Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), a dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase, hydrolyzes angiotensin I to the active angiotensin g and also inactivates bradykinin. Activity of ACE was first identified in plasrna by Skeggs et al in 1956. In 1975 Lieberman first reported elevation of serum ACE level in patients with active sarcoidosis and suggested clinical application of the assay to confirm a diagnosis of sarcoidosis and to serve as a guide for therapy. The author studied the serurn ACE levels in 21 syphilitic patients (11 men, 10 women) who showed positive responses in both VDRL and TPHA tests and 20 normal healthy controls (7 men, 13 women) by the spectrophotometric method described by Lieberrnan who modified Cushman and Cheungs method. Comparative studies of ACE levels in syphilitic group with normal control group and relationship among the age, sex and treatment were also conducted. The results were summarized as follows : Ages of the syphilitic patients and normal healthy control group ranged from 18 to 51 years (27 1+-8 98 years) and from 14 to 49 years (28 4+9 08 years) respectively. The mean serum ACE level in syphilitic patients was ll 33+-3 25 p/ml, which was significantly higher than that of normal healthy control group, 6 39+-2 RR p/ml, (p<0001) Of the 21 syphilitic patients, 15(71 4%) had ACE activity higher than the upper limit of normal (mean+1SD). There was no significant correlation between age and serum ACE level. -countinue-
Angiotensin I ; Angiotensins* ; Bradykinin ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A* ; Sarcoidosis ; Syphilis*

Pityriasis rotunda is characterized by perfectly circular to oval brownish scaly patch on the trunk and extremities. This disease is considered to be a form of acquired ichtkyosis of unknown etiology and develops usually in association with certain systemic diseases, such as tuberculosis, malignant neoplasrn, leprosy, ovarian cyst and uterine myoma etc, We experienced 2 cases of pityriasis rotunda on the abdomen, chest and back associated with liver cirrhosis in 66 year old man 43 year old woman and clinical presentation was made with review of related literatures.
Abdomen ; Adult ; Aged ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; Leprosy ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Ovarian Cysts ; Pityriasis* ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis

Incontinentia pigmenti is an uncommon genodermatosis. It affects female infants predominantly, described first by Bardach in l925, with the diagnosis of systematized nevus and Bloch in 1926, and Sulzberger in 1928 rnore compIetely. Skin lesions are characterized by 3 stages such as vesicobullous, verucous and finally pigmentary lesions and leave brownish pigmentation on the extremities and trunk. Hesides skin lesions some ectodermaI and mesodermal organs are affected and show developmental abnormalities. We experienced a case of incontinentia pigmenti in a 45-day-old female infant and present it with the review of literature. She showed extensive vesicobullopustular eruption with linear and reticular pigmentation on the extremities and trunk. Clinical and histopathologic findings of these lesions are compatible with Bloch-Sulzberger type of incontinentia pigmenti.
Diagnosis ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Incontinentia Pigmenti* ; Infant ; Mesoderm ; Nevus ; Pigmentation ; Skin

Monilethrix is a rare familiar disorder of unknown cause, occurring in either sex, and ueually confined to the scalp. In most cases it is manifested in early childhood. lt is characterized by localized or widespread dystrophy of hair and follicles, the shafts showing regular variations in diameter producing alternate "nodes" and "internodes" which confer a striking beaded or moniliform appearance on the hair. We experienced a case of monilethrix, which was associated with keratosis pilaris and occurred in three generations. The patient's one sibling, mother, 4 uncles and 2 aunts of mother side and grandmother with her sister were all affected with a similar diaorder of hair.
Family Characteristics ; Hair ; Humans ; Keratosis ; Monilethrix* ; Mothers ; Scalp ; Siblings ; Strikes, Employee

This investigation was performed to evaluate Doppler mitral valve flow velocity profiles in hypertensive heart disease for the detection of the left ventricular diastolic dysfunction which preceded the systolic dysfunction. Doppler derived parameters included; the duration of the early diastolic flow velocity peak(DF duration), the downward slope of the early diastolic flow velocity peak (EF slope) and the ratio between the height of the early and the late diastolic flow velocity peak (E-E'/A-A'). Doppler flow velocity profiles were measured in 19 normotensive subjects and 28 hypertensive patients. We found decreased EF slope in hypertensive patients (3.6+/-1.4./sec) in comparison with normotensive subjects (5.2+/-2.4m/sec) (p<0.01). In hypertensive patients, E-E'/A-A' value was significantly lower (0.8+/-0.2) than that of normotensive subjects (1.6+/-0.4)(p<0.001). DF duration was similar in both groups. In conclusion, we found that Doppler mitral valve flow velocity profiles, EF slope and E-E'/A-A', were decreased in hypertensive patients, which may be due to the left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.
Echocardiography* ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Mitral Valve*

To clarity the effect of biliary obliteration on copper metabolism of rat liver and on the hepatic morphology, 0.5% cuppuric sulfate was administered intraperitoneally for 42 days following ligation of the common bile duct (CBD) of Sprague-Dawley rats. The blood copper concentration, the hepatic copper content and the accumulation patterns of copper and copper binding protein in the liver were examined and compared with those of the simple CBD ligation group and the simple copper over loaded group. CBD ligation induced marked proliferation of bile ductular structures which, after expanding the portal tracts, invaded and divided the hepatic lobules. There was, however, no excess fibosis beyond what needed to support the new ductules. The blood copper concentration and the hepatic copper content were increased by copper overload with or without CBD ligation, particularly incases with CBD ligation. Liver cell necrosis did not occur by the overloaded copper alone in rats. The hepatic copper and copper binding protein were accumulated at periportal liver cells in the group of coppe overload after CBD ligatio, whereas they began to appear at perivenular hepatocytes in the simple copper overloaded group. In conclusion, it is suggested that CBD ligation does not induce excess fibrosis or liver cirrhosis in rat as far as during our experimental period, but affect significantly on copper metabolism by intrahepatic redistribution of the copper and the copper binding proteins.
Rats ; Animals

No abstract available.
Nasal Bone*

At twenty two year old female with nevus comedonicus and an increased tendency to form keloids is described. Although example of successful treatment of nevus comedonicus are readily found in the literature none propose reasonable therapeutic models for keloid formers. As our patient clearly demonstrated this tendency. We initated a t,rial with the carbon dioxide laser due to it's ability to cause less thermal damage. Subsequent to completion of this t,rial, the lesion has imprcived with the acceptable cosmetic results and less comedogenic activity.
Carbon Dioxide* ; Carbon* ; Female ; Humans ; Keloid ; Lasers, Gas* ; Nevus*

Spontaneous rupture of subcapsular liver hematoma in pregnancy is rare but potential life threatening complication of preeclampsia. We experienced a case of spontaneous rupture of subcapsular hematoma of liver that was treated with conservative method. So, we present the case with a brief review of literatures as first report in Korea.
Hematoma* ; Korea ; Liver* ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy* ; Rupture, Spontaneous

Priapism is an uncommon condition of prolonged painful penile erection, and no sexual excitement or desire is present. The therapeutic goal in priapism is to restore normal circulation and blood flow in the erectile tissue of corporacavernosa. In recent years medical treatment is unsuccessful and it should be treated as a surgical emergency. Here we report one case of priapism with review of related recent references.
Emergencies ; Male ; Penile Erection ; Priapism*