No abstract available.
Atrophy ; Pityriasis* ; Tinea Versicolor*

Circumscribed palmar or plantar hypokeratosis is a rare dermatosis, and it consists of asymptomatic erythematous, well-circumscribed and depressed patch with scaly borders on the palm or sole. It usually affects middle-aged or elderly women. Histopathologically, it has a sharp stair between the normal and involved skin, and a demarcated area with an abrupt decrease in the horny layer thickness. We report herein a case of circumscribed palmar hypokeratosis that was successfully treated with cryotherapy.
Aged ; Cryotherapy ; Female ; Humans ; Skin ; Skin Diseases

Circumscribed palmar or plantar hypokeratosis is a rare dermatosis, and it consists of asymptomatic erythematous, well-circumscribed and depressed patch with scaly borders on the palm or sole. It usually affects middle-aged or elderly women. Histopathologically, it has a sharp stair between the normal and involved skin, and a demarcated area with an abrupt decrease in the horny layer thickness. We report herein a case of circumscribed palmar hypokeratosis that was successfully treated with cryotherapy.
Aged ; Cryotherapy ; Female ; Humans ; Skin ; Skin Diseases

PURPOSE: To compare and confirm the impact of prepregnancy body mass index on pregnancy outcome in women with a singleton conceived by assisted reproductive technology and spontaneously conceived pregnancy. METHODS: A sample of 165 and 247 pregnant women with and without assisted reproductive technology were retrospectively recruited from electronic medical charts of C hospital. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the two groups for maternal age, paternal age, length of marriage, prepregnancy body mass index, parity, spontaneous abortion experience, and preterm delivery. A prepregnancy body mass index of > or =25 was associated with higher risk for maternal and neonatal complication in the assisted reproductive technology group. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that a higher prepregnancy body mass index is associated with increased risks for adverse pregnancy outcomes for women using assisted reproductive technology. So these women need appropriate care to compensate for the risk.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Adult ; *Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Odds Ratio ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications/etiology ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Premature Birth/etiology ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Weight Gain

PURPOSE: To evaluate the utility of high-resolution computed tomography(HRCT), as used to determine the activity of tuberculosis, and to analyze the HRCT findings in active and in inactive tuberculosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the HRCT findings of 100 patients (54 men, 46 women; average age, 54 years) who according to the results of chest radiography had pulmonary tuberculosis of undetermined activity. We assessed HRCT findings such as the presence of a entrilobular, macro-, or micronodule; consolidation, ground-glass opacity, cavity, interlobular septal thickening, irregular linear opacities, bronchial wall thickening, bronchovascular bundle distortion, bronchiectasis, atelectasis, and pericicatrical emphysema. We compared the ratio of the area of nodule and consolidation to that of whole lung, and compared the findings between active and inactive tuberculosis. RESULTS: Eleven of 100 patients were excluded because the final diagnosis was other than tuberculosis. In 59 patients, the presence of active pulmonary tuberculosis was proven by positive sputum smear and/or culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. On the basis of the negative results of these tests, pulmonary tuberculosis was found to be inactive in 30 patients; serial chest radiographs indicated that their condition remained stable over a 6-month period. For HRCT, sensitivity was 96.6%, specificity 56.7%, positive predictive value 81.4%, negative predictive value 89.5%, and accuracy 83.1%. For active tuberculosis, the presence of centrilobular nodules, tree-in-bud, macronodules, cavity within the nodule, and consolidations was statistically significant, while for inactive tuberculosis, that of irregular linear opacities, micronodules, bronchiectasis, and cicatrization atelectasis was similarly significant. The CT score for the area of nodules and consolidations was higher in active than in inactive tuberculosis, but only the nodule score showed statistical significance. CONCLUSION: HRCT can be a useful diagnostic tool for evaluating the activity of pulmonary tuberculosis
Bronchiectasis ; Cicatrix ; Diagnosis ; Emphysema ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Radiography ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

