No abstract available.
Benztropine* ; Haloperidol* ; Saliva*

BACKGROUND: At least 30 per cent of diabetics, which is said to comprise over 3% of general population in Korea, have one or more cutaneous complications during the course of the disease. These skin changes may be the consequences of microangiopathy, arteriosclerosis, direct metabolic disturbances and/or the sequelae of chronic therapy. OBJECTIVE: We tried to observe certain cutaneous and nail changes in diabetics and to relate them with systemic complications, blood sugar level and duration of diabetes. METHODS: During the period of 12 months from March, 1992 to February, 1993, a total of 1858 outpatients diagnosed as diabetes mellitus at Eulji General Hospital were examined. RESULTS: The cutaneous manifestations are observed in 79.5% of diabetics examined and cutaneous infections are the most prevalent(52.3%). Pruritus(p<0.01), anogenital pruritus(p<0.01), peripheral dedema(p<0.05) are more common in females and infections, shin spots, finger pebbles(p<0.01) are more common in males. Systemic complications are observed in 50.7% and the cutaneous manifestations are observed more frequently in patients with systemic complications(p<0.05). Shin spots, diabetic foot, peripneral edema diabetic bullosis are observed frequently associated with systemic microangiopathic complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy(p<0.01). There is a significant correlation between blood sugar level and fungal infections and anogenital pruritus(p<0.01). The frequencies of shin spots, diabetic foot and diabetic bullosis increase with the length of time diabetes has been present. Nail changes are observed in 39.6% of diabetics and onychomycosis is the most frequent(34.5%). CONCLUSION: It is suggested that cutaneous shgns especially fungal infections in diabetics are on the increase in Korea. A variety of skin conditions are encountered with diabetes mellitus and the dermatologist may be able to make a significant contribution in the control of diabetes mellitus by identifying skin signs and conditions as diabetic complications.
Arteriosclerosis ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Complications ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diabetic Foot ; Edema ; Female ; Fingers ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Onychomycosis ; Outpatients ; Skin

No abstract available.
Laparotomy* ; Nephrectomy*

The cAMP-dependent protein kinase(PKA) is an intracellular enzyme with serine-threonine kinase activity that plays a key role in cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis in eukaryotes. In order to understand the PKA signal transduction pathway regulating cell life cycle and identify its role, we focused on the characterization of up-/down-regulated genes by PKA using the differential display polymerase chain reaction. Seven differentially expressed sequence tags(DEST) have been obtained. Among these DESTs, 2DESTs were homologous to the sequence of genes from BLAST search result. KC1-5 DEST that was up-regulated in A123.7 cells was highly corresponded to mouse apoptosis-related gene(MA-3) or mouse mRNA for topoisomerase inhibitor suppressed(TIS). MA-3 was induced in various types of apoptosis, specially in NGF-deprived apoptotic PC12 cells, TIS was down-regulated in the RVC lymphoma cells incubated with topoisomerase inhibitor that induces DNA strand breakages. PG1-1DEST that was highly expressed in PC12 cells was corresponded to transposon Tn103'-end. Tnansposon Tn10 was up-regulated in differentiated myeloblastic ML-1 cells by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. This study illuminates that MA-3/TIS was down-regulated by PKA activity, and transposon Tn10 was up-regulated by it.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; DNA ; Eukaryota ; Granulocyte Precursor Cells ; Life Cycle Stages ; Lymphoma ; Mass Screening* ; Mice ; PC12 Cells* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; RNA, Messenger ; Signal Transduction

Pseudocyst of the auricle presents as a non-inflammatory, fluctuant swelling on the upper half or third section of the ear, due to intracartilaginous accumulation of fluid. Histological examination shows an intracartilaginous cavity without an epithelial lining. The etilogy and pathogenesis of this disorder remains unknown, but the lesion is likely to be due to localized de-generation of cartilage. The degenerated cartilage is replaced by a vascular fibrous tissue from which there is serious exudation, and a clinical cystic swelling is formed. We describe in this report three cases of pseudocyst of the auricle, of which one was treated successfully by surgical excision and a pressure dressing, and the others by aspiration and steroid injection therapy. In all cases, the skin lesions had not recurred, and the patients were left with an excellent cosmetic result.
Bandages ; Cartilage ; Ear ; Humans ; Skin

OBJECTIVE: The loudness dependence of the auditory evoked potential (LDAEP) has been known as an indicator of central serotonergic neurotransmission. Nicotine increases the release of serotonin levels. The current study investigated whether cigarette smoking would make difference in LDAEP among male patients with major depressive disorder. METHODS: Twenty-four non-smoking and 20 smoking male patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) were recruited. There was no significant difference in severity of MDD symptoms between the two groups. The age of participants ranged from 20 to 65 years old. Event-related potentials (ERP) N100 were measured on 5 different sounds (55, 65, 75, 85, 95 dB) and on 5 electrodes (Fz, Cz, Pz, C5, C6). The N1/P2 peak to peak amplitudes and amplitude slope according to 5 different sounds were calculated. RESULTS: LDAEP was significantly weaker in the smoking group in comparison to the non-smoking group (p<0.05). Among non-smoking group LDAEP was negatively correlated with a core depression subscale of Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) (r=-0.41, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: LDAEP of the smoking patients with MDD group was weaker than the non-smoking patient with MDD group's. This result suggests that smoking may have increased the release of serotonergic neurotransmission in patients with MDD. Future studies need to examine LDAEP changes before and after tobacco use among smoking patients.
Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Electrodes ; Evoked Potentials ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory ; Humans ; Male ; Nicotine ; Serotonin ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Synaptic Transmission ; Tobacco

