The ability of photochemotherapy(PUVA) or UVA phototherapy to stimulate melangenesis is well known. It is now recognized that the PUVA lentigines, irregular in outline and often more darkly and unevenly pigmented than solar lentigines, are related to the additional pigmentary effects of the PUVA therapy. We present herein four cases of unusual pigmentation after one month of UVB irradiation. Raticulated dark brown pigmentation appeared on the lower extremities of the patients. Histopathologicially, an increase in melanin in the basal layer was found, but no dysplasia or malignant change. We suggest UVB as the cause of this unusual hyperpigmentation.
Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Lentigo ; Lower Extremity ; Melanins ; Phototherapy* ; Pigmentation* ; Psoriasis* ; PUVA Therapy

No abstract available.
Hypnotics and Sedatives*

We observed a 51-year-old male, who developed depigmented patches on the lower abdomen after photochemotherapy(PUVA) of psoriasis without evidence of phototoxic reaction. The depigmented patches did not orginate from the sites of previous psoriatic lesions. Fontana-Masson stain of the biopsy specimen revealed nearly absent melanin pigments in the epidrmis of the hypopigmented patch, while lots of pigments were obsereved on the surrounding hyperpigmented area. Electron micrograph showed no melanocytes in the hypopigmented patch. Thus we report this case as having vitiliginous patches induced by photochemotherapy of psoriasis.
Abdomen ; Biopsy ; Humans ; Male ; Melanins ; Melanocytes ; Middle Aged ; Photochemotherapy* ; Psoriasis* ; Vitiligo

Direct contact method of autoradiography was utilized in studying the distribution of exogenous C(14)-proline in Clonorchis sinensis, Eurytrema pancreaticum, Hymenolepis diminuta and Dipylidium caninum. The most distinct autoradiogram were obtained after 60 min of incubation, corresponding to the maximal absorption of C(14)-proline in these parasite. The radioactivitity of this labeled amino acid was chiefly concentrated in reproductive organs, especially egg-containing uterine tubules.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda-cestoda ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Eurytrema pancreaticum ; Hymenolepis diminuta ; Dipylidium caninum ; autoradiography ; C(14)-proline ; biochemistry ; amino acid

A 31-year-old male patient had malignant atrophic papulosis that afected the skin only. He had multiple typical porcelain-white skin lesion on the face and trunk without abdominal symptoms. Histopathologic studies showed moderate inflammatory infiltration in addition to the typical cone-shaped region of necrobiosis, There are no satisfactory treatment modes, and in the present case, the patient's condition improved transiently on oral medication of aspirin, but we lost the contact with him afterwards.
Adult ; Aspirin ; Humans ; Male ; Malignant Atrophic Papulosis* ; Necrobiotic Disorders ; Skin

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hazardous drinking (HD) and its association with sociodemographic factors, smoking, social anxiety, self-esteem, and ego-resiliency in medical students. Methods: A total of 408 medical students were included in this study. Data were collected by self-administered questionnaire, and HD was assessed by Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). The HD and non-HD group were defined using the AUDIT score 10 for male and 6 for female as a cut-off, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analyses were carried out to examine the impact of sociodemographic factors, smoking, social anxiety, self-esteem, and ego-resiliency on HD. Results: A total of 192 participants (47.1%) were identified as having HD. Frequency of smoking and the severity of social anxiety were significantly higher in HD group than non-HD group. Meanwhile, the levels of self-esteem and egoresiliency were significantly lower than HD group than non-HD group. In multiple logistic regression, smoking was associated with a higher risk of HD, whereas ego-resiliency and age were associated with a lower risk of HD. Compared to the high level of subjective socioeconomic status, both middle and low level were associated with a lower risk of HD. Conclusions HD among medical students was quite common and associated with smoking, ego-resiliency, age, and level of subjective socioeconomic status. Strong efforts to improve smoking cessation and ego-resiliency, as well as education for HD in medical schools, is needed to reduce the harmful effects of alcohol.

