Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by hyperproliferation and incomplete differentiation of keratinocytes. Mounting scientific evidence suggests that this epidermal alteration occurs as a response to an immunologic injury, giving rise to the concept that psoriasis is a skin-specific autoimmune disease. Indeed, many effective therapeutic agents for psoriasis are immunosuppressive in nature, lending further support to this view. The well known ability of calcipotriene and 1,25(OH)2D3 to inhibit keratinocyte proliferation and to induce its differentiation is certainly compatible with their antipsoriatic actions. In addition, topical calcipotriene has been shown to correct, at least in part, the local cytokine imbalance observed in psoriatic lesions. Interleukin (IL)-8 is a proinflammatory cytokine that is chemotactic for polymorphonuclear cells and T lymphocytes. It also promotes proliferation of keratinocytes and endothelial cells. In lesional psoriatic skin, IL-8 and its receptor levels are markedly elevated. IL-10 is an immunosuppressive cytokine, which as a type2 (T2) cytokine antagonizes cell-mediated immunity. Indeed, IL-10 administration has been shown to improve psoriasis. Topical calcipotriene markedly reduces elevated levels of IL-8 while simultaneously increasing IL-10 levels in lesional skin of psoriasis. These changes occur very early, within the first three days of therapy, prior to significant clinical improvement of psoriasis, indicating that the cytokine alterations are not simply secondary to resolution of psoriatic plaques. Therefore, elaboration of the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10 and a concomitant reduction in the proinflammatory cytokine IL-8 may mediate the immunopharmacological improvementin psoriasis by calcipotriene.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Cholecalciferol ; Cytokines ; Endothelial Cells ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunosuppression ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-8 ; Interleukins ; Keratinocytes ; Psoriasis ; Skin Diseases ; Skin* ; T-Lymphocytes ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

PURPOSE: This study examined the validity and reliability to develop a lifestyle evaluation tool for metabolic syndrome patients. METHODS: A methodological research design was used. The construct factors and preliminary items were identified by reviewing previous researches and tools related to lifestyle and reviewed by ten experts. It was tested with 195 patients with metabolic syndrome in a university hospital. The data were analyzed with SPSS/WIN 14.0. RESULTS: To test the validity, principal component analyses were used and resulted in the extraction of six components. The convergent validity resulted r=.72 (p<.001) with Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile. The discriminant validity with Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale resulted r=-.15 (p=.004). The Internal consistency of the tool had an Cronbach's alpha of .92. The self-report format Lifestyle Evaluation Tool for the patients with metabolic syndrome was developed with 36 items and four-rating scales: 'physical activity and weight control' eight items, 'dietary habits' sixteen items, 'drinking and smoking' three items, 'sleep and rest' two items, 'stress' three items, 'drug and health management' four items. CONCLUSION: This Tool will evaluate health behaviors in patients with metabolic syndrome. Also, it will contribute to the development of nursing intervention to improve the metabolic syndrome patients' lifestyle.
Depression ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Health Behavior ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Life Style ; Principal Component Analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Research Design

No abstract available.
Hypereosinophilic Syndrome*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Perfluorocarbon exposed sonicated dextrose albumin (PESDA) microbubbles has been suggested to facilitate thrombus disruption under the transcutaneous ultrasound (US). Thus, we investigated whether such a noninvasive approach could augment thrombolytic effect of fibrinolytic agent in an experimental thrombotic model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thrombus formation was induced with electrical injury in the rabbit iliofemoral arteries (n=20): Thrombus occlusion was documented by angiography in all arteries. In the control group, only tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA, 3 mg/kg) was administered intrav-enously in five rabbits. In the Group 1 (n=9), injured arteries were exposed to transcutaneous US (20 kHz, 30 W/cm2, continuous mode) with t-PA (3 mg/kg). In the Group 2 (n=6), the same treatment was given while administering PESDA continuously (10 ml/min, intravenous). Angiographic results were evaluated at 10 minute interval for 1 hour respectively. RESULTS: In the control group, two of five iliofemoral arteries (40.0%) were recanalized and one of nine iliofemoral arteries (11.1%) was recanalized in Group 1. In contrast, four of six iliofemoral arteries (66.7%) were recanalized angiographically in Group 2 (p=0.392 vs. control group: p=0.047 vs. Group 1). However, late reocclusion occurred in all iliofemoral arteries of Group 2. CONCLUSION: Although PESDA with transcutaneous US significantly enhanced initial angiographic patency rate of t-PA, it was associated with high rate of reocclusion. Further studies will be necessary for clinical application of this noninvasive method in acute arterial occlusion.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Glucose* ; Microbubbles ; Rabbits ; Thrombolytic Therapy* ; Thrombosis ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; Ultrasonography*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop a health information web site evaluation categories with items for diabetes mellitus in order to offer verified health information, and to propose directions for development of web sites. METHODS: A preliminary evaluation categories with items was developed using domestic and foreign web site evaluation standards for health information and through a review of the literature. The evaluation categories with items was composed of 'evaluation for web site attributes' and 'evaluation for content information on diabetes mellitus'. Through expert validity tests and a feasibility test of the preliminary tool, the health information Web site evaluation tool for diabetes mellitus was finalized. RESULTS: This evaluation categories with items included 'evaluation for web site attributes' and 'evaluation for content information on diabetes mellitus'. 'Evaluation for web site attributes' included 8 categories with 28 items. The 'evaluation for content information on diabetes mellitus' included 7 categories with 40 items. 'Evaluation component for content' and 'evaluation of category content' included 4 items on 'accuracy', 6 on 'harmfulness' and 3 on 'comprehensibility'. CONCLUSION: From this study guidelines are propose for providing health information for diabetes mellitus, so that health information providers will be able to offer consumers verified good quality health information themselves.
Diabetes Mellitus*

