Dementia is defined as a syndrome which is characterized by various impairments in cognitive functions, especially memory function, Most of the diagnostic criteria for dementia include memory impairment as no essential feature. Memory decline can be present as a consequence of the aging process, But it does not cause significant distress or impairment in social and occupational functionings while dementiadoes. Depression may also be associated with memory impairment. funcitionings while dementiadoes. Depression may also be associated with memory impairment. However, unlike dementia, depression dose not cause decrease in delayed verbal learning and recognition memory. In dementia, different features of memory impairment may be present depending on the involved area. Memory impairment in cortical dementia is affected by the disturbance of encoding of information and memory consolidation, while memory imparnene in subcrotical denentiy is affected y the disturbance of retrieval in subcortial dementia.
Aging ; Dementia ; Depression ; Humans ; Memory* ; Verbal Learning

BACKGROUND: Transepidermal water loss(TEWL) measurement is widely used in monitoring the degree of skin irritation. There have been many reports of site variation of TEWL between different body sites. However, there have been no reports concerning site variation on the different parts of the hand, which is important for the evaluation of hand eczema. OBJECTIVE: This study was done to better understand site variation of TEWL on the hands. METHODS: TEWL measurement has been performed on the mid-forearm and seven different sites of the hands in 20 normal human volunteers using an evaporimeter. RESULTS: A marked site variation has been observed and high values observed on most parts of the hands compared to forearms. CONCLUSION: Site selection should be seriously considered in any kind of study concerning TEWL measurement of hands.
Eczema ; Forearm ; Hand* ; Healthy Volunteers* ; Humans* ; Skin* ; Water*

No abstract available.
Kidney Transplantation*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term surgical results of 120 endoscopic conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy (CDCR) procedures using a porous polyethylene (MEDPOR(R)) coated tear drain (MCTD(R)). METHODS: From 2002 to 2007, 120 patients who had been treated with endoscopic CDCR using MCTD(R) were investigated for its success rates and complications. After an osteotomy was made under nasal endoscopy, a tunnel was created from the caruncle in the conjunctival sac to the nasal cavity through the newly created ostium, and then the tunnel was enlarged to allow the insertion of the MCTD(R) The length of the tube to be inserted was determined under endoscopic examination. An anchoring suture was placed at the medial canthus to both the conjunctiva and the skin using a 5-0 Vicryl suture in the fashion of a purse string suture. RESULTS: Causes of obstruction included failed dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) (74 cases) and idiopathic obstruction (22 cases). Postoperative complications were encountered in four cases with tube loss, 21 cases with a buried tube, 8 cases of extrusion to the conjunctival side, and 11 cases with obstruction caused by conjunctival incarceration or granuloma. The postoperative success rate was 89.1%. CONCLUSIONS: The authors concluded that endoscopic CDCR using MCTD(R) is an alternative to the standard conventional method for preventing dislodgement of the tube postoperatively. However, surgeons should consider that it may be challenging to insert the MCTD(R) and that in cases requiring removal, the tube can be difficult to remove due to adhesions.
Conjunctiva ; Dacryocystorhinostomy ; Endoscopy ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Mixed Connective Tissue Disease ; Nasal Cavity ; Osteotomy ; Polyethylene ; Polyglactin 910 ; Postoperative Complications ; Skin ; Sutures

