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: Platelet Rich Plasma(PRP) application is increasing with sinus inlay bone graft, but there is few research with radiographic ananlysis on effect of PRP in maxillary sinus. The author investigated the amount of bony changes of maxillary sinus for dental implantation among the patients with maxillary inlay graft. MATERIALS AND METHODS: With 10 patients who were treated with sinus inlay autologous bone grafting combined with PRP technique, and with 5 patients who were treated with sinus inlay grafting only without PRP, the panoramic radiographys which were taken at preoperation, immediate postoperation, 3months postoperation, and 4 months postoperation(a month after dental implantation)periods were analysed. The films had been scanned, and then proceeded throughout image analysis system. The bone density of maxillary grafted sites was compared with adjacent tooth enamel density and remeasured according to density luminosity of each film. The density changes on PRP group and bone graft only group were an lysed with non-parameteric statistics method. RESULTS: In PRP combined patients group, bone density on postoperation periods was increased totally. The remarkable enhanced change of bone density was observed on 3 months postoperation period, thereafter the increasing rate was slightly reduced . In only bone graft patients group, bone density on postoperation periods was also increased compared with preoperation period, but the bone density of 4 months postoperation period was decreased compared with 3 months postoperation period. The amount of bone density on PRP group was significantly changed according to periods in contrast to bone graft only group. CONCLUSION: The bone density on PRP group was remarkably increased at 3 months postoperation compared to bone graft only group and it was seemed to be associated with more new bone formation, less grafted bone resorption at bone grafted sites with PRP.
Blood Platelets* ; Bone Density ; Bone Resorption ; Bone Transplantation ; Dental Enamel ; Dental Implantation ; Dental Implants ; Humans ; Inlays ; Maxillary Sinus ; Osteogenesis ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Tooth ; Transplants

It has been postulated that environmental factors, such as mechanical and sun injury, psychological stress, drugs, and infection, may play an important part in the development of psoriasis. The clinical picture and course in certain psoriatic patients, particularly in the palmo-plantar psoriasis and inverse or flexural psoriasis, may suggest involvement of an underlying trigger in the form of an irritant or a contact allergen. We report a case of flexural psoriasis in a 15-year-old man who had whitish scaly patches on the erythematous base on the inner aspects of the thighs and the buttocks including the inguinal areas and the perianal areas. The skin lesions had developed two days after wearing a diving suit overnight. The histopathological features were typical for psoriasis. The positive material by Korean standard patch test was p-phenylenediamine, i.e the ingredients of a diving suit. Therefore, our case strongly suggests involvement of an underlying trigger in the form of a contact allergen.
Adolescent ; Buttocks ; Diving* ; Humans ; Patch Tests ; Psoriasis* ; Skin ; Solar System ; Stress, Psychological ; Thigh

BACKGROUND: The advantages of epidural anesthesia for Caesarean section are well documented. However, its disadvantages include a slow onset time, which preclude its use for urgent procedures. The object of this clinical trial was to ascertain if a useful reduction in onset time may be obtained by fentanyl supplementation versus plain ropivacaine. METHODS: Twenty healthy women scheduled for Caesarean section were allocated randomly to receive 20 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine with normal saline 1 ml (group 1) or 20 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine with fentanyl 50 mcg (group 2) via a epidural catheter inserted 3 cm into the epidural space, identified by the loss of resistance technique using a midline approach at the L3-4 interspace. After insertion of the catheter, and with the patient supine, a test dose of 3 ml of the solution was given, and then the remainder was injected at a rate of 10 ml/min. The time for sensory block to develop at T8 by loss of cold discrimination using an alcohol sponge was defined as the onset time. Onset of block was timed from the end of the last injection. If a sensory block of T6 or higher was not present at 30 min, 5 ml of 2% lidocaine mixed with 0.5 ml of 8.4% sodium bicarbonate were administered until an adequate height of block had been achieved. After surgery had started and discomfort was felt, 50 mcg of i.v. fentanyl was administered repeatedly after delivery. Side effects (hypotension, nausea/vomiting, shivering, bradycardia, respiratory depression) during surgery were recorded, and the upper limit of sensory analgesia to the alcohol sponge was determined. RESULTS: The onset time was 8.7 +/- 4.3 min in group 1 and 11.9 +/- 5.4 min in group 2, respectively. No significant difference was evident between the two groups in terms of onset time to the sensory block to T8. The number of patients that required supplementary analgesia and experiencing side effects was similar. The maximum upper level observed in any patient was C6 in group 1 and C4 in group 2. CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of ropivacaine and fentanyl did not reduce sensory onset or produce an unnecessarily extended sensory block level.
Analgesia ; Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Bradycardia ; Catheters ; Cesarean Section* ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Epidural Space ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Porifera ; Pregnancy ; Shivering ; Sodium Bicarbonate

Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is a transplacentally acquired autoimmune disorder, which is characterized by cutaneous lesions and/or congenital heart block and less commonly hepatic and hematologic abnormalities. Affected infants acquire anti-SSA/Ro antibody, anti-SSB/La antibody or less commonly anti-U1RNP antibody transplacentally from maternal circulation and it is generally thought that these antibodies are pathogenic. We report a case of NLE in a 40-day-old neonate who had erythematous annular patches on his face and extremities. Serological studies were reactive for antinuclear antibody of the speckled pattern and positive for anti-SSA/Ro antibodies and anti-SSB/La antibodies in both mother and infant. Addition to these findings, his mother had complained photosensitivity and arthralgia and showed hematological abnormalities including anemia and leukopenia, so we diagnosed his mother as systemic lupus erythematosus.
Anemia ; Antibodies ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Arthralgia ; Extremities ; Heart Block ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Leukopenia ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Mothers

No abstract available.
Anesthesiology* ; Education* ; Publications*

The purpose of this study was to develop a dental communication course in dental hygiene schools that included theory, practice, and skill for effective dental communication. Thirty-six senior dental hygiene students in a dental hygiene school took a dental communication course and responded to a questionnaire. The instrument used in the study was a modified form of Kim's communication skill self-assessment sheet. The self-assessment questionnaire about communication competencies was administered before and after the class, and the difference between scores at each time point was analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank sum test. Among seven elements of dental communication competencies, the competency of “information gathering” was significantly improved (p=0.008). Students' scores on perception of the importance (p=0.019) and necessity (0.016) of a communication course significantly increased after the course. Competencies in communication are essential requirement for dental hygienists. This study showed the possibility of communication skill training. An objective evaluation tool regarding students' communication competencies should be developed. Further studies with larger samples size are needed to develop a standardized comprehensive communication course in dental hygiene schools.
Curriculum ; Dental Hygienists ; Health Communication ; Health Education ; Humans ; Learning* ; Oral Hygiene* ; Self-Assessment

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We investigated in patients with coronary vasospastic angina whether the exercise ECG test results are influenced by the different modes of exercise load and compared the clinical characteristics including coronary risk factors between patients with positive and negative exercise tests. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study comprised 34 patients with documented coronary artery spasm without significant stenosis (coronary artery luminal diameter narrowing <70%) and treadmill exercise test. Treadmill exercise ECG test was performed based on Bruce's protocol (graded exercise test, GET) and sudden rapid exercise protocol (non-graded exercise test, NGET) in the morning of the same day. RESULTS: 1) Of 29 patients who underwent both GET and NGET, 19 patients manifested positive result by NGET, whereas only 11 patients did by GET (66 vs. 38%, P=0.04). All patients with positive GET had positive NGET and 8 of 18 patients with negative GET had positive NGET. 2) Of 34 patients who underwent GET, there was no significant difference in frequency of hypertension, diabetes, current smoking, presence of effort chest pain by history, mixed disease (fixed stenosis >50%, <70% of luminal diameter) or total cholesterol level between patients with positive and negative results. In 18 typical variant angina patients by clinical history, 8 of 10 patients with high disease activity (5 times or more attack per week) manifested positive result by GET or NGET, whereas 4 of 8 patients with low disease activity (80 vs. 50%, P=NS). CONCLUSION: In patients with coronary vasospastic angina, sudden rapid exercise could induce more frequently coronary artery spasm than multistage exercise. The result of an exercise test may not be correlated with coronary risk factors, coronary anatomy, effort chest pain, and the disease activity.
Arteries ; Chest Pain ; Cholesterol ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Vessels ; Electrocardiography ; Exercise Test* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Phenobarbital ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spasm