No abstract available.
Indomethacin* ; Polyhydramnios*

BACKGROUND: Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is a specialized type of minimal marginal surgery, which offers superior cure rates to other options in the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancers. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics and recurrence rate of the non-melanoma skin cancer and to estimate the safeties of MMS. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 102 patients who had been diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer and treated by MMS from May 2008 to September 2011. RESULTS: The most common cancer was basal cell carcinoma (63.72%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (31.38%). The local flap was the most common method to repair surgical defects (74.5%), followed by primary closure (17.64%). Cervical lymph node metastasis was confirmed in 1 case (0.98%). Recurrence after MMS was observed in 1 of 102 patients (0.98%). CONCLUSION: MMS is a safe method for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Mohs Surgery ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Safety ; Skin ; Skin Neoplasms ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Malassezia yeasts are lipophilic fungi that are found in 75~80% of healthy adults. Recently, various molecular biological techniques are being preferred to identify and classify the Malassezia yeasts. Pyrosequencing is a real-time DNA sequencing technique. This technology has the potential advantage of accuracy, ease-of-use, high flexibility and is now emerging as a popular platform for microbial typing. OBJECTIVE: We sought to implement novel molecular biology technique, namely pyrosequencing method in identifying and classifying Malassezia yeasts, and assess its clinical applicability. METHODS: We obtained ribosomal RNA sequences of 11 Malassezia standard strains from NCBI database. Primers for the initial PCR amplification of the target region (ITS2) and sequencing primers within the regions amplified by the PCR primers were designed using Pyrosequencing Assay Design Software (Biotage AB, Uppsala, Sweden). We obtained PCR amplifying fragments of genomic DNA isolated from the Malassezia yeasts. And pyrosequence reactions were performed using reagents provided with the PSQ 96 Sample Preparation kit. RESULTS: In the PCR analysis, all of 11 standard strains are shown at the 130 bp levels. In the pyrosequencing analysis, M. obtusa and M. furfur sequences were corresponded among 11 Malassezia standard strains. But, in 4 cases, Malassezia strains mismatched with expected Malassezia strain and in rest of 5 Malassezia strains, pyrosequencing was failed. CONCLUSION: As evidenced above, pyrosequencing analysis could provide a sensitive and rapid identification system for Malassezia species. But it still has many limitation to be applied to epidemiological surveys and clinical practice.
Adult ; Classification* ; DNA ; Fungi ; Humans ; Indicators and Reagents ; Malassezia* ; Molecular Biology ; Pliability ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Yeasts*

BACKGROUND: Malassezia yeasts are lipophilic fungi that are found in 75~80% of healthy adults. The yeasts are known to be associated with pityriasis versicolor, seborrheic dermatitis, Malassezia folliculitis, and recently its pathogenicity is being expanded to other various skin disorders, such as atopic dermatitis and acne vulgaris. Recently, various molecular biological techniques are being preferred over morphological analysis. In order to perform a DNA-based diagnostic test, availability of a simple, rapid, and reliable DNA extraction protocol is essential. OBJECTIVE: We sought to implement novel molecular biology technique, namely colony PCR method using microwave as the easiest way to amplification of Malassezia target DNA, and assess its clinical applicability. METHODS: Instead of using templates of purified genomic DNA, we performed the PCR directly from Malassezia colonies. A fresh yeast colony transferred to the bottom of a microcentrifuge tube and microwaved for 1 min three times in the presence of a pyrex beaker containing 50 ml of sterile water to dissipate excess heat. Following this microwave lysis, PCR-reaction mixture was added directly to the microcentrifuge tube. Two DNA extraction methods (boiling method, glass beads method) were used for comparing the sensitivity and effectiveness with the colony PCR method. All reactions were performed using the primers 26S and ITS1 complementary to the rDNA region. Results 1. As a result of gel electrophoresis, we recognized expected PCR products (approximately 580 bp for 26S rDNA and 250~320 bp for ITS1) from both colony PCR method and two DNA extraction methods (boiling method, glass beads method). 2. As a result of measuring nucleic acid level with the spectrophotometer, colony PCR disregarding DNA extraction process shows relatively similar PCR efficacy compared with the boiling and glass beads method. And there is no significant difference among those methods statistically (p>0.001). 3. In conducting the PCR method, boiling method required approximately 400 minutes, and glass beads method required approximately 360 minutes, respectively. As contrasted with two methods, colony PCR method required approximately 150 minutes, and could be capable of saving time. In addithion, colony PCR had an economic efficiency comparing with boiling method and glass beads methods. CONCLUSIONS: All these findings suggest that directly application of the Malassezia yeasts obtained from culture colony for PCR reaction is a fast, reliable, cost-effective and simple method for performing any PCR-based protocol including diagnostic tests.
Acne Vulgaris ; Adult ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; DNA ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Electrophoresis ; Folliculitis ; Fungi ; Glass ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Malassezia* ; Microwaves ; Molecular Biology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Skin ; Tinea Versicolor ; Virulence ; Water ; Yeasts*

PURPOSE: This study was designed to examine the effects of an assertive training program on interpersonal relations, and psychiatric symptoms in patients with a mental disorder. METHOD: The study employed a quasi experimental design. The subjects included44 patients with a mental disorder, 20 in the experimental group, and 24 in the control group. Data was collected using structured questionnaires over a 3 month period. RESULTS: There were greater significant increases in scores of interpersonal relations and content of communication in the experimental group than the control group. Also, there was a greater significant decrease in the score of psychiatric symptoms in the experimental group than the control group. CONCLUSION: Assertive training has an effect on increasing content of communication and decreasing psychiatric symptoms.
*Social Behavior ; Social Adjustment ; Middle Aged ; Mental Disorders/*rehabilitation ; Male ; *Interpersonal Relations ; Humans ; Female ; *Behavior Therapy ; *Assertiveness ; Adult ; Adolescent