BACKGROUND: In our previous report, we observed the increaseed epidermal glucose concentrations and decreased hexokinase actiuities of diabetic patients which were ciimpared to those of normal individuals. And we considered that, there were some derrangement of lipid metabolism and glycolysis of diabetic epidermis. OBJECTIVES: This study wns planed to prove the above possible changes of lipid metabolism and glycolysis of diabetic epidermis. METHODS: The epidermal enzymatic activties of glucose-6-phophate dehydrogenase(G6PDH), phosphofructokinase(PFK), 1-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase(GOPDH) and b-hydroxybutyryl CoA dehydrogenase(HBDH) were assayed in the skin samples obtained friom diabetic patients and normal individuals by the fluorometric: method. RESULTS: Teh epidermal PFK activities of diabetic patients were decreased(3.49+1.35(mmole/hr/kg dry weight)) compared to that of normal individuals(5.00+0.56(mmcle/hr/kg dry weight))(p<0.05). The epidermal HBDH activities of diabetic patients were decreised(0.28+0.10(mole/hr/kg dry weight)) compared to that of normal individuals(0.49+0.20(mole/hr/kg dry weight)(p<0.01). The mean epidermal G6PDH activity of diabetic patients was decreasec. compased to that of normal individuals, but there was no statisical significance. The mean epidermal 3OPDH activittes of diabetic patients and normal individual; showed no significant difference. CONCLUSION: We consider that the decreased epidermal HBDH actiities of diabetic patients can decrease keton body formatiori, and the abnormal glycolysis can exist in the diabetic epidermis because the decreased enzymatic activities of diabetic epidermal PFK may decrease the velocity of glycolysis.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Epidermis ; Glucose ; Glycolysis ; Hexokinase ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism ; Skin

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a complex inflammatory disorder that affects between 2% and 16% of adults in the United States, with estimated healthcare costs between 4 and 12 million USD. Viruses are a common etiologic factor for URIs, are frequently identified in the sinuses of patients with CRS, and trigger CRS exacerbations. Therefore, investigating the role of viruses provides an opportunity to identify their role in the pathogenesis of CRS. In this review, we identified the viruses frequently isolated in patients with CRS, as well as their associated immunologic responses and contributions to inflammation. Rhinovirus, parainfluenza virus, influenza virus, and respiratory syncytial virus are the viruses commonly found in patients with CRS. This information allows us to target pathways early in the pathogenesis of CRS, thereby playing a significant role in slowing the progression of this chronic disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to compare receptive and expressive language development in children who have undergone simultaneous bilateral cochlear implantation (SCI) and those who have undergone bimodal stimulation (unilateral CI+ hearing aid). SUBJECTS AND METHOD: In a retrospective analysis of clinical data, 15 pediatric patients who have received SCI and nine patients who have received bimodal stimulation (BM group) were enrolled. CI was performed for all patients at 24 months of age. Category of Auditory Performance (CAP) scores, Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (IT-MAIS) scores, and developmental quotients (DQ) for expressive and receptive language were compared between the groups at 12 month of follow-up. The Percentage of Consonants Correct (PCC) of children evaluated at 4 years old was also compared. RESULTS: At 12 months of follow-up, significantly greater improvements in CAP scores (Δ4.25±0.5) were noted in the SCI group compared to the BM group (Δ3.56±0.88, p=0.041). Significantly greater improvements in IT-MAIS scores were also noted in the SCI group (Δ36.17±4.09) than in the BM group (Δ30.17±2.91, p=0.004). The DQ of receptive language was higher in the SCI group than in the BM group (87.6±15.4% vs. 75.5±12.0%, p=0.023) at 12 months of follow-up. Moreover, early SCI was associated with better receptive language skills. PCC index of children at 4 years old was higher in the SCI group than in the BM group (88.5±13.2% vs. 62±15.8%, p=0.014). Earlier SCI was associated with even greater improvements. CONCLUSION: Bilateral SCI is associated with significant improvements in language development when compared with bimodal stimulation. Earlier SCI was associated with better outcomes.
Child ; Cochlear Implantation ; Cochlear Implants ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing ; Humans ; Language Development ; Linguistics* ; Methods ; Retrospective Studies

