PURPOSE: Bisphosphonates are widely used for the management steroid-induced osteoporosis (SIO) in children. With the increasing use of bisphosphonates, there have been reports of abnormal radiological findings in the growing skeleton. Therefore, their use in pediatric patients remains controversial. The present study was conducted to evaluate the long-term follow-up radiographic features, particularly metaphyseal sclerotic lines, in children who receive pamidronate therapy for nephropathy. METHODS: Twenty-four children with nephropathy treated with oral calcium and pamidronate (mean duration, 9 months; dose, 100 mg daily), were evaluated retrospectively. All patients had SIO secondary to chronic glucocorticoid therapy for treating nephropathy. Long bone radiographic imaging was performed before treatment with pamidronate, and at follow-up, several years later. Physeal growth rates were estimated by measuring the distance that the sclerotic lines moved on the radiographs during the corresponding time intervals. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 138 months. Long bone radiographs showed well-defined sclerotic lines at the metaphyseal ends, progressively moving from the physeal plate to the diaphysis, in all patients. The mean rate of movement of the sclerotic line was 6.21 mm per year. In 12 patients, the lines disappeared. The mean rate of growth in height was 7.33 cm per year. CONCLUSIONS: Results of long-term follow-up suggest that the metaphyseal sclerotic lines associated with pamidronate treatment tend to disappear without affecting overall skeletal growth. Bisphosphonate treatment for SIO in children with nephropathy seems to be safe, although further studies in larger number of patients are needed.
Calcium ; Child* ; Diaphyses ; Diphosphonates ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Osteoporosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Skeleton

Microalbuminuria is a marker of generalized endothelial dysfunction resulting from arterial stiffness or insulin resistance, and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is a good measure of arterial stiffness. We aimed to investigate whether elevated baPWV is independently associated with microalbuminuria. This study included 1,648 individuals aged over 40 who participated in the baseline Multi-Rural Cohort Study conducted in Korean rural communities between 2005 and 2006. Participants were classified into less than 30 mg/g as normoalbuminuria or 30-300 mg/g as microalbuminuriausing urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR). The median and Q1-Q3 baPWV values were significantly higher in the microalbuminuric group both in men (1,538, 1,370-1,777 cm/s vs. 1,776, 1,552-2,027 cm/s, P < 0.001) and women (1,461, 1,271-1,687 cm/s vs. 1,645, 1,473-1,915 cm/s, P < 0.001). BaPWV was independently associated with microalbuminuria in both genders after adjusting for pulse rate; fasting blood glucose; triglyceride; homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA(IR)) and, history of hypertension and diabetes. Fasting blood sugar and HOMA(IR) were judged as having nothing to do with multicolinearity (r = 0.532, P < 0.001). Elevated baPWV was independently associated with microalbuminuria regardless of insulin resistance among rural subjects over 40 yr.
Adult ; Aged ; Albuminuria/*diagnosis/etiology/metabolism ; Ankle Brachial Index ; Ankle Joint/*physiopathology ; Blood Chemical Analysis ; Blood Glucose/analysis ; Brachial Artery/*physiopathology ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications/diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension/complications/diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Pulse Wave Analysis ; Risk Factors ; *Rural Population ; Serum Albumin/analysis ; Triglycerides/blood ; Vascular Stiffness

Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is a rare variant of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A 26-year-old female presented a hepatic mass and mild elevation of liver enzymes. Viral markers were negative, and levels of tumor markers were normal. Radiologically, the mass was well demarcated with central dot-like calcification and hypervascularity. Under the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, right lobectomy was performed. The tumor was grayish yellow with central fibrosis and focal hemorrhage and invaded a septal bile duct. Non-neoplastic liver was unremarkable. Microscopically, the tumor consisted of large polygonal cells in sheets, cords, and pseudoglands that were interwound by dense collagenous stroma. Tumor cells had abundant deeply eosinophilic cytoplasm and large nuclei with prominent nucleoli. Intracellular bile pigments and pale bodies were present. Tumor cells were diffusely immunostained for cytokeratin 7 (CK7), but not for cytokeratin 20 (CK20). Strong expression of CK7 in the present case suggests dual differentiation of FLC.
Adult ; Bile Ducts ; Bile Pigments ; Biomarkers ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Collagen ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Keratin-20 ; Keratin-7* ; Keratins* ; Liver ; Biomarkers, Tumor

