No abstract available.
Acne Conglobata* ; Acne Vulgaris* ; Steroids*

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster(HZ), caused by reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus, is manifested by dermatomal distribution of skin rashes, acute pain and post-herpetic neuralgia by pathologic involvement of the sensory ganglia. Low-energy laser(LEL) deliver a small amount of energy without elevation of the tissue temperature. LEL is reported to have various biologic effects such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, regenerative, antiallergic, immunocorrective, and antibacterial effects. OBJECTIVE: We attempted to evaluate the therapeutic effect of LEL on an acute phase of HZ. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with acute HZ were enrolled in the study. The control group(30 patients) received medications including analgesics, antihistamine, and topical care without LEL irradiation. The experimental group(30 patients) were irradiated with LEL daily for 7 days in addition to the same kinds of medications for the control group. The efficacy of LEL irradiation for HZ was assessed by analyzing changes in skin rashes, pain scores, and postherpetic neuralgia.
Acute Pain ; Analgesics ; Exanthema ; Ganglia, Sensory ; Herpes Zoster* ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Humans ; Neuralgia ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic

The hyperimmunoglobulinemia E (Jobs) syndrome (HIES) is characterized by marked elevated levels of IgE, recurrent cutaneous and systemic staphylococcal infections, atopic-like dermatitis, and defective neutrophil chemotaxis. Three cases of HIES have been reported in Korea, but not in the dermatology literature. We report a case of HIES with cutaneous infections and MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). A 15-month-old girl presented with intractable pruritic excoriated papular pustular skin lesions and multiple subcutaneous abscesses. Surgical drainage of the abscesses and a course of antibiotic treatment in addition to topical steroids for about 7 weeks resulted in a remarkable improvement.
Abscess ; Chemotaxis ; Dermatitis ; Dermatology ; Drainage ; Female ; Humans ; Hypergammaglobulinemia* ; Immunoglobulin E ; Infant ; Job Syndrome* ; Korea ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Neutrophils ; Skin ; Staphylococcal Infections ; Staphylococcus ; Steroids

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

BACKGROUND: Cyclosporin A (CsA), a potent immunosuppressant, has been reported to be effective in the treatment of severe atopic dermatitis (AD). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and side-effects of CsA in Korean patients with severe AD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 16 patients with recalcitrant AD took CsA for at least 6 weeks. Among them, 11 patients were followed up for more than 16 weeks. Initial dose was 5mg/kg/day (maximum 300 mg/day) and the dose was reduced according to their therapeutic responses. SCORAD (Scoring AD) was used to evaluate clinical efficacy of CsA. During the 1st month of therapy, the therapeutic efficacy and side-effects were evaluated every 2weeks and after 1 month, every month. We checked blood pressure and laboratory abnormalities including liver function test, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr) and urinalysis at each visit in addition to observing clinical adverse effects. RESULTS: Significant reduction of SCORAD was noted in 15 patients after 6 weeks of CsA therapy. Only one patient stopped CsA therapy because of the elevation of blood pressure. Three patients showed albuminuria, which disappeared after CsA dose reduction. CONCLUSION: CsA can be used effectively and safely in severe Korean AD patients. Albuminuria seems to be a peculiar side-effect in Korean patients.
Albuminuria ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Creatinine ; Cyclosporine* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; Liver Function Tests ; Urinalysis

An intraosseous epidermal cyst is a rare benign cystic lesion. It is thought to result from congenital factors or trauma and can lead to bone destruction because the cyst develops at the soft tissue around the bone. Radiological findings of intraosseous epidermal cysts are a well-defined radiolucent lesion, with cortical expansion. It is important to differentiate an intraosseous epidermal cyst with other disease developed at distal phalanx because its clinical and radiological findings are similar. We report two rare cases of intraosseous epidermal cysts that developed at the distal phalanx.
Epidermal Cyst*

