BACKGROUND: Congenital hypotrichosis is a non-specific, descriptive term for structural abnormalities of hairs showing variable clinical features. We recently have encountered a group of eleven patients exhibiting abnormal hairs showing similar patterns. OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to clarify the entity of this structural hair disorder. METHODS: Dermatologic examination with routine histopathology, trichograms along with scanning electron-microscopic examination and laboratory studies were undertaken. RESULTS: All cases except one were female, and hair abnormalities had developed at birth or within a year. Diffuse distribution of thin, sparse, soft and hypopigmented hairs were noticed. On hair mounts, four patients showed tapering of roots. The majority of the patients exhibited cuticular changes, as well as pitting and longitudinal axial twisting by scanning electron-microscopic examination; one case demonstrated trichorrhexis nodosa, and another, trans-verse fracture. CONCLUSION: Although our cases bear some similar points with woolly hair, some differences were noted between this type of congenital hypotrichosis and other previously described syndromes.
Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Hypotrichosis* ; Parturition

No abstract available.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Hair Removal* ; Pigmentation Disorders*

We report a case of renal pelvic calcification and ossification simulating a renal pelvic stone. histopathological examination of resected kidney revealed submucosal calcification in the pelvic and ossified foci in the perivascular area. This is the first report in the Korean literature and have been reported 1 case in the English literature till now. This is very rare entity unrelated to amyloidosis.
Amyloidosis ; Kidney

To elucidate some DNA adducts as a biological marker for workers of chromate pigment, the effects of chromium exposure on the formation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine(8-OH-dG) and sister chromatid exchanges(SCEs) frequency in 38 workers of a pigment plant in Bucheon which utilized lead chromates, were examined. The chromium contents of venous blood and urine were measured as working environmental exposure level. The concentrations of 8-OH-dG in DNA isolated from lymphocytes were determined with high performance liquid chromatography and electrochemical detector and denoted as a molar ratio of 8-OH-dG to deoxyguanosine(dG). The SCEs frequency were analyzed in DNA isolated from lymphocytes. A significant correlation was found between creatinine adjusted urine chromium concentration and the molar ratio of 8-OH-dG to dG(r=0.47, p<0.01). After adjusting the current smoking habit, the correlation coefficient was increased(r=0.62, p<0.05). However, there was no significant correlation between the SCE frequency and chromium exposure. This significant results between molar ratio of 8-OH-dG to dG and chromium exposure are in good agreement with in vitro studies that support the importance of DNA adduct formation for the carcinogenic effect of chromium.
Biomarkers ; Chromates ; Chromatids ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Chromium* ; Creatinine ; DNA ; DNA Adducts ; Environmental Exposure ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Molar ; Plants ; Siblings* ; Sister Chromatid Exchange* ; Smoke ; Smoking

Myotonic dystrophy is a multisystemic disorder inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. The characteristic clinical features include the presence of myotonia, atrophy of the muscles of the face and the sternocleidomastoids and numerous nonmusclar manifestations such as cataracts, frontal baldness, gonadal dysfunctions and cardiac abnormalities. We experienced one case of myotonic dystrophy with prolonged atrial flutter in 30-year-old male who was admitted because of palpitation. We present this case with reviewing literatures.
Adult ; Alopecia ; Atrial Flutter* ; Atrophy ; Cataract ; Gonads ; Humans ; Male ; Muscles ; Myotonia ; Myotonic Dystrophy*

PURPOSE: We reviewed the results of endoureterotomy and balloon dilation for benign ureteral strictures to determine the efficacy of these procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We treated 19 patients who had benign ureteral stricture by retrograde endoureterotomy or balloon dilation followed by placement of a 6-8Fr stent for 6 weeks. Mean follow up period was 14 months (6-27 months). Eight patients were treated by endoureterotomy using cold knife under direct vision and 11 patients were treated by balloon dilation. The causes of ureteral strictures were abdominal surgery in 8 patients, urinary tuberculosis in 6 patients, radiation therapy in 2 patients, rigid ureteroscopy in 2 patients and periureteral abscess in 1 patient. The length of strictures was shorter than 1cm in 14 patients and over 1cm in 5 patients. The etiology of strictures was ischemic origin in 11 patients and nonischemic in 8 patients. One patient had poor ipsilateral renal function (<25%). RESULTS: The overall success rate was 78.9% (15/19). The success rate of balloon dilation was 81.8% (9/11) and that of endoureterotomy was 75% (6/8). No significant complication such as high fever or sepsis was observed. Strictures shorter than 1cm had 92.9% (13/14) success rate while strictures over 1cm had 40% (2/5) success rate (p <0.05). The nonischemic strictures had better success rate (87.5%) compared to ischemic strictures (72.7%) without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: We would suggest the use of balloon dilation or endoureterotomy as the initial treatment of benign ureteral stricture regarding the safety and efficiency. The better outcome would be expected in the strictures shorter than 1cm in length.
Abscess ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Sepsis ; Stents ; Tuberculosis ; Ureter* ; Ureteroscopy

