Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease and afflicts approximately 1% of general population. Once considered as a benign non-fatal disease, rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating condition with a serious physical, emotional, and economic consequences. Life expectancy is reduced among patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and survival rates are comparable to those for three-vessel coronary disease Hodgkin's disease, and diabetes mellitus. For the past 20 years the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has been developed on pyramid approach, which has had limited success. This led to a move towards using disease modifying antirheumatic drugs early in the disease. Future of rheumatoid arthritis tensive induction therapy, and treatment for resistant disease. This review will be focused on current principles and general guidelines of drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Antirheumatic Agents ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Coronary Disease ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Hodgkin Disease ; Humans ; Life Expectancy ; Survival Rate

A 28-year-old woman had a 13-month history of skin-colored, well-circumscribed, hyperkeratotic plaques on both heels. Histological examination showed hyperkeratosis and acanthosis in the epidermis. Special stain for elastic tissue revealed marked fragmentation, diminution and thickening of elastic fibers in the dermis. We report a rare case with the lesions of acrokeratoelastoidosis on both heels.
Adult ; Dermis ; Elastic Tissue ; Epidermis ; Female ; Heel ; Humans

OBJECTIVE:To compare pregnancy outcomes between obese and nonobese women and to determine the effect of gestational weight gain on pregnancy outcome in obese women. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted comparing 100 obese and 300 nonobese women who delivered a singleton live birth at Yeungnam university hospital from June 1998 to Dec 1998. Morbid obesity was defined as a body mass index greater than 30. The incidence of selected perinatal and neonatal outcome was assessed for two groups. RESULTS: Morbidly obese patients were more likly to experience pregnancy complications including gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, placental abruption, fetal distress, meconium aspiration, cesarean delivery & birth trauma. However, these were not affected by gestational weight gain in morbidly obese women. Weight gains more than 12kg were strongly associated with birth of a large for gestational age(LGA) neonate, however, poor weight gain did not appear to incrcase the risk of delivery of a low birth weight neonate. CONCLUSION: To optimize fetal growth, weight gain of 7-12kg for obese women appear to be appropriate. To reduce the risk of delivery of an LGA neonate, the optimal gestational weight gain for obese women should not exceed 12kg.
Abruptio Placentae ; Body Mass Index ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetes, Gestational ; Female ; Fetal Development ; Fetal Distress ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Live Birth ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome ; Obesity* ; Obesity, Morbid ; Parturition ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Weight Gain

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma is a rare malignant tumor of histiocytic origin, arising from either bone, or soft tissue. Six cases of malignant fibrous histiocytoma are presented with emphasis on radiographic features. Five cases are of primary bone origin and one of soft tissue. Ill-defined osteolytic bone destruction with no sclerosis and with no periosteal reaction is the principal radiologic feature of the malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone. Therefore, malignant fibrous histiocytoma should be considered in differential diagnosis of primary intraosseous or extraosseous malignancies.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous ; Sclerosis

Localized fibrous mesothelioma of the liver is very rare benign tumor. It usually manifest large palpable hepatic mass in right upper quadrant area, and the prognosis is excellent by surgical resection. Contrast enhanced CT scan shows well defined hyperattenuating mass and celiac anglogram shows hypervascular mass. Recently we experienced 1 case of localized fibrous mesothelioma of the liver, and we report CT and anglographic findings of this tumor.
Liver* ; Prognosis ; Solitary Fibrous Tumor, Pleural* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Complicated hepatic microabscess secondary to ascending cholangitis following ERCP (Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram) is rare, and needs to be differentiated from other microabscesses, metastasis or Caroli's disease. We experienced a case of hepatic microabscess associated with septic cholangitis following ERCP. Cholangiogram showed multiple sac-like abscess pockets with characteristic biliary communication, and CT scan revealed multiple low attenuated lesions. At the resolving stage of chotangitic microabscess, CT scan showed partial rim enhancement of the abscesses and disproportional dilatation of intrahepatic ducts. The residual parenchymal enhancement surrounding the resolved microabscess pockets and dilatated biliary ducts, however, remained even after clinical recovery.
Abscess ; Caroli Disease ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis* ; Dilatation ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A 35 year old woman, gravid 5, multiparous, was admitted to our department at 6 weeks and 5 days of gestation after being diagnosed with cervical pregnancy. Before the evacuation, the uterine arteries were embolized using angiographic techniques. As a result, dilatation and curettage were performed with minimal hemorrhage. We report one case of cervical pregnancy managed, successfully with preoperative uterine artery embolization and evacuation.
Adult ; Dilatation and Curettage ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Pregnancy* ; Uterine Artery Embolization* ; Uterine Artery*

No abstract available.
Diverticulum*

No abstract available.
Agaricales* ; Morus*

No abstract available.
Pneumonia*