No abstract available.
Hemorrhage*

BACKGROUND: There is concem about the rising incidence of skin cancer. However, few articles have reported the change in the clinical and epidemiological aspects of skin cancer. OBJECTIVE: We performed this study in order to clarifiy the recent changes in cutaneous premalignant and malignant lesions. METHODS: A statistical analysis was made using 101 cases of cutaneous premalignant lesions and 205 cases of ma]ignant tumors out of a total number of 20,175 new outpatients that visited the Department of Dermatology at the Seoul National University Hospital during a 6 year period(1990-1995). RESULTS: The frequency of premalignant lesions was 0.50% and that of malignant tumors was 1.02%. The frequency showed an increasing tendency compared to previous reports. In the premalignant lesion cases, actinic keratosis was most common and represented a figure of 82.2%. Among the malignant tumors, basal cell carcinoma was most frequent at 24.4%. Age, sex and anatomical site distribution of basal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma was no different. The mean age of squamous cell carcinoma was greater than in previous reports and main preceding lesions were actinic keratosis and cheilitis. The frequency of lymphoma was markedly increased but the reason for this remains to be determined. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed the continous increasing incidence of skin cancers and emphasize the need for public eduacation, early diagnosis and proper treatment.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cheilitis ; Dermatology ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Lymphoma ; Melanoma ; Outpatients ; Seoul ; Skin Neoplasms ; Statistics as Topic*

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster recurrence, reported to be 1~5% globally, is thought to be more frequent in immunocompromised and older individuals. Data on the recurrence rate in Korea are very rare. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the rate and affecting factors of herpes zoster recurrence, in a Korean population. METHODS: From May, 2001 to May, 2011, 2210 patients with confirmed herpes zoster episodes were enrolled. Recurrence episodes and affecting factors of herpes zoster were confirmed using telephone question and medical record review. RESULTS: The overall recurrence rate of herpes zoster was 2.31%. Recurrences were significantly more likely in persons with zoster-associated pain of 30 days or longer, at the initial episode, and in immunocmpromised patients. Women and anyone aged between 50 and 70 years, at the index episode, had a greater likelihood of recurrence. CONCLUSION: Recurrence of herpes zoster is more common in women and is associated with pain duration and immune status.
Aged ; Female ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Recurrence ; Telephone

To determine the clinical and prognostic significance of EEG study in acute carbon monoxide intoxication, the EEGs of 107 patients, whom the study was performed relatively early in the course of intoxication, were analyzed and compared with the clinical courses and CT brain scans retrospectively. The final outcome of the patients consisted of 78 cases of recovery, 20 cases of prolonged coma and 9 cases with delayed neurologic sequeles. Statistically, there was no evidence of the age and sex influencing the clinical outcome or EEG finding. The EEG abnormalities depended upon the level and duration of unconsciousness, showing more abnormal EEG in the patient with deeper and longer coma. Many serial EEGs revealed almost parallel improvement to the clinical recovery but not always. Usually the EEG abnormality had the tendency to persist a little longer than the clinical. The patterns and grades of EEG abnormalities were also important to provide the prognostic significance. Almost all of the patients revealing, rarly in the course, some normal alpha background or high amplitude regular 1.5-2.5 Hz slow waves which looked like triphasic wave would be recovered soon or later. The irregular geneeralized delta slow waves, not responding to the outer stimuli suggested poor prognosis and prolonged coma. The abnormal CT brain scan such as low density in basal ganglia and/or white matter also showed some prognostic value, but not that of EEG studies. The development of delayed neurologic sequeles, however, could not be predicted by EEG or CT brain scan.
Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Carbon Monoxide* ; Carbon* ; Coma ; Electroencephalography* ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Unconsciousness

No abstract available.
Child* ; Gait* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Electromyography* ; Hand* ; Humans ; Muscle Spasticity* ; Stroke*

