No abstract available.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluated the relation of familial history of alcoholism and plasma level of beta-endorphin, ethanol, beta-endorphin, cortisol and blood glucose were compared in 48 male alcoholics and 29 normal controls. METHODS: Subjects are divided into two groups by family history of alcoholism. Blood samples were obtained before and after 0.75mg/kg of ethanol consumption a 7th admission day. RESULTS: 1) The ratio of family history positive to negative of the patient group was 2 to 1. 2) The age at admission of positive family history group was younger than negative groups. 3) There was no significant difference in change of plasma ethanol level among three groups. 4) There was no significant difference in change of plasma beta-endorphin level among three group. 5) There was no significant difference in change of plasma cortisol level among three groups. 6) There was no significant difference in change of fasting blood sugar level between two patients groups.
Alcoholics ; Alcoholism* ; beta-Endorphin* ; Blood Glucose ; Ethanol ; Fasting ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Male ; Plasma

OBJECTIVE: Asymmetries in evoked potential P300 topography of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are still controversial. The purpose of this study was to examine the difference in P300 topography between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. METHOD: P300 was recorded from 16 schizophrenic, 15 bipolar manic, and 16 control subjects. All were right-handed. Subjects silently counted target stimuli(2.0kHz) among trains of standard stimuli(1.0 kHz). Averages were constructed from brain responses to target stimuli. RESULTS: 1) Schizophrenics displayed significantly smaller peak amplitude of P300 over Cz, Pz, T3 than controls. 2) Schizophrenics displayed significantly smaller peak amplitude of P300 over T3 than bipolar manics. 3) Schizophrenics displayed significantly smaller peak amplitude of P300 over T3 than their T4. 4) Schizophrenics displayed significantly delayed latency of P300 over T3 than bipolar manics. 5) Schizophrenics displayed significantly delayed latency of P300 over T3 than their T4. CONCLUSION: Left-sided P300 abnormality, especially left superior temporal gyrus, in schizophrenics, relative to bipolar manics and controls suggests that psychophysiological cause of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder is different and P300 asymmetry is specific to the psychophysiological cause of schizophrenia.
Bipolar Disorder* ; Brain ; Evoked Potentials ; Schizophrenia*

Immature myeloid cells, also known as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), include neutrophilic and monocytic myeloid cells, and are found in inflammatory loci and secondary lymphoid organs in mice with intestinal inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, and tumor tissues. However, the roles of MDSCs in IBD are not yet well understood, and there are controversies regarding their immunosuppressive functions in IBD. In addition, recent studies have suggested that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in intestinal epithelial cells, especially in Paneth cells, is closely associated with the induction of IBD. However, the ER stress in MDSCs accumulated in the inflamed tissues of IBD patients is not yet fully understood. In the current review, we discuss the presence of accumulated MDSCs in the intestines of IBD patients, and further speculate on their physiological roles in the inflammatory condition with interleukin 17-producing cells, including Th17 cells. In particular, we will discuss the divergent functions of MDSCs in ER stressed intestinal environments, including their pro-inflammatory or immunosuppressive roles, based on the consideration of unfolded protein responses initiated in intestinal epithelial cells by ER stress.
Animals ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* ; Interleukin-17 ; Interleukins ; Intestines ; Mice ; Myeloid Cells ; Neutrophils ; Paneth Cells ; Th17 Cells ; Unfolded Protein Response

Immature myeloid cells, also known as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), include neutrophilic and monocytic myeloid cells, and are found in inflammatory loci and secondary lymphoid organs in mice with intestinal inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, and tumor tissues. However, the roles of MDSCs in IBD are not yet well understood, and there are controversies regarding their immunosuppressive functions in IBD. In addition, recent studies have suggested that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in intestinal epithelial cells, especially in Paneth cells, is closely associated with the induction of IBD. However, the ER stress in MDSCs accumulated in the inflamed tissues of IBD patients is not yet fully understood. In the current review, we discuss the presence of accumulated MDSCs in the intestines of IBD patients, and further speculate on their physiological roles in the inflammatory condition with interleukin 17-producing cells, including Th17 cells. In particular, we will discuss the divergent functions of MDSCs in ER stressed intestinal environments, including their pro-inflammatory or immunosuppressive roles, based on the consideration of unfolded protein responses initiated in intestinal epithelial cells by ER stress.
Animals ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* ; Interleukin-17 ; Interleukins ; Intestines ; Mice ; Myeloid Cells ; Neutrophils ; Paneth Cells ; Th17 Cells ; Unfolded Protein Response

No abstract available.
Cellulitis* ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact*

No abstract available.
Bowen's Disease ; Foot

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to develop feasible and detailed infection control guidelines (ICG) and audit protocols for health care workers and auditors in postpartum care centers (PCC). METHODS: PCC ICG and audit protocols were developed in several steps: 1) review of previous ICG for PCCs; 2) establishment of frameworks for updating guidelines and audit protocols; 3) review of new ICG, regulations, etc.; 4) drafting of PCC ICG and audit protocols and revision based on feedback from the research committee; 5) Delphi survey to solicit opinions from infection control, infant care, and maternal care professionals as well as PCC health care workers; 6) re-revision after discussion with the research committee; and 7) finalization of PCC ICG and audit protocols. RESULTS: We developed ICG with 4 categories and 26 sub-categories, and internal and external audit protocols with 163 and 85 items, respectively. CONCLUSION: The ICG and audit protocols are valid and feasible; we recommend their utilization as auditing tools, baseline data for the development of national infection control policies, and as educational materials for PCC healthcare workers.
Checklist ; Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Care ; Infection Control* ; Postnatal Care* ; Postpartum Period* ; Social Control, Formal

Tufted hair follliculitis is a localized, inflammatory and exudative disease of the scalp characterized by a tufted appearance of the scalp hairs emerging from single follicular openings, and may result in permanent and irreversible scarring alopecia. We report two cases of tufted hair folliculitis in a 53-year-old woman and a 47-year-old man. They had several areas of scarring alopecia with multiple bundles of hairs emerging from single follicular orifices. Histopathologic findings were typical for tufted hair folliculitis. The patients were treated successively with oral antibiotics and with topical application of clindamycin.
Alopecia ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cicatrix ; Clindamycin ; Female ; Folliculitis* ; Hair* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Scalp

No abstract available.
Angiomyolipoma* ; Lymph Nodes*