BACKGROUND: The infection rate of syphilis in married couples has been reported by a few investigators during the 1940s. However, studies on recent trends of that particular aspect of syphilis in married couples have not yet been done. OBJECTIVE: We therefore studied the infectivity of T. pallidum and recent trends of conjugal syphilis by observing the spouses of patients with untreated syphilis. METHODS: Couples married for more than 1 year who visited Yonsei Medical Center from 1983 to 1990 for syphilis were entered into this study. We observed the infection rate among spouses of 224 index patients (defined as, between husband and wife, the one who was the first to be diagnosed to have syphilis) who were not treated for syphilis. Syphilis was diagnosed on the basis of physical examination, history of extramarital sexual contacts, and the results of VDRL, TPHA, FTA-ABS, and 19S(IgM)-FTA tests. RESULTS: Fifty-six wives(48%) of 117 male index patients and 50 husbands (47%) of 107 female index patients had been infected at the time of examination. Among the 224 couples, 106(47%) were both infected and in 118(53%), only either husbands(27%) or wives(26%) were infected. Two spouses(50%) of the 4 first incident patients with primary syphilis, 9(53%) of 17 with secondary syphilis and 23(72%) of 32 with early latent syphilis were infected at the time of examination. CONCLUSION: From our results showing the low infection rates among married couples, even in early syphilis when the infectivity is high, it can be deduced that T. pallidum has only a low infectivity.
Family Characteristics ; Female ; Globus Pallidus ; Humans ; Male ; Physical Examination ; Research Personnel ; Spouses ; Syphilis* ; Syphilis, Latent

No abstract available.
Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Sepsis* ; Vibrio cholerae* ; Vibrio*

The hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter(LES)(mean LES pressure>45mmHg; LES relaxation>75%;normal peristalsis) is an uncommon primary esophageal motor disorder associated with chest pain, dysphagia and globus sensation. We carried out this study to evaluate clinical features, esophageal pressure profiles, endoscopic ultrasonographic findings, and assess the effect of oral nifedipine(30 mg/day for 8 weeks) in patients with hypertensive LES(mean age 53.8 years, M: F:=2:7) and l3 controls(mean age 47.5 years, M:F=4:9), Chief complaints were chest pain(77.8%), dysphagia(33.3%) and globus sensation(22.2%). Esophageal manometry showed a significant(p<0.01) increase in LES pressure and higher trend of residual pressure and body contraction amplitude in patients compared with controls. Two cases of nutcracker esophagus and one case of nonspecific esophageal motor disorder were associated with hypertensive LES patients by eeophageal manometry. Five patients were examined by endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS). Three of them showed a normal ultrasonic structure of the wall of the gastro-esophageal junction. Focal and/ or diffuse thickening of muscularis propria were observed in remaining 2 patients. Oral nifedipine significantly decreased the LES pressure and alleviated most of dysphagia and chest pain in patients with normal EUS finding. In conclusion, hypertensive LES was a heterogenous esophageal motor disorder characterized by high LES pressure, residual pressure and body contraction amplitude. The clinical relevance of endoscopic ultrasonographic finding is yet to be determined, but it may be speculated that nifedipines lack of effect on esophageal pressure profiles in some patients is responsible for thickening of muscularis propria in the area of lower esophageal sphincter. Collecting further data regarding treatment response according to EUS finding is required to validate our speculation.
Chest Pain ; Deglutition Disorders ; Esophageal Motility Disorders ; Esophageal Sphincter, Lower* ; Humans ; Manometry ; Nifedipine ; Sensation ; Thorax ; Ultrasonics

The hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter(LES)(mean LES pressure>45mmHg; LES relaxation>75%;normal peristalsis) is an uncommon primary esophageal motor disorder associated with chest pain, dysphagia and globus sensation. We carried out this study to evaluate clinical features, esophageal pressure profiles, endoscopic ultrasonographic findings, and assess the effect of oral nifedipine(30 mg/day for 8 weeks) in patients with hypertensive LES(mean age 53.8 years, M: F:=2:7) and l3 controls(mean age 47.5 years, M:F=4:9), Chief complaints were chest pain(77.8%), dysphagia(33.3%) and globus sensation(22.2%). Esophageal manometry showed a significant(p<0.01) increase in LES pressure and higher trend of residual pressure and body contraction amplitude in patients compared with controls. Two cases of nutcracker esophagus and one case of nonspecific esophageal motor disorder were associated with hypertensive LES patients by eeophageal manometry. Five patients were examined by endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS). Three of them showed a normal ultrasonic structure of the wall of the gastro-esophageal junction. Focal and/ or diffuse thickening of muscularis propria were observed in remaining 2 patients. Oral nifedipine significantly decreased the LES pressure and alleviated most of dysphagia and chest pain in patients with normal EUS finding. In conclusion, hypertensive LES was a heterogenous esophageal motor disorder characterized by high LES pressure, residual pressure and body contraction amplitude. The clinical relevance of endoscopic ultrasonographic finding is yet to be determined, but it may be speculated that nifedipines lack of effect on esophageal pressure profiles in some patients is responsible for thickening of muscularis propria in the area of lower esophageal sphincter. Collecting further data regarding treatment response according to EUS finding is required to validate our speculation.
Chest Pain ; Deglutition Disorders ; Esophageal Motility Disorders ; Esophageal Sphincter, Lower* ; Humans ; Manometry ; Nifedipine ; Sensation ; Thorax ; Ultrasonics

From May, 1978 through Oct., 1979 the effect of Coenzyme Q10 was evaluated on 10 patients with chronic heart failure. The subjects selected for this study consisted of 7 patients with cardiomyopathy and 3 patients with valvular heart disease admitted to Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, All these patients had symptoms and signs of congestive heart failure which was stable for at least one month before starting Coenzyme Q10. Coenzyme Q10 was administered 30mg daily for eight weeks, one hour before meal and in combination with digitalis and/or diuretics. The drug effects were determined by measuring the cardio-thoracic ratio by chest X-ray, the sum of 'S' wave in V1 and 'R' wave in V5 in electrocardiogram, and PEP/LVET (pre-ejection period/left ventricular ejection time) by simultaneous tracings of carotid pulse and phonocardiogram every two weeks during medication. The cardio-thoracic ratio was improved in 4 of 10 cases, the sum of RV+SV5 was decreased in all 5 cases who showed voltages above 40mm before medication, and PEP/LVET ratio was decresed in 4 of 10 cases. The difference of average values before and after medication were not statistically significant(p<0.05) in all 3 parameters when examined by t-test. During treatment, there was improvement, if any, from two weeks after medication and no significant side effects were noted throughout the study period.
Cardiomyopathies ; Digitalis ; Diuretics ; Electrocardiography ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Heart Failure* ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Humans ; Meals ; Thorax

From May, 1978 through Oct., 1979 the effect of Coenzyme Q10 was evaluated on 10 patients with chronic heart failure. The subjects selected for this study consisted of 7 patients with cardiomyopathy and 3 patients with valvular heart disease admitted to Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, All these patients had symptoms and signs of congestive heart failure which was stable for at least one month before starting Coenzyme Q10. Coenzyme Q10 was administered 30mg daily for eight weeks, one hour before meal and in combination with digitalis and/or diuretics. The drug effects were determined by measuring the cardio-thoracic ratio by chest X-ray, the sum of 'S' wave in V1 and 'R' wave in V5 in electrocardiogram, and PEP/LVET (pre-ejection period/left ventricular ejection time) by simultaneous tracings of carotid pulse and phonocardiogram every two weeks during medication. The cardio-thoracic ratio was improved in 4 of 10 cases, the sum of RV+SV5 was decreased in all 5 cases who showed voltages above 40mm before medication, and PEP/LVET ratio was decresed in 4 of 10 cases. The difference of average values before and after medication were not statistically significant(p<0.05) in all 3 parameters when examined by t-test. During treatment, there was improvement, if any, from two weeks after medication and no significant side effects were noted throughout the study period.
Cardiomyopathies ; Digitalis ; Diuretics ; Electrocardiography ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Heart Failure* ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Humans ; Meals ; Thorax

