Three cases of giant hydronephrosis containing 9,800 cc, 3,800cc, and 1,300cc, Developed in the Korean soldiers are presented. The important clinical, laboratory and x-ray features are discussed. Brief review of literature was also made.
Humans ; Hydronephrosis* ; Military Personnel

No abstract available.
Angiomyoma ; Ear

No abstract available.
Giant Lymph Node Hyperplasia* ; Paraproteinemias*

In the study of 142 psoriatic patients who visited psoriasis clinic in Seoul Nstional University Hospital during recent five years, psoriasis was classified according to the severity based on the activity. The guideline of activity was as follows : 1. Mild: skin lesions stationary for the last one month. 2. Moderate : peripherally spreading plaque lesions with only occasionally small papules. 3. Severe : rapidly developing new lesions from the periphery of plaques or normal skin, or newly developing pustules. This study was done to evaluate the distribution and clinical features of psoriasis according to the activity. Among 142 patients of psoriasis, 84(59.2%) patients had mild psoriasis, 39(27. 4%) patients had moderate psoriasis, and 19(13.4%) patients were presented as severe psoriasis.
Classification* ; Humans ; Psoriasis* ; Seoul ; Skin

Dermatomyofibroma is a rare benign dermal tumor, mainly found in young women. Clinically it can be confused with keloid or dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. Typical histopathologic features of dermatomyofibroma are sufficiently distinctive to alert histopathologists to consider dermatomyofibroma in the diagnostic process. We report a case of dermatomyofibroma, presenting as reddish plaques and nodules on the buttock of a 2-year-old boy. Histopathologic examination showed fascicles of uniform spindle cells in the reticular dermis, predominantly oriented parallel to the epidermal surface. Immunohistochemical study and electron microscopy confirmed its myofibroblastic nature.
Buttocks ; Child ; Child, Preschool* ; Dermatofibrosarcoma ; Dermis ; Female ; Humans ; Keloid ; Male* ; Microscopy, Electron ; Myofibroblasts

Steroid cell tumor of ovary, first described as lipid cell tumor, is rare lesions composed entirely of cells resembling typical steroid hormone - secreting cells, that is lutein cells, Leydig cells, and adrenal cortical cells. Steroid cell tumors oftcn secret androgen and manifest themselves with symptoms of virilization. Other presentations include abdominal swelling or pain, menstrual dysfunction, postmenopausal bleeding, or rarely ascites. We experienced a case of right ovarian steroid cell tumor, not otherwise specified(NOS), manifested hirsuitism and amenorrhea in 49 - year - old patient. The tumor was about 5 cm in size, and associated with huge ascites (l3,000 ml), both pleural effusion, and elevated serum CA 125. We present a case of Meigs syndrome associated with benign ovarian steroid cell tumor with a brief review of the literature.
Amenorrhea ; Ascites* ; Dysmenorrhea ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Leydig Cells ; Luteal Cells ; Male ; Meigs Syndrome ; Ovary ; Pleural Effusion ; Virilism

Erythropoietic protoporphyria, sometimes also called erythrohepitic protoporphyria or simple protoporphyria, is a heritable detect of heme synthesis in which the last enzyme of the heme synthetic pathway, ferrochelatase(or heme synthetase), is functioning subopt,imally. A 23-year-old male has experi nced erythema and edema on the fae and hands during or immediately after sun exposure, since 3 years of age. The skin lesions have been accompanied by severe itching, a buring sensation and pain. Severe episodes were followed hy head iche and vomiting. We have seen a case of erythropoietic protoporphyria presenting clinically and histo athologically, wit.h a skin lesion on the sun exposured area, and free erthrocyte protoporphyrin serologically.
Edema ; Erythema ; Hand ; Head ; Heme ; Humans ; Male ; Protoporphyria, Erythropoietic* ; Pruritus ; Sensation ; Skin ; Solar System ; Vomiting ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-4(IL-4) from the Th2 subset of lymphocytes has been known to have a key role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. Blood levels of IgE, often reflecting the severity of allergic diseases, are not always elevated in patients with atopic dermatitis due to its homocytotrophic characteristics. OBJECTIVE: We propose that IL-4 can substitute or at least complement the role of IgE as an index of disease severity of atopic dermatitis. METHODS: Eleven patients with atopic dermatitis and five normal controls were included in this study. Before treatment, we evaluated the clinical severity of atopic dermatitis by the method described elsewhere with some modification which employed extent, duration, and intensity of skin lesions. Based on this criteria, we divided patients into 'severe and mild groups. With blood samples drawn from patients and normal controls, we measured IL-4 and IgE values. After a treatment period of I to 2 months, when all of the patients became free of symptoms and signs of atopic dermatitis, patients in each group were re-evaluated for ehanges of IL-4 and IgE values. IL-4 values were determined with a Predicata human interleukin-4 kit from Genzyme diagnostics (Predicta IL-4 kit) and ELISA reader (CRES UV900, Biotek). IgE values were measured .with IMx total IgE assay system from Abott laboratories (model 8389-0). RESULTS: l. Of eleven patients, six were mild and five were severe in clinical severity. 2. IL-4 levels were decreased from the pre-treatment average value of 57.149+/- 40.079 pg/ml to a post-treatment average value of 32.072+/- 16.912 pg/ml (p<0.05) which was similar to average normal control value, 36.690+/- 24.451 pg/ml. 3. IgE levels were similarly decreased from an average value of 230.2 86.4 IU/ml before treatment to one of 171.S+/-79.4 IU/ml after treatment (p<0.05). 4. This tendency of post-treatment lowering of values became more apparent in severe groups (p<0.05) but less obvious in mild groups both in terms of IL-4 and IgE (p>0.1). CONCLUSION: We conclude that IL-4 is not only involved in the pathogenesis but can also be used as a main index of disease severity in atopic dermatitis especially when the clinical severity is more than mild.
Complement System Proteins ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Interleukin-4* ; Lymphocytes ; Skin

Cryptococcosis is a disease caused by the Cryptococcus neoformans, occcuring most frequently in immunocompromised hosts. Cutaneous involvement is seen in 10-15 % of disseminated cases and its manifestation is variable. A 52 year old man presented with a subcutaneous neck mass and severe headache which had lasted for 2 months and 1 month respectively. Initially cutaneous involvement was monomorphic and localized and a CSF study failed to reveal any organisms. After several weeks of herb medication, however, multiple skin lesions occurred with varied morphology and a CSF study confirmed cryptococcosis by culture. The Urine cortisol was markedly elevated, suggesting an exogenous intake of steroid.
Cryptococcosis* ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; Headache ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Immunocompromised Host ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Skin

We have observed the dark effect of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) on the viability and DNA synthesis in human lymphocyte cultures after stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in the absence of ultraviolet A radiation. The concentrations of 8-MOP was 0.5-3.2 microgram/ml. We have also measured the LDH activity in supernatants of lymphocyte cultures treated with 8-MOP. The results were as follows: 1. There was no 8-MOP dose-dependent decrease in the viability of lymphocytes up to 8MOP 32microgram/ml. 2. There was 8-MOP dose-dependent decrease in PHA-induced DNA synthesis of lymphocytes from the concentration of 8-MOP 2microgram/ml. 3. There was a time-dependent decrease in PHA-induced DNA synthesis of lymphocytes at the conscentration of 8-MOP 32microgram/ml. 4. There was no LDH release in supernatant of lymphocyte cultures after incubation with 8-MOP up to 8-MOP 32microgram/ml.
DNA* ; Humans* ; Lymphocytes* ; Methoxsalen*