Familial lichen planus is an uncommon disease, and there are 104 cases reported in the English literature. Several theories regarding the etiopathogenesis of lichen planus have been proposed. However, immunological mechanisms and genetic susceptibility have been emphasized the most. Several reports showed HLA analysis in lichen planus patients, and recently 2 cases have revealed an increased frequency of DR1 antigen in patients with lichen planus compared to a control group. We observed two brothers with typical skin lesions of lichen planus of almost simultaneous onset. We confirmed lichen planus by skin biopsies in both brothers and analyzed HLA typing. We also observed the occurrence of DR1 antigen in both of them.
Biopsy ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Histocompatibility Testing ; Humans ; Lichen Planus* ; Lichens* ; Siblings ; Skin

BACKGROUND: The combination of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) and monosomy 7(-7) was rarely observed in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). With the results from immunophenotyplc and molecular analysis, Philadelphia chromosome positive ALL with monosomy 7[Ph(+)/-7] has been considered that it may be derived from neoplastic transformation at the pluripotent stem cell level. We compared the clini-cal, laboratory, and hematological findings between 5 cases of Ph(+)/-7 and 5 cases of Ph(+) without monosomy 7 [Ph (+) /N7]. METHODS: During the period from January, 1995 to December, 1996, total 72 cases of ALL were confirmed among 259 cases of hematologic malignancy with bone marrow cytogenetic analysis. Among 72 ALL cases, 5 cases of Ph(+)/-7(monosomy 7 or 7q abnormalities) were compared with Ph only or Ph without monosomy 7(ph(+)/N7] on the hematological, immunophenotypic, other laboratory, clinical findings and event ree survival (EFS) The karyotyping of the bone marrow specimens was analysed byshort-term unsynchronized culture methods such as overnight colcemid treatment and 24 hours incubation following ethidium bromide treatment. RESULTS: The mean age of Ph(+)/-7 was 30.6+/-12.8 years, and it was significantly different from that of Ph(+)/N7 (p=0.009), Four cases of Ph(+)/-7 were classified as ALL L2 subtype, and 2 cases revealed CNS involvements. Immunophenotyping was positive in CD10, CDl9, CD2O, CD22 and HLA-DR. But one case revealed e-B-lymphoid lineage with positivity in CD34, CDl3, and CD33. The response to chemotherapy and EFS was very poor in Ph(+)/-7 group, and the mean EFS was 3.2+/-1.9 months(p=0.014). All of cases showed induction on failure in chemotherapy, relapsed with bone marrow, CNS and extramedullary involvements, and expired due to sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: Ph(+)/-7 ALL had very Poor clinical course with being resistant to chemotherapy and unfavorable prognosis, revealed L2 subtype by FAB classification, and was slightly older in ages compared with Ph(+)/N7 ALL.
Bone Marrow ; Classification ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Demecolcine ; Drug Therapy ; Ethidium ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; HLA-DR Antigens ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Immunophenotyping ; Karyotyping ; Monosomy* ; Philadelphia Chromosome* ; Pluripotent Stem Cells ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Prognosis ; Sepsis

In order to evaluate the possible roles of secretory proteases in the pathogenesis of amoebic keratitis, we purified and characterized a serine protease secreted by Acanthamoeba lugdunensis KA/E2, isolated from a Korean keratitis patient. The ammonium sulfate-precipitated culture supernatant of the isolate was purified by sequential chromatography on CM-Sepharose, Sephacryl S-200, and mono Q-anion exchange column. The purified 33 kDa protease had a pH optimum of 8.5 and a temperature optimum of 55 degrees C. Phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride and 4- (2- Aminoethyl) -benzenesulfonyl-fluoride, both serine protease specific inhibitors, inhibited almost completely the activity of the 33 kDa protease whereas other classes of inhibitors did not affect its activity. The 33 kDa enzyme degraded various extracellular matrix proteins and serum proteins. Our results strongly suggest that the 33 kDa serine protease secreted from this keratopathogenic Acanthamoeba play important roles in the pathogenesis of amoebic keratitis, such as in corneal tissue invasion, immune evasion and nutrient uptake.
Acanthamoeba/*enzymology/isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; Acanthamoeba Keratitis/*parasitology ; Animals ; Cornea/parasitology ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea ; Serine Endopeptidases/chemistry/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Substrate Specificity ; Temperature ; Virulence Factors

No abstract available.
Heel* ; Molluscum Contagiosum* ; Weight-Bearing* ; Zea mays

