We evaluated the treatment schedule of a 4 week course of methotrexate followed by UVB radiation therapy on 18 patients of generalized psoriasis. The patients received the weekly triple doses of methotrexa,te(MTX), 5 mg given every 12 hours for three doses on weekend for 3 weeks. On 4 th weekend, the doses was halved to 2. 5 mg every 12 hours for three doses, and then stopped. After a 4 week course of methotrexate, total doses 52. 5 mg, UVB treatment was commenced. The results are as follows: 1. 13 patients showed clearing of psoriatic involvolvement over 50, after 4 week course of MTX therapy. 2. Complete clearing of skin lesions was achieved in all 18 patients with the average,"j, 8 times of UVB exposure in trunk and 5 6 times in extremities respect ively. 3. The average dose of UVB exposure at clearance was 187 mJ/cm in trunk lesion and 263. 6 mJ/cm in extremities, The mean cummulative dose of UVB exposure at clearance was 800. 7 mJ/cm in trunk lesion and 994. 3 mJ/cm in extremities. In conculuaion, the brief 4 week course of MTX allows for clearing of psoriasis at relatively low dose of UVR, and thus may reduce the long-term cumrnulative toxicity of both agents.
Appointments and Schedules ; Extremities ; Humans ; Methotrexate ; Psoriasis* ; Skin

No abstract available.
Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms*

Topical photochemotherapy is effective for the treatment of vitiligo, However the effectiveness of photosensitizer, 4,5', 8-trimethyl-psoralen is not well known. For thesie reasons, we evaluated the pigment producing effect of various concentrations of TMP in fifty-six male black mice doing photochemotherapy. 1) The number of melanocytes according to the concentrations of TMP: The melanocytes were not increased in the control group. However, melanocytes were increased, in three TMP applied groups in the order of 0.1% 0.3% and 0.5% group at 1,2,3 weeks, respectively but the difference of melanocyte counts in the TMP applied groups was not remarkable at 4 weeks. 2) The area of melanocytes in relation to the concentrations of TMP: The area significantly increased from the second week of UVA exposure in the control group. There was marked increase in the area of the melanocytes in the TMP applied groups compared with those of control group in the order of 0. l%, 0, 3% and 0. 5% respectively. 3) The circumference of the melanocytes in relation to the Concentrations of TMP: Circumference of the control groups increased in proportion to the frequency of UVA exposure. TMP applied groups showed significant increase of the circumference compared that of the control group and generally increased in proportion to the increase in the concentration of TMP.
Animals ; Humans ; Male ; Melanocytes ; Mice ; Photochemotherapy* ; Thymidine Monophosphate ; Trioxsalen* ; Vitiligo

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

A practical and convenient method of rearing Eucyclops serrulatus in a microculture environment is described. A complete life cycle of E. serrulatus was maintained in a narrow space on a microscope slide glass on which a cover glass of 22 x 40 mm in size was mounted at a height of 0.8 mm. The culture medium was constituted by bottled mineral water boiled with grains of Glycine max (soybean). Chilomonas paramecium, a free-living protozoan organism, was provided as live food. Growth of nauplii hatched from eggs to the first stage of copepodite took an average of 7.7 days, and the growth of copepodite 1 to the egg-bearing adult female took an average of 20.1 days in the microculture cell with an average life time of 44.7 days. Continuous passage of copepods was successfully maintained as long as sufficient medium and food were provided. The microculture method enables an in situ microscopic observation on the growth and developmental process of helminth larvae experimentally infected to copepods as well as of copepod itself. Furthermore, it does not require anesthetization and, therefore, minimize the amount of stress exposed to copepods during the handling process.
Protozoa ; Male ; Female ; Culture Techniques/*methods ; Culture Media ; Copepoda/*growth & development ; Animals

Mutation of the p53 gene frequently results in overexpression of the p53 protein and loss of its tumor-suppressing properties. The overexpression of the p53 gene could be an indicator of rapid proliferation, poor differentiation, advanced stages, or poor prognosis. The prognostic value of the overexpression of the p53 gene in colorectal carcinoma is equivocal. The presence of DNA aneuploidy has been described as a powerful adverse prognostic indicator in relation to survival. To investigate the prognostic significance of p53 expression, and the relationship with DNA ploidy, 92 cases of colorectal carcinomas were analyzed. The overexpression of p53 gene product was present in 50(54.4%) of 92 cases. p53 expression only correlated with recurrence or metastasis during the follow-up periods (p=0.045). DNA aneuploidy was observed in 32(39.1%) of 82 cases. DNA ploidy was strongly associated with lymph node invasion(p=0.005), Dukes' stage(p=0.003), TNM classification (p=0.003), and recurrence or metastasis during the follow-up periods (p=0.045). The frequency of DNA aneuploidy was higher in the p53-positive colorectal carcinomas(58.3%) than in the p53-negative colorectal carcinomas (21.6%) (p=0.003). p53-positive colorectal carcinomas had a higher rate of cell proliferation than p53-negative cases(p<0.001). These results suggest that checking the p53 expression and DNA ploidy could be useful prognostic indicators of colorectal carcinoma.
Neoplasm Metastasis ; Genes, p53

Poland's syndrome which is associated with thoracic anomaly and ipsilateral syndactyly is not hereditary and is of unknown origin. It was described first Alfred Poland in 1841 year. This syndrome affects males more frequently than females. We have experienced two cases of Polands syndrome who were all male and each case revealed thoracic anomalies; abscent pectoral muscles and anterior axillary fold, pectus excavatum, and ipsilateral syndactyly with aplasia or hypoplasla of the middle phalanx.
Female ; Funnel Chest ; Humans ; Male ; Muscles ; Poland ; Syndactyly

No abstract available.
Femoral Nerve* ; Humans ; Ossification, Heterotopic*

No abstract available.
Adenoma* ; Colorectal Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND: The growth of elderly population increased the need for oral health care. Elderly patients with poor teeth alignment needs more attention with orthodontic treatment METHODS: Elderly patients visiting department of orthodontics, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital between 2000-2004 were treated with fixed appliances in one or both dental arches. Treatment plans were different from than that of younger patients and included uncommon and strategic removals of teeth and prosthesis. RESULTS: There was decrease in orthodontic treatment forces with increasing age, and the observation made from this study was favorable in the patients' as well as in the orthodontist's, point of view. It was possible to move the remaining teeth considerably, and the retention was made with various fixed appliances. CONCLUSIONS: Orthodontic treatment is not limited by patient age. However, it is wise not to extend treatment goals too far beyond the patients' objective needs
Aged* ; Dental Arch ; Heart ; Humans ; Oral Health ; Orthodontics ; Prostheses and Implants ; Tooth