STUDY DESIGN: We report two cases of symptomatic spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) associated with long-term use of steroid medication OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of symptomatic spinal epidural lipomatosis. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Spinal epidural lipomatosis is a condition in which excess adipose tissue is deposited circumferentially about the spinal cord in the epidural space. It can present neurologic symptoms including back pain, radiculopathy or cauda equina. Magnetic resonance imaging is the most helpful dignostic means and should be used initially if suspected. Treatment is decompressive laminectomy and debulking of fat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two cases of lumbar epidural lipomatosis with neurologic symptoms were discussed and evaluated by physical examination, postmyelography CT and MRI. RESULTS: Two cases were treated with decompressive laminectomy and debulking of fat. Increased accumulation of the fatty tissue was seen predominently in posterior and posterolateral epidural space of the spinal canal, displacing and compressing the lumbar spinal cord anteriorly. Both gross and histologic evaluation revealed overgrowth of unencapsulated normal appearing fat consistent with spinal epidural lipomatosis. One case was demonstrated gradual improvement in symtoms after operation but the other was died due to medical problems. CONCLUSION: The authors reviewed the literature and reported the results of operative treatment of patients with lumbago, radicular pain and intermitent claudication caused by epidural lipomatosis of lumbar spine and degenerative spinal stenosis.
Adipose Tissue ; Back Pain ; Cauda Equina ; Diagnosis ; Epidural Space ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Lipomatosis* ; Low Back Pain ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Physical Examination ; Radiculopathy ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine

No abstract available.
Epidermal Cyst ; Pilomatrixoma

No Abstract Available.
Keratitis* ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of amniotic membrane transplantation and limbal-conjunctival autograft for patients with recurrent pterygium or pseudopterygium, the results of 15 eyes of 14 patients were analyzed. METHODS: Total 10 cases of recurrent pterygium and 5 cases of pseudopterygium were surgically managed during June 1998 to July 2000. After excision of pterygium, amniotic membrane was attached on the bare sclera and limbal-conjunctival autograft was transplanted over the amniotic membrane. Mean follow-up period was 47.2 week and all patients were examined for recurrence, which was graded from G0(no vessel) to G3(fibrotic tissue invading the limbus). RESULTS: 12 out of 15 cases(rate 80%) showed no recurrence(grade 0). 1 case of grade 2 recurrence and 2 cases of grade 3(total 3 cases) were observed(rate 20%). Reoperation was performed on 2 cases of grade 3 recurrence. There was no further recurrence necessitating additional reoperation. 1 case of limbal graft was detached and removed. The operation time of this more prolonged than the other procedures, but there were no significant complications. CONCLUSION: Amniotic membrane and limbal-conjunctival autograft for patients with recurrent pterygium or pseudopterygium reconstructed complete ocular surface with less recurrence. Therefore, we recommend this surgical approach as a safe and effective method for the treatment of complicated cases of pterygium.
Amnion* ; Autografts* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Pterygium* ; Recurrence ; Reoperation ; Sclera ; Transplants

The purpose of this study is to know the present situation of head louse infestation among the students in Yongyang-gun, Kyongsangbuk-to From May 11 to June 20, 1984, a total of 5,937 students in 23 primary and 3 middle schools were examined to identify the adult worms of head louse and/or their nits on the hair. The results are as follows: The overall infestation rate was 44.5 percent and the rates ranged from 19.6 percent to 88.6 percent by each school. In primary schools, the rate was 53.0 percent and in middle schools, 27.1 percent. The school boys' rate was 33.2 percent and the school girls' 55.6 percent, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). The rates were different by grades in middle schools. The rates were different by areas (Myons) (p<0.001). The adult worms collected from the students were Pediculus humanus var. capitis.
parasitology ; arthropod ; head louse ; Pediculus humanus capitis ; epidemiology

An epidemiological study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis infection among the primary (and infant) school children in Yongyang-gun, Kyongsangbuk-do. During the period from 2 to 14 December 1983, a total of 2,227 school children in 13 schools were examined one time by means of scotch-tape anal swab technique with a simple questionaire study on perianal itching, enuresis and school record. The results are as follows:The overall egg positive rate was 64.1 percent and the rate ranged from 46.6 to 86.7 percent by schools. The egg positive rates of boys and girls were 60.5 and 68.0 percent respectively and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.005). There was noted a tendency of decrease in prevalence by increase of the age of children. It was revealed that perianal itching and school record were significantly correlated with E. vermicularis infection (p<0.05) while not in case of enuresis (p>0. l).
parasitology-helminth-nematoda ; Enterobius vermicularis ; epidemiology ; enuresis ; perianal itching

The purpose of present study was to observe the radiographic finding and histologic response by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy(CLSM) on interface of the bone and titanium implant coated by chitosan. The tissue of rabbit tibiae to the surgical placement titanium implant coated by chitosan was examined at 3, 9 and 24 days postoperatively. The radiographic finding showed that surrounding bone density of implants was not significantly different compare with the bone on 3 and 9 days group. A large amount new bone was formed on 24 days group, the reason was osteconduction activity by chitosan. The CLSM analysis show that the surface coating by chitosan filled the gap between bone and implant on 3 days group and filled by mew born on 9 days group. On 24 days group, the bone and titanium surface was filled by lamella bone. This results indicated that this enhanced the initial stability of implant significantly and chitosan induced osseointegration around implant. CLSM allows the non-destrutive histo-tomography of bone biopsy as well as clinical practice. We conclude that CLSM allowed a good comprehension of the nature of bone-implant contact, avoiding artifacts due to the thickness of the specimen.
Artifacts ; Biopsy ; Bone Density ; Chitosan* ; Comprehension ; Microscopy, Confocal* ; Osseointegration ; Tibia ; Titanium*

Palmar filiform hyperkeratosis is characterized by multiple, tiny, keratotic projections on the palms. This disease has been associated with various underlying benign or malignant diseases. We present 69 year-old-man with 8-year history of palmar filiform hyperkeratosis. After development of skin lesions, he was diagnosed as having rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, chronic renal failure, multiple renal and hepatic cysts, and multiple adenomas in the stomach and colon, in turn. Histopathologic examination revealed a compact parakeratotic column on an absent or thin granular layer. Treatment with 15% salicylic acid ointment under occlusion was partially effective.
Adenoma ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Colon ; Hypertension ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Salicylic Acid ; Skin ; Stomach

A 63-year-old Korean man presented with generalized, asymptomatic, discrete papules and coalescent annular plaques for one year. Interestingly, the patient complained of conjunctival congestion, concurrently with aggravation of the skin lesion. Histopathologic findings of the skin lesion and conjunctiva revealed giant cells engulfing fragmented elastic fibers, and a diagnosis of actinic granuloma with ocular involvement was made. Ten months later, the patient revisited with a two-week history of bilateral temporal headache, neck pain, intermittent jaw claudication, and blurred vision. Biopsy of the temporal artery confirmed the clinical diagnosis of temporal arteritis. Both actinic granuloma and temporal arteritis show similar pathologic process, and this case supports the hypothesis that actinically degenerated elastic tissue is likely to be the antigenic basis of actinic granuloma of the skin and temporal arteritis.
Actins* ; Biopsy ; Conjunctiva ; Diagnosis ; Elastic Tissue ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Giant Cell Arteritis* ; Giant Cells ; Granuloma* ; Headache ; Humans ; Jaw ; Middle Aged ; Neck Pain ; Skin ; Temporal Arteries

PURPOSE: To experimentally investigate the effect for muscle weakness after superior rectus Z-myotomy and histological changes. METHODS: Superior rectus muscle fibers of rabbits (16 rabbits, 32 eyes) were cut transversely with scissors across 75% of the muscle in two different positions on opposite sides. In group 1 (16 eyes), myotomies were performed at 2 and 7 mm from the muscle insertion (5 mm gap) and in group 2, performed at 2 and 5 mm (3 mm gap). The change of mark, eyeball position, and muscle tension after myotomy and 4 weeks postoperatively was evaluated, the location of the mark was examined, and muscle tissue biopsy was performed. RESULTS: After Z-myotomy, the marks of the two groups moved significantly posteriorly from insertion within groups (p<0.05), with no significant differences between groups (p=0.469). Eyeball positions of the two groups moved significantly inferiorly (p<0.05); the amount of position change of group 1 was greater than group 2 (p<0.05). When the globe was pulled in opposite directions for muscle action, the degree of change decreased with significant difference within groups (p<0.05), but there were no significant differences between groups (p=0.32). CONCLUSIONS: Z-myotomy of the superior rectus muscle affected the recession of eyeball position and weakened the muscle action. Muscle weakening affected by the different gaps between myotomies did not show consistent results.
Biopsy ; Muscle Tonus ; Muscle Weakness ; Muscles ; Rabbits