The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of ethanol administration on the resistance of mice to Cryptococcus neoformans, IL-2 production of murine splenocytes, active systemic anaphylaxis induced by ovalbumin (OVA), serum TNF-alpha production, nitric oxide (NO) production by peritoneal machrophages and B16F10 melanoma colonization in lungs in mice. It was found that ethanol administration significantly inhibited the resistance of mice to C. neoformans infection, IL-2 production, active systemic anaphylaxis induction, serum TNF- alpha production and NO production. Ethanol administration significantly enhanced lung colonization when it was administered before i.v. melanoma inoculation. These results demonstrate that ethanol may play a critical role in tumorigenesis and immunoregulation as an immunomodulator.
Anaphylaxis* ; Animals ; Carcinogenesis ; Colon ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; Cytokines* ; Ethanol ; Interleukin-2 ; Lung ; Melanoma* ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide* ; Ovalbumin ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Tarsal tunnel syndrom is characterized by pain, paresthesias in the foot in either the entire distribution of the tibial nerve or the distribution of one or two of its major branches and caused by compression of the posterior tibial nerve as it passes posterior and inferior to the medial malleolus. This syndrome is not recognized as readily as its counterpart in the upper extremity, the carpal tunnel syndrome. Anatomically unlike the transv erse carpal ligament the laciniate ligament(flexor retinaculum) has several deep fibrous septa which blend with the periosteum covering the medial side of the calcaneus. The neurovascular bundle in the tarsal tunnel is often attached to some of these septa, rendering itself more liable to minor degrees of traction on movements of the foot. A case of tarsal tunnel syndrome, the patient 24 years old policeman, treated succesfully with surgical release of laciniate ligament is reported.
Calcaneus ; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Foot ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Paresthesia ; Periosteum ; Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome ; Tibial Nerve ; Traction ; Upper Extremity

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the role of HPV 16 and 18 in adenocarcinoma in situ(ACIS) of the uterine cervix. METHODS: Seventeen cases of primary cervical adenocarcinoma in situ were analyzed for HPV DNA by polymerase chain reaction. HPV 16 and 18 DNA extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded histologic tissue sections by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: 35.3% and 23.5% of ACIS were positive for HPV 16 and HPV 18 DNA, respectively. From the normal tissue, 11.8% were positive for HPV 16. Human papillomavirus positive patients were younger than negative patients but statistically insignificant(mean age 42.1 vs 51.7 years). CONCLUSIONS: These results show that HPV type 16 and 18 were closely related to etiology of the ACIS of the uterine cervix.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Cervix Uteri* ; DNA ; Female ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; Human papillomavirus 18 ; Humans* ; Papilloma* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Thyrotoxicosis (thyroid crisis) is a known cause of sudden death; however, only a few cases of death resulting from thyrotoxicosis have been reported. Histopathologic examination and postmortem thyroid function tests may be helpful in postmortem diagnosis, but their usefulness seems to be limited. We report three autopsy cases associated with thyrotoxicosis.
Autopsy ; Death, Sudden ; Thyroid Crisis ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyrotoxicosis

The authors observed 5 cases with leukonychia striata caused by Trichophyton rubrum infection. They were 4 males and 1 female in the 28-32 years age group. In 4 of the 5 cases the lesions disappeared in 1-3 months with treatment-avulsion of the involved nails followed by oral griseofulvin 500mg/day, one case did not have follow-up observation.
Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Griseofulvin ; Humans ; Male ; Trichophyton*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Arteries* ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Motor Vehicles*

Occasionally, patients with gastrointestinal Crohn's disease (CD) develop granulomatous skin lesions at sites remote from the gastrointestinal tract, separated from other ulcerations by normal skin, a phenomenon that has been referred to as metastatic cutaneous CD. Although metastatic CD of the vulval region has been often reported in English literature, we could not find such cases with family history. We report a case of vulval CD occurring in siblings.
Crohn Disease* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Siblings* ; Skin ; Ulcer ; Vulva*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the predictors of quality of life for elders in Korea. METHODS: The participants were 348 older persons selected by convenience sampling in Y city. Data were collected from September 22 to October 23, 2008 when 348 elders completed a questionnaire which included the Leisure Attitude Scale by Raghep and Beard (1982), Leisure Competence Questionnaire by Witt and Ellis (1987) and the Quality of Life Questionnaire by Mckenna (2001). Cronbach alphas scores for Korean translation of the questionnaires were .85, .90 and .79 respectively. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS Win 14.0 statistics program. RESULTS: The scores for quality of life showed significant positive correlations with the scores for leisure attitude (r=.603, p<.001) and leisure competence (r=.703, p<.001). Leisure competence, leisure attitude, and education were significant predictors and accounted for 54.4% of the variance in quality of life in the elders. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that high leisure competence and positive leisure attitude with learning opportunities will be helpful to promote a better quality of life for elders.
Aged ; Humans ; Korea ; Learning ; Leisure Activities ; Mental Competency ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate self-esteem, family function, and social support which might influence stress in college students. METHOD: Data were collected from October 15 to December 20, 2007 when 411 students completed a questionnaire which included Self-esteem scale, Family APGAR questionnaire, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and Global Assessment of Recent Stress scale. The collected data was analyzed with the SPSS Win 14.0 statistics program. RESULTS: The scores for stress showed significantly negative correlations with the scores for self-esteem (r=-.394, p<.001), family function (r=-.215, p<.001), and social support (r=-.249, p<.001). Self-esteem, family function and social support by friends were significant predictors and accounted for 18.5% of the variance in stress in undergraduate students. CONCLUSION: Future stress management programs for undergraduate students should be developed to reinforce self-esteem, family function and social support by friends.
Friends ; Humans ; Questionnaires