With a view to investigating the distribution of keratinophilic fungi in soil according to latitudes in south Korea, soil samples were collected at 81 sites in 17 areas in different latitudes across the country and keratinophilic fungi were isolated by means of Vanbreusegherns technique. The results are summarized as follows : 105 strains of keratinophilic fungi were recovered from 56(69.2%) out of 81 samples. Isolated fungi were composed of 41 strains of Trichophyton ajelloi, 24 stains of Chrysosporium species, 20 strains of Microsporum gypseum, and 20 strains of M. cookei. Frequency of isolation of keratinophilic fungi tended to decrease from higher latitudes down to lower latitudes. In areas of higher latutudes, T. ajelloi and M. cookei were isolated more frequently than in lower latitudes. M. gypseem was most frequent in Cheju City, and Chrysosporium species showed an even distribution, Among three areas under different conditions of moisture and shadedness(i.e., shaded wet, shaded dry, and sunny dry areas), frequency of isolation was highest in shaded dry areas(72.2%). T. ajelloi was the most frequent species in all the three areas, especially in shaded wet areas(53.1%). No M. gypsetcm was found in shaded dry areas. As regards distribution at various sites, roadsides and streamsides exhibited the highest frequency of isolation, and hills the lowest. Except for roadsides, T. ajelloi was the most frequent species at all sites, especially in forests. M. gypseum was frequent at sites beside streams M. cookei at streamsides, fields, and hills and Chrysosporim species in gardens, forests, and streets.
Chrysosporium ; Coloring Agents ; Fungi* ; Jeju-do ; Korea* ; Microsporum ; Rivers ; Soil* ; Trichophyton

Bowens disease is generally regarded as a premalignant dermatosis. If untreated, 3% to 5% of patients may develop squamous cell carcinoma. However, sebaciou carcinoma arising from Bowens disease is very rare. We presented a case of quarnous cell carcinoma and sebaceous circ s disease in a 68 year-old male. He had multiple bowenoid skin lesi nsties. A bean-sized nodule as developed on the bowenoid lesion of the he had a large yellow crust.ed exudative tumor on the Rt. thigh. We took a biopsy specimen of these three discrete lesions. The nu lipid stain of frozen section revealed Bowens disease, squarnous concllnoma arising from Bowen on the trunk and extremi Rt. lower abdomen. Almost of routine histology and carcinoma, and sebaceous carcinoma, respectively.
Abdomen ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Bowen's Disease ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Frozen Sections ; Humans ; Male ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Thigh

Malignant germ cell tumors occur in children and young women in reproductive age, of all the germ cell malignancies, only pure dysgerminomas had a high cure rate prior to 1970. This was due to the exquisite radiosensitivity of these tumors. Multiple-agent chemotherapy has dramatically improved the pmgnosis of patients with malignant ovarian germ cell tumors. Clinicopathological analysis was performed on 21 cases of malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary, 9 cases at the department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Kyung-pook National University Hospital, 4 cases, at the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dong-guk University Kyungju Hospital and 8 cases, at the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dae-gu Fatima Hospital during the period 10 years from July. 19S8 to June. 1997 The results were summarized as follows: 1. The mean age of the patients was 21.8 years old, ranging from 10 to 61 years old. 2. Main initial symptoms were abdominal distension(33.3%), abdominal mass palpation(33.3%), abdominal pain(28.6%), amenorrhea(4.8%) in order. 3. Histologically, the tumors were classified as immature teratoma(57.1%), dysgerminoma(19%), mixed germ cell tumor(9.5%), endodermal sinus tumor(9.5%), embryonal cell carcinoma(4.8%). 4, According to FIGO classification Stage I was the most prevalent(57.1%) at the time of diagnosis while Stage III was forward in 48.6%, Stage II in 9.5%, and no Stage IV, 5. The 5-year survival rate was 80.4% and three patients have died of malignancy and the other 18 patients live without disease from 11 to 102 months, with a median follow-up of 34.2 months. 6. Prognostic factors of malignant germ cell tumors in this study were the clinical stage, the presence of ascites and the residual tumor mass.
Ascites ; Child ; Classification ; Daegu ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Dysgerminoma ; Endoderm ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Germ Cells* ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal* ; Obstetrics ; Ovary* ; Radiation Tolerance ; Survival Rate

Malignant histiocytosis is a rare, usually fatal malignant neoplasm of reticuloendothelial systems. The disease is associated with fever, malaise, weight loss, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, pancytopenia, jaundice, and purpura. A 44-year-old female patient is described who had multiple, purple crusted nodules and plaques in the skin. In the laboratory study, pancytopenia was noted on the peripheral blood. In addition many atypical histiocytes were seen on the bone marrow aspiration. A lesional biopsy showed nodular infiltrations of atypical histiocytes in the dermis and some erythrophagocytosis was seen. Immunohistochemically, the histiocytes were weakly stained for lysozyme and α-l-antichymotrypsin, but were unstained for S-100 protein, cytokeratin, CEA(carcinoembryonic antigen), pan T/B marker CD30(ki-1), UCHL-1 LCA(leukocyte common antigen), and α-l-antitrypsin.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Dermis ; Female ; Fever ; Histiocytes ; Histiocytic Sarcoma* ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Keratins ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Mononuclear Phagocyte System ; Muramidase ; Pancytopenia ; Purpura ; S100 Proteins ; Skin ; Weight Loss

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Seizures, Febrile* ; Spinal Puncture*

No abstract available.

