Nodular fat necrosis is a rare and often overlooked sign of pancreatic disease. It is manifested as painful subcutaneous erythematous nodules, often found on the legs. We report a case of nodular fat necrosis associated with pancreatitis. The patient was a 14-year-old girl who presented with erythema nodosum-like tender subcutaneous nodules on both her lower extremities. The serum amylase and lipase levels were markedly elevated. The change of serum calcium and eosinophils were not so remarkable. Histopathological findings showed diffuse subcutaneous fat necrosis and ghost-like cells with thick shadowy walls and no nuclei. The lesions involuted gradually without any specific treatment and the underlying pancreatitis was followed up in the department of medicine.
Adolescent ; Amylases ; Calcium ; Eosinophils ; Erythema ; Fat Necrosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; Lipase ; Lower Extremity ; Necrosis ; Pancreatic Diseases ; Pancreatitis* ; Subcutaneous Fat

Acquired tufted angioma is a benign, slowly progressive angioma with a typical histological pattern that was first described by Wilson-Jones in 1976. We report a case of acquired tufted angioma in a 19 year old female who had erythematous papules and plaques on the right thigh. Histopathological findings showed multiple capillary lobules in a cannonball arrangement scattered throughout dermis, which was diagnostic of acquired tufted angioma.
Capillaries ; Dermis ; Female ; Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Thigh ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Almost all STD(sexually tranamitted diseases) have been increasing worldwide since the 1960s. In Korea, the occurrence of STD from recent trends of sexual openness and development in the pleasure-seeking industry is becoming a social issue. However, epidemiological studies and reports concerning the incidence of STD are lacking in Korea, especially in the sexually aetive young age group. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the incidence of YTD and sexual behavior of recruits in a Korean arrny training center to contribute to the management of STD in Korea. METHODS: We studied 1304 recruits in a Korean army training center by questionnaire, physical examination and laboratory data. The subjects were divided into 3 groups: group 1(1072 persons), those who visited the hospital for evaluation of STD; group 2(641 persons), a control group for coitus rate; and group 3(1304 persons; group 1 plus 232 persons out of group 2), those who had coital experiences. RESULTS: 1. The incidence of STD in group 1 was 65.7%(704/1072) and that of the total number of recruits was 0.43%(704/164,134). 2. Among the 704 cases of STD, the most frequently observed STD was non-gonococcal urethritis, 292 cases(41.5%) and the second was gonorrhea, 236 cases(33.5%). The others were, 68 cases(9.7%) of pediculosis pubis, 41 cases(5.8%) of condyloma acuminatum, 29 cases(4.1%) of syphilis, 20 cases(2.8%) of combined STD, 14 cases(2%) of herpes progenitalis, 2 cases(0.28%) of molluscum cohtagiosum and 2 cases(0.28%) of chancroid. 3. The coitus rate in group 2 was 36.2%(232/641). 4. The incidence of previous STD in group 3 was 20.9%(273/1304). 5. The mn;t common form of STD which the patients experienced previously was urethritis(82.8%) and the others were pediculosis pubis(7.3%), syphilis(3.3%), condylcena acuminahun and herpes progenitalis. 6. The group with more sexual partners tended to have a lower educational level. 7. The experience rate of drug abuse was higher in the group with more sexual partners. 8. The experience rate of oral and anal sex was higher in the group with experiences of clrug abuse than in the ather one. CONCLUSION: In this study, urethritis was the most common form of STD(75% of all STD) and non-gonococcal urethritis showed a greater incidence than gonorrhea. The incidence of STD is thought to be closely related to the factors associated with social or behavioral science, such as the number of sexual partners, grade of education, drug abuse, experience of oral and anal sex. To accomplish more effective management of STD, therefore, the improvement of current social problems involving sexual openness, the pleasure-seeking industry and drug abuse should be achieved.
Behavioral Sciences ; Chancroid ; Coitus ; Education ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Gonorrhea ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lice Infestations ; Physical Examination ; Sexual Behavior* ; Sexual Partners ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases* ; Social Problems ; Substance-Related Disorders ; Syphilis ; Urethritis ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Apolipoproteins* ; Genotype* ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction*

