No abstract available.
Bowen's Disease ; Fingers

BACKGROUND: Pressure alopecia is the loss of hair following a prolonged immobilization, probably due to pressure-induced local ischemia. It is most commonly observed after surgical procedures under general anesthesia. Most of the studies or reports of pressure alopecia deal with postoperative cases. OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to investigate and understand the clinical manifestations, course and histopathological characteristics of pressure alopecia in various circumstances. METHOD: 27 patients with pressure alopecia, who had visited the Department of Dermatology at Busan Paik Hospital between 1998 and 2004, were examined clinically and histopathologically. RESULTS: The ratio of males to females was 4: 5, and the mean age of patients was 36+/-22 years. The cause of pressure alopecia were classified into 5 groups: open heart surgery, craniectomy, other surgeries, long-term bed rest, and the miscellaneous causes including wearing of hair prosthesis and group punishment. The most commonly involved site was the occipito-parietal area. Histopathological examination showed upper dermal edema and fibrosis, follicular fibrosis, melanin pigments, hair follicles in telogen and catagen stages, perifollicular lymphocytic infiltration and vascular change. The mean operation time was 8.1+/-7.2 hours in the patients with temporary alopecia and 17.8+/-7.6 hours in those with permanent alopecia. The mean operation time of the patients with temporary alopecia was shorter than those with permanent alopecia (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study revealed several causative factors of pressure alopecia including surgery, long-term bed rest, and miscellaneous causes. Therefore, close observation of the pressure site and changing the position of the patient's head at regular intervals are essential during the various surgical and nonsurgical treatments to prevent pressure alopecia.
Alopecia* ; Anesthesia, General ; Bed Rest ; Busan ; Dermatology ; Edema ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Head ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Ischemia ; Male ; Melanins ; Prostheses and Implants ; Punishment ; Thoracic Surgery

We performed a study to understand the dietary situation in North Korea and to compare the difference between the North and the South. Two hundred North Korean defectors from the North since 1990 participated in this survey. Information was collected from December, 1997 to February, 1998 by mailing pre-tested questionnaires, which had been confirmed by 10 previous interviewers. The final data from 157 defectors(107 male and 33 female with 17 unidentified gender) were analyzed. We found that (1) North Koreans are lowr in height, weight and BMI than South Koreans, (2) The North Korean diet is very simple and monotonous. It is limite to their local and unprocessed foodsand dishes, which is far from the trend of globalization and readiness. (3) On the other hand, in the North, the government control on foods diminished because food shortage leads to free market activity where housewives manage their own foodservices, and to accelate their eating-out behaviors. (4) Profound differences between the South and the North in dietary life are noticed by the defectors as English words and Korean words. Efforts to understand and learn about each other is necessay before not too late.
Democratic People's Republic of Korea* ; Diet ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Internationality ; Male ; Postal Service ; Ghee ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) are benign pigmented lesions that are defined as a tissue malformation of the neuroectoderm. Giant melanocytic nevi with multifocal involvement show significantly greater risk of developing malignant melanomas and neurocutaneous melanocytosis, particularly those in a posterior axial location. Neurocutaneous melanosis is a rare, congenital, non-inherited disorder characterized by the presence of large, multiple congenital melanocytic nevi with proliferation of melanocytes in the central nervous system. Asymptomatic neurocutaneous melanosis can be detectable only by MRI. The patients who have clinical manifestations have an extremely poor prognosis. We present a patient with giant congenital melanocytic nevi involving a major portion of the back with multiple satellite nevi scattered over the whole body associated with asymptomatic neurocutaneous melanosis. We emphasize the importance of imaging study for detection of early neurological symptoms or melanomas. To our knowledge, this is the first case of giant congenital melanocytic nevi associated with asymptomatic neurocutaneous melanosis in Korean dermatologic literatures.
Central Nervous System ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma ; Melanosis ; Neural Plate ; Neurocutaneous Syndromes ; Nevus ; Nevus, Pigmented ; Prognosis

BACKGROUND: DuaLight(TM) is a recently developed phototherapeutic device that is used for targeted phototherapy. However, the efficacy of DuaLight(TM) therapy for vitiligo has not been evaluated nor has it been reported on in the Korean medical literature. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of DuaLight(TM) therapy for treating localized vitiligo and we wanted to determine the clinical parameters that could affect the therapeutic outcome. METHODS: Eighty-three lesions from thirty-eight patients were treated by using DuaLight(TM) once or twice a week. The repigmentation grade of each treated lesion was evaluated on a 5-point scale from 0 (no repigmentation), 1 (1~24%), 2 (25~49%), 3 (50~74%), to 4 (75~100%). Results: Thirty-four lesions of the 83 lesions (40.9%) improved to 50% repigmentation after DuaLight(TM) therapy. The clinical parameters that affected the therapeutic outcome were the lesions' anatomical location and the clinical subtype of vitiligo. Yet a history of previous treatment and the skin type did not affect the therapeutic result. Perilesional hyperpigmentation (47.4%) was the most common side effect, but the other adverse effects were limited and transient. CONCLUSION: DuaLight(TM) therapy is an effective, safe therapeutic modality for localized vitiligo. However, similar to other non-surgical therapeutic modalities, the therapeutic outcome is mainly dependent on the anatomical location.
Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Phototherapy ; Skin ; Vitiligo

BACKGROUND: DuaLight(TM) is a recently developed phototherapeutic device that is used for targeted phototherapy. However, the efficacy of DuaLight(TM) therapy for vitiligo has not been evaluated nor has it been reported on in the Korean medical literature. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of DuaLight(TM) therapy for treating localized vitiligo and we wanted to determine the clinical parameters that could affect the therapeutic outcome. METHODS: Eighty-three lesions from thirty-eight patients were treated by using DuaLight(TM) once or twice a week. The repigmentation grade of each treated lesion was evaluated on a 5-point scale from 0 (no repigmentation), 1 (1~24%), 2 (25~49%), 3 (50~74%), to 4 (75~100%). Results: Thirty-four lesions of the 83 lesions (40.9%) improved to 50% repigmentation after DuaLight(TM) therapy. The clinical parameters that affected the therapeutic outcome were the lesions' anatomical location and the clinical subtype of vitiligo. Yet a history of previous treatment and the skin type did not affect the therapeutic result. Perilesional hyperpigmentation (47.4%) was the most common side effect, but the other adverse effects were limited and transient. CONCLUSION: DuaLight(TM) therapy is an effective, safe therapeutic modality for localized vitiligo. However, similar to other non-surgical therapeutic modalities, the therapeutic outcome is mainly dependent on the anatomical location.
Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Phototherapy ; Skin ; Vitiligo