An outbreak of dermatosis occurred in a livestock fodder factory at Kyongju in May 1994. Authors conducted a questionnaire survey on 60 workers in the factory and a dermatologist examined their skin lesion. Authors also collected mites and identified them. The obtained results were summarized as follows; 1. Twentyeight cases of dermatosis were identified with attack rate of 46.7%. Attack rate was not different by department, age, sex, educational level and employment duration. Attack rate was 67.5% in productive worker and 5.0% in clerical workers (p<0.01) but was not significantly different between departments among productive workers (p>0.05). 2. Three cases among 28 dermatosis cases and one subject among 32 non-cases had a history of same dermatosis last year. Only one of dermatosis cases had a history of dermatosis among family members. History of other skin lesion and allergy was very rare in both cases and non-cases. 3. Skin lesions of the cases were rice-sized erythematous papules or vesicles with a central biting point. Onset date of dermatosis was between May 1 and June 10. Duration was from one day to more than 30 days. Skin lesion was most frequent at the back(75.0%). and also observed at the arms(64.3%). abdomen(60.7%), legs(57.1%), chest(32.1%) and neck (25.0%). Skin lesion was aggravated while workers are sweeping the floor(35.7%), working at the workplace(21.4%) and in bed at night(28. 6%). 4. Total l,637 mites were collected and identified into 3 suborder, 7 families and 17 species. Dermafophagoides farinae was most frequent Nnd most of the species identified were blood sucking mites. Authors concluded that the outbreak of dermatosis was brought about by mite-bites and grain beetle parasitizing Acarophenax tribolii was the most suspected species. Further studies to identify the specific species causing dermatosis and route of import are needed.
Beetles ; Edible Grain ; Employment ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Livestock ; Mites* ; Neck ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Skin ; Skin Diseases*

OBJECTIVES: This study summarizes statistical methods which have been used in the 153 original articles of the Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association published in 2002 and 2003. METHODS: It deals with the appropriate statistical methods and some common errors for researchers. RESULTS: Among the original articles, 41 statistical uses contain errors. Many cases of errors are found in the chi2-test and the t-test. This study detects uses of statistical errors and suggests right statistical methods. CONCLUSION: In order to improve the validity of original articles published in the Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association, a more clearly stated statistical uses and closer editorial attention to statistical methods are needed.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is a rare but fatal complication of systemic lupus erythematosus. The diagnosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura as a syndrome distinct from systemic lupus erythematosus may be challenging particularly when thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is presented concomitantly with systemic lupus erythematosus. Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment including plasmapheresis would be required. However, recent reports have suggested that the use of cyclophosphamide may have a role. We describe a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus who was first presented with severe thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Diagnosis was based on typical clinical features of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and laboratory findings of active lupus nephritis. Renal biopsy also confirmed the coexistence of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis. Although prompt extensive plasmapheresis and high dose steroid therapy were performed, oliguric renal failure and thrombocytopenia persisted. After addition of cyclophosphamide to the treatment with plasmapheresis and steroid, clinical manifestations of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and lupus nephritis were markedly improved.
Biopsy ; Cyclophosphamide* ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Lupus Nephritis* ; Plasmapheresis ; Purpura ; Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic* ; Renal Insufficiency ; Thrombocytopenia

PURPOSE: Granulomatous mastitis is a benign inflammatory disease of the breast and its etiology is not clearly defined. In 1972, Kessler and Wolloch described the microscopic features of granulomatous mastitis, but frequently it mimics a carcinoma in a clinical setting. This study was performed to determine the modalities that are important for the diagnosis and the treatment of granulomatous mastitis. METHODS: We studied 12 patients who were diagnosed as having granulomatous mastitis based on pathology. Age, parity, time from last delivery, number of operations, past history of breast feeding and oral contra ceptives, radiologic findings, and cytologic results were retrospectively evaluated. In two recent cases, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for mycobacterium tuberculosis was performed to exclude tuberculous mastitis. RESULTS: Among the 12 patients, 8 were in the thirties, 2 in the twenties, 1 in the forties and 1 in the fifties. Of the 12 patients, 9 patients had breast fed and 2 patients had used oral contraceptive pills previously. No patients were suffered from pulmonary tuberculosis. The mean number of deliveries was two. The time from last delivery were varied from 3 weeks to 24 years but most were within 6 years. The location of the lesions were the upper outer quadrant in 6, upper inner quadrant in 3, inner area in 1, lower outer quadrant in 1 and lower inner quadrant in 1 patient. The mean size of the lesions was 3.52 cm. Preoperative mammography was not helpful in finding granulomatous mastitis. Ultra sonographically multiple clustered, contiguous tubular hypochoic lesions suggested the possibility of the disease. Furthermore, fine needle aspiration cytology showed epithelial histiocytes or giant cells and could be used to diagnose granulomatous mastitis. Cultures of microorganisms were sterile, and AFB stainings were all negative. Tuberculous mastitis was excluded by PCR in 2 cases. Surgical resection of the affected tissue was performed in 8 patients and steroid therapy was performed in the remaining 4 who had been surgically treated in other clinics before. All excision cases, except one, were cured. Among the patientsfor whom steroid therapy was used, 1 patient was cured, 1 had a recurrence and the remaining 2 are now under treatment. CONCLUSION: Although rare, granulomatous mastitis could be diagnosed with the aid of ultrasonography and cytology. Surgical excision of the affected tissue and long-term steroid therapy could be used to treat the disease.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Breast ; Breast Feeding ; Diagnosis* ; Female ; Giant Cells ; Granulomatous Mastitis* ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Mammography ; Mastitis ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Parity ; Pathology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; Ultrasonography

Laparoscopic management is the ideal form of treatment for tubal pregnancy, most common type of ectopic pregnancy. Not only abdominal pregnancy including intraligamentary pregnancy is an rare form of ectopic pregnancy, but intraligamentary pregnancies are usually diagnosed and managed by emergency explorative laparotomy. We present the case of an intraligamentary pregnancy of a 28-year-old woman managed by laparoscopic treament without any complication.
Adult ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Abdominal ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Pregnancy, Tubal

Laparoscopic management is the ideal form of treatment for tubal pregnancy, most common type of ectopic pregnancy. Not only abdominal pregnancy including intraligamentary pregnancy is an rare form of ectopic pregnancy, but intraligamentary pregnancies are usually diagnosed and managed by emergency explorative laparotomy. We present the case of an intraligamentary pregnancy of a 28-year-old woman managed by laparoscopic treament without any complication.
Adult ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Abdominal ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Pregnancy, Tubal