The accurate diagnosis of spine trauma is essential to its proper management, since therapeutic decisionsdepend on radiography and clinical data. Failure to recognize significant injury to the spine can lead to severeneurological deficit in the previously neulogically intact patient. The developmemt of CT has open a new demensionin evaluation of spinal column. In our experience CT not only offer the accurate and thorough evaluation of spinalinjury, but does so in a rapid and more efficient manner when compared with conventional radiolgraphy. CT hasbecome the diagnostic procedure of choice when screening plain film and clinical examination indecate that acomprehensive radiographic evaluation is necessary. Eighteen patients with thoracic and lumber spinal fracturewere studied with CT. Four had multiple level injuries. The resuls are summerized as follow; 1. Among the 18patients, 4 had multiple level injuries and other 14 patients had single spinal injury. 2. 8 patients (11 spines)had simple compression fracture and 12 patients (13 spines) had burst fracture of vertebral body. 3. 15 spinesamong the 24 involved spines are located at T12 and L1 level. 4. Spineal canal narrowing and bony fragment in thecanal are defiend only 7 of 13 spines (53.8%) of burst fracture in conventional radiography. However CT showed inall spines of burst fracture. 5. Spinal posterior element involvement is suggested only one of 12 spines of burstfracture, but correctly interpretated by CT in 7 spines(11 anatomical position).
Diagnosis ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Radiography ; Spinal Fractures ; Spinal Injuries ; Spine

Conventional radiology of the pancreas are too often unsatisfactory. It is well known that the whole body CTis very useful in identifying retroperitoneal pathology. The authors intended to present normal pancreaticmorphology and data for preparation of basis for interpretation o abnormalities. We results were as follows; 1.There were 36 male and 24 female patients, and their ages ranged fro 7 to 78 years. 2. 1) The organs adjacentpancreas were stomach, inferior vena cava, duodenum, caudate lobe of the liver left kidney, left adrenal gland,superior mesenteric vessels, spleen. 2) In 19 patients, pancreatic tail at the level of left kidney in thetransverse plane, it was either ventral in 13(68%), ventromedial in 2(19%), ventrolateral in 4(21%) to leftkidney, in the other ventral in 13(68%), ventromedial in 2(19%), ventrolateral in 4(21%) ot left kidney, in theother 41 patients, it was cranial to the upper pole of left kidney, ventral in 15(61%), ventromedial in 1(2%),ventrolateral in 15(37%). 3) Pancreatic tail was cranial to the pancreatic body, 3cm cranial in 2(4%), 2-3cm in5(8%), 1-2cm in 6(10%), less than 1cm in 11(18%). In the other, caudal in 3(5%). 3. Pancreatic shape was uniformtapering form in 37(62%), lobulated form in 23(38%). 4. Pancreatic orientation was horizontal in 13(22%), vertical56(76%), S-shaped in 1(2%). 5. Pancreatic margin was smooth in 22(37%), lobulated in 38(63%). 6. In most patients,pancrease was uniform in density. 7. Pancreatic size was 0.5+-0.1 in measurement ratio of the head in 48(80%),0.4+-0.1 of the body in 49(88%), 0.5+-0.1 of the tail in 47(78%).
Clothing ; Duodenum ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Male ; Pancreas ; Pathology ; Spleen ; Stomach ; Tail ; Vena Cava, Inferior

Sebaceous carcinoma is an uncommon neoplasm usually associated with ocular adnexa. This malignancy may occur at any anatomic site that contains sebaceous glands. Despite the widespread anatomic distribution of sebaceous glands, extraocular sebaceous carcinoma occurs with far less frequency. We report a case of an 87-year-old Korean woman with extraocular sebaceous carcinoma treated with total excision.
Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Sebaceous Glands

