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The article focuses on a study that evaluate how social capital varies in an systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) sample according to demographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables. Topics discussed include the Adapted Social Capital Assessment Tool (A-SCAT), non-Medicaid insurance and social capital.

The object of this experimental study was to assess the effect of wrapping human amniotic membrane around a repaired ulnar nerve in a rabbit model of perineural adhesion. Ulnar nerves from 10 white New Zealand rabbits were exposed bilaterally, dissected and repaired. Human amniotic membrane was then wrapped around the repair site in one limb with no such wrap in the neurorrhaphy of the contralateral limb. Three months later, the same nerves were re-explored and removed using microsurgical external neurolysis. Perineural adhesion around the ulnar nerve was evaluated by blinded surgical dissection and scored using a visual 4-point qualitative scale. Extent and grade of fibrosis around repair sites were measured microscopically (×200) after Masson trichrome staining using measure of the depth of fibrosis and the grading criteria of adhesion. Quantitative morphometric analysis was also performed under light microscopy (×200) with the aid of a digital counter and virtual slide imaging software (ScanScope T2, Vista, CA, USA). Human amniotic membrane wrapped nerves showed significantly less perineural adhesion and fibrosis than controls (P < 0.05). No nerve healing problems were encountered. This study suggests that human amniotic membrane application can reduce fibrosis and adhesion around neurorrhaphy sites in this animal model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the trends of initial CD4+ T-cell counts (CD4+) at HIV diagnoses and to identify the factors influencing the annual changes of CD4+ cell counts in Korea during 1988-2006. As a retrospective study, 2613 individuals (⩾15 years at diagnosis, their CD4+ counts were measured within six months) were selected from all 4580 HIV-infected Koreans diagnosed between 1985 and 2006. The mean CD4+ cell counts in all the selected individuals was 312 cells/mm3, and this value decreased significantly by 20.3 cells/mm3/year over the 19 year study period. Men had lower CD4+ cell count than women by 22.7 cells/mm3, and age at HIV diagnosis had an inverse relationship with CD4+ cell counts of 23.5 cells/mm3 lower per 10 years advancing age. Cases diagnosed in hospitals showed CD4+ cell count levels 33.9 cells/mm3 lower than public institutions by 33.9 cells/mm3. Gender and age seemed to affect trends of CD4+ count; however the institution where cases were diagnosed had the strongest effect on decreasing CD4+ cell counts. The results suggest that HIV diagnoses in recent years are being made in later stages of HIV infection and that it is imperative to develop more efficient programmes for early HIV diagnosis to prevent transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has proved to be an excellent tool in diagnosing injuries of the cruciate ligaments and menisci. However, multiple planes and sometimes optimal oblique or double-oblique scan planes are needed due to the variability in the positioning of important structures, which means there is a lower throughput and longer scanning time. Purpose: To compare the performance of a 1-mm-thickness fast spin-echo (FSE) proton-density-weighted (PDW) MR imaging technique with multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) in diagnosing tears of the menisci and cruciate ligaments with that of conventional MR imaging. Material and Methods: Twenty-five consecutive patients underwent preoperative conventional and 1-mm-thickness FSE PDW MR imaging with subsequent knee arthroscopic surgery. Two musculoskeletal radiologists evaluated the status of the cruciate ligaments and menisci using two sets of MR images (method A: conventional images including seven sequences, taking 26 min; method B: 1-mm-thickness FSE PDW images with MPR, taking 7 min 20 s). The diagnostic efficacies of both methods for tears of the cruciate ligament and menisci were calculated and compared. Results: Arthroscopic surgery revealed 10 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, one posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tear, and 26 meniscal tears. The diagnostic values of both methods were 100% for a cruciate ligament tear. The diagnostic values (sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value) for meniscal tears were 90%, 100%, 96%, 100%, and 94% for method A, and 95%, 100%, 98%, 100%, and 97% for method B, respectively. There were no significant differences in the diagnostic values between methods