BACKGROUND: Acne vulgaris is one of the most common dermatologic diseases and the main method of treatment is antibiotics and retinoids. However, many patients experience a need for a different treatment because of the transient effect and severe adverse effects. The study reported herein evaluated the effect and safety on acne vulgaris of 805 nm diode laser and topical Indocyanine green (ICG). OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the efficacy of the near-infrared diode laser phototherapy in combination with topical application of ICG in the treatment of acne vulgaris. METHODS: Twenty-three volunteers with varying degrees of acne were enrolled in the study. Half of the face was stained by ICG. After 15 minutes, the whole face was irradiated by 805 nm diode laser. The procedure was carried out two times a week for 4 weeks. Inflammatory, non-inflammatory acne lesions were counted and sebum levels of both cheeks were measured. RESULTS: The mean reduction of the inflammatory lesion counts was 43% in the ICG-diode laser group. The mean clearance of non-inflammatory lesions was 25% in the ICG-diode laser group. Significant reduction of acne lesions were observed in ICG-diode laser group compared to diode laser group (p<0.05). The adverse effects were negligible on both sides of the face. CONCLUSION: ICG and diode laser therapy is effective in the treatment of moderate to severe acne vulgaris, and none of significant adverse effects were observed.
Acne Vulgaris ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cheek ; Humans ; Indocyanine Green ; Lasers, Semiconductor ; Photochemotherapy ; Phototherapy ; Retinoids ; Sebum

Reactive perforating collagenosis is one of a range of essential perforating disorders and is characterized by the transepithelial elimination of altered collagen. Two types have been recognized: the inherited, or childhood form and the acquired, or adult form. Acquired reactive perforating collagenosis is associated with systemic diseases, especially diabetes mellitus and/or renal failure. We report that a low-dose allopurinol showed dramatic effects on acquired reactive perforating collagenosis, which was associated with hypothyroidism and chronic renal failure caused by diabetic nephropathy.
Adult ; Allopurinol* ; Collagen ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Renal Insufficiency

Eosinophilic cellulitis is a rare recurrent inflammatory dermatosis, characterized clinically by well-circumscribed erythematous plaques. The histopathologic features of the lesions are dermal edema, infiltration of eosinophils and development of 'flame figures' in the dermis. A 64-year-old female presented pruritic erythematous plaques, with associated bullae, on her right hand and wrist. Histopathologic examination showed infiltration of eosinophils and characteristic flame figures in the dermis. The clinical presentation and histopathologic alterations are consistent with the diagnosis of eosinophilic cellulitis. Herein, we report a case of bullous eosinophilic cellulitis which is an uncommon variant of eosinophilc cellulitis.
Blister ; Cellulitis ; Dermis ; Edema ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Skin Diseases ; Wrist

Folliculosebaceous cystic hamartoma (FSCH) is a recently-recognized cutaneous hamar- toma composed of follicular, sebaceous and mesenchymal elements. We describe an unusual case of FSCH in a 61-year-old male, who had a relatively large, 3x2.5cm sized, smooth subcutaneous nodule on the occipital area of the scalp, an uncommon location for FSCH.
Hamartoma* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Scalp

Smooth muscle tumors have been classified into leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma. But the criteria for malignancy are not well defined. Traditionally, mitoses are the most important differentiating feature between leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma. However mitotic activity was regarded as an acceptable finding in about 20% of cutaneous leiomyoma. The widely used designation "smooth muscle tumor of uncertain malignant potential" is a reflection of the limitation of available criteria to precisely diagnose tumors with borderline atypical features. We present herein a case of a cutaneous smooth muscle tumor of uncertain malignant potential, which is mitotically active, on the abdomen of a 45-year-old man.
Abdomen ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; Leiomyosarcoma ; Middle Aged ; Mitosis ; Muscle, Smooth ; Muscles ; Smooth Muscle Tumor

