We present a case of pemphigus vulgaris developed during pregnancy. The clinical features of this patient were similar to those of hetpes gestationis. By immunofluorescence studies we found that the patient's serum contained autoantibodies to intercellular substance of epidermis. Direct immunofluorescence microscopy of a perilesional skin also demontrated immunoglobulin deposition in the intercellular areas. Additionally we did in vitro C3 staining for further confirmation of the diagnosis but it was negative in basement membrane zone. This patient was initially treated with corticosteroid and azathioprine. Several months later gold compound was given instead of azathioprine and corticosteroid with good therapeutic response.
Autoantibodies ; Azathioprine ; Basement Membrane ; Diagnosis ; Epidermis ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Microscopy ; Pemphigus* ; Pregnancy* ; Skin

Senile sebaceous hyperplasia refers to a benign enlargement of a normal sebaceous unit which is not uncommon in the old age group, and is characterized clinically by single or multiple small cream to yellowish round papules developed on the face, chiefly on the forehead and cheeks. A case of florid senile sebaceous hyperplasia developed in a 81-year-old man was presented. Because this disorder is one of the geriatric dermatoses and the average life span of our people is remarkably lengthened in recent years, we believe dermatologists should pay more attention to this kind of dermatosis.
Male ; Humans

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between past smoking and the risk factors for metabolic syndrome. METHODS: From January 2007 to December 2007, a total of 3,916 over thirty years old male health screen examinees were divided into the nonsmoking, smoking, ex-smoking groups. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was based on the criteria of the NCEP ATP (Executive Summary of The Third Report of The National Cholesterol Education Program). Metabolic syndrome was defined as the presence of three or more of the following: a blood pressure > or = 130/85 mmHg, a fasting glucose level > or = 110 mg/dL, a HDL-C (High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol) level < 40 mg/dL, a triglyceride level > or = 150 mg/dL and, a waist circumference men > or = 102 cm, but a waist to hip ratio > 0.90 was used as a surrogate for the waist circumference. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, alcohol consumption and, exercise in the smokers, for the ex-smokers compared with the nonsmokers, the odds ratio (OR) of a lower HDL cholesterol level (< 40 mg/dL) was 1.29 (95% CI=1.03-1.61) in the smokers, the ORs of a higher triglyceride level were 1.35 (95% CI=1.09-1.66) in the ex-smokers and, 2.12 (95% CI=1.75-2.57) in the smokers, and the OR of a waist to hip ratio was 1.25 (95% CI=1.03-1.52) in the ex-smokers. When there were over three components of metabolic syndrome in the ex-smokers and smokers as compared with the nonsmokers, the odds ratio against the risk of metabolic syndrome were 2.39 (95% CI=1.00-6.63) and 2.37 (95% CI=1.02-6.46), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggested that there is an association of smoking with metabolic syndrome in men.
Adult ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/*epidemiology ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; *Smoking

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of functional magnetic stimulation (FMS) compared to biofeedback (BFB), with functional electrical stimulation (FES), in patients with recurrent or incurable female urethral syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty women with female urethral syndrome, based on the criteria of the NIADDK (the National Institute of Arthritis, Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases), and refractory to antibiotics therapy for more than two months, were consecutively assigned to one of the two treatment modalities. The BFB, with FES, group (32 patients) was treated with biofeedback and electrical stimulation. The FMS group (18 patients) received functional magnetic stimulation. Sessions of 30min were performed twice a week for 6 to 8 weeks. A detailed clinical evaluation and cystoscopy were performed prior to treatment. The results were determined by obtaining pre and post Bristol female lower tract symptoms questionnaires and from the subjective overall satisfaction. RESULTS: The irritative and obstructive voiding symptom scores improved markedly in both groups (p<0.05). The score for the quality of life decreased from 4.97+/-1.0 to 2.25+/-1.74 in the BFB with FES group, and from 4.96+/-1.64 to 2.89+/-2.32 in the FMS group. Improvements in the quality of life and pain relief were shown in both groups. 13 of the 32 patients (40.6%) in the BFB, with FES, group and 5 of the 18 patients (27.8%) in FMS group, were subjectively satisfied with their treatments. Minor complications, such as discomfort, unpleasantness and a vaginal itching sense, were note in 30% of the patients in the BFB, with FES, group only. CONCLUSIONS: FMS, compared to BFB, with FES, results in a lesser improvement of the symptom and subjective satisfaction of patients with recurrent or incurable female urethral syndrome, but may be an acceptable alternative to other more invasive treatment modalities.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Arthritis ; Biofeedback, Psychology* ; Cystoscopy ; Electric Stimulation ; Female* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Magnetic Field Therapy* ; Pruritus ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urethra

OBJECTIVE: Closure of a low transverse cesarean incision with one layer and two layer, we compared operative time, hemostasis, blood loss and postoperative sonohysteroperitoneographic findings. Study design: At our hospital 103 women were randomized to closure of a low transverse cesarean incision with either one continuous layer of a locking No. 1 chromic suture or two continuous of No. 1 chromic suture with the first layer locked between Mar. 1, 1998 and Dec. 31, 1998. After three months later, sonhysteroperitoneography was taken and then we evaluated uterus indirectly. RESULTS: A one layer closure required less operative time, 16 versus 20.8 minutes (p<0.01), less hemoglobin change, 0.44 versus 1.3 (p<0.01) and less suture materials (p<0.01). But postoperative follow up sonohysteroperitoneography, a one layer closure shows slightly thinning of isthmic layer of myometrium, two layer closure shows more adhesional band and both are similar other findings. CONCLUSION: A one layer does not significantly affect the clinical course than traditional two layer closure. So we recommended a one layer closure when its use is anatomically feasible.
Animals ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Mice ; Myometrium ; Operative Time ; Sutures ; Uterus

