Nickel is widely known as a common source of contact dermatitis and nickel sensitivity amounts to nearly 10 percent of allergic contact dermatitis patients. Common sources of nickel dermatitis are well known as necklaces, watches, rings, hooks, earrings and spectacle frames. Recently, we have seen five cases of nickel dermatitis the suspected sources of which were metal spectacle frames. The interim patch test result in our occupational and environmental clinic suggests that the metal spectacle frame is one of the most common sources of nickel dermatitis. Out of 84 medical students 27 wore metal spectacle frames. We have done a dimethylglyoxime spot test to the metal spectacle frames and got a positive result in 12 out of 27(44.4%). We conclude that metal spectacle frame seems to be one of the dominant causes of nickel dermatitis and it will be an increasing problem in our society.
Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Ear ; Humans ; Nickel ; Patch Tests ; Students, Medical

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of IL-10 on development of collagen-induced arthritis, on humoral and cellular immunity and on the endogenous production of IL-10 in DBA/1J mice. METHODS: DBA/1J mice were immunized with chicken type II collagen in Freund s complete adjuvant. Murine recombinant IL-10 was given intraperitoneally twice a week from the day of second immunization (week 3) in doses of 0.002ug, 0. 02ug and 0. 2ug for 3 different groups, respectively. Dexamethasone was injected in one group to suppress the arthritis development and this group was used as negative control group. Levels of anti-collagen antibodies, serum IL-10 and stimulation indices of splenic monocytes to collagen were measured at the end of study. RESULTS: The 0. 02ug IL-10 and 0. 2ug IL-10 treated groups developed earlier and more severe arthritis (week 6 and 8) compared to that of the control group while the 0. 002ug IL-10 group has shown similar course to the control group in terms of incidence and severity of arthritis, At week 10, all groups with or without IL-10 injections developed arthritis with similar degree of severity while dexamethasone group showed far less incidence and severity of arthritis. The serum levels of anti-collagen antibody, IL-10 and spleen monocyte stimulation indices to collagen antigen showed no difference among control group, IL-10 injected groups and dexamethasone injected group. CONCLUSION: This study shows IL-10 could worsen the arthritis in CIA with the dosage used in this study without significant influence on the level of anti-collagen antibodies or stimulation indices of spenic monocyte to collagen.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Arthritis ; Arthritis, Experimental* ; Chickens ; Collagen ; Collagen Type II ; Dexamethasone ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunization ; Incidence ; Interleukin-10* ; Mice ; Monocytes ; Spleen

Epidemiological evidence suggests that human papillomavirus(HPV) infection is a high risk factor for the development of oral cancers. Many oncogenes, especially p53 suppressor gene, have a critical role of carcinogenesis in several human cancers including oral cancers. To investigate the prevalence of HPV infection and subtyping of high risk group(HPV-16, -18 and -33) HPV in oral cancers, the author studied 31 cases of squamous cell carcinomas arising from the oral cavity using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The author also demonstrated the overexpression of p53 oncoprotein in the oral cancers using immunohistochemical methods. The correlation between HPVs infection and p53 overexpression in tumorigenesis of the oral cancers was evaluated. 1. Twenty-one cases(66.7%) among 31 cases of oral squamous cell carcinomas were positive for HPV-DNA. Among them, 16 cases were positive for HPV-16, 4 cases for HPV-18, and 2 cases for HPV-33. Two cases were coinfected with HPV-16 and HPV-18, and HPV-18 and HPV-33. 2. The prevalence of HPV infection appeared not correlated with tumor differentiation and clinical stages of oral squamous cell carcinomas. 3. The overexpression of p53 oncoprotein was present in 24 of 31 cases(77% ). In 21 HPV positive tumors 18 cases were positive for overexpression of p53 oncoprotein. Six cases were positive for p53 in ten HPV negative tumors. There was no correlation between HPV DNA detection rate and p53 overexpression. The above results suggest that HPV infection and p53 oncogene mutation play different roles in tumorigenesis of oral squamous cell carcinomas. No coexpression of p53 oncoprotein with HPV-DNA detection suggests that another etiologic mechanism other than HPV infection may be operative.
Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; DNA ; Genes, Suppressor ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; Human papillomavirus 18 ; Humans* ; Mouth Neoplasms ; Mouth* ; Oncogenes ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

Tuberculosis of the duodenum is rare event in patients with pulmonary or intestinal tuberculoais. It is very difficult to diagnose duodenal tuberculosis because of inconaiatent symptoms and nonspecific duodenal lesioa. Although fiberoptic endoscopy has been used, there is the limitation of fiberoptic endoscopy ia diagnosingthis disease and the diagnoais require laparotomy with biopsy. Recently we experienced a case of duodenal tuberculosis with duodenoscopic findings of the submucosal tumor of duaidenum. We report a case with review of literatures.
Biopsy ; Duodenum* ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Tuberculosis*

