Segmental vitiligo is considered to be characterized by unilateral depigmented patches along dermatomes, but we found two cases of segmental vitiligo in which the vitiligo lesions appeared bilaterally on the same or different dermatomes. The clinical course of bilateral segmental vitiligo seems to be the same as that of unilateral segmental vitiligo.
Vitiligo*

BACKGROUND: To comparatively analysis the epidemiological changes in the acute drug intoxication between 1980s and 1990s. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of the patients with acute drug intoxication in the emergency department of the Inha hospital from June 1986 to April 1987 and from June 1996 to May 1997. And we performed comparative analysis between two result. RESULTS: The ratio of the acute drug intoxication in the emergency medical center was reduced significantly in 1990s against 1980s. Sexual ratio and prevalent age group has no significant interval changes between 1980s and 1990s. The prevalent seasons were Spring in 1980s and Summer in 1990s but has no significance. The most commonly used drugs was rodentides in 1980s and hypnosedatives in 1990s and shown significant interval changes. The most common motive was suicidal attempts in both 1980s and 1990s, but significantly reduced. After emergency treatment the rate of curative-discharge has improved and the rate of admission has decreased significantly in 1990s against 1980s. The most critical agent was agricultural chemicals in both 1980s and 1990s. The mortality rate has no significant interval changes. CONCLUSION: There were some significant interval changes of the acute drug intoxication in prevalence rate, commonly used drugs, ratio of suicidal attempt and curative-discharge rate between 1980s and 1990s. New education programs far preventing acute drug intoxication and strict legal control of drugs are important and necessary.
Agrochemicals ; Education ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Emergency Treatment ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons

BACKGROUND: Nevus depigmentosus was first reported in 1884 by Lesser. It is defined as a congenital non-progressive hypopigmented macule or patch that is stable in its relative size and distribution throughout the life of the individual. The etiopathogenesis and histopathological characteristics of nevus depigmentosus are not fully established. OBJECT: The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical and histopathological characteristics and pathogenesis of nevus depigmentosus. METHODS: Clinieal survey was carried out on forty-nine patients with nevus depigmentosus and two skin biopsies were taken from eighteen patients; from the central part of the depigmented lesion and the border of the lesion including the perilesional normal skin. The sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Fontana-Masson and S-100 protein. The ultrastructural evaluation were also done to detect alternation of melanocytes. RESULTS: The results are as follows ; 1. The lesions were mostly (91.8%) present before the age of three, but some lesions appeared in childhood (8.2%). 2. The lesions were most frequently found on the trunk (42.9%), followed by the face and scalp (20.4%). 3. There were 33 patients (67.3%) with the isolated type, 15 patients (30.6%) with the dermatomal type and one patient with the whorled type. 4. Histopathological studies have shown that the stainability of Fontana-Masson in the lesions of nevus depigmentosus was decreased compared with perilesional nomal skin, but there were no changes in the number of melanocytes. 5. There was a great reduction in the number of melanosomes in melanocytes and keratinocytes of nevus depigmentosus. In keratinocytes, there was some aggregations of melanosomes and some of them showed membrane bound architecture. CONCLUSION: The results of this study support the fact that nevus depigmentosus is caused by functional defects of melanocytes and morphological abnonnalities of melanosomes.
Biopsy ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Melanocytes ; Melanosomes ; Membranes ; Nevus* ; S100 Proteins ; Scalp ; Skin

Vitiligo is a relatively common depigmentary disorder occurring in approximately 1-2% of the general population. All races are affected. Both sexes are likely to be affected equally; the female prevalence in some studies can probably be attributed to cosmetic reasons. It can occur and spread at any stage of life and is often associated with a positive family history. Up to 30 percent of patients have reported vitiligo in another family member. The lesion is characterized by discrete, pale-white macules, few or several in number, which tend to enlarge centrifugally over time. It is not contagious, nor is it a serious health problem. However, it can be troublesome in brown and black people as well as in white persons who tan deeply (skin phototype IV), and often leads to social embarrassment and psychological turmoil.
Continental Population Groups ; Female ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl ; Vitiligo*

PURPOSE: Because cryptorchid testes are known to undergo histopathologic changes affecting development, maturation, and tertility, early surgical correction is usually recommended. However there are differing opinions concerning whether retractile testes are affected by similar changes and also whether there is a need for surgical treatment. We aimed to assess the histopathologic changes in retractile testis by studying the changes in testes artificially placed back in the abdomen after they have descended to scrotum in experimental rat models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups; a control group(controls), prepubertal ascent group (P) in which testis were placed back intraabdominally by bilateral inguinal canal obstruction at 6 weeks, a neonatal group(N) in which intraabdminal testis was induced by bilateral inguinal canal obstruction at birth. The relative weight of the testis, morphology of the seminiferous tubules including Leydig cells, tubular degeneration phase(TDP), spermatogonia per tubules(S/T), and Sertoli cell index (SCI) of these three groups were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: The relative weight of testis was significantly decreased in the group of N(0.0016+/-0.001) and P(0.0015+/-0.0002) compared to controls(0.0037+/-0.0002) (p<0.05). The S/T value was also decreased in P(2.05+/-18.2) and N(73.2+/-32.4) when compared to controls (360.2+/-21.3). Similar changes were observed in SCI of both P(64.5+/-6.4) and N (91.2+/-14.2) when compared to controls (227.9+/-31.1). Only minority of N and P showed higher TDP values. However, although statistically insignificant, TDP was increased in both P and N when compared to controls. The Leydig cells in N and P showed cellular distortion and hypertrophy. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrate that prepubertal ascent, similar to that of innate cryptorchid testis, also can induce histopathologic changes such as changes in testicular seminiferous tubule, decrease in the S/T value and decrease in SCI value. Our findings supports that hypothesis that retractile testis may cause histological damage thus surgical correction may also be warranted similar to in case of genuine cryptorchism.
Abdomen* ; Animals ; Cryptorchidism ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Inguinal Canal ; Leydig Cells ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Models, Theoretical ; Parturition ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Scrotum ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Spermatogonia ; Testis*

