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

In order to clarify the cause of intracellular ATP dependency on Zn2+ blockade of KATP channels in pancreatic beta cells, we investigated the KATP channel activity during external Zn2+ application using voltage clamp technique. Cultured beta cells were used for patch-clamp experiment. When 3 mM glucose was applied in bath, KATP channel activity was increased transiently by externally applied Zn2+ in the cell-attached mode and was recoverable. The KATP channel activity was, however, consistently increased by Zn2+ application during the 0 mM glucose in bath. Inside-out mode, internally applied Zn2+ elicited no response on the KATP channels. Another divalent cation, Mn2+, didn't have any effect on the KATP channels. Therefore, This effect, so-called external glucose-dependency on Zn2+ blockade of the KATP channels, might be due to intracellular Zn2+ metabolism which induces ATP consumption. This appears to be a mechanism that the Zn2+ blockade of the KATP channels in the pancreatic beta cells depends on the intracellular ATP concentration.
Adenosine Triphosphate* ; Baths ; Glucose ; Insulin-Secreting Cells* ; KATP Channels* ; Metabolism

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility on recycling of IPS Empress ceramic for the wide use of esthetically pleased IPS-Empress ceramic in clinical prosthodontic treatment. The specimens were made of first, second, and third pressed IPS Empress ceramic and were immersed in 0.05% methylene blue solution for 24hours. The amount of color change before and after stainning was measured with colorimeter(Model Tc-6Fx, Denshoku Co., Tokyo, Japan). The change of E in first pressed ceramic was 18.33 and those in second and third pressed ceramics were 19.33 and 19.93 respectively. Although there was statistical difference among them, the differences were minute and acceptable. From the results of this study, the possibility of recycling of IPS Empress ceramic could be suggested.
Ceramics* ; Methylene Blue ; Prosthodontics ; Recycling

No abstract available.
Cytogenetics*

No abstract available.
Cytogenetics*

The bond failure of resin teeth to denture base resin is one of the failure in prosthodontic treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bond strength of artificial resin teeth to the denture base resins. Specimens were made with heat curing acrylic resins (Vertex Rs, Lucitone 199) and artificial resin teeth (Tiger, Trubyte biotone, Endura, Orthosit, Trubyte bioform IPN) and the bond strength were measured with testing machine (Zwick, Germany) and the mode of bond failure were observed. The results were as follows; 1. The bond strength of Vertex Rs to artificial resin teeth was the highest in Trubyte biotone, and It was the lowest in Tiger and Trubyte bioform IPN 2. The bond strength of Lucitone 199 to artificial resin teeth were higher in Orthosit and Trubyte bioform IPN than in Tiger and Trubyte biotone. 3. The bond strength of Trubyte biotone to Vertex Rs was higher than to Lucitone 199 and that of the Trubyte bioform IPN to Lucitone 199 was higher than to Vertex Rs. 4. Nearly all bond failures of specimens occured cohesively within the resin teeth.
Acrylic Resins ; Denture Bases* ; Dentures* ; Hot Temperature ; Prosthodontics ; Tigers ; Tooth*

No abstract available.
Amniotic Fluid* ; Female ; Fetal Proteins* ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Pregnancy*

No abstract available.
Bacteria, Anaerobic*

PURPOSE: Epilepsy is generally defined as a chronic condition characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizure. It is still controversial whether the long-term antiepileptic drugs(AED) treatment will be necessary in children with first unprovoked seizure. Cognitive and behavioral side effects of AEDs are especially important in developing children. Therefore the rationale of AED treatment in the children with first unprovoked seizure depends upon the seizure recurrence rate and presence of risk factors related with seizure recurrence. We are going to evaluate the risk of seizure recurrence and risk factors after a first unprovoked seizure in children. METHODS: One hundred fifty eight patients presented with a first unprovoked seizure from July, 1994 to June, 1999 were prospectively followed by regular epilepsy clinic visit or telephone interview for a mean of 27 months. We analyzed overall recurrence risk and risk factors of seizure recurrence(EEG finding, etiology of seizure, seizure type, history of prior febrile convulsions, neurodevelopmental status prior to first seizure, presence of a Todd's paresis, family history of seizures, a seizure occuring while asleep, and duration of seizure) by Cox's proportional hazards model and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS: In 158 patients with first unprovoked seizure, 61 (39%) patients experienced subsequent seizure. The cumulative risk of seizure recurrence was 28.5, 37.6, and 42.3% at 6, 12, and 18 months. The median time to recurrence was 3 months, with 72% of recurrence occurring within 6 months, 92% within 1 year, and 100% within 2 years. On univariate analysis, risk factors for seizure recurrence included an etiology of seizure and abnormal EEG. In idiopathic cases, the risk factor was an EEG abnormality. CONCLUSION: Many of the children with a first unprovoked seizure will not have recurrences. The recurrence risk of a first unprovoked seizure in children have statistically correlated with the etiology of seizure(cryptogenic and symptomatic) and abnormal EEG. Children with an idiopathic first seizure and a normal EEG have a particularly favorable prognosis.
Ambulatory Care ; Child ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Paresis ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prospective Studies* ; Recurrence* ; Risk Factors ; Seizures* ; Seizures, Febrile

No abstract available.
Humans ; Liver Function Tests* ; Liver*