The ARS(Acute Radiation Syndrome) develops, within 60 days after exposure to ionising radiation with typical clinical signs and symptoms as a function of time. The interactions and combined effects of radiation-induced damage to different organ systems are diverse and not yet fully understood. Therefore, when accidental exposure to ionising radiation is documented or suspected, guidance for immediate diagnostic procedures and specialised care are required to handle the complexity of the ARS. The following four organ systems, Neurovascular system (N), Hematopoietic system (H), Cutaneous system (C) and Gastrointestinal system (G) are considered to be of critical significance for the development of ARS and should therefore receive special attention in the medical management of radiation accident cases. The Assessment of the severity of damage, Decision on the kind of hospitalisation, Provision of appropriate therapeutic interventions and Evaluation of the patient's prognosis must be considered in the management of a patient after a radiation accident. When significant levels of radioactive materials are incorporated, pathological consequences may ensue, making emergent treatment particularly important. However, this should not take priority over treatment of life threatening conditions and of acute injuries. Following medical stabilization, careful radiological assessment can be performed to determine the presence of both external and internal contamination. It is important to note that 1) contaminated patients do not represent a direct hazard to health care providers and 2) lifesaving procedures should not be delayed regardless of the level of contamination.
Acute Radiation Syndrome* ; Health Personnel ; Hematopoietic System ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Radioactive Hazard Release

PURPOSE: To evaluate the health status of institutionalized handicapped children, a general health assessment was done in an asylum in Taegu in May 1998. METHODS: Body measurements, including height, weight, head circumference, skin fold thickness and mid-arm circumference, were done with physical examination on 53 children. Blood tests and chest radiography were done, and fat impedance was measured. RESULTS: Of the 53 children, height, weight and head circumference were below the third percentile in 37(69.8%), 35(66%) and 28(52.8%) children, respectively. Body mass index, skin fold thickness and mid-arm circumference were below the third percentiles in 77.3, 50.9% and 56.6% of the children, respectively. Although serum protein levels were within normal range, anemia was detected in 31 children(58.5%). Two children showed interstitial pneumonia on chest radiograms. And HBsAg was detected in three but their liver enzymes were within normal limits. CONCLUSION: Due to the poor nutritional status of handicapped children in the asylum, the prevalence of anemia was high. Evaluation of the nutritional status and hemoglobin measurernent must be included in the routine health assessment of these children.
Anemia ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Daegu ; Disabled Children ; Disabled Persons* ; Electric Impedance ; Head ; Hematologic Tests ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Humans ; Liver ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Nutritional Status ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Radiography ; Reference Values ; Skin ; Thorax

Basaloid follicular hamartoma (BFH) is a benign adnexal tumor with a wide spectrum of clinical appearance and is characterized histologically by the presence of branching cords and thin strands of undifferentiated anasomosing, basaloid proliferations that are embedded in a fibrous stroma. It has been often misdiagnosed and treated as basal cell carcinoma. We report a 57-year-old woman with BFH on the face which is similar to basal cell carcinorna clinically that turned out to be a solitary BFH histologically. There has been no recurrence during one year of follow up after excisional biopsy.
Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hamartoma* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia is considered to be a genetically determined disorder influenced by age and androgen. The proportion of patients with androgenetic alopecia among the total number of patients with alpecia seems to be gradually increasing. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine the family history, clinical and endocrine status of the patients with androgenetic alopectia. METHODS: 387 patients with androgenetic alopecia who had visited the Department of Dermatology, Yongsan Hospital, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University during the last 4 years (1990.1-1993.12)were examined. RESULTS: 1) Annual incidence of androgenetic alopecia among the total number of alopecia patients averaged over 4 years was 38.95 having increased recently. 2) There were 286 male and 101 female patients being most prevalent in the 3rd decade in both sexes. 3) Patients younger than 30 years old, patients with premature androgenetic alopecia, made up 687.5% of the male patients and 56.4 of the female patients with androgenetic alopecia. 4) Of the 73 male patients Hamilton's type III was most common (46, 63.0%). 5) Of the 34 female patients Ludwig's type I was most common (21, 61.2%). 6) there was a family history of baldness in 39.4% of first degree relatives in male patients and 41.25 of first degree relatives in female patients. 7) Associated diseases were observed in 152 (53.1%) of the male patients and 63(62.4%) of the female patients : seborrheic dermatitis (36.7%/35.7%), acne vulgaris (5.2%/5.95), atopic dermatitis, thyroid diseases, pulmonary tuberculosis, depression, and gastrointestinal diseases. In female patients menstrual irregularity, hypertrichosis, and polycystic ovary disease were also observed. 8) Serum testosterone levels were increased in 24 (8.8%0 of male patients and in 17 (17.45) of female patients. CONCLUSION: Based on our findings, the development of androgenetic alopecia is significantly related to the positive family history of baldness. Serum testosterone levels in most patients were within normal limit and were increased only in a small number of the patients with androgenetic alopecia. Therefore, it seems reasonable to suggest that the inhibitory effecfts of androgens on the dermal papilla cells may be mediated by an increased density and/or functional activity of androgen receptors or through an acceleration in the metabolic activity of androgen.
Acceleration ; Acne Vulgaris ; Adult ; Alopecia* ; Androgens ; Depression ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic ; Dermatology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Humans ; Hypertrichosis ; Incidence ; Male ; Ovary ; Receptors, Androgen ; Testosterone ; Thyroid Diseases ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

