As the incidence of dermographism in our urticaria clinie is quite high comparing data in other country, we have tried to survey the incidence of ermographism in the general population of Korea using a dermographic tester designed by other author. Total 8g7 healthy persons were included in this study from March J98$ to .December 1983. The study result was summarized as follows, 1. Male to female ratio was 2. 5: 1 and the peak age of the subjects was third(47 8%), fourth and fith decades in ecreasing order, The overall incidence of dermographisrn from the pressure of 48ppg/cm was 4.4% and there were no significa.nt difference in the incidences between male(4, 2%) and female(4 7%) (p>0. 1), and between the different age groups(p>0 l)
Female ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Korea ; Male ; Urticaria

Sebaceous carcinoma of the eyelids is rare and is usually seen in the elderly persons. The meibomian glands of the tarsus are the frequent sites of origin. The characteristic feature is a firm, painless nodule on the upper eyelid, We present a typical case of the sebaceous carcinoma in 60 year-old female. The patient had 1 * 1cm sized, hard, fixed, non-tender mass with bleeding on the right lateral canthus of 3~4 months duration. The histopathology of the lesion showed irregular sized lobules in the dermis with invasive growth to the surrounding stroma. Many fat containing sebaceous celles are seen in the center of the lobules.
Aged ; Ankle ; Dermis ; Eyelids ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Meibomian Glands ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary exercise test is a useful test for the evaluation of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Obese subjects have an increased resting metabolic rate (VO2) compared to non-obese subjects and the increase is more marked during dynamic exercise, which results in the limitation of maximal exercise in obese subjects. In this study, the influence of the obesity and fat distribution on the maximal exercise capacity were evaluated. METHODS: Maximal exercise capacity was represented by maximam maximum oxygen uptake and VO2 max in the cardiopulmonary test. Obesity, total fat content and abdominal obesity(waist to hip ratio, WHR) were measured by bioelectrical impedence method. Total of 42 volunteers(male 22, female 20) were evaluated. RESULTS: 1) Weight to height ratio(mean±SD) was 110%±14.9% in men and 100±11.1% in women. 2) Fat ratio(mean±SD) was 23.3±5.2% in men and 27.55±3.9% in woman. 3) Waist to hip ratio(mean±SD) was 0.85±0.04 in men and 0.8±0.03 in woman. 4) In men, VO2max/min/Kg was negatively correlate with obesity, fat ratio, and abdominal fat distribution. 5) In woman, VO2max/Kg was negatively correlated with obesity and fat ratio, but did not show significant relationship with abdominal fat distribution. CONCLUSION: Obesity was a limiting factor for maximal exercise in both men and women. Abdominal obesity was a limiting factor for maximal exercise in men but its implication to women needs further evaluation.
Abdominal Fat ; Exercise Test* ; Female ; Hip ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Oxygen ; Respiratory System

Mondor's disease is a superficial thrombophlebitis of anterolateral chest wall. The exact cause is unclear, but it is suggested that Mondor's disease is often associated with recent local trauma, muscular strain, or breast surgery. We report two cases with Mondor's disease who had malignant lymphoma. The coagulation profile was normal in both patients. The nodule involuted with analgesics within several months. The possibility of Mondor's disease associated with hypercoagulable state from malignancy may be suggested.
Analgesics ; Breast ; Humans ; Lymphoma* ; Thoracic Wall ; Thrombophlebitis

Suicide through naphthalene poisoning is rare. Prolonged hemolytic anemia and hemoglobinuria are typical symptoms of naphthalene poisoning. We report an unusual case of naphthalene poisoning. The decedent was an 87-year-old female who intentionally ingested over 5 g of naphthalene. After more than 5 hours, she was found in a drowsy state. During initial examination, hemoglobin level and urine test results were normal. Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels were elevated (854 and 1,197 U/L, respectively). Metabolic acidosis was found on arterial blood gas analysis. The patient was treated conservatively by administration of activated charcoal, calcium gluconate, insulin, and glucose. However, the patient died after 1 day of hospital admission. On autopsy, the liver showed toxic hepatitis with confluent necrosis. Naphthalene concentrations in the blood and gastric contents were 5.4 and 5.8 mg/L, respectively. In conclusion, the decedent ingested naphthalene and died due to liver failure without hemolysis.
Acidosis ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alanine Transaminase ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Autopsy* ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Calcium Gluconate ; Charcoal ; Drug-Induced Liver Injury* ; Female ; Glucose ; Hemoglobinuria ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Insulin ; Intention ; Liver ; Liver Failure ; Naphthalenes ; Necrosis ; Poisoning* ; Suicide

