OBJECTIVES: Some emotional components, such as self-esteem, depression and anxiety, have been reported to be associated with paranoia in non-clinical population and schizophrenia patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between self-esteem and paranoia in healthy controls, in ultra-high risk for psychosis and schizophrenia patients. METHODS: 34 subjects with recent onset schizophrenia, 36 subjects with ultra-high risk for psychosis, and 44 healthy volunteers participated in this study. A detailed assessment was made of the paranoia, self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. RESULTS: In all three groups, there were a negative correlation between paranoia and self-esteem, and positive correlations between paranoia and depression and anxiety. In healthy control, lower self-esteem showed a trend to predict higher paranoia, and in ultra-high risk for psychosis, this trend tern on statistically significant level, and in recent onset schizophrenia group, this correlation was disappeared. CONCLUSION: The individual who have lower self-esteem showed higher paranoia tendency under delusional level, but after formation of persecutory delusion, the tendency was disappeared. This result supports the hypothesis that persecutory delusions are a defense against negative affective process.
Animals ; Anxiety ; Charadriiformes ; Delusions ; Depression ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Paranoid Disorders* ; Psychotic Disorders* ; Schizophrenia*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Horns* ; Kidney*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Horns* ; Kidney*

We reviewed 7 cases of congenital mesoblastic nephroma (4 cases of classical mesoblastic nephroma (CMN) and 3 cases of atypical mesoblastic nephroma (AMN)) using immuno-histochemical and flow cytometric study. Results are as follows. 1) The mean tumor size was 5 (3 to 7cm)cm in CMN and 9 (7 to 10cm)cm in AMN. The AMN revealed hemorrhage and necrosis in two Of three cases. A case of AMN showed cystic change without hemorrhage and necrosis. Mitotic count ranged in 0~4/10HPF in CMN and 20-35/10HPF in AMN. 2) Immunohistochemistry for vimentin was all positive. Actin, desmin were weakly positive in CMN, but negative in AMN. The findings were consistent with myofibroblastic differentiation in CMN and AMN was considered to be the less differentiated form of CMN. 3) Flow cytometiic analysis showed diploidy in two of two CMNs and two of three AMNs. Only one AMN showed aneuploidy with DNA index of 1.41. %SG2M were 8.1 and 15.9 (mean 12.0) in CMN and 16.9, 32.9 and 19.3 (mean 22.9) in AMN, respectively. We concluded that AMN should be distinguished from CMN, clinicopathologically.

No abstract available.
Hamartoma*

Granuloma faciale is an uncommon localized form of small-vessel vasculitis characterized by single or multiple lesions on the face in middle-aged whites, especially males. Histopathological examination demonstrates a dense polymorphous cellular infiltrate consisting of neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes and histiocytes in the upper two thirds of the dermis. A characteristic subepidermal Grenz zone separates the infiltrate from the epidermis. We report a case of granuloma faciale, showing interesting evidence of palisaded granuloma-like pattern in the serial biopsy specimen at 3-year interval.
Biopsy ; Dermis ; Eosinophils ; Epidermis ; Granuloma* ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Neutrophils ; Vasculitis

Background: Onychomycosis, a common fungal nail infection, particularly affects the elderly. The diagnostic accuracy of a potassium hydroxide (KOH) smear, a primary diagnostic method, can vary based on the examiner’s proficiency. Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic utility of KOH smears in a real-world setting and the influence of clinical and practical factors on onychomycosis. Methods: This study included 381 patients who underwent KOH smear and histopathological staining for nail diseases at Seoul National University Hospital between March 2020 and February 2023. The study evaluated the diagnostic utility of the KOH smear, including its sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic odds ratio. We investigated the influence of factors such as training duration of examiners, prior history of antifungal treatment, and lesion location on diagnostic utility. Results: Of the 381 patients, 139 were male (36.5%) and 242 were female (63.5%). Onychomycosis was the most common diagnosis (59.3%), with 34.1% of patients reporting prior antifungal therapy within the past 6 months. The sensitivity of the monthly KOH smear varied from 16.7% to 70.0% with an annual sensitivity of 48.1%. The specificity ranged from 83.3% to 100.0%, with an annual specificity of 90.3%. While prior antifungal therapy decreased the sensitivity and specificity, no statistical significance was observed. Examiner's experience, measured by training duration, was not associated with sensitivity or specificity. Among patients with a history of antifungal treatment, an increasing number of KOH smear tests showed reduced sensitivity. Conclusion Variations in the diagnostic utility of the KOH smear test, influenced by various factors, highlight the necessity for cautious interpretation in clinical settings.

No abstract available.
Churg-Strauss Syndrome* ; Folliculitis ; Skin Manifestations ; Ulcer*

No abstract available.
Child, Preschool* ; Female* ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Humans

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of flexible covered stent in the treatment of acute colorectalobstruction secondary to colorectal carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Flexible covered stents were placed in 11patients with clinical and radiologic signs of acute colonic obstruction secondary to colorectal carcinoma. Thepurposes of stent insertion were pre-operative bowel preparation in seven patients and palliative treatment infour. A fistula was present in two;in one this was between the proximal jejunum and colon, and the other wasrectovaginal. The usefulness of stent insertion for the purpose of preoperative bowel preparation was evaluatedaccording to the feasability and status of bowel preparation, as decided by the operator. Palliative treatment forthe relief of symptoms of acute bowel obstruction was evaluated according to the number and amount of defecation,bowel dilatation in simple abdomen radiography, and the presence of complications. RESULT: Bowel preparation forthe purpose of preoperative bowel cleansing was easy in seven patients;the fecal materials remaining in the colonpresented no problems during surgery. In one of four patients palliative treatment involved a colostomy;this wasdue to recurrent stent obstruction by fecal materials after three months, and in two other patients there wasstent obstruction after two and five months, respectively. The stent in one of four patients who underwentpalliative treatment was removed because of stent migration three days after insertion;the stents in two patientswith fistulas covered the fistulas successfully. Complications after stent insertion were anal pain in threepatients, anal bleeding in three and stent migration in one. CONCLUSION: The flexible covered stent was aneffective device for the relief of acute colonic obstruction secondary to malignant rectosigmoid neoplasia. Itallowed for single-stage operation and covered the fistula. We believe however that for further evaluation of theusefulness of this type of stent in long-term palliative treatment, a larger-scale study is needed.
Abdomen ; Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Dilatation ; Fistula ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Jejunum ; Palliative Care ; Radiography ; Stents*