Bleaching creams containing hydroquinone are modestly effective in treating some cutane ous pigmentary disorders. Hydroquinone creams frequently cause mild irritant reactions and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, but rarely allergic reactions. A case of allergic contact dermatitis due to hydroquinone in a 21-year-old woman was confirmed by the patch test.
Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Hypersensitivity ; Patch Tests ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Blood Platelets* ; Leukocytes* ; Plateletpheresis*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to verify the effects of the Qigong training program on the anxiety and labor pains of primipara. METHOD: The research subjects were a total of 60 primipara who consulted a doctor regularly concerning their antenatal care. Among them, 30 people were the experimental group, and the other 30 people were the control group, and were selected as homogeneous with the experimental group. The degree of anxiety and labor pains were measured by State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI) and Graphic Rating Scale(GRS). SPSS WIN 11.0 was used for data analysis. Obstetric and general characteristics between experimental and control groups, and a homogeneity test of state and trait anxiety were done by both X2 test and t-test. The hypothesis testing was analyzed by ANCOVA with a covariate of pretest value. RESULT: The first hypothesis, 'Primipara who join the Qigong training program have lower anxiety than those who do not join' was supported (F=28.8, p<.000). The second hypothesis, 'Primipara who join the Qigong training program have lower labor pain than those who do not join' was unsupported. CONCLUSION: It was verified that the Qigong training program was effective in alleviating anxiety; however it did not have any effect on relieving labor pain, so more in-depth research is needed later on.
Anxiety* ; Education* ; Female ; Humans ; Labor Pain* ; Pregnancy ; Qigong* ; Research Subjects ; Statistics as Topic

Heterotopic pregnancy occurs when an intrauterine pregnancy co-exists with an ectopic pregnancy. It is a potentially fatal condition, rarely occuring in natural conception cycle. But its incidence is increased since the rise in PID, pelvic surgery, IUD, and advent of assisted reproductive technology involving use of superovulatory drugs and/or in vitro-fertilization. We present a case of intrauterine twin pregnancy and right tubal pregnancy following treatment with in vitro-fertilization. The right tubal pregnancy was diagnosed after rupturing at 6th gestational weeks, and resected via laparoscopy. And healthy twin babies were delivered without complication at 38th gestational week. So we report this case with a brief review of the literatures.
Female ; Fertilization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Laparoscopy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Pregnancy, Heterotopic* ; Pregnancy, Tubal ; Pregnancy, Twin ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted

PURPOSE: Kawasaki disease(KD) is known as one of the most important causes of acquired heart disease in children. But the incidence of acquired heart disease can be reduced by early diagnosis and treatment with large amounts of intravenous gamma-globulin(IVGG). For early diagnosis and treatment of atypical KD, we analyzed and compared the clinical features, laboratory findings and coronary lesions in patients with typical or atypical KD. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted in all children with Kawasaki disease who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics of Kwang-Hye Hospital between January 1998 and December 1999. Except for 15 cases who were not followed, 62 cases were involved in this study. We analyzed and compared the clinical features, laboratory findings and coronary lesions in patients with 39 typical cases and 23 atypical cases of KD. RESULTS: The lowest incidence among clinical symptoms was cervical lymphadenopathy in both groups. In atypical cases, cervical lymphadenopathy, polymorphous exanthema, and changes of peripheral extremities were significantly lower than in typical cases. The duration of fever was similar in both groups, the mean defeverescence time after administration of IVGG in atypical cases was significantly shorter than typical cases(atypical, 2.6 days, typical cases, 1.8 days). The coronary artery dilatation appeared in 4 cases(17.4%) of atypical and 17 cases(43.6%) of the typical group. In most cases of both groups, left coronary artery dilatation was detected. CONCLUSION: To decrease the incidence of serious coronary complications due to atypical KD, careful evauation of clinical findings, early study of echocardiography and early infusion of large doses of IVGG are needed.
Child ; Coronary Vessels ; Dilatation ; Early Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Exanthema ; Extremities ; Fever ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Pediatrics ; Retrospective Studies

This was a descriptive study clarifying the factors affecting family caregivers' sense of well-being. This study was conducted with 131 caregivers using structured self-reporting questionnaires and directly interviewing adult patients who had been under treatment in two general hospitals. The hospitals were located in M city from Aug. 10, 2000 until Sep. 2, 2000. The collected data were analyzed using SAS PC+ program, and the data were tested using descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson's Correlation Coefficient, and Stepwise Multiple Regression. The results of this study are as follows; 1) The variables affecting the caregivers' sense of burden were age (F=3.76, p=.0063), education level (F=4.67, p=.0015), monthly income (F=2.49, p=.0466), amount of assistance provided (F=4.19, p=.0037), and the relationship with patient before disease (F=9.49, p=.0001). 2) The variables affecting caregivers' sense of well-being were age (F=9.54, p=.0001), residing with patient (t=11.38, p=.0010), the period of caregiving (F=10.52, p= .0001), education level (F= 2.79, p=.0290), monthly income (F=3.04, p=.0196), and relationship with patient before disease (F= 10.51, p=.0001). Also, all of the variables which showed statistical significance. 3) In viewing the relationship between activities of daily living (ADL) and the senses of burden and well-being, a negative relation- ship between activities of daily living (ADL) and a sense of burden was found (r=-.640, p=.000). However, the relationship between activities of daily living (ADL) and a sense of well-being had a positive correlation (r= .232, p=.008). Also the relationship between the sense of burden and the sense of well-being was revealed to have a negative correlation (r=-.614, p=.000). 4) A sense of burden was the most important indicator to the well-being of the caregivers who took care of stroke patients (R2 =.36). In addition to this, living with the patient (45%), activities of daily living (51%), relationship with patient before disease (53%), and the family's monthly income accounted for 56% of the sense of well-being of the caregivers.
Activities of Daily Living ; Adult ; Caregivers ; Education ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Ships ; Stroke* ; Survivors*

