We evaluated median value and lower confidence limit of total serum IgE level in each age group of 1,493 pure atopic dermatitis patient without respiratory atopic diseases. The results were as follows . 1. The median value of total serum IgE level of each age group in patients with atopic dermatitis distributed from 56.5 IU/@Ll to 660It.J/C. The distributions of the median value of total serum IgE levels of total patients with atopic dermatitis, total male patients with atopic dermatitis, and total female patients with atopic dermatitis were 185 IU/C, 220 IUj'@C, and 165 IUj'C. There was no statistical significance of median value of total serum IgE level between mole patients and female patients. 2. The 95% and 99% lower confidence limit(one-sided) of total serum IgE level of ea.ch age group in patients with atopic dermatitis distributed from 32.6 IU /n4 to 287IU/v4 and from 31 IU/m0 to 202 IU4. The 95% lower confidence limit (one-sided) of total serum IgE level of total patients with atopic dermatitis, tatal male patients with atopic dermatitis, and. total female patients with atopic dermatitis were 170 II.J/m0, 185 IU,m/l, and 133 IUm/l. The 99% lower confidence limit.(one-sided) of total serum IgE level of total patient with atopic dermatitis, total male patient with atopic dermatitis, and total female patients with atopic dermatitis were 165 IU/ml, 180 IU/ml, and 125 IU/ml.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Male

Here we report a case of Strongyloides stercoralis infection of the gastric and pancolonic mucosa in a 79-year-old female with a monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. Endoscopic biopsies were performed in gastric antrum, cecum, distal ascending colon, and hepatic flexure of the colon. On microscopic examination, there were many adult worms, larvae and eggs in the gastric and colonic mucosa. Worms, larvae, and eggs were located in the crypts and within the lumen of the crypts. The body wall of the adult worm was composed of cuticle and a weak muscle layer. A routine stool examination failed to detect larvae or ova. Based on the histopathologic examination, these parasites were confirmed as S. stercoralis.
Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Cecum ; Colon ; Colon, Ascending ; Eggs ; Female ; Humans ; Larva ; Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance ; Mucous Membrane ; Muscles ; Ovum ; Paraproteinemias ; Parasites ; Pyloric Antrum ; Stomach ; Strongyloides stercoralis ; Strongyloidiasis

Here we report a case of Strongyloides stercoralis infection of the gastric and pancolonic mucosa in a 79-year-old female with a monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. Endoscopic biopsies were performed in gastric antrum, cecum, distal ascending colon, and hepatic flexure of the colon. On microscopic examination, there were many adult worms, larvae and eggs in the gastric and colonic mucosa. Worms, larvae, and eggs were located in the crypts and within the lumen of the crypts. The body wall of the adult worm was composed of cuticle and a weak muscle layer. A routine stool examination failed to detect larvae or ova. Based on the histopathologic examination, these parasites were confirmed as S. stercoralis.
Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Cecum ; Colon ; Colon, Ascending ; Eggs ; Female ; Humans ; Larva ; Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance ; Mucous Membrane ; Muscles ; Ovum ; Paraproteinemias ; Parasites ; Pyloric Antrum ; Stomach ; Strongyloides stercoralis ; Strongyloidiasis

No abstract available.
Fetus* ; Humans ; Pregnancy, Twin*

The reconstruction of soft tissue defects with open fracture around the knee joint is limited by its unique location. Free tissue transfer is hindered by the selection of the recipient vessel and problems of microsurgery. The arc of rotation, defect size, and location must be taken into consideration in the use of regional muscle transfer such as gastrocnemius. According to Mathes et al, the flap survival can be enhanced by selective division of the dominant segmental pedicles, only a part of which can normally be transposed safely on its minor segmental pedicle. Neovascularization, vascular proliferation, and dilatation have also been produced by the delay procedure using silicone sheets. The authors have used the delay procedures with wrapping of the gracilis or sartorius muscle which enabled distally-based transposition of these muscles. The method showed satisfactory outcome in resurfacing the wound around the knee joint. The indictions for this procedure were defects of moderate size and those difficult to reach with conventional muscle flaps. The flap could reach the upper one-third of the lower leg. Other merits are relative simplicity and reliability without significant extension of hospital stay. The drawbacks are the two operative procedures necessary and the risk of infection due to silicone sheets.
Dilatation ; Fractures, Open ; Knee Joint* ; Knee* ; Leg ; Length of Stay ; Microsurgery ; Muscles ; Silicones ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Wounds and Injuries*