The loss of neuronal cells in the central nervous system may occur in many neurodegenerative diseases. Alzheimer's disease is a common senile disease in people over 65 years, and it causes impairment characterized by the decline of mental function, including memory loss and cognitive impairment, and affects the quality of life of patients. However, the current therapeutic strategies against AD are only to relieve symptoms, but not to cure it. Because there are only a few therapeutic strategies against Alzheimer's disease, we need to understand the pathogenesis of this disease. Cell therapy may be a powerful tool for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. This review will discuss the characteristics of Alzheimer's disease and various available therapeutic strategies.
Alzheimer Disease* ; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy ; Central Nervous System ; Humans ; Memory Disorders ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neurons ; Quality of Life ; Stem Cells* ; Transplantation

Etretinate(Ro 10-9359), an aromatic analogue of vitamin A acid, has been known to be effective in the treatment of psoriasis, Darier's disease, pityriasis rubra pilaris, ichthyosis, and palmoplantar keratoderma when administered orally. In this experiment, we compared the therapeutic and side effects between a group with high dose therapy(initially 75mg of etretinate a day) and an another group with low dose therapy(initially 40mg of etretinate a day). We also observed whether the pretreatment followed by combined treatment with vitamin E could potentiate the therapeutic effect as well as reduce the side effects of oral etretinate. This experiment comprised 102 moderate to severe psoriatic patients. The following results were obtained from this experiment. 1. Fifty-six among 92 patients(61%) who were treated with etretinate for more than 4 weeks showed good to excellent therapeutic effect. 2 The high dose therapy was more effective, but showed more side effects than low dose therapy. 3 Vitamin E did not potentiate the effect of etretinate. In low dose therapy, the pretreatment followed by combined treatment with vitamin E showed a tendency to reduce the side effects of etretinate.
Acitretin* ; Darier Disease ; Etretinate* ; Humans ; Ichthyosis ; Keratoderma, Palmoplantar ; Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris ; Psoriasis* ; Tretinoin ; Vitamin E* ; Vitamins*

BACKGROUND: Improvement in antiviral therapies have been accompanied by an increased frequency of non-Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) defining malignancies, such as glioblastoma multiforme. Here, we investigated all reported cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients with glioblastoma and evaluated their clinical outcomes. A comprehensive review of the molecular pathogenetic mechanisms underlying glioblastoma development in the setting of HIV/AIDS is provided. METHODS: We performed a PubMed search using keywords “HIV glioma” AND “glioblastoma,” and “AIDS glioma” AND “glioblastoma.” Case reports and series describing HIV-positive patients with glioblastoma (histologically-proven World Health Organization grade IV astrocytoma) and reporting on HAART treatment status, clinical follow-up, and overall survival (OS), were included for the purposes of quantitative synthesis. Patients without clinical follow-up data or OS were excluded. Remaining articles were assessed for data extraction eligibility. RESULTS: A total of 17 patients met our inclusion criteria. Of these patients, 14 (82.4%) were male and 3 (17.6%) were female, with a mean age of 39.5±9.2 years (range 19–60 years). Average CD4 count at diagnosis of glioblastoma was 358.9±193.4 cells/mm3. Tumor progression rather than AIDS-associated complications dictated patient survival. There was a trend towards increased median survival with HAART treatment (12.0 vs 7.5 months, p=0.10) CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that HAART is associated with improved survival in patients with HIV-associated glioblastoma, although the precise mechanisms underlying this improvement remain unclear.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glioblastoma* ; HIV* ; Humans* ; Male ; World Health Organization