BACKGROUND: Dizziness is a common complaint in patients presenting to the emergency room and that has various pathologic causes. This study investigate the clinical differences in dizziness between the central origin and the peripheral origin and to provides the clues far diagnosis and proper treatment. METHODS: We analysed 290 patients with dizziness during 12 months period prospectively, who visited in ED, Inha University Hospital from Jan. 1997 to Dec. 1997. We analysized sex ratio, characteristics of the dizziness, associated past illness, associated symptoms, severity, results of the special radiologic study, nystagmus type, and causes of central origin and peripheral origin dizziness. RESULTS: Male to female ratio was 1:1.4 in central origin(n=165) and 1:2.0 in peripheral origin(n=125). Most common age group was 11th decade in both groups. According to the characteristics of the dizziness, rotation sense was the main complaint of the peripheral origin dizziness. Most common past illness was hypertension in both groups. MRI has diagnostic priority than CT scan in central origin dizziness. Types of nystagmus has some significant differences between two groups. CONCLUSION: Dizziness may represented as a sign of significant pathological neurologic status especially in central origin. So we must precisely evaluate the patient history, neurologic examination of the inner ear and CNS, and special radiologic study incliding MRI.
Diagnosis ; Dizziness* ; Ear, Inner ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neurologic Examination ; Prospective Studies ; Sex Ratio ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Shigella* ; Vaginitis*

No abstract available.

When the non-union gap in a long bone is more than half of the diameter of the bone at that level, it presents a significant challenge to traditional bone grafting technique. Even if there are several good ways for this problem, such as shortening, traditional various bone grafting, electrical stimulation and free vascularized bone graft, most of these techniques have some difficulties to maintain the stability of fracture post-operatively, and we have to keep their extremities into a cast or external fixator so long. So we have attempted to treat the large osseus gap non-union in long bone with fixation of heavy duty or condylar plate on one side of fracture for fracture stability, a long tibial corticocancellous strut graft on the other side of fracture for fracture stability and rapid bony union, and extensive cancellous chip bone graft between the plate and tibial graft to enhance the bony union. We have experienced 9 cases of large osseus gap non-union in long bone with this technique from March 1981 to September 1986 at the department of orthopaedic surgery, St. Mary's hospital, Catholic University Medical College. 1. Their, 7 males and 2 females, average age was 38 years old, with a range of 24 to 53 years old. The distribution of the involved bone was 6 femur, 2 humerus, 1 radius and ulna with 1.4 years of average duration of non-union, ranged from 7 months to 2.4 years. The average gap from normal bone to normal bone was 4.8cm, with a range of 2.7cm to 7.4cm. The average number of previous surgical procedures was 4, with a range of 2 to 7. Four of the nine patients had quiescent osteomyelitis. 2. Post-operative immobilization with splint or cast was applied for 6 weeks for upper extremity and 8 weeks for lower extremity followed by active R.O.M. exercise and non-weight bearing crutch walking. 3. Five of the nine cases(55.6%) had completely bony union. This occured on an average 8 months post-operatively and was faster in the forearm bones and femur than in the humerus. An additional cancellous bone graft was done in two. But other two of the patients had subsequent amputation because of recurrent and uneontrollable osteomyelitis stirred up by the surgery. 4. This procedures was proved to be one of valuable adjuvant method in treatmqnt of large osseous gap non-union of long bones.
Amputation ; Bone Transplantation ; Electric Stimulation ; External Fixators ; Extremities ; Female ; Femur ; Forearm ; Humans ; Humerus ; Immobilization ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Methods ; Osteomyelitis ; Radius ; Splints ; Transplants ; Ulna ; Upper Extremity ; Walking

Clubfoot or talipes equinovarus is the most common congenital anomaly of the foot observed in children as well as in adults. This deformity should be treated immediately after birth, and so the cases of old neglected clubfeet are quite rare now. Moreover, in the cases of old neglected clubfoot, it is very difficult to get satisfactory results because there will be secondary adaptive changes in the tarsal bones and surrounding soft tissues. Therefore, clubfeet are considered to be one of many things requiring on or more of the many different types of treatment. The authors have experienced to treat nine cases of old neglected clubfoot from May, 1978 to April, 1988 at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, St. Mary's Hospital, and reported herewith. 1. Their average age was 14.8 years old (3 to 25 yesrs old). There were one bilateral clubfeet, left foot in 5 cases and right foot in 4 cases. 2. According to the age of the patients and severity of deformities, two patients from three to ten years old were treated with soft-tissue release and serial casting, and seven patients after ten years old were treated by soft-tissue release, various osteotomies and triple arthrodesis. Postoperative management consisted of long leg cast for first four weeks and short leg walking cast for another four to eight weeks. 3. The results were estimated by the talo-calcaneal index according to Beatson et al(3)radiologically and their external appearance of corrected foot subjectively. The talo-calcaneal index was improved from 17.8° to 37° after operation and all of patients satisfied with the results of their operation.
Adult ; Arthrodesis ; Child ; Clubfoot ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Foot ; Humans ; Leg ; Orthopedics ; Osteotomy ; Parturition ; Tarsal Bones ; Walking