Fibronectin(Fn) is a large, multidomain glycoprotein, which exists in a soluble form in plasma and an insoluble fibrillar form in extracellular matrices. Fn affects many aspects of cellular responses. However, it is not known whether Fn could activate macrophages for the tumor cell killing. We report that Fn induces the tumoricidal activity of macrophages for murine bladder tumor(MBT-2) cell. Tumoricidal activity was determined by 3[H]-thymidine uptake of MBT-2 cell. Fn alone had no effect, whereas recombinant interferon- r(IFN- r) weakly induced the tumoricidal activity of macrophages for MBT-2 cells. However combination of Fn with recombinant IFN-r synergized to activate macrophages to kill MBT-2 cells in a dose dependent manner. At this point nitric oxide(NO) was secreted by activated macrophages, and the secretion of NO and tumoricidal activity of macrophage were inhibited in the presence of NG-monomethyl- L-arginine(NGMMA), a competitive inhibitor of NO synthase(NOS). Fn has various cell binding sites. The Arg-Gly-Asp(RGD) sequence present in the central cell binding domain of Fn is the prototype of these sites. Engineered fibronectin(eFn) is formed by RGD-rich sequence. Combination of eFn, instead of Fn, with recombinant IFN- T resulted in more powerful activation of macrophage in tumor cell killing than Fn. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that Fn acts as a modulator of macrophage activation for tumor cell killing induced by IFN-r via a process involving L-arginine dependent NO production. Especially, RGD sequence of Fn has important role for tumoricidal activity of macrophage. Although the precise mechanism of Fn to promote NO synthesis induced by IFN-r remains to be further elucidated, Fn-mediated macrophage adhesion by specialized cell surface receptors and activation of intracellular signals might be important in the development of macrophage activation.
Arginine ; Binding Sites ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibronectins* ; Glycoproteins ; Homicide ; Macrophage Activation ; Macrophages* ; Nitric Oxide ; Plasma ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; Urinary Bladder

Transforming growth factor-B1(TGF-B1) has many fundamental biological processes including cell growth, extracellular matrix deposition and degradation, and inflammatory responses. TGF-B1 is released by platelet and inflammatory cells, and it affects all phases of wound healing after injury. It contributes to the regulation of fibroblast chemotaxis and proliferation, and also controls the synthesis and degradation of extracellular matrix necessary for tissue repair. Clinically, scar tissue formation and subsequent stricture after urethral injury frequently results in troublesome problems to urologists. In the phase I study of this report, we intended to how the histological changes and the involvement of TGF-B1 in the formation of stricture in injured urethrae of rats. We injured urethrae of 24 adult male Sprauge-Dawley rats(200-250 g.) by urethrotome and Dormia basket and then observed histological changes and analysed TGF-f, mRNA levels of the injured urethrae by Northern blot. Northern b1ot analysis showed that TGF-t, mRNA was much expressed on day 1,3,5 after injury. Fibroblasts and deposition of extracellular matrix were markedly increased on day 5. Reepithelialization was completed and urethral lumen was narrowed on day 10. In the phase II study, we tried to know that antisense TGF-B1 oligodeoxynucleotides(ODNs) could inhibit TGF-B1 expression and the formation of stricture in injured urethrae of rats. We injured urethrae of rats and treated the urethral injury with the application of antisense TGF-B1 ODNs. Northern blot analysis showed that TGF-B1 mRNA was little expressed in the urethrae treated with the antisense on day 1,3 after injury. Comparing to the antisense-nontreated urethrae, the antisense-treated urethrae showed decrease of submucosal thickening and maintained normal sized urethral lumens on day 14, 21 after injury. In conclusion, increase of TGF-B1 mRNA in injured urethrae of rats suggests that TGF-B1 could play an important role in repair mechanism. With application of antisense TGF-B1 ODNs in injured urethrae of rats, the expression of TGF-B1 can be inhibited and also the formation of stricture prevented.
Adult ; Animals ; Biological Processes ; Blood Platelets ; Blotting, Northern ; Chemotaxis ; Cicatrix ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Male ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides* ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1* ; Urethra ; Urethral Stricture ; Wound Healing

Extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) is a low-grade B-cell lymphoma that presents with an indolent clinicopathologic nature. Although this tumor can occur in various sites, including the gastrointestinal, skin, salivary gland and ocular adnexa, radiation therapy shows high local control in that disease. We report a case of recurrent MALT lymphoma presenting a huge cheek mass after radiotherapy on ocular adnexal lymphomas. An 65-year-old man had a history of treatments on MALT lymphomas of ocular adnexa came again with a huge cheek mass, not recurred and not originated from salivary gland, skin, other related mucosa tissues. He got excisional biopsy and was confirmed immunohistochemically as MALT lymphoma. After diagnosis, he was sent urgently to a radiotherapist for further treatment. He responded well to added radiotherapy with 36 Gy dose and has remained well at 6 months after his initial presentation.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Cheek ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Lymphoid Tissue ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone ; Mucous Membrane ; Porphyrins ; Salivary Glands ; Skin

