The peripheral blood eosinophil and serum IgE level in 53 patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) were measured. The patients were divided into 2 groups by severity(mild and severe grous) and into 3 groups by the associated respiratory atopic deseases and/or their family history : respiratory group(patient, with both AD and respiratory atopy), family history group (patient with both AD and family history of respiratory atopy), and atopic group(patient with neither respiratory atopy nor family history of respiratorv atopy). We designed to study which factors are important in the elevation of serum IgE and peripheral blood eosinophil level in AD, and to know possible relationships between the serum eosinophil and IgE level and the several groups of AD. The results are as follows : 1. Peripheral eosinophil counts were higher in severe group(224.8/mm) than in mild group (180.0/mm)(p<0.05). 2. Peripheral eosinophil counts were 220.0/mm in atopic group, l65.0/mm in family history group, and 332.4/mm in respiratory group, but there was no stitistically significant difference among 3 groups. This suggests that concomitant respiatitiry atopy or a family history of respiratory atopy is not an important factor in the elvation of peripheral blood eosinophil counts in AD. 3. Serum IgE was higher in severe group(443.2IU/ml) than in mild group(231.5IU/ml)(p<0.05). 4. Serum IgE level in respiratory group(754.6IU/ml) were signifiiantlly higher than in atopic (286.6IU/ml) or family history group(342.0IU/ml)(p<0,01). But there was no significant. difference between family and atopic group. This result suggests that concomittent respiratory atopy is a potential factor in elevation of serurn Igi in AD. 5. Slightly high correlation between peripheral blood and IgE level appeared in all 53 patients (r=0.434) and severe group(r=0.480). But, respiratory group(r=0.060), family history group(r=0.111) and atopic group(r=0.202) showed poor relationships.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E*

We report an unusual case of sebaceous hyperplasia in an 18-year-old male manifestated clinically as yellowish, grouped papules with a linear distribution, present on the right side of forehead since birth. Histopathologically, a large sebaceous gland composed of numerous lobules grouped around a centrally dilated duct was seen. The sebaceous lobules distributed in the upper dermis showed direct connection to the skin surface, which suggested a transepidermal elimination of sebaceous lobules.
Adolescent ; Dermis ; Forehead ; Humans ; Hyperplasia* ; Male ; Parturition ; Sebaceous Glands ; Skin

The ligamentum nuchae is a midline structure extending from the occiput to the spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra. Radio-opaque formations in the soft tissues behind the processes of the cervical spine has been known to radiologists since Barsony's description in 1929. It may actually be a normal sesamoid, or it may have developed as a result of previous trauma. But this remains hypothetical in that histological endochondral ossification sequence has not yet been demonstrated. These are generally asymptomatic and of clinical significance only in so far as they may be confused with fracture or tumors. Two patients who had clinical symptoms with or without previous trauma visited and they were relieved of their clinical symptoms by surgical excision. Then, we report on two unusual cases which were symptomatic.
Humans ; Spine

No abstract available.
Broad Ligament* ; Female ; Hemorrhage* ; Pregnancy*

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

No abstract available.
Drainage* ; Pancreatic Pseudocyst*

BACKGROUND: Traction has often been utilized to treat patients with a herniated lumbar disc. Currently, the most advanced type of traction therapy is non-surgical spinal decompression. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of decompression therapy in patients with a herniated lumbar disc based on clinical findings and symptoms. METHODS: Sixty patients with herniated lumbar discs were included in this study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups, a decompression group (n = 30) and a traction group (n = 30). To evaluate the impact of decompression and traction therapy on the herniated disc, the clinical symptoms for each group were evaluated prior to and after treatment using the visual analogue scale (VAS), straight leg raising (SLR), the herniation index, and the disc height. RESULTS: The VAS score was significantly lower in the decompression group (2.0 +/- 0.2) than the traction group (3.9 +/- 0.2) following treatment. In addition, the SLR angle was significantly higher in the decompression group (79 +/- 1.5) than the traction group (63.3 +/- 1.9). The herniation index was significantly lower in the decompression group (217.6 +/- 19.1) than the traction group (259.5 +/- 16.4). Finally, the disc height was not significant differences between pre-treatment and follow-up in two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that decompression therapy for the treatment of patients suffering from a herniated lumbar disc has an effect on the pain, SLR, and herniation indices, not disc heights.
Decompression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Leg ; Stress, Psychological ; Traction

