No abstract available.
Cerebral Infarction* ; Korea* ; Lipoprotein(a)* ; Risk Factors*

BACKGROUND: It is not yet clear whether the abnormal cytokine production in relation to serum IgE levels in atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with the amount of mRNA of cytokine gene. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to delineate the effect of reciprocal correlation in the level of mRNA between interleukin-4 (I") and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in severe AD. METHODS: We examined 15 cases including 5 AD patients with high serum IgE (>2,000 kU/liter), 5 AD patients with low serum IgE (<100 kU/liter), and 5 healthy controls. Using semi quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, IL-4 and IFN-γ gene expressions in peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) were examined. RESULTS: 1) IL-4 gene expression in spontaneous PBMC was higher in AD patient groups than in control group, significantly higher only in AD patient group with high serum IgE level (p < 0.05). 2) IFN-γ gene expression in spontaneous PBMC showed increased tendency in AD patient groups than in control group without statistical significance. 3) IL-4 and IFN-γ gene expressions in stimulated PBMC were not different among all three groups. CONCLUSION: In light of our results, high and low IgE subgroups in AD can exist and AD may not be R characterized by the shift in the reciprocal relationship between IL-4 and IFN-γ when T cells are stimulated under antigen presenting cell-independent conditions.
Dermatitis, Atopic ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Interferon-gamma* ; Interleukin-4* ; RNA, Messenger ; T-Lymphocytes

Many authors reported the etiology of hypoplasia of the nasomaxillary complex as trauma, infection, underdevelopment. To correct these deformities, Le Fort II Osteotomy and its modification has been popularly applied. This method enabled total advancement of nasomaxillary complexes and acquirememt of midfacial esthetics. But it has some limitations such as various occlusal deviation or lateral shifting of nasomaxillary complex in case of nasomaxillary retrusion. We grouped these patients as follows : 1. Nasomaxillary retrusion without shifting of nasomaxillary complex (1) Anteroposterior deviation of occlusal plane (2) Lateral deviation of occlusal plane(including canting) (3) Supero-inferior deviation of occlusal plane (4) Combined disturbance of occlusal plane without shifting of nasamaxillary complex 2. Lateral shifting of nasomaxillary complex with or without deviation of occlusal plane We performed Le Fort II and I combined osteotomy on eleven cases of midfacial deformity from June 1994 to July 1997 and in most of the cases, followed up maximum 36 months and could acquire positional stability and improvement of facial eathetics.
Congenital Abnormalities* ; Dental Occlusion ; Esthetics ; Humans ; Osteotomy*

Digital radiographic systems allow the implementation of a fully digital picture archiving and communication system (PACS), and provide the greater dynamic range of digital detectors with possible reduction of X-ray exposure to the patient. This article reviewed the basic physical principles of digital radiographic imaging system in dental clinics generally. Digital radiography can be divided into computed radiography (CR) and direct radiography (DR). CR systems acquire digital images using phosphor storage plates (PSP) with a separate image readout process. On the other hand, DR systems convert X-rays into electrical charges by means of a direct readout process. DR systems can be further divided into direct and indirect conversion systems depending on the type of X-ray conversion. While a direct conversion requires a photoconductor that converts X-ray photons into electrical charges directly, in an indirect conversion, light-sensitive sensors such as CCD or a flat-panel detector convert visible light, proportional to the incident X-ray energy by a scintillator, into electrical charges. Indirect conversion sensors using CCD or CMOS without lens-coupling are used in intraoral radiography. CR system using PSP is mainly used in extraoral radiographic system and a linear array CCD or CR sensors, in panoramic system. Currently, the digital radiographic system is an important subject in the dental field. Most studies reported that no significant difference in diagnostic performance was found between the digital and conventional systems. To accept advances in technology and utilize benefits provided by the systems, the continuous feedback between doctors and manufacturers is essential.
Dental Clinics ; Fees and Charges ; Hand ; Humans ; Light ; Photons ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; Radiography, Dental, Digital

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the efficacy in the combination of haloperidol and clonidine with chronic schizophrenia. Moreover, we evaluated the effects of clonidine to the plasma haolperidol and reduced haloperidol concentration 36 patiens were entered on 4 weeks by the double blind trial. METHOD: The patients (male=11, female=25) were randomly divided into two groups of eighteen patients each. Their antipsychotic medication was fixed for 2 weeks before double blind trial with haloperidol and clonidine or placebo. Clonidine was started at 0.15 mg/day and then raised 0.6mg/day during 4 days, and the placebo was applied by same method as clonidine. The clinical assessment of the patients was assessed with BPRS and NOSIE. The plasma concentrations of haloperidol and reduced haloperidol were measured by HPLC (UV detector). RESULTS: 1) There were no statistical differences in sex distribution, age, duration of illness, dosages of haloperidol, plasma concentration of haloperidol and reduced haloperidol of each groups before clonidine or placebo trial. 2) On total and subcluster scores of BPRS and total score of NOSIE, there were decreased tendencies over the time, but there was no statistical significance in both groups. 3) Plasma concentrations of haloperidol and reduced haloperidol after 4 weeks of clonidine trial were revealed statistically significant increasement as compared to baseline. CONCLUSION: The combination of haloperidol and clonidine for 4 weeks did not reveal the improvement. In our opinions the reasons of those results were that our samples were not made of paranoid type of schizophrenia, the duration of clonidine trial was not good enough. So we should suggest that more specifying design will be needed.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Clonidine* ; Haloperidol* ; Humans ; Norepinephrine ; Plasma ; Schizophrenia* ; Sex Distribution

Anetoderma is a rare cutaneous disorder characterized by circumscribed loss of skin elasticity. This has been historically divided into inflammatory(Jadassohn-Pellizzari) and non-inflammatory(Schw eninger-Buzzi) type. We herein, report a case of Schweninger-Buzzi type anetoderma occurring on a 6 year-old girl. The lesions did not have an inflammatory onset. Histologically, the focal loss of elastic fibers was seen on the lesion.
Anetoderma* ; Child ; Elastic Tissue ; Elasticity ; Female ; Humans ; Skin

Epiblepharon is one of the most common eyelid abnormalities among Asian children. The anatomic defect in epiblepharon is the absence of the adhesion between the lower eyelid retractors and the anterior lamella. We performed a simple surgical technique to correct epiblephron on 131 patients from January 1990 to September 1996. Several burried 8-0 nylon sutures were placed to allow adhesion between the tarsal plate and the subcutaneous tissue of the superior incision and minimal amount of the redundant skin and orbicularis muscle were removed. The average age at operation was 6.7 years. 97 patients (90.7%) showed satisfactory results with 6.7 months of average follow-up period. Ten patients (9.3%) showed recurrence of cilia touch but only 2 patients underwent reoperation with good result. Complications were minimal including 2 suture abscess and 1 wound dehiscence.
Abscess ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Child ; Cilia ; Eyelids ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Nylons ; Recurrence ; Reoperation ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Sutures ; Wounds and Injuries

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract with an unknown etiology and pathogenesis. The incidence and prevalence of IBD are increasing rapidly in Korea. Approximately one-third of patients with IBD appear to develop extra-intestinal manifestations with the skin being one of the most commonly affected organs. They may precede, occur simultaneously, or follow the diagnosis of IBD. In addition, they may parallel with the luminal symptoms or independent from the disease activity of IBD. This review outlines the skin manifestations associated with IBD and discusses their management. Skin manifestations should be managed in close collaboration with a dermatologist.
Colitis, Ulcerative ; Cooperative Behavior ; Crohn Disease ; Diagnosis ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Korea ; Phenobarbital ; Prevalence ; Skin ; Skin Manifestations

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract with an unknown etiology and pathogenesis. The incidence and prevalence of IBD are increasing rapidly in Korea. Approximately one-third of patients with IBD appear to develop extra-intestinal manifestations with the skin being one of the most commonly affected organs. They may precede, occur simultaneously, or follow the diagnosis of IBD. In addition, they may parallel with the luminal symptoms or independent from the disease activity of IBD. This review outlines the skin manifestations associated with IBD and discusses their management. Skin manifestations should be managed in close collaboration with a dermatologist.
Colitis, Ulcerative ; Cooperative Behavior ; Crohn Disease ; Diagnosis ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Korea ; Phenobarbital ; Prevalence ; Skin ; Skin Manifestations

No abstract available.
Apolipoproteins* ; Genotype* ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction*