BACKGROUND: One of the most, probable pathogenesis of vitiliga is autoimmune. Systemic cor tico st,eroids suppress immunity and may arrest the progression of vitiligo and lead to repigmentation. OBJECTIVE: We have assessed the clinical effect of a oral small oral dose of corticosteroid to minimize side effects in vitiligo patients. METHODS: Thirty four patients(9;male, 25;female) with vitiligo were evaluated in this study. The patients took 7.5mg-20mg prednisolone initially for 2 months and then the dosage was tapered to half of the initial dosiat the 3rd month and half of dose of 3rd month for the last 4th month. We compared the effcct of treatment of vitiligo before and aft.er the study by photographs. and side efferts were issessed at. 1, 2, 3 and 4 month. RESULTS: The arrest of the progression of vitiligo was noticed in 79% of patients and repigmentation was noticed in 59% of patients which is statistically significant. The effect, of treatment according to extent, duiation, type, and site of vitiligo were not statistically significant. The side effects of treatment were minimal and did not affect the course of treatment. CONCLUSION: Small doses of iral corticosteroids are effective without any significant side effects in preventing progression and loiiduce repigmentation of active spreading vitiligo and generalized type of vitiligo that is difficult to treat with topical corticosteroids.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones* ; Humans ; Prednisolone ; Vitiligo*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of functional electrical stimulation (FES) on hemiplegic shoulder subluxation in post-acute stroke patients. METHOD: Forty-four patients who had shoulder subluxation as a consequence of their first stroke were included and randomly assigned to either a control group (22 subjects) or a study group (22 subjects). Patients in both groups received physiotherapy and used an arm sling. The study group received, FES therapy to shoulder muscles (supraspinatus and posterior deltoid) for 30 minutes, five days a week for 6 weeks. The effect of FES therapy was evaluated by assessment of the severity of subluxation using radiologic measurements before and after treatment. RESULTS: 1) The severity of subluxation was significantly increased after 6 weeks (p<0.05) in the control group. In the study group, it was reduced but the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). 2) In the group of patients with early treatment (onset duration, less than 6 months), the control group showed a significant increase in subluxation (p<0.05), but the study group showed significantly reduced (p<0.05) shoulder subluxation after treatment period. 3) In the group of patients with mild shoulder subluxation before treatment (less than 1 finger breadth), the control group showed a significant increase in subluxation (p<0.05), but the study group showed significantly reduced (p<0.05) shoulder subluxation after treatment period. CONCLUSION: The FES therapy is effective in preventing and reducing the severity of hemiplegic shoulder subluxation in post-acute stroke patients, especially if duration since stroke onset was less than six months and the severity of subluxation before treatment was mild.
Arm ; Electric Stimulation* ; Fingers ; Humans ; Muscles ; Shoulder* ; Stroke

PURPOSE: In order to confirm the clinical application of a tissue microarrays method, the expression rate and relationship between factors related apoptosis, hormonal receptors and the clinical factors were investigated. METHODS: A tissue microarrays of 59 breast cancer tissues, and apoptosis related factors were examined by immunohistochemical staining using monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 49.9 years and 86.4% had a pathological stage of over stage II. The average number of metastatic lymph nodes was 3.8. p53 expression was noted in 21 cases (35.6%) and was related to Bcl-2, ER and PR expression. PTEN was expressed in 39 cases (66.1%) and related to FAS, Bcl-2, ER and PR expression. Fas was expressed in 34 cases (57.6%) and related with PR and BAX expression. BAX expression was observed in 42 cases (71.2%) and was related to the metastatic axillary lymph nodes, and both Bcl-2 and PR expression. Bcl-2 expression was noted in 33 cases (55.9%) and related to ER and PR expression. ER was expressed in 34 cases (57.6%) and was related positively with PR expression. CONCLUSION: The tissue microarrays method can be used for both screening and analyzing many factors or different tumor types. This new technique may be very powerful for the rapid identification of the tumor characteristics.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Apoptosis* ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Mass Screening

