No abstract available.
Keratinocytes*

PURPOSE: To identify factors that influence serum zinc concentrations in children with acute gastroenteritis. METHODS: Thirty-two children under 5 years of age (15 boys and 17 girls) were selected randomly among those who visited to an pediatric emergency room of Ehwa Womans University Mokdong Hospital with acute gastroenteritis from May to August 2005. This study estimated the association between serum zinc concentrations and clinical, biochemical variables in patients with acute gastroenteritis. RESULTS: Serum zinc concentration was lower in febrile patients than afebrile patients with acute gastroenteritis (67.0+/-25.3 vs 85.5+/-14.2, p<0.05). It also was lower in patients with positive C-reactive protein (CRP) than those with negative CRP (63.9+/-25.4 vs 86.7+/-13.8, p<0.05). Serum zinc concentration was negatively correlated (r=-0.494, p<0.05) with CRP concentration, whereas positively correlated with hematocrit (r=0.370, p<0.05), total protein (r=0.474, p<0.05), and albumin (r=0.636, p<0.05). Twelve patients (37.5%) showed very low serum zinc concentration (<70 microgram/dL) without clinical symptoms of deficiency or growth retardation. Frequency of febrile illness or positive CRP is significantly greater in group with zinc <70 microgram/dL than the group with zinc > or =70 microgram/dL (91.7% vs 55%, p<0.05; 91.7% vs 40%, p<0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: In patients with acute gastroenteritis, serum zinc concentration was influenced by various factors such as fever, CRP, and biochemical factors. For evaluating zinc status in the body. factors.
C-Reactive Protein ; Child* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Fever ; Gastroenteritis ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Zinc*

PURPOSE: The study was done to construct and test a structural model to explain primipara breastfeeding behavior. METHODS: The participants were 213 primiparas on postpartum wards. Data were analyzed using the PASW 18.0 and AMOS 19.0 programs. RESULTS: Fitness statistics for the hypothetical model were appropriate (chi2 =38.50, p=.070, GFI=.96, RMSEA=.05, AGFI=.93, NFI=.95, TLI=.97, CFI=.98, PNFI=.57, chi2/df=1.43). Breastfeeding behaviors were directly influenced by intention to breastfeed, perceived effectiveness of breastfeeding, and the amount of supplementary feeding. The amount of supplementary feeding had the largest direct impact on breastfeeding behavior. The largest total effect on breastfeeding behavior was intention to breastfeed. The environment of the maternity hospital indirectly influenced breastfeeding behavior. These factors explained 18.9% of variance in the primipara breastfeeding behavior. CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that in order to promote primipara breastfeeding the amount of supplementary feeding immediately after the birth should be limited and an environment that encourages exclusive breastfeeding in the hospital should be provided. The results also suggest it is necessary to provide nursing interventions that increase the intention to breastfeed and the perceived effectiveness of breastfeeding.
Adult ; Bottle Feeding ; Breast Feeding/*statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intention ; *Models, Structural ; Mothers/psychology ; Questionnaires ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Humans ; Male*

Desmoplastic malignant melanoma (DMM) is an uncommon variant of malignant melanoma featuring a proliferation of spindle cells with pronounced desmopaasia. DMM commonly occurs on the sun-damaged skin such as head and neck in older persons, and it can be associated with lentigo maligna. We report an unusual case of desmoplastic malignant melanoma that developed de novo on the trunk in a young patient.
Head ; Humans ; Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle ; Melanoma* ; Neck ; Skin

