No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant* ; Rhabdomyoma* ; Tetralogy of Fallot*

BACKGROUND: Androgenic alopecia, commonly known in men as male pattern baldness is the gradual balding of the scalp in response to androgens in genetically predisposed individuals. Androgens can gradually transform large scalp hair follicles to smaller vellus ones, causing balding. The mechanisms involved are unclear, although androgens are believed to act on the epithelial hair follicle via the mesenchymal derived dermal papilla. During pregnancy, hair growth is increased, as estrogen appears to prolong the anagen phase, and postpartum hair loss may be related to a rapid decrease in estrogen. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the difference of the expressions of androgen receptors(AR) and estrogen receptors(ER) by monoclonal antibodies in biopsy specimens between bald area and non-bald area. METHODS: Immunohistochemical analysis of AR and ER receptor were preformed on the paraffine-embedded tissue sections of bald area and non-bald area in 6 cases of androgenic alopecia using anti-AR and anti-ER monoclonal antibodies with avidin-biotin peroxidase complex procedure. RESULTS: The results were that androgen receptors were higher level in bald area and estrogen receptors showed no difference between bald and non-bald area. CONCLUSION: This study supports that locally increased androgen activities may be related with hair loss in androgenic alopecia and estrogens have less relationship in the pathogenesis of androgenic alopecia.
Alopecia* ; Androgens ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Biopsy ; Estrogens* ; Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Male ; Peroxidase ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Receptors, Androgen* ; Receptors, Estrogen* ; Scalp

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome(PJS) is a relatively rare autosomal-dominant disease characterized by the occurrence of extensive mucocutaneous hyperpigmentation and gastrointestinal polyps. PJS patients are considered to have a high prevalence of intussusception due to polyps. We report the radiological findings in two cases of intussusception due to polyps in patients with PJS, and review the literature.
Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Intussusception* ; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome* ; Polyps ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVES: To determine which factors are changed in the thyroid cancer postoperative care and how quality of life compared between patients who had undergone modified radical neck dissection and selective neck dissection. METHODS: Prospectively, total 151 patients who diagnosed as thyroid cancer and underwent 16 modified radical neck dissection (mRND) or 135 selective neck dissection (SND) were evaluated for shoulder function, neck mobility, and quality of life and degree of depression at baseline, 2 days and 1 week postoperatively. All patients performed neck and shoulder stretching exercise three times a day beginning the morning following surgery. Shoulder function was assessed with the Constant's shoulder scale. Quality of life was assessed with the SF36v2 questionnaire. And depression was assessed with Beck depression inventory (BDI). RESULTS: The disability scores of patients were significantly worse for neck range of motion (ROM), shoulder pain, ADL, shoulder ROM, shoulder abduction power, total score of Constant's shoulder scale, physical function domain in SF-36v2 and BDI score & grade 2 days after the surgeries. SF36v2 domain score was no significantly difference between two groups. CONCLUSION: The mRND and SND are risk factors for neck ROM limitation, shoulder dysfunction, and onset of depression. In comparison between mRND and SND, more deterioration in ADL, shoulder abduction power, total score of Constant's shoulder scale are associated with modified radical neck dissection. More study is needed about usefulness of the stretching exercise in shoulder pain onset through comparison with control group.
Activities of Daily Living ; Depression ; Humans ; Neck ; Neck Dissection ; Postoperative Care ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Risk Factors ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Pain ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms

PURPOSE: To inform on shoulder pathology and to identify the disabilities and level of quality of life (QOL) associated with shoulder pain in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using patient history, physical examination, and ultrasound (US), we classified patients with BCRL into the following three groups: no pain with normal ultrasound (US), pain with normal US, and pain with abnormal US. We evaluated shoulder pathology using US, pain intensity using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and functional disability using the Korean version of the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. For assessment of QOL, we used the Korean version of the brief form of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument (WHOQOL-BREF). RESULTS: 28.9% of patients had no pain and normal US, 31.6% had pain with normal US, and 39.5% had pain with abnormal US. The US findings for those with pain and abnormal US revealed the following: 53.3% had a supraspinatus tear, 13.3% had biceps tenosynovitis, 13.3% had acromioclavicular arthritis, 13.3% had subdeltoid bursitis, and 53.3% had adhesive capsulitis. Patients with shoulder pain and abnormal US findings had significantly higher mean DASH and pain scores. Pain scores were positively correlated with DASH scores and negatively correlated with QOL. CONCLUSION: We found that BCRL with shoulder pain and evidence of shoulder pathology on US was associated with reduced QOL and increased disability. Proper diagnosis and treatment of shoulder pain are necessary to improve QOL and decrease disability in patients with BCRL.
Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms/*complications ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphedema/*complications/ultrasonography ; Middle Aged ; Pilot Projects ; Quality of Life ; Shoulder Pain/*etiology/ultrasonography

