No abstract available.
Pregnancy* ; Uterine Hemorrhage*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the serum levels of IL-10 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis are different from those of normal controls and SLE patients and to find out any correlation with disease activity parameters of rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: Sera from 20 healthy normal persons, 16 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 16 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were collected and measured for IL-10 and IL-6. Various disease activity parameters were measured in RA patients. RESULTS: The serum level of IL-10 in RA patients was significantly elevated compared to normal controls but lower than those of SLE patients. In RA patients there was no definite correlation between the disease activity parameters and serum IL-10 levels. Despite significant improvements in terms of various disease activity parameters, there was no significant change of serum IL-10 levels after treatment in RA patients. In seropositive RA patients, positive correlation was found between serun IL-10 and rheumatoid factor levels. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that the serum IL-10 levels in patietns with RA are elevated compared to normal controls but lower than those of SLE patients. There was no correlation between serum IL-10 levels and disease acivity parameters of RA.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Humans ; Interleukin-10* ; Interleukin-6 ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Rheumatoid Factor

For evaluating the boosting (anamnestic) effects of the most recent commercially produced plasma derived heat-inactivated hepatitis B vaccine (A. Co.), 117 adults with naturally acquired antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) were selected at random. In addition, out of case immunized at zero and 1 month, and boosted at 6 months (primary booting) by conventional vaccine (B.Co), inactivated by pepsin digestion and formalin treatment, 11 cases who showed elevated titer after primary boosting were also submitted to the study. The results were as follows: 1) Out of the 117 subjects with naturally acquired anti-HBs, 6(5.1%) showed isolated anti-HBs and the titers were below 10 ratio units (RU). Negative seroconversion was seen in 4 (3.4%) of the 117 cases at 12 months after the screening and, of these cases, 3 showed isolated anti-HBs below 10 RU (increased GMT, 28.04) at one month after primary booster injection with 3 microgram dose of A. Co. Vaccine at all, but 90% of the other subjects responded. 3) The anti-HBs titers of all the 11 cases who showed a rise of more than 10 RU (increased GMT, 28.04) at one month after primary booster injection by 20 microgram dose of B. Co. vaccine decreased at 19 months after the primary booster. And 3 subjects (27.3%) of the 11 reached negative seroconversion. All of the 11 cases, who had secondary booster injection with 3 microgram dose of A. Co. vaccine at 19 months after primary boosting, showed increased anti-HBs titer at least 20 RU or more (increased GMT, 57.72) at one month after the boosting. According to the above results in the anti-HBs screening survey for the purpose of immunization with hepatitis B vaccine, subjects with isolated anti-HBs below 10 RU should be regarded as being in an unimmunized state. In cases who are in risk circumstances, immunized primarily with a 20 microgram dose of B. Co. vaccine, a secondary booster injection should be given within 2 years after initiation of primary immunization and a 3 microgram booster dose of A. Co. vaccine can be reliably used.
Adult ; Digestion ; Formaldehyde ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens* ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; Humans ; Immunization* ; Mass Screening ; Pepsin A ; Plasma

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Twins, Conjoined*

No abstract available.
Twins, Conjoined*

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency and distribution of parenchymal changes on mammography before and after hormone replacement therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mammograms of 100 postmenopausal women who underwent hormone replacement therapy without breast disease were evaluated. Mammograms obtained annually after hormone replacement were analysed and compared with that of pretreatment. In addition, mammograms of control group and treatment group were compared. RESULTS: An increase in density of breast parenchyma was seen on the mammogram of 20 women(20%) receiving therapy. The mammograms from the control group showed no change. Mammographic changes were detected at first year in 13 women, 2nd year in 4 women, 3rd year in 2 women, and 4th year in 1 woman (average,19 months). CONCLUSION: We conclude that increase in mammographic density following postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy is not uncommon(20%).
Breast Diseases ; Breast* ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy* ; Female ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Mammography*

PURPOSE: This investigation was to evaluate the efficacy of catheter-directed thrombolysis with urokinase in treating symptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT). METHODS: Eight patients with DVT underwent treatment for 8 affected limbs. The average urokinase dose was 487.5 million IU (range, 1.5 million to 6.5 million IU) infused over an average of 48 hour (range 24~72 hours). RESULTS: Lysis was complete in 5 (63%), and partial in 2 (25%), not achieved in 1 (12%). One chronically occluded proximal iliac vein through popliteal vein antegradely and tibial vein through internal jugular vein retrogradely could not be crossed with a guide wire. Angioplasty (n=3) and stent placement (n=1) were applied in three limbs with underlying venous stenosis. One limb among three limb of initial complete lysis was detected thrombus at femoral vein but this patient was asymptomatic at 6 month later. There were no major complications or clinically detectable pulmonary emboli. CONCLUSION: This initial experience suggests that catheter-directed thrombolysis with urokinase for treatment of symptomatic DVT is safe and effective.
Angioplasty ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Extremities ; Femoral Vein ; Humans ; Iliac Vein ; Jugular Veins ; Popliteal Vein ; Stents ; Thrombolytic Therapy* ; Thrombosis ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; Veins ; Venous Thrombosis*

No abstract available.
Cervix Uteri* ; Female

Treatment of rotator cuff tears by open subacromial decompression has known successful in decreasing pain and restoring function in patients who have failed nonoperative treatment. But, open rotator cuff repair may result in significant deficits in strength and active motion by deltoid separation from the acromion. Deltoid detachment may be avoided by repair using mini-open technique. Arthroscopic subacromial decompression and the rotator cuff repair revel satisfactory results. Subacromial decompression involves decompression of the coracoacromial arch including routine release or resection of the coracoacromial ligament. Recent ligament-cutting studies have confirmed the role of the coracoacromial ligament as a static restraint to superior humeral head displacement. Complete resection of the coracoacromial ligament may be avoided through minimized arthroscopic acromioplasty. We evaluated all 11 patients with rotator cuff tears who underwent arthroscopic minimized subacromial decompression and rotator cuff repairs using mini-open technique. Their average age was 53 years (26 to 64 years); and the average follow-up was 13 months. Preoperatively, all patients complained pain and weakness. Follow-up using modified Hospital for Special Surgery shoulder score showed good to excellent results in 10 cases and poor results in 1 case an average 13 months postoperatively. We found that arthroscopic minimized subacromial decompression and repair using mini-open technique are safe, effective procedure for addressing cuff tears of a wide range of sizes.
Acromion ; Decompression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Humeral Head ; Ligaments ; Rotator Cuff* ; Shoulder