BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster is a relatively common dermatological disease and there have been several reports on the epidemiological study of herpes zoster in Korea. However there has not been any report on the epidemiology of herpes zoster in Chuncheon and the Northern Kangwon Province. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the epidemiological characteristics of herpes zoster in Chuncheon and the Northern Kangwon Province. METHODS: The authors evaluated about 461 cases of herpes zoster with retrospective methods with regard to annual, monthly and seasonal incidences, age, sex ratio, associated conditions, anatomical distribution and complications at the department of dermatology in Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University during a 3-Year-Period from Jan. 1994 to Dec. 1996. RESULTS: The annual incidence of herpes zoster in new patients from our dermatology clinic ranged from 4.3% to 4.8%(mean 4.5%), and the ratio of male to female was 1:1.12. The peak incidence of monthly and seasonal analysis was in December and in the Fall. The majority of cases occurred most frequently over the 6th decade. The most common anatomical distribution of herpes zoster inpatients(211 cases) was thoracic dermatome(52.9%), followed by the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve(17.0%), cervical(13.6%), lumbar(6.3%), sacral(4.4%), maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve(3.9%) and two different dermatomes (2.8%). Associated conditions of herpes zoster inpatients(211 cases) were observed in 108 patients (51.2%); hypertension(31.9%), gastritis(15.1%), diabetes mellitus(11.8%), hepatitis(9.2%), malignancy (8.4%), tuberculosis(4.2%), and so on. The complications including postherpetic neuralgia were observed in 58 patients(27.5%) and were common after the age of 50 years. The rnost common complication of herpes zoster inpatients(211 cases) was postherpetic neuralgia(14.7%), followed by ophthalmologic complications(8.1%), secondary bacterial infections(1.4%), neurogenic bladder(1.4%), otologic complications(0.9%), and so on. CONCLUSION: Most of the other results of our study were similar in comparison with reports from other regions in Korea, except for a higher annual incidence and significant differences in the monthly incidence. These differences reflected the regional characteristics of medical service delivery systems in Chuncheon and the Northern Kangwon Province.
Dermatology ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Gangwon-do* ; Heart ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons ; Sex Ratio

The multiple lentigines syndrome or LEOPARD syndrome is an autosomal dominantly inherited disorder with a variety of abnormalities and a familial occurrence. This syndrome is characterized by the presence of numerous dark brown macules on the skin but not the mucous surface, and by a marked increase in the number of lentigines from birth to puberty. The eponym LEOPARD stands for lentigines, EKG abnormalities, ocular hypertelorism, pulmonary stenosis, abnormalities of the genitalia, retardation of growth and deafness. We report a case of multiple lentigines syndrome in 7-year-old boy. He had numerous pinhead to pea sized, dark brownish macules scattered on the entire body and also had pulmonary stenosis, EKG abnormality, ocular hypertelorism and right exotropia. Interestingly, he also had a labial melanotic macule on the lower lip, which is usually spared in the multiple lentigines syndrome. Histologically, the biopsy specimen taken from the macule revealed an elongation of rete ridges, an increase of melanin pigments in the basal layer and mild inflammatory infiltrates intermingled with the melanophages in the upper dermis.
Adolescent ; Biopsy ; Child ; Deafness ; Dermis ; Electrocardiography ; Eponyms ; Exotropia ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Hypertelorism ; Lentigo ; LEOPARD Syndrome* ; Lip ; Male ; Melanins ; Panthera ; Parturition ; Peas ; Puberty ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis ; Skin

Lichen nitidus is an uncommon chronic dermatosis characterized by its typical clinical and histopathologic findings and has rarely been described in association with other diseases. We observed a patient with an association of lichen nitidus and molluscum contagiosum, which to the best of our knowledge has not been previously reported in the literature. It remains to be further studied about a possible pathogenesis of lichen nitidus secondary to some viral infections such as molluscum contagiosum, etc.
Humans ; Lichen Nitidus* ; Lichens* ; Molluscum Contagiosum* ; Skin Diseases

