While hormonal changes during the ovulatory cycles affect multiple body systems, medical management, including medication dosing remains largely uniform between the sexes. Little is known about sex-specific pharmacology in women. Although hormonal fluctuations of the normal menstruating process alters women's physiology and brain biochemistry, medication dosing does not consider such cyclical changes. Using schizophrenia as an example, this paper illustrates how a woman's clinical symptoms can change throughout the ovulatory cycle, leading to fluctuations in medication responses. Effects of sex steroids on the brain, clinical pharmacology are discussed. Effective medication dose may be different at different phases of the menstrual cycle. Further research is needed to better understand optimal treatment strategies in reproductive women; we present a potential clinical trial design for examining optimal medication dosing strategies for conditions that have menstruation related clinical fluctuations.
Biochemistry ; Brain ; Clothing ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Menstrual Cycle ; Menstruation ; Pharmacology ; Pharmacology, Clinical ; Physiology ; Psychopharmacology ; Schizophrenia ; Steroids

BACKGROUND: Defensins are small (3.5~5 kDa) cationic antimicrobial peptides that have a broad spectrum of activity that includes gram-negative bacterias, yeasts and enveloped viruses. The defensins contain six cysteine residues forming three disulfide bridges depending on the spacing of the cysteine residues and the connectivity of the disulfide bridge, defensins are classified into two families, the alpha-defensins (HNP) and beta-defensins (HBD). Recently two human epithelial beta defensins, HBD-1 and HBD-2 have been identified. HBD-1 has been detected in a number of normal mucosal sites, but HBD-2 is highly restricted in its expression by inflammatory stimulations. we invesigated the expression of hunam beta defensin in human male urogenital organs. METHODS: Specimens of normal human male testis, epididymis, prostate, seminal vesicles, vas deferens, urethra, bladder, ureter, kidney, pyelonephritis, epididymitis, clear renal cell carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma of bladder were obtained as discarded material from urological surgery. Each sample was stored at snap frozen in liquid nitrogen subsequent to RNA extraction. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to semiquantitate HBD-1 and HBD-2 mRNA using the housekeeping gene beta-actin as an internal control. Southern blotting and sequencing showed HBD-1, 2 expressions in male urogenital organs. RESULTS: We checked the expression of HBD-1, 2 mRNA in all specimen of normal human male urogenital organ, pyelonephritis, epididymitis, clear renal cell carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma of bladder by RT-PCR and southern blotting analysis. We checked the homolgy of HBD-1, 2 by bands sequencing. CONCLUSION: Our study indicated that the normal male urogenital organs, infection and neoplasm in male urogenital organs expresses antimicrobial peptides. These may play an important role in the prevention of infections by bacterias, antimicrobial effects in infection and anticancer effects in neoplasm of male urogenital organs. These natural endogenous antibiotic peptides could be developed as novel therapeutic agents for fighting infections and neoplasms of the human male urogenital organs.
Actins ; alpha-Defensins ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; Bacteria ; beta-Defensins ; Blotting, Southern ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; Cysteine ; Defensins ; Epididymis ; Epididymitis ; Genes, Essential ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Humans* ; Kidney ; Male* ; Nitrogen ; Peptides ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prostate ; Pyelonephritis ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Seminal Vesicles ; Testis ; Ureter ; Urethra ; Urinary Bladder ; Vas Deferens ; Yeasts

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness, survival rate and complication of radiation therapy in nasopharyngeal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1980 to May 1989, Fifty Patients who had nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with curative radiation therapy at Kosin Medical Center were retrospectively studied. Thirty seven patients(74%) were treated with radiation therapy alone(Group I) and 13 patients (26%) treated with combination fo chemotherapy and radiation(Group II). Age distribution was 16-75 years(median:45.8 years). In histologic type, squamous cell carcinoma was in 30 patients(60%), undifferentiated carcinoma in 17 patinets(34%), and lymphoepithelioma in 3 patients(6%). According to AJCC staging system, 4 patinets(8%) were in T1, 13 patients(2%) in T2, 20 patients(40%) in T3, 13 patients(26%) in T4 and 7 patients(14%) in N0, 6 patients(12%) in N1, 23 patients(46%) in N2, 14 patients (28%) in N3. Total radiaton dose ranges were 5250-9200 cGy(median : 7355 cGy) in Group I and 5360-8400 cGy(median :6758cGy) in Group II. Radiotherapy on 4-6MV linear accelerator and/or 6-12MeV electron in boost radiation was given with conventional thechnique to 26 patinets(52%), with hyperfractionation(115-120cGy/fr., 2times/day) to 16 patients(32%), with accelerated fractionation(160cGy/fr., 2 times/day) to 8 patients(16%). In Chemotherapy, 5 FU 1000mg daily for 5 consecutive days, pepleomycin 10mg on days 1 and 3, and cisplatin 100mg on day 1 were administered with 3 weeks interval, total 1 to 3 cycles(average 1.8cycles) prior to radiation therapy. Follow up duration was 6-140 months(mean:58 months). Statistics was calculated with Chi-square and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Complete local control rates in Group I and II were 75.7%, 69.2%. Overall 5 year survival rates in Group I and II were 56.8%, 30.8%. Five year survival rates by histologic type in Group I and II were 52.2, 14.3% in squamous cell carcinoma an d 54.5%, 50% in undifferentiated carcinoma. Survival rates in Group I were superior to those of Group II though there were not statistically significant. In both group, survival rates seem to be increased according to increasing total dose of radiation up to 7500cGy, but not increased beyond it. There were not statistically significant differences in survival rates by age, , stage, and radiation tehchniques in both group. Twenty four patients (48%) experienced treatment failures. Complications were found in 12 patients(24%). The most common one was osteomyelitis(4 patients, 33.3%) involving mandible (3 patients) and maxilla(1patient). CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy in combination with radiotherapy was found to be not effective to nasopharyngeal cancer and the survival rate was also inferior to that of radiation alone group though it was statistically not significant due to small population in chemotherapy combined group.
Age Distribution ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cisplatin ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mandible ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms* ; Particle Accelerators ; Peplomycin ; Radiotherapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Failure

The posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome(PRES) is characterized clinically by a combination of acute or subacute confusion, lethargy, visual disturbance, and seizures. PRES has been described in various clinical settings, including severe hypertension, chemotherapy, eclampsia, and seizure. We report a case of a 7-year-old girl who had taken cyclosporine for steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome. Twenty one days after the cyclosporine therapy, she was admitted due to generalized tonic clonic seizure and headache. Her blood pressure was 170/90 mmHg. Magnetic resonance(MR) imaging showed necrotic/cystic lesions involving the bilateral parieto-occipital region. After discontinuation of cyclosporine, and control of blood pressure, she had no more seizure and headache. The follow-up MR examination which was performed 6 months later showed the decreased extent of the lesion.
Blood Pressure ; Child* ; Cyclosporine* ; Drug Therapy ; Eclampsia ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Lethargy ; Nephrotic Syndrome* ; Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome* ; Pregnancy ; Seizures

PURPOSE: The isolated microscopic hematuria is the most common abnormality detected by school urinary screening, but there is no consensus about the range of investigations and long-term outcomes of isolated hematuria in children yet. This study aims to elucidate the prognosis of hematuria and the range of diagnostic studies by follow-up results. METHODS: Students with isolated hematuria who were referred to the Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center from Aug. 1990 to Feb. 2004 were analysed retrospectively. Cases that presented Through significant proteinuria(>250 mg/day), other symptoms of nephritis or renal dysfunction (creatinine clearance <85 mL/min/1.73m2) were excluded. Follow-up was done every six months with checking urinalysis, serum creatinine, protein and albumin. When albuminuria was detected, 24 hour urine protein was checked. Renal biopsy was done when urine protein was over 500 mg/day. RESULTS: A total of 331 students were enrolled in this study. There were 157 males and 174 females. The mean age at presentation was 9.9+/-2.3 years(7-15 years) and mean follow-up period was 2.2+/-1.6 years(1-10 years). Seventy five(22.7 percent) patients showed the resolution of microscopic hematuria. The mean resolution period was 2.6+/-1.7 years(1-8 years). Eight(2.4 percent) patients developed significant proteinuria and renal biopsy was done in four of them. Two cases of mild IgA nephropathy and two of minimal change were detected. None of them developed hypertension. At the end of the follow-up, renal function had remained stable in all subsets of patients. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of isolated microscopic hematuria was good. This study suggests that invasive studies including renal biopsy are not necessary and a regular follow-up of urinalysis is enough for children with isolated microscopic hematuria.
Albuminuria ; Biopsy ; Child* ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Consensus ; Creatinine ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; Hematuria* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Mass Screening* ; Nephritis ; Pediatrics ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinalysis

Hypercalcemia in infancy is an uncommon disorder but has a potential of serious sequelae. Therefore, infants with hypercalcemia must be promptly investigated and need urgent management. We report three cases of infantile hypercalcemia caused by vitamin D intoxication, emphasizing diagnostic investigations and the course of treatment. The first and the second cases were thought to be vitamin D intoxication without doubt, and were presented with a low parathyoid hormone(PTH) level and increased 25-hydroxyvitamin D3(25(OH)D3). The third case, which was hypotonic and accompanied with chromosomal anomaly, showed relatively low PTH and elevated 25(OH)D3. The first and the third case presented with poor oral intake and a failure to thrive. The second case was asymptomatic and founded incidentally by routine laboratory tests during treatment of the underlying disease. The hypercalcemia of three patients improved after a change of the formula milk with short term medication, lowering serum calcium. Thus we suspect that infants with hypercalcemia have a vitamin D intoxication caused by formula milk. This report describes three cases of hypercalcemia in infancy induced by vitamin D intoxication, a with review of the literature.
Calcium ; Failure to Thrive ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia* ; Infant ; Milk ; Poisoning ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*