Albendazole is a new drug for the treatment of cerebral cysticercosis. We have recently experience a case that had shown poor therapeutic response to praziquantel. The patient have multiple parenchymal cysts. She was treated with 15mg/kg/day of albendazole for 1 month to confirm healing of the intracranial lesion by the follow up brain CT scan and CSF-ELISA associated with marked clinical improvement.
Albendazole* ; Brain ; Cysticercosis ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neurocysticercosis* ; Praziquantel ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: The distribution of Malassezia yeasts on normal human skin was varied according to the age and race of the volunteers and the methodologies used. In Korea, most reports of Malassezia yeast distribution have relied on direct skin smears rather than culture methods. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work was to perform a comprehensive survey of the distribution of Malassezia yeasts on normal human skin to provide a base line for a companion study of Malassezia yeasts in patients with various dermatoses. METHODS: Malassezia yeasts were cultured using the swabbing technique from the scalp, forehead, chest, upper back, upper arm and upper thigh in 137 subjects, infancy to 80 years of age. RESULTS: Malassezia yeasts were present in the lowest incidence(0-30%) on six sites of infants and present in 60.0-66.7% on the sebum-rich sites (scalp, forehead, chest, upper back) of children aged 1-9. Malassezia yeasts were present in 80.0-86.7% on the sebum-rich sites of the elderly group(over 60 years of age), about the same frequency as in the middle-aged groups. The population density of these organisms was significantly higher on the upper back than on the forehead, chest, upper arm and upper thigh in all age groups except the infant group and the group aged 1 to 9 (p<0.05). There were no regular quantitative variations in the distribution of Malassezia yeasts on a given site between age groups. On Leeming and Notman media, besides three morphotypes of Malassezia yeasts reported by Cunningham et al(1990), one additional type was identified. CONCLUSION: The results showed regional variations in the distribution of Malassezia yeasts in all ages except infancy and no regular age variations on a given site. Additionally, four colony types of Malassezia yeasts were found. The findings of our study coold help to investigate the role of Malassezia yeasts in related disorders.
Aged ; Arm ; Child ; Continental Population Groups ; Forehead ; Friends ; Humans* ; Infant ; Korea ; Malassezia* ; Population Density ; Scalp ; Skin Diseases ; Skin* ; Thigh ; Thorax ; Volunteers ; Yeasts*

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous vasculitis associated with viral hepatitis seems to occur as a hypersensitivity reaction against the circulating viral antigens. Hepatitis B virus(HBV)-encoded X antigen(HBxAg) is known to participate in the carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) by the inactivation of p53. However, HBxAg has been found in chronic infiammatory lesions without the overexpression of p53. Accordingly, not only EBsAg and HBcAg but also HBxAg may be involved in HCC-associated cutaneous vasculitis, regardless of the alteration of p53. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to investigate the expression of HBV-encoded antigens in cutaneous vasculitis accompanied by HBV hepatopathy. Additionally, we have compared the expression of 3 HBV antigens and p53 between vasculitic patients with HCC and in others showing HCC-non-associated vasculitis. METHODS: Immunohistochemically, we examined the expression of HBsAg, HBcAg, and HBxAg in the tissue specimens taken from the vasculitic lesions of the 33 HBsAg-positive enrolled patients with cutaneous vasculitis proven by skin biopsy. RESULTS: 1. The immunohistochemical positivity rate to HBsAg in vasculitic patients with HBV hepatopathy was 66.7% overall. It was 90% in HCC-associated vasculitic subjects and 56.5% in the vasculitic subjects without HCC, respectively. 2. We found the expression of HBxAg in 80% of the vasculitic subjects showing HCC. The vasculitic patients without HCC showed 17,3% of the positivity rate to HBxAg. 3. We could not find the overexpression of p53 in the vasculitic tissue specimens of the HCC patients without the cutaneous metastasis from primary HCC. CONCLUSION: HBsAg, HBcAg and HBxAg may participate in the pathogenesis of cutaneous vasculitis with HBV hepatopathy, regardless of tumorigenesis.
Antigens, Viral ; Biopsy ; Carcinogenesis ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Humans* ; Hypersensitivity ; Malassezia* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Skin* ; Vasculitis ; Yeasts*