This study was designed to evaluated the effects of opioid receptor agonists on the spontaneous alternation behaviour in an animal model of obsessive-compulsive disorder in rats. According to the theory that dopamine is related to the biological etiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder, the effect of the nalbuphine(opioid kappa agonist) and the tramadol(opioid mu agonist), which act as manipulating agents on the inhibition or stimulation of dopamine release, in the spontaneous alternation behaviour were evaluated. 24 hours prior to the experiment, rats were food-deprived. These rats were put into the T-maze, in which white and black goal boxes were baited with small amounts of chocolate milk. Each rat was given 2 set of 7 trials during which it was placed in the start box and allowed to choose the one of the goal boxes for each time. After identifying the stable baseline of spontaneous alternation behaviour, nonselective 5-HT agonist 5-MeODMT(1.25mg/kg/IP) disrupted spontaneous alternation. Rats were stratified into fluoxetine(10mg/kg/IP), nalbuphine(10mg/kg/IP), tramadol(46.4mg/kg/IP), and saline(0.5cc/IP) injection group with experimental drug treatment for 21 days. The effects on the 5-M?DMT(1.25mg/kg/IP) induced disruption of spontaneous alternation behaviour were checked at the next day of discontinuation of drug treatment. The results were as follows : 1) At the day after 21 days of the drug treatment, the nalbuphine treated group and the fluoxetine treated group showed significant difference from the tramadol treated group and the saline treated group in the 5-MeODMT(1.25mg/kg/IP) induced suppression of spontaneous alternation behaviour. 2) Within each drug treatment group, the fluoxetine treated group showed significant difference between before and after the treatment of fluoxetine in the 5-MeODMT(1.25mg/kg/IP) induced suppression of spontaneous alternation behaviour. And also, the nalbuphine treated group showed significant difference between before and after the treatment of nalbuphine in the 5-MeODMT(1.25mg/kg/IP) induced suppression of spontaneous alternation behaviour. There was no difference between the baseline and after the treatment of nalbuphine in the 5-MeODMT(1.25mg/kg/IP) induced suppression of spontaneous alternation behaviour. We indentified that the opioid kappa agonist that act as dopamine release inhibitor affect the spontaneous alternation behaviour which is an animal model of obsessive-compulsive disorder in rat.
Animals ; Cacao ; Dopamine ; Fluoxetine ; Milk ; Models, Animal ; Nalbuphine ; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder ; Rats* ; Receptors, Opioid ; Serotonin Receptor Agonists ; Tramadol

Cutis verticis gyrata(CVG) is a descriptive term for a condition of the scalp in which deep furrows and convolutions are seen that resemble the outer surface of the cerebrum. The possible etiologies may be categorized as primary essential, primary nonessential, and secondary cutis verticis gyrata. This is based on history, physical examination, and histologic criteria with or without laboratory examinations. Herein we reported a case of primary essential cutis verticis gyrata with no associated disorders.
Cerebrum ; Physical Examination ; Scalp

BACKGROUND: Several studies have been performed to evaluate the efficacy of dietary n-3 fatty acid for patients with renal dysfunction. While about 40% to 80% of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) complain about pruritus and xerosis, there are few reports on the effects of topical n-3 fatty acid on these symptoms. OBJECTIVE: In order to investigate the possible beneficial effects of topical n-3 fatty acid, oils extracted from chia (Salvia hispanica) seed were formulated into topical products, the effects of which were measured. METHODS: Five healthy volunteers having xerotic pruritus symptoms and 5 patients with pruritus caused by either ESRD or diabetes were involved in this study. A topical formulation containing 4% chia seed oils were applied for an 8-week duration. Subjective itching symptoms were assessed on a 6-point scale, as were other skin functions, namely transepidermal water loss and skin capacitance. RESULTS: After the 8 weeks of application, significant improvements in skin hydration, lichen simplex chronicus, and prurigo nodularis were observed in all patients. A similar improvement was also observed among healthy volunteers with xerotic pruritus. Improvement of epidermal permeability barrier function and skin hydration, represented by trans-epidermal water loss and skin capacitance, respectively, were also observed. No adverse effects were observed in all the tested patients and volunteers. CONCLUSION: Chia seed oil can be used as an adjuvant moisturizing agent for pruritic skin, including that of ESRD patients.
alpha-Linolenic Acid ; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Methylmethacrylates ; Neurodermatitis ; Oils ; Permeability ; Polystyrenes ; Prurigo ; Pruritus ; Seeds ; Skin ; Water Loss, Insensible

BACKGROUND: Cryotherapy is a standard treatment for warts. However, there have been few studies to assess the recurrence rate of warts after cryotherapy. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to assess the efficacy and recurrence rate of common viral warts when treated with liquid nitrogen. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective analysis of patients with warts of the hands and/or feet, who had been treated with cryotherapy in Korea University Ansan Hospital between January 2003 and June 2005. Cryotherapy had been performed at 2- or 3-weekly intervals. Warts had been pared prior to freezing and treated with two or three freeze-thaw cycles. Follow-up assessments for recurrence of warts had been done in 78 cases, with a mean follow-up time of 12 months (range 6~30 months). RESULTS: One-hundred and eighty-one patients (78 females, 103 males) were assessed. The mean age was 19.6 years (range 5~73 years). Sixty nine patients had warts on the hands only, 81 on the feet only, and 31 on both sites. The average number of treatments for cured patients was 4.3 (range 1~8). Eighty patients showed complete clearance (44.2%). Thirteen of the 78 patients who could be followed up by telephone or medical records reported recurrences (16.7%) and the mean time of recurrence was 7.7 months. Most recurrences (10/13) occurred within the first 8 months of cryotherapy. CONCLUSION: We consider that cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen is an effective method for the treatment of warts. However, our results indicate that there may be frequent recurrence of warts after treatment with cryotherapy.
Cryotherapy* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Freezing ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hand ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Nitrogen ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies* ; Telephone ; Warts*