Lipedema is a chronic disease of lipid metabolism that results in the symmetrical impairment of fatty tissue distribution and storage combined with the hyperplasia of individual fat cells. Lipedema occurs almost exclusively in women and is usually associated with a family history and characteristic features. It can be diagnosed based on clinical history and physical examination. Lipedema is usually symmetrical, but spares the feet, is often painful to palpation, and is negative for Stemmer's sign. Additionally, lipedema patients can present with microangiopathies and lipomas. The well-known therapies for lipedema include complex decongestive therapy, pneumatic compression, and diet modifications. However, whether these treatments help reduce swelling is debatable. We encountered a case of lipedema that was initially misdiagnosed as lymphedema. The patient's clinical features and history were different from those typical of lymphedema, prompting a diagnosis of lipedema and she was treated with a complex decongestive therapy program.
Adipocytes ; Adipose Tissue ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Food Habits ; Foot ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Lipid Metabolism ; Lipoma ; Lymphedema ; Palpation ; Physical Examination ; Rare Diseases

BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata(AA) is believed to be an autoimmune disease in which a mononuclear cell infiltrate develops in and around anagen hair follicles. There is no clearly superior therapy in the treatment of AA, especially AA with atopic dermatitis and alopecia universalis. The theory of autoimmune pathogenesis of alopecia areata suggests a potential therapeutic effect of cyclosporin-A(CsA). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of CsA in the treatment of AA. METHOD: 12 patients with severe or refractory AA were treated with DPCP for at least 12 months. They showed resistance to treatment using DPCP. CsA was made up as a 0.01M, 0.005M solution in an ethanol preparation. 1cc of 0.01M CsA solution was applied on the Lt. side scalp and 1cc of 0.005M CsA solution was applied on the Rt. side scalp. The drug was applied once per week. Response to treatment was evaluated as follows: complete recovery, more than a 80% extent of hair regrowth; marked recovery, hair regrowth of 60% to 80%, moderate recovery, hair regrowth of 40% to 60%; slight recovery, hair regrowth of 20% to 40%; no response, hair regrowth of 0% to 20%. RESULT: The Six patients with focal type AA showed a moderate recovery. Of the six patients with alopecia totalis, 4 patients showed a moderate recovery, two patients showed no response. CONCLUSION: Topical CsA therapy is recommended in severe and refractory AA.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Ethanol ; Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Scalp

The Arnold-Chiari type I malformation has many symptoms such as headache, neck pain, gait impairment, abnormal movements or postures. But a few cases reported association of specific symptom including headache, neck pain, vertigo or ataxia. We report a case of 12 year-old boy presenting with tip-toe gait. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of brain and spine revealed underlying Arnold-Chiari type I malformation. This case shows that it is need for central nervous system evaluation in patients with changes of lower extremities tone.
Ataxia ; Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Dyskinesias ; Gait ; Headache ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neck Pain ; Posture ; Spine ; Vertigo

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of complex decongestive physiotherapy (CDPT) on malignant lymphedema patients. METHODS: Patients (n=22) with malignant lymphedema of the upper or the lower limb were assigned to this study. CDPT without manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) was used five times per week for two weeks. The main outcome measurements included measurement of the circumference of the limb (proximal, distal, and total) to assess volume changes. We also employed the visual analog scale (VAS) to evaluate pain, and the short form-36 version 2 questionnaire (SF-36) to assess quality of life (QOL). All items were assessed pre and post-treatment for each patient. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the volume change of the upper limbs (3.7%, p=0.001) and the lower limbs (10.9%, p=0.001). A 1.5 point reduction on the ten-point VAS was noted after CDPT. The scores on the physical and the mental components of the SF-36 showed statistical improvement after treatment (p=0.006, p=0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that all components of the CDPT program except MLD are helpful in treating malignant lymphedema in terms of pain reduction and reduction of the volume of the affected upper or lower limb. This treatment regimen also has positive effects on QOL.
Drainage ; Extremities ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Lymphedema ; Pilot Projects ; Quality of Life ; Upper Extremity

We report a case of type IIa hyperlipoproteinemia with xanthoma tendinosum associated with coronary artery disease in a 51 year-old male. Multiple hard nodules appeared firstly on both achilles tendon area 30 years ago and the lesions gradually spread to the dorsa of hands and feet. On past history, he had been diagnosed as unstable angina with atherosclerosis of three vessels in coronary arteries, 2 years ago. His family history revealed nothing contributory. Serum lipid profile including lipoprotein electrophoresis showed an increase in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol with increased beta-lipoprotein fraction, which suggested type IIa hyperlipoproteinemia. Histopathologic finding of a nodule from the dorsum of right hand showed many foamy histiocytes and cholesterol clefts in the dermis. Most of the xanthoma cells were mononuclear, but many Touton type giant cells were seen also. He died suddenly of heart failure with unstable angina.
Achilles Tendon ; Angina, Unstable ; Atherosclerosis ; Cholesterol ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Dermis ; Electrophoresis ; Foot ; Giant Cells ; Hand ; Heart Failure ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II* ; Hyperlipoproteinemias ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Xanthomatosis*