Garlic and mugwort have long been used in traditional medicine to prevent various diseases. Several in vitro studies have reported protective efficacies of garlic and mugwort in cases of gastric cancer. In the present study, we investigated the cancer preventive effects of garlic and mugwort mixture extract (GME) in a Helicobacter (H.) pylori-associated gastric carcinogenesis mouse model. To induce gastric cancer, C57BL/6 mice were treated with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea and H. pylori. Various concentrations of GME (0, 100, 500, and 1,000 ppm) were then fed to the mice for 38 weeks, after which the tumor tissues were examined for histopathology, mucin histochemistry and beta-catenin. The incidence of gastric tumors was significantly lower in the highest dose GME-treated mice (46.7%) than control mice (85.7%) (p < 0.05). The multiplicity and size of tumors were also significantly reduced by GME feeding in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.01). Furthermore, GME suppressed the H. pylori-associated chronic inflammation measured by histologic grading of H. pylori density, chronic gastritis, glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia in non-tumorous gastric mucosae. Our data suggest that GME suppresses gastric tumorigenesis via suppression of H. pylori-associated chronic inflammation.
Animals ; Artemisia* ; Atrophy ; beta Catenin ; Carcinogenesis* ; Garlic* ; Gastric Mucosa ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter pylori ; Helicobacter* ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Medicine, Traditional ; Metaplasia ; Methylnitrosourea ; Mice* ; Mucins ; Stomach Neoplasms

Garlic and mugwort have long been used in traditional medicine to prevent various diseases. Several in vitro studies have reported protective efficacies of garlic and mugwort in cases of gastric cancer. In the present study, we investigated the cancer preventive effects of garlic and mugwort mixture extract (GME) in a Helicobacter (H.) pylori-associated gastric carcinogenesis mouse model. To induce gastric cancer, C57BL/6 mice were treated with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea and H. pylori. Various concentrations of GME (0, 100, 500, and 1,000 ppm) were then fed to the mice for 38 weeks, after which the tumor tissues were examined for histopathology, mucin histochemistry and beta-catenin. The incidence of gastric tumors was significantly lower in the highest dose GME-treated mice (46.7%) than control mice (85.7%) (p < 0.05). The multiplicity and size of tumors were also significantly reduced by GME feeding in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.01). Furthermore, GME suppressed the H. pylori-associated chronic inflammation measured by histologic grading of H. pylori density, chronic gastritis, glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia in non-tumorous gastric mucosae. Our data suggest that GME suppresses gastric tumorigenesis via suppression of H. pylori-associated chronic inflammation.
Animals ; Artemisia* ; Atrophy ; beta Catenin ; Carcinogenesis* ; Garlic* ; Gastric Mucosa ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter pylori ; Helicobacter* ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Medicine, Traditional ; Metaplasia ; Methylnitrosourea ; Mice* ; Mucins ; Stomach Neoplasms

Tuberculosis is one of the main infectious health problems in Korea, and a combination of antibiotics is required to treat this illness. The combination therapy with rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol and pyrazinamide has many adverse reactions and there have been several case reports about pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) after anti- tuberculosis treatment. Rifampicin is regarded as a main cause of anti-tuberculosis induced PMC because of its bacteriocidal effect, and interruption of the offending drug, such as rifampicin, is usually necessary to treat the PMC. However, in patents with uncompensated tuberculosis, the discontinuance of anti-tuberculosis medication accentuates the disease severity, and continuance of the anti-tuberculosis medication is necessary to overcome the tuberculosis. We report here on a case in which the anti- tuberculosis agents induced PMC in 32 year old female who was diagnosed with active pulmonary tuberculosis. She was treated with maintenance of the anti-tuberculosis medication and also the addition of both oral metronidazole and probiotics.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous ; Ethambutol ; Female ; Humans ; Isoniazid ; Korea ; Metronidazole ; Probiotics ; Pyrazinamide ; Rifampin ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

Although Morgagni hernias are rarely symptomatic, an 88-year-old woman presented with severe abdominal pain and distension due to large bowel obstruction. The transverse colon and omentum were herniated through an anterior medial diaphragmatic defect in the right thorax. The plain abdominal X-rays indicated intestinal obstruction and the plain chest X-ray showed hazy mass-like densities. The multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) findings were compatible with a Morgagni hernia. This diagnosis of a Morgagni hernia was confirmed at immediate surgery.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colon, Transverse ; Female ; Hernia ; Hernia, Diaphragmatic ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Omentum ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hamartomas are the most common form of pulmonary benign tumors, and they occur in approximately 2~5% of all pulmonary neoplasm. However, only a few reports have been published on the clinical characteristics of pulmonary hamartoma in Korea. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The charts, X-rays and pathological specimens of 37 pulmonary hamartoma patients who were diagnosed by a pathological examination from January of 2000 to May of 2005 at the Catholic Medical Center were retrospectively reviewed. RESULT: The peak incidence of the tumor occurred in the seventh decade of life (32.4%). There were 23 men (62.6%) and 14 women (37.8%), with mean age of 55.6 years. Twenty-six patients (70.3%) were asymptomatic and 11 patients (29.7%) had symptoms. A total of 29 tumors (78.4%) were parenchymal, and 8 (21.6%) were endobronchial. Twenty cases (54.1%) were in the right lung and 17 cases (45.9%) were in the left lung. The right lower lobe was most commonly involved. Thirty-two (86.5%) hamartomas were diagnosed by surgical resection, 4 cases (10.8%) were diagnosed by bronchoscopic biopsy and 1 case (2.7%) was diagnosed by a fine needle aspiration biopsy. Thirty-four hamartomas (91.9%) were managed by surgical resection without complication. No recurrence or malignant changes were seen during the follow up period. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary hamartomas are most common in males during their fifth to seventh decade and they more commonly involve the right lung. No recurrence or malignant changes were seen during the follow up period.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hamartoma* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Thoracoscopic bullectomy (VATS-B) is now the preferred treatment for spontaneous pneumothorax despite of higher recurrence rate than open thoracotomy. Several methods have been used to prevent this problem. The effectiveness of staple line reinforcement (SLR) in VATA-B using endostaplers was assessed by clinical and experimental study. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In experimental study, canine lungs were harvested immediately (group I, N=5) and 48 hours (group II, N=5) after stapling. The pressures at which initial air leaks occurred were measured. In clinical study from February 1997 to March 1999, 106 procedures in 104 patients undergoing VATS-B for spontaneous pneumothorax were classified into two groups according to the presence of SLR and were compared. RESULT: The average pressure of the initial air leakage was significantly higher in SLR than that of staples alone (18+/-1.6 vs 48+/-3 mm Hg in group I; 23.8+/-1.9 vs 54+/-4.6 mm Hg in group II, p<0.001). In the clinical data, there were significant differences seen in the duration of drainage, the total length of endostaplers used, and the duration of the postoperative hospital stay between patients with staple alone and patients with SLR (4.4+/-1.4 vs 3.1+/-1.1 days in duration of drainage, 92.3+/-28.1 vs 71.1+/-30.6 mm in total length of endostaplers used, 5.9+/-1.9 vs 4.6+/-1.7 days in postoperative hospital stays, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: SLR was effective for preventing prolonged air leakage and responsible for shorter hospital stays after VATS-B for the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax.
Drainage ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Lung ; Models, Theoretical ; Pneumothorax* ; Polytetrafluoroethylene* ; Recurrence ; Surgical Staplers ; Thoracoscopy ; Thoracotomy