General information is summarized, that is necessary to introduce a scientific assessment of the human health and exposure issue concerning dioxin and dioxin-like compound. Scientific literatures were reviewed to assess the background exposures to the dioxin-like compounds for normal residents. Epidemiologic studies were also reviewed to assess malignant and nonmalignant effects of dioxins. In 1997, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) as a human carcinogen, primarily based on occupational cohort studies. The US Environmental Protection Agency made the same decision in it's Draft Dioxin Reassessment. Epidemiologic evidences point to a generalized excess of all cancers, without any pronounced excess at specific sites. Reported non-cancer effects included a range of conditions affecting most systems. Among them, chloracne, elevation in gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), and alterations in reproductive hormones are related to TCDD. Other adverse outcomes, such as lipid concentrations, diabetes, circulatory and heart diseases, immunologic disorders, neurobehavioral effects, and developmental outcomes require further study before their respective relationships to TCDD can be more definitively assessed.
Chloracne ; Cohort Studies ; Dioxins* ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Heart Diseases ; Humans* ; International Agencies ; Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin ; Transferases ; United States Environmental Protection Agency

Acute Disease ; Diagnosis ; Enterotoxins ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Hypotension ; Shock ; Shock, Septic ; Staphylococcus aureus

BACKGROUND: Mycosis fungoides(MF) is a form of cutaneous T cell lymphoma with clonal differentiation of helpr' T cell. It has a patch, plaque, and tumor stage. But pathogenetic factors controlling the development and progression of MF are still unclear. Apoptosis plays a major role in developmental biology and homeostasis. The bcl-2 oncogene prolongs ce11 life by inhibiting apoptosis. The mutant pS3 gene induces apoptosis indirectly. Ki-67 antigen is the cell proliferation marker. Recently, it has been shown that the relationships among them are important in the tumorigenesis of the various tumors. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the expression of these genes and apoptotic rate and clarify the relationship among them in the development and progression of MF. METHODS: The eighteen specimens from 8 patients with MF and 10 specimens from benign lymphocytic infiltrating diseases including 5 lichen planus, 3 lupus erythematosus, and 2 contact dermatitis were included. We performed immunoperoxidase staining(LSAB technique) using monoclonal antibodies including bc1-2, p~53, and Ki-67(MIB1). We used ApoptaqTM(Oncor) in situ labelling kit for detecting apoptotic cell.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Apoptosis* ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Proliferation ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Developmental Biology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; Lichen Planus ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous ; Mycosis Fungoides* ; Oncogenes

A 26-year-old Korean man had an erythematous scaly plaque on his right thigh for fifteen years. He was diagnosed with chronic eczema and treated with topical steroid, but no clinical improvement was obtained for 15 years. Laboratory studies including complete blood cell count, urinalysis, liver and renal function test, and peripheral blood smear were normal. A biopsy specimen showed hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, and mononuclear cellular infiltration in the epidermis. These cells had a perinuclear halo and showed a Pautrier's microabscess like configuration. In the dermis, there was a band like infiltration of inflammatory cells. Infiltrates of the epidermis were negative for leukocyte common antigen(CD45) and positive for Pan T cell(CD45RO). He was treated with topical PUVA twice a week for twelve weeks. Clinical and pathological improvements were obtained. We propose PUVA may be a useful therapeutic modality to treat Woringer Kolopp disease.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Blood Cell Count ; Dermis ; Eczema ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Liver ; Pagetoid Reticulosis* ; Thigh ; Urinalysis

No abstract available.
Zygoma*

No abstract available.
Apoptosis* ; Caspase 3* ; Endothelial Cells* ; Perforin* ; Vibrio vulnificus* ; Vibrio*

No abstract available.
Free Tissue Flaps*

In 1943, Alberto Inclan reported tumoral calcinosis in 3 cases at major joints. This condition usually showed large, painless calcified mass in major juxtaarticular sites, and evidence of familial or racial predisposition in blacks but abnormal values of serum calcium and phosphorus, association with renal disease, metabolic disorder and collagen disease are seldom seen. Tumoral calcinosis in large joints such as hip, knee, elbow and shoulder was reported several cases. Tumoral calcinosis in hand and foot is very rare and not reported yet in this country. Recently, authors experienced a case of tumoral calcinosis in both hands and right foot and cured without recurrence in 1 year follow up.
African Continental Ancestry Group ; Calcinosis ; Calcium ; Collagen Diseases ; Elbow ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Hand ; Hip ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Metabolic Diseases ; Phosphorus ; Recurrence ; Shoulder

In order to assess the general health effect due to air pollution and to determine the critical pollutant which is meant by the worst effect to health among various pollutants in Seoul, air quality measurements at 10 sites during 1983~1984 were analyzed using Pollutant Standards Index (PSI): This index has been ultimately proposed to describe the comprehensive degree of the air pollution by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) since 1976. Total average of PSI in Seoul during the two years was 139 that is described in "unhealthful". The highest PSI appeared in Winter 183 through the 2 years, the lowest in Summer 99, and Spring 129 and Fall 150 respectively. PSI in Deungchon dong and Seongsu dong which are industrial areas were very high in terms of "very unhealthful", while Shinlim dong was shown in low in terms of "good". TSP was a priority pollutant in Seoul as the most frequently occurring critical pollutant. Its frequency was 76.4% in Spring, 86.0% in Summer, 78.0% in Fall and 44.2% in Winter during the 2 years. In Winter, TSP X SO2 was an important term as the critical pollutant in Seoul. Oxidant was the most frequently occurring critical pollutant in Kwangwhamoon through the whole seasons. It was recommended that the PSI could be used to assess the air pollution administratively and legally in context with public health.
Air Pollution* ; Natural Resources ; Public Health ; Seasons ; Seoul*

PURPOSE: Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) causes pain, paresthesia and muscle weakness in neck, upper back, and the upper limbs. The etiologic factor of TOS is associated with car accident. However, in many cases diagnosis of TOS is underdiagnosed and proper treatment was not performed, which consequently lead to chronic pain status. The authors report of cases diagnosed with TOS following car accidents in our hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The retrograde study was conducted on 12 subjects who reported of neck pain and numbness following car accidents from January 2006 to June 2009. The study was conducted through telephone interviews and surveys to investigate the mechanism of the accidents, clinical manifestation, duration of the symptoms from diagnosis to treatment, treatment course and prognosis. RESULTS: Of the 12 subjects diagnosed with TOS, 9 of them were caused by whiplash injuries, and 3 of them were due to lateral side injuries. l0 of the subjects complained of cervical pain and upper limb paresthesia, 4 of the subjects had upper limb pain and 3 of them had only cervical pain as chief complaint. All of the subjects were underwent anterior scalene injections. A total of 8 subjects who were diagnosed with TOS within 4 weeks of the causal event showed symptom improvements while in the group of subjects who were diagnosed after 4 weeks after the injury, only 2 of the subjects showed recovery, 2 recovered for only a brief period of time after the scalene injection and showed chronic pain status. In the 2 cases initially diagnosed as cervical whiplash injury, the diagnosis of TOS was done in 3months and 6months after the accident respectively and the treaatment was delayed. CONCLUSIONS: There is high possibility of TOS after car accidents if cervical pain and numbness on the upper extremity are observed. Better clinical course and prognosis is expected in subjects who were diagnosed and treated within 4 weeks.
Automobiles ; Chronic Pain ; Hypesthesia ; Interviews as Topic ; Muscle Weakness ; Neck ; Neck Pain ; Paresthesia ; Prognosis ; Thoracic Outlet Syndrome ; Upper Extremity ; Whiplash Injuries