We report herein a case of vesicular pemphigoid in a 39 year-old female, who had 1 month history of multiple, pruritic vesicles with erythematous maeules on the whole body, especielly on the flexural surface. The histological findings showed subepidermal vesicle which contained many neutrophils. Direct immvnofluorescent study of perilesional skin revealed linear deposits of C along the dermoepidermal junction and indirect immunofluorescent study revealed linear deposits of immunoglobulin G and Cy along the dermoepidermal junction. Initially, dapsone was tried without any benefit but skin lesions were controlled by a combination therapy of prednisolone and cyclphosphamide.
Adult ; Dapsone ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Neutrophils ; Pemphigoid, Bullous* ; Prednisolone ; Skin

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive disorder due to the loss of dystrophin in muscle fiber. The deficiency of dystrophin produces severe progressive muscle degeneration which leads to progressive muscle weakness. Affected patients usually become unambulatory in their early teens, and suffer a respiratory failure before 20 years of age. In an attempt to improve quality of life and extend life span of DMD patients, various treatments have been challenged; corticosteroid trial, rehabilitation, cardiac and pulmonary managements, orthopedic interventions, and nutritional support. However, only corticosteroid therapy and non-invasive ventilation have shown a salutary effect on the clinical course of DMD. Recently, a better understanding of the DMD pathophysiology has provided the scientific basis for new treatment modalities including cell and molecular therapy. Although previous clinical trials have demonstrated the limitation and possibility of new therapies, antisense-mediated exon skipping technology is now emerging as a promising approach to restore dystrophin expression. This article summarizes the current challenges and recommendations of treatment approaches in DMD patients.
Adolescent ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Dystrophin ; Exons ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Muscle Weakness ; Muscles ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; Noninvasive Ventilation ; Nutritional Support ; Orthopedics ; Quality of Life ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Tissue Therapy

PURPOSE: Functional MR imaging is the method of demonstrating changes in regional cerebral blood flow produced by sensory, motor, and any other tasks. Functional MR of visual cortex os performed as a patient stares a photic stimulation, so adaptable photic stimulation is necessary. The purpose of this study to evaluate whether the size of photic stimulation can affect the degree of visual cortex activation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Functional MR imaging was performed in 5 volunteers with normal visual acuity. Photic stimulator was made by 39 light-emitting diodes on a plate ,operating at 8 Hz. The sizes of photic stimulator were full field, half field and focal central field. The MR imager was Siemens 1.5-T Magenton Vision system, using standard head coil. Functional MRI utilized EPI sequence (TR/TE=1.0/51. 0msec, matrix No.=98x128, slice thickness=8mm) with 3sets of 6 imaging during stimulation and 6 imaging during stimulation and 6 imaging during rest, all 36 scanning were obtained. Activated images were obtained using postprocessing software(statistical analysis by Z-zone, and these images were combined with T-1 weighted anatomical images. The activated signals were quantified by numbering the activated pixels, and activation index was obtained by dividing the pixel number of each stimulator size with the sum of the pixel number of 3 study using 3 kinds of stimulators. The correlation between the activation index and the stimulation size was analysed. RESULTS: Mean increase of signal intensities on the activation area using full field photic stimulator was about 9.6%. The activation index was greatest on full field. second on half field and smallest in focal central field in 4, The index of half field was greater than that of full field in 1. The ranges of activation index were full field 43-73%(mean 55%), half field 22-40%(mean 32%), and focal central field 5-24%(13%). CONCLUSION: The degree of visual cortex activation increases with the size of photic stimulator.
Head ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Photic Stimulation ; Visual Acuity ; Visual Cortex* ; Volunteers

We report a case of multiple cutaneous focal mucinosis in a 22 year-old male, who presented with multiple, asymptomatic, nodular lesions on the left upper trunk and left arm which had persisted for about one year. They were 2 to 17 mm in size, firm, yellowish, dome-shaped elevated, slightly movable papules or nodules which were distributed over the area of the left C3-7 and TI-3 sensory dermatomes. The histopathologic findings showed homogeneous mucinous material in the upper dermis. The material was confirmed to be hyaluronic add by, alcian blue stain. Some of the lesions showed improvement with intmlesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide. Such an entity, to the best of our knowledge, has not yet been reported.
Alcian Blue ; Arm ; Dermis ; Humans ; Male ; Mucinoses* ; Mucins ; Triamcinolone Acetonide