The computed tomographic (CT) and clinical findings in 9 patients with serologically confirmed Japanese encephalitis were reviewed. In 6 patients with prominent pyramidal and extrapyramidal symptoms and signs, the main CT finding was low density areas in the thalamus, internal capsule, basal ganglia, and midbrain. Low density areas were compatible with the anatomical distribution of pathologic lesions in Japanese encephalitis. Diffuse low density in the periventricular white matter was evident in 5 of 6 cases, with ventricular compression in 2 cases, between the 1st and 7th day of illness. There was enlargement of the third and lateral ventricles and cortical sulci dilatation in 3 cases on or after the 21st day of illness. In once CT scan obtained on the 10th day of illness, diffuse low density in the periventricular white matter was observed with enlargement of lateral ventricles and cortical sulci dilatation. Gyral enhancement was noted in 3 of 4 cases within 4 days after the onset of symptoms. There was a limited correlation between the clinical and CT findings.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Basal Ganglia ; Dilatation ; Encephalitis, Japanese* ; Humans ; Internal Capsule ; Lateral Ventricles ; Mesencephalon ; Thalamus ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The bleeding duodenal varices are a rare complication in patients with portal hypertension, but present a difficult diagnostic problem. If there is no bleeding esophageal, gastric fundal varices or ulcer in a patient with upper gastrointestinal bleeding and portal hypertension, the possibility of bleeding duodenal varices should be kept in mind. Thorough endoscopic examination of the entire duodenal mucosa is essential to document bleeding from duodenal varices. As an initial treatment, endoscopic sclerotherapy has had limited success in controlling active duodenal variceal bleeding. However, rebleeding rate is high, surgical treatment including shunt operation may be required for permanent control of bleeding and portal decompression. We report three cases of duodenal varices causing massive hemorrhage. All the patients had portal hypertension caused by liver cirrhosis of various etiologies and had varices in their esophagus. The second portion of the duodenum was the site of duodenal varices in all cases. The management was tailored to the condition of each patient, but only one patient among three survived.
Decompression ; Duodenum ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Esophagus ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Mucous Membrane ; Sclerotherapy ; Ulcer ; Varicose Veins*

Cell patterns in open wound healing are studied by both light and electron microscopic examinations in regards to time sequence, metamorphosis, and functional aspects. Process of the open wound healing clearly exhibited not only time sequence of cllular appearance but also zonation of cells. In the initial stage, until the 3rd day, the neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocytes were predominant and particularly concentrated in the scab region. The mononuclear cells were active cells during the 1st to 7th day and were mainly concentrated in the subscab region. The fibroblastic activities started from the 3rd day and became very active during the 5th to the 10th day, and they were concentrated at granulation tissue region. During the process of wound healing, the cellular elements underwent metamorphosis; The neutrophils from normal to swollen and finally degenerating; the mononuclear to macrophages; the fibroblasts from immature to mature actively protein synthesizing cells. The functions of each cellular element can not be determined with certainty. However, the main function of neutrophils in wound healing is likely the formation of front line defense as a part of the scab formation on the surface. And the major function of mononuclear cells is to debride exudates and damaged tissue debris especially at the subscab area and that of the fibroblasts to replace the tissue defect by proliferation and production of fibrous proteins.
Animal ; Epithelium/ultrastructure ; Fibroblasts/ultrastructure ; Leukocytes/ultrastructure ; Rats ; Skin/injuries* ; Skin/pathology ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds, Penetrating/pathology*

The objective of this study is to measure eosinophil count and Eosinophil Cationic Protein (ECP) levels of tears and sera in patients with acute allergic conjunctivitis and normal subjects and to assess the correlation of this mediator with allergic conjuctivitis and the clinical usefulness. Seventeen subjects were selected on the basis of clinical manifestation, history, skin prick test, total IgE. Serum IgE and eosinophil count were increased in 10patients, and eosinophilia in conjunctival epithelium were present in 11subjects. ECP in tears were increased in patients significantly (12.0+/-8.0 vs 3.9+/-3.8ng/ml,p=0.01), but not in serum (52.5+/-43.1 vs 28.3+/-25.9ng/ml). There was significant relationship beween serum and tear eosinophil count(p=0.004,r=0.66). But there was no significant correlation between eosinophil count and ECP in serum (p>0.05m r=0.19), and no significant correlation between eosinophil count of conjectival epithelium and tears ECP (p=0.043, r=0.05). In conclusion, ECP in tears may be very important role in allergic conjunctivitis and is more reliable indicatior of diagnosis clinically rather than eosinophil count in tear and conjunctival epithelium.
Child* ; Conjunctivitis, Allergic* ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein* ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils* ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Skin