Oxidative stress can cause generation of uncontrolled reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lead to cytotoxic damage to cells and tissues. Recently, it has been shown that transient ROS generation can serve as a secondary messenger in receptor-mediated cell signaling. Although excessive levels of ROS are harmful, moderated levels of ROS are essential for normal physiological function. Therefore, regulating cellular ROS levels should be an important concept for development of novel therapeutics for treating diseases. The overexpression and hyperactivation of NADPH oxidase (Nox) can induce high levels of ROS, which are strongly associated with diabetic nephropathy. This review discusses the theoretical basis for development of the Nox inhibitor as a regulator of ROS homeostasis to provide emerging therapeutic opportunities for diabetic nephropathy.

OBJECTIVES: The critical pathways provide high quality of medical services in a cost-effective manner. To investigate the decrease in length of hospital stay and increase of cost effectiveness by using critical pathways, we compared hospital stay, cost of treatment, and the patient's satisfaction before and after critical pathway use. METHODS: We made a critical pathway team, which consisted of obstetric staff members, a resident, two nurses, a pharmacist, two clerical staff members. We made critical pathways for the medical team and patients. A prospective evaluation of a critical pathway for cesarean section was used as a comparison for control patients. RESULTS: The data for 305 patients with a critical pathway were compared to those of 136 control patients. The mean hospital stay is shorter in critical pathway patients than control patients. The cost of treatment decreased and differences between DRG (Diagnosed Related Groups) and cost of treatment increased in critical pathway patients. CONCLUSIONS: Using critical pathways in cesarean section decreased the duration of hospital stay and increased cost effectivesess. The critical pathways were useful as a means to minimize cost while increasing patient satisfaction.
Cesarean Section* ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Critical Pathways* ; Diagnosis-Related Groups ; Female ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Patient Satisfaction ; Pharmacists ; Pregnancy ; Prospective Studies

PURPOSE: Macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) is characterized by prolonged fever and radiological progression despite macrolide treatment. Few studies have examined serum procalcitonin (PCT) level in children with MPP. We aimed to investigate the association of acute inflammation markers including PCT with clinical parameters in children with MPP. METHODS: A total of 147 children were recruited. The diagnosis of MPP relied on serial measurement of IgM antibody against mycoplasma and/or polymerase chain reaction. We evaluated the relationships between C-reactive protein (CRP), PCT, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and white blood cell (WBC) counts, and clinical severity of the disease. We used multivariate logistic regression analysis to estimate the odds ratio for prolonged fever (>3 days after admission) and hospital stay (> 6 days), comparing quintiles 2–5 of the PCT levels with the lowest quintile. RESULTS: The serum PCT and CRP levels were higher in children with fever and hospital stay than in those with fever lasting ≤ 3 days after admission and hospital stay ≤ 6 days. CRP level was higher in segmental/lobar pneumonia than in bronchopneumonia. The LDH level and WBC counts were higher in children with fever lasting for >3 days before compared to those with fever lasting for ≤ 3 days. The highest quintile of PCT levels was associated with a significantly higher risk of prolonged fever and/or hospital stay than the lowest quintile. CONCLUSION: Serum PCT and CRP levels on admission day were associated with persistent fever and longer hospitalization in children with MPP.
Bronchopneumonia ; C-Reactive Protein ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Drug Resistance ; Fever* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Inflammation ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Length of Stay ; Leukocytes ; Logistic Models ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; Mycoplasma* ; Odds Ratio ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Risk Factors*

The schwannoma is a benign neoplasm originating from Schwann cell. Solitary nerve sheath tumors such as benign schwannomas arising in the pelvic retroperitoneum are infrequently reported. Those tumors can indeed be misdiagnosed for other more common conditions both clinically and instrumentally. We report a very rare case of a benign retroperitoneal pelvic schwannoma of the obturator fossa, which was incidentally found and misdiagnosed as adnexal mass preoperatively in fifty one-years-old postmenopausal women.
Female ; Humans ; Nerve Sheath Neoplasms ; Neurilemmoma*