The hepatobiliary system is one of the most common sites of extraintestinal manifestation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The progression of IBD can lead to a primary hepatobiliary manifestation and can occur secondary to multiple drugs or accompanying viral infections. Primary sclerosing cholangitis is the representative hepatobiliary manifestation of IBD, particularly in ulcerative colitis. Although most agents used in the treatment of IBD are potentially hepatotoxic, the risk of serious hepatitis or liver failure is low. The prevalence of HBV and HCV in IBD is similar to the general population, but the clinical concern is HBV reactivation associated with immunosuppressive therapy. Patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy with a moderate to high risk of HBV reactivation require prophylactic antiviral therapy. On the other hand, HCV has little risk of reactivation. Patients with IBD are more likely to have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease than the general population and tend to occur at younger ages. IBD and cholelithiasis are closely related, especially in Crohn's disease.
Cholangitis, Sclerosing ; Cholelithiasis ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Crohn Disease ; Drug Therapy ; Drug-Induced Liver Injury ; Hand ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis Viruses ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Liver Failure ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Prevalence

The hepatobiliary system is one of the most common sites of extraintestinal manifestation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The progression of IBD can lead to a primary hepatobiliary manifestation and can occur secondary to multiple drugs or accompanying viral infections. Primary sclerosing cholangitis is the representative hepatobiliary manifestation of IBD, particularly in ulcerative colitis. Although most agents used in the treatment of IBD are potentially hepatotoxic, the risk of serious hepatitis or liver failure is low. The prevalence of HBV and HCV in IBD is similar to the general population, but the clinical concern is HBV reactivation associated with immunosuppressive therapy. Patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy with a moderate to high risk of HBV reactivation require prophylactic antiviral therapy. On the other hand, HCV has little risk of reactivation. Patients with IBD are more likely to have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease than the general population and tend to occur at younger ages. IBD and cholelithiasis are closely related, especially in Crohn's disease.
Cholangitis, Sclerosing ; Cholelithiasis ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Crohn Disease ; Drug Therapy ; Drug-Induced Liver Injury ; Hand ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis Viruses ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Liver Failure ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVES: We review the sleep problems of the alcohol dependence patients. Especially we are interested in the prevalence, the severity of symptoms, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in the alcohol dependence patients. METHODS: We recruit 86 alcohol dependence patients who were admitted from October 6th, 2008 to October 17th, 2008. We interviewed each patient and evaluated sleep questionnaires such as the Sleep Disorder Questionnaire (SDQ), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) rating scale. The presence of RLS and its severity were assessed using the IRLSSG diagnostic criteria and the IRLSSG severity scale, respectively. Depression and anxiety were evaluated by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck anxiety inventory (BAI). RESULTS: Of all 86 patients, 59 patients have insomnia, 33 patients have RLS, 30 patients have Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), 29 patients have nightmare. RLS patients have more high score in the BAI (21.70+/-10.36 vs 14.67+/-11.98), and their sleep quality was poor in the PSQI (11.09+/-4.08 vs 7.92+/-3.91) than non-RLS patients. CONCLUSION: This study shows that alcohol dependence patients show many sleep problems such as insomnia and RLS. So we should notice that the sleep problems of alcohol dependence patients are important in clinical approach and treatment.
Alcoholism ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Dreams ; Humans ; Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Restless Legs Syndrome ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects a partial hepatectomy through an analysis of survival rates and examine the recurrence pattern after a partial hepatic resection for HCC according to the Milan criteria combined with Child-Pugh A cirrhosis. METHODS: On hundred and twenty seven HCC patients with Child-Pugh A liver cirrhosis undergoing a hepatic resection for HCC from September 1987 through July 2004 in the hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Among them, 85 cases met the Milan criteria (M group). However, the remaining 42 cases did not (N group). The median age was 52 years and males outnumbered females by almost five times. The median follow up period was 39.8 months. RESULTS: No in-hospital mortality occurred in the M group, but there was a single mortality case in the N group. The size of the tumor, multiplicity and major resection rate were different between the two groups. The 5 years overall survival rate of each group was 62.3% and 37.3%, respectively (P=0.002) and the 5 year disease free survival rates were 44.0% and 24.5%, respectively (P=0.023). Forty one patients in the M group developed recurrences, of which 35 had only intrahepatic recurrences. Among them, 28 recurrences still met the Milan criteria. CONCLUSION: A partial hepatic resection should be considered a standard treatment method for a HCC meeting the Milan criteria with compensated liver cirrhosis in terms of safety and long-term survival. A salvage transplantation may play a role after a recurrence because most recurrences are intrahepatic recurrences that meet the Milan criteria.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatectomy* ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Male ; Mortality ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

