BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis(AD) exibit multiple immune akno malities including elevated serum IgE levels and impaired cell mediated immunity, but basic immunology defect is largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immnologic changes after treatment with Cyclosporin A(CsA) in AD patients. MEHTODS: Eight patients of severe AD were treated with CsA(4mg/kg body weight per day) for 5 weeks, and evaluated clinical and immunological parameters before aid after treatment. RESULTS: Peripheral blood eosinophil counts were significantly decreased after treatment(P<0.05), and serum IgE level was decressed but not significantly. In immediate hypersensitivity reaction by pinprick test, antigen score was.significantly decreased, and in the evaiuation of cell mediated immunity to recall antigens, total induration score was significantly increased(p<0.05). The number of helper T cell and helper/suppressor 7 cell ratio in peripheral blood, and the niimber of helper T and suppressor T cell in skin lesion were both significantly decreased after treatment(P<0.05). Clinical state after treatrnent was good in all of patients. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that CsA act on peripheral blood osinophil and immediate and delayed hypersensitivity reaction as well as helper T-cells in peripheral blood and skin lesion, and it may by useful in the treatrnent of severe AD.
Allergy and Immunology ; Body Weight ; Cyclosporine* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunoglobulin E ; Skin ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer

PURPOSE: This study investigated the preemptive analgesic effects of Morphine and Ketorolac on postoperative pain, cortisol, O2 saturation and heart rate for the first 24 hr after abdominal surgery. METHODS: Data collection was performed from April 1 to September 30, 2006. Forty patients undergoing a gastrectomy under general anesthesia were randomly allocated to the experimental or control group. The experimental group (20 patients) was administered Morphine and Ketorolac approximately 1 hr prior to skin incision, but the control group (20 patients) was administered Morphine and Ketorolac at peritoneum closure through a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. Postoperative pain, blood pressure, heart rate, cortisol, O2 saturation, frequency of the PCA button pressed and doses of additional analgesics were observed through post operative 24 hr. Collected data was analyzed using t-test, chi-square test, repeated measures ANOVA, and Bonferroni methods. RESULTS: Postoperative pain, cortisol, the frequency of PCA button pressed, and dose of additional analgesics of the experimental group were significantly lower than the control group. There were no statistical differences in blood pressure, heart rate and O2 saturation between the experimental group and control group. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that administration of morphine and ketorolac at 1 hr prior to skin incision resulted in decreasing postoperative pain, but it didn't affect blood pressure, heart rate or O2 saturation for 24 hr after abdominal surgery.
Aged ; Analgesics/*administration & dosage ; Blood Pressure ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone/analysis ; Injections, Intravenous ; Ketorolac/*administration & dosage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Morphine/*administration & dosage ; Oximetry ; Pain Measurement ; Pain, Postoperative/*prevention & control

Ataxia is one of the most serious neurological symptoms in elderly The clarification of the related anatomical structures are necessary for the understanding of pathophysiologic mechanisms of ataxia. We have recently experienced a case of thalamic infarct in the territory of thalamogeniculate artery. The localization of lesion was based on CT and MR imaging. At first time, right hemiparesis and ataxia were prominent. Hemiparesis was transient but ataxia had been persistent for several months. It has been suspected that thalamus could be the part of neural circuits in balancing. Our case support this suggestion clinically. Based on clinical observations, a plausible extrapolation can be made to thalamic ataxia. It maybe related with dysfunction of dentatorubrothalamic and corticopontine pathway. Thus our case led us to conclude that thalamus could be engaged in balance control of human body.
Aged* ; Arteries ; Ataxia* ; Human Body ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Paresis ; Thalamus

No abstract available.
Thoracic Wall* ; Thorax*

We report a case of amelanotic melanoma(AMM) in a 53-year-old man who presented a single, 1.5×1.5cm sized, well-demarcated, bright red nodule with erosion on the right heel for 9 months. Histopathologic findings showed irregular junctional activity in the epidermal-dermal junction and alveolar formation in the dermis. The majority of the tumor cells were seen as bizarre and giant cell of epithelioid type with atypical mitotic figure. We could not find melanin pigment in H & E stain.
Dermis ; Giant Cells ; Heel ; Humans ; Melanins ; Melanoma, Amelanotic* ; Middle Aged

The antiarrhythmic effect of Mexiletine was evaluated in five patients with recurrent ventricular tachycardia and in twelve patients with frequent premature ventricular contractions. Electrophysiologic study was performed on the the patients with recurrent ventricular tachycardia before and after the administration of Mexiletin(600-800mg/day). The antiarrhythmic effects of Mexiletine in the patients with frequent premature ventricular contraction was assessed by ambulatory electrocardiography. The results were as follows: 1) In all of the five patients with recurrent ventricular tachycardia, sustained ventricular tachycardia was induced by programmed ventricular stimulation. However, on repeated electrophysiologic study performed while receiving Mexiletine, ventricular tachycardia was not induced in four patients and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia was induced in one patients. 2) The number of premature ventricular contraction was decreased markedly in seven patients(58.3%) with frequent premature ventricular contractions. 3) Minimal side effects, mild indigestion and tremor, were recorded in 3 cases(23%) while receiving Mexiletine 600 mg/day. The higher dose was associated with more frequent and severe side effects.
Dyspepsia ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Humans ; Mexiletine* ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Tremor ; Ventricular Premature Complexes

Type V hyperlipoproteinemia result from the accumulation of trglyceride(TG)-rich lipoproteins, very low density lipoprotein(VLDL), and chylomicrons. A 53-year old woman has showed asmptomatic, yellowish patches on tie palms and eyelids and papules on the knees with various types of xanthoma including xanthelasma palpebraum, xanthoma striatum palmare, anrl nonspecific papular xanthoma. The blood chemistry revealed a marked elevation of cholesterol and TG, and lipoprotein electrophoresis showed fasting chylomicronemia, prep-b and b-band, On histologic studies, typical foam cells were shown.
Chemistry ; Cholesterol ; Chylomicrons ; Electrophoresis ; Eyelids ; Fasting ; Female ; Foam Cells ; Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type V* ; Knee ; Lipoproteins ; Middle Aged ; Xanthomatosis

No abstract available.
Chest Pain* ; Thorax*

A femoral bone tumor causing a valgus deformity by affecting the growth plate was found. Long intramedullary diaphyseal tumor was separated by septum at the metapysis. Low grade chondrosarcoma was confirmed diagnosed by pathologists. Progressive limb deformity can be a sign of bone tumor in growing period.
Chondrosarcoma* ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Extremities* ; Growth Plate

No abstract available.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Autografts* ; Tendons* ; Transplants*