No abstract available.
Humans

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) cause neurologic dysfunction by blocking the voltage-gated sodium channels located in all of the peripheral nerves and muscles. We experienced two patients presenting with generalized motor weakness after ingestion of pufferfish. The nerve conduction study showed diffuse slowing of motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity, prolonged motor terminal latency and decreased sensory nerve action potentials without temporal dispersion or conduction block. Abnormal findings of nerve conduction study improved rapidly without any deterioration. Clinical symptoms and signs ameliorated in accordance with findings of nerve conduction study without any neurologic sequelae. These imply that tetrodotoxication is reversible and functional neurologic disorder. We suggest that nerve conduction studies can be available in serial monitoring of tetrodotoxication as an objective means.
Action Potentials ; Eating ; Humans ; Muscles ; Nervous System Diseases ; Neural Conduction ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Peripheral Nerves* ; Tetraodontiformes ; Tetrodotoxin ; Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels

Dermatomyositis (DM) is an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy with bimodal onset age distribution. The age of onset is between 5-18 yr in juvenile DM and 45-64 yr in adult DM. DM has a distinct clinical manifestation characterized by proximal muscle weakness, skin rash, extramuscular manifestations (joint contracture, dysphagia, cardiac disturbances, pulmonary symptoms, subcutaneous calcifications), and associated disorders (connective tissue disease, systemic autoimmune diseases, malignancy). The pathogenesis of juvenile and adult DM is presumably similar but there are important differences in some of the clinical manifestations, associated disorders, and outcomes. In this study, we investigated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of 16 patients with juvenile DM and 48 with adult DM. This study recognizes distinctive characteristics of juvenile DM such as higher frequency of neck muscle involvement, subcutaneous calcifications, and better outcomes.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age of Onset ; Aged ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use ; Calcification, Physiologic ; Dermatomyositis/*diagnosis/mortality/therapy ; Exanthema/diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Weakness/diagnosis ; Prednisolone/therapeutic use ; Prognosis ; Severity of Illness Index ; Survival Rate

Splenic epidermoid cyst is a rare disease affecting the spleen. We report a 24-year-old male who presented with acute abdominal pain. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen revealed a huge cystic lesion of the spleen. At laparotomy, a huge cyst was found arising from the low pole of the spleen. It was removed by splenectomy. Histopathological findings were consistent with splenic epidermoid cyst.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Pain ; Epidermal Cyst ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Male ; Rare Diseases ; Spleen ; Splenectomy ; Young Adult

Splenic epidermoid cyst is a rare disease affecting the spleen. We report a 24-year-old male who presented with acute abdominal pain. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen revealed a huge cystic lesion of the spleen. At laparotomy, a huge cyst was found arising from the low pole of the spleen. It was removed by splenectomy. Histopathological findings were consistent with splenic epidermoid cyst.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Pain ; Epidermal Cyst ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Male ; Rare Diseases ; Spleen ; Splenectomy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: Bupropion is an antidepressant with proven efficacy for smoking cessation, however the response rate is some limited. With this background, the authors investigated the difference of early bupropion response in smoking cessation according to individual genetic polymorphism and temperamental characteristics. METHOD: Subjects were 113 Korean male volunteers who were nicotine dependent and wanted to quit smoking. Authors compared 6 candidate genes (DRD2, DRD4, dopamine transporter, norepinephrine transporter, serotonin transporter, COMT), and Temperament Character Inventory (TCI) between response group and non-response group after 3 weeks bupropion treatment. RESULT: Among 6 candidate genes, DRD2 homozygotes (A2/A2+A1/A1), COMT H/H genotype and H allele carriers showed high rate of smoking cessation by bupropion. NET-8 GG genotype and G allele carriers showed low rate of smoking cessation by bupropion. Persistence score in TCI was significant between two groups. CONCLUSION: DRD2, COMT, NET-8 genetic polymorphisms and some temperamental characteristics could predict success of smoking cessation by early treatment response of bupropion.
Alleles ; Bupropion* ; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; Genotype ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Nicotine ; Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; Polymorphism, Genetic* ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; Smoke* ; Smoking Cessation* ; Smoking* ; Temperament* ; Volunteers

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by a necrotizing vasculitis of small and medium-sized artery, which can involve several organs, such as, the kidney, skin, peripheral nerves, muscle, heart, and gastrointestinal tract. In addition to systemic involvement of the classical PAN, a localized disease of the gallbladder, uterus, testis, and skin has been reported. In particular, a limited involvement of the breast is an unusual manifestation of PAN and usually runs a favorable prognosis when compared with the classical PAN. We describe a 64-year-old female patient who had a limited disease of PAN on both the breasts. She presented with mass-like lesions on both the breasts. After surgical excision of the breast lesions, she has been doing well with only a low dosage of prednisolone.
Arteries ; Breast* ; Female ; Gallbladder ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Kidney ; Middle Aged ; Myocardium ; Peripheral Nerves ; Polyarteritis Nodosa* ; Prednisolone ; Prognosis ; Skin ; Testis ; Uterus ; Vasculitis

Cutaneous metastasis from the ovarian cancer has been found to be exceedingly rare. We report a case of a metastatic ovarian mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, which clinically manifested as the epidermal cyst-like skin nodule on the right upper quadrant of abdomen.
Abdomen ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Skin

Eruptive collagenoma is an acquired connective tissue nevus composed predominantly of collagen. We present a case of eruptive collagenoma in a 13-years-old female who had asymptomatic multiple 3 to 9 mm sized flesh colored scattered papules on both limbs. In addition, the differential diagnosis and other types of cutaneous collagenomas are briefly discussed.
Collagen ; Connective Tissue ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Nevus

Papuloerythroderma of Ofuji is a rare type of erythroderma of the elderly and consists of flat-topped erythematous papules that coalesce, forming diffuse sheets that characteristically spare skin folds (so called 'deck-chair' sign). The etiopathogenesis of the disease remains unknown, but a number of cases have demonstrated the connection of this disorder with malignancy, mainly cutaneous T cell lymphoma. We report a case of papuloerythroderma of Ofuji unassociated with underlying malignancy, with the biopsy specimen showing nonspecific eczematous findings. There are cases of papuloerythroderma of Ofuji associated with malignancy, and one needs to be mindful of such in examinations.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; Humans ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous ; Skin