It is supposed in Korea that institutional care for the elderly would increase while their home care would decrease. Assessment of the functional status is of much importance for effective caregiving for the institutionalized people. The functional status was evaluated in 89 elderly residents of an institution in Taegu, using the Korean version of the mini-mental state examination, the Blessed Dementia Rating Scale, the Barthel Activities of Daily Living, and the Motoricity Index. Vision and hearing were also examined. Based on scores of the Korean version of mini-mental state examination, 45% were found to have definite cognitive impairment and further 25% to have questionable cognitive impairment. About 35% of the subjects possibly had mild or more severe dementia on the Blessed Dementia Rating Scale. Fifty-seven percent had impairment in activities of daily living, and 66% had impairment in motor power. Sixteen percent and 20% had poor vision and hearing difficulty, respectively, to the degree of impairment in daily activities. These findings indicate that more than half of elderly people in institutional care may need either partial or total help from others.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged* ; Daegu ; Dementia ; Hearing ; Home Care Services ; Humans ; Korea

Plexiform schwannoma is a rare benign tumor arising from the peripheral nerve sheath and characterized by a multinodular and plexiform growth pattern. This tumor usually arises sporadically. In rare cases, plexiform schwannomas have been associated with neurofibromatosis type 2. Plexiform schwannoma should be differentiated from plexiform neurofibroma, because the latter is pathognomonic tumor of neurofibromatosis type 1 and has a potential of malignant transformation. We report a case of multiple plexiform schwannomas associated with bilateral acoustic neuromas and meningioma.
Meningioma ; Neurilemmoma* ; Neurofibroma, Plexiform ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; Neurofibromatosis 2* ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; Peripheral Nerves

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of C-reactive protein and fetal fibronectin for patients with preterm labor and intact mxmbranes. STUDY DESIGN: The study group was comprised of sixty patients who presented to the Taegu Fatima Hospital between 24-36 gestational weeks who had a diagnosis of preterm labor. The study group underwent assay of C-reactive protein in the matemal serum, and fetal fibronectin from the external os and posterior fomix of the vagina by means of polyester fiber swabs. The study group was categorized to four groups according to the results of CRP and fetal fibronectin, that is 28 cases of CRP(-)/fetal fibronectin(-); group I, 12 cases of CRP(+)/fetal fibronectin (-); groupII, 9 cases of CRP(-)/fetal fibronectin(+); groupIII, 11 cases of CRP(+)/fetal fibronectin(+): grouplV, and the controls were 12 women without preterm labor. Outcome measures were occurrence of preterm delivery, the admission-to-delivery interval, matemal age and parity, fetal body weight, 1min/5min Apgar score, perinatal morbidity and mortality etc. Statistical analyses were performed by means of ANOVA test and Dunnett's t-test. RESULTS: The prevalence of study group were group I 46.7%, group II 20%, group III 15% and group IV 18.3%. There were no significant difference of matemal age, parity and gestational weeks at admission between study group and control group, but in all study group the admission to delivery interval was significantly shorter than that of control group. Analysis indicated also no significant difference of maternal hemoglobin between study group and conuol group but white blood cell count of group II and IV were significantly higher than that of control group. In perinatal outcomes, the mean birth weight and 1 minute Apgar score of study group except group I were significantly lower than those of control group but 5minutes Apgar score was lower only in group IV compared with control group. Perinatal morbidity and mortality of study group were higher than those of control group except group I. This study group was designed to compare the diagnostic performance of cervical fibronectin and of the serum CRP levels. The sensitivity and specificity of fetal fibronectin as a test to predict of preterm labor were 80% and 90%, which were slightly higher than those of CRP(70%, 78%). CONCLUSION: Both positive cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin and positive C-reactive protein in women with preterm uterine contraction can help identify the pregnancies at risk and to select proper management protocol.
Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; C-Reactive Protein ; Daegu ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fetal Weight ; Fibronectins ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Membranes* ; Mortality ; Obstetric Labor, Premature* ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Parity ; Polyesters ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Uterine Contraction ; Vagina