PURPOSE: Ocular sparganosis has not been reported in Korea and 5 cases have been reported sporadically worldwide. Among these, 2 cases were found under the conjunctiva. We reported the first Korean case of ocular sparganosis manifesting as a subconjunctival mass. CASE: A 29-year-old man was presented to remove sunconjunctival mass in his left eye for cosmetic purpose. His ocular findings were normal except 0.5 x 0.5 mm sized subconjunctival mass. The surgically excised mass was suspected to have a parasite grossly. Sparganum was identified under microscopic examination after hematoxylin-eosin staining. CONCLUSIONS: The morphologic state of mumified parasite under microscope was plerocercoid phase of spargaum. His ocular movement and visual acuity remained normal after excision of the mass.
Adult ; Conjunctiva ; Humans ; Korea* ; Parasites ; Sparganosis* ; Sparganum ; Visual Acuity

BACKGROUND: Neurofibiomat,osis type 1(NF-1) is a multisystemic disorder of genetic ori gin, affecting one in every 3000 to 4000 people. It is clinically important in the aspect of dermatology, pediatrics, orthopedic surgery, neurology, neurosurgery and ophthalmology. OBJECTIVE: The purpore of this study was to elucidate the clinical characteristics of NF-1 in Korean people. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective study on 112 patients which were compatible to the diagnostic criteria of Riccardi and Neurofibromatosis Conference Statement. The results were compared with other western studies. RESULTS: The age of onset, sex ratio, family history of neurofibromatosis, and clinica features of cafe-au-lait spot, neurofibroma, and axillary freckinings did not differed from western countries. However, some characterist,ics of NF 1(e.g. Lisch nodule) were not as sessed in the most of the cases and incomplete evaluations of the systemic diseases wen found. CONCLUSION: In this study t.he clinial features of NF-1 did not differ from western coun tries in many aspects. A more intensive evaluation of patient,s status is needed to manag; NF-1 patients appropritely.
Age of Onset ; Cafe-au-Lait Spots ; Dermatology ; Humans ; Neurofibroma ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Neurofibromatosis 1* ; Neurology ; Neurosurgery ; Ophthalmology ; Orthopedics ; Pediatrics ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Ratio

PURPOSE: The objectives of this study was to compare the efficacy of antibiotic monotherapy with antibiotic plus alpha-blocker combination therapy for the treatment of inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October 2005 and May 2006, 69 patients who were diagnosed as CPPS(National Institutes of Health; NIH-catagory IIIa), were included in this study. The patients were randomly placed into two groups: group I was treated with gatifloxacin alone(35 patients), and group II was treated with gatifloxacin and doxazosin(34 patients) for 6 weeks. For all the patients, the urinalysis, expressed prostatic massage, the National Institute of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index(NIH-CPSI) and a distal rectal examination(DRE) were performed at the initial visit. The NIH-CPSI was compared both before and after the treatment. RESULTS: On the initial diagnosis, the mean CPSI of the group I patients was 24.0+/-6.3, and that for the group II patients was 24.7+/-6.9. After the treatment, that of the group I was 16.6+/-5.4, and that of group II was 13.4+/-5.3. After 6 weeks of treatment, the changes in the total CPSI scores had significantly improved in group II compared with group I(p<0.05). A statistically significant improvement occurred in the pain score, the voiding symptom score and the quality of life in the group II compared with group I(p<0.05) CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that combination therapy of antibiotic plus alpha-blocker would be more effective than antibiotic monotheraphy for treating patients with inflammatory chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
Academies and Institutes ; Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Fluoroquinolones ; Humans ; Massage ; Pelvic Pain ; Prostatitis ; Quality of Life ; Urinalysis

PURPOSE: We wanted to investigate how transurethral resection of the prostate(TURP), for treating patients with benign prostate hyperplasia(BPH), affected the serum prostate-specific antigen(PSA) levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The serum PSA levels were measured before and 12 months after operation in 57 patients who underwent TURP for BPH. The total prostate weight, as measured by transurethral ultrasonography (TRUS), and the weight of the surgical specimen were examined in relation to the pretreatment PSA value and the changes in the PSA levels after the operation. RESULTS: The preoperative mean PSA density was 0.10+/-0.08ng/ml/cc. The postoperative serum PSA levels were decreased significantly after TURP (p=0.002). Removal of 1g of BPH tissue reduced the serum PSA levels by an average of 0.22+/-0.4ng/ml. The changes in the serum PSA level one year after TURP correlated with the resected chip weights[Y=0.406+0.176x (r=0.526, p<0.05)]. CONCLUSIONS: TURP caused a long term decrease in the serum PSA level. One year after TURP, the PSA levels should be expected to decrease according to the resected chip weights.
Humans ; Prostate* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Ultrasonography ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: At cystoscopy, bladder cancer shows various presentations; these are papillary, flat, elevated and ulcerated. Erythematous lesions could be carcinoma in situ (CIS), cancer or benign lesion, so biopsy should be done to exclude malignancy. However, this might cause many problems such as bleeding, inflammation and the added cost. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the significance of erythematous lesion biopsy at cystoscopy and to identify the factors related to the detection of bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1999 to June 2006, 337 biopsies were taken from the erythematous lesions seen at cystoscopy. We reviewed the pathologic results of the erythematous lesions. We also investigated the patients' histories of bladder cancer, the urine cytology performed at cystoscopy, the intravesical therapy for bladder cancer and the complications after biopsy. A logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with the diagnosis of bladder cancer. RESULTS: In 337 erythematous lesion biopsies, malignancy was found in 36 (10.9%), and 19 of 36 (52.8%) were CIS. Among the benign lesions, chronic cystitis was most common. Bladder cancer was detected more often in patient with a history of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) and in patients over the age of 65 years. Especially, a history of TCC was an independent risk factor for bladder cancer [odds ratio: 2.974, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.163-7.604]. After biopsy, hematuria that was needed management occurred in 3.6% of the lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Erythematous lesion biopsy yields a positive finding of malignancy in 10.9% of the lesions and could be a valuable exam, particularly for the follow-up for TCC, and for patients over the age of 65 years.
Biopsy* ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; Cystitis ; Cystoscopy* ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematuria ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Logistic Models ; Risk Factors ; Ulcer ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: Current changing trends in dermatology practices push most dermatologists to manage their own homepage. But, most dermatologists do not know how to construct and maintain their homepage effectively and efficiently. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: By testing web usability of four dermatology clinic homepages of relatively large scale, we tried to give some insight of constructing homepages in the viewpoints of homepage users to dermatologists who have a plan to make their own homepage. RESULTS: Four well-known dermatology clinic homepages are relatively well-planned and multi-purposed ones. However, they show weaknesses in the aspect of information architecture and the selection of the themes of contents. Most of the online shopping malls constructed on their homepages show only primitive forms. CONCLUSION: For the effective operation a clinic homepage, a dermatologist as a planner and manager of homepage should have the concept of web usability. If homepages are built with the concept of web usability, they will be operated more fruitfully.
Dermatology*

BACKGROUND: Botulinum toxin type A is being widely used for the treatment of facial wrinkles affected by facial expression muscles. Due to the sudden and exponential surge in popularity of its use for facial wrinkles, there are scanty reports of facial wrinkles treated with botulinum toxin type A especially in Asians. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate the clinical features of facial wrinkles affected by facial expression muscles and the effects of botulinum toxin A on the treatment of wrinkles. METHODS: Medical records of 61 patients with facial wrinkles treated with botulinum toxin type A were reviewed. Demographic profiles of the patients, the age of onset of facial wrinkle, the distributions of facial wrinkles, treatment dose of botulinum toxin type A, side effects, and follow up data were analyzed. RESULTS: Female patients were predominant(93.4%) than male patients(6.6%). The mean age of the patients was 41.3 years. Crow's feet were the most frequently treated site of facial wrinkles. Average number of treated sites were 2.38. Side effect profiles were similar as previous reports in Cauca sians. The number of patients who took the regular retreatment was less than expected. CONCLUSION: The clinical profiles of wrinkle patients in Koreans treated with botulinum toxin A were assessed. We think it is one of the effective treatment modalities for antiwrinkling.
Age of Onset ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Botulinum Toxins ; Botulinum Toxins, Type A ; Facial Expression* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Muscles* ; Retreatment

PURPOSE: We report a case of orbital abscess secondary to acute dacryocystitis in which the patient had been cared for chronic dacryocystitis. METHODS: A 59-year-old woman presented to our clinic with a history of chronic sinusitis from childhood and right chronic dacryocystitis treated for 6 years. She had sufferred from influenza 2 weeks previously and complained of painful lid swelling, limitation of ocular movement, exophthalmos, chemosis, and decreased vision of the right eye for 2 weeks. An orbital CT scan was taken and bacterial culture and sensitivity tests were done from the discharge. RESULTS: CT scan showed inflammation and abscess formation around the right nasolacrimal duct orifice which was swollen and widened. Some of the inflammation tissues extended into the retrobulbar portion. Streptococcus pyogenous was cultured. Lid swelling, pain, exophthalmos, and visual acuity improved after external dacryocystorhinostomy, and surgical drainage. CONCLUSIONS: We should be careful in a case of acute dacryocystitis underlying chronic dacryocystitis as it easily causes complications, and in such a case early surgical management as well as antibiotics therapy is more effective.
Abscess* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Dacryocystitis* ; Dacryocystorhinostomy ; Drainage ; Exophthalmos ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Influenza, Human ; Middle Aged ; Nasolacrimal Duct ; Orbit* ; Sinusitis ; Streptococcus ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Visual Acuity

To examine whether the IL-1A(-889) polymorphism associates with a risk for Alzheimer's disease(AD) and acts interactively with the apolipoprotein(APOE) epsilon 4 in the development of AD, we performed genotype analyses of the IL-1A and the APOE of the 102 Korean AD patients and 200 Korean non-demented controls. We failed to detect a significant difference in genotypic and allelic frequencies of IL-1A between the AD group and control group. No overexpression of the IL-1A C/T genotype and IL-1A T allele was found when we analyzed the late-onset and early-onset patients, separately. There was no significant genetic interaction between IL-1A polymorphism and the APOE polymorphism. In conclusion, the IL-1A polymorphism did not contribute to the development of AD independently or interactively with the APOE epsilon4 allele in Koreans.
Alleles ; Alzheimer Disease* ; Apolipoproteins E ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Genotype ; Humans ; Interleukins* ; Polymorphism, Genetic*

This study aimed to determine the variables significantly related to the MMSE in the Korean version of the CERAD assessment battery(MMSE-KC) and present the normative information of the test in the Korean elderly. The MMSE-KC was administered in a standardized manner to 618 healthy volunteers aged 60 to 90 who were recruited from 4 dementia clinics, 2 elderly welfare centers and 1 community population. The elderly with serious neurological, medical and psychiatric disorders including dementia and major depression were excluded through clinical evaluation using CERAD-K clinical assessment protocol. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the variables significantly related to the MMSE-KC score. Age, educational level, and sex were found to have statistically significant effect on the test score. Based on this result, overlapping age normative table(60 to 74, 65 to 79, 70 to 84, and 75 to 90 years of age) with 3 educational strata(0 to 3 years, 4 to 6 years, and 7 years and more) separately for both male and female were developed. For resulting 24 normative units, 5 percentile, lower quartile, median, upper quartile, mean and standard deviation were calculated. The normative data from this study can be widely used as reference values to objectively interpret the MMSE-KC scores of the Korean elderly.
Aged* ; Dementia ; Depression ; Education ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Reference Values