OBJECTIVE: We conducted a retrospective data analysis to review the results of robot-assisted arm rehabilitation in post stroke patients during past 2 years and find out positive influences of the outcomes. METHOD: We measured improvements of arm function longitudinally in a group of sixty-four stroke patients, who participated in the robot-assisted arm therapy from January 2012 to December 2013. Treatment session lasted 30 to 40 minutes, 2 to 5 times a week. For at least more than one month, we used the InMotion2.0 (Interactive Motion Technologies, Watertown, MA, USA) and measured outcomes with the Fugl-Meyer assessment-upper extremity (FMA-UE), Korea-modified Barthel index (K-MBI) and InMotion robot arm evaluation index. Also, analysis on the subgroup was carried out. RESULTS: Following the robot-assisted arm rehabilitation, FMA-UE, K-MBI and InMotion robot arm evaluation index were significantly improved compared to baseline. Mean FMA-UE and K-MBI gain were 4.22 +/- 0.76, 7.63 +/- 1.18 in each. However, in the subgroup analysis, the group with less intensity treatment (640 repetition) did not show any significant improvement. CONCLUSION: This is an observational study showing improvements in arm function following robot-assisted arm rehabilitation compared to baseline, which was significant only in the subgroup who received the intervention longer and more intensity.
Arm* ; Extremities ; Humans ; Observational Study ; Rehabilitation* ; Retrospective Studies ; Statistics as Topic ; Stroke* ; Upper Extremity

No abstract available.
Bowen's Disease ; Fingers

Vitiligo is a chronic disorder characterized by depigmented macules which can slowly enlarge with the concurrent development of new lesions. Although autologous suction blister epidermal grafting is an established technique for the treatment of recalcitrant, stable vitiligo, the donor tissue graft is not easy to fix at the recipient site, especially in areas such as the joints, face, cutaneous folds, hands, feet, and hair-bearing areas. Therefore, various methods of donor tissue fixation have been attempted. We report two cases of vitiligo treated with suction blister epidermal grafting, with fibrin tissue adhesion. The first case is that of 16-year-old female patient presented with hypopigmented patches on the forehead and frontal scalp area. The other case is that of 32-year-old female patient presented with hypopigmented patches on the chin. We treated them with phototherapy for 1~4 years; however, the lesions were recalcitrant. Therefore, we tried treatment with a suction blister epidermal graft. Because graft fixation is difficult at the recipient sites, fibrin glue was sprayed on the grafts. Thereafter, we applied a porous silicone wound contact layer over the graft area and applied sterile gauze dressing that was left for a week. One week after the procedure, firm fixation of the donor tissue was observed in both cases. Fibrin glue seemed to improve the graft fixation, providng protection against infection and an optimal environment for wound healing. This report suggests that the application of an epidermal graft with fibrin glufixation, can provide the best result in the surgical treatment of stable vitiligo.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Bandages ; Blister* ; Chin ; Female ; Fibrin ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive* ; Foot ; Forehead ; Hand ; Humans ; Joints ; Phototherapy ; Scalp ; Silicones ; Skin Transplantation ; Suction* ; Tissue Adhesions ; Tissue Donors ; Tissue Fixation ; Transplants* ; Vitiligo* ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Serotonin is thought to be an important neurotransmitter in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is reported that functional polymorphism in the promotor region of the serotonin transporter gene is related with the subtypes of IBS and shows racial difference. However, a functional relation between polymorphism and IBS is not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter (5-HTT) gene polymorphism in patients with IBS. METHODS: For fifty-six healthy controls and 33 patients with IBS fulfilling Rome II criteria, 5'-flank promotor region of 5-HTT gene was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The genotypes of healthy controls were S/S (57.1%), S/L (37.5%), and L/L (5.4%). Those of IBS patients were S/S (54.5%), S/L (36.4%), and L/L (9.1%). IBS patients were divided into three groups: diarrhea predominant (n=15; S/S, 40%; S/L, 53.3%; L/L, 6.7%), constipation predominant (n=12; S/S, 75.0%; S/L, 8.3%; L/L, 16.7%), diarrhea-constipation alternating type (n=6; S/S, 50%; S/L, 50%). There was no statistical difference in the 5-HTT gene polymorphism between patients and controls, and according to the subtypes of IBS patients (p=0.135). CONCLUSIONS: There was no relationship between serotonin transporter gene polymorphism and IBS. However, allele S/S genotype was most prominent genotype in both controls and patients.
Adult ; English Abstract ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/*genetics ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins/*genetics ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*genetics ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/*genetics ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Serotonin/genetics

Here, we report a case of Cowden syndrome with an unusual clinical course of late-onset oral papillomatosis and a novel germline PTEN mutation. Cowden syndrome is the most common phosphatase and tensin homolog hamartomatous tumor syndrome. It is characterized by multiple hamartomas in the gastrointestinal tract and mucocutaneous lesions such as trichilemmomas, oral papillomatosis, facial papules, and acral keratoses. Patients with Cowden syndrome have a higher risk of malignancies, especially breast, colon, and thyroid cancers. A 53-year-old female presented with cobblestone-like papillomatous papules on the lower gums that developed 1 year earlier. She had no other mucocutaneous lesions besides oral papillomatosis. Gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy revealed multiple hamartomas in the stomach and colon. The patient had a history of breast cancer and multinodular goiter diagnosed 4 and 5 years ago, respectively. She was diagnosed with Cowden syndrome and a novel PTEN mutation was confirmed by direct sequencing.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Gingiva ; Goiter ; Hamartoma ; Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple* ; Humans ; Keratosis ; Middle Aged ; Papilloma ; Stomach ; Thyroid Gland

No abstract available.
Knee* ; Nevus* ; Organoids*

BACKGROUND: There have been several studies about herpes zoster in the Korean dermatological literatures. However, there are few studies reported on disseminated herpes zoster. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the epidemiology and clinical features of the disseminated herpes zoster as compared with herpes zoster. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records on 14 cases of disseminated herpes zoster and 402 cases of herpes zoster at the Department of Dermatology Busan Paik hospital during the 3 years from 2010 to 2012, and if necessary, telephone interviews were executed. RESULTS: The rate of new disseminated herpes zoster outpatients at our dermatology clinic was 0.11% with the mean age of 67.7 years and the males to females ratio was 2.5. The most frequent involved dermatome was the lumbar (42.9%) area. The rate of patients with underlying diseases or immunosuppression, the rates of postherpetic neuralgia and the frequency of narcotic analgesics uses were significantly higher in disseminated herpes zoster as compared with herpes zoster. The patient treatment satisfaction was significantly higher in herpes zoster as compared with disseminated herpes zoster. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrated that the disseminated herpes zoster is associated with higher rates of underlying diseases, immunosuppression, frequent incidences of postherpetic neuralgia, more uses of narcotic analgesics and lower patient treatment satisfactions as compared with herpes zoster.
Dermatology ; Female ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Incidence ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Medical Records ; Narcotics ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Outpatients ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Acne vulgaris is a common dermatologic disease that can largely affect psychosocial aspects of the patient. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to survey the perception of acne vulgaris, including the cause of acne vulgaris, and patient attitude towards the disease, as well as preference for treatment methods in Busan. METHODS: A total of 170 patients with acne vulgaris, seeking treatment at 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-grade hospitals in Busan, were surveyed by questionnaire. Patient informed consent was obtained. RESULTS: With regards to the cause of acne, increased sebum secretion was the most selected answer, followed by stress and eating habits. Most of the patients believed that all of the acne treatment modalities were effective; however, negative recognition about the safety and durability of each treatment was also reported by a majority of the patients. Acne extraction and laser therapy were the most preferred treatment methods, and the most important reason to choose the treatment method was effectiveness. CONCLUSION: In this study, we could recognize a patients' overall perception about acne vulgaris. It is suggested that dermatologists should try not only to help patients gain a better understanding about acne but also to cope with their demands.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Busan ; Eating ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Laser Therapy ; Sebum ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Acne vulgaris is a common dermatologic disease that can largely affect psychosocial aspects of the patient. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to survey the perception of acne vulgaris, including the cause of acne vulgaris, and patient attitude towards the disease, as well as preference for treatment methods in Busan. METHODS: A total of 170 patients with acne vulgaris, seeking treatment at 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-grade hospitals in Busan, were surveyed by questionnaire. Patient informed consent was obtained. RESULTS: With regards to the cause of acne, increased sebum secretion was the most selected answer, followed by stress and eating habits. Most of the patients believed that all of the acne treatment modalities were effective; however, negative recognition about the safety and durability of each treatment was also reported by a majority of the patients. Acne extraction and laser therapy were the most preferred treatment methods, and the most important reason to choose the treatment method was effectiveness. CONCLUSION: In this study, we could recognize a patients' overall perception about acne vulgaris. It is suggested that dermatologists should try not only to help patients gain a better understanding about acne but also to cope with their demands.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Busan ; Eating ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Laser Therapy ; Sebum ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Estrogens are commonly used in gynecologic area, such as oral contraception, hormone replacement therapy, and in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. Although estrogen is a common cause of acute drug-induced pancreatitis, there has been paucity of report in Korea. Clinical course of estrogen-induced acute pancreatitis is usually mild to moderate, but fetal case can occur. In addition, there can be a latency from the first administration to the symptom. Therefore, physicians should consider the possibility of the disease when a woman taking estrogen or previous history of taking estrogen presents with acute abdominal pain. Here, we report a case of estrogen-induced acute pancreatitis that occurred during the preparation for embryo transfer.
Abdominal Pain ; Contraception ; Embryo Transfer ; Estrogens ; Female ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Korea ; Pancreatitis*