No abstract available.
Arteriovenous Fistula ; Renal Dialysis

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by demyelination, focal infiltration of inflammatory cells and axonal injury, which leads to loss of neurological function. The exact cause of the disease remains unclear, but an autoimmune response directed against CNS antigens is suspected. Studies in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS, have provided important insights into mechanisms of T cell-mediated CNS autoimmune disease. It appears likely that when a genetically susceptible host encounters a common environmental antigen (such as an infectious organism), a process called 'molecular mimicry' results in the peripheral activation of cross-reactive T cells that can migrate to the CNS and mount pro-inflammatory responses to myelin epitopes. This review describes the current understanding on the immunopathogenesis of MS and the mechanisms of action of currently available disease-modifying therapies in the context of the underlying immunopathogenic processes they are thought to affect.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Autoimmunity ; Axons ; Central Nervous System ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental ; Epitopes ; Models, Animal ; Multiple Sclerosis* ; Myelin Sheath ; T-Lymphocytes

Urethral duplication is rare congenital anomaly. It may be complete or partial, We report a case of PPNG urethritis which limited to the accessory urethra and treated with kanamycin (2. 0gm, im), ampicillin(3. 5gm, po) and probenecid(l pgm, po).
Kanamycin ; Urethra* ; Urethritis*

This study was designed to investigate factors relating to fiscal deficit for regional health insurance. The financial statements for the fiscal year 1990 of nationwide 254 regional medical insurance societies were analyzed. Important findings are summarized below: 1. There were differences in the main reason for the financial deficit among regions when deficit and surplus societies were compared by regions. The total revenue per enrollee, especially revenue from the premium contribution of a deficit society was significantly smaller than that of a surplus society in large cities and counties. On the other hand, the total expenditure per enrollee of a deficit society was larger than that of a surplus society in small cities. 2. Both low premium irate at the beginning of health insurance program and less effort to increase the premium rate were main factors for the smaller revenue from the contribution of a deficit society in large cities and counties. 3. Larger expenditures per covered person of a deficit society in small cities were explained with larger medical expenditures especially for out-patients services rather than larger administrative expenses. 4. A regression analysis showed that utilization rates in out-patient services were significantly associated with income and numbers of total medical care institution per capita within a region where a health insurance society located. Also expenses paid by insurer per visit were associated with the proportion of utilization for tertiary care hospitals as well as the proportion of utilization of public health centers.
Hand ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Insurance ; Insurance Carriers ; Insurance, Health* ; Korea* ; Outpatients ; Public Health ; Tertiary Healthcare

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

No abstract available.
Fractures, Open*

Paraproteinemic neuropathy is a heterogeneous set of neuropathies characterized by the presence of homogeneous immunoglobulin in the serum. Most cases are associated with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. It might also occur in hematologic malignant and nonmalignant conditions. The association between neuropathy and monoclonal gammopathy requires appropriate neurological and hematological investigations. Treatment is mostly based on underlying hematologic disorders. In this review, we provide a clinically practical approach to clinical, laboratory, electrophysiological features and management of patients with paraproteinemic neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: Hyperthermia is known to be one of the important poor prognostic factors of ischemic stroke. However, the prognostic role of fever in hemorrhagic stroke is not clear. We investigated whether the prognostic role of fever is influenced by the type of stroke. METHODS: We analyzed the linical data of patients who were admitted to our hospital within three days after the onset of stroke during 28 months. We divided the patients into three groups according to the degree of maximum temperature recorded during the first seven days; no fever (< OR=37.2 degrees C), low grade (37.3~38.0 degrees C) or high grade (> OR=38.1degrees C) fever. Using the modified Rankin disability scale (MRDS) at discharge, clinical outcome was dichotomized into favorable (MRDS 0~2) and unfavorable (MRDS 3~5) categories. The size of lesion, age, sex, alcohol, diabetes, hypertension, initial glucose level, hypercholesterolemia, heart disease, smoking, previous stroke, and initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were investigated. RESULTS: Of 217 patients, 46.1% had no fever, 36.9% had low grade fever, and 17.1% had high grade fever. Fever was strongly correlated with outcome in patients with stroke of any type (p<0.05). The size of lesion was also significantly correlated with the degree of fever in patients with ischemic stroke (p=0.01). Multivariate analysis in the logistic model revealed that fever and NIHSS were independent predictors for a poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Fever in patients with acute stroke is an independent poor prognostic factor regardless of stroke type.
Body Temperature* ; Fever ; Glucose ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hypertension ; Logistic Models ; Multivariate Analysis ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Prognosis ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stroke*