Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy (AILD) is a systemic disease clinically characterized by fever, generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, polyclonal gamma-globulinemia and Cooms' positive hemolytic anemia. The lymph node in AILD reveals a polymorphic feature consisting of a proliferation of small vessels, immunoblasts and plasma cells and acidophilic interstitial material. Progression into immunoblastic sarcoma is reported as high 35% of the patient with AILD. Nathwani et al have observed not only malignant transformation of AILD in sequential tissue examination, but also the coexistence of AILD and immunoblastic lymphoma in the same lymph node or at different sites in the same patient. Multiple clusters or islands of compactly arranged large lymphoid cells constitute the initial histologic evidence of immunoblastic sarcoma. Immunoblastic sarcoma is a large cell lymphoma conceptually related to transformed T-and B-lymphocytes of the extrafollicular compartment of the immune system, which proignosis is poor. We have recently experienced a case of immuno blastic sarcoma arising in angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy in a 24-year-old woman. She had history of multiple enlarged lymph nodes in the inguinal, axilla and supraclavicular areas. Previous lymph node biopsies revealed reactive change. Six month later, right axillary lymph node biopsy reveled AILD with focal clusters of immunoblasts. Subsequent lymph node biopsy at the same site revealed diffuse immunoblasic sarcoma, B-cell type. A case presentation with histologic findings and a brief review of literature were done.
Female ; Humans ; Biopsy

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. A range of factors including tuberculous infection, beryllium exposure, and cold climate have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the condition. A 45-year-old woman presented with a 4-month history of an asymptomatic eyelid swelling and multiple erythematous papules on the neck. Histological examination of the neck, orbital soft tissue, and lacrimal gland was consistent with sarcoidosis. Ziehl−Neelsen stains and polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) for tuberculosis on the skin biopsy specimens were negative. However, the orbital soft tissue specimen was positive for non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) PCR. The patient was finally diagnosed with sarcoidosis associated with NTM. Treatment with systemic steroid and hydroxychloroquine was started, resulting in an improvement of skin lesions. We herein report a case of sarcoidosis associated with NTM infection with review of the literature, as only little is known regarding the role of mycobacteria in sarcoidosis.

PURPOSE: Demand of specialized maternity ward is increasing as national income level rises. However, the National Health Insurance limits the number of hospital's non-standard room to less than 50% of total hospital beds. Therefore, this research was performed to investigate the utilization rate of non-standard room among the Korean women who recently delivered baby in medical facilities in order to examine the factors affecting their selection. METHODS: One hundred sixty six medical facilities which deliver a minimum of ten cases in 2011 were selected and categorized by type, region, and size. A cross-sectional survey was done in November 2012 by a professional research survey company. Eight hundred and two pregnant women answered the questionnaire through a face-to-face interview. RESULTS: Of the 802 expecting mothers, 690 (86%) occupied non-standard room and 684 (85.2%) preferred non-standard room to the standard room. Satisfaction levels were significantly higher in mothers occupying non-standard room [5.9+/-1.0 vs. 5.4+/-1.2 (0-7 scale), P<0.01] and high-income families used non-standard room more often. Reasons for using non-standard room included adequate convalescence (78%), separate place for breastfeeding (6.1%), and convenience on receiving visitors (5.4%). Preference for non-standard room on next visit was higher in case of delivery compared to other cause of hospitalization (81.8% vs. 44.9%, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Preference and actual use of non-standard room after delivery were significant. In spite of concrete preference, there was certain barrier in use of non-standard room according to the income and types of hospitals. Therefore, changes of policy such as insurance support for room charge may be needed in case of delivery.
Breast Feeding ; Convalescence ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Insurance ; Maternal Health Services ; Mothers* ; National Health Programs ; Patients' Rooms ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnant Women ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Maternal Health

