This review-article is aimed at shedding a light upon the nature of age-associated changes in the human skeletal system. When the anatomical, physiological and biochemical consequences of bone aging are considered together with the hardening, drying and the diminished repair capabilities of the elderly, it can be seen that fractures assume greater importance as a clinical problem in the geriatric population. Older people start out with a deficit of cortical bone, making them more fracture prone and once fractures occur, the necessary treatments (immobilization, use of casts, etc.) accelerate the rate of bone loss. In addition, aged individuals stand a higher risk for complications of the hospital and enforced bed rest that may ensue. The problems resulting from bone loss in the elderly may be partially alleviated by providing adequate health service support which should include consideration of the following points : 1. Age, sex and general health status ; 2. Habits and inclinations towards physical activities ; 3. Nutritional and endocrine background ; 4. Presence of any specific bone diseases, including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, osteomalacia and ankylosis ; 5. Psychosocial adaptability and other behavioral elements.
Aged ; Aging ; Ankylosis ; Bed Rest ; Biology* ; Bone Diseases ; Health Services ; Humans* ; Motor Activity ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteomalacia ; Osteoporosis

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell

No abstract available.
Bowen's Disease ; Vulva

No abstract available.

Purpose: To compare the contrast sensitivities of type 2 diabetic patients without retinopathy and healthy subjects, and to assess the risk factors associated with a change in contrast sensitivity in diabetes. Methods: A total of 75 (diabetic patients without retinopathy) and 41 (healthy subjects) eyes were reviewed from the medical records. The threshold of contrast sensitivity was measured at 6.3°, 4.0°, 2.5°, 1.6°, 1.0°, and 0.64° under scotopic and photopic states. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging was used to measure the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness in diabetic patients. Results: Diabetic patients showed a lower threshold of contrast sensitivity at all degree measures than did the controls under both scotopic and photopic states. In subgroup analyses, diabetic patients with abnormal contrast sensitivity showed a longer duration of diabetes, decreased total retinal thickness, and decreased average GC-IPL, superior RNFL, superior GC-IPL, and temporal GC-IPL thicknesses. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that the duration of diabetes and total retinal thickness were significant predictive factors of decreased contrast sensitivity (odds ratio = 1.117 and 0.942, respectively). Conclusions As the duration of diabetes increased, the contrast sensitivity decreased in type 2 diabetic patients. Neuroretinal degeneration changes both the inner retinal thickness and total retinal thickness and affects contrast sensitivity. Therefore, for longer-term diabetic patients, it is necessary to consider the changes in contrast sensitivity and retinal thickness on OCT evaluation, even if the patient presents with normal fundus findings.

Purpose: To compare the contrast sensitivities of type 2 diabetic patients without retinopathy and healthy subjects, and to assess the risk factors associated with a change in contrast sensitivity in diabetes. Methods: A total of 75 (diabetic patients without retinopathy) and 41 (healthy subjects) eyes were reviewed from the medical records. The threshold of contrast sensitivity was measured at 6.3°, 4.0°, 2.5°, 1.6°, 1.0°, and 0.64° under scotopic and photopic states. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging was used to measure the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness in diabetic patients. Results: Diabetic patients showed a lower threshold of contrast sensitivity at all degree measures than did the controls under both scotopic and photopic states. In subgroup analyses, diabetic patients with abnormal contrast sensitivity showed a longer duration of diabetes, decreased total retinal thickness, and decreased average GC-IPL, superior RNFL, superior GC-IPL, and temporal GC-IPL thicknesses. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that the duration of diabetes and total retinal thickness were significant predictive factors of decreased contrast sensitivity (odds ratio = 1.117 and 0.942, respectively). Conclusions As the duration of diabetes increased, the contrast sensitivity decreased in type 2 diabetic patients. Neuroretinal degeneration changes both the inner retinal thickness and total retinal thickness and affects contrast sensitivity. Therefore, for longer-term diabetic patients, it is necessary to consider the changes in contrast sensitivity and retinal thickness on OCT evaluation, even if the patient presents with normal fundus findings.