Four patients underwent lumbar surgery. In all four patients, the dura was minimally torn during the operation. However, none exhibited signs of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage. In each case, a few days after the operation, the patient suddenly experienced severe recurring pain in the leg. Repeat magnetic resonance imaging showed transdural nerve rootlets entrapped in the intervertebral disc space. On exploration, ventral dural tears and transdural nerve rootlet entrapment were confirmed. Midline durotomy, herniated rootlet repositioning, and ventral dural tear repair were performed, and patients' symptoms improved after rootlet repositioning. Even with minimal dural tearing, nerve rootlets may become entrapped, resulting in severe recurring symptoms. Therefore, the dural tear must be identified and repaired during the first operation.
Diskectomy ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Laminectomy ; Leg ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical symptoms of patients with dry eyes, based on the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) and analyze the relationship between OSDI and various ocular surface parameters. Methods: This was a retrospective study that included 45 eyes of 45 dry eye patients who visited the Seoul Nune Eye Hospital from August 2017 to December 2017. The patients were assessed by non-invasive keratography for the first break-up time, lipid layer thickness (LLT), tear osmolarity, tear matrix metalloproteinase-9 immunoassay as well as with the conventional Schirmer I test and fluorescein break-up time. The patient’s symptoms were evaluated by the OSDI questionnaires and correlations were analyzed based on the parameters described above. Results: There were significant negative correlations between OSDI and non-invasive keratography for the first break-up time (p = 0.038, r = -0.330), and LLT (p = 0.005, r = -0.426). However, there were no significant correlations between OSDI and fluorescein break-up time, Schirmer I score, and tear osmolarity (p = 0.173, 0.575, and 0.844 respectively). OSDI was not significantly different between matrix metalloproteinase-9 positive and negative groups (p = 0.768). Conclusions Non-invasive examinations such as non-invasive keratograph break-up time and interferometry of LLT can be efficient tools for evaluating dry eye symptoms.

BACKGROUND: pH measurement is an important test in assessing the etiology of pleurisy and in identifying complicated parapneumonic effusion. Although the blood gas analyzer is the' gold standard method' for pleural pH measurement, pH meter & pH strip methods are also used for this purpose interchangably. However, the correlation among the pH data measured by the three different methods needs to be evaluated. In this study, we measured the pH of pleural fluid with the three different methods respectively and evaluated the correlation among the measured data. METHODS: From August 1999 to March 2000, were measured the pleural fluid pH in 34 clinical samples with three methods-blood gas analyzer, pH meter, and pH strip. In the blood gas analyzer and pH meter methods, the temperature of plerual fluid was maintained around 0℃ in air-tight condition before analysis and measurement was performed within 30 minutes after collection. As for the pH strip method, the pleural fluid pH was checked in the ward immediately after tapping and in the clinical laboratory of our hospital. This part is unclear. RESULTS: The causes of pleural effusion were tuberculosis pleurisy in 16 cases, malignant pleural effusion 5 cases, parapneumonic effusion 9 cases, empyema 3 cases, and congestive heart failure 1 case. The pH of pleural fluid (mean±SD) was 7.34±0.12 with blood gas analyser, 7.52±0.25 with pH meter, 7.37±0.16 with pH strip of immediate measurement and 6.93±0.201 with pH strip of delayed measurement. The pH measured by delayed pH strip measurement was lower than those of other methods(p<0.05). The correlation of the results between the blood gas analyzer and pH meter(p=0.002, r=0.518) and the blood gas analyzer and pH strip of immediate measurement(p<0.001, r=0.607). CONCLUSION: In the determination of pH of pleural fluid, pH strip method could be a simple and reliable method under immediate measurement conditions after fluid tapping.
Empyema ; Heart Failure ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration* ; Methods* ; Pleural Effusion ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant ; Pleurisy ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: Many patients with psoriasis also suffer with pruritus. However, the literature on pruritus in psoriasis is sparse. OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to examine the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptor (NGF-R) in psoriatic lesions, with or without pruritus, using a confocal laser scanning microscope. METHOD: A skin biopsy was obtained from 10 psoriatic patients with pruritus, 10 psoriatic patients without pruritus and 10 normal control subjects. Immunofluorescence staining and confocal laser scanning microscopy were performed. RESULTS: The psoriatic lesions with pruritus showed an increase in the expression of NGF and NGF-R compared with the psoriatic lesions without pruritus. NGF was expressed in the entire epidermis, but NGF-R was expressed in the basal cell layer only. The psoriatic lesions without pruritus showed an increase in the expression of NGF compared with the normal controls. There was no difference between the psoriatic lesions without pruritus and normal controls in the expression of NGF-R. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that possible pruritogenic factors in psoriasis are neurogenic factors including NGF, and provide the groundwork for further studies to clarify the mechanism involved in pruritus of psoriasis.
Biopsy ; Epidermis ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Nerve Growth Factor* ; Pruritus* ; Psoriasis* ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Tissue inflammation and remodeling have been extensively studied in various tumors in relation with their invasiveness and metastasis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the change in tissue inflammation and remodeling markers in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). METHODS: Expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) as an inflammatory marker and matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 (MMPs 2/9) as remodeling markers were studied in mouse and human SCCs. Western blot analysis and RT-PCR for COX-2 and MMPs 2/9 were performed with skin samples from SCC patients and chronic ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced SCC from hairless mice. RESULTS: mRNA and protein levels of COX-2 and MMPs 2/9 were up-regulated with the higher sensitivity for MMP-9 in mouse SCCs, which were induced by chronic UVB irradiation. Consistently, COX-2 and MMPs 2/9 were up-regulated with the higher sensitivity for MMP-9 in human SCCs. CONCLUSION: COX-2 and MMPs 2/9 are up-regulated in well-differentiated cutanous SCC. Our findings indicate that inflammatory and tissue remodeling processes are actively induced during carcinogenesis of cutaneous SCC.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Mice ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin ; Up-Regulation