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

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

PURPOSE: Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is caused by the deficiency of pulmonary surfactants in the newborn. We aim to determine and compare the physical and biological activities of the three surfactants currently on the market, namely Newfactan(R), Surfacten(R) and Exosurf(R). METHODS: For physical activities, we performed the stable microbubble test (SMR) and Pulsating Bubble Surfactometer (PBS). The minimum and maximum surface tensions measured at 1 and 5 minutes allowed us to create the surface-tension diagrams, from which the compressibility at a surface tension of 10 mN/m was calculated for all three products. The biological activities were compared using the pressure-volume curves measured from premature rabbit fetuses. RESULTS: For all three products, the concentration of surfactant and the number of stable microbubbles exhibited a proportional increase in relationship. For both Newfactan(R) and Surfacten(R), the minimal surface tensions were lower than 10 mN/m at 1 and 5 minutes. Hysteresis was evident at 1 and 5 minutes for both Newfactan(R) and Surfacten(R), and their surface tensions were reduced below 10 mN/m at 20% surface compression. As for Exosurf(R), all the hysteresis measurements were below expectations, and the reduction in surface tension during compression was also minimal. The compressibilities at a surface tension of 10 mN/m and measured at 1 and 5 minutes for Newfactan(R) and Surfacten(R), were less than 0.020 cm/dyne at almost concentrations. The pulmonary surface areas of the fetal rabbits were, after aeration by a maximum of 30 cmH2O, adequately maintained after decompression to 5 cmH2O in the groups treated with Newfactan(R) and Surfacten(R). However, the lung volume was not maintained upon decompression to 5 cmH2O in the groups treated with Exosurf(R). CONCLUSIONS: Newfactan(R) and Surfacten(R) were effective agents in prevention of pulmonary collapse in premature lungs.
Decompression ; Fetus ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Lung ; Microbubbles ; Motor Activity ; Pulmonary Surfactants ; Rabbits ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn ; Surface Tension ; Surface-Active Agents

BACKGROUND: The incidence of cutaneous malignant tumors has been continuously increasing worldwide. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze recent trends in the incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in patients from Gwangju City and Chonnam Province. METHODS: We reviewed clinical data and histopathological reports of 82 cases of BCC and 60 cases of SCC in outpatients who had visited the department of dermatology at Chosun University Hospital between 2006 and 2010. RESULTS: The male-female ratio was 0.61:1 in patients with BCC and 0.87:1 in patients with SCC. The most frequent age group was the eighth decade (42% BCC and 67% SCC). Mean patient ages were 65.1 years and 67.8 years, respectively. The most common involved site was the face (90.2% BCC and 78.3% SCC), particularly the cheek. More skin cancers were found on the left than the right side of head and neck area in male automobile drivers only. The most frequent histological BCC subtype was the nodulocystic type (59.7%), followed by the pigmented (12.1%), and adenoid type (9.7%). The most frequent histological pattern of SCC was the well-differentiated type (66.6%). Development of BCC (61.3%) was more frequent than that of SCC in sun-exposed areas. CONCLUSION: Our data were similar to those previously reported. In our study, no difference in demographic variables such as age, gender or residence were found between patients with BCC and SCC. Additionally, no differences were observed in the incidence of BCC or SCC among the other variables. Further cohort studies that include cumulative lifetime sun exposure and a large sample size are needed.
Adenoids ; Automobiles ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cheek ; Cohort Studies ; Dermatology ; Head ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Neck ; Outpatients ; Sample Size ; Skin Neoplasms ; Solar System ; Statistics as Topic

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