BACKGROUND: Non-small cell lung cancer is one of the most frequent cause of death due to cancer in men, and its incidence among women is rapidly increasing. Although there has been a recent surge of interest in combined modality therapy for stage III non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC), the optimal treatment is still not well established. Thoracic irradiation has long been the gold standard for locally advanced unresectable NSCLC. However, although conventional radiotherapy(XRT) can palliate symptom and improve local control of disease, it huts at most only a modest effect on survival. Recently, cisplatin(cia-diamminedichloroplatinum ) has been reported to enhance the cell-killing effect of radiation For patients with unresectable NSCLC, cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy(CCRT) had the advantage of therapeutic response over XRT alone and therapeutic side effect more commonly occurred in CCRT group in EORTC(European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer) and other trials. Objectives : We compared therapeutic response, compliance, and side effects between CCRT and XRT in patients with advanced NSCLC. Patients and METHOD: Thirty patients with biopsy-proven inoperable NSCLC were randomized to one of two treatment arms. Arm A consisted of XRT, radiotherapy for 4~6 weeks(1.8 Gy given 20~33 times, in five fractions a week), and arm B consisted of CCRT, radiotherapy for 2 weeks(3 Gy given 10 times, in five fractions a week), followed by 3 week rest period and then radiotherapy 2 more weeks(2.5 Gy given 10 timed in five fractions a week), combined with 6mg cisplatin per square meter, given daily before radiotherapy. We evaluate therapeutic response, compliance, change of performance status, side effects, and radiation pneumonitis by using the author's made scoring system. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in therapeutic response and compliance. But there was a significantly lower laboratory complication and radiation pneumonitis in CCRT group (p<0.05). There's significant negative correlation between stage and therapeutic response score in both groups(R=0.353, p<0.05). In both groups, patients with squamous cell carcinoma had a tendency to higher therapeutic response score than those with adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSION: There was. no difference between CCRT and XRT in respect to therapeutic response and compliance. But CCRT had a advantage of decreased side effects.
Adenocarcinoma ; Arm ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cause of Death ; Chemoradiotherapy* ; Cisplatin ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Compliance ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Male ; Radiation Pneumonitis ; Radiotherapy*

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic T17 cell-driven immune-mediated inflammatory disease. However, patients with psoriasis may have elevated total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, which is a hallmark of Th2 inflammation.In previous case reports, psoriasis patients with elevated total serum IgE levels did not respond well to treatment or had exacerbated eczema lesions. Objective: We sought to investigate the clinical characteristics of psoriasis patients with elevated total serum IgE levels. Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of 130 patients with psoriasis who were tested for total serum IgE levels from November 1, 2009, to October 31, 2019. We compared the demographics, clinical characteristics, disease severity, and treatment regimen for each elevated IgE group (＞214 U/mL) and normal IgE group (≤214 U/mL). Results: Among 130 patients with psoriasis, 41 (31.5%) had elevated total serum IgE levels. Elevated total serum IgE levels were positively associated with the severity of disease; psoriasis lesions including those on the scalp, hands, feet, and flexures, which are difficult to treat, were observed to be significantly higher in patients with elevated total serum IgE levels. There was no correlation between age, sex, disease duration, or presence of pruritus and total serum IgE levels. Conclusion This study identified the clinical characteristics of psoriasis patients with elevated total serum IgE levels in Korea.

Background: Vulvar pruritus is a common complaint among women presenting to dermatologists. However, few studies have analyzed the dermatologic conditions that cause it. Objective: This retrospective study aims to evaluate the clinical features and causes of pruritic skin lesions of the female external genitalia. Methods: This study included 161 female patients with vulvar pruritus between 2008 and 2018 at CHA Bundang Medical Center. Data were collected by reviewing the electronic medical records retrospectively. The age, diagnosis, and histopathologic findings of the patients were reviewed. Results: The patients’ mean age was 49 years. On physical examination, 71.4% of patients (n=115) had definite skin lesions, and 28.6% (n=46) had ‘vulvar pruritus without skin rash’. The most common diagnostic category, confirmed by skin biopsy, was inflammatory dermatoses (53.4%, n=86), including lichen sclerosus et atrophicus, lichen simplex chronicus, nonatopic eczema, atopic eczema, and psoriasis. Moreover, 7.5% of patients (n=12) were diagnosed with infectious diseases, including candidiasis, herpes simplex virus, syphilis, and scabies; 5.6% (n=9) were diagnosed with neoplastic diseases, including vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, squamous cell carcinoma, extramammary Paget’s disease, and Bowen’s disease. Conclusion The causes of vulvar itch are vast, and often, multiple causes coexist simultaneously. Therefore, it requires a systemic approach to establish the correct diagnosis. Dermatologists should actively participate in the diagnosis and treatment.

