It has been known that the interconnection between the gervous, endocrine and immune system are largely mediated through regulatory soluble factors such as neruopeptides, cytokines and hormones. Capsaicin, the pungent principle of hot peppers, is a neurotoxin that affects primary sensory neurons of the C and A-b type and depletes primary sensory neurons (polymodal nociceptors) of neuropeptides like tachykinin. In this study capsaicin was used to explore the possible role of the neruons on the expression of cellular and humoral immune responses and TNF-a prodcution. Mice were pretreated with s.c. injections in the neck region with a single dose of 100 u,g of capsaicin per mouse before immunization. ...continue...
Anaphylaxis* ; Animals ; Capsaicin* ; Carcinogenesis* ; Cytokines ; Immune System ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunization ; Mice* ; Neck ; Neuropeptides ; Sensory Receptor Cells ; Tachykinins

BACKGROUND: The angiotensin-converting enzyme(ACE) plays an important role in cardiovascular disease by production of angiotensin and degradation of bradykinin. Cloning of ACE gene revealed an insertion/deletion(I/D) polymorphism according to the presence/absence of a 287 base pair fragment in the 16th intron of ACE gene, and the ACE polymophism was associated with ACE activity. The genotype DD was identified as a risk factor for myocardial infarction in several studies. We analyzed the ACE I/D polymorphism in 62 patients with myocardial infarction and 67 normal subjects. METHODS: Genomic DNA from peripheral blood was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and characterized by three ACE genotypes; two insertion alleles(genotype II), two deletion alleles(genotype DD) and heterogenous alleles(genotype ID). ACE activity was determined by spectrophotometric method utilizing the synthetic substrate. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in ACE polymorphism between patients and normal subjects. But, the frequency of genotype DD was significantly increased in the low-risk group of patients compared with the high-risk group. The multi-vessel disease was more strongly associated with genotype DD, but there was no statistical significance. The ACE activity was strongly associated with ACE polymorphism with the activity being highest in genotype DD. There was no significant difference between patients and control subjects of the same genotype. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in ACE polymorphism between patients and normal subjects. The frequencies for genotype II, ID, DD were 0.328, 0.537, 0.134, respectively in normal subjects. There was high frequency of genotype II compared with Caucasians. A deletion polymorphism(genotype DD) may increase the risk for myocardial infarction in lowrisk group, and the serum ACE activity was correlated with three genotypes.
Angiotensins ; Base Pairing ; Bradykinin ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; DNA ; Genotype ; Humans ; Introns ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Risk Factors

Geriatric depression is nowadays a predominant health care problem, mainly due to the progressive aging of the population. But depression in the elderly is often under-recognized and under-treated; this may be due to the mistake, both from the clinicians and from the patients, of considering depression as a physiological response to aging. The difficulties in diagnosing depression may lead to unnecessary medical investigation, delay in treatment and an increased risk of suicide. when faced with making treatment decisions for a patient with late-life depression, one must consider a number of variables. The main aim of a pharmacological treatment of geriatric depression is not only to resolve the acute episode, but also to prevent relapse and to enhance the quality of life in the elderly. In this paper, some of the most important and tolerated drugs in the elderly are reviewed. As clinicians, we are responsible for selecting the best medication treatment for a given patient. The more comprehensive our knowledge about the patient and about the efficacy profile and short- and long-term side effects of antidepressants, the more effectively we will treat late-life depression.
Aged ; Aging ; Antidepressive Agents ; Delivery of Health Care ; Depression* ; Drug Interactions ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Recurrence ; Suicide

Geriatric depression is nowadays a predominant health care problem, mainly due to the progressive aging of the population. But depression in the elderly is often under-recognized and under-treated; this may be due to the mistake, both from the clinicians and from the patients, of considering depression as a physiological response to aging. The difficulties in diagnosing depression may lead to unnecessary medical investigation, delay in treatment and an increased risk of suicide. when faced with making treatment decisions for a patient with late-life depression, one must consider a number of variables. The main aim of a pharmacological treatment of geriatric depression is not only to resolve the acute episode, but also to prevent relapse and to enhance the quality of life in the elderly. In this paper, some of the most important and tolerated drugs in the elderly are reviewed. As clinicians, we are responsible for selecting the best medication treatment for a given patient. The more comprehensive our knowledge about the patient and about the efficacy profile and short- and long-term side effects of antidepressants, the more effectively we will treat late-life depression.
Aged ; Aging ; Antidepressive Agents ; Delivery of Health Care ; Depression* ; Drug Interactions ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Recurrence ; Suicide

No abstract available.
Funnel Chest*

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) has been known to occur in immunocompromised patients, but has been rarely reported in immunocompetent patients. In immunocompetent patients, pulmonary fungal infections are not initially considered. This results in diagnosis and treatment delays, as well as poor prognosis. We report a case and serial CT findings of IPA in an immunocompetent 29-year-old male after congenital heart disease surgery.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and safety of intracorporeal anastomosis in laparoscopic colectomy for benign and malignant tumor diseases in actual clinical settings. Methods: From January 2016 to June 2021, a total of 114 cases were selected for laparoscopic colectomy for benign or malignant tumor diseases. Seventeen cases that underwent simultaneous combined laparoscopic procedures were excluded from the study. The remaining patients were separated into 48 cases in the intracorporeal group and 49 cases in the extracorporeal group. Medical records were reviewed retrospec tively. Results: Patients in the intracorporeal group were older than those in the extracorporeal group (62.6 years vs. 54.9 years, p = 0.001). Body mass index, American Society of Anestheologists physical status classifica tion, comorbidity, smoking, and laparotomy history did not differ significantly between groups. Surgeries for malignancy were performed in 35 (72.9%) and 32 cases (65.3%) in the respective intracorporeal and extracorporeal groups. Right hemicolectomy was performed in 39 (81.3%) and 45 cases (91.8%) in the intracorporeal and extracorporeal groups, respectively, and postoperative hospital stays were 9.8 and 8.9 days (p = 0.081). Operation time (216.9 minutes vs. 203.5 minutes, p = 0.212) and intraoperative blood loss (72.7 mL vs. 75.7 mL, p = 0.700) were not significantly different. Anastomotic leakage was observed in one case in each group. Conclusion In laparoscopic colectomy, intracorporeal anastomosis could be considered as a safe and feasible technique for benign and malignant tumor diseases.

We report here a case of adenolipoma of the skin, an unusual variant of lipoma, arising on the neck. A 56-year-old man visited our hospital due to an anterior neck mass. An excisional biopsy was performed. The mass revealed a tan-yellow soft cut surface. We could not find any difference from other lipoma on gross inspection. Microscopically, the mass showed proliferation of mature adipocytes admixed with several eccrine units. The eccrine units were demonstrated by periodic acid-Schiff-positive granules in the secretory portions and by positivity of smooth muscle actin in the myoepithelial cells surrounding the eccrine glands. The tumor was completely excised, and the patient has been followed up without any evidence of recurrence so far.
Actins ; Adipocytes ; Biopsy ; Eccrine Glands ; Humans ; Lipoma ; Muscle, Smooth ; Neck ; Recurrence ; Skin

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical usefulness of magnetic resonance angiogra phy(MRA) in the diagnosis of moyamoya disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 14 moyamoya patients were included in this study. The machine was a Magnetom 63SP(Siemens) with a static magnetic field of 1.5T. MRA was performed by 3 dimensional time of flight(3D-TOF) method. Upon a total of 28 sides, the degree of stenotic process at the supraclinoid portion of internal carotid artery and the proximal portions of anterior cerebral artery and middle cerebral artery, and the number of moyamoya vessels(MMV) as well as presence of leptomeningeal anastomosis or transdural collaterals were evaluated. The findings of MRA were compared with those of contrast angiography(CA). RESULTS: 1) The degree of stenotic process : Among 28 sides, all but one were abnormal in both MRA and CA. Findings of MRA in the degree of stenosis were exactly correlated with those of CA in 24 sides(89.9%, 24/27) and the degree of stenosis was overestimated by MRA in 3 sides. 2) MMV : MRA visualized MMV in 19 of 27(70.3%) hemispheres, while CA showed basal MMV in 25(93.791) hemispheres. MRA underestimated the number of MMV in 9 hemispheres. 3) Of a total of 29 large leptomeningeal or transdural collateral vessels demonstrated by CA, 15(51.7%) were identified by MRA. CONCLUSION: MRA is considered to be an excellent screening test for the diagnosis of moyamoya disease. However, further studies with another methods or higher field strength machines should be necessary for enhancing diagnostic accuracy, since MRA in this study poorly visualized small-sized arteries such as MMV and other collateral circulations compared to CA.
Anterior Cerebral Artery ; Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Collateral Circulation ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Magnetic Fields ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography* ; Mass Screening ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Moyamoya Disease*

Pseudocyst of the auricle presents as a non-inflammatory, fluctuant swelling on the upper half or third section of the ear, due to intracartilaginous accumulation of fluid. Histological examination shows an intracartilaginous cavity without an epithelial lining. The etilogy and pathogenesis of this disorder remains unknown, but the lesion is likely to be due to localized de-generation of cartilage. The degenerated cartilage is replaced by a vascular fibrous tissue from which there is serious exudation, and a clinical cystic swelling is formed. We describe in this report three cases of pseudocyst of the auricle, of which one was treated successfully by surgical excision and a pressure dressing, and the others by aspiration and steroid injection therapy. In all cases, the skin lesions had not recurred, and the patients were left with an excellent cosmetic result.
Bandages ; Cartilage ; Ear ; Humans ; Skin