BACKGROUND: Post-herpetic neuralgia is the most serious one of herpes zoster complications and its incidence becomes higher as the age of the patient increases. Nevertheless, besides considering the age and onset time of treatment, there is no more objective factor estimating the prognosis of post- herpetic neuralgia. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to understand the progression of herpes zoster and estimate the prognosis of post-herpetic neuralgia by practicing electrodiagnostic tests to patients with herpes zoster. METHODS: We evaluated the pain scales in 26 patients with herpes zoster on the first visit and 2 months later. We also performed electrodiagnostic tests, more objective and reproducible methods, including somatosensory evoked potentials and motor nerve conduction studies on both the involved and uninvolved sites of 32 lesions in 26 patients with herpes zoster, and then compared the results with the change of pain scales. RESULTS: 1. The pain category scale and visual analogue scale on the second examination were significantly decreased compared with those on the first examination (P<0.05). 2. Latencies of intercostal somatosensory evoked potentials recorded on scalp and spine were significantly delayed in involved sides compared with those in uninvolved sides (P<0.05). 3. In the latencies and conduction velocities of motor nerve conduction studies, no significant differences were seen between involved sides and uninvolved sides. 4. On the second examinataion, latency differences of somatosensory evoked potentials were significantly improved compared with those on the first examination (P<0.05). 5. Among the various somatosensory evoked potentials parameters, P1 latency difference of cortical somatosensory evoked potentials between involved and uninvolved sides correlated significantly with pain category scale ard visual analogue scale on second examination (r=0.48, P<0.05; r =0.51, P<0.05, respectively). N1 latency difference of spinal somatosensory evoked potentials between involved and uninvolved sides correlated significantly with a visual analoge scale on the first examination and pain category scale on the second examination (r=0.61, P<0.05; r=0.78, P<0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Intercostal somatosensory evoked potentials can be a useful and reliable technique to predict the development and severity of post-herpetic neuralgia.
Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Neural Conduction ; Neuralgia* ; Prognosis ; Scalp ; Spine ; Weights and Measures

We present a case of multiple trichoepithelioma associated with milia. A 12-year-old girl developed symmetrically distributed, numerous, skin-colored papules on her face, some of which were studded with milia-like whitish materials. Histopathological findings of these lesions revealed the typical findings of trichoepitheliomas with overlying milia in the upper dermis.
Child ; Dermis ; Female ; Humans

No Abstract Available.
Latex Hypersensitivity* ; Latex* ; Operating Rooms*

Fetal cystic hygroma is a rare congenital malformation of the lymphatic system appearing as a single or multiloculated fluid-filled cavity, most often in the neck. A case of fetal nuchal cystic hygroma was diagnosed by Ultrasonography at 22 weeks of gestation and the diagnosis was confirmed at autopsy. We present the case with a brief review of literature.
Autopsy ; Diagnosis ; Lymphangioma, Cystic* ; Lymphatic System ; Neck ; Pregnancy ; Ultrasonography

We performed an epidemiologic survey to investigate the dermatologic problems from cutting oils in metal workers. The personal questionnaires and dermatologic examinations were performed on 360 metal workers who were working at 50 metal industries. The pH meter (HANNA 8520) and the atomic absorption spectrometer(G.B.C. 902) were employed to measure the pH values of cutting oil and the concentration of heavy metals contained in cutting oil respeetively. The results were as follows : 1. The prevalence rates of the dermatologic disorders from cutting oil were 46.0% of eontact dermatitis, 10.9% of black comedone, and 7.1% of paronychia in orders. The dermatologic disorders that seemed to be not directly associsted with cutting oil were callosity(19.1%), burn by metal chips(9.8%), and mechanical injury(5.7%). 2. The localizations of the contact dermatitis and the black cemedone from cutting oil were 84% of hands, 6.6% of face, and 5% af forearms. More detailed localizations of the contact dermatitis and black comedone that developed in hand were 29.6% if finger tip, 27.6% of palm and palm finger, and 19.1% of palm finger only in orders. 3. The prevalence rates of the dermatologic disorders by the of cutting oil were 51.5% of soluble oil, 68.8% of insoluble oil, and 80.8% of mixed cutting oil which containing both soluble and insoluble oil. 4. The mean pH value of aoluble cutting oil was 8.0 and that of insoluble cutting oil was 7.0. 5. The concentrations of heavy metals contained in soluble oil were 32.2 mg/m3 of chrome, 6.42 mg/m3 of nickel, and 4.85 mg/m3 of cobalt. The concentrations of heavy metals contained in inspluble oil were 24.11 mg/m of chrome, 4.63 mg/m3 of nickel, and 2.30 mg/m3 of cobalt.
Absorption ; Burns ; Cobalt ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Fingers ; Forearm ; Hand ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Metals, Heavy ; Nickel ; Oils ; Paronychia ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: It is important to avoid the direct contact with water of detergents as possible for the treatment and prevention of hand eczema. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the protective effect of skin protector, Marly skin on housewifes eczema, METHODS: The patients with hand eczema apply skin protector, Maly skin, four times a day on their both hands. They are evaluated with the scores of subjective symptor is(itch, dryness, smarting) and objective signs(erythema, scaling, fissures), and skin replica which are taken from the specified site are analysed by using an image analyser and, scanning electron micrascipe. RESULTS: 4 weeks after application of skin protector, there are statstically significant decrease of total clinical symptom scores. Scanning electron microscopic findings of the skin replicas show marked changes between the beginning and the end of the study. On quantive image analysis of the skin replicas, the length of fissure is a little decreased and the depth of rrows is slightly increased than before application of skin protector, but these are not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Skin protector, Marly skin, has a protective effect on the development of hand eczema.
Detergents ; Eczema* ; Hand ; Humans ; Mali ; Skin