PURPOSE: The ictal perfusion patterns of cerebellum and basal ganglia have not been systematically investigated in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Their ictal perfusion patterns were analyzed in relation with temporal lobe and frontal lobe hyperperfusion during TLE seizures using SPECT subtraction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three TLE patients had interictal and ictal SPECT, video-EEG monitoring, SPGR MRI, and SPECT subtraction with MRI co-registration. RESULTS: The vermian cerebellar hyperperfusion (CH) was observed in 26 patients (78.8%) and hemispheric CH in 25 (75.8%). Compared to the side of epileptogenic temporal lobe, there were seven ipsilateral hemispheric CH (28.0%), fifteen contralateral hemispheric CH (60.0%) and three bilateral hemispheric CH (12.0%). CH was more frequently observed in patients with additional frontal hyperperfusion (14/15, 93.3%) than in patients without frontal hyperperfusion (11/18, 61.1%). The basal ganglia hyperperfusion (BGH) was seen in 11 of the 15 patients with frontotemporal hyperperfusion (73.3%) and 11 of the 18 with temporal hyperperfusion only (61.1%). In 17 patients with unilateral BGH, contralateral CH to the BGH was observed in 14 (82.5%) and ipsilateral CH to BGH in 2 (11.8%) and bilateral CH in 1 (5.9%). CONCLUSION: The cerebellar hyperperfusion and basal ganglia hyperperfusion during seizures of TLE can be contralateral, ipsilateral or bilateral to the seizure focus. The presence of additional frontal or basal ganglia hyperperfusion was more frequently associated with contralateral hemispheric CH to their sides. However, temporal lobe hyperperfusion appears to be related with both ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheric CH.
Basal Ganglia* ; Cerebellum* ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe* ; Frontal Lobe ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Perfusion ; Seizures ; Temporal Lobe* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

No abstract available.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Lymphoma*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Constriction, Pathologic* ; Neurologic Manifestations* ; Spinal Canal*

No abstract available.
Head* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Necrosis*

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the clinical charateristics, surgical treatment and outcome of carcinoid tumors of the rectum. METHODS: A retrospective review of the charts of all patients treated for rectal carcinoid tumors at Kangbuk Samsung Medical Center between Jan 1989 and April 1998. Thirteen patients with rectal carcinoids tumors were treated. Follow-up data, histopathological information and surgical procedures were obtained from case notes. RESULTS: There were 10 men and 3 women. The ages ranged from 28 to 60 years (mean 41.1 years for all, 43.8 years for men and 32 years for women). Eight patients (61.5%) had no symptoms. Of the five patients, four complained of rectal bleeding (30.8%), and one complained of defecational difficulty (7.7%). Size of rectal carcinoid tumor was less than 1 cm in 7 patients (53.8%), between 1 cm and 2 cm in 2 patients (15.4%), in four patients (30.8%) larger than 2 cm. Three patients were treated in Abdominoperineal resection. Two patients underwent stapled low anterior resection. The remaining 8 patients underwent conservative resection (3 colonoscopic polypectomy and electrocauterization, 2 colonoscopic snaring biopsy, 2 transanal resection and one Mason's operation). The depth of invasion was contained within sutmucosa in 3 patients. Liver metastasis was found in 2 patients. Average follow-up time was 35.6 months. Two patients died of mutiple mestastasis (liver, bone, peritoneum) 9 and 30months later. CONCLUSION: We concluded that tumors smaller than 1 cm could be managed by local treatment whereas larger than 2 cm should be managed by radical treatment.
Biopsy ; Carcinoid Tumor* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Liver ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Rectum ; Retrospective Studies ; SNARE Proteins

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that house dust mite allergy is an important cause of the atopic dermatitis(A.D). However, it is not clear that. what factors may be related to the development of the mite illergy in patients with AD. OBJECTIVE: This study was done to see whether the presence of a familial background of RA implies a relationship to the mite allergy in AD. METHODS: Skin prick test and fluoroallergosorbent, test (FAST) with house dust mit,e were performed in 47 patients wih AD. RESULTS: 1. In comparison the esult of prick test with that of FAST to house dust mite antigen, it showed a concordance ra!e of 82%. And the prick test was more sensitive than the FAST. 2. The prevalence of positive FAST reactions was significantly increased in the patients with AD who had a family hitory of RA than those in patients with AD who had neither family or personal history of RA. 3. The level of specific IgE against house dust mite did not relate to the presence of family cr personal history of RA. 4. The prevalence of positive prick test results did not relate to the presence of family or personal history of RA. 5. The prevalence of positive FAST reactions, the level of specific IgE, and the rate of positive prick test results did not relate to the severity of skin involvement. 6. The most common allergens which caused positive skin reactions were house dust, cat fur, Dermatophagoides farinac, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, et al. Antigen score of prick test to 55 common antigens wa. significant increased in the patients with AD who had a family history of RA, but did not relat to the severity of skin involvement or the presence of personal history of RA. CONCLUSION: We may conclude that type I allergy to the house dust mit,e is not directly related to AD perse. This type of allergy to the mite seems to occur predominantly in those patient s with AD who have a farilial background of RA.
Allergens ; Animals ; Cats ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Dust* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Immunoglobulin E ; Mites ; Prevalence ; Pyroglyphidae* ; Skin