PURPOSE: To compare the success rates of performing only silicone tube intubation versus carrying out both conjunctival resection and silicone tube intubation. METHODS: The subjects of this study involved 62 patients (96 eyes) between October 2015 and May 2017 who were diagnosed as having punctal stricture or nasolacrimal duct stenosis. Out of 96 eyes, 47 underwent only silicone tube intubation, and 49 underwent both silicone tube intubation and conjunctival resection. Three parameters were measured at 1, 3, and 6 months after the surgery: the area of the tear meniscus using RTVue-100 anterior segment optical coherence tomography, the height of the tear meniscus using a slit lamp microscope, and the subjective satisfaction of patients as a result of improved sympotms like epiphora. The surgery was considered successful when the patients' experienced the resolution of symptoms and reduction of the area and height of the tear meniscus. RESULTS: The area of the tear meniscus, height of the tear meniscus, and subjective satisfaction of patients was superior in the group that underwent both silicone tube intubation and conjunctival resection compared silicone tube intubation only. Based on these results, the success rate of the surgery was 68.9% in the group that underwent only silicone tube intubation and 78.7% in the group that underwent both silicone tube intubation and conjunctival resection. CONCLUSIONS: The resection of relaxed plica semilunares seems to increase the success rate of silicone tube intubation through the reduction of the area and height of the tear meniscus. Therefore, after determining the degree of conjunctivochalasis, if it was found to be severe, a combination with conjunctival resection was expected to increase the success rate of the surgery.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases* ; Nasolacrimal Duct ; Silicon* ; Silicones* ; Slit Lamp ; Tears ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

There are substantial variations of relative risks (RR) in smoking-related mortality by country and time. We hypothesized the RRs in smoking-related mortality might differ depending on serum concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). We evaluated the associations of cigarette smoking with total mortality in 610 elderly (aged > or = 70 yr) (702 elderly for organochlorine pesticides [OCPs]) after stratification by serum concentration of POPs, in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2004 followed through 2006. Summary measures of POPs subclasses showed significant or marginally significant interaction with cigarette smoking on the risk of total mortality. P values for interaction were 0.069 for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), 0.008 for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and 0.024 for OCPs. The effect of smoking on total mortality showed different patterns according to the serum concentration of some POPs. Former or current smokers had 1.4 to 2.9 times higher mortality rates compared with never smokers among participants with higher serum concentrations of POPs (2nd or 3rd tertiles). However, when the level of PCBs or OCPs were low (1st tertile), there were little positive associations between smoking and mortality. Our study suggests that the background exposure to several POPs may be related to variability in smoking-related total mortality.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Environmental Exposure ; Environmental Pollutants/*blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated/blood ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Pesticides/blood ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls/blood ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Risk ; Smoking/*mortality ; Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin/analogs & derivatives/blood

There are substantial variations of relative risks (RR) in smoking-related mortality by country and time. We hypothesized the RRs in smoking-related mortality might differ depending on serum concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). We evaluated the associations of cigarette smoking with total mortality in 610 elderly (aged > or = 70 yr) (702 elderly for organochlorine pesticides [OCPs]) after stratification by serum concentration of POPs, in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2004 followed through 2006. Summary measures of POPs subclasses showed significant or marginally significant interaction with cigarette smoking on the risk of total mortality. P values for interaction were 0.069 for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), 0.008 for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and 0.024 for OCPs. The effect of smoking on total mortality showed different patterns according to the serum concentration of some POPs. Former or current smokers had 1.4 to 2.9 times higher mortality rates compared with never smokers among participants with higher serum concentrations of POPs (2nd or 3rd tertiles). However, when the level of PCBs or OCPs were low (1st tertile), there were little positive associations between smoking and mortality. Our study suggests that the background exposure to several POPs may be related to variability in smoking-related total mortality.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Environmental Exposure ; Environmental Pollutants/*blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated/blood ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Pesticides/blood ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls/blood ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Risk ; Smoking/*mortality ; Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin/analogs & derivatives/blood

No abstract available in English.
Biofeedback, Psychology* ; Female ; Humans

PURPOSE: To predict the energy expenditure using the stress factor representing the ratio of the metabolic variation between pre-operation and post-operation in a pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). METHODS: This was a prospective study conducted on 17 patients (11 males and 6 females) who underwent PD at Chonbuk National University Hospital between March 2010 and October 2011. The rest energy expenditure was measured by indirect calorimetry 1 day before and 3 days after surgery. The height, weight, and fat free mass were also measured 1 day before surgery. RESULTS: The mean measured rest energy expenditure 1 day before PD (mREEpre) and 3 days after PD (mREEpost) were significantly different (16.8±2.6 vs. 18.8±3.5 kcal/kg/d, P=0.0076). The stress factor, representing the ratio of the metabolic changes between pre- and post-PD, was 1.12±0.17. The recommended energy requirement for PD patients is estimated to be 23∼24 kcal/ideal body weight/d [determined from the measured preoperative rest energy expenditure (16.8±2.6 kcal/kg/d)×activity factor (1.2∼1.3)×stress factor (1.12)]. CONCLUSION: PD patients maintained a hypermetabolic status and the applicable stress factor was 1.12.
Calorimetry, Indirect* ; Energy Metabolism* ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Male ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy* ; Prospective Studies