A and B. Conclusion: 1-mm-slice-thickness FSE PDW imaging with MPR showed comparable performance in diagnosing tears of the cruciate ligaments and menisci to conventional sequences but the scan time was much shorter. Therefore, this technique (method B) might improve the throughput of a 3T MR imaging system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of microstructural variables, including secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS), the size of primary α phase, the aspect ratio of eutectic Si particle and the thickness of eutectic wall structure, on tensile behaviour of A356 cast aluminium alloy, were quantitatively identified using linear regression analysis method. For systematic microstructural control of A356 specimen, directional solidification method was used with different solidification rates of 5, 25, 50 and 100 μm s-1 respectively. The linear regression analysis suggests that each microstructural variable affects tensile strength and tensile elongation of A356 cast aluminium alloy in a similar fashion. The change in tensile behaviour with varying microstructural variables in A356 cast aluminium alloy is discussed based on fractographic and micrographic observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corrosion behaviour of friction stir welded AZ31B-H24 and -T4 Mg alloys in 3·5%NaCl solution was examined based on potentiodynamic test and constant immersion test results. For friction stir welded AZ31B-H24 specimens, the corrosion potential was higher compared with as received (i.e. parent) specimens, while the trend was reversed for AZ31B-T4 specimens. The present corrosion test results appear to be closely related to the grain size of the friction stir welded specimens. The effects of prior T4 heat treatment, and subsequent microstructural evolution, with friction stir welding on the corrosion behaviour is discussed based on potentiodynamic tests, constant immersion tests and micrographic observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the antitumoral effects of an intra‐arterial injection of 3‐bromopyruvate (3‐BrPA) on liver VX2 tumor in rabbits.Material and Methods: Twenty rabbits with surgically implanted liver VX2 tumors were used. The rabbits were divided into three groups: a control, a saline, and a 3‐BrPA group. Four rabbits were not treated at all, and they served as the control group. The saline group (n = 6) received only intra‐arterial saline injection. The 3‐BrPA group (n = 10) received an intra‐arterial injection of 3‐bromopyruvate through the hepatic artery. The delivered amounts of 3‐bromopyruvate were as follows: 25 ml of 0.5 mM in six rabbits, 25 ml of 1.0 mM in two rabbits, and 25 ml of 2.0 mM in two rabbits. Four days after intra‐arterial injection, the rabbits were sacrificed and histopathologic analysis of the explanted livers was performed with comparison of the tumor necrosis ratio (a percentage of the necrotic area versus the entire tumorous area) in each group.Results: The mean tumor necrosis ratio was 12.5±4.2%, 44.8±24.7%, and 49.4±14.3% in the control, saline, and 3‐BrPA groups, respectively. Between the control and the saline group, and between the control and the 3‐BrPA group the mean tumor necrosis ratio appeared to be significantly different (P<0.05). However, there was no statistical difference in the mean tumor necrosis ratio between the saline and the 3‐BrPA group (P = 0.416).Conclusion: A single session of intra‐arterial injection of 3‐BrPA showed no better results in terms of tumor necrosis than that of saline injection in a rabbit VX2 tumor model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe the MR findings of primary central nervous system T-cell lymphoma (T-PCNSL) in immunocompetent patients.Material and Methods: Seven patients with pathologically proven T-PCNSL were included in our study. The number, location, shape, enhancement pattern, and signal intensity of the tumors were determined. Diffusion-weighted images (DWI) and perfusion-weighted images (PWI) were obtained in four and two patients, respectively. Apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were generated, and regions of interest were defined in each lesion.Results: Four patients with T-PCNSL had a single mass, while the others had multiple lesions (four, three, and two lesions, respectively). All seven cases of T-PCNSL had a supratentorial location: 12 in the subcortical area and 1 in the thalamus. No leptomeningeal involvement was noted. All tumors showed iso- to low T1 and iso- to slightly high T2 signal intensity to the adjacent gray matter. Rim enhancement was seen in 5 of the 7 patients (71.4%), while heterogeneous and homogeneous enhancement was seen in each of two. On DWI and ADC maps, the enhancing lesions showed slight