OBJECTIVE: Recently some behavioral features and affective traits are considered important for the phenotype of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The purpose of this study was to assess some specific behavioral, temperamental, emotional features of OCD patients and to investigate if there is any change in patterns of temperament-character after 4-month pharmacotherapy. METHODS: Fifty-six patients with OCD and 70 normal controls were enrolled in this study. Four self-report questionnaires were employed to assess temperamental characteristics and affective traits: The behavioral inhibition system and behavioral activation system scale, the Baratt impulsiveness scale, state-trait anger expression inventory, emotional intelligence inventory. Among 56 OCD patients, 21 subjects started pharmacotherapy and 4 months later, they repeated 4 self-report tests as the same above and Yale-Brown obsessive compulsive scale (Y-BOCS). And then we investigated the changes from initial results. RESULTS: Patients with OCD showed significantly greater expression of behavioral inhibition system (p<0.0001), more cognitive impulsiveness (p<0.0001), motor impulsiveness (p=0.0067) and increased level of state anger (p<0.0001), trait anger (p<0.0001) than healthy controls. Compared to the controls, the OCD patients also expressed significantly lower level of emotional intelligence for using to facilitate thinking (p<0.0001) and managing emotions (p<0.0001). After 4-month pharmacotherapy for 21 OCD patients, Y-BOCS scores significantly decreased while self-report tests showed no meaningful differences from baseline assessments. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that patients with OCD may have some differences in behavioral and affective tendencies including behavioral inhibition, impulsiveness, anger experiences, and emotional patterns. And short term pharmacotherapy during 4 months improved the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms but didn't influence these traits. These results provide some perspectives about possible vulnerability or trait markers of OCD. Further research is needed to examine the effects of long term treatment and other investigation might be helpful to assess the relationships between these behavioral and affective aspects and clinical phenotypes of OCD.
Anger ; Emotional Intelligence ; Humans ; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder ; Phenotype ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Temperament ; Thinking

Allopurinol is one of the causative drugs that induce fixed drug eruption (FDE). The lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) is a safe and reliable diagnostic procedure for drug allergy, but is reported to be rarely positive in patients with FDE. In the current case, we performed an LTT and successfully confirmed allopurinol as the offending drug. This case report suggests that an LTT should be an optional diagnostic tool for FDE or delayed reaction due to allopurinol.
Allopurinol ; Drug Eruptions ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocytes

PURPOSE: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory relapsing skin disorder. Vitamin D plays a pivotal role in the development of AD, and interleukin (IL) 31 is known to be related to pruritus in AD. The aim of our study was to determine whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels are related to IL-31 levels or to the severity of AD. METHODS: We enrolled 91 children with AD and 32 control subjects without history or symptoms of allergic diseases. Blood was drawn to evaluate complete blood cell count, total eosinophil count (TEC), and total IgE, specific IgE to common allergens, 25(OH)D, and IL-31 levels. Serum 25(OH)D and IL-31 levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) index was used to evaluate the severity of AD. RESULTS: The mean 25(OH)D level was significantly lower in the AD group than in the control group; 25(OH)D decreased greatly in the moderate and severe AD groups compared with the mild AD group. Children with atopic sensitization showed significantly lower 25(OH)D levels than nonatopic children. However, serum IL-31 levels were not related to AD group, SCORAD index, or 25(OH)D levels. The SCORAD index was inversely correlated with serum 25(OH)D level and positively correlated with TECs and total IgE levels. Children with moderate and severe AD had significantly higher TECs than children with mild AD. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D is related to the severity of AD independently of IL-31.
Allergens ; Blood Cell Count ; Child* ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Interleukins ; Pruritus ; Skin ; Vitamin D

PURPOSE: Serum vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25[OH] D) and interleukin-31 (IL-31) are related to atopic dermatitis, but their relationship with allergic rhinitis is unclear. The purpose of this study was to compare the levels of serum IL-31 and 25 (OH) D between the allergic rhinitis (AR), nonallergic rhinitis (NAR), and control groups and to investigate the relationship between IL-31 and 25 (OH) D. METHODS: We recruited 59 children with only rhinitis and 33 controls without any allergic diseases. Serum IL-31 and 25(OH) D levels were assayed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. The patients were considered to have atopic sensitization if the levels of serum specific IgE to inhalant allergens as assessed using immunoCAP were ≥0.35 IU/mL or if they tested positive for one or more allergens by the skin prick test. RESULTS: Of children with rhinitis, 25 had nonatopy (NAR), and 34 children had atopy (AR). Serum 25(OH) D levels were significantly lower in the rhinitis group than in the control group, while there was no significant difference serum 25(OH) D levels between the AR and NAR groups. Children with rhinitis demonstrated higher serum IL-31 levels than controls; however, there was no difference in serum IL-31 levels between the AR and NAR groups. Serum 25(OH) D levels were inversely correlated with serum IL-31 levels and blood eosinophil counts. On the other hand, serum 25(OH) D levels were not correlated with total serum IgE levels. CONCLUSION: Serum 25(OH) D and IL-31 may play a role in the pathogenesis of rhinitis via mechanisms other than IgE-related pathway.
Allergens ; Child ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophils ; Hand ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Skin ; Vitamin D ; Vitamins

PURPOSE: Congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) is a common and benign congenital disorder of the musculoskeletal system in neonates and infants. The pathophysiology is that the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) is shortened on the involved side by fibrosis, leading to ipsilateral tilt and contralateral rotation of the face and chin. In this study, we investigated the clinical features of CMT, the role of ultrasonography (USG) in prediction of prognoses and the clinical significance of early detection and treatment. METHODS: Forty seven patients (M:F=31:16) were diagnosed as a CMT between March 2003 and May 2006. We reviewed age at diagnosis, physical findings, USG findings, treatment and therapeutic outcome from their medical records. RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 90 days (18 days-9 years, 7 months) and the right side of neck was affected in more patients (right:left=26:21). Of 24 patients with a palpable neck mass, 21 had USG; 19 cases showed sternocleidomastoid tumor (SMT). In cases with no neck mass, USG was performed in 11 patients; seven had postural torticollis (POST), three had SMT and one had muscular torticollis (MT). Among 40 patients with follow-up, 36 had total resolution. There was negative correlation between the age at diagnosis and the recovery time, whereas the final outcome was not correlated with USG findings. However, the patients without positive findings in USG had earlier resolution (1 month vs 2.6 months, P=0.0008). The patients with SMT had earlier diagnosis and excellent outcomes. The patients with MT were delayed to diagnosis and had the longest time to resolve. Lastly, the patients with POST had delayed diagnoses, but they had excellent outcomes. CONCLUSION: Since the patients with delayed diagnoses, in despite of benign courses, may take a long time to resolve and rarely need surgical treatment, it is important to diagnose and treat early. This study showed that USG findings of the SCM may be used as predictive factors.
Chin ; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Medical Records ; Musculoskeletal System ; Neck ; Prognosis ; Torticollis* ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to estimate the efficacy and safety of the rivastigmine transdermal patch in patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) who cannot tolerate or do not respond to oral cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs). METHODS: A 24-week, prospective, open-label, single-arm, multicenter study was conducted from June 2009 to June 2010 in patients with probable AD. The enrolled patients had either a poor response or a decline in global function after treatment with oral ChEIs, or they were not able to tolerate treatment with oral ChEIs due to adverse events such as nausea or vomiting. A poor response was defined as a decrease of at least 2 points on the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) within the previous 6 months (the decline in global function was determined by the investigator or caregiver). The efficacy of treatment was assessed using a follow-up Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGIC) assessment and K-MMSE conducted after 24 weeks, and safety was measured by the occurrence of adverse events and patient disposition. RESULTS: In total, 164 patients aged 74.7+/-7.52 years (mean+/-SD) and with 5.12+/-3.64 years of education were included. The study was completed by 70% of the patients (n=116), with 12.2% discontinuing due to adverse events. The most frequently reported adverse events (11%) were skin lesions, such as erythema or itching, followed by gastrointestinal problems (1.2%). Either an improvement or no decline in CGIC scores was reported for 82% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The immediate switching of patients from an oral ChEI to the rivastigmine transdermal patch without a washout period was safe and well tolerated by the probable-AD patients in this study.
Aged ; Alzheimer Disease ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; Cholinesterases ; Erythema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Nausea ; Phenylcarbamates ; Prospective Studies ; Pruritus ; Research Personnel ; Skin ; Transdermal Patch ; Vomiting ; Rivastigmine