We herein present a case of rare disease developed in a 43-year-old healthy woman. On her visit, we found several gray colored, well defined, pale, soft, wrinkled atrophic patches on the anterior portion of right upper chest area that is unusual location. The histologic findings showed typical features of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus* ; Lichens* ; Rare Diseases ; Thorax*

No abstract available.
Braces*

To determine the recovery time from noise-induced temporary threshold shift (TTS), a prospective field study was conducted at three worksites where workers are known to be exposed high level of noise. Subjects were selected according to answers on a questionnaire which inquired about otological history and previous noise exposure, including avocational, military and occupational exposures. After excluding employees with past otologic problems, recent exposure to high level noise, and under medications, total 92 employees participated in the study. Among 92 participants, complete consecutive audiometric examinations were carried out at 0~2 hours, 5~7 hours, 14~16 hours after worktime noise exposure on 26 participants wearing hearing protectors and 22 participants wearing no protective devices. The difference between the hearing level 0~2 hours after noise exposure and 5~7 hours is statistically significant by paired t-test(p<0.01). The median recovery times calculated from the data of 22 participants wearing no protective hearing devices are 15.6 hours at 4000 Hz, and 7.7 hours, 10.3 hours, 8.4 hours at 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz and 8000 Hz respectively. These data suggest that when measuring the pure tone audiometry for noise exposed workers, at least 16 hours noise-free interval is required.
Audiometry ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; Humans ; Military Personnel ; Noise ; Occupational Exposure ; Prospective Studies ; Protective Devices ; Questionnaires ; Workplace

To determine the recovery time from noise-induced temporary threshold shift (TTS), a prospective field study was conducted at three worksites where workers are known to be exposed high level of noise. Subjects were selected according to answers on a questionnaire which inquired about otological history and previous noise exposure, including avocational, military and occupational exposures. After excluding employees with past otologic problems, recent exposure to high level noise, and under medications, total 92 employees participated in the study. Among 92 participants, complete consecutive audiometric examinations were carried out at 0~2 hours, 5~7 hours, 14~16 hours after worktime noise exposure on 26 participants wearing hearing protectors and 22 participants wearing no protective devices. The difference between the hearing level 0~2 hours after noise exposure and 5~7 hours is statistically significant by paired t-test(p<0.01). The median recovery times calculated from the data of 22 participants wearing no protective hearing devices are 15.6 hours at 4000 Hz, and 7.7 hours, 10.3 hours, 8.4 hours at 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz and 8000 Hz respectively. These data suggest that when measuring the pure tone audiometry for noise exposed workers, at least 16 hours noise-free interval is required.
Audiometry ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; Humans ; Military Personnel ; Noise ; Occupational Exposure ; Prospective Studies ; Protective Devices ; Questionnaires ; Workplace

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressive (FOP) is an extremely rare disabling disorder characterized by progressive heterotopic ossification associated with congenital digital malformations. The purpose of this study is to delineate the problems in diagnosis and treatment of this rare disease, and to present their solutions. Nine Korean FOP patients have been followed up for average 7.2 years. Their medical records and radiographs were reviewed, and they were reexamined directly or interviewed by telephone. There were 6 female and 3 male patients. The age at the time of this study averaged 13.3 years (range, 4 to 23). In 5 cases, the first clinical manifestation was migrating scalp and neck mass at the age of 1-2 years. The diagnosis was delayed for 3 year and 5 months at average although all the patients had pathognomonic big toe anomaly. Surgical excision of heterotopic ossification in an attempt to increase the joint motion was performed in 4 cases but in vain. Posterior spinal fusion in 1 case failed to prevent progression of scoliosis and trunk decompensation. Disodium etidronate, tried in 3 patients, brought no effective symptom relief. All the patients in their 20's were household ambulators. Understanding the clinical manifestation of this disease enables early diagnosis, by which unnecessary and harmful procedures such as surgical biopsy or excision can be avoided, although no effective treatment has been developed.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Etidronic Acid ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Joints ; Male ; Medical Records ; Myositis Ossificans* ; Neck ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; Rare Diseases ; Scalp ; Scoliosis ; Spinal Fusion ; Telephone ; Toes

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Propranolol can prevent variceal bleeding by ameliorating portal hypertension. We conducted this study to determine the effect of propranolol on portal hypertension and the optimal required dose in Korean cirrhotic patients. METHODS: This study prospectively evaluated 50 patients with cirrhosis who exhibited variceal bleeding. The hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), portal venous flow, heart rate (HR), and blood pressure were assessed both at baseline and at 3 months after the treatment. The initial dose of propranolol (20 mg) was subsequently adjusted until the target HR was reached. Patients in whom HVPG reduced by >20% or to less than 12 mmHg were defined as responders. RESULTS: Propranolol significantly (p<0.01) reduced the HVPG (-21+/-26%, mean+/-standard deviation), portal venous flow (-25+/-21%), HR (-20+/-13%), and blood pressure (-3+/-13%). Twenty-nine patients were responders, and the optimal required dose was 154.4 mg. The main complication was dizziness (24%), but this was not serious enough to require medication withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS: Propranolol is safe and effective at reducing portal pressure in Korean cirrhotic patients. An effective improvement in portal hypertension requires the dose to be increased until the target HR is reached.
Blood Pressure ; Dizziness ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Fibrosis ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal* ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Portal Pressure* ; Propranolol* ; Prospective Studies* ; Venous Pressure