BACKGROUND: Human hair usually emerges from the scalp in groups of 2 or 3-hair units. Hair densities and grouping patterns in androgenetic alopecia (AGA) patients are known to be different from those in normal adults, but no comparative study has ever before been made in Korea. Therefore we have developed some technical improvements on phototrichogram methodology to evaluate the differences between these two groups. BACKGROUND: Objectives: This study was performed to quantify Koreans' hair characteristics at each site (vertex, occipital, temporal) of the scalp according to the age and to compare the differences of hair characteristics of AGA and normal adults using phototrichogram. METHODS: Hairs in the precisely defined circle at each (vertex, temporal, occipital) site of the scalp in 37 AGA male patients and 15 healthy male volunteers were evaluated according to age. Each circumscribed area of the scalp, centered with a dot tattoo to ensure reproducibility, was photographed just after shaving, and named 'primary image'. Two days later, the same area was again photographed, and named 'secondary image', from which the hair density and the grouping pattern of hair follicular units were determined by the image analyzer program. RESULTS: The results can be summarized as follows: 1. In normal adult males, the range of hair density was 117~13/cm2~140~16/cm2, with the hair density of the occiput being significantly higher than that of the temple. No significant differences in hair density were shown between vertex and occiput. 2. In AGA male patients, the range of hair density was 102~23/cm2-137~17/cm2, and the differences of the hair density between vertex and occiput were statistically significant. 3. The numbers of grouped hair units per square centimeter in the non-bald adult male group ranged from 59~11/cm2 to 73~14/cm2. The most common grouped hair unit was a 2-hair unit, followed by a 1-hair unit and a 3-hair unit group. 4. In the AGA group, the numbers of grouped hair units per square centimeter ranged from 57~6/cm2 to 72~12/cm2, showing no significance with the control group. The most common grouped hair unit was a 1-hair unit, followed by a 2-hair unit and a 3-hair unit group. CONCLUSIONS: The AGA group compared remarkably with the normal adult male group, showing a lower hair density with a larger proportion of 1-grouped hair units. Based on the data about hair density and hair grouping patterns in AGA patients, surgeons can estimate the area of donor scalp with the most probable number of follicular units in hair trans-plantation procedures.
Adult ; Alopecia* ; Hair* ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Scalp* ; Tissue Donors ; Volunteers

More than half of the cryptococcal infections occur in acquired immune deficiency (AIDS) patients, and more than half of the non-AIDS patients with cryptococcosis are immunocompromised. Most immunocompromised patients have meningoencephalitis at the time of diagnosis. Without the appropriate therapy, this from of the infection is invariably fatal. Death can occur any time from 2 weeks to several years after the onset of symptoms. Pulmonary crytococcosis in immunocompromised patients is usually asymptomatic, but coughing, chest pain, fever, or hemoptysis may occur in immunocompetent patients. Pulmonary cryptococcosis symptoms in immunocompetent patients tend to improve without treatment. Here, we describe the various pulmonary manifestations of cryptococcal pneumoniae in three immunocmpetent patients.
Chest Pain ; Cough ; Cryptococcosis ; Diagnosis ; Fever ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Meningoencephalitis ; Pneumonia*

No abstract available.
Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Fusidic Acid* ; Sodium*

No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Rectum*

BACKGROUND: Suction auto epidermal graft for the treatment of stable vitiligo has become popular clinically. In general, depigmented epidermis is removed by liquid nitrogen freezing for preparation of the recipient site. There have been some problems with the nitrogen freezing method, uneven repigmentation, appearance of Koebner's phenomenon on normal colored skin around the graft site, scar formation on recipients sites. In our view these resulted in unwanted damage to the dermis and epidermal and skin appendageal melanocytes of normal skin by freezing. OBJECTIVE: To introduce a method to remove the depigmented epidermis of recipient site with minimal unwanted damage to melanocytes and dermal tissue. METHODS: Using Ellman surgitron, irradiation equipment of 3.8MHz frequency the depigmented epidermis was removed with a blade electrode under rated electric power around 10 watts depending on the thickness of the epidermis. Operating mode was fully filtered current for minimal charring and destruction of tissue through pure micro-smooth cutting. RESULTS: In the case of removal of the epidermis with Ellman surgitron, oozing and inflammation decreased markedly compared with those applied with liquid nitrogen. And it was confirmed histopathologically that there was no significant unwanted destruction of healthy tissue. Moreover, the electrode of Ellman surgitron is designed to be apt to trace the margin of depigmented lesion. And Ellman surgitron features a continuously linear intensity setting for precise, predictable control to minimize tissue destruction and charring. So we were able to remove the epidermis of the shallow lesion looking like a pseudopod and of the thinnest part of the body like eyelid also. And we grafted normal epidermis successfully on the depigmented lesion. CONCLUSION: The removal of depigmented epidermis by radio-frequency gave satisfactory results in the suction auto epidermal graft by overcoming the defects shown as depigmented epidermis which were removed by liquid nitrogen freezing. And this method made patients comfortable because of less pain, a one day operation procedure and good results.
Cicatrix ; Dermis ; Electrodes ; Epidermis* ; Eyelids ; Freezing ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Melanocytes ; Nitrogen ; Skin ; Suction* ; Transplants* ; Trout ; Vitiligo