Herpes zoster involving noncontiguous dual dermatomes is very rare in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised persons. This unique presentation has been referred to as zoster duplex unilateralis or bilateralis, depending whether one or both halves of the body are involved. A 22-year-old woman, who had been treated for acute leukemia, congestive heart failure and chronic disseminated candidiasis, was referred to our department for painful papulovesicular eruptions on the right side of the anterior chest and upper back for 2 days, and the left buttock for 1 day. Tzanck smear revealed multinucleated giant cells with intranuclear inclusion bodies. We report a rare case of zoster duplex bilateralis.
Buttocks ; Candidiasis ; Female ; Giant Cells ; Heart Failure ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Intranuclear Inclusion Bodies ; Leukemia ; Thorax ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: In this retrospective study, we attempted to evaluate the treatment outcome and the prognostic factors of thymoma treated with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between 1979 and 1998, 55 patients with thymoma were treated at the Seoul National University Hospital. Of these, 11 patients underwent surgery only, 33 patients received postoperative radiotherapy and 11 patients received radiotherapy only. Twenty-three patients had gross total resection and 21 patients subtotal resection. For postoperative radiotherapy, the radiation dose consisted of 41.4-55.8 Gy. The average follow-up was 64 months, and ranged from 2 to 160 months. The sex ratio was 1:1 and the median age was 48 years (15-74 years). Overall survival and disease-free survival were determined via the Kaplan-Meier method, and the log-rank was employed to evaluate for differences in prognostic factor. RESULTS: The five- and 10-year survival rates were 87% and 65% respectively, and the median survival was 103 months. By univariate analysis, only stage ( p=0.0017) turned out to be significant prognostic factors of overall survival. Also, stage ( p=0.0007) was significantly predictive for overall survival in mutivariated analysis. CONCLUSION: This study showed the stage was found to be important prognostic factors, which influenced survival. Especially, as incomplete resection is related with poor results, complete resection is important to cure the invasive thymoma.
Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Sex Ratio ; Survival Rate ; Thymoma* ; Treatment Outcome*

Epidermoid cysts occur rarely on the palms and soles, where hair is not present. These cysts have long been assumed to arise from traumatic implantation of epidermal fragment, but the pathogenesis is still controversial. Recently, with microscopic findings, immunohistochemical features, and molecular studies, the epidermoid cysts of the sole may be induced by the human papillomavirus. We report two cases of epidermoid cysts of the sole with the discussion of the pathogenesis.
Epidermal Cyst* ; Hair ; Humans*

No abstract available.
Esophageal Achalasia*

The purpose of this study was to confirm that calcium intake and healthy status play a role in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, to assure that calcium intake and regular exercise are important in reducing serum lipid levels in middle-aged women. Daily nutrient intakes were analyzed by convenient method. Anthropometric measurement such as body weight and height and blood pressure were measured. The subjects divided into two groups : women in group I under 50 years of age(< or = 49 yr group) and those in group II 50 years up(> or = 50 yr group). Average ages of group I and II were 43.87 and 53.46 years. The nutrients intake of subjects were higher than Korean recommended dietary allowances(KRDA) except calorie, iron, calcium, vitamin B1. They showed significant difference each other in vitamin B2(p<0.05), calcium(p<0.01) intake. Mean daily calcium intake was 540.88mg in < or = 49 yr group and 519.50mg in > or = 50 yr group. The levels of serum cholesterol, triglyceride, blood pressure, Atherogenic Index(AI), LDL/HDL and Cardiac Index(CI) were increased with age. The triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations and LDL/HDL in > or = 50 yr group were significantly higher than those of < or = 49 yr group. There was a highly significantly positive correlation between age and triglyceride, total cholesterol and Atherogenic Index(AI). Triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol concentration and Atherogenic Index(AI) were positively correlated with body weight and WHR(waist-hip ratio). Also ther was a significantly negative correlation between exercise and Cardiac Index(CI). Also a significantly negative correlation was found between Ca intake and LDL-cholesterol. Exercise and Cardiac Index(CI) also had a significantly negative relation. The results suggest that increased habitual physical activity and calcium intake should be recommended as a way of decreasing blood lipids and blood pressure in middle-aged women.
Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; Calcium* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; Motor Activity ; Thiamine ; Triglycerides ; Vitamins