BACKGROUND: In epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, it has been recognized that there exists heterogeneity in the clinical and serologic/immunopathologic features. OBJECTIVE: We examined patients with epidermolysis bullosa acquisita to see if there were any associated clinical and serological features which may predict disease activity or prognosis in the disease. METHODS: Clinical and some serologic features were compared. between 2 groups of patients with epidermolysis bullosa acquisita; one with complete remission of the symptoms and signs of the disease for more than 2 years and the other group with persistent disease activities of longer than 5 years.
Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita* ; Epidermolysis Bullosa* ; Humans ; Population Characteristics ; Prognosis

Routine use of commercially available antisera against hepatitis B core antigen(HBcAg) has permitted a reevaluation of the histochemical distribution of the antigen in liver tissue. HBcAg, classically described almost exclusively in the nucleus, was found with a very high frequency in the cytoplasm of liver cells as well. To elucidate the biologic significance of HBcAg expression and its relation to the natural course of hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection, the patterns of activity in 33 needle liver biopsies of HBsAg carriers were analysed. A good correlation of liver HBcAg with disease activity was demonstrated. HBcAg was present in the hepatocyte nuclei(nHBcAg) or cytoplasm(cHBcAg), or in both(mixed). Pure nHBcAg was seen mainly in non-aggressive reactive liver tissue and cHBcAg was predominantly associated with chronic active hepatitis(95%). The results suggest that expression of HBcAg correlates with the liver pathology and the possibility of HBcAg to be an immunological target for T cell mediated hepatocyte damage.
Biopsy

No abstract available.
Adolescent ; Humans ; Personal Satisfaction ; Smoke* ; Smoking*

No abstract available.
Arginine ; Growth Hormone* ; Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone ; Somatostatin

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant ; Infant Mortality*

In order to investigate the level of lead exposure of workers in litharge making industry and to evaluate how lead exposure, personal habit such as smoking and drinking affect the prevalence of lead related symptoms and other study variables, we investigate 114 workers(24 office workers and 90 lead exposed workers) in a litharge making industry. Study variables chosen were blood lead(PbB), zinc protoporphyrin in whole blood(ZPP), Hemoglobin(Hb), hematocrit (Hct), SGOT and SGPT. symptom questionnaires which had 15 lead exposure related symptoms were provided to all workers and filled up by themselves and reconfirmed by physician. The results obtained were as follows; 1. The mean value of PbB, ZPP and SGOT in lead exposed group were higher than those of non-exposed group, and there were no differences of means in other study variables. 2. The smoking and drinking rate of study subjects were 65.8% and 71.0% as a whole. Smoking rates were lower in non-exposed group than exposed group, but drinking rate were not. 3. There were no differences of mean values of study variables between smoker and non-smoker in non-exposed and exposed group, but there was a difference of mean value of SGOT between drinker and non-drinker in lead exposed group. 4. while the symptom prevalence of lead exposed group were higher in neuromuscular category than non-exposed group, those of non-exposed group were higher or same with exposed group in gastrointestinal and general symptom category. 5. The symptom prevalence of smoker were higher than non-smoker regardless of exposure. 6. The symptom prevalence of drinker were only higher in gastrointestinal symptom category than non-drinker. 7. In multiple stepwise regression analysis of lead related symptoms as dependent variable and blood lead, smoking habit, drinking habit and work duration as independent variables, drinking habit contributed to the gastrointestinal symptom category, whereas blood lead and smoking contributed to the neuromuscular symptom category. For the total symptoms work duration and smoking habit contributed significantly.
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Drinking ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Zinc

No abstract available.
Vasculitis*

PURPOSES: We experienced a case of infected cephalhematoma drained spontaneously. So we wanted to review the most appropriate method for investigating cephalhematomas for possible infection and to clarify the indications for the diagnostic aspiration. METHODS: MEDLINE searches were conducted for the period from 1972 to 1997, and all reports were obtained. 15 articles reporting 18 infected cephalhematomas were identified in the literature. We analyzed the medical records in patients according to age: sex ; associated infections especially sepsis or osteomyelitis, risk factors such as scalp electrode or vacuum use, local signs such as increase in size, fluctuation, local redness: organisrns: and radiographic findings. RESULTS: Escherichia coli was isolated from over 50% of the cephalhematomas that were aspirated. Most patients presented with sepsis, meningitis, and/or osteomyelitis. Plain radiographs, bone scans, and enhanced CT scans were limited in their ability to determine if a cephalhematoma was infected unless associated osteomyelitis existed. Local signs of scalp infection, such as increase in size, fluctuation, local redness were obvious in almost all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Aspiration is the diagnostic procedure of choice for cephalhematomas suspected of being infected. The indications for aspiration were increase in size, development of erythema, development of fluctuation, relapse of systemic infection, or a delay in the resolution of clinical symptoms of infection.
Diagnosis ; Electrodes ; Erythema ; Escherichia coli ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Medical Records ; Meningitis ; Osteomyelitis ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Scalp ; Sepsis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vacuum

Neoplasms showing both carcinomatous and sarcomatous features are well established, and have been reported in practically every organ where carcinoma can occur. But the difference in terminology and difficulties in histopathologic interpretation have hampered adequate understanding of these neoplasms. We report a case of carcinosarcoma in the recurrent form of serous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary. The patient was a 64-year-old female who underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingoophorectomy three years ago, due to perforated papillary serous cysta denocarcinoma of the right ovary. Recurrent pelvic masses contained both carcinomatous and sarcomatous components. Morphological transition between carcinomatous and sarcomatous components, and epithelial characteristics in the sarcomatous component by immunohistochemistry were recognized. We postulate the histopathogenetic mechanism based on the phenotypic conversion of carcinoma into sarcoma in the carcinosarcoma.
Carcinosarcoma* ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous* ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Immunohistochemistry ; Middle Aged ; Ovary* ; Sarcoma

A case of an ovarian mucinous cystadenocarcinoma with mural nodules of anaplastic carcinoma is reported. The patient was a 46-year-old female with a right ovarian cystic mass and underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The patient died of the disease in five months. Macroscopically, the right ovarian cyst wall contained numerous well-demarcated mural nodules. Histologically, the cysts were mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, and the nodules were composed of sarcoma-like spindle and polygonal cells with atypia and numerous mitoses. Spindle cells in the mural nodule showed epithelial characteristics by electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. This case supports an epithelial origin of the mural nodule of anaplastic carcinoma in ovarian mucinous tumors.
Carcinoma* ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous* ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microscopy, Electron ; Middle Aged ; Mitosis ; Mucins* ; Ovarian Cysts ; Ovary