Background: Vulvar pruritus is a common complaint among women presenting to dermatologists. However, few studies have analyzed the dermatologic conditions that cause it. Objective: This retrospective study aims to evaluate the clinical features and causes of pruritic skin lesions of the female external genitalia. Methods: This study included 161 female patients with vulvar pruritus between 2008 and 2018 at CHA Bundang Medical Center. Data were collected by reviewing the electronic medical records retrospectively. The age, diagnosis, and histopathologic findings of the patients were reviewed. Results: The patients’ mean age was 49 years. On physical examination, 71.4% of patients (n=115) had definite skin lesions, and 28.6% (n=46) had ‘vulvar pruritus without skin rash’. The most common diagnostic category, confirmed by skin biopsy, was inflammatory dermatoses (53.4%, n=86), including lichen sclerosus et atrophicus, lichen simplex chronicus, nonatopic eczema, atopic eczema, and psoriasis. Moreover, 7.5% of patients (n=12) were diagnosed with infectious diseases, including candidiasis, herpes simplex virus, syphilis, and scabies; 5.6% (n=9) were diagnosed with neoplastic diseases, including vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, squamous cell carcinoma, extramammary Paget’s disease, and Bowen’s disease. Conclusion The causes of vulvar itch are vast, and often, multiple causes coexist simultaneously. Therefore, it requires a systemic approach to establish the correct diagnosis. Dermatologists should actively participate in the diagnosis and treatment.

Idiopathic bronchiolocentric interstitial pneumonia is one of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, which has a relatively aggressive course and poor prognosis. It is characterized by diffuse centrilobular nodules radiologically with mainly bronchiolocentric inflammation and fibrosis associated with patchy alveolitis lacking interstitial granuloma histologically. This disorder is a recently classified disease category, and to our knowledge, there is no case report in Korea. We present a case of idiopathic bronchiolocentric interstitial pneumonia. A 62-year-old man presented with exertional dyspnea with a 1 month duration. The radiological findings showed extensive centrilobular lesions at both lungs. The surgical lung biopsy specimen demonstrated a centrilobular inflammatory process with small airway fibrosis and inflammation partially radiating into the interstitium. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with idiopathic bronchiolocentric interstitial pneumonia. He was treated with immunosuppressants including steroids and azathioprine. However, his symptoms did not improve and he expired 7 months later due to an acute exacerbation of the interstitial pneumonia and probable infectious pneumonia.
Azathioprine ; Biopsy ; Bronchiolitis ; Dyspnea ; Fibrosis ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; Prognosis ; Steroids

Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most common complications of diabetic mellitus and has myriad clinical presentations. Amitriptyline is an effective drug for painful diabetic neuropathy, but has a wide variety of cardiovascular effects. We report a case of amitriptyline-induced ventricular tachycardia in a patient with painful diabetic neuropathy. A 48-year-old man with no history of heart disease was treated with amitriptyline for the past 2 months. The dosage of this drug was gradually increased and the maximal dose was 170 mg per day. Prior to administration of this drug, his chest X-ray and electrocardiogram were normal. On admission he complained of chest discomfort and palpitation for 3 days, but his vital sign was stable. The electrocardiogram showed a wide QRS complex with a rate of 170 beats per minute. The ventricular tachycardia was successfully treated with electrical cardioversion.
Amitriptyline* ; Diabetic Neuropathies* ; Electric Countershock ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Tachycardia, Ventricular* ; Thorax ; Vital Signs

Sarcoidosis is a chronic multi-organ disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by the development of non-caseating granulomas. Scar sarcoidosis is a cutaneous manifestation of sarcoidosis that originates in old cutaneous scars. Sarcoidosis may develop in scars that occur after surgery, vaccination, cosmetic tattoos, and herpes zoster infection. Upper eyelid blepharoplasty is the most popular aesthetic facial surgery performed in the Asian population. Despite the large number of blepharoplasty procedures performed over the last century, relatively few reports have described scar sarcoidosis involving a blepharoplasty scar. We report a rare case of sarcoidosis that originated in a post-blepharoplasty scar, together with a literature review. Scar sarcoidosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients who present with post-blepharoplasty changes in an old scar.