Pigmentary dermarcation lines are boundaries between more deeply pigmented skin and areas of lighter pigmentation. We report 4 cases of pigmentary demarcation lines of pregnancy associated with erythema which developed in the third trimester of pregnancy and were symmetrically located in the buttock and posteromedial portion of the lower extremities. After delivery, the erythema disappeared within 3-7 days, followed by slow resolution of the brownish pigmentation.
Buttocks ; Erythema* ; Female ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Pigmentation ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnancy* ; Skin

Prurigo pigmentosa(PP) is a rare dermatosis with an unknown cause characterized by intensely pruritic papules that resolve with reticulate pigmentation. It is a disease entitity commonly reported in Japan but seemingly rare in other parts of the world. We report 5 cases that clinically and histopathologically fulfilled the characterisitics of PP and were treated with dapsone resulting in significant clinical improvement.
Dapsone ; Japan ; Pigmentation ; Prurigo* ; Skin Diseases

No abstract available.
Head* ; Neck*

Midtrimester genetic amniocentesis has been a gold standard for prenatal diagnosis in antenatal care since last 25 years. After the triple serum marker test was introduced as a prenatal screening method for Down syndrome, the frequency of genetic amniocentesis was increased. OBJECTIVE: To determine the complication, risk of amniocentesis and detection rate of chromosomal abnormality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective clinical analysis of 1,064 midtrimester genetic amnicentesis in IL Sin Christian Hospital antenatal clinic from Jan 1995 to Dec 1997. Chi square test was used for the statistical analysis and p value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Amnicentesis were significantly increased in the age of 35-39 yrs and 40yrs over. And also the incidence of chromosomal abnormality was higher than younger age group. The indications of amnicentesis were screen positive of triple marker test(43%), advanced maternal age(20.8%), abnormal beta-hCG level, past history of chromosome abnormality or malformed baby and abnormal alpha-FP level in order. Total number of chromosomal abnormalities was 30 and the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities was 2.8%(30/1,064). The complications were developed in 13 cases and fetal loss rate was 0.78%(9/1,064). CONCLUSION: The detection rate of chromosomal abnormality in midtrimester amnicentesis for prenatal diagnosis was high and relatively safe procedure but, we should be attention to more careful manipulation.
Amniocentesis ; Biomarkers ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies

Leiomyosarcoma arising in the skin is rare tumor, and diagnosis usually is made microscopically. After local excision, these lesions recur in large proportion of pat ients. The authors herein report a 53-year-old male with leiomyosarcoma appeared in the skin of the right forearm and presenting as a dark reddish colored, 5*6cm in diameter, superficial ulcerated single firm nodule with intermittent pain. Histopathological examination showed poorly circumscribed tumor consisting of interlacing bundles of spindle shaped smooth muscle cells in the middle and lower parts of the dermis. The nuclei were hyperchromatic, large, vacuolated, and irregular in shape. Electron microscopic findings revealed cytoplasmic organelles such as rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria of malignant smooth muscle cells in the paranuclear area, Characteristic subsarcoelmmal caveolae and dense plaque were noted and myofilaments were distributed in the peripheral cytoplasm. The tumor did not recur in 10 months' follow-up.
Caveolae ; Cytoplasm ; Dermis ; Diagnosis ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forearm ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitochondria ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Myofibrils ; Organelles ; Skin* ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to find some points that may help the differential diagnosis of ring lesions in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the liver through recognition of the characteristics of the morphology and the signal intensities of the ring lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: T1- and T2-weighted axial spin-echo images and gadolinium-enhanced Tl-weighted images were obtained with a 1.0 T superconducting MR imager. We reviewed the MR findings of 23 hepatic ring lesions which were confirmed as hepatocellular carcinomas (13), metastases (4), liver abscesses (4), hydatid cyst (1), and hematoma (1). RESULTS: There were 19 single rings and 4 double rings (all the cases were liver abscesses) on Tl-weighted images, and 8 single rings and 14 double rings on T2-weighted images. The signal intensity of the ring was low in hepatocellular carcinoma on Tl-weighted images and in hydatid cyst on T2-weighted images. It was high on Tl-weighted images in subacute hemaroma. Target lesion as an inner high-signal-intensity ring surrounded by a high-signal-intensity ring on T2-weighted images was seen in metatasis, liver abscess, and hepatocellular carcinoma. CONCLUSION: It is helpful to recognize the chracteristics of morphology and signal intensities of the ring lesions in the differential diagnosis of hepatic focal lesions.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Echinococcosis ; Hematoma ; Liver Abscess ; Liver* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neoplasm Metastasis

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Clone Cells* ; Microdissection*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the right and left differences of frontal ramal inclination in chin-deviated individuals. METHODS: Thirty adult patients with clinically apparent chin deviation were selected as the chin-deviated group, and 30 adult patients with symmetric faces were selected as the control group. On the posteroanterior cephalograms, the frontal ramal inclination was measured, and the right and left differences were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: While the control group did not show right and left differences of frontal ramal inclinations, the chin-deviated individuals showed right and left differences of frontal ramal inclination. In chin-deviated individuals, the frontal ramal inclinations of the non-deviated side were statistically greater than those of the deviated side. The right and left differences of frontal ramal inclinations, with menton deviation and the right and left differences of maxillary heights showed statistically significant correlation. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the frontal ramal inclinations should be considered in the diagnosis of facial asymmetry.
Adult ; Chin ; Diagnosis ; Facial Asymmetry ; Humans

The purpose of this study is to develop social medicine curriculum model and to propose its management device. The study developed the curriculum model and its management plan as follows; First, the social medicine curriculum can be implemented starting from the first semester of first year through the first semester of fourth year, and is splitted up into two semesters for each year of medical school. Second, a semester consists of sixteen weeks, giving two hours course per week. Third, the sixteen weeks curriculum should be composed of sub courses which lasts at least four weeks each. Forth, the elective course of social medicine is of four blocks in total, and runs from second semester of the second year through first semester of the fourth year. This means the elective courses in the first semester are opened to third and fourth year students. And the elective courses in the second semester are opened to second and third year medical students. Fifth, the minimum number of elective courses should be more than four courses per semester. Sixth, the credits for core and elective social medicine courses are one point each for any lectures or laboratories carried out in the following way; one hour course provided for sixteen weeks or two hours course provided for eight weeks. The social medicine education stands firm as one of the core subjects in twenty-first century medical education. Thus, the effectiveness and systematic development of the program as well as running it will be the most important criterion for determining the competency of a medical school.
Curriculum* ; Education ; Education, Medical ; Humans ; Lectures ; Running ; Schools, Medical ; Social Medicine* ; Students, Medical