No abstract available.
Aneurysm* ; Renal Artery*

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of TGF-beta on proliferation, collagen synthesis, migration, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) secretion of human RPE cells in vitro. METHODS: The cultured human RPE cells were treated with either TGF-beta1 or TGF-beta2 in concentrations of 0, 0.1, 1, 10 ng/ml respectively. The cell number was measured in 3, 6, 9 days, and the collagen synthesis and cell migration was measured. [3H]-thimidine uptake assay was done to evaluate the change of DNA synthesis. And the secretions of MMP1, MMP2, MMP3, MMP9, TIMP1 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase), and TIMP2 were measured by electrophoresis and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 significantly inhibited the proliferation of RPE cells in a concentration -and time-dependent manner (p<0.05). [3H]-thymidine uptake was decreased by TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 in a concentration-dependant manner. The collagen synthesis of RPE cells was significantly increased by high concentration of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta 2. However, the migration of RPE cells was not affected by TGF-beta. As the concentration of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 increased, the secretions of MMP1, MMP2, MMP3 and MMP9 decreased, while the secretion of TIMP1 and TIMP2 increased after 72 hours. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 may have critical effect on the development of PVR and provide clues to possible therapeutic solutions for controlling PVR process.
Blotting, Western ; Cell Count ; Cell Movement ; Collagen* ; DNA ; Electrophoresis ; Epithelial Cells* ; Humans* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Transforming Growth Factor beta2 ; Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative

BACKGROUND: Diet and weight concerns are commonplace and almost accepted features of life for girls during adolescence. Until recently, younger age groups haue largely been ignored, as these concerns were thought to be a product of pubertal development and sexual maturity. Girls under the age of fifteen therefore, have been assumed to be free of the pressures experienced by adult women. However, this belief is now hard to sustain. The object of the present study was to investigate the self-perception and body shape satisfaction in different weight categories of boys and girls aged 12-years old in Korea. METHODS: In May, 1995, one hundred and sixty seven boys and one hundred and twenty girls from two schools in Seoul completed assessments of body-esteem, self-esteem, body shape preference. The children's body weight and height were also measured. RESULTS: The heaviest children expressed the most discontent, having a low body-esteem, a desire for thinness. By the age of 12, girls boys already differ in their body shape satisfaction and differ in their body shape aspirations. There was a significant effect of weight category on the children's body esteem(boys(P =.005), girls(P=.0001). Children in both extreme categories, under-and over-weight, had lower body-esteem scores than those in other weight categories. However, it was the overweight children who had the lowest. reported body-esteem. Body esteem was highest among girls in the 'slightly underweight' category and highest among boys on the 'average weight' category. There was no effects of either weight category or gender on the childrens appraisal of self-esteem. A comparison of the points chosen on the silhouette scales to reflect current and preferred body shapes revealed clear gender differences. Of the girls, 63% placed their preferred body shape at a point thinner than their currently perceived shape, while only 15% chose a broader figure. In contrast,, 41% of the boys rated their preferred figure as broader than their current perception, and 37% as thinner than their current perception. CONCLUSIONS: This study has noted a relationship between body weight and self-perception in 12-year old children. The heaviest children expressed low body-esteem, a desire for thinness. This pattern was more characteristic of girls than boys. Even at this age, well before they have completed physical maturation, girls are aspiring to a body shape which is thinner than their average. This discontent experienced by the heaviest children on this sample was apparent in their lower body-esteem and the distance between their current and preferred body shapes. The girls preference was for thinness, while in the boys it was for a body shape which was broader than their current shape. From their responses, it would appear that the boys' desire was not for fatness, but for a more athletic and muscular build.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aspirations (Psychology) ; Body Weight ; Child* ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Overweight ; Self Concept ; Seoul ; Sports ; Thinness ; Weights and Measures

A full understanding of the potential anatomical variations of the renal veins and its branches is imperative for donor nephrectomies. Preoperative renal angiography is the most important study to evaluate renal vascular anatomy. By this technique. the renal arteries are well visualized. but it is almost impossible to obtain the exact informations of the renal veins and its branches. To prevent extensive manipulation of the kidney by profuse bleeding. the exact information of the renal veins and its branches is very important. Based on intraoperative observation of 240 consecutive cases of donor nephrectomies. we observett. the common renal vein variants. Left renal veins usually had two branches; adrenal vein proximally and gonadal vein distally. Lumbar veins were identified in 112 cases(56.7%) Lumbar veins were connected to renal veins posteriorly near the draining site of gonadal veins. Therefore it is very important to dissect very carefully the posterior part of renal vein around the insertion of gonadal vein because of the existence of lumbar vein which might cause troublsome bleeding by accidental tearing. Especially when the cases of angulated renal veins were observed by renal angiography. the more attention will be required due to the strong possibility or the existence of lumbar vein.
Angiography ; Gonads ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Kidney ; Nephrectomy* ; Renal Artery ; Renal Veins ; Tissue Donors ; Veins