Molluscum contagiosum is a common, benign, viral disease of the skin and mucous membrane that generally affects children. This disease is characterized by a 2 to 7 week incubation period; the involvement of the face, trunk, and extremities; spontaneous resolution within 2 to 4 months; and common autoinoculation. Individuals are susceptibile from the age of one. Herein, we report a case of molluscum contagiosum with an unusual manifestation. The skin lesions, which occured at ten days postpartum, showed two adjacent hard papules on the posterior scalp. They remained for 8 months in the same size and number.
Child ; Extremities ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Molluscum Contagiosum* ; Mucous Membrane ; Postpartum Period ; Scalp ; Skin ; Virus Diseases

OBJECTIVE: Catechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT) is an important enzyme that inactivates biologically active or toxic catechols. Abnormal catecholamine transmission has been implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Polymorphism(Val/Met) of the COMT gene was shown to determine high-and low-activity alleles of the enzyme. This study was designed to investigate the association between COMT gene polymorphism and schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in a Korean population. METHOD: COMT gene were genotyped with polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme NlaIII in 128 patients with schizophrenia, 110 with bipolar disorder, and 176 controls. RESULTS: 1) The distribution of the COMT genotype in schizophrenic patients with Val/Val, Val/Met, Met/Met were 76(59.4%), 43(33.6%), 9(7.0%), in bipolar disorder patients were 63(57.3%), 35(31.8%), 12(10.9%), and in the controls were 83(47.2%), 79(44.9%), 14(8.0%). The allele frequencies of the COMT gene in schizophrenic patients with Val and Met were 195(76.2%), 61(23.8%), in bipolar disoreder patients were 161(73.2%), 59(26.8%), and in the controls were 245(69.6%), 107(30.4%). 2) There were no differences in genotype distribution and allele frequencies of COMT gene polymorphism among the 3 groups. Neither patients with schizophrenia nor bipolar disorder differed in the genotype and allelic frequencies from the controls. CONCLUSION: These results suggest COMT gene polymorphism is not causally related to the development of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in a Korean Population.
Alleles ; Bipolar Disorder* ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase* ; Catechols ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Schizophrenia*

The authors describe a new technique for the reduction and wiring of atlanto-axial dislocation. More strong supporting effect has been achieved by double wiring of the posterior arch of the cervical vertebrae. Various techniques for the fixation of the atlanto-axial dislocation have been discussed.olved.
Cervical Vertebrae ; Dislocations* ; Female ; Odontoid Process*

With the establishment of the anterior cervical approach as the procedure of choice for cervical fracture-dislocation, attention has now turned to refinements of Cloward technique. The purpose of application of the Cloward technique is to achieve early stabilization of the fracture-dislocation, to shorten the recumbency period, and to promote rehabilitation. Recently the authors have experienced with the Cloward technique in the treatment of cervical fracture-dislocation. Our results indicated that anterior interbody fusion has been a satisfactory method for stabilizing one or more segment of the cervical fracture-dislocation. The prevention of dowel fracture or extrusion following fusion has been a important factor in the success. Another advantage obtained is to use the operating microscope for decompression of nerve roots. The chronic locked facets have not been reduced by the application of Cloward technique, but have been managed to achieve stabilization with Smith-Robinson technique. The lateral cervical pucture technique(C1-C2) for pantopaque myelography has been shown to be a valuable adjunct of acute injuries of the cervical spinal cord. A new technique for wiring and fusion of atlanto-axial dislocation has been performed with satisfactory results.
Decompression ; Dislocations* ; Iophendylate ; Myelography ; Rehabilitation ; Spinal Cord

The authors report a case of malignant brain-stem glioma with typical clinical signs in which successful surgical decompression and biopsy were obtained under the surgical microscope, and factors favoring surgical removal of such lesion are discussed.
Biopsy* ; Decompression* ; Decompression, Surgical ; Glioma*

The authors report a case of traumatic cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea accompanied by psychotic symptoms in which intracranial approach was performed under the surgical microscope for closure of the cerebrospinal fluid fistula, and satisfactory result were obtained.
Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea* ; Fistula

Twenty-five isolates of Pythium species were identi6ed and classified on the basis of RFLP(restriction fragment length polymorphism) of ITS(internal transcribed spacer) region in ribosomal DNA. and M-13 PCR markers. Eight restriction endonucleases were used to investigate the genetic relatedness among isolates P. graminicola and P. arrhenomanes as well as P. aphanidermatum and P. delience produced identical band patterns with all restriction endonucleases used and M-13 markers. P. myriotylum and P. catenulatum also formed tight cluster on the basis of RFLP of ribosomal DNA but produced distinct band pattern with M-13 PCR markers. No intraspecitic variations were observed with RFLP of ITS region in ribosomal DNA. Molecular analysis based on M-13 marker demonstrated that each species produced distinct band patterns. Intraspecific variation of P. ultimum and P. torulosum was observed with M-13 markers.
DNA Restriction Enzymes ; DNA, Ribosomal* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length* ; Pythium*

Background and objectives: Carvedilol is a cardiovascular drug, beta- and alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist, currently approved for the treatment of hypertension, angina, congestive heart failure by FDA. Carvedilol has been shown to attenuate oxygen free radical-initiated lipid peroxidation and to inhibit neointimal formation of aorta following vascular injury by balloon angioplasty. We have investigated the effect of carvedilol on DNA synthesis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Rat aortic smooth muscle cells were obtained by the combined collagenase and elastase methods. Cells between the 4th and 8th passages were used for the experiments. Incorporated radioactivity of [3H]-thymidine was measured by liquid scintillation spectrometry. RESULTS: PDGF-BB (1 nM) increased [3H]-thymidine incorporation about 70-100% over basal value in cultured VSMC. PDGF-stimulated increase in DNA synthesis was significantly suppressed by simultaneous administration of carvedilol. In contrast, propranolol did not significantly affect 3[H]-thymidine uptake in rat aortic VSMC. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrate that carvedilol significantly inhibits the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cell in our condition. These results indicate that carvedilol may be effective in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases principally associated with abnormal vascular smooth muscle growth.
Angioplasty, Balloon ; Animals ; Aorta ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cell Proliferation ; Collagenases ; DNA ; Heart Failure ; Hypertension ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Oxygen ; Pancreatic Elastase ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; Propranolol ; Radioactivity ; Rats ; Spectrum Analysis ; Vascular System Injuries

The usefullness of monocytosis in routine CMC as an aid in diagnosis of several diseases was evaluated in infancy and children. 234 cases in which the absolute count was more than 750 mono cyte per cubic millimeter were the subject of this study. The following results were obtained; 1) 234 cases (2.9%) of total 8069 patients from Oct. 1977 to Aug. 1978 showed monocytosis. 2) monocytosis was found in infectious diseases, hematologic disorders and malignant diseases. Most common cause of absolue monocytosis was infectious diseases(73%). 3) The 171 cases in infectious diseases group included congenital syphilis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, bacterial meningitis, bacillary dysentery, etc. And weconcluded that the monocytosis is useful as an aid in diagnosing several disease.
Child ; Communicable Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Dysentery, Bacillary ; Humans ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; Pneumonia ; Syphilis, Congenital ; Tuberculosis

The authors report a case of tuberculoma of the cerebral hemisphere, which has been excised under the operating microscope. With the references reviewed, this case is interesting one in supratentorial location.
Cerebrum* ; Tuberculoma*