No abstract available.
Retreatment* ; Treatment Failure*

No abstract availble.

BACKGROUND: Neurofibroma, the hallmark of neurofibromatosis, is a cutaneous or subcutaneous lesion, with a variable clinical presentation. Histologically, neurofibroma consists of proliferation of nerve derived cellular elements, together with an abundant, collagenous extracellular matrix. Specifically, neurofibroma has been shown to contain 30-50% collagen in its matrix. Objective 5. METHODS: We examined the expression of extracellular matrix genes (collagen, fibronectin, laminin), TGF-b mRNA and Ha-ras oncogene mRNA by using Northern and slot-blot hybridization and immunoperoxidase stains. Result: In Northern blot analysis, Ha-ras and TGF-b genes revealed respectively, 8.8kb and 2. 5kb sized mRNA transcripts in neurofibroma. These parameters were normal in the control. The expression of these genes were 1.9, 2.0 fold increased in neurofibroma. In slot-blot analysis, expression of type I collagen showed fibronectin genes to be 2,401+210, 540+43, respectively, in neurofibroma. So there were 3.7 fold, 2.1 fold, differences respectively, compared to the normal control. However, there were no significant changes of type IV collagen and laminin Bl mRNA levels between neurofibroma and normal skin tissues. Irnmunoperoxidase staining by rnonoclonal anti type IV collagen antibody in neurofibroma showed type IV collagen to be diffusely and weakly stained in tissue. On staining by monoclonal anti-laminin antibody, laminin was stained in a matrix and around vessels. CONCLUSION: The increased expression of extracellular matrix genes may suggest that there is a subpopulation of fibroic cells in neurofibroma which are stimulated by TGF-b. Ha-ras genes which might have accumulated with the differentiation of neural tissue may be related to the pathogenesis of neurofibroma tissue formation. Further studies are needed to determine whether the other factors are related to the pathogenesis of neurofibroma.
Blotting, Northern ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I ; Collagen Type IV ; Coloring Agents ; Extracellular Matrix* ; Fibronectins ; Genes, ras* ; Laminin ; Neurofibroma ; Neurofibromatoses* ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin

Lupus vulgaris is most prevalent on exposed parts, especially the face but can also develop on exetremities. Lupus vulgaris originates from tuberculosis elsewhere in the body by hematogenous, lymphatic, or contiguous spread. A 19-year-old male patient came to our department. The patient had had many recurrent oozing and verrucous plaques and crusts on the left foot for one year. A skin biopsy from the lesion on the left dorsum of the foot showed scattered well defined granulomas consisting of the epithelioid cell clusters with Langerhans and foreign body type giant cells in the mid dermis. Caseation necrosis was slight. There were no bacilli on AFB staining. The multi test CMI for tuberculin was highly positive. A chest X-ray did not show any abnormal findings. The presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA was demonstrated by polymerase chain reactions (PCR) for detection of mycobacterial DNA from a routinely prepared paraffin-embedded skin specimen. Herein we report a very atypical case of lupus vulgaris confirmed by PCR.
Biopsy ; Dermis ; DNA ; Epithelioid Cells ; Foot ; Giant Cells, Foreign-Body ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Lupus Vulgaris* ; Male ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Necrosis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Skin* ; Thorax ; Transplants* ; Tuberculin ; Tuberculosis ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: A clinical study of rosacea has never been reported in Korea. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the clinical observations of rosncea. METHODS: During a 5-year-period from Jan. 1990 to Dec. 1994, 133 patients were evaluated with regard to age, sex, location of skin lesions, clinical type, duration, and precipitating factors. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. Of the 7,787 cases amongst outpatients, 133 cases(1.7% ) were dignosed with rosacea. Of there 46 were male patients and 87 females, giving a sex ratio of 1:1.9 in favor of females. 2. The most common type of rosacea was vascular rosacea(60.2%) 3. The average duration of rosacea was 3.4 years. 4. Rosacea afflict persons aged 40-49 most frequently. 5. The predilection sites of the rosacea were : cheek(42.9%), nose(23.3%), entire face(11.3%), cheek & nose(9%), zygomatic area(6.8%), extra-facial area(3.8%), forehead(2.9%). 6, The aggravating factors of rosacea were : unknown cause(32.3%), coffee & tea(18%), alcohol(13.5%), emotional stress(10.5%), sun exposure(9.8%), multi-factoral(7.5%), drugs(steroids)4.6%).
Cheek ; Coffee ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Outpatients ; Precipitating Factors ; Rosacea* ; Sex Ratio ; Skin ; Solar System

An 41-year-old woman with chronic active hepatitis developed multible asymptomatic erythematous papules, plaques and purpuras on the both lower leg, feet, forearms and hands. Some lesions progressed to ulcers with central black colored necrotic eschars. Biopsies and cultures demorrstrated a fungus, aspergillus fumigatus a the etilogic agent. No evicience of involvement of other organs by aspergillus fumigatus was found. Intravenous amphotericin B therapy was discontinued because of he immediate adverse effects. The patient received treatment with oral itaconazole(200mg/day) and intravenous fluconazole(400mg/day), but skin lesions have been recurring repeatedly.
Adult ; Amphotericin B ; Aspergillosis* ; Aspergillus fumigatus ; Biopsy ; Female ; Fluconazole ; Foot ; Forearm ; Fungi ; Hand ; Hepatitis* ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Leg ; Purpura ; Skin ; Ulcer

