No abstract available.
Malaria*

A 34-year-old woman presented with several intensely pruritic erythematous serpiginous thread-like skin lesions which began as a small papule on the epigastrium 4 months prior to her visit and was migrating to the left chest area. The laboratory examination showed eosinophilia and the total serum IgE level was slightly increased. Histopathologic examination revealed a pustular burrow in the epidermis with a larva-like cystic lesion apart from the burrow in the epidermis. The patient was treated with topical 10 % albendazole cream 3 times daily for 1 week without recurrence for 22 months up to now. We thought this was a rare case which was confirmed by a skin biopsy showing larva in the epidermis.
Adult ; Albendazole ; Biopsy ; Eosinophilia ; Epidermis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Larva ; Larva Migrans* ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: The present study is undertaken to acquire normative data of health-related physical fitness(HRPF) of Republic of Korea Air Force(ROKAF) aircrews and to provide norm-referenced standard of HRPF. METHODS: From 15 May 1998 through 14 December 1999, 1284 KAF pilots are checked muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body fat percentage. RESULTS: The grip strength was relatively maintained, but flexibility, back strength, and muscular endurance were declined according to promotion and aging. And the incidence of obesity determined by bioelectrical impedence analysis was higher than that assessed on the basis of height and weight. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that many pilots who were normal in BMI have abdominal or visceral obesity. Further studies must be made on the health promotion program for the pilots, on the changes in physical fitness, and on the criterion-referenced standard of HRPF of the pilots.
Adipose Tissue ; Aging ; Hand Strength ; Health Promotion ; Incidence ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Physical Fitness* ; Pliability ; Republic of Korea

PURPOSE: Oxaliplatin is a third-generation platinum compound, and it has no nephrotoxicity and has reduced bone marrow toxicity. Cancer cells that are resistant to cisplatin are sensitive to oxaliplatin. Oxaliplatin is used widely for the treatment of colon cancers. Recently, oxaliplatin was reported to inhibit the expression of survivin, which protects cell apoptosis. However, there are no reports on the expressions of survivin variants and the changes in intracellular localization of survivin in cancer cells. We studied the expression of survivin caused by oxaliplatin in HCT116 colon cancer cells, and we observed the localization of survivin in the mitotic phase. METHODS: We treated the HCT116 colon cancer cells with 2.0 micrometer of oxaliplatin, and we studied the expressions of survivin protein, and survivin mRNA variants, as well as the changes in intracellular localization, by using the Western blot method, RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, and flowcytometry. RESULTS: Oxaliplatin inhibits the expression of the survivin protein and survivin mRNA in HCT116 colon cancer cells. The expression of the survivin-2B variants, which have no antiapoptotic activity but control cell mitosis by localization on a microtubule, is reduced continuously 2 days after treatment with oxaliplatin. In immunocytochemistry, expression of survivin in the cytoplasm is reduced and especially is not expressed in microtubules and contractile rings. CONCLUSION: One of the mechanisms of oxaliplatin is to inhibit the expression of and to change the localization of survivin. Based on these results, we suggest that changes in the expression of survivin variants and in their localization are two effects of oxaliplatin.
Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Bone Marrow ; Cisplatin ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Cytoplasm ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microtubules ; Mitosis ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; Platinum ; RNA, Messenger

We recently encountered a case of pemphigus vulgaris, which was localized within the oral mucosa and esophagus. The patient was a 62-year-old women, who had had a few recurrent erosions on the oral mucosa for 1 year. Newly developed erythematous erosions on the esophagus appeared 7 days pre previously. Histopathological findings showed suprabasal blisters in the epithelium of the buccal and esophageal mucosa. On direct immunofluorescence, intercellular IgG and C3 bindings were found in the epithelium of the buccal mucosa. Treatment with oral steroids resulted in a remission of the lesions and the other skin lesions were not found for a period of 6 months.
Blister ; Epithelium ; Esophagus* ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Mucosa* ; Mucous Membrane ; Pemphigus* ; Skin ; Steroids

Cutaneous metastasis from renal cell carcinoma is not unusual, occurring in 3 to 7%, although it may be overlooked. We report a case of metastatic renal cell carcinoma in a 74-year-old man who was presented with a 1.5 x 1.5 x 0.5 cm-sized nodule on the right zygoma for 3 months. A skin biopsy demonstrated the typical clear cell adenocarcinoma with PAS(+) granules in the cytoplasm and honeycombed or glandular configuration, compatible with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Kidney ultrasonogram and abdomina1 CT scanning showed a large cystic mass on the upper pole of the left kidney. Furthermore radiologic studies revealed multiple metastatic lesions in the lung, liver and brain. He died 4 months later.
Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Brain ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Cytoplasm ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Skin ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Zygoma*

No abstract available.
Congenital Abnormalities* ; Ring Chromosomes*

A 68-year-old female had slightly elevated, dusky erythematous nodules on the right infraorbital and the right temple area. Topical, intralesional corticosteroids and oral antihistamines provided temporary but incomplete improvement. Follow up biopsy, four months after the first visit revealed a tiny gold acupuncture needle lodged at the center of the nodule. Subsequent skull series revealed seven more linear radiopaque densities on the corresponding sites to the skin nodules. A patch test and an intradermal test with gold chloride showed strongly positive reactions. Removal of the embedded needles led to disappearance of the cutaneous nodules and itching sensation in seven days.
Acupuncture* ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Histamine Antagonists ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Intradermal Tests ; Needles* ; Patch Tests ; Pruritus ; Sensation ; Skin ; Skull

No abstract available.
Candida albicans* ; Candida*

PURPOSE: We investigated whether myocardial SPECT had additional usefulness to clinical, functional or surgical indices for the preoperative evaluation of cardiac risks in noncardiac surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 118 patients (M: F=66:52, 62.7+/-10.5 years) were studied retrospectively. Eighteen underwent vascular surgeries and 100 nonvascular surgeries. Rest T1-201/stress Tc-99m-MIBI SPECT was performed before operation and cardiac events (hard event: cardiac death and myocardial infarction; soft event: ischemic ECG change, congestive heart failure and unstable angina) were surveyed through perioperative periods (14.6+/-5.6 days). Clinical risk indices, functional capacity, surgery procedures and SPECT findings were tested for their predictive values of perioperative cardiac events. RESULTS: Peri-operative cardiac events occurred in 25 patients (3 hard events and 22 soft events). Clinical risk indices, surgical procedure risks and SPECT findings but functional capacity were predictive of cardiac events. Reversible perfusion decrease was a better predictor than persistent decrease. Multivariate analysis sorted` out surgical procedure risk (p=0.0018) and SPECT findings (p=0.0001) as significant risk factors. SPECT could re-stratify perioperative cardiac risks in patients ranked with surgical procedures. CONCLUSION:: We conclude that myocardial SPECT provides additional predictive value to surgical type risks as well as clinical indexes or functional capacity for the prediction of preoperative cardiac events in noncardiac surgery.
Death ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Perfusion ; Perioperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*