Malignant melanoma is an uncommon tumor in Korea. To the best of our knowledge, we could not find malignant melanoma with multiple myeloma in Korean literature. A 57-year-old male patient had a 4×5 cm sized, irregular bordered, dark brownish plaque on the left sole, which has extended gradually since about 1 year ago and showed an occasional bleeding tendency. Laboratory examinations revealed a low hemoglobin level, rouleaux formation on peripheral blood, monoclonal gammopathy of IgG-kappa type and Bence-Jones proteinuria. Bone marrow aspiration findings showed markedly increased immature plasma cells suggesting multiple myeloma. Histopathologic findings of the skin biopsy from the left sole revealed proliferation of atypical melanocytes. We performed a surgical excision with a skin graft for malignant melanoma and chemotherapy (melphalan, vincristine and prednisolone) for multiple myeloma.
Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Drug Therapy ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma* ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma* ; Paraproteinemias ; Plasma Cells ; Proteinuria ; Skin ; Transplants ; Vincristine

No abstract available.
Humans

No abstract available.
Antibodies* ; Female ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Pregnant Women*

No abstract available.
Polycystic Kidney Diseases* ; Ultrasonography*

A accidental spills of phenol(100%) to the river Nakdong with subsequent contamination of the tap water for about two million consumers in Taegu city of Korea were occurred in March 1991. A historical cohort study of 6,913 individuals was undertaken to determine the associated with illness. Population subjects were divided into two groups of exposed and unexposed. Exposed subjects were reported to be phenol associated symptoms significantly higher than those in a nearby unexposed area(39.6% vs 9.4%, p<0.01). Especially, in the related symptoms, highly significant differences were noted in the number of subjects reporting gastrointestinal illness such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain. During the accident, study subjects who experienced peculiar taste or odor in the tap water were significantly higher in the exposed areas(92% vs 34.3%). Chlorophenols formed from chlorination of water may have aggravated the problem.
Abdominal Pain ; Chlorophenols ; Cohort Studies ; Daegu ; Diarrhea ; Drinking Water* ; Drinking* ; Equipment and Supplies* ; Halogenation ; Korea ; Nausea ; Odors ; Phenol* ; Rivers ; Vomiting ; Water

No abstract available.
Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Multiple Sclerosis

BACKGROUND: Propafenone is a new class Ic antiarrhythmic compound.This study was performed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of propafenone by double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized cross-over comparison of propafenone and disopyramide in patients with stable ventricular ectopy. METHODS: All patients were included in the study if they had an average of at least 30 PVC/hr on a 24-hour Holter recordings. During the 1st 7 days, two placebo tablets(identical in apperance to the propafenone and the disopyramide tablets) were administrated in a double-blind manner(run-in period). Then 1st treatment period lasting 1 week with one verum and the other placebo, wish-out period of 3 day,2nd treatment period lasting 1 week with cross-over drugs were followed. RESULTS: Twenty patients were enrolled. During the run-in period, VPCs were reduced to 18%, compared to the baseline data before the administration of placebo.During the treatment period,propafenone 600mg/day reduced VPCs by 43% and disopyramide 400mg/day reduced VPCs by -10% Propafenone was effective(80% or greater reduction of VPCs) in 7 of 20 patients. Disopyramide was not effective in all patients. Propafenone and disopyramide produced no significant change of paired VPCs and VT events. Propafenone had no effect on heart rate. It increased the PR interval(7.9%;p<0.01) and QRS interval(5.2%;p<0.01). The drug did not change QTc interval(-1.1%) significantly. There were no cardiovascular side effects. Propafenone produced nausea in one patient. Disopyramide produced dysuria in 2 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Propafenone was more effective in controlling VPC than disopyramide, and there was no major limiting side effects.
Cross-Over Studies* ; Disopyramide* ; Dysuria ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Nausea ; Propafenone* ; Ventricular Premature Complexes*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of agonistic and antagonistic isometric contraction on the motor evoked potentials (MEP). METHOD: The MEP responses of right flexor carpi radialis (FCR) and extensor carpi radialis (ECR) muscles were simultaneously recorded during constant isometric flexion and extension of wrist. The intensities of isometric flexion and extension were 30%, 50%, and 100% of maximal voluntary contraction, which were achieved by isokinetic dynamometer. Background electromyographic activities in surface and needle electrodes were used for selective contraction. RESULTS: In agonistic muscles, the amplitudes of MEP responses were significantly increased according to the intensity of isometric contraction. In antagonistic muscles, the amplitudes of MEP responses in ECR were significantly increased with increasing intensity of isometric flexion. The amplitudes of MEP responses in FCR were increased with increasing intensity of isometric extension in spite of suppression in H-reflex of FCR during isometric extension. CONCLUSION: In antagonistic muscles, facilitation of MEP response in ECR and FCR during isometric contraction was occurred as in the agonistic isometric contraction.
Electrodes ; Evoked Potentials, Motor* ; Forearm* ; H-Reflex ; Isometric Contraction* ; Muscles ; Needles ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ; Wrist

No abstract available.
Agenesis of Corpus Callosum*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of driver training program for the handicapped. METHOD: Retrospective study on the 699 disabled who participated in the two-months driver training program at the NRC (National Rehabilitation Center) from January 1995 to May 1998. RESULTS: 1) Of these subjects, 70.4% were men and 29.6% were women. 2) According to the disability grading system by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Korea, 19.2% of the subjects had the first grade disability, 28.2% the second grade, 26.3% the third grade, 18.3% the fourth grade, 6.3% the fifth grade, and 1.4% the sixth grade. 3) The licensing rate was 74.6% for the first grade, 64.7% for the second grade, 70.9% for the third grade, 73.6% for the fourth grade, 55.8% for the fifth grade, and 70% for the sixth grade. 4) The licensing rate was the highest in the subjects with spinal cord injury (79.2%) and the lowest in the subjects with stroke (45.0%). 5) Overall, 78.2% of subjects licensed with automatic transmission and 21.8% with hand- control. On the other hand, in the subjects with spinal cord injury, 42.5% licensed with automatic transmission and 57.5% with hand-control. CONCLUSION: The mean licensing rate of this program was 69.2%. Further study is required for the effect of cognitive function on driving test and various driving aids to promote the licensing rate for the handicapped.
Disabled Persons* ; Education* ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Korea ; Licensure ; Male ; Rehabilitation Centers* ; Rehabilitation* ; Retrospective Studies ; Social Welfare ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Stroke