The anti-inflammatory activity of a corticosteroid may mask the contact allergic reaction it is causing. This may be an important reason why contact allergy to corticosteroids has often been missed. A simple persistent aggravation of a dermatitis in a patient treated with one or more topical corticosteroids is sufficient to raise a suspicion of corticosteroid hypersensitivity. A 23-year-old male visited our department for the evaluation of his aggravated pruritic oozing erythematous papules, scales and edema of the face. Previously, he was treated with Dermatop ointment and Plancollotion. A Patch test showed positive reactions to prednicarbate 10%, 1%, hydrocortisone-17-butyrate 10%, and triamcinolone 10%. We conclude prednicarbate in Dermatop ointment, hydrocortisone-17-butyrate in Plancol lotion to be the etiological agents.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Edema ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Male ; Masks ; Patch Tests ; Triamcinolone ; Weights and Measures ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Acne is a common chronic disease which most frequently affects the face. This visibility is a major cause for concern in affected individuals. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the quality of life of patients with acne. METHODS: We interviewed 130 acne patients, and determined the impact of acne on the quality of life with a questionnare. RESULTS: Among 130 cases of acne, the numbers of male and female patients were 52(40.0%) and 78(60.0%) respectively, and tbe mean age was 21 years. There was no difference between the sexes in the quality of life criteria used. The scores of social criteria of patients older than 20 years were significantly higher than thme of patients younger than 20 years. The severity of facial acne was correlated with the severity of chest acne but not with that of back acne. The severity of chest acne was correlated with that of back acne. The severity of facial acne was correlated with the scores of the physical, social and psychological criteria, and the severity of chest acne was correlated with that of physical and social criteria. However, the severity of back acne was not correlated with those of any of the criteria. The psychological well-being of the patients was moderately or highly affected by the acne more often than the other criteria. CONCLUSION: Acne has a substantial impact on the quality of life. The practical use of these indices are: (1) reveal areas of particulur concern in patients with acne; (2) to identify individuals who may require more intensive treaiment; and (3) to give a patient oriented inforrnation on the quality of life expected.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Quality of Life* ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Ichthyosiform Erythroderma, Congenital*

Spontaneous fracture of the Silastic shunt catheter is a rare complication of lumboperitoneal shunt. A review of the literature revealed only one case in which spontaneous fracture occurred after this procedure. The authors report a case in which fracture of a lumboperitoneal shunt catheter occurred within the interspinous ligament probably due to repeated tension caused by flexion and extension during lumbar motion. The fractured proximal catheter was located entirely within the intrathecal space exclusively from the level of L1 to S1, and caused incomplete cauda equina syndrome.
Catheters* ; Fractures, Spontaneous* ; Ligaments ; Polyradiculopathy

No abstract available.
Adenoids* ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic*

Nodular fasciitis represents reactive fibroblastic or myofibroblastic proliferative lesions which may be misdiagnosed as sarcomas due to the rich cellularity, mitotic activity and variant morphologic pattern. It arises in the subcutaneous tissue, skeletal muscles, and fascia. Uncommon clinical and pathological variants of nodular fasciitis, such as intradermal, intravascular, cranial, ossifying, parosteal and proliferative fasciitis, have been described. We present a 23-year-old man with a one year history of a 2x1.5cm sized hard tender nodule on the scalp which is partially depressed at the margin. Histological examination revealed clusters of spindle cells in a myxoid background, chronic inflammatory cells and extravasated red cells in the dermis. Immunohistochemically, the spindle cells showed positivity of vimentin or smooth muscle actin, and negativity of desmin or S-100 protein. The staining results support its myofibroblastic origin. There is no involved bony lesion on the brain computed tomography (CT). Therefore we report a rare case of intradermal fasciitis arising on the scalp.
Male ; Humans

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with recurrent pneumothorax after wedge resection in primary spontaneous pneumothorax in our hospital. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Two hundred thirty-five consecutive patient (98% males; mean age, 23.9+/-4.5 years) who had undergone video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) were reviewed retrospectively. The two groups were divided as follows: group A, non-recurrent patients (225 patients [96%]); and group B, recurrent group (10 patients [4%]); the risk factors were compared between the two groups. The single and multiple factors that influenced the recurrence rate were analyzed using Cox's proportional hazard model. RESULT: There were no significant differences between the recurrent and non-recurrent groups in terms of gender, smoking, site of recurrence, degree of collapse, operative time, and number or weight of resected bullae. The recurrence rate was significantly more common in the following: younger ages, increased height/weight ratio, longer initial air leakage period, and shorter duration of chest drainage. Early aggressive exercise (<30 days) of patients after wedge resection increased the tendency for recurrence. CONCLUSION: Thoracoscopic wedge resection does not have a higher recurrence rate than open thoracotomy. However, young age, height/weight ratio, continuous air, and duration of chest tube placement were risk factors for a recurrent pneumothorax.
Blister ; Chest Tubes ; Drainage ; Humans ; Operative Time ; Pneumothorax ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax

212 cases of hypertensive intracerebral hematoma were treated and followed for more than 3 months. The outcome was analysed in point of comparison between conservative treatment and operative treatment. The precipitating factors on prognosis depend on size and site of hematoma, level of mental deterioration, and blood pressure on admisson. Operative treatment showed better outcome than conservative treatment in cases of severly mentally deteriorated patients, large hematoma, and pontine hematoma.
Blood Pressure ; Hematoma* ; Humans ; Precipitating Factors ; Prognosis

In this article, the sixth author's affiliation was misprinted unintentionally.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the reproducibility of the flap thickness in LASIK using Moria M2 microkeratome and to examine the safety and the complication rate intraoperatively and postoperatively. METHODS: 92-Ninety-two consecutive eyes of 50 patients that received LASIK using the Moria M2 microkeratome were reviewed. The mean of the predictable corneal flap thickness was compared with the mean of the created corneal flap thickness, and intraoperative and postoperative complication and safety were evaluated. RESULTS: The average corneal flap thicknesses were 140+/-15.16 micrometer with 130 micrometer head and 108.01+/-16.72 micrometer with 110 micrometer head. There was no statistically significant correlation between the predictable corneal flap thickness and the created corneal flap thickness with the 130 micrometer head (p=0.001, one-sample t-test), but there was a stastistically significant correlation with the 110 micrometer head (p=0.573, one-sample t-test). CONCLUSIONS: The M2 Moria microkeratome created a desirable thickness with the 110 micrometer head, and we can expect postoperative stability of the remaining corneal thickness. The complication rate both intraoperatively and postoperatively was very low.
Head ; Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ* ; Postoperative Complications