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the characteristics of tattoos on prisoners. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the clinical characteristics of tattooed prisoners and compare them with other previously reported data. METHODS: Between November 2006 and August 2010, we selected 98 tattooed men in a correctional institution in Seoul and investigated their personal and clinical information, including the average age of their first tattoo, sites of tattoos, contents of tattoos, motivations for getting tattooed, removal of tattoos, and occurrences of medical complications, etc. RESULTS: The most common educational level was the high school graduated group (39.8%). Most tattooed prisoners had a religion (83.7%). Thirty-three of the men (33.7%) had self-injuries. The average age of their first tattoo was 18.5 years, and the average number of tattoos was 2.7. Fifty-three of the tattooed prisoners (54.1%) were first-time offenders. There was a correlation between the number of tattoos and the rate of recidivism. Left arm was the most common site of tattoos (23.6%). Most of the tattoos were performed by others, especially friends (56.1%). Half of the prisoners received their tattoos in society. The most common tattoo material was Chinese ink (41.8%), and the most common motivation for getting tattoos was curiosity (48.0%). Among the various contents of the tattoos, letters were the most frequent (28.1%). Complications were observed in 16 cases (16.3%); hypertrophic scar, keloid, local skin infections, and allergic reactions such as itching. Most of the tattooed prisoners had regrets (80.6%) and requested tattoo removal. Embarrassment was the most common motivation for tattoo removal (35.4%). Removal of tattoos was attempted in 37 cases (37.8%). CONCLUSION: Most of the study results are compatible with those of previous studies. However, education level, religion, and contents of tattoos were slightly different. Further, we obtained new information regarding motivation for tattoo removal, correlation between the number of tattoos and number of crimes, and the attitudes toward their tattoos. We hope the obtained results will be helpful for understanding people with tattoos tattoo in a correctional institution.
Arm ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Carbon ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; Crime ; Criminals ; Exploratory Behavior ; Friends ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Ink ; Keloid ; Male ; Motivation ; Prisoners ; Prisons ; Pruritus ; Skin

Forty-nine cadaver dissections (male 30, female 19) were performed to identify the shape and size of rectus abdominis muscle and the distribution of vessels in Korean for flap surgery. The total length between xiphoid process and pubic symphysis of male is 375.9+/-41.8 mm and female is 339.4+/-39.1 mm. But the length between umbilicus and pubic symphysis of male and female did not show significant difference. The three tendinous intersections are 61.2%, the 4 intersections are 35.7%, and 2 intersections are 3.1%. The most of first, second and third intersections had the most complete intersection. The most of fourth intersection had the most fragmentary intersection. The external diameter of superior epigastric artery is 1.4+/-0.3 mm, and inferior epigastric artery is 2.6+/-0.6 mm. The percentage of superior epigastric artery that goes into the medial 1/3 region of rectus abdominis muscle is 52%, middle 1/3 region is 38%, lateral 1/3 region is 2% and 2 stem goes into the muscle is 8%. The length between the origin of inferior epigastric artery and the point of semilunar line met inferior epigastric artery is 41.1 mm in male and 38.8 mm in female.
Cadaver ; Epigastric Arteries ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pubic Symphysis ; Rectus Abdominis* ; Umbilicus

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this preliminary study was to investigate job stress and stress coping strategy among workers in a regional statistics office. METHODS: A total of 133 workers in regional statistics office participated in this study and they were divided into two groups, survey group(n=109) and support group(n=24) depending on relation to statistical survey task. They were asked to respond to Short Form of Korean Occupational Stress Scale(KOSS-SF) and Stress Coping Strategy(SCS) to investigate sociodemographic characteristics, job stress, and stress coping strategy. RESULTS: The proportion of the 133 participants in the sample was 59(44.4%) of men, 74(55.6%) of women. There were no significant differences in KOSS-SF scores in relation to age, sex, education, and marital status, while the KOSS-SF scores were significantly different between the two groups. In regard to the subscales of KOSS-SF, the two groups had significant differences in insufficient job control, interpersonal conflict, job insecurity, and organization system. In addition, the total score of KOSS-SF had a negative correlation with problem-focused coping strategy and social support coping strategy of SCS. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that workers of survey group had more job stress compared to those who works in support group in regional statistical office. In addition, in comparison with workers of support group, both men and women of survey group get stressed when they were confronted with interpersonal conflicts. Our results suggest that using problem-focused coping and social support coping strategy lowers job stress.
Education ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Marital Status ; Self-Help Groups

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the reference value for cross sectional area (CSA) of the fibular nerve in Koreans. METHOD: One musculoskeletal radiologist and one physiatrist performed fibular nerve ultrasonography (US) on 60 lower extremities of 30 asymptomatic Korean volunteers (16 males, 14 females). The mean age was 46.6 years (range: 21-75 years). We measured CSA of the fibular nerve at three sites: proximal portion (PP) at the bifurcation, mid-portion (MP), and an area just above the fibular head (FH). In addition, the fibular nerves of 7 lower extremities from 4 cadavers were cut from the fibular head to the proximal portion and divided into three sections (PP, MP, FH). They were subsequently fixed with 10% neutral buffered formalin and perpendicularly excised to 2 mm thickness. They were photographed by an operating microscope and CSA was measured. Using the Kruskal-Wallis test, measurements obtained from US images were compared between asymptomatic volunteers with a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: In asymptomatic volunteers, the CSA of the three portions were PP: 13.8+/-1.2 mm2, MP: 11.1+/-1.0 mm2, FH: 10.9+/-0.6 mm2. The fibular nerves were well visualized with clear borders by US. In cadavers, the CSA of three portions were PP: 20.3+/-10.3 mm2, MP: 16.7+/-8.6 mm2, FH: 14.4+/-8.9 mm2. There was no significant difference between the three portions in asymptomatic volunteers and cadavers (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: In normal Korean adults, the area of fibular nerve at the fibular head is 10.9+/-0.6 mm2. Ultrasonographic evaluation of the fibular nerve can be helpful in diagnosing fibular nerve lesions.
Adult ; Cadaver ; Formaldehyde ; Head ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Peroneal Nerve ; Reference Values

Background and Objectives: In acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI),on-site transmission of electrocardiogram (ECG) has been shown to reduce systemic timedelay to reperfusion and improve outcomes. However, it has not been adopted in communitybasedemergency transport system in Korea. Methods: Busan Regional Cardio-cerebrovascular Center and Busan Metropolitan City Fireand Safety Headquarters (BMFSH) jointly developed and conducted a pre-hospital ECGtransmission program. Seven tertiary hospitals and 22 safety stations of BMFSH participated.Systemic time delay to reperfusion of STEMI patients in the program was compared with thatof 95 patients transported by 119 emergency medical system (EMS) before the program wasimplemented. Results: During the study period, 289 ECG transmissions were made by 119 EMS personnel,executed within 5 minutes in 88.1% of cases. Of these, 42 ECGs were interpreted as STsegmentelevation. Final diagnosis of STEMI was made in 20 patients who underwent primarypercutaneous coronary intervention. With the program, systemic time delay to reperfusion wassignificantly reduced (median [interquartile range; IQR], 76.0 [62.2–98.7] vs. 90.0 [75.0–112.0],p<0.01). Significant reduction of door-to-balloon time was also observed (median [IQR], 45.0[34.0–69.5] vs. 58.0 [51.0–68.0], p=0.03). The proportion of patients with systemic time delayshorter than 90 minutes rose (51.6% vs. 75.0%, p=0.08) with pre-hospital ECG transmission. Conclusions We developed and implemented a community-based pre-hospital ECG transmission program for expeditious triage of STEMI patients. Significant reductions ofsystemic time delay and door-to-balloon time were observed. The expanded use of prehospitalECG transmission should be encouraged to realize the full potential of this program.