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between insomnia severity, depression, anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity and to find out the explanatory variables that account for the insomnia severity among depression, anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity in general population. 95 mentally healthy volunteers who visit health promotion center of Kangbuk Samsung hospital for their regular medical examination were requested to complete Athens Insomnia Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Anxiety Sensitivity Index. Association between total scores of Athens Insomnia scale and other variables (total scores of Beck Depression Inventory excluded item 16, total scores of State Anxiety, total scores of Trait Anxiety, and total scores of Anxiety Sensitivity Scale) was assessed individually with partial correlations adjusted by age and then together using multiple regression analysis. The total scores of Athens Insomnia Scale were significantly associated with total scores of Beck Depression Inventory excluded item 16(r = 0.541, p<0.001), total scores of Trait Anxiety(r = 0.642, p<0.001), total scores of State Anxiety(r = 0.267, p<0.05), and total scores of Anxiety Sensitivity Index(r = 0.312, p<0.01). Total scores of trait anxiety showed the highest correlation with the total scores of Athens Insomnia Scale and was the significant predictor to total scores of Athens Insomnia Scale among the other predictor variables (p<0.001). These results show that insomnia severity is positively correlated with depression, anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity. The correlation was strongest with trait anxiety. In addition, our results suggest that trait anxiety is associated with insomnia severity in general populations.
Anxiety* ; Depression* ; Health Promotion ; Healthy Volunteers ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders*

The localizations and morphological characteristics of gonadotropes in the adenohypophy-sis of Korean native goat were investigated with double immunohistochemistry. The gonadotropes were present in the pars distalis and pars tuberalis, but not in the pars intermedta. Gonadotropes occupied about 49.0% of the cells in the pars distalis in females, and about 40.8% in males. Three types of gonadotropes ; FSH immunoreactive cells[FSH cells], LH immunoreac-tive cells[LH cells], and FSH and LH immunoreactive cells[FSH/LH cell], were identified according to their immunoreactivities for FSH and LH antisera. The possessional perce-ntages of FSH cells, LH cells and FSH/LH cells were 1.1%, 40.6%, 58.3% in females and 1.8%, 30.0%, 68.8% in males, respectively. FSH/LH cells were large and oval or round in shape. These cells were distributed throughout the pars distalis, but were more abundant on the dorsal part adjacent to the hypophyseal cavity and along the lateral and ventral peripheral regions. LH cells were smaller than other gonadotropes and were observed throughout the pars distalis, but predominant in the central region. FSH cells were large and oval in shape. These cells were intercalated between FSH/LH cells.
Female ; Goats* ; Gonadotrophs ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male

Osteoporosis represents a reduced amount of bone tissue as compared with controls of same age and sex, and common feature of osteoporosis is a state of skeletal fragility leading to various fractures such as Colles' fracture, vertebral compression fracture, femur neck fracture, generally due to an inadequate amount of normally mineralized bone tissue, making the skeleton incapable of supporting normal mechanical demand. However it is difficult to quantify precisely its magnitude because of the variety of techniques used and the many bone sampling sites concerned. In 1970, Singh and associates(24.25) developed a method for grading the trabecular structure of the proximal end of the femur and reported that the femoral trabecular pattern index can clearly separate persons with osteoporosis from normal individuals. Cameron and its associstes developed an accurste method of determining bone mineral content by means of I-125 photon absorptiometry(5. 28). This method is consistently reproducible at the 98% level and has demonstrated agreement with ash measurement of cadaver bones at the 97% level. A comparative study of the usefulness of the femoral trabecular pattern index(Singh Index) and rsdial bone mineral content measurement by photon absorption was performed in 75 Kroean persons above forty years old. 25 of 75 persons were fracture patients due to osteoporosis. The results were as follows. 1. A significant difference in Singh index was noted between the fracture group snd control group. 2. A significant difference in bone mineral density was noted between the fracture group and control group. 3. A positive correlation was noted between the bone mineral denisty and Singh Index. 4. A significant difference in bone mineral density was noted between the fracture group and the control group which have same grade of Singh Index. So, we believe that bone mineral density is more objective and accurate than Singh Index. 5. We believe that both Singh Index and bone densitometer is useful in diagnosis and grading of osteoporosis.
Absorption ; Bone and Bones ; Bone Density ; Cadaver ; Colles' Fracture ; Diagnosis ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; Femur ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Methods ; Miners ; Osteoporosis ; Skeleton

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: Pars plana vitrectomy has been suggested for the management of the early stages of idiopathic macular hole formation to relieve vitreofoveal traction. Also, the fellow eyes are at risk for the development of macular holes. The purpose of this report is to assess the benefit of vitreous surgery in preventing the development of macular hole of full-thickness from acutely symptomatic impending macular holes of stage 1. METHODS: In an attempt to prevent full-thickness macular hole formation. we performed pars plana vitrectomy and peeling of internal limiting membrane (ILM) in 3 eyes with signs and symptoms of stage 1 macular hole. All 3 eyes were symptomatic with recent reductions of visual acuities or changes in the macula believed to progress into macular holes detected by the optical coherence tomography (OCT). Also, full-thickness macular holes had already existed in the fellow eyes. RESULTS: All 3 eyes have not developed full-thickness macular holes for longer than 3 months within the follow -up periods after the operation, and the final visual acuities were improved as well. Normal foveal anatomies were attained from all eyes on the OCT. CONCLUSIONS: Vitrectomy and ILM removal as prophylactic therapy is a management option for acutely impending symptomatic macular holes, and the evaluation of vitreoretinal attachment by the OCT can provide useful information in determining operation.
Membranes ; Retinal Perforations* ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Traction ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy*