The present study was carried out in order to investigate the relationship between immune function and the activity of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA) axis in patients with major depression. The subjects were 16 female major depressives and 16 female healthy controls. We measured mitogen-induced production of IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-6 and serum level of IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-6 and basal plasma cortisol levels at 8 00 a.m. We measured post-DST(dexamethasone suppression test) cortisol levels in 16 major depressives. The result were as follows : 1) Basal cortisol level was significantly higher in the patients with major depression than in the healthy controls(14.4+/-4.6 microgram/dl, 10.1+/-5.2microgram /dl, respectively, p<0.05). 2) IL-2 production was significantly lower in the patients with major depression than in the healthy controls(1747.3+/-387.9 pg/ml, 2520.2+/-884.1 pg/ml, respectively, p<0.05). There were no significant differences in IL-1 beta and IL-6 production between the patients with major depression and the healthy controls. 3) Serum level of IL-2 was detectable in 12 of 16 patients with major depression and in 10 of 16 healthy controls. There was no significant difference in serum level of IL-2 between two groups. Serum level of IL-1 beta was detectable in 3 of 16 patients with major depression and of 16 healthy controls. We could not detect serum level of IL-6 in both groups. 4) There was significant negative correlation between IL-2 production and post-DST cortisol level(r= -0.89) in the 16 patients with major depression. There was significant negative correlation between serum level of IL-2 and post-DST cortisol level(r= -0.97) in the 12 patients with major depression. There was significant negative correlation between serum level of IL-2 and basal cortisol level(r= -0.65) in the 12 patients with major depression. But there was no significant correlation between IL-2 production and basal cortisol level in the 16 patients with major depression. These findings suggest that immune function is decreased in major depression and the decreased immune function is highly related to the hyperactivity of the HPA axis.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra* ; Depression* ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Interleukin-1* ; Interleukin-1beta* ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Plasma

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Humans ; Seoul*

Three cases of spondyIolysis were experienced and treated by anterior interbody fusion of the involved spines at the department of orthopaedic surgery in the Taegu Hospital One case was accompanied with severe lumbago with radiating pain and other two cases with lumbago significantly. Review of literature was done with report of three cases of spondylolysis.
Daegu ; Low Back Pain ; Spinal Fusion ; Spine ; Spondylolysis

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Chickenpox ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy

No abstract available.
Porokeratosis*

We have had an opportunity to study a patient with acute sensory neuronopathy. The patient was a 32-yearold housewife; the rapidly spreaded tingling sensation along both arms and legs developed, rendering her severely ataxic. There was no history of antecedent illness, familial neurological disease, or exposure to toxins and special drugs. On examinations, there was no abnormality in her mental and cranial nerve function. There was no motor weakness. She showed the profound loss of kinesthetic sense which was acutely progressive and associated with severe sensory ataxia and pseudoathetosis. All tendon reflexes were absent. However, cutaneous senses were preserved. There was no significant abnormal laboratory finding except elevated CSF protein content. On electrophysiologic findings, the decrease in the amplitude of action potentials with only mild slowing of conduction velocities of sensory nerves were found even though motor nerve conduction studies were normal. Median and tibial somatosensory evoked potentials could be elicited, although the median N19 scalp response and tibial N45 waveforms were prolonged in latency. Plasmapheresis were provided; clinical features improved. However, the electrophy-siological abnormalites remained. Thus we wish to report an additional case of woman suffering from the acute sensory neuronopathy, complementing the cases described by Stemm, Schaumburg and Asbury.
Action Potentials ; Arm ; Ataxia ; Complement System Proteins ; Cranial Nerves ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; Female ; Humans ; Kinesthesis ; Leg ; Neural Conduction ; Plasmapheresis ; Reflex, Stretch ; Scalp ; Sensation

Pheochromocytoma remains one of the great challenges to anesthesiologists during anesthesia and postoperative period. Virtually all anesthetic agents and techniques have been used with success but associated with a high rate of transient intraoperative arrhythmia and hypertension. We now report one case who was given thoracic epidural block and neuroleptic anesthesia for resection of right adrenal and presacral pheochromocytoma. Blood pressure and heart rate were stable during induction, tumor manipulation and postoperative intensive care unit with out the use of vasodilating or antiarrhythmic druas. While this report describes only one encouraging case, the potential advantages of thoracic epidural & general anesthesia in pheochromocytoma appear to warrant the further trial.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General* ; Anesthetics ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Blood Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Hypertension ; Intensive Care Units ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Postoperative Period

Hand injury in children was increased due to multiple environmental risks and failed attention of parents to children in rapidly developing society. By the results of this evaluation in 37 cases, it was summarized as follows. First, hand injuries in children most commonly occurs in spring, and occurs more commonly in the children at the age of high activity. The most common level of injury is zone I by microreplantation zone, and zone II by tendon injury zone. The more desirable results were obtained by full thickness skin graft and composite graft if it were possible. For the better functional results compare to adults, the methods and procedures must be constructed after more evaluation with more clinical cases. In the cases of pediatric hand injury, the most important fact is prevention of injury, with the close attention by parents, and the second is appropriate diagnosis and treatment for more functional results.
Adult ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Hand Injuries* ; Hand* ; Humans ; Parents ; Skin ; Tendon Injuries ; Transplants

S-100 protein is a mixture of three proteins, that is, S-100 ao(aa), S-100 a(ab) and, S- 100 b(bb). Twenty-two case, of sweat gland tumors were stained with immunoperoxidase technique (ABC method) for the presence of S-100a and b-subunit. Four syringomas, four eccrine poromas, two eccrine porocarcinomas, two ecerine spirdeiomas, one papillary eccrine adenoma, three clear cell hidradenomas, three mixed tumr rs of the skin, two papillary syringocystadenomas, and one cylindroma were included. All specimens were formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded. The results were as follows : 1) The staining patterns of anti-S-100a and b-protein antibodies we e simillar to those of anti-S-100 protein antibody except in eccrine poroma and porocare nomal. 2) In eccrine poroma and porocarcinoma, scattered S-100-positive dendritic cells within tumor cell nests were stained by S-100-protein antibody (3/6), but not by anti-S-100a protein antibody. S-100p is present in normal Langerhans cells. Therefore this finding suggests that these cells niay be Langerhans cells
Acrospiroma ; Adenoma ; Antibodies ; Antibodies, Monoclonal* ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; Dendritic Cells ; Eccrine Porocarcinoma ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Langerhans Cells ; Poroma ; S100 Proteins ; Skin ; Sweat Glands* ; Sweat* ; Syringoma