hyperintensity in three patients (mean ADC ratio, 0.92 +/- 0.06) and iso-intensity in the other (ADC ratio, 1.02 +/- 0.05). Cystic areas consistent with necrosis were noted in three patients. High-signal intensity area in the cortex was noted on T1-weighted images in three patients, suggesting hemorrhage. In two patients, the same signal intensity area was noted within the mass. The two masses on the relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) map demonstrated either similar or slightly higher signal intensity than that of the contralateral white matter. The rCBV ratios of these two masses were 1.27 +/- 0.16 and 1.35 +/- 0.2, respectively.Conclusion: T-PCNSLs show a predilection for a subcortical location, a relatively high incidence of cortical or intratumoral hemorrhage, rim enhancement, or cystic-areas consistent with necrosis on magnetic resonance imaging. The lower rCBV ratio of the tumor might be helpful in differentiating T-PCNSL from other brain tumors such as high-grade glioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of the FcγRIIa and FcγRIIIa polymorphisms and their association with clinical manifestations in Korean lupus patients. Three hundred SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus) patients (48 male, 252 female) meeting 1982 ACR criteria and 197 Korean disease-free controls were enrolled. Genotyping for FcγRIIa 131 R/H and FcγRIIIa 176 F/V was performed by PCR of genomic DNA using allele-specific primers and the FcγRIIIa genotype was confirmed by direct sequencing of PCR product in some cases. There was significant skewing in the distribution of the three FcγRIIa genotypes between the SLE and the controls (P=0.002 for R/R131 vs R/H131 and H/H131, OR 2.5 (95% CI 1.4–4.5), but not in FcγRIIIa genotypes. FcγRIIa-R allele was a significant predictor of lupus nephritis, as compared with SLE patients without nephritis (P=0.034 for R131 vs H131, OR 1.4 (95% CI 1.03–1.9)), but proliferative nephritis (WHO class III and IV) was less common in patients with FcγRIIa-R/R131 and in FcγRIIa-R allele. In 300 SLE patients, high binding allele combination H131/V176 was less common in SLE with nephritis than in SLE without nephritis. Hemolytic anemia was less common in R131/F176 allele combination among four FcγRIIa/FcγRIIIa allelic combinations. Male SLE patients showed a higher frequency of renal involvement, serositis, thrombocytopenia, malar rash and discoid rash than female SLE, and male SLE had a higher frequency of FcγRIIa-R/R131 or R131-allele than male controls, but FcγRIIa or FcγRIIIa genotypes had no association with renal involvement in male SLE patients. FcγRIIa-H/H131 showed a higher frequency of hemolytic anemia and less pulmonary complications in male SLE. Female SLE patients showed higher frequency of any hematologic abnormality, lymphopenia, anti-cardiolipin antibody (+) and anti-Ro antibody (+) than male SLE, and had earlier onset of first symptoms. There was no skewing in FcγRIIa or FcγRIIIa genotypes between female SLE and female controls, but FcγRIIa-R131 allele showed skewing between female SLE with nephritis and female SLE without nephritis. The age at onset of thrombocytopenia was earlier in FcγRIIa-R/R131 among three FcγRIIa genotypes, and serositis in FcγRIIIa-F/F176 among three FcγRIIIa genotypes. FcγRIIa-R131 homozygote was a major predisposing factor to the development of SLE and FcγRIIa-R131 homozygote and R131 allele were a predisposing factor, and H131/V176 was a protective allele combination in lupus nephritis. In contrast to other ethnic patients, in our study cohort, clinical manifestation was different between male and female, and FcγRIIa and FcγRIIIa showed somewhat different clinical associations between the genders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better understand a role of the delta32 allele of the CCR5 gene in HIV-1 transmission and disease progression, we determined the CCR5 genotypes within several groups of Koreans. Amplification of DNA from each subject was achieved with polymerase chain reaction, using the CCR5 specific primer pair, which flanks the 32 bp deletion. The 1.2 kb coding sequences of CCR5 were examined to see the possible effects of CCR5 polymorphism. All of the 339 healthy, HIV-uninfected individuals had no mutation in the CCR5 gene. All of the 115 HIV-1-infected patients including 11 long-term non-progressors (LTNPs) and 18 discordant spouses were also wild homozygotes. No variation in the 1.2kb CCR5 coding sequence was found in 5 LTNPs and 5 discordant spouses. In conclusion, the 32 bp deletion mutant is rarely present in Koreans. Our data suggest that factors other than the CCR5 coding sequences may also play a role in the resistance to HIV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]