OBJECTIVES: In diabetics the disturbance of circardian variation of blood pressure and heart rate has been supposed to be related to diabetic autonomic neuropathy and diabetic nephropathy. We performed this study to evaluate the circardian variation of blood pressure and heart rate and the difference of affecting factors between normoalbuminuric patients and microalbuminuric patients. METHODS: We studied 50normotensive NIDDM patients without overt nephropathy, divided two grooups, which are normoalbuminuric patients(D1 group) and microalhuminuric patients(D2 group), according to the urinary albumine excretion rate(AER) on 24-h urine collection. We simultaneosly measured 24-hour blood pressure and heart rate by using of ambulatory 24-hour blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). RESULTS: 1) In group Kb, 24-h systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher than in C(normal control group) and D1 2) 24-h heart rate values did not significantly differ between the groups, but night heart was significantly elevated in group D2 than C and D1. 3) The night/day ratio of SBP(systolic blood pressure) and HR(heart rate) was significantly higher in D2 than C and D1, but the night/day ratio of DBP(diastolic blood pressure) was significantly higher in D2 compaired with C only. 4) The night/day ratio of SBP correlated significantly with duration of diabetes, log of AER, HDL, HbAlc and 24-h DBP. The determinants selected in a multiple stepwise regression were duration of diabetes and HbAlc. 5) The night/day ratio of DBP was related to duration of diabetes, log of AER, 24-h DBP and night HR. The determinants selected in a multiple stepwise regression were duration of diabetes and 24-h DBP. 6) The night/day ratio of HB was related to neuropathy, 1/creatinine, HDL, night SBP, duration of diabetes and log of AER. The determinants selected in a multiple stepwise regression were neruopathy and night SBP. CONCLUSION: In this study, the normal circardian variation of blood pressure was disturbed in a group of micoralbuminuric patients. But it seems that AER was not a principle independent factor and circardian variation of blood pressure and heart rate were affected by different several factors identified in this study. The nocturnal heart rate was significantly elevated in microalbuminuric group, suggesting the possibility of the presence of parasympathetic neuropathy which is supposed to be related with sudden cardiac death. So it is thought that blunted circardian variation of blood pressure and heart rate can be a prognostic indicator and further prospective study is necessary.
Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Blood Pressure Monitors ; Blood Pressure* ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Urine Specimen Collection

PURPOSE: In order to confirm the clinical application of a tissue microarrays method, the expression rate and relationship between factors related apoptosis, hormonal receptors and the clinical factors were investigated. METHODS: A tissue microarrays of 59 breast cancer tissues, and apoptosis related factors were examined by immunohistochemical staining using monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 49.9 years and 86.4% had a pathological stage of over stage II. The average number of metastatic lymph nodes was 3.8. p53 expression was noted in 21 cases (35.6%) and was related to Bcl-2, ER and PR expression. PTEN was expressed in 39 cases (66.1%) and related to FAS, Bcl-2, ER and PR expression. Fas was expressed in 34 cases (57.6%) and related with PR and BAX expression. BAX expression was observed in 42 cases (71.2%) and was related to the metastatic axillary lymph nodes, and both Bcl-2 and PR expression. Bcl-2 expression was noted in 33 cases (55.9%) and related to ER and PR expression. ER was expressed in 34 cases (57.6%) and was related positively with PR expression. CONCLUSION: The tissue microarrays method can be used for both screening and analyzing many factors or different tumor types. This new technique may be very powerful for the rapid identification of the tumor characteristics.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Apoptosis* ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Mass Screening

PURPOSE: Almost all liver diseases are known to be accompanied by increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), regardless of the cause of the liver disorder. However, little is known about the role of hypoxic conditioned media (HCM) in the view of pro-oxidative/antioxidative balance. METHODS: Normoxic conditioned media (NCM) and HCM were obtained after culturing adipose-derived stem cells in 20% O₂ or 1% O₂ for 24 hours, respectively. Their effects on the expression of various markers reflecting pro-oxidative/antioxidative balance were investigated in both in vitro (thioacetamide-treated AML12 cells) and in vivo (partially hepatectomized mice) models of liver injury, respectively. RESULTS: HCM treatment induced the higher expression of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase than did NCM in the in vitro model of liver injury. We also found that HCM increased the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (NRF2). The in vivo models of liver injury consistently validated the phenomenon of upregulated expression of antioxidant enzymes by HCM. CONCLUSION: We thus could conclude that HCM provides protection against ROS-related toxicity by increasing the expression of antioxidant enzymes, in part by releasing NRF2 in the injured liver.
Antioxidants ; Catalase ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; In Vitro Techniques ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Stem Cells ; Superoxide Dismutase

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of low energy-ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation on bone metabolism and turnover in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five-week old C57BL/6 mice were randomly allocated into two groups. Control group (n=35) was not exposed to UVB and experimental group (n=35) was exposed to low energy-UVB for 30 min a day during 7 days. Serological and radiological examination was performed at 0, 1, 2, 4, 8 week(s) of each group (n=7). RESULTS: Analysis of biochemical bone markers revealed that alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was detected higher in the UVB group compared to control group. Serum level of osteocalcin was higher in UVB group at 1st week after UVB irradiation (p=0.031). The mean value of Vitamin D was significantly higher in UVB group than control group (p=0.032). Bone mineral density (BMD) from both 5th lumbar spine (p=0.124) and femur (p=0.862) showed higher in UVB group than control group from two weeks after irradiation, but they were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Our study with radiological bone mineral density and serological tests for biochemical bone turnover markers revealed that ultraviolet irradiation contributed positive effect on bone formation.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Bone Density ; Femur ; Metabolism* ; Mice* ; Osteocalcin ; Osteogenesis ; Serologic Tests ; Spine ; Vitamin D