The relationship between respiratory infections and exacerbations of wheezing in patients with wheezy bronchitis or asthma has been described. Most respiratory infections were viral or Mycoplasma pneumoniae. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection on bronchial reactivity and atopic background. 106 patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia who were admitted to the department of pediatrics, Fatima Hospital, Taegu during the period of two years from January 1989 to December 1990 were involved in this study. The results were as follows 1) Out of 106 cases, 69 were male,37 were female and 34.9% of the cases were between 5~6 years of age. 35 cases(33.0%) had wheezing and the incidence of wheezing were higher in male than in female. 2) The incidence of wheezing was high in the patients with serum IgE level higher than 200IU/ml, patients with past and family history of allergy and the patients fed with formula feeding in infancy. 3) Eosinophils and the associated maxillary sinusitis had no effect on the incidence of wheezing. 4) The recurrence of wheezing was higher in Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia with wheezing(26.8%) than in patients without wheezing(3.8%).
Asthma ; Bronchitis ; Child* ; Daegu ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Incidence ; Male ; Maxillary Sinus ; Maxillary Sinusitis ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Pediatrics ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Recurrence ; Respiratory Sounds* ; Respiratory Tract Infections

OBJECTIVE: Immunofluorescence microscopy including confocal laser scanning microscopy and electron microscopy were used to study the production of fibronectin, tenascin, and laminin in the cumulus-corona (CC) cells surrounding mature, unfertilized oocytes after ovulation in view of their presumptive importance in the coordination of the processes leading to fertilization and early embryo cleavage, including the final maturation of the ovum, the sperm-egg interaction, and the complex biochemical mechanism between the ovum and the oviduct. METHODS: Mature oocyte-cumulus complex (OCC) was cultured for 24 and 48 hour and fixed in 3.7% formaldehyde. Specimens were incubated with a mixture of primary monoclonal antibodies recognizing different epitopes of fibronectin, tenascin, and laminin, and then with a mixture of secondary antibodies containing FITC, TRITC, and Cy-5 conjugated antibodies. Observation was made by confocal laser scanning microscope equipped with epifluorescece optics. Transmission electron microscopy were used to observe the OCC at 24 and 48 hours after cultrue. RESULTS: The immunocytochemical date demonstrated that CC masses are capable of producing fibronectin and tenascin but their production is heterogeneous in the CC population. Immunoreactivity to fibronectin and tenascin was shown mostly by inner corona cells, and the intensity of immunofluorescence decreased from the central corona cells to the peripheral cumulus cells. Colocalization of fibronectin and tenascin was evident in most CC cells. Moreover, fibronectin and tenascin immunoreactive material was observed in the intracytoplasmic areas, at the plasma membrane level as well as in the extracellular matrix. Whereas, laminin immunofluorescence was found around plasma membrane and extracellular area, but a intracytoplasmic reaction was rarely observed. The distribution of laminin immunofluorescence was similar to that of fibronectin and tenascin, but in some cumulus cells, colocalization between them was not found. Ultrastructurally, cumulus cells projected numerous long, thin microvilli into the intercellular area and some micovilli penetrated into zona pellucida. The inner layer of the cumulus mass was loose arrangement of relatively uniform, small cells with widened intercellular spaces, whereas in the outer layer, cumulus cells are rather larger in size and compact arrangement by narrow, irregular spaces. A small and large linear gap junctions were easily found at cell contacts. The cytoplasm of most cells had abundant organelles typical of steroidogenesis: numerous mitochondrias, a well-developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum, electron dense lipid droplets, and bundles of microtubules and microfilaments. Rudimentary disrupted basal lamina along the cytoplasmic border was rarely seen in a few inner conora cells. CONCLUSION: Even though the functional role of these extracellular matrix proteins remains still unclear, it is reasonable to suggest that they are necessary in various steps of the reproductive process. Cumulus cells appears to be a heterogeneous and dynamic system for suitable microenviroment of fertilization. And functional differences between corona and cumulus cells during the oocyte denudation may be accounted for particular distribution of these adhesive proteins and steroidogenesis-related organelles.
Actin Cytoskeleton ; Adhesives ; Animals ; Antibodies ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Basement Membrane ; Cell Membrane ; Cumulus Cells ; Cytoplasm ; Embryonic Structures ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Smooth ; Epitopes ; Extracellular Matrix ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; Extracellular Space ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fibronectins* ; Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Formaldehyde ; Gap Junctions ; Immunohistochemistry ; Laminin* ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Microscopy, Electron* ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Microtubules ; Microvilli ; Mitochondria ; Oocytes ; Organelles ; Oviducts ; Ovulation ; Ovum ; Sperm-Ovum Interactions ; Tenascin* ; Zona Pellucida

No abstract available.
Antigens, Surface* ; Leukemia*

No abstract available.
Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver* ; Prevalence*