Almost all colorectal carcinomas have been thought to develop from pre-existing adenomas. However, some colorectal carcinomas can arise directly from normal flat mucosa, and usually form infiltrative mass at the early stage. The carcinogenesis of this infiltrative carcinoma may be different from the well-known adenoma-carcinoma sequence, which usually forms a polypoid mass. The purpose of this study is to investigate the different expression of various oncogenes in polypoid carcinoma and infiltrative carcinoma. We performed immunohistochemical staining on p53, bcl-2, c-erbB-2 and MIB-1 in 29 polypoid carcinomas arised from adenomas, and 21 infiltrative carcinomas. The average tumor size of infiltrative carcinomas (5.5 cm) was larger than that of polypoid carcinomas (3.1 cm), and the polypoid carcinomas were differentiated more than the infiltrative carcinomas. The results of p53, bcl-2, c-erbB-2, and MIB-1 antisera immunoreactivity in the polypoid carcinoma were 79%, 17%, 21%, and 100%, and those in the infiltrative carcinoma were 71%, 29%, 29%, and 100%, respectively. However the diffuse positivities of p53 and MIB-1 antisera were slightly higher in the infiltraive carcinomas (62%, 76%) than in the polypoid carcinomas (55%, 41%) (p=0.63, 0.01). And the results of p53 and c-erbB-2 immunoreactivity in the adenomas were 52% and 17%, respectively, which is significantly lower than that in the polypoid carcinoma(p=0.03, 0.74). The immunoreactivty of bcl-2 in the adenoma was 72%, which was significantly higher than that in the polypoid carcinoma (17%) (p<0.01). In summary, we did not show the significant difference in expression of p53, bcl-2, c-erbB-2, and MIB-1 proteins between polypoid and infiltrative carcinomas. However, the tendency of infiltrative carcinomas having a more aggressive nature suggests another carcinogenetic mechanism is involved in the colorectal carcinogenesis.
Adenoma ; Carcinogenesis ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Immune Sera ; Ki-67 Antigen ; Mucous Membrane ; Oncogenes

We evaluated the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and inhibitory effect of osteoclast differentiation of Brachypodium sylvaticum (BS) to find out the possibility of preventing periodontal disease. The inhibition of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) growth by BS and the sustainability of the antibacterial activity was assessed. The production of pro-inflammatory cytokines from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), and the production of nitric oxide (NO) and cell viability were measured. Osteoclast differentiation was evaluated by Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, and TRAP activity. BS showed significant antibacterial activity and sustainable antibacterial activity in P. gingivalis. We also found out that the BS significantly decreased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)] and NO production without cytotoxicity. Furthermore, BS inhibited the differentiation of bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) obtained from mouse bone marrow cells into osteoclasts without cytotoxicity. Taken together, BS can be a promising candidate for a preventive and improving agent of periodontal disease having antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and inhibitory effects of osteoclast differentiation.

We evaluated the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and inhibitory effect of osteoclast differentiation of Brachypodium sylvaticum (BS) to find out the possibility of preventing periodontal disease. The inhibition of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) growth by BS and the sustainability of the antibacterial activity was assessed. The production of pro-inflammatory cytokines from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), and the production of nitric oxide (NO) and cell viability were measured. Osteoclast differentiation was evaluated by Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, and TRAP activity. BS showed significant antibacterial activity and sustainable antibacterial activity in P. gingivalis. We also found out that the BS significantly decreased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)] and NO production without cytotoxicity. Furthermore, BS inhibited the differentiation of bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) obtained from mouse bone marrow cells into osteoclasts without cytotoxicity. Taken together, BS can be a promising candidate for a preventive and improving agent of periodontal disease having antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and inhibitory effects of osteoclast differentiation.

Azithromycin* ; Doxycycline* ; Scrub Typhus*