BACKGROUND: Prurigo nodularis(PN) is a rare recalcitrant pruritic disease. Its pathophysiology is still debatable and a matter of speculation. And, there has been no large case study in Korea. OBJECTIVE: We tried to evaluate the epidemiologic aspects in Korea, and the clinicopathologic correlates of PN. METHODS: 51 patients were included in this study. The patients were divided into atopic and nonatopic groups. All the available clinical and laboratory data including total serum IgE were collected and analyzed. 48 slides were stained in hematoxylin-eosin. For immunophenotyping of cellular infiltrate and identification of neural tissue, 10 cases of them were stained immunohistochemically. They were examined under light microscope. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 2.4:1. The age was varied from 3 to 64 years, averaging 36.6 years. The age of onset was varied from 2 to 64 years with two peaks in second and fifth decades. The site of predilection were the extremities (96%) and less commonly the trunk (49%). The underlying diseases were present in 23.5% of total patients. The atopic group has relatively younger age and higher total serum IgE level than non-atopic group. There was no significant difference in the recorded pathologic and immunohistopatholgic characteristics between two groups except the deep inflammatory infiltrate and dyskeratosis. There was prominent neural hyperplasia associated with vascular proliferation and inflammatory cellular infiltrate. CONCLUSIONS: There were some epidemiologic differences from western patients. There were about twice as more male patients. Age of onset had some predilections. Atopic and non-atopic groups were different in clinical and some pathologic variables. The former was younger, had higher total serum IgE, and histopathologically, showed more pronounced neural hyperplasia.
Age of Onset ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunophenotyping ; Korea ; Male ; Prurigo*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Rhabdomyosarcoma*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcome and reliability of mixed bone in the process of posterior spinal fusion for the treatment of thoracolumbar spine fractures. In order to eliminate donor site morbidity which is linked to the use of autogenous bone graft, a new surgical procedure mixing autogenous bone chips that were obtained from local decortication of the posterior element of the spine with highly purified calf bone (Lubboc) is studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We followed up 9 patients who had undergone autogenous bone graft and 9 patients who had undergone mixed bone graft for more than 12 months out of 33 patients who underwent posterior spinal fusion for thoracolumbar spine fractures between July 1993 and July 1997. RESULTS: Radiographic results indicated solid bony union in 17 of 18 cases regardless of the graft materials. Based on each follow-up evaluation, it was found that the increase in kyphotic angle was related to elapsed time rather than to the type of graft materials. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that the new surgical method of bone graft with highly purified calf bone can be a reliable alternative for achieving stable posterior spinal fusion as long as bone chips large enough to fill the interlamina space can be obtained.
Follow-Up Studies ; Heterografts* ; Humans ; Spinal Fusion* ; Spine* ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants*

78 cases of ankle fracture are experienced and especially 25 cases of supination-outward rotation injuries treated during the period from January 1959 to October 1970 were analyed. 1) 17 cases of male and 8 cases of female, and 11 caces in right side and remaider in left side. 2) According to the Lauge-Hansens classification, 5 cases in type II, and 20 cases in type IV. 3) Conservative treatment was given in 8 cases and open reduction in 17 cases. 4) A comparison has been made between functional results treated by conservative treatment and open reduction; satisfactory results were obtained in 3 cases of type II and I case of type IV by conservative treatment. I case of type II and 14 cases of type IV by open reduction. 5) Time of complete healing by bony union were 7. 8 weeks in conservative treatment and 9. 3 weeks in open reduction. 6) Wound infection, necrosis of wound edge and pseudoarthrosis were noted as post-operative complications.
Ankle Fractures ; Ankle ; Classification ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Necrosis ; Pseudarthrosis ; Wound Infection ; Wounds and Injuries

6 cases of idopathic asceptic necrosis of femoral head were experienced at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. Age distribution ranged from 19 to 58 years and the ratio of sex was 3:3. Two of them had bilateral involvement of necrosis of femoral head. Two of them were primarily treated by means of arthrotomy, joint debridement and drilling of the necrotic area. Symptoms only temporarily relieved and required further surgical procedure. As a whole, arthrodesis in 2, cup arthroplasty in 1, Austin-Moor hip prosthesis in 2 and total hip prosthesis, McKee-Farrar type, in 1 case were performed. Four of the mobile operation of the hip restored satisfactory range of hip motions despite the types of surgery.
Age Distribution ; Arthrodesis ; Arthroplasty ; Debridement ; Head ; Hip ; Hip Prosthesis ; Joints ; Necrosis ; Orthopedics

The patient was a 41-year-old healthy man, who developed a tender, cord-like serpiginous mass just proximal to the coronal sulcus for two weeks. He was a sexually active, non-promiscuous, married man. We had taken a biopsy, and noticed the subsiding of the lesion without further treatment. Nonvenereal sclerosing lymphangitis of the penis is a rare self-limiting peculiar disorder involving the lymphatics of the penile sulcus. Clinically, it presents as a cord-like nodular penile lesion with characteristic cartilaginous firmness. Histologically, it is described as hypertrophy and sclerosis of the lymphatic vessel walls with mild inflammatory cellular infiltration, and occasional obstruction of the lymphatic vessel. But, because such features including sclerosis varies according to the time when the biopsy was taken, they are not attributable to all cases. Our case shows the same clinical and pathological features of ‘benign transient lymphangiectasis’. Except for the painful cases, no specific treatments are usually warranted.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Lymphangitis* ; Lymphatic Vessels ; Male ; Penis* ; Sclerosis ; von Willebrand Factor

No abstract available.
Korea*

The purpose of this study was to compare muscle activity of the lower limb during treadmill running under five different gradient conditions (level, left and right inclines, downward and upward). All inclines were of 14% grade and tilted toward the left, the right, downward and upward directions of the runner. Twelve young healthy males ran at 2.8 m/s. Electromyographic activities of the following seven muscles-gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, tibialis anterior, medial gastrocnemius, and solues-were measured using bipolar surface electrodes during treadmill running under five different conditions. Results showed that left and right inclined surfaces had only little influence on muscular activity. However, for all of the muscles measured, the activity of the lower-positioned leg was greater than that of the higher-positioned leg. During the upward incline trial, all the muscles showed greater activity than for the other trials. The downward slope tended to give the anterior muscles greater activity, and the posterior muscles less activity, compared to level running.

No abstract available.