We report a case of Becker's nevus associated with smooth muscle hamartoma, in a 21-year-old male patient, which shows clinically match-head sized, flat topped, round to oval, grouped papules with hairs on the outer surface of the right arm, and microscopically reveals numerous bundles of smooth muscle fiber in the dermis.
Arm ; Dermis ; Hair ; Hamartoma* ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Nevus* ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: Distance between the active and reference electrodes can affect the waveform configuration and amplitude of sensory nerve action potential (SNAP). This study was purposed to determine the change of SNAP parameters with varying interelectrode distance. METHOD: Median sensory nerve conduction study was performed in the middle finger of 40 young healthy subjects by antidromic method. To ensure firm contact with skin, strip adhesive electrode was used for recording responses. The active electrode was fixed on 1 cm distal to the proximal flexion crease of middle finger and interelectrode separation was increased from 1 to 5 cm by 1.0 cm increments. Bar electrode was fixed 14 cm proximal from active electrode for stimulation in the wrist area. RESULTS: As the interelectrode distance increased from 1 cm to 5 cm, onset latency remained unchanged. The peak latency increased with increasing the distance up to 3 cm but didn't change beyond 3 cm (1 cm: 2.89 0.89 msec, 2 cm: 2.97 0.89 msec, 3 cm: 3.02 0.19 msec, 4 cm: 3.02 0.19 msec, 5 cm: 3.02 0.20 msec). Base-to-peak amplitude significantly increased only up to 3 cm (1 cm: 30.3 6.7 microvolt, 2 cm: 43.7 8.6 microvolt, 3 cm: 50.8 10.4 microvolt, 4 cm: 51.1 10.9 microvolt, 5c m: 51.3 11.4 microvolt) but peak-to-peak amplitude sequentially increased to 5 cm (1 cm: 49.6 12.1 microvolt, 2 cm: 72.8 14.4 microvolt, 3 cm: 83.6 19.4 microvolt, 4 cm: 91.3 22.5 microvolt, 5 cm: 93.4 23.9 microvolt)(p<.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed that changing interelectrode distance altered some parameters of SNAP, especially the peak-to peak amplitude.
Action Potentials* ; Adhesives ; Electrodes ; Fingers ; Neural Conduction ; Skin ; Wrist

Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon does not occur with common hemangioma, rather it is associated with the more aggressive Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma and rarely with other vascular neoplasm. We report the case of an adult who was diagnosed as Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma complicated by Kasabach-Memtt phenomenon. This is the first report in Korea of an adult with Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon who has osteolytic changes of femur, pelvic bone, and lumbar spine.
Adult* ; Femur ; Hemangioendothelioma* ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome ; Korea ; Pelvic Bones ; Spine ; Vascular Neoplasms

PURPOSE: The spectrum of melanoma antigen gene (MAGE)-expressing tumor is very wide and the gene of MAGE express antigens that are targets for specific recognition by cytotoxic T lymphocytes derived from tumor-bearing patients. All of these characteristics represent MAGE as tumor vaccine can be useful for cancer prevention or treatment. Here, we detected MAGE-3 gene expression in cancer cell lines and evaluated recombinant MAGE-3 protein producibility of MAGE plasmid to develope MAGE DNA vaccine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MAGE-3 gene expression of cancer cell lines was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chanin reaction (RT-PCR). Two kinds of MAGE-3 expressing plasmids were constructed and their MAGE-3 protein producibility was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting using monoclonal anti-MAGE-3 antibody. RESULTS: Among 13 cell lines, SNU484, AMC-HN-3, AMC-HN-4, AMC-HN-7, HeLa, NCI H1703 and HT29 expressed MAGE-3 mRNA. In order to make MAGE plasmid, cDNA that showed 100% DNA homology with MAGE-3 gene was cloned into pcDNA 3 plasmid and pSecTag plasmid. Intracytoplasmic and secretory recombinant MAGE-3 was produced by MAGE-3 containing pcDNA 3 plasmid and pSecTag plasmid, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this study, we showed high expression frequency of MAGE-3 in cancer cell line, and established two kinds of plasmid that produce recombinant MAGE-3 in cell lines. We expect these plasmids will be used in cancer treatment or MAGE-3 function study in future.
Cell Line ; Clone Cells ; DNA* ; DNA, Complementary ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Immunohistochemistry ; Melanoma ; Plasmids* ; RNA, Messenger ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic

Spinal stenosis has several types of etiology such as degenerative, spondylolisthetic and postoperative, etc. Operative management for spinal stenosis is adequate decompression and stabilization of the unstable lumbar spine created by the decompressive procedure. We analysed 52 operative cases of spinal stenosis delete from January 1994 to October 1996. The following results were obtained 1) The male and female ratio was 1:1.9 and mean age was 52.1 years old 2) Mean follow-up period was 20.3 months 3) The involved site was one level in(28)(53.9%), two level in(19)(36.5%), and three levels in(5)(9.6%) 4) For decompression method, total laminectomy combined with foraminotomy and facetectomy was employed procedure. 5) For stabilization, bilateral posterolateral fusion was performed in major damaged facet joint and transverse process. Instrumentation was combined in 61.5% delete of all cases 6) According to the criteria of Kirkaldy-willis, excellent and good results were shown in 90.6% of fused group with instrumentation and 85% of fused group without instrumentation.
Decompression ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foraminotomy ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Male ; Spinal Stenosis* ; Spine ; Zygapophyseal Joint

The purpose of this study was to analyze and evaluate therapeutic results of stereotactic evacuation of hematoma, urokinase irrigation and external ventricular drainage(EVD) in comatose patients who had hypertensive supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage. The authors carried out stereotactic evacuation of hematoma and external ventricular drainage in the consecutive 45 cases who were admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery, Chosun University Hospital. from Sep. 1990 to Jun. 1993. The therapeutic results were as follows : 1) The peak age incidences were 6th to 7th decades. The incidence was higher in female than male. The age was not related to the prognosis. 2) The hematoma was located at the basal ganglia in 37 cases, and the thalamic area in 8 cases. The prognosis was poorer as the area of hematoma extended more wider and deeper. 3) The volume of hematoma ranged from 8 to 155 ml. The prognosis of the patient was unfavorable in large volume of hematoma. 4) Intraventricular hemorrhage(IVH) occured in forty cases(89.9%) and mortality rate was 45%. The mortality rate was increased in cases with IVH than in case without it. 5) The mortality rates based on the Glasgow coma scale(GCS) on admission were 50% in GCS score 4 group, 50% in GCS score 5 group, 40% in GCS score 6 group, 27% in GCS score 7 group. Cases of low Glasgow coma scale on admission showed high mortality rate. 6) The overall mortality rate was 42%. These results suggest that stereotactic evacuation of hematoma and EVD decreased the mortality rate when compared with conservative treatment and conventional craniotomy in the literatures.
Basal Ganglia ; Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Coma* ; Craniotomy ; Drainage* ; Female ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Hematoma* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intracranial Hemorrhage, Hypertensive ; Male ; Mortality ; Neurosurgery ; Prognosis ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

Among the 98 patients who underwent operations for thoracolumbar spinal lesions from May 1989 to September 1994, the authors performed clinical analysis of 72 patients who were followed-up for more than 12 months. There were 52 cases of trauma, 18 cases of tuberculous spondylitis, and 2 cases of metastatic tumor. After partial or toal vertebrectomy, interbody fusion was performed using autogenous iliac bone or autogenous ribs which were taken while approaching the thoracic spine, and stabilized using Kaneda devices. Complete neural decompression was possible under direct vision in all cases. Neurologic deficits improved to an average of 1.7 grades using a modified Frankel scale. Patients with tuberculous spondylitis did not show recurrence or any evidence of increased risk of secondary infection caused by instrumentation. Loosening or breakdown of instruments occurred in 4 patients, and spinal deformity in 7 patients, but reoperation was not needed in any of these patients. By anterior decompression, interbody fusion and stabilization using Kaneda device in thoracolumbar spinal lesions, we could obtain satisfactory neurologic improvement as well as immediate firm stability and high fusion rate involving only a minimum(usually two) number of motion segments as compared with the posterior approach.
Coinfection ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Decompression ; Humans ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Recurrence ; Reoperation ; Ribs ; Spine ; Spondylitis

