BACKGROUND: The successful management of chronic wounds requires adequate dressing materials and methods. Nanocrystalline silver is a recently developed form of silver antimicrobial barrier dressing material which has rapid and sustained anti-bacterial activity, reduces inflammation and promotes wound healing. OBJECTIVE: This study was done to evaluate the effect of nanocrystalline silver dressing method on the treatment of chronic wounds. METHODS: Twenty three patients with chronic wounds of various etiologies were treated with nanocrytalline silver mesh dressing material (Acticoat(TM)) using an occlusive method. Dressing changes were performed every 2 to 3 days until reepithelization. RESULTS: The treatment with nanocrystalline silver was effective in 21 of 23 cases. This dressing method can significantly reduce the frequency of dressing changes, and thus it was more comfortable to both patients and doctors. CONCLUSION: Occlusive method using nanocrystalline silver is a useful dressing method for various chronic wounds, particularly in an outpatient setting.
Bandages* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Outpatients ; Silver* ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries*

In order to observe the antigenic fractions in saline extract of adult Paragonimus westermani, proteins in the crude extract were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) in reducing conditions. The separated protein fractions were transferred to nitrocellulose paper on which 20 sera from human paragonimiasis were reacted and immunoblotted. Out of 15 stained protein bands in SDS-PAGE, 7 reacted with the sera. Of 14 reacted bands, 30 kilodalton(kDa) band was the most frequently reacted (95%) and was a strong antigen. Protein bands of 23 and 46 kDa were also strong antigens. Bands of over 150 kDa, 120 kDa, 92 kDa, 86 kDa, 74 kDa, 62 kDa, 51 kDa, 32 kDa, 28 kDa, 16.5 kDa and 15.5 kDa were also reactive but their frequencies of the reaction were variable.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; Paragonimus westermani ; immunology ; antigen ; electrophoresis

We report herein two cases of localized curaneous amyloidosis (LCA) associated with neurodermatitis. Both patients suffered from persistent pruritus during several years and had small brown discrete lichenoid papules or neurodermatitis like lesion. Biopsy specimen taken from lichehoid papules revealed amyloid deposition in the papillary dermis. In histologic examination of the neurodermatitis like lesion, hematoxylin eosin stain revealed only chronic eczematous changes but special stain and election microscopic examination revealed amyloid deposition in the papillary dermis. Although neurodermatitis and LCA may be able to develop concomitantly in one patient, it was suggested that neurodermatitis may transfrom into LCA.
Amyloidosis* ; Biopsy ; Dermis ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Neurodermatitis* ; Plaque, Amyloid ; Pruritus

The frequency of HLA-B27 antigen in 24 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 11 patients with psoriatic arthritis were examined using the standard micro-lympho- cytotoxicity technique. There was a high frequency of HLA-B27 in psoriatic spondylitis with or without peripheral arthritis (83.3%) compared to controls (4.7%) and the relative risk of HLA-B27 for developing psoriatic spondylitis was 82.5% which indicates a strong association between HLA-B27 and psoriatic spondylitis in Korean populations. However, there was no stastical significance observed in the groups of patients with peripheral arthritis alone or psoriasis vulgaris in regard to the frequency of HLA-B27.
Arthritis ; Arthritis, Psoriatic ; HLA-B27 Antigen ; Humans ; Psoriasis* ; Spondylitis

BACKGROUND: Conventional echocardiography provides fundamental information about mitral valve morphology and function but is often subjective and has a relatively low specificity in evaluating valve calcific deposit, which is critical information for the preoperative decision. We hypothesized that mitral valvular calcification could be detected in standard two-dimensional echocardiograms of mitral valve in vivo by evaluating regional gray level(echo amplitude) using computerized image analysis so that we could overcome the subjectivity and low specificity of conventional echocardiography. METHODS: We tested this hypothesis by performing standard 2.5MHz two-dimensional echoes on mitral valve and myocardium in 30 patients with mitral stenosis, scheduled to undergo mitral valve replacement. We compared gray level of each region of interest in mitral valve and myocardium in stop-frame images with the degree of calcifications identified by pathologic and radiographic examinations. RESULTS: Ratio of mean gray level of mitral valve to mean gray level of myocardium was the most reliable value in evaluating degree of calcification. Quantitatively, region of calcification displayed the ratio of significantly higher value than that of no calcification. In case of anterior mitral valve, the ratio of the evident calcified region was greater than 3.11, that of the region without calcification was less than 2.42 and that of microcalcification was betwwn 2.42 and 3.11. For posterior mitral valve, the ratio of the evident calcified region was greater than 3.50, that of the region without calcification was less than 2.19 and that of microcalcification was between 2.19 and 3.50. The sensitivity and specificity of this method for assessment of degree of calcification was 75% and 100% for anterior mitral valve and 9% and 87.5% for posterior mitral valve. CONCLUSION: Mitral valvular calcification could be detected quantitatively in standard two dimensional echocardiograms of mitral valve in vivo by evaluating regional gray level(echo amplitude) using computerized image analysis.
Echocardiography ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Stenosis* ; Myocardium ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
Nevus*

Herein we report a case of lentigo maligna that evolved into lentigo maligna melanoma. Fifteen years ago, the patient developed a pigmented lesion on the right cheek. The lesion progressed slowly, and 2 months ago, a black nodular lesion was developed in the periphery of the pigmented lesion. Histopathologic examination of the lesions revealed findings consistent with lentigo maligna and lentigo maligna melanorna. She had been performed wide excision and cheek flap for reconstruction.
Cheek ; Humans ; Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle* ; Lentigo* ; Melanoma*

No abstract available.
Retinopathy of Prematurity* ; Risk Factors*

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the treatment outcome and side effects of accelerated radiotherapy (RT) using concomitant boost for stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Between April 1991 and December 1994, 102 patients with stage III NSCLC who had the favorable prognostic factors by CALGB criteria, were treated with concomitant boost radiotherapy. Patients were treated with standard large fields to 54 Gy in 6 weeks. The boost treatment was administered concomitantly during the last 2 weeks with a dose of 13 Gy in 10 fractions. The interfraction interval was at least 6 hours. The total tumor dose was 66-70 Gy, given over 6 weeks. RESULTS: With 30 months median follow-up period for survivors, median survival was 15 months with 2 and 3-year overall survival rates of 34% and 19%, respectively. Thirty patients (29%) who had achieved complete remission after RT showed significantly better 2-year survival rates than those without complete remission (58% vs 22%, p 0.001). Local failure and distant metastases as the first or only failure occurred in 40 (44%) and 13 (14%), respectively, and ultimate local and distant failure rates were 45% and 29%, respectively. Although Grade IV esophageal complication of T-E fistula was observed in one patient, most patients with pulmonary complication showed mild, transient radiation pneumonitis. CONCLUSION: This result suggests that the treatrnent of stage III NSCLC with concomitant boost RT may improve survival rates without enhanced radiation induced toxicity compared with conventional RT. Further investigation of dose escalation by conformal radiotherapy of combining chemotherapy and accelerated RT is warranted.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Drug Therapy ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Radiation Pneumonitis ; Radiotherapy* ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma* ; Survival Rate ; Survivors ; Treatment Outcome

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn*