We compared the sensitivity and practicability for the direct examination of fungal hypae between the specimens treated with mixed Chlorazol black E solution and simple KOH(potassium hydroxide) solution in 118 cases of superficial myosis. The results were as follows: Higher positivity of fungal hypae in the specimens treated with mixed Chlorazol black E solution(99. 2%) than simple KOH solutiion(87. 3%.). 2, It was time-saving and easy to detect fungal hypae in the specimens treated with mixed Chlorazol black E solution than simple K(3H solution.
Diagnosis*

We experienced a case of childhood derrnatomyositis associated with calcinosis universalis in a 3-year-old boy. The skin lesion showed generalized, hard nodules and ulcers, 0, 3-1 cm in cliameter, or the trunk and buttock. The hitopathologic findings revealed patch fat necrosis and calcium deposits in the subcutis.
Buttocks ; Calcinosis* ; Calcium ; Child, Preschool ; Dermatomyositis* ; Fat Necrosis ; Humans ; Male ; Skin ; Ulcer

To characterize the immunopathologic phenotype of the cells in the lesional ti.:sue and to further examine the mechanism of the development of the annular lesions in leprosy, we have studied immune cells (T lymphocyte and its subsets, Langerhans cells, and HLA-DR antigen expressing cells) at different anatomical sites inside, active border, and outside normal skin in the annular lesions of leprosy. We took biopsy specimens from 4 patients of BT type, then processed the specimens by the staining methods eif indirect immunoperoxidase with monoclonal antibodies. In the active border the number of T cell was over 50g of the total cells infiltrated in the dermis. Helper T cells were dominant in number, and about three fourths of the cells were positive for HLA-DR staining. In two patients they had expression of DR antigen on the surfaces of the keratinocytes in the epidermis, in contrast to that of the inside, even the intensities were not. strong. At the inside of the annular lesions T cells were about 40% and the ratio of helper/suppressor T cell was approxiinately 1: 1, However, HLA-DR positive immune cells were not more than 10g among the total infiltrates. Langerha,ns cells were increased in number and in size either in the border or at the inside of the annular lesions. With these results we presume that the T cell mediated imrnune responses against Mycobacterium leprae may play an important role in the formation and extension of the annular lesions in leprosy.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Biopsy ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; HLA-DR Antigens ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Langerhans Cells ; Leprosy* ; Lymphocytes ; Mycobacterium leprae ; Phenotype ; Skin ; T-Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer

We reported a case of cutaneous focal mucinosis in a 19 year-old male, which occured by multiple nodules on the both dorsa of hands, extensor surface of elbows, intergluteal folds and shins, and responded well to intralesional injection of triamcinolon acetonide. Histopathologically, most of the collagen in the dermis is replaced to homogeneous mucinous material which was confirmed as hyaluronic acid.
Collagen ; Dermis ; Elbow ; Hand ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Injections, Intralesional ; Male ; Mucinoses* ; Mucins ; Young Adult

To evaluate the platelet activation in vivo in the patients with coronary artery disease Indium-111 labeled autologus platelet survival time was measured. Platelet survival determinations were made according to a modified method for radioisotope platelet survival studies recommended by the Panel on Diagnostic Application of Radioisotopes in Hematology of the International Committee for Standardization in Hematology. Autologous platelets were labeled with 111 In-oxine utilizing a similar method used at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology. The results are summarized as follows : 1) In the patients with coronary artery disease, especially acutemyocardial infarction, the mean platelet survival time was significantly shorter than that of the normal controls(P<0.05). 2) The mean platelet survival time did not differ significantly between patients with acute myocardial infarction and angina pectoris. 3) The mean platelet survival time did not differ significantly between nonsmoker and smoker in the patients with coronary artery disease.
Angina Pectoris ; Blood Platelets* ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Hematology ; Humans ; Infarction ; Myocardial Infarction ; Platelet Activation ; Radioisotopes

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital anomaly associated with very high mortality during infancy. We report a 35-year-old female patient with ALCAPA initially visualized by echocardiography. She visited outpatient department presenting with intermittent chest discomfort for 3 weeks. Transthoracic echocardiography showed left coronary artery arising from main pulmonary artery and abundant septal color flow Doppler signals. Transesophageal echocardiography clearly revealed markedly dilated and tortuous right coronary artery showing windsock appearance. Multidetector computed tomography and coronary angiography enabled visualization of anomalous left coronary artery originating from left side of main pulmonary trunk. After treadmill exercise test which showed ST-segment depression presenting inducible myocardial ischemia, patient underwent direct re-implantation of the anomalous coronary artery into the aorta without any complication.
Aorta ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; Coronary Vessels ; Depression ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Exercise Test ; Female ; Humans ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Outpatients ; Pulmonary Artery ; Thorax

