Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by hyperproliferation and incomplete differentiation of keratinocytes. Mounting scientific evidence suggests that this epidermal alteration occurs as a response to an immunologic injury, giving rise to the concept that psoriasis is a skin-specific autoimmune disease. Indeed, many effective therapeutic agents for psoriasis are immunosuppressive in nature, lending further support to this view. The well known ability of calcipotriene and 1,25(OH)2D3 to inhibit keratinocyte proliferation and to induce its differentiation is certainly compatible with their antipsoriatic actions. In addition, topical calcipotriene has been shown to correct, at least in part, the local cytokine imbalance observed in psoriatic lesions. Interleukin (IL)-8 is a proinflammatory cytokine that is chemotactic for polymorphonuclear cells and T lymphocytes. It also promotes proliferation of keratinocytes and endothelial cells. In lesional psoriatic skin, IL-8 and its receptor levels are markedly elevated. IL-10 is an immunosuppressive cytokine, which as a type2 (T2) cytokine antagonizes cell-mediated immunity. Indeed, IL-10 administration has been shown to improve psoriasis. Topical calcipotriene markedly reduces elevated levels of IL-8 while simultaneously increasing IL-10 levels in lesional skin of psoriasis. These changes occur very early, within the first three days of therapy, prior to significant clinical improvement of psoriasis, indicating that the cytokine alterations are not simply secondary to resolution of psoriatic plaques. Therefore, elaboration of the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10 and a concomitant reduction in the proinflammatory cytokine IL-8 may mediate the immunopharmacological improvementin psoriasis by calcipotriene.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Cholecalciferol ; Cytokines ; Endothelial Cells ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunosuppression ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-8 ; Interleukins ; Keratinocytes ; Psoriasis ; Skin Diseases ; Skin* ; T-Lymphocytes ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

A 31-year-old pregnant woman with pruritus in pregnancy was described; she presented with a one-week history of generalized pruritus at gestational age 6 weeks without primary skin lesion. She had no dermatologic problem before pregnancy. Her pruritic symptom was not con-trolled with conventional emollient and topical corticosteroids. Broadband Ultraviolet B(UVB) phototherapy successfully improved her pruritus. UVB phototherapy also worked well after recurrence of pruritus at pregnancy 23rd week. We report herein a case of pruritus in pregnancy successfully treated with broadband UVB phototherapy.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Adult ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Phototherapy* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Pruritus* ; Recurrence ; Skin

The use of osseointegrated implants is an accepted procedure for the treatment of Total, or partial edentulism and offers good predictability of long-term success. Osseointegration implies a firm and direct interlocking between vital bone and screw-shaped titanium implants. There should be not to interposed tissue between fixture and bone. This study was undertaken to assess the clinical condition, complication, and prosthodontic aftercare of different implant systems. One hundred fifty-nine patients treated with a total of 503 endosseous implants (364 Steri-oss threaded type, 69 Integral cylinder with HA coated type, 35 Steri-oss threaded with HA coated type, 21 Steri-oss cylinder with HA coated type and 14 3i implant type), Most of the implant were placed in type B and C bone quantity and type 2 and 3 bone quality according to Lekhorm and Zarb. The success rate of Steri-oss threaded type during healing and function was 92%, Steri-oss threaded type with hydroxyapatite coated was 91%, Steri-oss cylinder type with hydroxyapatite coated was 90%, Integral cylinder type with hydroxyapatite coated was 90% and 3i implant type was 93%. One hundred twenty-nine patients had been treated with implant prosthesis. 79 of these patients had received a fixed type prosthesis and 50 patients had received a removable type prosthesis. There were no differences between the implant systems with regard to age, gender. Failures were associated with poor bone quality, smaller implant sizes, a surgical installation technique and stress distribution when in function. Visual analgoue scales recorded as satisfied results functionally and esthetically, but 15% dissatified with chewing ability.
Aftercare ; Dental Implants* ; Durapatite ; Humans ; Mastication ; Mouth Rehabilitation* ; Mouth* ; Osseointegration ; Prostheses and Implants ; Prosthodontics ; Titanium ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: Dermatologists frequently see morbilliform rash in the clinic, drug eruptions and viral eruptions. Due to close clinical similarities, it is difficult to differentiate them. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to review the histopathologic differences between drug eruption and viral eruption. METHOD: In this study, 13 patients diagnosed as rubella and 13 patients diagnosed as drug eruption in Department of Dermatology, Presbyterian Medical Center from 1995 to 1997 were included. We reviewed the epidermal changes such as vacuolopathy, dyskeratotic cells, spongiosis and exocytosis and dermal changes by light microscopy. RESULTS: 1. Vacuolopathy of basal layer was observed in 92.3% of patients in both diseases. 2. Dyskeratotic cells, spongiosis and exocytosis were observed significantly highly in drug eruption. 3. Perivascular lymphohistiocytic infiltration was mild in both diseases, but eosinophilic infiltration was significantly higher in drug eruption(84.6%) than viral eruption(15.4%). 4. Atypical lymphocytes were observed in both diseases. 5. Red blood cell extravasation was observed only in viral eruption. 6. Perivascular edema was significantly higher in drug eruption(76.9%) than viral eruption(38.4%) CONCLUSION: There were statistically significant differences in dyskeratotic cells, spongiosis, dermal eosinophilic infiltration and Red blood cell extravasation. Considering these observation, histopathologic findings may be helpful in differentiating between drug eruption and viral eruption.
Dermatology ; Drug Eruptions* ; Edema ; Eosinophils ; Erythrocytes ; Exanthema ; Exocytosis ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Microscopy ; Protestantism ; Rubella*

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary exercise test is a useful test for the evaluation of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Obese subjects have an increased resting metabolic rate (VO2) compared to non-obese subjects and the increase is more marked during dynamic exercise, which results in the limitation of maximal exercise in obese subjects. In this study, the influence of the obesity and fat distribution on the maximal exercise capacity were evaluated. METHODS: Maximal exercise capacity was represented by maximam maximum oxygen uptake and VO2 max in the cardiopulmonary test. Obesity, total fat content and abdominal obesity(waist to hip ratio, WHR) were measured by bioelectrical impedence method. Total of 42 volunteers(male 22, female 20) were evaluated. RESULTS: 1) Weight to height ratio(mean±SD) was 110%±14.9% in men and 100±11.1% in women. 2) Fat ratio(mean±SD) was 23.3±5.2% in men and 27.55±3.9% in woman. 3) Waist to hip ratio(mean±SD) was 0.85±0.04 in men and 0.8±0.03 in woman. 4) In men, VO2max/min/Kg was negatively correlate with obesity, fat ratio, and abdominal fat distribution. 5) In woman, VO2max/Kg was negatively correlated with obesity and fat ratio, but did not show significant relationship with abdominal fat distribution. CONCLUSION: Obesity was a limiting factor for maximal exercise in both men and women. Abdominal obesity was a limiting factor for maximal exercise in men but its implication to women needs further evaluation.
Abdominal Fat ; Exercise Test* ; Female ; Hip ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Oxygen ; Respiratory System

No abstract available.
Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a stress measurement scale for Korean nursing students. METHODS: Sixty preliminary items were selected by classifying 229 basic items extracted via literature review and Q-sorting method. In order to verify the reliability and validity of the preliminary instrument, data were collected from 617 nursing students in 2 colleges of nursing in Korea. RESULTS: As a result of the item analysis, 58 items were selected. They consisted of 2 types of stress which were college-based stress (38 items) and clinical-based stress (20 items). Ten factors in college-based stress and four factors in clinical-based stress were extracted by factor analysis, and each had a total variance of 63.01%, and 64.93%. Cronbach's Alpha of those 58 items were .937 in college-based stress and .922 in clinical-based stress, which was high. CONCLUSION: This paper is meaningful in a way that it has developed a tool capable of measuring stress for nursing students, which reflects the characteristics of our country. It is recommended for further study to re-verify the relevance and stability of this measurement.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate ; Female ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Korea ; Male ; Program Development ; Psychometrics ; Q-Sort ; Questionnaires ; *Stress, Psychological ; Students, Nursing/*psychology ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the meaning of the life of middle-aged women. METHOD: The research method employed Q-methodology. Thirty-one participants rated 30 selected Q-statements on a scale of 1~7. The collected data were analyzed using PC-QUNAL software. RESULT: Principal component analysis identified 4 types of the meaning of the life of middle-aged women. The categories were labeled 'May I help you?', 'Alone', 'Who am I ?', 'No regret'. CONCLUSION: We have found meaning of life of middle-aged women through this research. The study result could be data to perform effective nursing intervention for positive life of middle-aged women.
Female ; Humans ; Nursing ; Principal Component Analysis

A 68-year-old Korean woman was consulted to the department of dermatology to evaluate ulcerated lesions on the perianal area, which developed about 3 weeks after a cadaveric renal trans-plantation. Histopathologic examination showed large atypical cytomegalic cells in the upper dermis. Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) study revealed positive cytomegalovirus(CMV) deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA) from the skin tissue. We herein present a case of cutaneous CMV infection presenting as perianal ulcers.
Aged ; Cadaver ; Cytomegalovirus Infections* ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Dermatology ; Dermis ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Skin ; Ulcer*

No abstract available.
Immunoglobulins*