PURPOSE: Epilepsy is one of the most important morbidities in childhood, but its underlying causes can not be found even though extensive studies have been done. Advances in diagnostic modalities, including neuroimaging such as MRI reveal the apparent underlying causes of epilepsies. Therefore, we evaluated specific causes of symptomatic epilepsy and compared clinical features with idiopathic epilepsy. METHODS: Three hundred nine epileptic children visited the Pediatric Department of Pusan National University Hospital from January, 1991 to June, 1998. Of these, 79 patients were determined as symptomatic epilepsy and the analysis of various clinical features was undertaken retrospectively, according to the presence or absence of underlying causes. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty two patients(75.1%) were idiopathic and 79 patients(24.9%) were symptomatic, the ratios of male to female and the ages at the onset of first seizure were 1.28 : 1, 1.48 1 and 3.24+/-5.65, 2.40+/-2.86 years(p>0.05, p<0.05), respectively. Causes of symptomatic epilepsy in order of frequency were birth asphyxia(29.9%), CNS malformation(27.3%), CNS infection(22.1%) and others(20.7%). The ratios of male to female and onset age of birth asphyxia, CNS malformation, CNS infection were 2.83 : 1, 1.91+/-2.64, 0.75:1, 2.35+/-2.92 and 1.43 : 1, 2.74+/-2.56, respectively. Seizure types in symptomatic group were classified as partial seizure in 22.1%, generalized seizure in 71.4% and unclassified in 6.5%, compared with those of idiopathic group classified as 46.6%, 51.7%, 1.7%, respectively. Intervals between medication start and seizure control in idiopathic and symptomatic groups were 146.5+/-148.7 days and 246.1+/-247.6 days, repectively(p<0.05). According to their etiology of birth asphyxia, CNS malformation and CNS infection were 364.5+/-315.0 days, 175.4+/-181.6 days, 199.9+/-215.3 days, respectively(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: CNS malformation, birth asphyxia, CNS infection were main causes of symptomatic epilepsy in childhood. In symptomatic epilepsy, generalized seizures was more common and occurred at a younger age. It takes more time to control seizure of symptomatic epilepsy.
Age of Onset ; Asphyxia ; Busan ; Child ; Epilepsy* ; Epilepsy, Generalized ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neuroimaging ; Parturition ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures

BACKGROUND: Most studies of Mycoplasma pneumonia involve a group of admitted patients in hospital, usually with major medical illness. So we investigated the epidemiologic and radiologic features during the course of outbreak of pneumonia in Chunnam coastal area. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the epidemiologic and clinical feature of 105 patients with serologically proven Mycoplasma pneumonia treated at Kwang-Yang Hospital during a epidemic period of Jun. 1993 to Dec. 1993. All cases of pneumonia developed in this period were also reviewed and compared with serologically proven group. RESULTS: 1) There were 63 males and 42 females. 2) More than half(57%) of cases belonged to 5-9 years of age group, and mean age was 6.5 years old. Mean age was steadily decreased as prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumonia had been subsided. 3) A major determinant of the outbreak seemed to .to the population density rather than the population size. 4) The common radiologic features were interstitial in type, and 67 cases was restricted to one lobe. Lobar types are more common in late childhood, and interstitial or diffuse types in early childhood. CONCLUSION: These epidemiologic and radiographic characteristics would contribute to the diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumonia.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Population Density ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Low Back Pain* ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors*

Plant dermatitis can be classified as primary irritant dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, phytophotodermatitis and pseudophytophotodermatitis. Among these, allergic contact dermatitis is seen most freguently. It is generally known that dermatitis causing plants have various characteristics depending on the habitat af different plants. Until now we have had great difficulty in finding the causative factors in plant dermatitis in Korea. This is due to the fact that we do not have anr comprehensive reports regarding domestic or imported timbers concerned in contact dermatiti. The purpose of this thesis is to gather the basic materials necessary to discover the cauae of plant contact dermatitis. All kinds of trees, flowers, and grasses in Korea and imported timbers concerned with contact dermatitis were considered in this study. We strove to ascertain whether the species in our country are the same as found in foreign countries or other different speceies are in our country under the sarne genus found in foreign countries. The basis for our study is several Korean plant books as well as interviews with several native botanists. Vie also discussed major families af plants causing or possible causing plant dermatitis in Korea.
Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Dermatitis, Irritant ; Ecosystem ; Flowers ; Humans ; Korea ; Plants ; Poaceae ; Trees

A 62-year-old man presented with a tender, solitary nodule on the left upper arm. He had no specific family history of the lesion. A biopsy specimen showed various sized irregular vascular lumens in the upper dermis. The vascular walls consisted of an endothelial cell layer and rim of one to three layers of glomus cell nests outside the endothelial cells. The cell nests consisted of round shaped epitheloid cells with relatively uniform round or oval shaped nuclei and pale cytoplasm. These tumor cells were strongly positive for vimentin, and a-smooth muscle actin. On electron microscopic examination, the cytoplasm of these tumor cells contained fine filamentous components and many electron dense bodies were found at the plasma membrane and the cytoplasm. We report a case of a solitary glomus tumor(glomangioma) that showed the histological features of the multiple type of glomus tumor. In addition we describe the results of an immunohistochemical and electron microscopic study.
Actins ; Arm ; Biopsy ; Cell Membrane ; Cytoplasm ; Dermis ; Endothelial Cells ; Glomus Tumor ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Vimentin

To elucidate the clinical avaiability of FNAB, we reviewed retrospectively medical records of 30 patients who had infiltrative pulmonary lesion or pulmonary nodule or mediastinal mass, and got percutaneous fine needle aspiration biopsy using Westcott needle, 20~22 gauge, at the department of Pediatrics, Hanyang university hospital from July, 1986 to June, 1993. The obtained results were as follows: 1) There were 30 patients, aged 6 months to 15 years. 2) There were 17 male patients and 13 female patients with sex ratio of 1.3:1 3) Among 30 cases, we discovered 16 cases of infiltrative lesions, 7 cases of pulmonary nodules and 7 cases of mediastinal mass lesions. In mediastinal there were 4 cases of anterior mediastinum and 3 cases of posterior mediastinum. 4) Overall success rate on fine needle aspiration biopsy was 60% (18/30). The success rate was 50% (8/16) in infiltrative lesions, 50% (8/15) in pulmonary nodules and 71% (5/7) in mediastinal mass lesions, respectively. 5) Eight infiltrative lesione were diagnosed as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Five pulmonary nodules were diagnosed as aspergillosis (2 cases), tuberculosis (1 case), mucormycosis (1 case), lung metastasis of metastasis of neuroblastoma (1 case). Five mediastinal mass lesions were diagnosed as teratoma (2 cases), lymphoma (1 case), malignant neurogenic tumor (1 case), ganglioneuroblastoma (1 case). 6) The complications occured in 20% (6 cases) among 30 procedures. All cases were due to pneumothorax: 3 cases spontaneously resolved, and 3 cases needed chest tube insertion. There were no death related with this procedures.
Aspergillosis ; Biopsy* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Chest Tubes ; Child* ; Diagnosis* ; Female ; Ganglioneuroblastoma ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Medical Records ; Mucormycosis ; Needles ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroblastoma ; Pediatrics ; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis ; Pneumothorax ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Ratio ; Teratoma ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: Laser resurfacing has beneficial effects for the treatment of several skin conditions. Recently, the pulsed erbium:YAG laser has been shown to be a highly effective treatment for several kinds of pitted facial scars. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of pulsed erbium:YAG laser skin resurfacing at the setting of low or high energy for pitted acne scars. METHODS: 65 patients with pitted acne scars were included in this study. All patients had skin types III or IV. All patients were instructed to use tretinoin cream 0.05% nightly for 2-4 weeks prior to the laser treatment. The pulsed erbium:YAG laser with a 2 mm handpiece at the setting of 500 mJ/pulse, 3.5-5 W in 45 patients and 1,000 mJ/pulse, 7-10 W in 20 patients was used. Two weeks after laser treatment, topical application of hydroquinone 4%, tretinoin 0.05%, and hydrocortisone 1% cream was recommended for 2-4 weeks. Facial photographs were obtained at baseline and 2 week intervals postoperatively. The results of treatment were evaluated for the changes of skin texture and color at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. RESULTS: In 45 cases treated with 500 mJ/pulse energy, pitted acne scars were improved about 46.7 % on average and no erythema and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation was observed after 6 months. In 20 cases treated with 1,000 mJ/pulse energy, pitted acne scars were improved about 64% on average and erythema in two patients and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation in one patient were observed after 6 months. CONCLUSION: The results of laser treatment for pitted facial acne scars at the setting of high energy are better than those of laser treatment at the setting of low energy.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Cicatrix* ; Erbium* ; Erythema ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hyperpigmentation ; Lasers, Solid-State* ; Skin ; Tretinoin

BACKGROUND: Laser resurfacing of cutaneous scars, rhytides, and photodamaged skin has become very popular. Pulsed erbium:YAG laser resurfacing has recently come into favor for the treatment of pitted acne scars. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of pulsed erbium:YAG laser in cutaneous resurfacing of pitted acne scars. METHODS: 100 patients with pitted acne scars were enrolled in this study. All patients were treated by means of a pulsed erbium:YAG laser with a 2 mm handpiece at the setting of 500 to 1000mJ/pulse and fluences used varied between 5-15J/cm2. Photographs of the face were obtained at baseline and 2 week postoperatively. Two weeks after treatment, postoperative care such as applying hydroquinone 4% and tretinoin 0.05% was recommended for 2 to 4 weeks. RESULTS: Out of 100 patients, 20% of patients showed an excellent response, 50% a good response, 21% a fair response and 9% a poor response. After 6 months, erythema had developed in two patients and and three patients had developed postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation and delayed contact dermatitis. CONCLUSION: Treatment with pulsed erbium:YAG laser shows high efficacy and low morbidity in pitted acne scar resurfacing.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Cicatrix* ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Erythema ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Hypopigmentation ; Postoperative Care ; Skin ; Tretinoin

The present study was carried out to find a simple and safe in. vitro test for phtotoxic drugs. Authors selected two strains of Salmonella typhimurium(TA98 and TA102) which have been used in Ames test for the detsction of mutagenecity af various chemical substances. Both strains are genuine products of genetic enzineering. The etrain TA98 should be highly vulnerable to ultraviolet radition because it lacks normal I)NA excision repair gene. The strain TA102 was chosen as control since it maintained the DNA repair gene. These strains were subjected to increasing dosea of UVA with or without pretreatment of 8 methoxypsoralsn(8-MOP) which is a prototype of photatoxic druge. The authors made use of a perforated stain-less steel template which provided a simple and eosy monitoring of ultraviolet irradiation effects i.e. clear zones due to inhibition of the atrains could be determined. By using this methad, the authors acquired the following results .' I. 8-MOP alone exerted no inhibition on both strains at concentration upto 100mg /ml. 2. UVA irradiation alone showed no growth inhibition at dose upto 5J/cm. 3. UVA irradiation after pretreatment with 8 MOP resulted varying growth inhibition in proportion to irradiation doses. 4. Authors found a suitable concentration of 8-MOP for this test is 10pg/ml. With this ccncentrstion, minimal phatatoxic dose of UVA were O.l J/cm for the strain TA98 and 1.0J/cm for the strain TA102 respectively.
Dermatitis, Phototoxic ; DNA Repair ; Methoxsalen ; Salmonella ; Steel

Multiple factors including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were evaluated for a case-control study in Chonnam area to investigate the causative entity of COPD. Data on the multiple causative factors from hospital records and interview survey were analyzed in three groups of COPD(64 cases as case group), normal lung (83 cases as control group 1) and non-COPD lung disease (45 cases as control group 2). Smoking status, history of adulthood pulmonary infection and frequent history of URI, socioeconomic status, and GERD were significantly different between COPD group and control group 1. Drinking status, physical height of the subjects and GERD were significantly different between COPD group and control group 2. If control group 1 was used, odds ratio of GERD and COPD was 5.68(95%confidence interval, 95% CI:2.59-12.45) and 4.81 (95% CI:1.89-10.53) when adjusted by age and smoking status. If control group 2 was used. Odds ratio of GERD and COPD was 4.22 (95% CI:1.69-10.56) and 4.59 (95% CI:1.64-12.86) when adjusted by alcohol and adulthood respiratory infection status. In summary, there results suggested that GERD might play a causative role in the development of COPD.
Case-Control Studies ; Drinking ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Hospital Records ; Jeollanam-do ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Odds Ratio ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Social Class