We report a patient of left atrial huge myxoma presenting with severe pulmonary hypertension in adolescents. A patient was a 14-year-old boy presented with sudden onset dyspnea. Transthoracic echocardiographic study revealed the presence of a nodular, 4.34 x 8.11 cm sized, mobile, hyperechoic mass in the left atrium and severe pulmonary hypertension with tricuspid insufficiency. After surgical therapy, tricuspid regurgitation and pulmonary hypertension was decreased and the patient was stabilized and had an uneventful clinical course.
Adolescent ; Dyspnea ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Myxoma ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of simvastatin to improved lipid profiles in hypercholesterolemic Korean patients. METHODS: From 25 hospitals in Korea, 478 hypercholesterolemic patients were enrolled from November 1996 to April 1998. The inclusion criteria was hypercholesterolemia over 240 mg/dl after diet therapy for 1 month or hypercholesterolemia over 220 mg/dl in patients with definite evidence of ischemic heart disease. Simvastatin 10mg was started and doubled up to 40mg if total cholesterol level remained higher than 200 mg/dl at monthly check. Of 478 subjects, 344 patients in whom study protocol was not violated were analyzed. RESULTS: Male to female ratio was 27:73 and 47% of the subjects were in 6th decade. Hypertension, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus were present in 30, 10, and 4% of the subjects. Baseline lipid profile (mean of total cholesterol-LDL-HDL-triglyceride mg/dl) was 274-185-52-188. The dose of simvastatin for 3 months was 10/10/10mg in 61% of subjects, 10/20/20mg in 21%, 10/10/20mg in 7%, and 10/20/40mg in 12%. The change of total cholesterol level(before-4wk-8wk-12wk-withdrawal 4wk) was 274-209- 205-198-250, and the maximal reduction rate was 27%. The change of LDL-cholesterol was 185-123-116-110-159, with maximal reduction rate 39%. The change of HDL-cholesterol was 52-54-56-55-54, with maximal increase rate 9%. The change of tryglyceride was 188-161- 164-162-189, with maximal reduction rate 15%. The value before/after treatment of ApoA1, ApoB, and Lp(a) was 129/129, 138/83, and 9.3/10.7, respectively. The level of LDL-cholesterol at the end of treatment was below 100mg/dl in 36% of subjects, 100-130 in 45%, 130-160 in 16%, and over 160mg/dl in 4%. The reduction rate of LDL-cholesterol was different between subjects whose LDL decreased below 100 and those whose LDL did not decrease below 130mg/dl, which suggests the existence of the individual difference of responsiveness to simvastatin. There were only 3 subjects (0.9%) who showed increase of liver enzyme over 3 times as the upper normal limit. Conclusion: Simvastatin is effective in improving lipid profiles in hypercholesterolemic Korean patients without serious side effects.
Apolipoproteins B ; Cholesterol ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diet Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hypertension ; Individuality ; Korea ; Liver ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Simvastatin*

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of simvastatin to improved lipid profiles in hypercholesterolemic Korean patients. METHODS: From 25 hospitals in Korea, 478 hypercholesterolemic patients were enrolled from November 1996 to April 1998. The inclusion criteria was hypercholesterolemia over 240 mg/dl after diet therapy for 1 month or hypercholesterolemia over 220 mg/dl in patients with definite evidence of ischemic heart disease. Simvastatin 10mg was started and doubled up to 40mg if total cholesterol level remained higher than 200 mg/dl at monthly check. Of 478 subjects, 344 patients in whom study protocol was not violated were analyzed. RESULTS: Male to female ratio was 27:73 and 47% of the subjects were in 6th decade. Hypertension, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus were present in 30, 10, and 4% of the subjects. Baseline lipid profile (mean of total cholesterol-LDL-HDL-triglyceride mg/dl) was 274-185-52-188. The dose of simvastatin for 3 months was 10/10/10mg in 61% of subjects, 10/20/20mg in 21%, 10/10/20mg in 7%, and 10/20/40mg in 12%. The change of total cholesterol level(before-4wk-8wk-12wk-withdrawal 4wk) was 274-209- 205-198-250, and the maximal reduction rate was 27%. The change of LDL-cholesterol was 185-123-116-110-159, with maximal reduction rate 39%. The change of HDL-cholesterol was 52-54-56-55-54, with maximal increase rate 9%. The change of tryglyceride was 188-161- 164-162-189, with maximal reduction rate 15%. The value before/after treatment of ApoA1, ApoB, and Lp(a) was 129/129, 138/83, and 9.3/10.7, respectively. The level of LDL-cholesterol at the end of treatment was below 100mg/dl in 36% of subjects, 100-130 in 45%, 130-160 in 16%, and over 160mg/dl in 4%. The reduction rate of LDL-cholesterol was different between subjects whose LDL decreased below 100 and those whose LDL did not decrease below 130mg/dl, which suggests the existence of the individual difference of responsiveness to simvastatin. There were only 3 subjects (0.9%) who showed increase of liver enzyme over 3 times as the upper normal limit. Conclusion: Simvastatin is effective in improving lipid profiles in hypercholesterolemic Korean patients without serious side effects.
Apolipoproteins B ; Cholesterol ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diet Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hypertension ; Individuality ; Korea ; Liver ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Simvastatin*