Treatment guidelines of the neurointerventional procedures are continuously updated. However, these guidelines differ between countries and even medical societies within the same country because of the differing interests and patient groups. The differences between guidelines are confusing to many neurointerventionalists. Recently "Clinical Research Center for Stroke" in Korea updated "Clinical Practice Guidelines for Stroke" for the patients in Korea. So we introduce those guidelines and compare several recent guidelines of international medical societies for neurointerventionalists.
Aneurysm ; Humans ; Korea ; Societies, Medical

BACKGROUND: Psoriatic lesions have reduced water-holding capacity and show increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL). The effect of D-PUVA therapy, which combines topical calcipotriol and PUVA therapy, on epidermal barrier function has not yet been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to verify the change of TEWL in lesional and normal skin according to D-PUVA therapy in psoriasis patients. METHODS: TEWL was measured consecutively by TEWAMETER TM210®, in 13 psoriasis patients who received D-PUVA therapy. Clinical grading was done according to psoriasis severity index (PSI). RESULTS: TEWL of psoriatic lesion decreased as D-PUVA continued. TEWL of normal-looking skin gradually increased, although the increase was trivial. Clinical grading of scale and in-filtration followed the pattern of PSI in the decrease of TEWL, while that of erythema did not. CONCLUSION: In psoriatic plaques, TEWL was decreased according to the improvement. In normal-looking skin, D-PUVA therapy caused only a little effect on TEWL.
Erythema ; Humans ; Psoriasis ; PUVA Therapy ; Skin ; Water*

BACKGROUND: The elastic properties of skin may be useful indicators of cutaneous diseases and skin aging. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to obtain the normal range of skin elastic properties according to anatomical sites in normal Korean individuals and to show the differences among them. METHODS: Eleven different anatomical sites were measured in 41 healthy volunteers (20 males and 21 females) with a measuring device, Dermaflex-A . Tensile distensibility(TD), elasticity(E), and hysteresis(H) were recorded. RESULTS: TD was decreased in the distal portions (e.g. 2.30 +/- 0.35 in the arm vs 1.62 +/- 0.30 in the palm in males) and in the sites where the subcutaneous tissue was thin (e.g. 3.08 +/- 0.60 in the abdomen vs 1.20 +/- 0.44 in the medial malleolus in males). E was also decreased in the distal portions (e.g. 82.3 +/- 8.5 in arm vs 51.2 +/- 11.1 in the palm in males) and in the sites where the subcutaneous tissue was thin (e.g. 89.3 +/- 8.3 in the abdomen vs 58.8 +/- 13.8 in the medial melleolus in males). In contrast, H had greater individual variations and it showed no definite tendency according to sites. TD and E were generally greater in males than in females, and there were some significant differences between sexes according to sites. CONCLUSION: Cutaneous elastic properties varied according to anatomical sites and sexes. This feature must be considered in future studies measuring elastic properties, such as aging experiments.
Abdomen ; Aging ; Arm ; Elasticity ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Male ; Reference Values ; Skin Aging ; Skin* ; Subcutaneous Tissue

BACKGROUND: Contact dermatitis is frequently caused by cosmetics. Detection of causative allergens is important in prevention and treatment of cosmetic contact dermatitis. Patch test has been accepted as the only reliable diagnostic method to detect allergens. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to clarify evoluting trends of positive patch tests and to compare the positive frequencies of various allergens between different time sequences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed patch test results of the 806 cosmetic contact dermatitis patients, who had visited our clinic from 1982 to 1997. We divided the patients into three groups as follows: I group:1982-1987, II group:1988-1992, III group:1993-1997 and compared the test results. The patch tests were performed with standard batteries, cosmetic-related allergens and the patients's own cosmetics. RESULTS: The results of the studies were summarized as follows; 1. Trends of increasing positivity in cosmetic-induced dermatitis was noted in a chronologic point of view. Among the patients, an increased proportion of males was notable. 2. In age distribution, a decreasing proportion of patients at the third & the fourth decades was observed. Contrary to this, the proportion of patients over the fifth decades was increased. 3. Among standard allergens, nickel sulphate showed the highest positive rate in all defined triple periods, whereas positive rates of neomycin sulphate & balsam of Peru were diminishing sequentially. Among fragrance allergens, cinnamic alcohol & cinnamic aldehyde revealed the highest positive rates. 4. In as is test, skin care products showed the highest positive rate, followed by toiletries and makeup products. Increasing positive rates of the toiletry products were observed in order of time. In fragrance products, positive rates reached their peak in the second period and declined in the third period. CONCLUSION: This study showed that perfume components were the most frequent allergens in cosmetics followed by preservative agents. Our study showed that comestic allergies in men seems to have increased.
Age Distribution ; Allergens ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Male ; Neomycin ; Nickel ; Patch Tests* ; Perfume ; Peru ; Skin Tests