No abstract available.
Atherosclerosis* ; Hyperuricemia* ; Risk Factors*

No abstract available.
Estradiol* ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Progesterone*

OBJECTIVES : The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of computerized cognitive rehabilitation training on inpatients with schizophrenia in the rehabilitation unit. METHODS : Thirty-eight patients with schizophrenia from the Yongin Mental Hospital Rehabilitation Ward were randomly assigned either to a computerized cognitive rehabilitation group or to a control group. The rehabilitation group received 12 sessions of computerized cognitive rehabilitation training (Cog-Trainer) over 3 months. This training program consisted of ten units, each of which consisted of 3 levels, practice, application, and advanced. Neurocognitive functions were assessed at the beginning and end of the training period. Cognitive measures included Span of Apprehension (SPAN), Continuous Performance Test (CPT), Digit Span, Trail Making Test, and the Stroop Test. RESULTS : Compared to controls, subjects receiving computerized cognitive rehabilitation training experienced a significant improvement in attention, concentration, and working memory. CONCLUSION : These results indicate that computerized cognitive rehabilitation training can contribute to improvement in cognitive function of patients with schizophrenia. Further study to generalize these results is required.
Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Memory, Short-Term ; Pilot Projects ; Schizophrenia ; Trail Making Test

BACKGROUNDS: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSA) can divided into two groups, positional (PP) and non-positional(NPP) obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, according to the body position while sleeping. In this study, we evaluated the differences of anthropometirc data and polysomnographic recordings between the two types of sleep apnea syndrome. MATERIALS: Fifty patients with OSA were divided two groups by Cartwright's criteria. The supine respiratory disturbance index (RDI) was at least two times higher than the lateral RDI in the PP group, and the supine RDI was less than twice the lateral RDI in the NPP group. This patients underwent standardized polysomnographic recordings. The anthropometirc data and polysomnographic data were analyzed, statistically. RESULTS: Of all 50 patients, 30% were found to be positional OSA. BMI was significantly higher in the PP group(p<0.05). Total sleep time was significantly longer in the PP group (350.6±46.0min, p<0.05). Sleep efficiency was high in the PP group(89.6± 6.4%, 85.6±9.9%, p<0.05). Deep sleep was significantly higher and light sleep was lower in the PP group than in the NPP group but no difference was observed in REM sleep between the two groups. Apnea index(AI) and RDI were significantly lower(17.0±10.6, 28.5±13.3, p<0.05) and mean arterial oxygen saturation was higher in the PP group(92.7 ±1.8%, p<0.05) than in the NPP group. CONCLUSION: Body position during sleep has a profound effect on the frequency and severity of breathing abnormalities in OSA patients. A polysomnographic evaluation for suspected OSA patients must include monitoring of the body position. Breathing function in OSA patients can be improved by controlling their obesity and through postural therapy.
Apnea ; Humans ; Obesity ; Oxygen ; Polysomnography ; Respiration ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* ; Sleep, REM

Tumor-draining lymph node (TDLN) lymphocytes contain immunologically sensitized to tumor but functionally deficient T cells. The 30 kDa protein antigen, a major secreted protein antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, exhibits strong T cell stimulatory effect. In this study, it examined that the feasibility of using M tuberculosis 30 kDa antigen to stimulate tumor-draining lymph node cells for the generation of specific immune effector cells. Freshly isolated TDLN lymphocytes could directly respond to the 30 kDa antigen alone and their proliferative responses were markedly augmented by stimulation with rIL-2. TDLN cells were stimulated with the 30 kDa antigen for various time intervals and examined for the induction of IFN-r and IL-4 mRNA using RT-PCR. The expression of IFN-r mRNA was greatly augmented after 1 wk, whereas IL-4 mRNA is markedly decreased after 1 wk. Cytotoxic T cell activities induced by the 30 kDa antigen was also evaluated. TDLN cells stimulated with the 30 kDa antigen alone were able to generate remarkable cytotoxic response to K562 or Daudi cell lines after 6 days of culture. And their cytotoxic effects were highly augmented by stirnulation with rIL-2. These results suggest that the 30 kDa antigen of M. tuberculosis may selectively activate Thl cells of TDLN lymhocytes and induce the cytotoxic T cell activities. In conclusion, the 30 kDa antigen can be used as a biologic response modifier in tumor immunology.
Allergy and Immunology ; Cell Line ; Interleukin-4 ; Lymph Nodes* ; Lymphocytes* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; RNA, Messenger ; T-Lymphocytes ; Th1 Cells* ; Tuberculosis

No abstract available.
Obesity, Morbid* ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome*

BACKGROUND: Recent DNA polymorphism analysis using numerous DNA markers has been used to determine the parental origin of the extra chromosome 21 in Down syndrome. In this study we used seven dinucleotide repeat polymorphisms on chromosome 21 to characterize a case of rea(21q21q) and to know whether it is consistent with an isochromosome or a true Robertsonian translocation. METHODS: Cytogenetic investigation was done by conventional G banding DNA was extracted from whole blood of a proband and her parents and was amplified by PCR using seven sets of (GT)n repeat dinucleotide markers located on the long arm of chromosome 21 After electrophoresis of the PCR product in polyacrylamide gel and silver staining the parental origin and number of DNA copy were determined by visual comparison of the band intensities within and between individuals. RESULTS: Conventional cytogenetics showed that the proband had a 46.XX.re(21q21q) chromosome pattern. Parental chromosome studies were normal, therefore, the rearrangement was a de novo event. All seven DNA markers showed one or two alleles, demonstrating rea(21q21q) to be an isochromosome. For D21S215 and D21S156 markers both parents were heterozygous and the proband inherited one copy of paternal allele and two copies of maternal allele which both parents did not share. This finding was consistent with a maternally derided isochromosome. CONCLUSION: Use of dinucleotide repeat DNA polymorphisms after PCR amplification will be very useful to detect the parental origin of additional chromosome 21 or rearrangement of chromosome 21 in Down syndrome. Besides employing siltier staining of a PCR product we will be able to avoid using of radioisotopes and apply to clinical laboratory diagnosis.
Alleles ; Arm ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Cytogenetics ; Dinucleotide Repeats* ; DNA ; Down Syndrome ; Electrophoresis ; Genetic Markers ; Humans ; Isochromosomes ; Parents ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Radioisotopes ; Silver Staining