The importance of vegetables as a allergen for the development of hand eczema has been a matter of debate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical manifestations of hand eczema and to investigate the role of vegetables in the hand eczema of Korean housewives. In this study, clinical evaluatons and patch tests with Hollister-Stier standard allergens and 22 vegetable allergens wer performed in 32 patients with housewife's hand eczema. The results are summarized as follows : 1. The prevalence was highest in fourth(59.4%) and third(25.0%) decades of life and the peak age of onset was third(53.1%) and fourth(31.3%) decades. 2. Only 3 of 32 patients(9.4%) had past histories of atopic dermatitis ; however, childrens of 12 patients(37.5%) had atopic dermatitis. 3. The common skin signs were fissuring(90.6%), scaling(78.1%), erythema(75.0%), hyperkeratosis(71.9%), lichenification(62.5%), and vesicle(43.8%) in descending order. 4. The common aggravating factors were soap or detergent(93.8%), water(90.6%) and rubber glove(25.0%). 5. The most common involved areas of hand eczema were fingers including fingertips and fingertips only. 6. The results of patch test using vegetable allergens with 10 normal controls were all negative. Of the 32 patients with hand eczema, 13(37.5%) showed positive patch test with standard allergens and 5(15.6%) showed positive with vegetable allergens. 7. Among 30 standard allergens, cinnamic alcohol(9.4%). potassium dichromate(9.4%), nickel sulfate(6.3%), and wool wax alcohol(6.3%) were the common allergens which showed positive reactions. Of the 22 vegetable allergens, garlic, Chinese cabbage juice, Chinese cabbage extract, cucumber juice, spinach extract, potato juice showed weak positive reactions in only one patient(3.1%) respectively. From the above results contact sensitivity to vegetables is not significant in Korean housewives with hand eczema.
Age of Onset ; Allergens ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Brassica ; Child ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Eczema* ; Fingers ; Garlic ; Hand ; Humans ; Nickel ; Patch Tests* ; Potassium ; Prevalence ; Rubber ; Skin ; Soaps ; Solanum tuberosum ; Spinacia oleracea ; Vegetables* ; Wool

189-192 Six male patients with typical symptoms of Behcet's syndrome were subjected to a clinical examination. One of these was a Chinese patient. The age when the disease started was between 20 to 39 years. All of them became blind but no one was dead.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Behcet Syndrome* ; Humans ; Male

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to discover ways to screen urine culture specimens through Gram stains, urine stick analyses and microscopic examinations for the laboratory cost saving. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-eight urine specimens for culture were included. Fifty uL of urine were inoculated onto one well each of 10-well slide, dried on the hot plate, and Gram-stained. The results combined with routine urinalyses including urine nitrite and leukocyte esterase, and pyuria, were compared with the routine culture results. RESULTS: The screening of bacteriuria by Gram stains, urinalyses and microscopic examinations revealed the high sensitivity (91.9%) and negative predictive value(95.5%) with cost saving of 41.8% of inoculating media. Not considering the Gram stains, the screening revealed 83.8% sensitivity and 92.5% negative predictive value, even if the cost saving of inoculating media were as high as 50.1%. CONCLUSION: It was demonstrated that it was sensitive and economic and produced rapid preliminary results to screen bacteriuria by the Gram stains combined with urinalyses and microscopic examinations.
Bacteriuria ; Coloring Agents ; Cost Savings ; Leukocytes ; Mass Screening* ; Pyuria ; Urinalysis*

PURPOSE: To evaluate efficacy and the safety of percutaneous catheter drainage in patients with pneumothorax that is difficult to treat with closed thoracotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed effectivenss of percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) in 10 patients with pneumothorax. The catheter was inserted under fluoroscopic guidance. Seven patients had spontaneous pneumothorax caused by tuberculosis (n=4), ruptured bullae (n=2), and histiocytosis-X(n=l). Three patients had iatrogenic pneumothorax caused by trauma (n=l) and surgery(n=2). All procedures were performed by modified Seldinger's method by using 8F-20F catheter. RESULTS: All catheters were inserted successfully. In 9 of 10 patients, the procedure was curative without further therapy. Duration of catheter insertion ranged from 1 day to 26 days. In the remaining 1 patient in whom multiple pneumothorax occurred after operation, catheter insertion was performed twice. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous catheter drainage under fluoroscopic guidance is effective and safe procedure for treatment of pneumothorax in patients with failed closed thoracotomy.
Catheters* ; Chest Tubes* ; Drainage* ; Fluoroscopy* ; Humans ; Pneumothorax* ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax* ; Tuberculosis