To understand a mechanism of underlying cognitive deficit in schizophrenia, the risk factors, cognitive function, blood dopamine concentrations and glutamate dehydrogenase activities of male schizophrenics with tardive dyskinesia(N=30) were compared with those of schizophrenics without tardive dyskinesia(N=30). The result were as following ; 1) The age, duration of illness and duration of medication were significantly more in schizophrenics with tardive dyskinesia than schizophrenics without tardive dyskinesia(respectively p<0.005, p<0.0001, p<0.0001). 2)The scores of MMSE, TIQ, VIQ and PIQ were significantly lower in schizophrenics with tradive dyskinesia than schizophrenics without tardive dyskinesia(respectively p<0.0001). 3) plasma dopamine concentrations were tended to be higher, and serum glutamate dehydrogenase activities were tended to be lower in schizophrenics with tardive dyskinesia than schizophrenics without tardive dyskinesia. 4) The cognitive deficit seemed to be negatively correlated with duration of illness and duration of illness and duration of medication(respectively gamma=-0.496, gamma=-0.615).
Dopamine ; Dyskinesias ; Glutamate Dehydrogenase ; Humans ; Male ; Movement Disorders* ; Plasma ; Risk Factors ; Schizophrenia*

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to discriminate the clinical differences, to measure the estrogen and homovanillic acid levels. to evaluate a correlation between estrogen and homovanillic acid. and to identify an association of cognitive deficit with estrogen and homovanilli acid among male and female schizophrenics. METHODS: In addition to the structured interviews, the plasma estrogen levels by radioimmunoassay and the homovanillic acid levels by HPLC were measured in 20 male and 21 female schizophrenics as well as 10 healthy male and 9 female controls. RESULTS: 1) The plasma estrogen levels were higher in females than males, and significantly higher in female schizophenics than female controls. The homovanillic acid levels were higher in female schizophrenics than female controls, and were lower in male schizophrenics than male controls. 2) The onset age seemed to be earlier in male schizophrenics, and the frequency of admission, duration of antipsychotic drug administration. dosage of antipsychotics and duration of illnesses were more in males. The estrogen and homovanillic acid levels were significantly higher in female schizophrenics. 3) The estrogen levels had a significant positive correlation with sex, age and onset age, while the homovanillic acid levels did with sex. However, estrogen wee not correlated with homovanillic acid levels. 4) The estrogen and homovanillic acid levels were not significantly different between male and female schizophrenics with cognitive deficits. In the schizophrenic patients without cognitive deficits, the estrogen levels were significantly higher in females, while here were no significant sex differences in homovanillic acid. 5) In the male and female schizophrenics predominantly with negative symptoms, there were no significant differences in estrogen and homocanillic acid levels. In those predominantly with positive symptoms, the estrogen levels wee significantly higher in females, while there were no sex differences in homovanillic acid levels. 6) In schizophrenics with undifferentiated subtype, the estrogen and homovanillic acid levels were significantly higher in females. In those with paranoid or disorganized subtypes. the estrogen levels were significantly higher females, while there were no sex differences in the homovanillic acid levels. 7) The mean values of PANSS-negative. PANSS-total, PANSS-CF, MMSE-K and estrogen levels were significantly higher in male schizophrenics with cognitive deficits. The mean values of illness duration, CGI PANSS-positive, PANSS-negative, PANSS-total, PANSS-CF and MMSE-K were significantly higher in female schizophrenics with cognitive deficits. 8) The variables which showed significant correlation with cognitive deficits were PANSS-nagative, PANSS-total, PANSS-CF, MMSE-K and estrogen levels in male schizophrenics. The variables which showed significant correlation with cognitive deficits were subtypes, onset age, illness duration, CGI, PANSS-positive, PANSS-negative, PANSS-total, PANMSS-CF and MMSE-K in female schizophrenics. The estrogen levels were significantly correlated with admission frequencies, history of antipsychotic administration, duration of antipsychotic administration and cognitive deficits in male schizophrenics. while age were not correlated with in females. The homovanillic acid levels had a significant correlation with subtypes and onset age in male schizophrenics, while there were no correlation among variables in females. CONCLUSIONS: Although the plasma concentrations of estrogen and homovaillic acid in female schizophrenics were significantly higher than males, we could not find an association between them. Furthermore, the various factors affecting on the cognitive deficits, estrogen and homovanillic acid levels seemed to be somewhat different according to sex.
Age of Onset ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dopamine* ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Homovanillic Acid ; Humans ; Male ; Plasma ; Radioimmunoassay ; Schizophrenia* ; Sex Characteristics

We report two cases of malignant lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue arising in the conjunctiva. Case 1, an 18-year-old girl, showed her left lower conjunctival swelling for four months and Case 2, a 29-year-old man, showed similar lesions on both his eyes for one year. Histologically, both cases revealed monomorphous dense lymphoid infiltrates invading the overlying conjunctival epithelium with diffuse patterns. The infiltrates were composed of small lymphocytes admixed with centrocyte-like cells within the conjunctival epithelium and stroma in association with B-cell lineage. No relapse was noted during the period of about 1½ years follow-up in case 1 treated by local excision only and in the follow-up period of 2 months in case 2 treated by local excision and subsequent chemotherapy.
Adolescent ; Adult ; B-Lymphocytes ; Conjunctiva* ; Drug Therapy ; Epithelium ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoid Tissue* ; Lymphoma* ; Recurrence

