Effects of Retinoic Acid on Replicative Senescence and Apoptosis of Normal Human Oral Keratinocytes

No abstract available.

A Proximal Conducting Technique of Sural Nerve

OBJECTIVE: The sural nerve is a sensory nerve in the lower extremity which is formed by the union of the medial sural cutaneous nerve of tibial nerve and the communicating branch of the common peroneal nerve. The objective of this study is to standardize the electrodiagnostic technique of proximal conduction of sural nerve and to investigate the usefulness of the technique in evaluation for the patients with peripheral neuropathy. METHOD: Fifty eight extremities in 29 normal adults without the clinical signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy were evaluated with sural nerve conduction study. The active recording electrode was placed over 14 cm proximal to the lateral malleolus, and the reference electrode was placed over 4cm distal to the active electrode. The antidromic evoked responses were recorded with stimulation at points 7, 14, 21 cm proximal to the recording electrode and directly over the sural nerve. RESULTS: The mean values of proximal conduction study of sural nerve in normal adults were 2.40 1.03 msec for peak latency, 11.55 +/-7.31 microvolt in amplitude with stimulation at 7 cm proximal to the recording electrode; 3.43 +/-0.78 msec for peak latency, 10.87 5.86 microvolt in amplitude with stimulation at 14 cm; 4.51 +/-0.83 msec for peak latency, 8.78+/- 4.10 microvolt in amplitude with stimulation at 21 cm. CONCLUSION: A method of proximal conduction study of sural nerve was introduced which could be used as a valuable technique for the evaluation of peripheral neuropathy.

Acute Motor Axonal Neuropathy Associated with Anti-GM1 Antibody: A case report

Guillain-Barre syndrme (GBS) has several subtypes that are divided by clinical, electro- physiological, and pathological findings. A novel form of GBS, that is termed acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN), is characterized by the selective involvement of motor fibers, and is associated with anti-GM1 antibodies. A 8-year-old male patient were developed ascending, symmetrical paralysis, and areflexia, but no sensory disturbance. Elevated titers of serum IgG anti-GM1 antibodies were detected. His thoracolumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed thickening of cauda equina and enhancement of anterior nerve roots of T12-L1 spinal level after Gd-DTPA infusion. Electrophysiological diagnosis was acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN). We report this case with review of the literature.

Physical Parameters of the Elderly

OBJECTIVE: To obtain the mean value of physical parameters of those over 65- years of age. METHODS: Physical parameters including body weight, height, chest circumference, length of upper limb and lower limb, hand power, and range of motion of cervical, thoracic, lumbosacral spines and other major joints were measured in two hundred fourteen elderly subjects. RESULTS: Subjects were divided into three groups according to age (group 1, 65~74 years; group 2, 75~84 years; group 3, above 85 years) and sex (male; female). Descriptive statistical analysis of data provided the following results. 1) Mean measurement in order of group 1-men, group 2-men, group 3-men followed by women of each group: Body weight (kg) - 60.2, 59.6, 54.9, 56.8, 51.6, 47.2; Standing height (cm) - 156.7, 160.8, 156.6, 151.2, 146.9, 142.2; Sitting height (cm) - 99.8, 100.8, 103.1, 100.9, 104.9, 97.0; Chest circumference (cm) - 91.5, 93.5, 91.4, 92.1, 89.5, 86.4; Upper limb length (cm) - 72.3, 72.5, 71.3, 67.1, 66.9, 65.4; Lower limb length (cm) - 82.3, 82.1, 81.4, 77.3, 76.1, 74.6. 2) The hand power of grasping, tip pinch, lateral pinch, palmar pinch showed a decreasing trend in older age group in both sexes. 3) The range of motion of cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral spine in group 1 had limitation of about 50% compared to normal range. 4) Of the major joints, limitation of motion or deformity was most common in the shoulder and knee joints. CONCLUSION: These data and knowledge of physical parameters of the elderly can aid in design of living environment and assistive devices for elderly.

Estimation of Stress Level in Mothers with Cerebral Palsy Children

PURPOSE: To estimate the stress level and to evaluate the psychiatric symptoms in mothers of cerebral palsy (CP) children according to the clinical type and severity. METHODS: Sixty two mothers of CP children and 51 mothers of normal children (control) completed the Daily stress inventory, Schedule of recent life experience, Questionnaire on resources and stress-Friedrich and Symptom checklist-90-revision. The data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: 1) Rather than the mothers of atonic CP, there were no significant differences in the stress level of every day life and events between mothers of CP children and control. 2) Mothers of CP children showed a higher level of stress related to children, and it was Mothers of statistically significant (p<0.05) quadriplegics and/or severe CP children showed the highest stress level. 3) Mothers of quadriplegic and diplegic types with a moderate disability showed the significantly (p<0.05) high scores in the categories of psychiatric symptoms of somatization, obsessive-compulsiveness, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobia and psychoticism, which may need therapeutic intervention. CONCLUSION: It seems to be very important to determine the level of stress and psychiatric symptoms in mothers of CP children for the comprehensive rehabilitation of CP children.