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of kidney disease in Korean rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient, and describe the profile of RA drugs prescribed in RA patients. METHODS: A total of 284 patients at the division of rheumatology with confirmed RA were prospectively included in this study from May 1 to August 31, 2008. Renal function was assessed using Cockcroft-Gault (CG) and abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (aMDRD) study formulae, and classified by the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) classification. Comparisons was were performed by the two sample t-test, chi-square-test and binary logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of 281 patients with RA, only 7 (2.5%) patients had abnormal serum creatinine (sCr) levels. According to the NFK classification, the prevalence of kidney disease using aMDRD and CG formula was 23.8% and 31.7%, respectively. Among the patients with eGRF <60 mL/min/m2 according to aMDRD or CG formulae, 91.8~100% received at least one drug that was potentially nephrotoxic. RA patients with renal dysfunction was associated with advanced age, body mass index (BMI), antinuclear antibody (ANA). CONCLUSION: Estimation of renal function with CG or aMDRD formulae is important in RA patients, particularly in those with low BMI or old age. Also, appropriate dosage adjustment is needed in patients with renal dysfunction.
Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Body Mass Index ; Creatinine ; Diet ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Diseases ; Logistic Models ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Rheumatology

56-year-old Korean male had complained of abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea who showed a wide area of isehemic colitis above obstructing colon cance due to distention. Ischemic lesions of the distended colon are clinically important because it so often remain unrecognized and can result in anastomotic leakage, fecal fistula and peritonitis after operation. Involvement of the colon by ischemic damage is usually segmental or localized. We experienced unusual case of iachemic colitis proximal to obstructive colon cancer in which the entire colon except ileocecal region was affected. We reported a case with literature review.
Abdominal Pain ; Anastomotic Leak ; Colitis ; Colitis, Ischemic* ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Diarrhea ; Fistula ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritonitis

A case of primary melanoma of the spinal cord in 20 year-old male is presented. The symptoms and signs were those of cervical cord compression caused by the melanoma, for which underwent laminectomy and was histologically verified.
Humans ; Laminectomy ; Male ; Melanoma* ; Spinal Cord* ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: In order to reduce the diagnostic window period between the time of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and serological diagnosis, new fourth generation screening assays which detect HIV p24 antigen and specific antibody simultaneously have been developed. In this study, we evaluated the performance of a new fourth generation assay. METHODS: We compared a new fourth generation assay, Architect HIV Ag/Ab combo, with another fourth generation assay AxSYM HIV Ag/Ab combo and a third generation assay, AxSYM HIV 1/2 gO for their performance. The assays were evaluated using 3 HIV seroconversion panels, 305 sera of healthy subjects and 100 sera of patients with HBsAg or anti-HCV antibodies. Within-run and total coefficient variations of the three screening assays were analyzed for the evaluation of precision. RESULTS: Architect HIV Ag/Ab combo shortened the window period by 8.7+/-2.1 days relative to AxSYM HIV 1/2 gO and 2.0+/-2.0 days relative to AxSYM HIV Ag/Ab combo in seroconversion panels. Architect HIV Ag/Ab combo presented the best performance in precision among the three reagents; total CV for positive control was 3.6%, 9.6% and 4.6% for Architect HIV Ag/Ab combo, AxSYM HIV Ag/Ab combo and AxSYM HIV 1/2 gO, respectively. Specificities of three assays were not different in this study. CONCLUSIONS: HIV Ag/Ab combined assays reduced the diagnostic window as compared to the third generation screening assays, enabling an earlier diagnosis of HIV infection. A new fourth generation assay, Architect HIV Ag/Ab combo presents a better performance than AxSYM HIV Ag/Ab combo, showing improved seroconversion sensitivity and precision.
Diagnosis ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis C Antibodies ; HIV Core Protein p24 ; HIV Infections ; HIV Seropositivity ; HIV* ; Humans ; Indicators and Reagents ; Mass Screening

A 42-year-old man presented with severe pancytopenia and uncontrolled epistaxis. The diagnosis of SLE was made and the pancytopenia was found to be due to myelofibrosis. The pulse therapy with methylprednisolone and maintenance therapy with prednisolone reversed both pancytopenia and myelofibrosis. Although myelofibrosis has been described in SLE, this coexistence must be very rare since there has been only 19 cases showing this combination. We report a case of SLE with myelofibrosis which was reversed by the treatment with glucocorticoid.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Epistaxis ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Methylprednisolone ; Pancytopenia ; Prednisolone ; Primary Myelofibrosis*

Leiomyosarcomas of the stomach are unusual tumors, accounting for 1% to 3% of all malignant tumors and 17% to 20% of all smooth muscle tumors of the stomach. It is difficult to diagnosis these tumors preoperatively because of its vague symptoms and signs or producing symptoms only late. Despite their rarity and difficulty in diagnosis, thier diagnosis is important due to more favorable prognosis aasociated with these tumors than that of gastric carcinoma. Recently, endoscopy is being used with increasing frequency, but because these are submucosal lesions the diagnosis of thease tumors cannot be easily made through the endoscope. We experienced a case of relatively full-brown leiomyosarcoma in gastric fundus. Endoscopy showed 6x6cm sized, definite margined, protruding mass on gastric fundus, with central deep ulceration coated with blood clots. The mucosa overlying the mass was intact, smoothly effaced and the bridging fold was also visible. Postoperative ultrasound showed large protruding mixed echogenic solid mass with contral deep excavation due to ulcer, and intact serosa, so suggestive of endogastric tumor. We believed endoscopy combined with endoscopic ultrasound is probably useful method in early diagnosis of gastric submucosal tumors, especially exogastric type or early small tumors
Camellia ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Endoscopes ; Endoscopy ; Gastric Fundus ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Mucous Membrane ; Prognosis ; Serous Membrane ; Smooth Muscle Tumor ; Stomach* ; Ulcer ; Ultrasonography