PURPOSE: This study tries to identify experience of verbal abuse, emotional response, and ways to deal with verbal abuse against nurses in hospitals. METHODS: This study was a descriptive research and conducted from April to July 2011. One hundred and seventeen nurses with over one-year experience in general wards were selected and evaluated. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, independent t-tests, and one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: The nurses' experience rate of verbal abuse during the entire period of work in hospitals was 98.3%. The majority of the nurses were verbally abused by patients (70.9%), followed by patients' relatives (65.8%), physicians (61.5%), and coworkers (58.1%). Overall negative emotional response score of nurses after verbal abuse was 38.82+/-8.28. Ways to deal with verbal abuse were as follows: suppression was 74.4%, complaining of an injustice to close people, 67.5%, and ignoring, 43.6%. CONCLUSION: Nurses have significantly been exposed to verbal abuse while working in hospitals. Therefore, hospital managers and nurse managers are required to inform other staff and visitors in hospitals the real condition of verbal abuse against nurses and provide a safe work environment by developing the report and disposal system of verbal abuse.
Humans ; Nurse Administrators ; Patients' Rooms

Rice body formation in a joint or bursa is a rare condition, and is usually associated with rheumatoid arthritis or tuberculous arthritis. Here we describe a case of multiple rice body formation in a shoulder joint and in adjacent bursae, which was confirmed to be due to septic arthritis by Candida species. To the best of our knowledge, rice body formation in Candida septic arthritis in an immune-competent patient has not been previously reported.
Aged ; Arthritis, Infectious/*microbiology/radiography ; Bursa, Synovial/*microbiology/radiography ; Candida/isolation & purification ; Candidiasis/*microbiology/radiography ; Foreign Bodies/*etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Shoulder Joint/*microbiology/radiography

Phosphodiesterase (PDE) 4 inhibitors have been shown to induce the cAMP-mediated signaling pathway by inhibiting cAMP hydrolysis. This study investigated the effect of a PDE4 inhibitor on the expression of the inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER), which is an endogenous inhibitor of CRE- mediated transcription, in osteoblastic cells. RT-PCR analysis revealed that rolipram, a PDE4 inhibitor, stimulates the ICER mRNA in a dose dependent manner. The induction of ICER mRNA expression by rolipram was suppressed by the inhibitors of protein kinase A (PKA) and p38 MAPK, suggesting the involvement of PKA and p38 MAPK activation in ICER expression by rolipram. It was previously shown that rolipram induced the expression of TNF-related activation-induced cytokine (TRANCE, also known as RANKL, ODF, or OPGL) in osteoblasts. This paper provides evidences that a transcriptional repressor like ICER might modulate TRANCE mRNA expression by rolipram in osteoblasts.
3', 5'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterase/*antagonists & inhibitors ; Animals ; Animals, Outbred Strains ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases/metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression/drug effects ; Mice ; Osteoblasts/*drug effects/metabolism ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors/*pharmacology ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Rolipram/*pharmacology ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the optimal loading conditions for pure intrusion of the six maxillary anterior teeth with miniscrews according to alveolar bone loss. METHODS: A three-dimensional finite element model was created for a segment of the six anterior teeth, and the positions of the miniscrews and hooks were varied after setting the alveolar bone loss to 0, 2, or 4 mm. Under 100 g of intrusive force, initial displacement of the individual teeth in three directions and the degree of labial tilting were measured. RESULTS: The degree of labial tilting increased with reduced alveolar bone height under the same load. When a miniscrew was inserted between the two central incisors, the amounts of medial-lateral and anterior-posterior displacement of the central incisor were significantly greater than in the other conditions. When the miniscrews were inserted distally to the canines and an intrusion force was applied distal to the lateral incisors, the degree of labial tilting and the amounts of displacement of the six anterior teeth were the lowest, and the maximum von Mises stress was distributed evenly across all the teeth, regardless of the bone loss. CONCLUSIONS: Initial tooth displacement similar to pure intrusion of the six maxillary anterior teeth was induced when miniscrews were inserted distal to the maxillary canines and an intrusion force was applied distal to the lateral incisors. In this condition, the maximum von Mises stresses were relatively evenly distributed across all the teeth, regardless of the bone loss.
Alveolar Bone Loss* ; Finite Element Analysis* ; Incisor ; Tooth*

Hypertrophic lichen planus is the most pruritic variant of lichen planus, which is characterized by verrucous plaques with variable amounts of scales on the lower extremities, especially the shins. Annular atrophic lichen planus is the most unusual variant of lichen planus, resulting from the combination of both annular and atrophic features in the same lesions. The active border of the lesion shows the typical histopathologic findings of lichen planus, whereas its atrophic center exhibits histopathologic features of regression. A 29-year-old man presented with intermittently pruritic, multiple plaques and papules on the right thigh for 3 months. At first, small, polygonal papules and verrucous plaques developed above the right knee. In a short time, atrophic and hyperpigmented macules with raised and annular borders appeared along the line of Blascho. Histopathologic examination of verrucous plaque and annular atrophic macule revealed hypertrophic and annular atrophic lichen planus, respectively. We, herein, report an unusual case of annular atrophic lichen planus associated with hypertrophic lichen planus along the line of Blascho.
Adult ; Humans ; Knee ; Lichen Planus* ; Lichens* ; Lower Extremity ; Thigh ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: Marked derangements in acid-base status are frequently seen during orthotopic liver transplantaton. To prevent the progression of metabolic acidosis, treatment with sodium bicarbonate has been recommended. However, sodium bicarbonate may exacerbate intracellular acidosis, increase plasma lactate, contribute to hypernatremia. The value of giving bicarbonate has been questioned. Accordingly, we reviewed the intraoperative the acid-base status of patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplatation. METHODS: We reviewed ten patients showed severe metabolic acidosis (7.2 < pH < 7.30 and base deficit (BD) > or = 10). Despite of BD > or = 10, sodium bicarbonate was not given to all. Intraoperative pH and BD were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: At the anhepatic and immediate post-reperfusion periods, the pH was decreased (P < 0.05) and BD was increased (P < 0.05), but both were normalized at the end of surgery. The mean blood pressure transiently decreased at the immediate post-reperfusion periods (P < 0.05), but that was acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that a severe metabolic acidosis is tolerated by the patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation without administration of sodium bicarbonate.
Acidosis ; Blood Pressure ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hypernatremia ; Lactic Acid ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Plasma ; Retrospective Studies ; Sodium Bicarbonate* ; Sodium*

BACKGROUND: Marked derangements in acid-base status are frequently seen during orthotopic liver transplantaton. To prevent the progression of metabolic acidosis, treatment with sodium bicarbonate has been recommended. However, sodium bicarbonate may exacerbate intracellular acidosis, increase plasma lactate, contribute to hypernatremia. The value of giving bicarbonate has been questioned. Accordingly, we reviewed the intraoperative the acid-base status of patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplatation. METHODS: We reviewed ten patients showed severe metabolic acidosis (7.2 < pH < 7.30 and base deficit (BD) > or = 10). Despite of BD > or = 10, sodium bicarbonate was not given to all. Intraoperative pH and BD were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: At the anhepatic and immediate post-reperfusion periods, the pH was decreased (P < 0.05) and BD was increased (P < 0.05), but both were normalized at the end of surgery. The mean blood pressure transiently decreased at the immediate post-reperfusion periods (P < 0.05), but that was acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that a severe metabolic acidosis is tolerated by the patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation without administration of sodium bicarbonate.
Acidosis ; Blood Pressure ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hypernatremia ; Lactic Acid ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Plasma ; Retrospective Studies ; Sodium Bicarbonate* ; Sodium*