PURPOSE: To report a case of bilateral Coats' disease. CASE SUMMARY: A 19-month-old boy presented with esodeviation of his eyes, which started 5 months prior. A fundus exam showed total bullous exudative retinal detachment with retinal vascular telangiectasia in the right eye and localized exudative retinal detachment with vascular telangiectasia at the inferior periphery in the right eye. Fluorescein angiogram of the left eye showed retinal telangiectatic vessels, avascular area and fluorescein leakeage from telangiectatic vessels. The patient received external drainage of subretinal fluid and intravitreal air injection of the right eye and Argon LASER photocoagulation and cryotheraphy of the left eye. A cytologic exam of the subretinal fluid drained from the right eye showed no malignant cells. Forty-four months after the operation, his best corrected visual acuity was no light perception in the right eye and 0.4 in the left eye. Both fundi were flat and stable. No complications, such as glaucoma, recurred retinal detachment, or pain, occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Coats' disease rarely occurs bilaterally and can be involved asymmetrically. The disease presents more severely when bilateral and can progress after long-term observation. Proper treatment and long-term follow-up of both eyes are necessary to prevent visual loss and preserve eyes.
Argon ; Drainage ; Esotropia ; Eye ; Fluorescein ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Infant ; Light ; Light Coagulation ; Retinal Detachment ; Retinaldehyde ; Subretinal Fluid ; Telangiectasis ; Visual Acuity

We clinically reviewed four patients who were suffering from aseptic meningitis combined with polio-like paralysis and performed radiological. neurological and virological studies on them. Three patients were admitted to the department of Pediatrics. Asan Medical Center from March to August 1990, and one patient was admitted to the department of Pediatrics. Kangnam General Hospital. The results were as follows; 1) During the period of study, 18 patients (10.1%)out of 178 aseptic meningitis patients also suffered from hand, foot and mouth disease, and three patients (1.69%) out of 178 patients also suffered from polio-like paralysis. 2) The age of the patients who also suffered from polio-like paralysis were eight months, 22 months, 23 months and four years old respectively. Three patients were male and one patient was female. 3) Paralysis developed three to five days after aseptic meningitis infection. 4) In two cases, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MR) showed two small cavitary lesions that means anterior horn cell necrosis in concordant with residual paralysis. Axial T1-weighted image showed decreased signal intensity and axial T2-weighted image showed increased signal intensity. In another case 20 days after onset of illness MR was performed, the transverse myelitis showed mild swelling of cornus medullaris. Follow up MR in 2 months revealed atropic change in lower thoracic spinal cord. 5) The electromyography and nerve conduction velocity test revealed acute polyradiculoneuropathy. 6) Serologic virus study were carried out in three cases for Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71. The Enterovirus 71 antibody titer were 1:128 in two cases and 1:64 in one case. The Coxsackievirus A16 antibody titer were less than 1:4. This study showed that the causative agents for polio-like paralysis during this period seemed to be the Enterovirus 71 infection.
Anterior Horn Cells ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Cornus ; Electromyography ; Enterovirus ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Meningitis, Aseptic* ; Myelitis, Transverse ; Necrosis ; Neural Conduction ; Paralysis* ; Pediatrics ; Polyradiculoneuropathy ; Spinal Cord

Infantile acne is a much less common disease than adolescent and postadolescent acne. It occurs in children approximately at 3 to 6 months of age. An 8 month-old male infant, accompanied by his mother, visited our clinic with a history of erythematous skin lesions on both cheeks, which started 5 months ago. Physical examination revealed closed comedones, several relatively well demarcated, erythematous papules, nodules and pustules. Inflammatory lesions left scars scattered over the face. For further evaluation of endocrinologic abnormalities or other systemic diseases, an additional abdominal ultrasound was done after a visit to the pediatrician. A skin biopsy revealed findings compatible with acne. Skin lesions were improved by treatment with oral and topical antibiotics, adapalene and isotretinoin. We report herein a case of infantile acne which has not been reported in Korean dermatological literature.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Adolescent ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Biopsy ; Cheek ; Child ; Cicatrix ; Humans ; Infant ; Isotretinoin ; Male ; Mothers ; Physical Examination ; Skin ; Ultrasonography ; Adapalene