No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Diverticulum* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule*

No abstract available.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Hand Deformities* ; Hand*

No abstract available.
Acrocephalosyndactylia*

Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is characterized by thunderclap headache with reversible vasoconstriction of the cerebral arteries. RCVS has been reported to occur in various clinical settings. However, RCVS triggered by blood transfusion is rare. A 50-year-old woman had severe anemia and received multiple blood transfusions. She developed thunderclap headache after transfusion. Cerebral artery vasoconstrictions were demonstrated by magnetic resonance angiography and transfemoral cerebral angiography. RCVS might be triggered by red blood cell transfusion in patients with severe anemia.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic pain is one of the most common experiences of humans and a typical psychophysiological disorder. The aim of this study was to measure the psychophysiological responses in chronic pain patients using a biofeedback system, and to compare them with the results from normal healthy subjects. METHODS: Forty two patients with chronic pain (17 males and 25 females, average age 44.67+/-11.10 years) and 42 normal healthy controls (17 males and 25 females, average age 45.17+/-10.46 years) participated in this study. Electromyography (EMG), skin conductance (SC), and skin temperature (ST) were recorded using biofeedback system during the 3 phases (baseline, stress, and recovery) of stress reactivity test, and average values of them were calculated. Difference of values between two groups in each corresponding phase was analyzed with independent t-test, and change of values across phases of stress reactivity test was analyzed with paired t-test (all two-tailed, p<0.05). RESULTS: Compared to normal controls, chronic pain patients had higher value of EMG (baseline : 8.10+/-5.97 micronV vs 4.72+/-1.52 micronV, t=-3.56, p<0.01 ; stress : 11.25+/-6.89 micronV vs 8.49+/-4.78 micronV, t=-2.13, p<0.05 ; recovery : 7.12+/-3.77 micronV vs 4.78+/-1.59 micronV, t= -3.70, p<0.01) and SC (baseline : 1.06+/-1.0 micronS vs 0.42+/-0.29 micronS, t=-4.0. p<0.01 ; stress : 1.87+/-2.05 micronS vs 1.03+/-0.86 micronS, t=-2.47, p<0.05 ; recovery : 1.74+/-1.77 micronS vs 0.64+/-0.59 micronS, t=-3.8, p<0.01) in all the 3 phases. But, skin temperature comparison did not reveal significant differences in all the 3 phases between two groups. CONCLUSION: Psychophysiological responses of chronic pain patients in stress reactivity test were different from those of normal healthy controls. These results suggest that sympathetic nervous system is more activated in chronic pain patients.
Biofeedback, Psychology ; Chronic Pain ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Psychophysiologic Disorders ; Psychophysiology ; Skin ; Skin Temperature ; Sympathetic Nervous System

Genes of cancer-associated testis antigens (CTAs) are expressed in various cancer tissues. In order to use CTAs as cancer diagnosis marker, we developed molecular method for detection of CTAs transcripts in tissue. In order to know the applicability of DNA of cancer-associated testis antigens (CTAs) on cancer diagnosis, molecular diagnostic methods for detection of gene expression of melanoma antigen gene (MAGE), GAGE, and B melanoma antigen (BAGE) was studied. After comparing DNA sequences of CTAs, S1/AS1 and S2/AS2, GAGE-S/ GAGE-AS, and BAGE-S/BAGE-AS primers were designed for the detection of MAGEs, GAGEs and BAGEs, respectively. The gene expression of CTAs in cancer cell lines, head and neck cancer tissues, ovary cancer tissue, and peritoneal cells of gastric cancer patients were investigated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using these primers. The MAGEs, GAGEs and BAGE genes were expressed in 8/8 (100%), 5/8 (62.5%) and 1/8 (12.5%) of head and neck cancer tissues, respectively. The gene expression of MAGEs were also detected in 8/10 (80%) of ovary cancer tissues and in 9/10 (90%) of peritoneal cells of gastric cancer patients in RT-PCR test using S1/AS1 primers. The results of this study suggest that molecular diagnosis method using CTAs genes, especially RT-PCR using S1/AS1 primer combination, is useful for diagnosis of cancer and it will be used for the prediction of cancer progression or regression and metastasis in future.
Base Sequence ; Cell Line ; Diagnosis* ; DNA ; Gene Expression ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Melanoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Pathology, Molecular ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Testis*