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to find out the normal distal tibial articular surface angle in coronal plane in Koreans. This would be helpful as the basic data for ankle reconstruction after trauma or deformity correction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Weight bearing anteroposterior radiographs of 123 normal ankles were reviewed. A line parallel to the shaft of the tibia was made. Another line was drawn parallel to the articular surface of the distal tibia. The superolateral angle that subtended by these two lines was measured. RESULTS: There were 72 males and 51 females. The mean age overall was 35.7 years old. The mean age for males was 31.9 (28~36) years old. The mean age for females was 41.1 (37~45) years old. The mean distal tibial articular surface angle was 90.8 degrees. The mean distal tibial articular surface angle for males was 91.5 degrees and for females 89.9 degrees. CONCLUSION: The mean distal tibial articular surface angle in coronal plane for Koreans is 90.8 degrees. We can avoid the error of the varization at the ankle alignment when the correction was performed vertical or minimal valgus to tibia tuberosity axis in Korean people.
Ankle ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Tibia ; Weight-Bearing

A 18-year-old male soccer player had painful triggering and occasional locking of the great toe caused by entrapment of the flexor hallucis longus tendon within the flexor sheath posterior to the right medial malleolus. After other treatment modalities failed, the condition was relieved by a surgical procedure that removed the nodule on the flexor hallucis longus tendon and the ganglion under flexor retinaculum. Tendon rupture was not found, although there was tendinitis.
Adolescent ; Ganglion Cysts ; Humans ; Male ; Rupture ; Soccer* ; Tendinopathy ; Tendons ; Toes*

PURPOSE: We assessed the results of open treatment of anterior impingement syndrome of the ankle in elite level soccer players and concomitant injuries were idenfied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed twenty one elite level soccer players diagnosed with anterior impingement syndrome who underwent open debridement between January 1997 and January 2002. All were men and the mean age at the operation was 21 years (range 16 to 27). The mean follow-up duration was 31 months (13 to 71). Concomitant abnormalities were idenfied through physical examination, bone scan and MRI. On a preoperative lateral radiograph, patients were classified according to McDermott's stage. Anteromedial or anterolateral approach was used at the operation and osteophyte was removed with osteotome and rongeur. When chronic ankle instability was accompanying, we performed Modified Brostrom-Gould procedure and for osteochondral lesion, multiple drilling was applied. The Ogilvie-Harris scoring system was used as a clinical scale to evaluate pain, swelling, stiffness and limitation of activity. The results were scored as excellent (15 to 16 points), good (13 to 14) and otherwise unsatisfactory. The time to return to full activity including sports activity was determined. RESULTS: Eighteen of twenty one patients had an excellent outcome. Three patients were graded unsatisfactory and two of them abandoned their career due to the persistence of residual pain. Concomitant abnormalities were found including twelve cases of chronic ankle instability, three cases of osteochondral lesion and two cases of flexor hallucis longus tendinitis. CONCLUSION: Open debridement was successfully applied to the elite level soccer player with anterior impingement syndrome of the ankle. Considerable coexistence of other abnormalities such as chronic ankle instability may encourage us to consider additional operative procedure.
Ankle* ; Debridement ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Osteophyte ; Physical Examination ; Retrospective Studies ; Soccer* ; Sports ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Tendinopathy

PURPOSE: We assessed the clinical results of modified Brostrom procedure as a revision method after failure of a primary reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study of seven patients treated with Modified Brostrom procedure after failed lateral ankle ligament reconstruction between 1996 and 2002. Instability symptom developed average 4.7 month after the initial reconstruction surgery at other clinics. All patients had significant functional impairment before surgery and not responded to conservative protocols. Modified Brostrom procedure was applied to all patients. RESULTS: The average follow up was 51 months (18 to 84). Seven of eight patients had clinical stability following revision reconstruction, six patients (75%) returned to their previous functional level. American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot scores averaged 87.5. There is no difference in active or passive range of motion of plantar flexion or dorsiflexion when compared to the contralateral ankle. However, three patients were noted to have lost some degree of inversion when compated to contralateral ankle. Two patients had osteochondral lesion and multiple spurs and had pain around the ankle that prevented their full recovery. One patient complained of persistent pain which was considered complex regional pain syndrome. CONCLUSION: Though the outcome of the Modified Brostrom procedure as a method of revision surgery was less satisfactory compared to the results of primary ankle reconstruction, it would be an appropriate option when concomitant abnormalities were not accompanying.
Ankle* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Humans ; Ligaments* ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies