Contact Dermatitis due to cosmetics is also common in Korea. as in other developed countries. However. detection of the causative antigens is in a difficult situation due to many reasons. We have routinely patch tested with Japanese cosmetic series patch test allergens, Types 17 and 18 in addition to Hollister standard battery and patients own cosmetics to 4Q cases of suspected cosmetic contact dermatitis who have visited our Environmental and Occupational Clinic during the past one year. The study result was as follows. Total 55% ositive reaction related to cosmetics was observed in 4p patch tested patients. 2 The most frequently observed antigens were hydroxycitronellal, benzyl saliylate and cinnamic alcohol.
Allergens ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Developed Countries ; Humans ; Korea ; Patch Tests*

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a hereditary disorder characterized by renal cyst formation, hypertension, and end-stage renal disease. For many years, ADPKD was considered an adult disease. In fact, it may occur at any time in life including in utero. We experienced a case of ADPKD at 34 weeks of gestation. On ultrasound, both kidnies were enlarged and echogenic. Amniotic fluid index was normal. We discovered a family history of paternal origin. Sonographic findings of bilaterally enlarged and echogenic kidnies without oligohydroamniosis may suggest ADPKD. Renal ultrasound examination of parents is useful in the diagnosis of ADPKD.
Adult ; Amniotic Fluid ; Diagnosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Parents ; Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant* ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Ultrasonography

The propose of this study was to propose for protection of childhood injury or accident and to provide safety measures. Data was collected from 2,052 who visited emergency room of E University Hospital during 1 year period form January to December, 1996. The results were as follows : 1. The most common type of accident was fall down (53.4%). 2. Male patients outnumbered female by the ratio of 1.68 : 1. 3. The highest incidence rate of accidents were observed in children between 1-3 years age group(34.9%). 4. Accidents were seasonally more frequent in spring(28.2%). 5. Accidents mainly took place at home(63%). 6. The time of accidental occurrence appeared to be predominantly high during a day 8:00 PM to 0:00 AM(35.1%). 7. The most frequent involved part of body was head and face(74%). 8. Most patients discharged from the hospital in good condition(85.4%). Though clinical analysis, in the relation to accident, there were statistically significant difference in sex, age, season, injury place(all=0.000).
Child ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Seasons ; Child Health

One of the most important aspect of hemophilia is repeated bleeding into the joint. The frequency of such hemorrhages varies with the severity of the disease. In moderate or severe cases, repeated hemorrhages result in considerable impairment of joint structure and function: Contractures and gross deformity are frequent end result. This paper described a case of hemophilia A, 24-year-old male, who developed deformity of the shoulder, elbow, ankle and knee joint because of repeated hemoarthrosis. Author attempted to treat this patient by transfusion of fresh whole blood and traction, which resulted in some clinical improvement.
Ankle ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; Elbow ; Hemophilia A ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee Joint ; Male ; Shoulder ; Traction ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: The verse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has been widely used to analyze the bcr/abl fusion mRNA in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Fresh or cryopreserved cells may not always be available for molecular diagnosis. So we investigated the value of stored bone marrow aspirate smears as the sources of material for the detection of bcr/abl mRNA. METHODS: We extracted RNA using modified Chomczynski method, and amplified bcr/abl mRNA by RT-PCR from the 70 cases of bone marrow smear slides stored from 7 days to 7 years, which were comprised of 49 CML, 11 other chronic myeloproliferative disorders (CMPD) and 10 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Sensitivity of RT-PGR was tested using the slide smears prepared with 10(0)-10(6) K562 cells, and RT-PCR results losing each fresh bone marrow cellular suspension and slide smears in 24 patients were compacted. For major bcr/abl rearrangement, RT-PCR was performed by nested PGR afters GDNA synthesis losing downward primer and beta2-microglobulin was used as RNA controls. RESULTS: The sensitivity of RT-PCR for detecting bcr/abl mRNA was l02 cells per slide. Sixty one cases (86%) of 70 bone marrow aspirate smears showed positive results of beta2-micyoglobulin cDNA as an indicator of intact RNA. Thirty nine cases of 42 beta2-microglobulin cDNA positive CML bone marrow aspirate smears showed 29 b3a2 type mRNA and 10 b2a2 type mRNA. Nine cases of 11 bone marrow aspirate smear with other CMPD showed negative results of bcr/abl mRNA. Two cases of 10 ALL bone mallow aspirate smears had b2a2 type mRNA and b3a2 type mRNA, respectively. The results for detection of bcr/abl mRNA with fresh cell suspensions of 24 patients were same as the bone marrow aspirate smears storied for 7 days to 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicated that RNA obtained from bone marrow smears storied for less than 1 year was valuable as the source of RT-PGR for the detection of bcr/abl mRNA in CML and the bone marrow smears stored for much longer period ould be assailable as the specimens for retrospective analysis of specific gene alter-ation in other hematologic malignancy.
Bone Marrow* ; Diagnosis ; DNA, Complementary ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; Myeloproliferative Disorders ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Retrospective Studies ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger* ; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase* ; Suspensions

Autograft using suction hlistered epidermis is one of the surgical therapeutic mod- alities of vitiligo, and has been successfully used by several authors. The maintenance of grafting pigment is belieued to be more important than repigmentation itself. To examine the maintenance of pigment, 22 vitiligo patients were treated by autograft using suction blistered epidermis and followed for 16.8 months. Repigmentation developed in 20 patients, Two patients were lost to follow up. Out of 20 patients, grafting pigment was maintained in 17 patients(85% ) and disappeared in three patients(15% ). By clinical subtype, the rates of maintenance were 100% in segmental type, 80% in localized type and 66% in generalized type. The best results were observed in a head and neck location and the worst rates and maintenance were in the hand. However, these differences were not statistically significant. likewise, age and sex were not factors in maintenance and repigrnentation. Based on this study, autograft using suction blistered epidermis appears to be a good therapeutic modality for stable vitiligo, particularly segmental vitiligo.
Autografts* ; Blister* ; Epidermis* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Hand ; Head ; Humans ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Neck ; Suction* ; Transplants ; Vitiligo

54-year-old male patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia was consulted to our department. He had had a few painful erythematous necrotic plaques on the chest, which suggested initslly vasculitis or pyoderma. On histological examination, characterisitic histological findings of non-septated large hyphae were observed in the dermis and subcutaneoustissue, Although organism was not isolated on Sabouraud agar media containing cycloheximide, the diagnosis of cutaneous mucormycosis was made by the characteristic histological nattlre. He died after 2 weeks with amphotericin B intravenous injections so that additional fungus culture was not performed.
Agar ; Amphotericin B ; Cycloheximide ; Dermis ; Diagnosis ; Fungi ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucormycosis* ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Pyoderma ; Thorax ; Vasculitis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of balloon catheter dilatation in the treatment of esophageal achalasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven patients(three males and four females) with esopha-geal achalasia were treated with balloon catheter dilatation. Balloon catheters of variable sizes were used depending on patient's conditions. The patients were followed up over a period of 12-39months. RESULTS: Balloon catheter dilatation in esophageal achalasia was successful in all patients without esophageal perforation. All patients were relieved from dysphagia. Recurrence was not found in 5 patients on long term follow-up study, but was seen in 2 patients after 18 and 21 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: Balloon catheter dilatation was a safe and effective method in the treatment of esophageal achalasia with low recurrence rate of 29% on follow-up study.
Catheters* ; Deglutition Disorders ; Dilatation* ; Esophageal Achalasia* ; Esophageal Perforation ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Male ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND: It is well known that neuronal degeneration can occur after a brief deprivation of energy source. To investigate whether glial astrocyte can induce a phenomenon of delayed cell death after transient energy loss and to see how different are the effects of nifedipine, lidocaine, carnosine and hypothermia on delayed toxicity in astrocyte. METHODS: Human astrocytoma cells (U1242MG) were used in this study. To assess the astrocyte survival during post-ischemic period after transient histotoxic hypoxia, 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl]-2,5, diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test was used. Compared to MTT test, tryphan blue test was also used to demonstrate membrane damage of affected cells. Studies on intracellular calcium dynamics during ischemic and post-ischemic period were carried out with fluo-3 and flow cytometry system. RESULTS: The percentage survival of astrocyte during post-ischemic period was decreasing with time. Calcium channel blocker nifedipine, sodium and calcium channel blocker lidocaine and free radical scavenger carnosine could not prevent post-ischemic cell damage. But, hypothermia was only an effective method in ameliorating post-ischemic cell death. Intracellular calcium increase during ischemia and post-ischemia was dependent on extracellular calcium influx. CONCLUSIONS: Only hypothermia was effective in reducing astrocyte death during post-ischemia after transient energy depletion. Intracellular calcium alterations during post-ischemia was from extracellular space.
Anoxia* ; Astrocytes* ; Astrocytoma ; Calcium ; Calcium Channels ; Carnosine ; Cell Death ; Extracellular Space ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Hypothermia* ; Ischemia ; Lidocaine ; Membranes ; Neurons ; Nifedipine ; Sodium

Nickel is widely known as a common source of contact dermatitis and nickel sensitivity amounts to nearly 10 percent of allergic contact dermatitis patients. Common sources of nickel dermatitis are well known as necklaces, watches, rings, hooks, earrings and spectacle frames. Recently, we have seen five cases of nickel dermatitis the suspected sources of which were metal spectacle frames. The interim patch test result in our occupational and environmental clinic suggests that the metal spectacle frame is one of the most common sources of nickel dermatitis. Out of 84 medical students 27 wore metal spectacle frames. We have done a dimethylglyoxime spot test to the metal spectacle frames and got a positive result in 12 out of 27(44.4%). We conclude that metal spectacle frame seems to be one of the dominant causes of nickel dermatitis and it will be an increasing problem in our society.
Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Ear ; Humans ; Nickel ; Patch Tests ; Students, Medical