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

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*

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

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

A 46-year-old female was admitted to Soon Chun Hyang University hospital with a complaint of intermittent epigastric pain. X-ray and endoscopic pictures showed diffase irregular shallow depression which is similar to the macroscopic pattern of the type IIc early gastric cancer. But endoseopic biopsy showed no malignant cell infiltration. Hndoaeopic biopsy plays an important role in excluding the possibility of carcinoma. But operation shoud be considered inspite of biopsy result because malignant lymphoma ean not be completely ruled out. Histopathologic diagnosis was pseudolymphoma of stomach.
Biopsy ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Middle Aged ; Pseudolymphoma* ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms

The appendiceal mucocele is very rare disease of 0.2% incidence. About 24% of patients are asymptomatic and symptomatic patients present with pain in the right lower quadrant of abdomen in 64%, plapable maas in the right lower quadrant of abdomen in 50%, and rarely, melena, hematochezia, anemia, diarrhea, malaise, and abdominal distension. The gastrointestinal bleeding may be presented in the patient with intussusception, but the massive bleeding is generally absent. We report a case of appendiceal mucocele accompanying with gastrointestinal bleeding and review of literature.
Abdomen ; Anemia ; Diarrhea ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intussusception ; Melena ; Mucocele* ; Rare Diseases

Primary gastrointestinal lymphoma primarily confined to gastrointestinal tract is relatively rare diaease. Although the lymphoma primarily involved colorectum or small bowel was commonly reported than primary gastric lymphoma in Korea, the concurrent primary lymphoma of colon and small bowel is very rare in reported cases. We report a case of combined primary malignant lymphoma of the jejunum and cecum, who was admitted due to melena and anemia. She had right hemicolectomy and end-to-side ileotransverse colostomy at 2 months ago, due to primary colon lymphoma. The laparotomy was performed and identified hard, 2 x 3 cm sized masses on distal 25 cm, 80 cm and 150 cm from the Treitz ligament. The histology of these small ma showed histiocytic lymphoma as same as cecal specimen. In general, the small bowel lymphoma shaws poor prognosis than gastric or colorectal lymphoma due to diffieulty in diagnosis and late symptoms, but this problem could be resolved through the knowledge about primary gastrointestinal lymphoma and the development of diagnostic methods.
Anemia ; Cecum ; Colon* ; Colostomy ; Diagnosis ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Jejunum ; Korea ; Laparotomy ; Ligaments ; Lymphoma* ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; Melena ; Prognosis

Childhood obesity has rapidly increased worldwide and is one of the most serious health problems in this age group. In order to prevent and manage childhood obesity, we developed a nutrition education website. The website consisted of three parts. The first part was made for self-assessment with regard to obesity index, dietary habits, food frequency, dietary attitude, nutrition knowledge, nutrient intake, energy expenditure, and the stage of behavioral change, and tailored messages and advice according to the assessment results. A total of 612 real-size food photos as well as a nutrient database of 3,346 foods and 541 dishes were created to help children estimate nutrient intakes accurately. In addition, an energy expenditure database of 156 activities for children was established to calculate calorie consumption. The second part was made for setting long-term and short-term goals and keeping track of the changes in energy intake and expenditure in one's own page. The third part was made for education. Various types of nutrition information were provided; texts, pictures, calculators and games. The readability and design of the website were evaluated by 46 obese children. Usefulness, design and readability of the website were found to be desirable for children. This website is expected to be used by an obese child alone or with parents or nutrition teachers in order to control body weight through healthy dietary habits and physical activities. In addition, a non-obese child can also use this website for maintaining healthy dietary habits and preventing obesity.
Body Weight ; Child ; Comprehension ; Energy Intake ; Energy Metabolism ; Food Habits ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Motor Activity ; Obesity ; Parents ; Self-Assessment ; Track and Field

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