OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between amniotic fluid interleukin-8 and the presence, severity and pattern of acute inflammatory lesions in the placenta delivered after preterm labor with intact membranes. METHODS: The relationship between placental histologic finding and amniotic fluid interleukin-8 was examined in 46 consecutive patients who were admitted with the diagnosis of preterm labor with intact membranes and who delivered singleton gestations within 5 days. RESULTS: The prevalence of acute histologic chorioamnionitis was 63.0%(29/46) and that of positive amniotic fluid culture was 17.4%(8/46). The most frequent site of histologic inflammation was chorion-decidua(56.5%, 26/46). The median amniotic fluid interleukin-8 increased significantly according to the presence and higher severity of inflammation in each type of placental section (p<0.05 for each). Three patterns of inflammation were identified in chorion-decidua: non-marginating, marginating, and mixed. Median amniotic fluid interleukin-8 and the rate of severe histologic chorioamnionitis (grade> or = 4) increased significantly in the order of non-marginating, marginating, and mixed (p<0.05 for each). CONCLUSION: Both the presence and greater severity of acute histologic chorioamnionitis are associated with an elevated amniotic fluid interleukin-8. A marginating and mixed pattern of inflammation are associated with a higher amniotic fluid interleukin-8. Amniotic fluid interleukin-8 is a reliable prenatal marker of histologic chorioamnionitis.
Amniotic Fluid* ; Chorioamnionitis ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation* ; Interleukin-8* ; Membranes ; Obstetric Labor, Premature* ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence

The second case of this serial reports under the title of unusual cutaneous manifestations of connective tissue diseases is a woman with primary idiopathic dermatomyositis who developed cutaneous ulcerations on her arms and legs, which is thought to b a rare manifestation of adult dermatomyositis. These multiple ulcerations are about bean sized, polymorphous, and grouped on the poikilodermatous lesional skin. In this patient these ulcerative lesions became regressive and healed with disfiguring scars after the activity of the disease has controlled by prednisolone and methotrexate.
Adult ; Arm ; Cicatrix ; Connective Tissue Diseases* ; Connective Tissue* ; Dermatomyositis* ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; Methotrexate ; Prednisolone ; Skin ; Ulcer*

Majocchi's disease is one of chronic vascular disorders of the skin, histologically showing capillaritis with lymphoid cell infiltration. Although the hypothesis of delayed type hypersensitivity reaction against foreign antigen is proposed as the mechanism producing this condition, there are much yet to be defined. We tried to examine the lesional skin of five patients with Majocchi's disease by the direct immunofluorescence with anti-human immunoglobulins, C 3, and fibrin. As a result we found the deposition of immunoglobulins (M, and G) in papillary blood vessels in four patients, and C 3 and fibrin were found in all five patients. C3 was also found at the dermoepidermal junction in three patients. These findings suggest the posssibility that antibody mediated immunologic processes may alsobe involved in the pathogenesis of this disorder. With this observation Majocchis disease could be considered as a chronic immune vasculitis.
Blood Vessels ; Fibrin ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulins ; Lymphocytes ; Skin ; Vasculitis

No abstract available.
Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Head* ; Perfusion* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

To study the gyrA mutations of E. coli from clinical specimens, 410 strains were isolated from 1994 to 1997 in Kyungpook National Vniversity hospital. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests, PCR and sequencing of gyrA, and in vitro induction of quinolone resistance were done. The frequency of quinolone resistant E. coli strains increased constantly during 1994 through 1996. Quinolone-resistant strains were more often resistant to unrelated antibiotics than quinolone-susceptible strains (chi-square test, p<0.05). All of the randomly selected 55 quinolone- resist#ant strains were highly resistant to nalidixic acid (NAL) but had low level resistance to fluoroquinolones. All of the 55 quinolone-resistant strains showed an amino acid substitution of Ser -> Leu (TCG -> TIG) at codon 83. In addition, four different types of amino acid substitution affecting codon 87 (Asp) were detected, 1) type I: Asn (GAC -> AAC); 2) type II: Tyr (GAC -> TAC); 3) type III: Oly (GAC -> GGC); 4) type IV: His (GAC -> CAC). The mutation of type IV has not been reported previously in quinolone-resistant E. coli strains. It is thought that the specific amino acid substitution probably affects minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of quinolones because the MICs of ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin in type II were significantly higher than those of type I. By in vitro induction, MICs to quinolone-susceptible strains resulted in the increase in the MICs of all quinolones tested by 2- to 2048-fold. The induced mutants by quinolones had amino acid substitutions at codon 83, SerLeu or Asp87Asn, Gly or Tyr. Alteration of Ser83 results in the most effective increase in the MIC of quinolone such as NAL and alterations of Asp87 result in the effective increase of MIC of fluoroquinolone. These results suggest that the continuous use of quinolones might induce the specific amino acid substitution at gyrA.
Amino Acid Substitution ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Ciprofloxacin ; Codon ; Escherichia coli* ; Escherichia* ; Fluoroquinolones ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Nalidixic Acid ; Norfloxacin ; Ofloxacin ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Quinolones

No abstract available.
Aneurysm* ; Kidney* ; Renal Artery*

A Dieulafoy's lesion is an uncommon, but important, cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. It is associated with massive, life-threatening hemorrhage and is typically difficult to diagnose. Although originally described in the stomach and rarely found below the proximal stomach, identical lesions have been reported in other gastrointestinal organs, including the duodenum, jejunum, colon, and rectum. Most cases occur with bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. However, we present an incidental asymptomatic Dieulafoy's lesion in the colon, which was treated successfully by using an endoscopic hemoclipping technique.
Colon ; Duodenum ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemorrhage ; Jejunum ; Rectum ; Stomach

No abstract available.
Lipoma*

Nickel is widely known throughout the world as a common source of contact dermatitis. Korea is one of the rapidly developing countries where the use of nickel and nickel by-products is on the rise. Lacking in ore, Korea imports most of its nickel. In the last ten years, in relation to rapid industrial development, the amount of nickel imported has increased over 1, 000 times. Nickel dermatitis is becoming an increasing problem in the patch test clinic. With regards to this, we have tried the dimethylglyoxime spot test to all materials mentioned in the textbooks which are regarded as nickel sources in other industrialized societies, so as to make an up-to-date list of nickel sources applicable to Korea. In addition, we have also included traditional nickel sources such as acupuncture needles, fire pot, old and new coins and chest of drawers etc. We also have analyzed data concerning nickel imports to Korea during the past 10 years.
Acupuncture ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Developing Countries ; Fires ; Korea* ; Needles ; Nickel* ; Numismatics ; Patch Tests ; Thorax

The brief report of Zeisler (1922) of a pregnant woman with scattered telangiectasia in a unilateral distribution is perhaps the first recorded case of this syndrome. The syndrome has been described in association with pregnancy, puberty, alcoholisrn and cirrhosis, hormonal therapy and congenital status. The authors observed in a 17-year-old male unilateral telangiectatic lesions over the left C, C, C, Tl and T, dermatomal regions. The lesions developed at first at his puberty on the anterior part of the chest as speckled bright red discoloration. Thereafter, the lesion has been progressed to involve the left upper extremity, sholder, upper middle part of the chest, eventually. Family history was negative and physical, lahoratory and X-ray examination were all negative or within normal limit. No mucous membrane involvement was observed. On histopathologic examination of the skin lesion, thin walled ectatic vessels lined with single layer of endothelial cells were observed in the upper dermis. The lesions were partly dermabrased with favorable result.
Adolescent ; Dermis ; Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Puberty ; Skin ; Telangiectasis* ; Thorax ; Upper Extremity