We have studied morphologic characteristics and apoptosis on the fetal brain of the trisomy 16 mouse, a model for human trisomy 21 syndrome. This study was based on serial sections of the whole brain from a sample of sixteen trisomy 16 mice and forty-six age-matched control littermates from embryonic day (ED) 12 to ED 18. Trisomy 16 brains showed a reduction of telencephalic size and abnormal cortical development. At ED 13 trisomy 16 and control brains appeared similar. By ED 14 difference in the cortical thickness and telencephalic growth became evident, and by ED 16 a marked size difference had developed between the trisomy 16 and control brains. By ED 18, however, the thickness of the trisomy 16 cortex had increased considerably and was not significantly different with respect to the thickness and cross-sectional areas of the pallium and its constituent cortical layers. The cell density of the trisomy 16 cortex had persistently decreased before ED 17, when the cell density of control and trisomy 16 corteces was similar within each layer. At ED 18 cell density of trisomy 16 cortex in each layer increased. There was inverse relationship between a number of TUNEL positive apoptotic cells and cell density in the trisomy 16 brains. Our results suggest that developmental abnormalities of the trisomy 16 brain indicated developmental delay of the telencephalon growth, which may be caused by apoptosis rather than by a proliferation defect.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Brain* ; Cell Count ; Down Syndrome ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Mice* ; Telencephalon ; Trisomy*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Melanoma*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Clone Cells* ; Cloning, Organism* ; Mast Cells* ; Mice*

No abstract available.
Adaptive Immunity ; Animals ; Cell Line* ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Antibodies, Monoclonal* ; Herpesvirus 4, Human* ; Humans* ; Tetanus Toxoid* ; Tetanus*

BACKGROUND: Complete clearance of the lesions by using calcipotriol alone have not been re-ported commonly in the treatment of psoriatic patients. Moreover, lesional and perilesional irritation are reported in some patients using calcipotriol, which may result in premature termination of the treatment due to impairing the compliance. OBJECTIVE: A clinical study was conducted to determine whether, in the topical treatment of psoriasis, a combination of calcipotriol cream and methylprednisolone aceponate was more effective than calcipotriol monotherapy. METHODS: Twenty-one psoriasis patients who had the symmetric lesions on the right and left lower legs were enrolled in the study. A combination of calcipotriol cream and methylprednisolone aceponate therapy was done on the left lower legs, whereas calcipotriol alone was applied on the right lower legs twice daily. PASI score and adverse events were recorded at each visit (1, 2, 3, 4, 6 week). The overall therapeutic result was also assessed by the physician and patients. RESULTS: The initial PASI score was 7.09 on both legs. After 6 weeks, the mean PASI score was 3.85 on the left leg, and 5.70 on the right leg (p<0.05). In the physicianOs global assessment, the percentage of patients who showed the improvement of more than half of lesions was 29% in the monotherapy and 62% in the combination therapy area. Two patients complained of mild itching sense on monotherapy, but there was no specific side effect on combination area. CONCLUSION: The combination therapy was more effective, as assessed by all evaluated variables. Furthermore, this combination reduces the adverse effects caused by long-term use of topical corticosterois as well as the irritation associated with. calcipotriol.
Compliance ; Humans ; Leg ; Methylprednisolone* ; Pruritus ; Psoriasis*

No abstract available.
Herpesvirus 4, Human*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the degrees of depression and activities of daily living (ADLs), and to identify factors that predict depression in elderly patients. METHODS: The sample was149 patients (80% female; mean age 79.1) from three geriatric hospitals located in small cities and who agreed to participate in the study. Data were collected by staff nurses involved in direct patient care from October to September 2009. The level of depression was measured on a daily basis for seven days using a 13-item scale. Patients' ADLs was measured using a modified 10-item Bathel ADLs scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 17.0. RESULTS: Mean depression score was 10.05+/-4.77 out of 26 points and about 27% was assessed as depressed with more than 13 points. Multiple regression analysis showed that low educational level, absence of spouse and fewer family visits predict depression. In addition, low ADLs and sleep disturbance predict depression. CONCLUSION: Nursing care providers need to be concerned about ADLs of older patients and should develop nursing activity programs to increase their in-hospital physical activities. It is also important care for older patients' sleep and encourages family visits to decrease their depression.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Depression ; Humans ; Motor Activity ; Nursing Care ; Patient Care ; Spouses

No abstract available.
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome*

PURPOSE: We assessed the prognostic value of AMES to determine the extent of surgery in PTC patients, and compared AMES score usefulness and accuracy with [18F] FDG PET/CT. METHODS: We conducted a review of data from a single center and a single surgeon, who treated 341 patients with PTC with total thyroidectomy and prophylactic bilateral CLN dissection at a tertiary referral center, Chungnam National University Hospital, between 2001 and 2012. RESULTS: In multivariate analysis, the rate of CLN metastasis was considerably higher in PTC patients with the higher AMES score (odds ratio [OR], 1.718; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.073~2.752), higher SUV of the CLN (>0) (OR, 6.525; CI, 3.184~13.371), higher SUV of the tumor (>4.3) (OR, 1.855; CI, 1.065~3.231). CONCLUSION: The AMES score is helpful in deciding whether to perform a CLN dissection, as there is a strong association between the AMES score and CLN metastasis. This high predictive value of CLN metastasis can help determine the extent of PTC surgery while considering the cost and effort.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy