BACKGROUND: Cyclosporin A (CsA), a potent immunosuppressant, has been reported to be effective in the treatment of severe atopic dermatitis (AD). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and side-effects of CsA in Korean patients with severe AD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 16 patients with recalcitrant AD took CsA for at least 6 weeks. Among them, 11 patients were followed up for more than 16 weeks. Initial dose was 5mg/kg/day (maximum 300 mg/day) and the dose was reduced according to their therapeutic responses. SCORAD (Scoring AD) was used to evaluate clinical efficacy of CsA. During the 1st month of therapy, the therapeutic efficacy and side-effects were evaluated every 2weeks and after 1 month, every month. We checked blood pressure and laboratory abnormalities including liver function test, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr) and urinalysis at each visit in addition to observing clinical adverse effects. RESULTS: Significant reduction of SCORAD was noted in 15 patients after 6 weeks of CsA therapy. Only one patient stopped CsA therapy because of the elevation of blood pressure. Three patients showed albuminuria, which disappeared after CsA dose reduction. CONCLUSION: CsA can be used effectively and safely in severe Korean AD patients. Albuminuria seems to be a peculiar side-effect in Korean patients.
Albuminuria ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Creatinine ; Cyclosporine* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; Liver Function Tests ; Urinalysis

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Colon* ; Colonic Polyps* ; Female* ; Humans ; Urethra*

We reviewed 13 patients treated in the Department of Neurosurgery of the Presbyterian Medical Center from 1979 to 1982 who had tumors in the region of the pineal body. The treatment of such tumors has been in a state of flux between conservative therapy(cerebro-spinal fluid shunting and radiotherapy) and direct surgical removal. We compared both modes of treatment and analysed the patients in terms of clinical, pathological and radiological points of view. Good results were obtained by supracerebellar and infratentorial surgical approach.
Humans ; Neurosurgery ; Pineal Gland ; Protestantism ; Radiotherapy

The hyperimmunoglobulinemia E (Jobs) syndrome (HIES) is characterized by marked elevated levels of IgE, recurrent cutaneous and systemic staphylococcal infections, atopic-like dermatitis, and defective neutrophil chemotaxis. Three cases of HIES have been reported in Korea, but not in the dermatology literature. We report a case of HIES with cutaneous infections and MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). A 15-month-old girl presented with intractable pruritic excoriated papular pustular skin lesions and multiple subcutaneous abscesses. Surgical drainage of the abscesses and a course of antibiotic treatment in addition to topical steroids for about 7 weeks resulted in a remarkable improvement.
Abscess ; Chemotaxis ; Dermatitis ; Dermatology ; Drainage ; Female ; Humans ; Hypergammaglobulinemia* ; Immunoglobulin E ; Infant ; Job Syndrome* ; Korea ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Neutrophils ; Skin ; Staphylococcal Infections ; Staphylococcus ; Steroids

Since the nose is the most prominent part in the face, the plastic surgeons are interested in the continued effort for rhinoplasty. Nasal tip projection is essential to optimal nasal for the patient's face. But, the nasal tips of Orientals are characterized by bulbous appearance due to thick and tense skin, flaring of nostril. and restriction of nasal tip projection due to underdevelopment of medial crus of alar cartilage and short columella. Most orientals want to correct their nasal tip as well as shape of nose. We present clinical cases of various nasal tip deformities which were corrected with various operative methods through either alar rim incision of open rhinoplasty incision depending upon the severity of tip deformity in order to achieve more natural tips and good nasal tip projection. And the clinical cases were categorized into causes of nasal tip deformity and methods of nasal tip augmentation. We are reporting these reporting these cases with review of literatures.
Cartilage ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Nose ; Rhinoplasty ; Skin ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

No abstract available.
Animals ; Muscle, Skeletal* ; Rats* ; Reperfusion Injury* ; Reperfusion*

The purpose of this study is to investigate the middle ear condition, surgical method and suitable material for optimal hearing gain in the middle ear cholesteatoma surgery. One thousand and thirty six cases of ossiculoplasty in patients suffering from chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma at the university hospitals in Korea from November 1984 to July 1996 were included in this retrospective study. Sixty two per cent of cases were successful according to the success criterion of a post-operative air-bone gap of >or= 30dB, 33.4 percent according to >or= 20dB, and 12.6 percent according to >or= 10dB. Good prognostic factors in the middle ear condition were healthy middle ear mucosa, patent eustachian tube orifice, and presence of superstructure of stapes. Two staged ossiculoplasty showed better result than one staged ossiculoplasty. There was no statistical difference of the hearing improvement between the open cavity mastoidectomy and the intact canal wall mastoidectomy techniques. Favorable materials for ossicular reconstruction were in decending order, polycel, ossicle, cartilage, and hydroxylapatite.
Cartilage ; Cholesteatoma* ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear ; Durapatite ; Ear, Middle ; Eustachian Tube ; Hearing ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Korea ; Mucous Membrane ; Otitis Media* ; Otitis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stapes

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine predictive MR features for grading of astrocytic gliomas and to evaluate the accuracy of MR grading in these tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 135 cases of supratentorial astrocytic gliomas in adult (age > 15 years), all of which were proved by open biopsy. Two observers analysed MR images independently with criteria of margin, edema, mass effect, signal heterogeneity, necrcosis, cyst formation, hemorrhage, tumor vascularity, enhancement degree, and enhancement size. The patterns of enhancement were categorized into no, homogeneous, heterogeneous, thin smooth rim, thin irregular rim, and thick irregular rim enhancement patterns. Observers finally diagnosed each case as one of low-grade astrocytoma, anaplastic astrocytoma or glioblastoma multiforme. RESULTS: Statistically significant MR features for grading of these tumors were revealed as necrosis (p < 0. 001), edema (0.008), and signal heterogeneity (p < 0.025). When compared with histopathologic grading, MR graded correctly 76%-77% of cases in two tiered system(low-grade astrocytoma versus high-grade astrocytoma), but only 67%-69% of cases in three tiered system(low-grade astrocytoma, anaplastic astrocytoma, glioblastoma multiforme). No contrast enhancement was seen in 45% and 23% of low-grade astrocytoma and anaplastic astrocytoma respectively. Glioblastoma multiforme frequently showed thick irregular rim enhancement (57%), but no enhancement at all in 8%. CONCLUSION: We have concluded that necrosis and edema are significant predictive MR features for gradomg of supratentorial astrocytic gliomas in adult, and MR was correct in 76%--77% of cases for predicting pathologic grading of astrocytomas in two tiered system.
Adult* ; Astrocytoma* ; Biopsy ; Edema ; Glioblastoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Necrosis ; Neoplasm Grading* ; Population Characteristics ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.

As Fiber-reinforced composite restorations cannot be made without leaving a marginal gap, luting cements play a pivotal role in sealing the margins as a prevention against margnal leakage. A recently introduced adhesive resin cement system is claimed to adhere chemically, as well as mechanically, to tooth substances, dental alloys and porcelain. But when considering the clinical variation, conventional cementation using Zinc Phosphate and Glass-Ionomer can be requested. A vitro study was undertaken to compare microleakage and marginal fitness of Fiberreinforced composite crowns(Targis/Vectris) depending upon luting cements. Fifty non-carious human premolar teeth were randomly divided into five experimental groups of 10 teeth each and luted with five luting cements.(Bistite II., Super-bond., Variolink II.), Zinc phosphate and Glass- Ionomer cement) After 24 hours of being luted, all specimens were thermocycled 300 times through water bath of 5degrees C and 55degrees C in each bath, then the quality of the marginal fitness was measured by the Digital Microscope and marginal leakage was characterized using Dye Penetration technique and the Digital Microscope The results were as follows : 1. The mean values of marginal fit were Bistite II(46.78micrometer), Variolink II(56.25micrometer), Super-Bond(56.78 micrometer), Glass-Ionomer(99.21micrometer), Zinc Phosphate(109.49micrometer) indicated a statistically significant difference at p<0.001. 2. The mean microleakage values of tooth-cement interface, restoration-cement interface were increased in the order of Variolink II, Bistite II, Super-Bond, Glass-Ionomer, Zinc Phosphate. 3. Crowns luted with resin cement (Bistite II, Super-Bond, Variolink II, etc) exhibited less marginal gap and marginal leakage than those luted with conventional Glass-Ionomer and Zinc Phosphate cement. 4. The results indicated that all five luting systems yielded comparable and acceptable marginal fit.
Adhesives ; Baths ; Bicuspid ; Cementation ; Crowns* ; Dental Alloys ; Dental Porcelain ; Humans ; Resin Cements ; Tooth ; Water ; Zinc ; Zinc Phosphate Cement