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection occurs throughout the world and causes various gastroduodenal diseases in all age groups. The prevalence of H. pylori infection varies among countries and races. The aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of H. pylori infection in healthy people in Korea. METHODS: From March 1998 to October 1998, 5,732 asymptomatic subjects responded to the self-assessment questionnaires from 54 hospitals were enrolled. Serum level of anti-H. pylori IgG was measured by ELISA test. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection was 46.6% and showed no significant difference between male (47.2%) and female (45.9%). According to the geographic areas, the highly prevalent provinces were Kangwon (53.4%), Cheju (52.9%) and Jeonra provinces (50.6%), while Seoul (41.9%) was the lowest prevalent area. The seroprevalence increased with age and was the highest at 40's (78.5%). The characteristic feature of this study was that the infection rate increased steeply in three age groups (10-12, 16-19 years old and 30's). In Seoul, there was no different prevalence rate among the districts studied. CONCLUSION: The nation-wide seroprevalence of H. pylori infection in Korea is higher than that of the developed countries. We hope that this study provides the landmark for the study of H. pylori infection in Korea.
Continental Population Groups ; Developed Countries ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Gangwon-do ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Hope ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Jeju-do ; Korea* ; Male ; Prevalence ; Self-Assessment ; Seoul ; Seroepidemiologic Studies* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The PTEN gene, a novel tumor suppressor, is localized to chromosome 10q23.3 and shares extensive homology with the cytoskeletal protein, tensin. A high frequency of mutations at the PTEN locus has been described in a variety of neoplasms including breast cancer and Cowden Disease. However, the role of PTEN alterations and its association with clinicopathological factors have not been well established. We investigated the relationship between the PTEN expression and clinicopathological factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from 105 women with breast cancer were evaluated for the PTEN expression and were scored semi-quantitatively based on staining intensity and distribution. Results were statistically compared with clinicopathological factors. RESULTS: Forty-seven (45%) of the 105 breast cancers had a loss of the PTEN expression. In the recurrent group, 19 of 32 (59%) patients showed a loss of the PTEN expression, whereas in the non-recurrent group, only 28 of 73 (38%) patients showed a loss of the PTEN expression. The loss of PTEN expression correlated with estrogen receptors (ER) (p=0.027), recurrence (p=0.046), HER-2/neu overexpression (p=0.016), disease-free survival (p=0.0163), and overall survival (p=0.0357). In particular, when HER-2/ neu was overexpressed, the overall survival rate correlated with the loss of PTEN expression statistically (p=0.0454), whereas when HER-2/neu was negative, there was no correlation (p=0.9808). Progesterone receptor (PR) and disease stage had no relationship with the PTEN expression. CONCLUSION: Our results support that PTEN plays a role as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer and is a prognostic factor in predicting recurrence.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Genes, vif ; Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple ; Humans ; Receptors, Estrogen ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: Data on the efficacy of olanzapine in patients receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC) are limited. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of olanzapine versus placebo in controlling nausea and vomiting in patients receiving MEC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to determine whether olanzapine can reduce the frequency of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) and improve the quality of life (QOL) in patients receiving palonosetron and dexamethasone as prophylaxis for MEC-induced nausea and vomiting. The primary end point was complete response for the acute phase (0-24 hours after chemotherapy). The secondary end points were complete response for the delayed (24-120 hours) and overall phase (0-120 hours), proportion of significant nausea (visual analogue scale ≥ 25 mm), use ofrescue medications, and effect on QOL. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients were randomized to the olanzapine (n=29) and placebo (n=27) groups. Complete response rates were not significantly different between the olanzapine and placebo groups in the acute (96.5% vs. 88.0%, p=0.326), delayed (69.0% vs. 48.0%, p=0.118), and overall phases (69.0% vs. 48.0%, p=0.118). However, the percentage of patients with significant nausea (17.2% vs. 44.0%, p=0.032) and the use of rescue medications (0.03±0.19 vs. 1.88±2.88, p=0.002) were lower in the olanzapine group than in the placebo. Furthermore, the olanzapine group demonstrated better QOL (p=0.015). CONCLUSION: Olanzapine combined with palonosetron and dexamethasone significantly improved QOL and vomiting control among previously untreated patients receiving MEC, although the efficacy was limited to the reduction of the frequency of CINV.
Antiemetics ; Dexamethasone ; Drug Therapy* ; Humans ; Nausea* ; Quality of Life ; Vomiting*