodine group was significantly higher than the control group (16.3% vs 6.9%) but did not differ significantly from the IP3 group (16.3% vs 9.5%). In nuclear transfer, activation was performed at 30 hpm by microinjection and elecroporation with 25 micro M IP3+ 10 mM ryanodine followed by 6-DMAP treatment. No significant differences were observed at any stage of embryonic development and none of the embryos activated by electroporation reached either the morula or blastocyst stage. However, 3.8% and 1.9% of embryos activated by microinjection sucessfully developed to the morula and blastocyst stages, respectively. In conclusion, activation treatments using IP3 and ryanodine are able to support the development of bovine parthenogenetic and reconstructed embryos.
Adenine/administration & dosage/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Animals ; Cattle/*embryology/physiology ; Cell Fusion ; Electroporation/veterinary ; Embryonic and Fetal Development/*drug effects ; Enzyme Inhibitors/administration & dosage/pharmacology ; Female ; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Microinjections/veterinary ; Nuclear Transfer Techniques ; Oocytes/drug effects/growth & development ; Parthenogenesis/*drug effects ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; Ryanodine/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Skin/cytology

Hemangioma in peripheral nerves is a very rare condition. Two such conditions are experienced. One case aceompanied by nerve symptom was observed in ulnar nerve and was operated on by extirpation of the tumor including the nerve and was followed by nerve grafting. The other case involved the median nerve had no signs of nerve irritation and was also treated by tumor extirpation.
Hemangioma ; Median Nerve ; Peripheral Nerves ; Transplants ; Ulnar Nerve