A 51-year-old male patient was referred for a sudden out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Upon arrival, he was conscious and had no chest pain complaints. There was no abnormality in initial electrocardiographic and echocardiographic examinations. However, episodes of recurrent ventricular fibrillation (VF) were documented on rhythm monitoring. Each VF episode was triggered by an isolated monomorphic ventricular premature complex (VPC). Suspecting idiopathic VF, emergency radiofrequency catheter ablation was planned for the VPCs. However, when coronary angiography was performed to exclude silent ischemia, the results showed a total occlusion of the right coronary artery posterolateral branch, which is thought to supply the left ventricular inferior and septal wall. After successful reperfusion, VF episodes and the triggering VPCs disappeared. We are documenting this case to emphasize the potential for silent myocardial infarction to cause out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest even in a patient without any symptom or sign of acute coronary syndrome.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Catheter Ablation ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Emergencies ; Heart Arrest* ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest ; Reperfusion ; Ventricular Fibrillation* ; Ventricular Premature Complexes*

Stress fractures typically result from repeated abnormal mechanical loading to the bones. In particular, multiple stress fractures may occur in patients with systemic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, or osteoarthritis. Adefovir dipivoxil (ADV), a nucleotide analogue of adenosine monophosphate, very rarely causes severe hypophosphatemia when using a low dosage of 10 mg daily for treatment of chronic hepatitis B. To the best of our knowledge, in English literature, this is the first report of multiple stress fractures in a chronic hepatitis B patient who has been treated with a low dosage of ADV. We think it is important to consider that use of ADV in a patient with chronic hepatitis B could be a risk factor for stress fractures.
Adenosine Monophosphate ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Fractures, Stress* ; Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Humans ; Hypophosphatemia ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteoporosis ; Risk Factors

No abstract available.
Chancre* ; Eczema* ; Nipples*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In HCC with low AFP. we have to use repeated imaging study to evaluate residual viable rumor or recurrence after TACE ( transarterial chemoembolization). We performed the study to know that sICAM-1 in HCC can be a tumor marker of diagnosis and has cor relation with tumor size or clinical staging. The results were compared with PIVKA- , an another tumor marker of HCC. METHODS: Previously untreat ed 39 pat ients with HCC were evaluated. Serum sICAM- 1, AFP and PIVKA-II were measured by EIA, immunoradiometric assay and EIA, respectively. Tumor size were meas ured by abdominal CT and angiogr aphy. RESULTS: Range of sICAM- 1 levels with HCC patients were 189.0 to 983.6 ng/ mL, and mean value was 668.3+- 254.4 ng/ mL. Thirty four of the 39 patients (87.2%) with HCC showed sICAM- 1 levels higher than 306.4 ng/ mL (mean of 131 healt hy controls + 2SD level). Range of PIVKA-II level with HCC patients were 25.3 to 2,779.3mAU/nL, and mean value was 1,340.1+-1,091.1mAU/mL. seven of the 39 patients(94.9%) with HCC showde PIVKA-II levels higher than 40mAU/mL. Range of AFP levels with HCC patients were 4.2 to 57,520ng/mL, and mean value was 4,215.6+-10,807.2ng/mL. 10 patients (26%) showed AFP lower than 20ng/mL, and 17 patients(44%) were AFP lower than 100ng/mL. All of the 17 patients with alphaFP lower than 100ng/mL had s ICAM-1 levels more than reference range (mean of 131 healt hy cont r ols + 2 SD level), and PIVKA-II levels also more than reference range. Positive correlation was observed between PIVKA-II level and tumor size in 18 patients without vascular invasion. Accor ding t o HCC clinical staging, 10 patients (25.6%) belonged clinical stage II. 5 pat ients (12.8%) III, 24 pat ients (61.5%) IV. Both of PIVKA-II and sICAM-1 levels of stage showed significantly higher than stage II. PIVKA-II showed more positive correlation with tumor size and clinical stage than sICAM- 1. No correlation was found between AFP and sICAM-1, and positive correlation was AFP and PIVKA-II. CONCLUSION: In HCC patients with low AFP, sICAM-1 and PIVKA-II correlated with tumor size and clinical stage. sICAM-1 and PIVKA-II may be a useful marker of diagnosis. So, we need to further study to evaluate whether sICAM- 1 and PIVKA-II can be used as a marker of disease progression or prognosis.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Diagnosis ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Immunoradiometric Assay ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1* ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Reference Values ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Deglutition Disorders ; Facial Nerve ; Glossopharyngeal Nerve ; Herpes Zoster ; Herpes Zoster Oticus ; Paralysis

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Infant*