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the changes of central corneal thickness and axial length after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery for myopia. 101 eyes of 53 patients who underwent laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) were included in this study.Routine examinations were done in all cases. Central corneal thickness, axial length, keratometry, and refractive error were measured preoperatively and on the 6 month post-operatively. Mean preoperative spherical equivalent was -5.52 D (SD, 1.98 D).Preoperative and postoperative mean central corneal thickness was 530.64 micrometer (SD, 27.62 micrometer)and 468.84 micrometer (SD, 33.32 micrometer).Preoperative and postoperative keratometry was 43.69 D (SD, 1.90 D)and 39.12 D (SD, 1.98 D).Preoperative and postoperative average axial length was 25.56 mm (SD, 1.05 mm)and 25.51 mm (SD, 1.08 mm).When postoperative measurements were compared with preoperative measurements, there was a significant decrease in central corneal thickness (t=25.68, p=0.000)and keratometry (t=23.61, p=0.000), but there was no significant difference in axial length (t=1.82, p=0.072). Refractive changes related to axial length measurements changes on the 6 month after LASIK are not important compared with the total refractive corrections of LASIK.
Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ* ; Myopia* ; Refractive Errors

PURPOSE: To investigate the spontaneous cerebral microbleeding occurring at gradient-echo MRI, and its relationship with associated stroke lesions and risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between September 2001 and December, 2002, 32 patients (21 men and 11 women; mean age 63 years) in whom cerebral microbleeding occurred at gradient-echo MRI were retrospectively investigated. Using a 1.5 T MR imager, spin-echo T1-weighted, fast spin-echo T2-weighted, diffusion-weighted, and gradient-echo images were obtained. The number and location of microbleeds seen on gradient echo images, patient data, and associated stroke lesions such as intracerebral hemorrhage and lacunar and territorial infarction were assessed. RESULTS: Among the 32 patients, 563 microbleeds and between 1 and 66 (mean, 17.6) were noted at gradientecho imaging. Microbleeding occurred in the cortical/subcortical area (n=216), the basal ganglia (n=173), thalamus (n=92), cerebellum (n=41), brainstem (n=36) and corpus callosum (n=1), and in 20 patients was bilateral. Patients had a history of hypertension (n=26), hypertriglycemia (n=12), heart disease (n=4), and diabetes mellitus (n=3). Stroke lesions were seen in 27 patients, intracerebral hemorrhage in ten, lacunar infarction in 24, and territorial infarction in four. CONCLUSION: The incidence and number of microbleeds was greater in older patients and in those with hypertension, hypertriglycemia, and stroke lesions such as intracerebral hemorrhage or lacunar infarction. The detection of microbleeding at gradient-echo imaging is helpful, since it predicts the possibility of cerebral hemorrhage in these patients.
Basal Ganglia ; Brain Stem ; Cerebellum ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Corpus Callosum ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stroke* ; Stroke, Lacunar ; Thalamus

BACKGROUND: In congenital heart disease, the lung perfusion through stenosed pulmonary artery is usually decreased. And this decrement of lung perfusion also occurs with diaphragmatic palsy after the operation of congenital heart disease. It is difficult to delineate the amount of lung perfusion in case of combination of pulmonary artery stenosis and diaphragmatic palsy. We examined the change of lung perfusion after the induction of diaphragmatic palsy in rabbits. METHODS: We dissected left phrenic nerves in 20 rabbits to induce left diaphragmatic palsy. The lung perfusion scan was performed with 99mTc-MAA and the movement of diaphragm was examined with fluoroscopy. They were performed as baseline data and on 3rd and 10th day postoperatively. The amount of left lung pefusion before and after diaphragmatic palsy was compared and analysed in 12 rabbits which definitely had diaphragmatic palsy. RESULTS: Weight of the rabbits was 1.65+/-0.26 kg. Left lung perfusion percent was 45.93+/-6.42% before operation and these were 32.48+/-6.09% and 37.62+/-3.39% on the 3rd and 10th postoperative day, respectively. Left lung perfusion was significantly decreased just after diaphragmatic palsy but it was not changed thereafter. The decrement of lung perfusion was not affected by the body weight. The decreased amount of left lung perfusion was reciprocally correlated with the body weight of the rabbits on the postoperative 3rd day but not 10th day. CONCLUSION: Left lung perfusion percent of the rabbits was decreased 7% with the induction of diaphragmatic palsy and the decreased amount was reciprocally correlated with the body weight just after the diaphragmatic palsy was induced.
Body Weight ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diaphragm ; Fluoroscopy ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Lung* ; Paralysis* ; Perfusion* ; Phrenic Nerve ; Pulmonary Artery ; Rabbits

Polyarteritis nodosa is a systemic inflammatory disease resulting from necrotizing angitis of small to medium sized arteries. It involves various organs, including the gastrointestinal tract, which is involved in about 50% of all cases. Numerous complications-including abdominal pain, vomiting, and hematemesis-have been reported, but the CT findings have not been described. We report the CT findings in a case of gastric polyarteritis nodosa, and correlate these with the histopathologic findings.
Abdominal Pain ; Arteries ; Arteritis ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Polyarteritis Nodosa* ; Stomach* ; Vomiting