We reported two cases of elephantiasis neurofibromatosa in a family. The first case was the son of the second case. Both patients showed huge masses and bone changs. They were treated by surgical excision due to functional and cosmetic problems. The histopathologic findings of the two cases were consistent with neurofibroma.
Elephantiasis* ; Humans ; Neurofibroma ; Neurofibromatoses*

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster is characterized by vesicular skin lesions over the unilateral sensory dermatomes being caused by the reactivation of varicella-zoster virus and its incidence seems to be increasing recently. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the epidemiology and the clinical characteristics of herpes zoster. METHODS: The authors observed 877 cases of herpes zoster clinically for annual incidence, age, sex, monthly distribution, predilection site, associated disease, and complications at the Department of Dermatology in Chung-Ang University Hospital during a 10 years period(1982.9-1992.8). RESULTS: 1) The annual incidence averaged over 10 years was 2.26%(877 cases of total 38.717 outpatients) being on the increase recently. 2) The age distribution was in the range of 2-86 years old being most prevalent in the 6th decade and there was equal sex ratio(444:433). 3) There was no statistically significant monthly or seasonal variation in the incidence of herpes zoster. 4) The most common anatomical distribution was thoracic dermatome(51.7%), followed by trigeminal(17.1%), cervical(16.1%), lumbar (10.6%), sacral(1.4%)and multiple deramatomic involvement(3.1%). Left or right side was affected in about the same ratio(439:437), and bilateral involvement was in 1 case. 5) Associated disease of herpes zoster were observed in 210 patients(23.9%) ; hypertension(7.0%), diabetes mellitus(4.1%), tuberculosis(1.8%), postoperative status(0.7%), malignancy(0.7%), gastric ulcer(0.7%), and so on, 6) The most common complication of herpes zoster was postherpetic neuralgia(7.4%), followed by eye complication(2.1%), bacterial infection(1.4%), scar formation(0.7%), neurogenic bladder(0.2%), Ramsay-Hunt syndrome(0.2%), motor paralysis(0.1%), herpes zoster generalisatus(0.1%) 7) The incidence of postherpetic neuralgia increased with age and was highest in trigeminal dermatome. 8) Recurrence of herpes zoster was observed in 4 patients(0.5%). CONCLUSION: According to this study, the annual incidence of herpes zoster showed a tendency to increase recently but there was no significant monthly or seasonal variation. The anatomical distribution was most commom on the thoracic dermatome. The incidenc of postherpetic neuralgia increased with age being most common in trigeminal nerve.
Age Distribution ; Cicatrix ; Dermatology ; Epidemiology ; Herpes Zoster* ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Incidence ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Recurrence ; Seasons ; Skin ; Trigeminal Nerve

PURPOSE: Leptin is a highly hydrophobic 16-kDa protein encoded by the ob gene which is expre- ssed in adipocytes and participates in the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure. The aims of the present study were to examine the comparison of leptin levels between type I diabetes mellitus (DM) patients who received exogenous insulin therapy and healthy children, and to find out correlating factors with leptin level in type I DM. METHODS: The study was conducted on 34 patients with type I DM and 29 healthy children. Body weight, height, leptin level and body fat percent were measured in both groups. The glycosylated hemoglobin value, C-peptide, insulin level and serum cholesterol were also measured in type I DM. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in mean age, sex distribution and body mass index between the experimental groups, but body fat percent in type I DM was significantly lower than that of healthy children. The mean leptin levels in male (9.4+/-6.3ng/mL) and female (17.8+/-10.2ng/mL) type I DM were significantly higher than in male(6.3+/-5.7ng/mL) and female (10.2+/-0.9ng/mL) healthy children (male : P=0.045, female : P=0.005). Serum leptin levels were strongly correlated with the body fat percent (Pearson coefficient) (r=0.712). CONCLUSION: Serum leptin level in type I DM strongly correlated with the body fat percent. Despite lowered body fat percent in type I DM, the leptin level was significantly higher than values in healthy children. The mean leptin level in type I DM were significantly higher than value in healthy children, but body fat percent of type I DM was lower than value in healthy children who were adjusted for sex, age and body mass index.
Adipocytes ; Adipose Tissue ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; C-Peptide ; Child* ; Cholesterol ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; Eating ; Energy Metabolism ; Female ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Insulin ; Leptin* ; Male ; Sex Distribution

A case of telangiectatic osteosarcoma of the proximal tibia of left leg in 19-year-old man was reported. Radiologically the tumor was aneccentric blow-out osteolytic lesion simulating aneurysmal bone cyst. Pathologically the tumor presented multiple blood filled cystic spaces and anaplastic spindle cells of osteoclastic type and focal osteoid deposition. The patient died 8 months after he underwent high above knee amputation followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. Distinct clinicopathologic finding of telangiectatic osteosarcoma was described with special emphasis on differential diagnosis.
Amputation ; Aneurysm ; Bone Cysts ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Knee ; Leg ; Osteoclasts ; Osteosarcoma ; Tibia ; Young Adult

The cytologic findings in fine needle aspiration of a case of myxoid liposarcoma of the mediastinum are described. The smear and cell block of the aspirate revealed solid clusters with background of amorphous material and scattered single tumor cells. The clusters were moderately cellular and consisted of atypical lipoblasts in varying stages of differentiation and delicate plexiform capillaries. Good correlation was found between the histologic and cytologic findings in the fine needle aspirates. The differential diagnosis between myxoid liposarcoma and other myxoid soft tissue tumors is discussed,
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Capillaries ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Liposarcoma, Myxoid ; Mediastinum ; Needles ; Neural Tube Defects* ; Urological Manifestations*

Primary small cell carcinoma of the salivary gland is a rare neoplasm that accounts for approximately 1.8% of all primary major salivary gland malignancies. Because of its rarity, it is difficult to diagnose small cell carcinoma of the parotid gland by fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC). We experienced a case of primary small cell carcinoma of the parotid gland in a 72-year-old woman who presented with two palpable masses of the left infraauricular and ocular regions of two to three month's duration, respectively. Aspirate smears from the left infraauricular area were highly cellular on necrotic and lymphocytic background and showed individually dispersed cells or three-dimensional clusters of small cells. The tumor cells were round to oval with a very high nucleocytoplasmic ratio. Nuclei were about two times the size of lymphocytes and had uniformly dispersed but hyperchromatic to pyknotic chromatin. Nucleoli were occasionally visible but were generally inconspicuous. Numerous mitotic figures were detected. The clusters of these small tumor cells exhibited angular nuclear molding, irregular nuclear outlines, and occasionally rosette like arrangement. The tumor was confirmed by histology and immunohistochemistry.
Aged ; Animals ; Benzodiazepines* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; Chromatin ; Female ; Fungi ; Humans ; Immobilization* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphocytes ; Parotid Gland ; Rats* ; Receptors, GABA-A* ; Salivary Glands ; Thyroid Gland