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

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

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

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

No abstract available.
Zygoma*

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: Mesenteric vascular disease is a rare group of diseases including dissection, embolism, atherosclerosis, and venous thrombosis. Technical advances have led to increased diagnostic rates and new treatments with improved outcomes. The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics, methods of diagnosis, treatments, and outcomes of patients with mesenteric vascular diseases at our institution. METHODS: Between November 2003 and April 2010, 30 patients with mesenteric vascular disease diagnosed and treated at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic data, etiology, treatment modality, and outcomes, including complications and mortalities, were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 63.2 years (range, 43~91 years) and there was a male predominance (21 males vs. 9 females). The etiologies were superior mesenteric artery (SMA) dissection (n=13), SMA embolism (n=8), SMA atherosclerosis (n=5), and superior mesenteric vein thrombosis (n=4). Eleven patients underwent surgical treatment, while 11 patients underwent endovascular intervention and ten patients underwent conservative therapy with or without medication. No recurrence of symptoms or thrombosis was observed, except for one case of surgical thrombectomy, which underwent an endovascular aspiration thrombectomy with thrombolysis 9 days after the surgery. Two cases of technical endovascular treatment failure occurred, and one case of mortality after an endovascular stent insertion was observed. CONCLUSION: The incidence of mesenteric vascular diseases is increasing, and clinical manifestations and prognosis may vary from minor to life-threatening conditions. Early diagnosis is very important and the appropriate choice between endovascular intervention and a surgical approach may lead to good treatment results.
Atherosclerosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Embolism ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ischemia ; Male ; Mesenteric Arteries ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Mesenteric Veins ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Thrombectomy ; Thrombosis ; Treatment Failure ; Vascular Diseases ; Venous Thrombosis