BACKGROUND: As the size of the elderly population has increased compared to the hole, there has been growing concern over potential health problems and geriatric hospitals for elderly people. However, despite the emerging needs for geriatric hospitals, there is no data on the clinical characteristics of patients being admitted to geriatric hospitals. To analyze the characteristics of elderly patients admitted to a geriatric hospital, we studied the medical records of patients admitted to Yong-in Hyoja Geriatric Hospital during a recent 20 months period. By clarifying the clinical characteristics of elderly patients admitted to a geriatric hospital, the basic data for understanding and treating elderly patients could be made. METHODS: We analyzed the medical records of 345 patients who were admitted to Yong-in Hyoja Geriatric Hospital from November 1997 to July 1999. The diagnosis of patients was largely subgrouped according to the existence of dementia, and subsequent detailed diagnoses were made. RESULTS: (1) The average age of patients was 74.59 years and there were slightly more females than males admitted (ratio, 1.15:1). (2) Most of the patients suffered from dementia (62.1%), of which vascular dementia was the most common(31.6%), followed by Alzheimer dementia(19.15%). (3) Compared to vascular dementia, patients with Alzheimer dementia had more severe cognitive dysfunction, psychosis, and agitation, while patients with vascular dementia had more problems in activities of daily living (ADL) and were more depressed than Alzheimer dementia (4) The average hospitalization duration was 3.54 months and incidence of significant illness after admission was 29.8%. The mortality rate was 10.9%. (5) The most common cause of death was infection (45.2%), followed by cardiovascular problems(16.2%). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to significant illnesses and mortality after admission, most patients admitted to geriatric hospitals have severe cognitive and behavioral problems. Therefore, adequate medical and neurological assessment and treatment for the aged is necessary.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Cause of Death ; Dementia ; Dementia, Vascular ; Diagnosis ; Dihydroergotamine ; Female ; Geriatrics ; Gyeonggi-do* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Psychotic Disorders

Solid and Papillary epithelial neoplasm of pancreas is a rare and low grade malignant tumor. It develops in 2nd or 3rd decades of young female and located in tail of pancreas predominantly. Prognosis is good despite its various histologic features, which suggest a malignant appearance. We report one case of solid and papillary epithelial neoplasm in head of pancreas in a 11-year-old girl who had been suffered from vomiting and right upper abdominal pain for 3 weeks.
Abdominal Pain ; Child* ; Female* ; Head* ; Humans ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial* ; Pancreas* ; Prognosis ; Vomiting

Mineralizing pulmonary elastosis is a result of chronic alveolar hemorrhage forming iron encrustation of a pulmonary elastic tissue. It has been reported as a complication of some diseases such as bronchiectasis, idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis, and cardiac failure. It is extremely rare to occur with a giant cell carcinoma as we experienced. A 59 year-old man visited our hospital for cough and blood tinged sputum. A chest CT scan revealed 10 9 6 cm sized round mass in the left upper lobe. He had lobectomy of left upper lobe, but died of respiratory failure at the postoperative eighteenth day. The lung showed a necrotic tumor and a yellow tan consolidation around the mass. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of nests or syncytia of large bizarre cells and tumor giant cells, and was diagnosed as a giant cell carcinoma. Interestingly, in the surrounding lung parenchyma there were a lot of foreign body type giant cells phagocytizing iron encrustated elastic fibers, which were easily identified by elastic van Gieson and prussian blue stains. Those degenerated elastic fibers appeared in pulmonary interstitial tissue as well as blood vessel walls. The authors concluded tumoral hemorrhage and necrosis resulted in mineralizing pulmonary elastosis.
Blood Vessels ; Bronchiectasis ; Carcinoma, Giant Cell* ; Coloring Agents ; Cough ; Elastic Tissue ; Giant Cells* ; Giant Cells, Foreign-Body ; Heart Failure ; Hemorrhage ; Hemosiderosis ; Humans ; Iron ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Sputum ; Tolnaftate ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl