Anticardiolipin antibodies(ACA) were assayed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 68 patients with Behçet's disease. Twenty seven (39.7 %) patients showed levels of ACA five standard deviations above the value of the control group. The frequency of ACA isotype IgM was found to be significantly increased in these patients. However, ACA was not found to have a significant association with clinical activity, thrombosis, positive Venereal Disease Research Laboratory(VDRL) test or antinuclear antibodies (ANA).
Antibodies, Anticardiolipin* ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Thrombosis

PURPOSE: evaluate the effectiveness of minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) in unstable fractures of the distal tibia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 2001 to December 2003, 21 cases with unstable fractures of the distal tibia were treated with MIPO technique and followed for at least one year. Eighteen cases were extra-articular and three cases were intra-articular fractures. According to AO classification, six cases were 42-A, four 42-B, one 42-C, seven 43-A, and three 43-C. There was only one case of Gustilo-Anderson type II open fracture. We reviewed the results of fracture healing, axial and rotational deformity, ankle motion, and complications RESULTS: All fractures were healed in an average of 16.1 weeks (range, 11 to 24 weeks). There was only one case of 7-degree posterior angular deformity, but no cases of rotational malalignment. Recovery of ankle motion was satisfactory in all patients within 5-degree loss of motion. Subcutaneous abscess was developed in one case after fracture healing and cured by a drainage with implant removal. CONCLUSION: Although MIPO technique is technically more demanding than the traditional open technique, MIPO technique is an effective method for unstable fractures of the distal tibia because it minimizes incidence of soft-tissue compromise and infection and provides good fracture healing.
Abscess ; Ankle ; Classification ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Drainage ; Fracture Healing ; Fractures, Open ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intra-Articular Fractures ; Tibia*

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical significance of heel pain, a frequently associated enthesopathy in Behcet's disease and to evaluate the association with seronegative spondyloarthropathy. METHODS: 15 Behcet's disease patients diagnosed by International Study Group for Behcet's disease criteria with arthritis were studied prospectively in the period of 1994. 3. 1-1995. 3. 31. Modified New York criteria was adopted for the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis. The patients were grouped into two by the presence of heel pain which was documented as tenderness on heel. RESULTS: There were 6 patients in the heel pain group and 9 patients in the non-heel pain group. Clinical characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups. Ankylosing sponaylitis was not associated in either group. ESR was higher with the value of 41.2mm/hr in heel pain group than 25.7mm/hr in non-heel pain group but it was not significant. In heel pam group, one patient showed HLA-B27 positivity, one patient showed erosive bone cha. nge, and one patient showed sacroiliitis but non-heel pain group showed no HLA positivity or bony changes. CONCLUSIONS: We find that subset of Behcet's disease patients with heel pain showed tendency to have higher inflammatory activity, erosive bone change, sacroilitis and HLA B-27 association, thus should be classified as seronegative spondyloarthropathy but seems to be different category from ankylosing spondylitis. These observations should be conducted in a large number of patients to establish the clinical value.
Arthritis ; Diagnosis ; Heel* ; HLA-B27 Antigen ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Sacroiliitis ; Spondylarthropathies ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing

BACKGROUND & METHODS: Approximately 10% of the essential hypertensive patient have overt proteinuria due to renal target organ damage, which indicates poor prognosis. Recently microalbuminuria has been prove to be a good early predictor for renal damage in patients with diabetes or hypertension. Some authors reported that near 40% of the essential hypertensives have microalbuminuria. To determinate prevalence of microalbuminuria in Korea essential hypertensives, 24-hr ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and radioimmunoassay to detect BP and UAER were performed after 4 weeks wash-out period in 137(78 hypertensive and 54 normotensive) consecutive cases. RESULTS: Among 78 hypertensives, overt proteinuria was seen in 8.97%(7/78). And prevalence of microalbuminuria were 29.4%(23/78) in hypertensives and 16.7%(9/54) in normotensives. Urine microalbumin excretion rate(UAER) was significantly correlated with mean arterial pressure(MAP) in total subjects(r=0.286, p=0.0012), but not in total hypertensives(r=0.135, p=NS) or in hypertensives with UAER(r=-0.098, p=NS).UAER of female hypertensives was increase than that of male hypertensives(13.17+/-16.28microg/min vs 22.87microg/min, p=0.027). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of microalbuminuria in Korean hypertensives was relatively lower then other reports. Overt proteinuria was noted in 8.97% of the hypertensives which is same prevalence as other countries. Moreover MAP was well correlated with UAER in total subjects. Further evaluation should be done to detect exact role of UAER in hypertensives as an early predictor for renal target organ damage.
Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory* ; Blood Pressure* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Male ; Prevalence* ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Radioimmunoassay

