Three cases of Dupuytrens contracture which developed in hands were reported along with review of literatures. Partial fasciectomy was done as the choice of treatment for them to improve impairment of function of the hands. No attributable causes for the developement of the disease were found.
Dupuytren Contracture ; Hand

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the frequency and clinical characteristics of premenstrual syndrome(PMS)/premenstrual dysphoric disorder(PMDD) in high school students, and determine the correlates of PMS/PMDD in association with comorbid depression and anxiety. METHODS: A total of 1688 students were recruited from 5 high schools in Seoul, Korea. Subjects completed the questionnaire composed of scales to measure premenstrual symptoms, depression, and anxiety, as well as sociodemographic and reproductive variables. Subjects were categorized into 3 groups by using the Premenstrual Symptom Screening Tool(PSST) to determine the frequency and clinical characteristics of PMS/PMDD. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the correlates of PMS/PMDD. RESULTS: The frequency of moderate to severe PMS and PMDD was 20.1% and 6.4%, respectively. Irritability (78.8%), fatigue(76.4%), and emotional sensitivity(69.8%) were common premenstrual symptoms, and functional impairment in academic performance(67.1%) was dominant. Dysmenorrhea[odd ratio(OR)=3.68, 95% confidence interval(CI) 2.45-5.55], family history of PMS(OR=1.91, 95% CI 1.35-2.71), and use of oral contraceptive (OR=1.85, 95% CI 1.16-2.94) were associated with the increased risk of PMS/PMDD after adjustment for depression and anxiety. Negative attitude to menses(OR=15.60, 95% CI 3.61-67.42) was associated with the increased risk of PMS/PMDD, particularly in subjects without depression and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: PMS was common, as the frequency of PMS more than moderate severity including PMDD exceeded 25%, and disrupted daily functioning in adolescents. PMS is associated with various sociodemographic and menstrual characteristics, and these associations are affected by comorbid depression and anxiety.
Adolescent ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Premenstrual Syndrome ; Questionnaires ; Weights and Measures

Fine needle aspiration biopsy cytology (FNA) for diagnosis of a variety of breast tum- ors has been proven to be a simple, safe, and cost saving diagnostic methodology with high accuracy. Cytologic specimens from 1,029 fine needle aspirations of the breast during last 3-year period were reviewed and subsequent biopsies from 107 breast lesions were reevaluated for cytohistological correlation. FNA had a sensitivity of 81.6% and a specificity of 98.3%. One out of 107 cases bio- psied revealed a false positive result (0.9%) and the case was due to misinterpretation of apocrine metaplastic cells in necrotic backgound as malignant cells. A false negative rate was 8.4% (9 of 107 cases biopsied). Six of 9 false negative cases were resulted from insufficient aspirates for diagnosis, and remaining three of 9 false negative cases revealed extensive necrosis with no or scanty viable cells on smears. The results indicate that for reducing false positive and false negative rates of FNA, an experienced cytopathologist and a proficient aspirator are of great importance.
Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; Aspirations (Psychology) ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Breast ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid ; Child* ; Cost Savings ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Needles ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract* ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux*

Rett syndrome is progressive neurodegenerative disorder in female patients, characterized by autistic behavior, mental retardation, loss of purposeful hand skills, stereotypic hand movement, breathing dysfunction, severely impaired language, ataxia, and seizure. The diagnosis of Rett syndrome is based on its characteristic clinical manifestation and course. The electroencephalographic (EEG) findings of Rett syndrome are nonspecific, but a progressive deterioration in the EEG, characterized by a slowing of background activity and spike sharp wave discharges, may be observed. We experienced one case of Rett syndrome in a 5 year old girl having mental retardation, loss of purposeful hand skills, stereotypic hand movements (clapping, washing, hand-to-mouth), breathing dysfunction (hyperventilation/apnea). Her EEG findings on Video-EEG monitoring are excessive slowing waves during awake state and frequent spike discharges from left or centrotemporal area during sleeping. We report a case of Rett syndrome with brief review of related literatures.
Ataxia ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis ; Electroencephalography ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Respiration ; Rett Syndrome* ; Seizures

No abstract available.