We report two cases of benign symmetrical lipornatosis, one associated with mild hyperthyroidism in a 57-year-old man and the other with alcoholic hepatitis in a 57-year-old man. In the histologic exsmination of the excised mass we found fibrous pseudocapsules surrounding adipose tissue in case 1, but not in case 2. Liposuction was performed in case 1 and simple excision in case 2 for treatment of tumors. The tumor masses were not recurred in clinical observation for follow-up 5 months after treatment.
Adipose Tissue ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis, Alcoholic ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Lipectomy ; Lipomatosis* ; Middle Aged

Impetigo herpetiformis is a rare pustular disorder that primarily affects pregnant women. A 31 year-old woman at 37 weeks and 4 days' gestation of 3rd pregnancy presented with pruritic multiple erythematous pustules and crusts on the trunk and both antecubital fossa for 3 months. She had had similar lesions in her 1st and 2nd pregnancy, which subsided after delivery without any fetal or maternal complication. She had no personal or familial history of psoriasis. Histopathologic findings showed subcorneal pustules with numerous neutrophils and spongiform pustule of Kogoj. Bacterial culture from pustules was sterile. After Caesarean section at 38 weeks' gestation, a healthy female neonate was delivered and her skin lesion resolved spontaneously.
Cesarean Section ; Female ; Humans ; Impetigo* ; Infant, Newborn ; Neutrophils ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Psoriasis ; Skin

The pseudolymphoma of the skin has the architectural and cytological features of a neoplastic proliferation of lymphoid tissue but pursue a benign course. Cutaneous B cell pseudolymphoma (CBPL) shares many histopathologic and clinical features with cutaneous B cell lymphoma (CBCL). Therefore, the differentiation between CBPL and CBCL is often very difficult, but it is important because each of them has a different therapeutic consequence. Recently, immunoglobulin gene rearrangement is considered as a reliable technique for differentiation of CBPL with CBCL. We herein report a case of idiopathic lymphocytoma cuffs, showing a typical nodular infiltrate of lymphocytes that formed a follicular germinal center resembling reactive lymph nodes with numerous tingible bodies, and that revealed a polyclonality in the immunoglobulin gene rearrangement.
Genes, Immunoglobulin ; Germinal Center ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoid Tissue ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Pseudolymphoma* ; Skin

Melamine-formaldehyde resin is widely used in manufactur ing plastics, tableware, t,extile and paper finishing, laminates, electrical insulations, and adhesives throughout the world, Allergic contact dermatitis to this resin has rarely been reported worldwide and has not been reported in Korean literature. We report a case of occupational allergic contact dermatitis to melamine-formaldehyde resin in a 38-year-old man. He had been working for a month in a textile factory when pruritic multiple erythematous patches and placjues developed on the face, both forearms and dorsa of the hands. In the factory melamine-forrnldehyde resin was used for crease resistant finishing. A Patch test revealed a positive reaction to rnelamine-formaldehyde resin.
Adhesives ; Adult ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Forearm ; Formaldehyde* ; Hand ; Humans ; Patch Tests ; Plastics ; Textiles