Culture of human peripheral T lymphocytes with irnmobilized anti-CD3 rnAb plus IL-2 resulted in a marked proliferation and the enhancing IL-2Ra mRNA expression. The process of the T cell activation involves a series of biochemical events which ultimately lead to the proliferation and IL-2Ra mRNA expression. Although the above results have been observed, the celluar signal mechanisms between the proliferative response and the IL-2Ra mRNA expression through T cell receptor and IL-2 receptor remains unresolved. In the present study, We have used genistein (the selective PTK inhibitor) or chronic PMA treatment (depletion of intracelluar PKC activity), to investigate the role of PTK or PKC both in a synergistic proliferation and in the enhancing IL-2Ra mRNA expression by IL-2/anti-CD3. Genistein (30 ug/ml) completely blocked IL-2 induced T cell proliferation, and inhibited anti-CD3 induced T cell proliferation (93.4%). But genistein downregulated the IL-2Ra mRNA expression by IL-2, anti-CD3 and IL-2/anti-CD3. The chronic PMA treatment failed to inhibit the proliferation and the IL-2R#u mRNA expression by IL-2 alone. But PKC depleted T cells stimulated with anti-CD3 mAb showed the decrease of the proliferation (68.6%) and IL-2Ra mRNA expression. In activated with IL-2/anti- CD3, the proliferative response showed a half of reduction, but the IL-2Ra mRNA expression were not regulated. These results demonstrate that proliferative response to IL-2 appears to be dependent on PTKs activity and independent of PKC involvement, but the IL-2Ra mRNA expression may be required another signals. PTKs and PKC activity may be important in TCR/CD3 signaling. But IL-2/anti-CD3 are coupled up different signal transduction pathways responsible for the synergistic T cell proliferation and the enhancing IL-2Ru mRNA expression.
Cell Proliferation ; Genistein ; Humans ; Interleukin-2* ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell ; Receptors, Interleukin-2 ; RNA, Messenger* ; Signal Transduction ; T-Lymphocytes

Some of the proteins of mycobacteria are preferentially associated with the cell wall and are powerful immunogens, and humoral antibody responses to these mycobacterial antigens may occur in patients with tuberculosis. In this study, Triton X-100 solubilized protein (TSP) antigen was isolated from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv by overnight shaking with 1% Triton X- 100/PMSF and 10-90% ammonium sulfate precipitation. IgG and IgM antibody levels against TSP, crude protein from the unheated cultrue filtrate (CF#) and 30 kDa antigens were determined in the sera of 80 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 99 healthy controls with PPD (+) and (-). High IgG reactivity to TSP and CF antigen was observed in tuberculosis patients. Mean IgG antibody titers against all of three mycobacterial antigens were differed significantly (P<0.01) between patients and controls but IgM showed no difference. By the cut-off value adding 2 standard deviation to the mean absorbance of controls, the sensitivity and specificity of the IgG antibody to TSP antigen were 93.9% and 77.5%. The specificity to TSP antigen was a litttle higher than those obtained by CF and 30 kDa antigen. From the above results, the TSP antigen may be useful for the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis.
Ammonium Sulfate ; Antibody Formation ; Cell Wall ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Neptune* ; Octoxynol* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serologic Tests ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to conduct three-dimensional finite element analysis of individual tooth displacement and stress distribution when a posterior retraction force of 200 g was applied at different positions of the retraction hook on the transpalatal arch (TPA) of a molar, and over different lengths of the lever arm on the maxillary anterior teeth in lingual orthodontics. METHODS: A three-dimensional finite element model, including the entire upper dentition, periodontal ligaments, and alveolar bones, was constructed on the basis of a sample (Nissan Dental Product, Kyoto, Japan) survey of Asian adults. Individual movement of the incisal edge and root apex was estimated along the x-, y-, and z-coordinates to analyze tooth displacement and von Mises stress distribution. RESULTS: When the length of the lever arm was 15 mm and 20 mm, the incisal edge and root apex of the anterior teeth was displaced lingually, with a maximum lingual displacement at the lever arm length of 20 mm. When the posterior retraction hook was on the root apex, the molars showed distal displacement. When the length of the lever arm was 20 mm, anterior extrusion was reduced and the crown of the canine displaced toward the buccal side, in which case, the retraction hook was on the edge, rather than at the center, of the TPA. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the analysis showed that when 6 anterior teeth were retracted posteriorly, lateral displacement of the canine and lingual displacement of the incisal edge and root apex of the anterior teeth occur without the extrusion of the anterior segment when the length of the lever arm is longer, and the posterior retraction hook is in the midpalatal area.
Adult ; Arm ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Crowns ; Dentition ; Displacement (Psychology) ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Mechanics ; Molar ; Periodontal Ligament ; Tooth