Benign symmetric lipomat,osis is a rare disease of undetermined cause characterized by symmetric deposits of adipose tissue o:n the neck, upper trunk and abdomen. We report three cases of kienign symmetric lipomatosis, one of which is associated with alcoholic liver disease and the patient complained of a diffieulties in neck motion, All of them are about sixty year old men with history of frequent alcohol consumption. In histopathologic findings, the reticular dermis was completcly replaced by mature fat cells and there was a slight increase in vascular and fibrous elements.
Abdomen ; Adipocytes ; Adipose Tissue ; Alcohol Drinking ; Dermis ; Humans ; Lipomatosis* ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic ; Male ; Neck ; Rare Diseases

It has been Known that silicone intubation may be an effective procedure for total or partial obstruction in infants of age one year or less, and the older the patient, the lower the success rate. We had performed silicone intubation on 40 eyes of 39 patients from january 1995 to May 1996, and they were divided into 3 groups according to age: group 1, 6 months to 6 years: group 2,6 to 16.: group 3, one 16 years. The success rate was 92.4% in groups 1 and 2, respectively: 83.3% ingroup 3. The success rate in patients with partial obstruction in group 3 was 100% In view of the results of the present study, silicone intubation may be in primary procedure for partial obstruction of lacrimal drainage system.
Drainage ; Humans ; Infant ; Intubation* ; Silicones*

Serum immunoglobulins from Israeli carp (I. carp) were purified using affinity chromatography. Fish were immunized with purified mouse IgG, and the specific fish antibodies purified from the immune serum on a mouse IgG-immobilized agarose gel. Rabbit anti-carp Ig (Raclg) antibodies were produced following hyperimmunization with mlgG specific I. Carp Ab. SDS-PAGE analysis under reducing condition showed that I. carp Ig (clg) were composed of two u-like heavy chains with about 82 and 50 kD, respectively and one light chain with about 25 kD. On immunoblotting analysis, however, Raclg failed to react with light chain. When both protein A and protein G purified normal clg were compared with mlgG specific clg, no significant structural differences among them were observed. To investigate if there is any homology between other fish Ig molecules, cross-reactivity of Raclg against Ig molecules from 6 different fish sera and mouse control serum was checked on immunoblotting analysis. As a result, Raclg responded to only carp and tilapia Ig molecules, indicating that both tilapia and carp are very closely associated, especially, in the genetic basis of immunoglobulin structure. In flow cytometry study, Raclg appeared to recognize 45.8% of carp Ig+, 14.5% of catfish Ig+ and <5% of tilapia Ig+ cells. The result suggest the heterogeniety between receptor immunoglobulins on B-like lymphocytes and soluble immunoglobulins in serum. It is crucial to obtain pure fish immunoglobulins to produce reagent antibodies as tools for the study of their specific immune response.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Carps* ; Catfishes ; Chromatography, Affinity ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Flow Cytometry ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins* ; Lymphocytes ; Mice ; Sepharose ; Staphylococcal Protein A ; Tilapia

No Abstract Available.
Hyperpigmentation*

The use of external fixator is popular in the treatment of open tibial fracture, severe comminuted fracture and segmental fracture, which minimizes further soft tissue injury and provides rigie fixation. The purpose of this study was to determine the complications and effectiveness of external fixation for treating the fractures of tibia. 33 patients with tibial fracture had been treated with external fixator from April 1993 to April 1994 at the orthopaedic department of Kang Dong Catholic General Hospital. We analysed 23 cases(21 patients) which could be followed up more than 12 months. The results were as follows; 1. Average duration with external fixator was 15.1 weeks. 2. Average time of bone union was 22.9 weeks. 3. 6 cases of pin tract infection were developed and they were treated with curettage and drainage, local antibiotics therapy, pin translation, or removal of external fixator. 4. The delayed union were developed in 5 cases, angulation deformity in 1 case, chronic osteomyelitis in 2 cases and soft tissue defect in 1 case. 5. Secondary operations caused by delayed union, valgus deformity, skin defect and bone exposure, were performed in 6 cases. 6. The use of external fixator provided good result in open fracture, intraarticular comminuted fracture, segmental fracture, and multiple injury, but chronic osteomyelitis and articular stiffness were developed in some cases.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Curettage ; Drainage ; External Fixators ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Fractures, Open ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Multiple Trauma ; Osteomyelitis ; Skin ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Tibia ; Tibial Fractures

We report a case of tuberculosis verrucosa cutis in a 64-year-old male patient, who had multiple verrucous plaques on his right hand for twenty years. His past history revealed a previous history of injury on his lesion site. Histologic features consisted of hyperkeratosis, acanthosis in the epidermis with inflammatory infiltrate and tuberculoid granuloma in the dermis. It was suspected that the patient had tuberculosis verrucosa cutis, but no bacilli was found in the lesion in the AFB stain. Then we performed PCR, which showed a positive result. We started antituberculosis medication, and the lesions cleared up after 6 months of treatment with isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol. The lesions were later confirmed to be tuberculosis by the AFB culture. We suggest that early diagnosis of tuberculosis verrucosa cutis can be made by using PCR.
Dermis ; Early Diagnosis ; Epidermis ; Ethambutol ; Granuloma ; Hand ; Humans ; Isoniazid ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pyrazinamide ; Rifampin ; Tuberculosis*

Congenital triangular alopecia is a rarely reported idiopathic congenital circumscribed alopecia. It presents with isolated patches of permanent alopecia involving the frontotemporal suture area of the scalp. It is necessary to differentiate it from other conditions such as alopecia areata in order to avoid prolonged treatment which may cause adverse side effects. We report a case of 7-year-old boy with congenital triangular alopecia.
Alopecia Areata ; Alopecia* ; Child ; Humans ; Male ; Scalp ; Sutures