Immature myeloid cells, also known as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), include neutrophilic and monocytic myeloid cells, and are found in inflammatory loci and secondary lymphoid organs in mice with intestinal inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, and tumor tissues. However, the roles of MDSCs in IBD are not yet well understood, and there are controversies regarding their immunosuppressive functions in IBD. In addition, recent studies have suggested that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in intestinal epithelial cells, especially in Paneth cells, is closely associated with the induction of IBD. However, the ER stress in MDSCs accumulated in the inflamed tissues of IBD patients is not yet fully understood. In the current review, we discuss the presence of accumulated MDSCs in the intestines of IBD patients, and further speculate on their physiological roles in the inflammatory condition with interleukin 17-producing cells, including Th17 cells. In particular, we will discuss the divergent functions of MDSCs in ER stressed intestinal environments, including their pro-inflammatory or immunosuppressive roles, based on the consideration of unfolded protein responses initiated in intestinal epithelial cells by ER stress.
Animals ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* ; Interleukin-17 ; Interleukins ; Intestines ; Mice ; Myeloid Cells ; Neutrophils ; Paneth Cells ; Th17 Cells ; Unfolded Protein Response

Immature myeloid cells, also known as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), include neutrophilic and monocytic myeloid cells, and are found in inflammatory loci and secondary lymphoid organs in mice with intestinal inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, and tumor tissues. However, the roles of MDSCs in IBD are not yet well understood, and there are controversies regarding their immunosuppressive functions in IBD. In addition, recent studies have suggested that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in intestinal epithelial cells, especially in Paneth cells, is closely associated with the induction of IBD. However, the ER stress in MDSCs accumulated in the inflamed tissues of IBD patients is not yet fully understood. In the current review, we discuss the presence of accumulated MDSCs in the intestines of IBD patients, and further speculate on their physiological roles in the inflammatory condition with interleukin 17-producing cells, including Th17 cells. In particular, we will discuss the divergent functions of MDSCs in ER stressed intestinal environments, including their pro-inflammatory or immunosuppressive roles, based on the consideration of unfolded protein responses initiated in intestinal epithelial cells by ER stress.
Animals ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* ; Interleukin-17 ; Interleukins ; Intestines ; Mice ; Myeloid Cells ; Neutrophils ; Paneth Cells ; Th17 Cells ; Unfolded Protein Response

No abstract available.
Neurofibroma* ; Peripheral Nerves*

Acute peripheral vestibulopathy, of which the chief complaint is positional vertigo, comprises benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), labyrinthitis, labyrinthine fistula, and cerebellopontine angle tumors. Since the typical presentation of labyrinthine fistulas may be sensorineural hearing loss, positional vertigo, or disequilibrium, it is often difficult to distinguish from BPPV or Meniere's disease. Herein we report a 61-year-old female patient with typical symptoms and signs attributable to geotropic type variant of the lateral semicircular canal BPPV on the left side, who eventually was confirmed as having a labyrinthine fistula from chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma on the left side. This is another case where, even in the presence of isolated vertigo showing typical findings of acute peripheral vestibulopathy, other otologic symptoms and signs must not be overlooked.
Cholesteatoma* ; Ear, Inner ; Female ; Fistula* ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Humans ; Labyrinthitis ; Meniere Disease ; Middle Aged ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; Otitis Media ; Semicircular Canals ; Vertigo* ; Vestibular Neuronitis

Dendritic cells (DCs) are key modulators that shape the immune system. In mucosal tissues, DCs act as surveillance systems to sense infection and also function as professional antigen-presenting cells that stimulate the differentiation of naive T and B cells. On the basis of their molecular expression, DCs can be divided into several subsets with unique functions. In this review, we focus on intestinal DC subsets and their function in bridging the innate signaling and adaptive immune systems to maintain the homeostasis of the intestinal immune environment. We also review the current strategies for manipulating mucosal DCs for the development of efficient mucosal vaccines to protect against infectious diseases.
Animals ; Dendritic Cells/*immunology/metabolism ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Intestinal Mucosa/cytology/*immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/immunology