BACKGROUND & METHODS: Approximately 10% of the essential hypertensive patient have overt proteinuria due to renal target organ damage, which indicates poor prognosis. Recently microalbuminuria has been prove to be a good early predictor for renal damage in patients with diabetes or hypertension. Some authors reported that near 40% of the essential hypertensives have microalbuminuria. To determinate prevalence of microalbuminuria in Korea essential hypertensives, 24-hr ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and radioimmunoassay to detect BP and UAER were performed after 4 weeks wash-out period in 137(78 hypertensive and 54 normotensive) consecutive cases. RESULTS: Among 78 hypertensives, overt proteinuria was seen in 8.97%(7/78). And prevalence of microalbuminuria were 29.4%(23/78) in hypertensives and 16.7%(9/54) in normotensives. Urine microalbumin excretion rate(UAER) was significantly correlated with mean arterial pressure(MAP) in total subjects(r=0.286, p=0.0012), but not in total hypertensives(r=0.135, p=NS) or in hypertensives with UAER(r=-0.098, p=NS).UAER of female hypertensives was increase than that of male hypertensives(13.17+/-16.28microg/min vs 22.87microg/min, p=0.027). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of microalbuminuria in Korean hypertensives was relatively lower then other reports. Overt proteinuria was noted in 8.97% of the hypertensives which is same prevalence as other countries. Moreover MAP was well correlated with UAER in total subjects. Further evaluation should be done to detect exact role of UAER in hypertensives as an early predictor for renal target organ damage.
Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory* ; Blood Pressure* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Male ; Prevalence* ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Radioimmunoassay

No abstract available.
Antilymphocyte Serum ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Tissue Donors

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to review interventions available to nurses caring for siblings of children with cancer. METHODS: Searches of CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, and RISS identified ten intervention studies published from January, 2000 to November, 2016. RESULTS: Ten studies on interventions for siblings of pediatric cancer patients were identified as follows: 4 included camps, 4 included support groups, and 2 provided individual interventions. Theoretical frameworks were mainly cognitive behavioral theory and most studies were led by psychologists and multidisciplinary teams. The purpose of the interventions was primarily enhancing psychosocial adjustment. Siblings' fear of disease, self-esteem, and social support were improved significantly after the interventions. Findings were inconsistent with regard to depression, anxiety, behavioral problems, post-traumatic stress, health-related quality of life, and siblings' perceptions of the illness. CONCLUSION: Study findings showed the potential for enhancing emotional and behavioral outcomes in siblings of children with cancer. However, the number of studies was very small, and several methodological limitations were identified. In the future, more randomized controlled trials with larger samples are needed to extend the evidence base. Moreover, future research should identify sibling's characteristics and circumstances most likely to bring benefits to the siblings.
Anxiety ; Child ; Depression ; Humans ; Problem Behavior ; Psychology ; Quality of Life ; Self-Help Groups ; Siblings*

The Mayer-Rokitanski-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome refers to the clinical entity consistingof primary amenorrhea associated with congenital absence of the vagina, 46XX Karyotype,a rudimentary uterus in the form of bilateral noncanaliculated muscular band or completeabsence, normal ovarian function and normal ovulation, normal breast development, bodyproportion and body hair, frequent associated of renal, skeletal and other congenitalanomalies. A case of Mayer-Rokitanski-Kuster-Hauser syndrome was presented and the literatureswere reviewed briefly.
Amenorrhea ; Breast ; Female ; Hair ; Ovulation ; Uterus ; Vagina*

BACKGROUND: Dapsone has been recommended as a second-line immunosuppressive agent for patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the efficacy and safety of dapsone therapy in patients with ITP. RESULTS: Nine ITP patients were treated with dapsone at a dose of 50–100 mg/day between May 2013 and March 2016. All patients were refractory to multiple previous treatments, with a median of 7 agents (range, 4–8), and 3 patients had undergone a previous splenectomy. The median pre-treatment platelet count was 4×10⁹/L (range, 3–27×10⁹/L). Only 1 patient (11.1%) responded to dapsone therapy. No severe adverse events were observed, except for 1 case of dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome. CONCLUSION: Although dapsone is still useful for some patients, it may be ineffective in heavily pretreated patients with profound thrombocytopenia.
Dapsone* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Platelet Count ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic* ; Retrospective Studies ; Splenectomy ; Thrombocytopenia

PURPOSE: This study was to explore adaptation experience to family among women who immigrated for marriage. Specific aims were to identify problems immigrant women face as family members and how they interact with other family members. METHODS: Grounded theory methodology was utilized. Data were collected from iterative fieldwork with individual in-depth interviews from 6 immigrant women as key informants, and 2 of their husbands and 2 of their mothers-in-law as general informants. RESULTS: Through constant comparative analysis, a core category emerged as "tearing down the wall in communicating". Causal conditions were feeling frustrated in one's expectations, differences in language and life style, differences in recognition, and perceptions of discrimination and prejudice. Strategies were learning the Korean language, learning Korean culture, managing stress, mediating differences between family members, and introspecting. Intervening factors were support systems, burdens of child-rearing, and the condition of one's health. Consequences were rooting oneself in one's family and accepting one's life as it is. CONCLUSION: Results of the study indicate that there is a need for nurses to understand differences in communication with family members among immigrant women and to provide information and emotional support to improve the adaptation of these women to their Korean families.
*Adaptation, Psychological ; Adult ; Emigrants and Immigrants/*psychology ; Family/ethnology/psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Marriage ; Parenting ; Social Support ; Women