Objective: Menstruation is a great part as the procedure for physiological, psychological development and physical growth, and menstrual disorders are very common problems in adolescence period. these problems can be resolved by interview or appropriate education of normal pubertal development. However unlike other developed countries, systematic report or appropriate education for menstruation may not be performed in our country. Therefore. our pediatric department investigated for menstruation of normal pubertal age women as an information educating adolescence. Methods: In cross-sectional study (ex, questionnaire), 4112 junior high and high school girl students (12~18 years old) in Ansan, Kyungki-do were investigated for menarcheal age, menstrual cycle, duration, amount, premenstrual syndrome, dysmenorrhea and relation to family history. Resulta: 1) Mean Menarcheal age was 12.9+/-1.2 years. According to menarcheal age by present age, menarcheal age was younger when present age was young as menarcheal age 11.8+/-0.6 years at 12 years, 13.3+/-1.1 years at 16 years, and 13.7+/-1.1 years at 18 years, respectively (p<0.001). 2) The month during which menarche occurs most frequently was August (14.7%), followed by July, December and January. 3) Considering menstrual cycle, mixed type (regular and irregular cycle) was most common (39.0%), and menstrual cycle became regular after mean 8.8+/-8.4 months. 4) In women having regular menstrual cycle, most women (53.l0%) had menstrual cycles between 26 and 30 days, next was 21~25 days and 31~35 days according to frequency. 5) Menstrual duration was 5~6 days by 49.6% of the women. 6) Premenstrual syndrome was noted in 56.0% of the women, in that 42.5% experienced occasionally and 13.5% always, respectively. 7) Dysmenorrhea was showed in 85.0% of the women. A total of 63.7% of the respondents suffered from dysmenorrhea was unaffected on daily activity as grade l and was needed no medication to relieve pain. Grade 2 (20.5%) was defined that limited daily activity and was needed medication to relieve pain. Grade 3 (0.9%) was defined that inhibited daily activity seriously, and was unimproved by analgesics. 8) The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 78.0% at 12 years, 85.9% at 15 years and 94.0% at 18 years, respectively. Getting older, frequency of dysmenorrhea was increasing. 9) Dysmenorrhea was experienced for the first time during the first year after the menarche by 65.3% of the women. The amount of menstrual bleeding was significantly correlated to the severity of dysmenorrhea (P<0.001), and dysmenorrhea reported by the women was singificantly correlated to maternal dysmenorrhea (p<0.01) and to sisters with dysmenorrhea (p<0.001). Conclusions: We found that Korean adolescent girls had earlier menarcheal age than past period, and they had many problems for menstruation. This study suggested that it may be needed adolescent education and appropriate treatment of menstrual disorders.
Adolescent ; Analgesics ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Developed Countries ; Dysmenorrhea ; Education ; Female ; Female* ; Gyeonggi-do* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Menarche ; Menstrual Cycle ; Menstruation* ; Premenstrual Syndrome ; Prevalence ; Siblings

BACKGROUND: A regional wall motion nonuniformity and a phase difference between LV posterior wall motion and transmitral flow are present during normal rapid filling period and are thought to be an evidence for involvement of ventricular restoring forces. To assess the role of nonuniformity on diastolic funtional impairment of asymmetric septal hypertrophy(ASH), the time relations between left ventricular regional wall motions and filling velocity were studied. METHOD: We measured the time intervals from A2 to peak rate of LV posterior wall(short axis) thinning(A2-(-)dpw/dt), peak rate of medial mitral annulus (long axis dimension) lengthening(A2-dL/dt) and peak mitral flow(A2-E) by M-mode and Doppler echocardiography. Result: In ASH patients, A2-(-)dpw/dt(106+/-6msec, mean SE) and the regional wall motion nonuniformity((-)dpw/dt-dL/dt, 89+/-11msec, mean SE) were increased significantly when compared with normal control values(88+/-4, 28+/-5msec, mean SE, p<0.01,respectively).In normal controls, peak mitral flow velocity lagged peak rate of regional wall motion, so the phase differences were present((-)dpw/dt-E :71+/-8msec, dL/dt-E:44+/-6msec). In ASH patients, (-)dpw/dt-E was present(90+/-16msec) but dL/dt-E was not present or reversed(-21+/-18 msec). So these chacteristic phase differences were disturbed. CONCLUSION: These data suggested that the relaxation nonuniformity of regional wall motion in ASH may act as an energy dissipating factor of restoring forces during rapid filling period.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic* ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Humans ; Relaxation

No abstract available.
Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Rosa*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of early 3-D lumbar stabilization exercise to patients with chronic lumbago after microdiscectomy. METHOD: From March 2006 to January 2008, 234 patients(male: 104, female: 130) who underwent lumbar microdis- cectomy were performed CENTAUR lumbar stabilization exercise at 7days postoperatively, CENTAUR was used to measure strength of stabilization muscle. RESULT: As a result after lumbar stabilization exercise for 8weeks, lumbar muscular strength increased by 24% averagely at 8 angles(0 degrees, +45 degrees, -45 degrees, +90 degrees, -90 degrees, +135 degrees, -135 degrees, 180 degrees;+ clockwise, - counterclockwise)(p<0.05). It was possible for the microdiscectomy patients to practice lumbar stabilization exercise at 7days postoperatively. CONCLUSION: The early lumbar stabilization exercise was good effect on the muscular strength after microdiscectomy.
Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Muscle Strength Dynamometer ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive