No abstract available.
Seasonal Affective Disorder* ; Seasons*

No abstract available.
Spondylolisthesis*

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to compare the thickness and histopathologic changes in the fetal membrane between premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and intact membrane after delivery. METHODS: In a prospective study involving 31 patients who were divided into 4 groups such as <37 weeks without PROM, <37 weeks with PROM, >or=37 weeks without PROM, and >or=37 weeks with PROM, we measured the thickness of membrane and studied the histopathologic findings in vitro by light microscopy of histological sections. RESULTS: The membrane thickness of <37 weeks with PROM group was thinner (35.9 micrometer) than that (42.3 micrometer) of <37 weeks without PROM group, but there was no statistical significance. The membrane thickness of >or=37 weeks with PROM and >or=37 weeks without PROM were similar (25.6 micrometer, 26.0 micrometer). But the membrane thickness of >or=37 weeks with/without PROM was significantly thinner (25.8 micrometer) compared with that (38.9 micrometer) of <37 weeks with/without PROM. The histopathologic features of PROM positive group was amnionitis with neutrophilic infiltration, focally or diffusely necrotic change of amniotic membrane, separation of amniotic membrane and degeneration of chorionic villi. CONCLUSION: The thickness of fetal membrane between PROM group and intact membrane group was not different but the thickness of fetal membrane between <37 weeks and >or=37 weeks was statistically significant. The histopathologic change of PROM positive group was prominent as amnionitis. Further evaluation will be needed about the relationship between membrane thickness and PROM.
Amnion ; Chorioamnionitis ; Chorionic Villi ; Extraembryonic Membranes ; Female ; Humans ; Membranes* ; Microscopy ; Neutrophils ; Pregnancy ; Prospective Studies ; Rupture*

We report a case of infantile acute hemorrhagic edema in a 15-month-old boy. The patient showed multiple, bean to walnut-sized, red to purple-colored, indurated purpura with a cockade pattern on the face, earlobes, and extremities. Edema of the hands, feet, and earlobes was also observed. Laboratory examinations showed thrombocytosis, decreased serum CH50, and ketone in the urine. A skin biopsy taken from indurated purpura on the lower leg exhibited findings of acute leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Direct immunofluorescence examination showed deposition of IgM along the dermo-epidermal junction and C3 in the dermal vessel walls. With-out specific management except for fluid therapy to correct dehydration, the skin lesions cleared completely in 2 weeks, and recurrence has not observed.
Biopsy ; Dehydration ; Edema* ; Extremities ; Fluid Therapy ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Infant ; Leg ; Male ; Purpura ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Thrombocytosis ; Vasculitis

Weber-Christian disease is an inflammatory disease of subcutneious fat tissue which is clinically characterized by relapsing, febrile, nodular, nonsuppurative pannicutilitiy. The cause is unknown, but the disease has been attributed to an autoimmune reaction, infectioris, halogen compounds, sarcoidosis, SLE and a-antitrypsin deficiency. We report here in a case of Weber-Christian disease in a 8-year-old girl, who had indurated erythemataus subcutaneous nodules on the extremities, buttock and trunk accompanied by various general symptoms such as fever, malaise, arthralgia and edema of the abclorren and legs. This case was successfully treated with dapsone,
Arthralgia ; Buttocks ; Child* ; Dapsone ; Edema ; Extremities ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Leg ; Panniculitis, Nodular Nonsuppurative* ; Sarcoidosis

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome is a rare disease of cutaneous hemangioma of a variant of the carvenous type which is clinically characterized by multiple, protuberant, dark blue, generally soft, rubbery, and compressible cutaneous masses usually associated with similar lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. Most cases are sporadic, although autosomal dominant inheritance has been described. We report herein a cases of blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome in a 49-year-old, who had multiple, dark blue, slightly tender, easily compressible vascular tumors on the face, right postauricular area, tongue, neck, and right had and foot, measuring from 0.5 to 1.0 cm in diameter. Endoscopic examination also revealed several similar lesions on the upper third of the esophagus. Biopsy specimen from the lesion of the neck showed irregularly dilated vessels containing red blood cells and fibrinous material. The vascular space was lined by a single layer of flattened endothelial cells.
Biopsy ; Blister* ; Endothelial Cells ; Erythrocytes ; Esophagus ; Fibrin ; Foot ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Nevus* ; Rare Diseases ; Rubber* ; Tongue ; Wills

BACKGROUND: The changes in lipid composition during epidermal differentiation has been reported in human and animal models. Because of the difficulties in getting adeguate specimens from human subjects, the authors used easily obtainable circumcised prepuce for lipid analysis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes in lipid composition duriig cornification of the epidermis, the lipid compositions of whole epidermis and stratum corneum were analyzed by thin layer chromatography(TLC). METHODS: From circumcied prepuce whole epidermis and stratum orneum were separated by 10mM EDTA(ethylene diamine tatraacetate) in PBS(phosphate-buffered saline) or heat(60C), and 0.5% trypsin in PBS respectively. Lipids were extracted with methanolctloroform-HO mixture(4:2:1.6, v/ v, Bligh-Dyer solvent), TLC was performed and lipid composition was quantitated by photodensitometer. RESULTS: In the composition of stratum corneum lipids, sphingoliids were the highest(33.3+2.9%) followed by cholesterol, free fatty acids and cholesterol esters in cleceasing order, there were small percentages of triglycerides, cholesterol sulfate and squalene. CONCLUSION: In this study the lipid composition of epidermis was similar to that of stratum corneum rather than those of previous reports on epidermal lipids, which may indicate the regional characteristics of epidermal/stratum orneum lipids in hyperkeratotic prepuie.
Cholesterol ; Cholesterol Esters ; Epidermis* ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; Humans ; Models, Animal ; Squalene ; Triglycerides ; Trypsin

Idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy is localized detachment of the neurosensory retina in the macula which is commonly seen. However extensive sensory retinal detachment of the posterior role and multiple leaking points are rare characteristics of idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy. Idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy with bullous retinal detachment is frequently misdiagnosed and treated improperly. The authors experienced a case of atypical type of idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy that has bullous retinal detachment and multiple Ieaking points in the both eyes.
Central Serous Chorioretinopathy* ; Retina ; Retinal Detachment* ; Retinaldehyde*

Immunological effect of the extract (KM-110) from Korean mistletoe (Viscum album coloratum) was examined. Lymphocytes obtained from KM-110-administrated mice showed increased responsiveness to mitogens, concanavalin-A (Con.A) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In order to study cytokine induct ability of the KM-110, macrophages from the Balb/c mice were cultivated in the medium containing the extract. the macrophages were shown to induce secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 1 and 6 (IL-1, IL-6) and interferon-gamma (INF-gamma). We then tested antitumor activity of the macrophages activated by the KM-110. Peritoneal macrophages harvested from the KM110-treated Balb/c mice exhibited cytotoxicity against the syngeneic 3LL carcinoma cells. ...continue...
Animals ; Interferon-gamma ; Interleukin-1 ; Lymphocytes ; Macrophages ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; Mice ; Mistletoe* ; Mitogens ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Viscum album* ; Viscum*

PURPOSE: To report the results of the orbital reconstruction with microvascular free flap following orbital exenteration in patients with orbital malignancy. METHODS: We performed microvascular free-tissue reconstruction for extensive orbital defects immediately after exenteration in 6 patients. RESULTS: The causes for exenteration were adenocystic carcinoma of the lacrimal gland (2), squamous cell carcinoma of the upper eyelid (1), the nasolacrimal duct (1), maxillary sinus (1), and the ethmoid sinus (1). The extensive orbital defects were reconstructed with the rectus abdominis flaps in 3 patients, with the radial forearm flaps in two, and with the scapular flap in one patient. There was no flap loss. There was no donor site complication. CONCLUSIONS: Microvascular free-tissue transfer allowed successful facial reconstruction in patients with extensive orbital and periorbital defects. It seemed to permit reliable, expeditious, one-stage reconstruction of the orbital defects.
Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Ethmoid Sinus ; Eyelids ; Forearm ; Free Tissue Flaps* ; Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus ; Maxillary Sinus ; Nasolacrimal Duct ; Orbit* ; Rectus Abdominis ; Tissue Donors