OBJECT: Accumulating evidence suggests a greater number of subcortical hyperintensities in the brain with bipolar disorder. We studied the Clinical correlates of subcortical hyperintensities on magnetic resonance imaging in patients with Bipolar Disorder. METHODS: Magnetic resonance images of the brain were obtained for 32 patients with bipolar disorder. The presence and location of hyperintensities were assessed. We compared clinical variables between with subcortical hyperintensities and patients without them. RESULTS: Seven Patients(21.8%) had subcortical hyperintensities, but among 8 patients who were or older, 5 patients(625) had them, Age and age of onset of patients with subcotical hyperintensities were significantly older than patients without them. Psychotic symptoms were more frequent in patients with hyperintensities. Patients without hyperintesities had more familial loading. CONCLUSION: Given the limitations of the study, our results should be seen as preliminary. This study, however, provides preliminary evidence supporting the notion that the onset, clinical feature and course of some bipolar disorders of late onset may be determined by underlying subcortical abnormalities, with such abnormalities being the consequence of factors related to aging or neurodegeneration(such as impaired cerebral circulation) rather than genetic factors which predispose to early-onset bipolar disorders.
Age of Onset ; Aging ; Bipolar Disorder* ; Brain ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

OBJECTIVE: CD40 and the TNFR belong to the NGF/TNFR supergene family. Ligation of CD40 on B cells induces activation ignals leading to proliferation, Ig isotype class switching, germinal center formation but also induces Fas antigen expression.In addition,CD40 ligation induces pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-alpha and LT-alpha gene transcription by human B cell.TNF-alpha is a pleiotropic cytokine and also induces Fas antigen expression on various cells. Lately it has been known that TNF-alpha plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases,including rheumatoid arthritis,or chronic inflammatory bowel diseases.However there have been occurrence of autoantibodies,or autoimmune disease such as lupus after use of anti TNF-alpha blocking agents. In this report,we tested the relationship and biological significance of CD40 ligation and TNFR signaling with respect to Fas antigen expression on human B cells. METHODS: Ramos Burkitt's lymphoma B cell was used as a prototype of ger-minal center B lymphocyte,and R2G6 cell was utilized as a model of activated germinal center B cell.CD40 lgation was performed by the coculture with CD40 ligand bearing L-293 cells,or anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody,whereas control was obtained with CD-8-L-293 cells or control antibody.Expression of Fas antigen was determined with flow cytometer.Apoptosis assay was conducted by two ways.Alamar blue reduction assay after sIgM cross linking or anti-Fas anti-body,in the presence or absence of CD40 ligation or TNF-alpha .In addition,DNA content assay was utilized to make sure the proportion of apoptotic Ramos B cells by various treatments. RESULTS: 1)CD40 and TNF-alpha induced Fas antigen expression on Ramos B cell line cells and rendered them susceptible to Fas-mediated apoptosis.2)CD40 and TNFR signaling upregulate Fas antigen independently.3)Both TNFR and CD40 signaling rescue sIgM crosslink induced apoptosis of Ramos B cell line cells,only CD40,but not TNFR,signaling rescues Ramos cells from Fas-mediated apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Taken together,these results demonstrate that B cell signaling via two distinct members of the NGF/TNFR superfamily,CD40 and TNFR, independently engage the Fas pathway and provide mechanisms for eliminating B cells.Acting alone,both signals will ready B cells for Fas-mediated apoptosis. In concert with sIg signaling,the rescue effect provided uniquely by CD40 ligation assures the selective survival of only those B cells which have bound antigen and presented it to antigen-specific T(h) cells .
Antigens, CD95* ; Apoptosis ; Autoimmune Diseases ; B-Lymphocytes ; Burkitt Lymphoma ; CD40 Ligand ; Cell Line ; Coculture Techniques ; Cytokines ; Germinal Center ; Humans* ; Immunoglobulin Class Switching ; Ligation ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) in patients who have abdominal abscesses or fluid collections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed PCD for 165 abscesses and fluid collections in 148 patients. The follow-up periods in these patients ranged from 15 days to 42 months (mean, 274 days). The lesion sites were subphrenic space in 46 cases, liver in 33, perihepatic space in 20, pancreas or peirpancreatic space in 14, pelvic cavity in 13, and retroperitoneum in 13. We evaluated the success, failure, and recurrence rates, the causes of failure or recurrence, the mean duration of drainage, and the complications of PCD. RESULTS: Of the 165 cases, one hundred-fifty nine(96.5%) were successfully cured, Although a partial success could be achieved, 2(1.2%) cases were failed and 4(2.4%) were recurred. Multiloculation or fistula formation were the main causes of the unsullessful cases. The duration of drainage rainged from 2 to 605 days (mean, 1 days). Complications occured in 12 cases(7%) during or after procedures, which included fever and chill in 7, transgression of pleura in 2, bowel perforation in 2, and bleeding through catheter in 1. CONCLUSION: PCD is an effective and safe method for various abdominal abscesses or fluid collections.
Abdominal Abscess* ; Abscess ; Catheters* ; Drainage* ; Fever ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Liver ; Pancreas ; Pleura ; Recurrence