Solitary cutaneous reticulohistiocytoma is a type of reticulohistiocytosis. The cytoplasm of tumo cells characteristically shows abundant eosinophilic "ground-glass" appearance. We report a case of this rare cutaneous tumor in a 54-year-old woman. It was present as a single nodule on the right index finger of the patient for seven years.
Cytoplasm ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Fingers ; Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell* ; Humans ; Middle Aged

No abstract available.
Antigens, Surface*

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of tetracycline-HCl on the change of implant surface microstructure according to application time. Implant with pure titanium machined surface, HA-coated surface and dual acid etched surface were utilized. Implant surface was rubbed with 50mg/ml tetracycline-HCL solution for 1/2min., 1min., 1 1/2min., 2min., and 2 1/2min. respectively in the test group. Then, specimens were processed for scanning electron microscopic observation. The results of this study were as follows. 1. Both test and control group showed a few shallow grooves and ridges in pure titanium machined surface implants. There were not significant differences between two groups. 2. In HA-coated surfaces, round particles were deposited irregularly. The roughness of surfaces conditioned with tetracycline-HCL was lessened and the cracks were increased relative to the application time. 3. The etched surfaces showed the honey comb structures. The surface conditioning with tetracycline-HCl didn't influence on its micro-morphology. In conclusion, the detoxification with 50mg/ml tetracycline-HCl must be applied respectively with different time according to various implant surfaces.
Animals ; Comb and Wattles ; Honey ; Titanium

It is well known that the murine T helper cell clones are divided by their lymphokine secretory activities. One is the Th-1 cell, producing IL-2 and IFN after stimulation and the other is the Th-2 cell, producing the IL-4 and IL-5. This study was undertaken to evaluate the immunomodulatory properties of the bacterial lipopolysaccharide(LPS) on the lymphokine production in vivo and in vitro. The results were as follows: There were no effects on the lymphokine secretion by the in vitro treatment of the LPS. The in vivo treatment of the LPS decreases the capability of the production of IL-2 and IFN , whereas it increases the capability of IL-4 production. The altered capacity of the lymphokine production was recovered about 2 weeks after the treatment of the LPS. There were no differences on the lymphokine production between E-coli LPS and salmonella LPS. The capacity of the lymphokine production was the same in the treatment of a non-heated LPS or heated-LPS. The lymphokine production of the mice which were desensitized by the long term treatment of the LPS was not different from the control mice. The in vitro treatment of RU486 can block the alterations of the lymphokine production after the treatment of the LPS. In summary, one can tell that the LPS increases the secretion of the IL-4 through the endogenous secretion of the glucocorticoids.
Animals ; Clone Cells ; Glucocorticoids ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; Mice ; Mifepristone ; Salmonella ; T-Lymphocytes* ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer

Proximal subungual onychomycosis (PSO) is the rarest form of onychomycosis and most commonly due to Trichophyton rubrum, The fungus initially penetrates the horny layer of the proximal nail fold and subsequently invades the under-surface of the nail plate. PSO has been mainly reported in patients with AIDS and AIDS related complex and may serve as an early clue for the presence of imrnunodeficiency. We report a case of PSO in a 45-year-old woman with reumatoid arthritis who received oral steroid.
AIDS-Related Complex ; Arthritis ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Female ; Fungi ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Onychomycosis* ; Trichophyton

We report a 43-year-old male who suffered cognitive dysfunction after an electric injury. He underwent evaluation for cognitive dysfunction and cerebral glucose hypometabolism at 1 week and 6 months. In contrast to the progressive decline of frontal lobe functions and visuospatial functions, memory and depressive mood were improved. SPM99 showed hypometabolic areas in the frontal and occipital lobes which were widened. Moreover new cingulate lesions appeared. This illustrates that the progression of derangement of cerebral glucose metabolism is correlated with neuropsychological impairment.
Adult ; Electric Injuries* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Frontal Lobe ; Glucose ; Humans ; Male ; Memory ; Metabolism ; Neuropsychology ; Occipital Lobe ; Positron-Emission Tomography