No abstract available.
Adult* ; Humans ; Seoul*

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

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.
Porokeratosis*

No abstract available.
Chickenpox ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy

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

PURPOSES: To evaluate the effect of hormone replacement therapy(HRT) on serum insulin-like growth factors(IGFs) levels and to investigate if changes in serum IGFs reflect changes in BMD after HRT in postmenopausal women. MATERIAL & METHODS: IGF-I and IGF-II were measured by radioimmunoassay after Bio-spin P-10 seperation in sera obtained every 3 months from postmenopausal women who was taking premarin alone (premarin group; n=17) or premarin-medroxyprogesterone acetate(MPA group; n=42) for 1 year. Also, bone mineral density(BMD) were determined before and 1 year after HRT by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry(DEXA). All statistics were performed by Paired t-test, student's t-test, repeated measures ANOVA test, Pearson's coefficient. RESULTS: HRT increased BMD of the lumbar spine and proximal femur in both premarin group and MPA group, but any difference in degreee of increase in BMD was not noted between premarin group and MPA group. Compared with pretreatment levels, serum IGF-I levels decreased at 3, 6 and 12 months after therapy only in latter group whereas serum IGF-II levels increased at 6 and 12 months after HRT in both groups. Changes in serum IGF-I and IGF-II levels during therapy did not show any difference by the bone response to HRT. Changes in serum IGF-II levels after HRT did not correlated with the 1 year changes in BMD at any skeletal sites studied, but changes in serum IGF-I levels from pretreatment to 6 months after HRT was negatively correlated with change in BMD of Ward's triangle. CONCLUSION: HRT influences serum IGF levels in postmenopausal women and changes in serum IGF-I levels may predict the changes in BMD of Ward's triangle after HRT.
Bone Density* ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Female ; Femur ; Hormone Replacement Therapy* ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II ; Postmenopause ; Radioimmunoassay ; Spine

Disorders of coagulation and uncontrollable bleeding are major problems during a major surgical operation. The correct diagnosis, appropriate treatment and preparation for abnormal coagulation and bleeding conditions with specific factors and blood products are procedure of utmost importance. Detailed history, physical examination and performance of appropriate laboratory tests including specific factor assay are essential for the diagnosis of an abnormal coagulation and bleeding problem. We have experienced a case of factor ll deficient patient who had surgery for a glioma of the forebrain. He had a past history of two episodes of massive bleeding during operation and showed a bleeding tendency after angiography for this last admission, but he didn't show any abnormal blood coagulation tests except for a factor ll deficiency. He had received Vitamine K 20 mg/day for 7days preoperatively. All laboratory coagulstion tests became normal and he had a surgical removal of a forebrain glioma uneventfully under general anesthesia. He received only 1 unit of fresh frozen plasma during operation and had an uneventful postoperative course.
Anesthesia, General ; Angiography ; Blood Coagulation Tests ; Diagnosis ; Glioma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypoprothrombinemias* ; Physical Examination ; Plasma ; Prosencephalon ; Vitamins

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