To study the site of release and factors affecting the release of the atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP) in the pediatric patients, we measured the plasma ANP concentrations in 23 normal healthy children, 19 patients with congestive heat failure and 16 patients with cardiac disease undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization. The following results were obtained. 1) The plasma ANP concentrations of the vein(226.3(74.9pg/ml)in patients with congestive heart failure were significantly higher than those(p<0.01)of the mormal healthy children(13.4 (7.9pg/ml)and those(43.3 40(.7pg/ml)in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. The plasma ANP concentrations of the femoral vein in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization were also significantly higher than that of the peripheral vein in the normal healthy children(p<0.01). 2) The plasma ANP concentrations of the pulmonary artery(110.9( 80.7pg/ml)were 2 to 3 times higher than that of the femoral vein(43.3( 40.3pg/ml, p<0.01). However there were no significant differences of the plasma ANP concentrations between pulmonary artery and aorta(65.4 (36.1pg/ml),and between aorta and femoral vein. 3) There was a significant correlations of the plasma ANP concentrations vetween pulmonary artery and femoral vein, and pulmonary artery and aorta, but no correlation of those between femoral vein and aorta. 4) The plasma ANP concentrations of the vein were over 3 times more higher in cases of left atrial area over 20 cm2/M2 measured by 2-dimensional echocardiography(213.2 (292.9pg/ml)than those in cases of left atrial area under 20(65.0 66.9pg/ml, p<0.05). The plasma ANP concentrations of the vein were over 3 times more highger in cases of left atrial area over 20 cm2/M2(88.6(19.1pg/ml) than those in cases of left atrial area under 14(57.1 (39.5pg/ml,p<0.05), and in cases of the sum of both atrial mean pressure over 11mmHg(189.5( 42.8pg/ml) than those in cases of the sum under 11(79.3 (52.3pg/ml, p<0.01). The plasma ANP cocentrations of the aorta were significantly higher in cases of left atrial area over 14 cm2/M2(88.6 (19.1pg/ml)than those in cases of left atrial area under 14(57.1 (39.5pg/ml;p 0.05), in cases of the sum of both atrial area over 25cm2/M2(93.9 (21.7pg/ml)those in cases of the sum under 25(46.6 (33.8pg/ml, p<0.01), in cases of sum of mean atrial pressure over 11 mmHg(90.5 (30.3pg/ml)than those in cases of under 11(53.8( 24.6pg/ml, p<0.05),in cases of the sum of both atrial wall stress over 190 mmHg.cm2/M2(101.4 (23.5pg/ml) than those in cases of the sumunder 190(57.5 (26.4pg/ml, p<0.01), and also in cases of pulmonary artery mean pressure over 20mmHg(83.3( 18.2pg/ml) than those in cases o pulmonary artery under 20(47.8( 39.8pg/ml, p<0.05). In conclusion, the plasma ANP concentrations of the pulmonary artery were significantly higher than those of the frmoral vein and the aorta, which indicater that the ANP is predominantly secreted via coronary sinus into the right atrium. The plasma ANP concentrations of the peripheral and femoral vein, the pulmonary artery and the aorta, especially that of the aorta, correlated well with the atrial pressure, the area and the wall stress. This suggests that the arterial blood may be the most appropriate sample for measurement of the ANP.
Aorta* ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; Atrial Pressure ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Child* ; Coronary Sinus ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Femoral Vein ; Heart Atria ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Plasma* ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Veins*