To understand the role of Transglutaminase K(TGase K) in skin diseases, the expression of TGase K protein was studied in hyperkeratotic inflammatory skin diseases, and in several different kinds of benign and malignant skin tumors. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the TGase K protein with a new anti-human TGase K polyclonal antibody. This antibody showed the same immuno- histochemical staining pattern as in previously published immunofluorescence data with the exception that the immunohistochemical stain showed a slightly weaker stain in the granular layer. However, the staining intensity was decreased in psoriasis, which is opposite for results obtained with the widely used TGase K monoclonal antibody B.C1. In other hyperkeratotic inflammatory skin diseases, like pityriasis rubra pilaria, lichen planus, and pityriasis rosea, the staining patterns were similar while the staining intensity was decreased, compared to normal epidermis. Squamous cell carcinoma showed a diffuse staining pattern in tumor cells with a small intensity increase in well differentiated tumor cells. However, in actinic keratosis and Bowen's disease, which are thought to be precursors of squamous cell carcinoma, the staining intensity was weak. The tumor cells of basal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and seborrheic keratosis showed a weak staining intensity.
Bowen's Disease ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Epidermis ; External Fixators ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Keratosis, Seborrheic ; Lichen Planus ; Melanoma ; Pityriasis ; Pityriasis Rosea ; Psoriasis ; Skin Diseases* ; Skin*

It has been studied that a variety of fauna and flora are sensitive biological indicators which reflect the severity of regional pollution of heavy metals, but in the center of part of Taegu city the controversial issue of lead poisoning attributable to the atmosphere which contains an increased concentrations of lead has been raised recently, it is usually hard to find suitable plants or animal in the areas with heavy traffic. Pigeons are ubiquitous in and around Taegu city area, inhabiting even the most densely populated areas with heavy traffic with its small body size, high metabolic turnover, and rather limited mobility, a pigeon, as a biological indicator is expected. This study was conducted to monitor lead pollution in the Taegu and kyongju city in Korea. We measured the lead content of the various tissue of three groups of feral pigeon(Columbia livia) and soil and atmospheric lead concentration. First group was obtained io heavy traffic area in Taegu City, the second group was obtained a park in Taegu city and the third group was obtained light traffic area in kyongju city. The air and soil lead concentration of heavy traffic area in Taegu city was 0.11 microgram/m2, 4.96 microgram/g, that of park in Taegu city was 0.05 microgram/m3, 2.65 microgram/g and that of light traffic area in kyonngju city was 0.03 microgram/m3, 0.01 microgram/g. The lead content of lung, blood, kidney, femur and liver of feral pigeons in heavy traffic area in Taegu city was significantly higher than pigeons obtained in a park in Taegu city and low traffic density area in Kyonfju city(p<0.01). But stomach lead content of three group did not reflect a significant difference. In this study positive correlation was found between atmospheric lead concentrations and the concentration of lead in the pigeon's lung(r=0.5040, p<0.001), blood(r=0.3322, p<0.01), kidney(r=0.4824, p<0.001), femur(r=0.7214, p<0.001) and liverer (r=0.4836, p<0.01). we can also found positive correlation between soil lead concentrations and the concentration of lead in the pigeon's femur(r=0.4850, p<0.001), kidney(r=0.4850, p<0.001) and liver(r=0.4386, p<0.01). In the pigeon`s tissue there were significant correlations between concentration of lead in the blood and kidney(r=0.4818, p<0.001), femur(r= 0.6157, p<0.001) and liver(r=0.3889, p<0.001). In conclusion, at the heavy traffic area in Taegu city, lead concentrations found in the atmosphere and soil are reflected in the lead concentrations of different tissue of urban pigeons. It is suggested that the tissue of pigeons can be good biological indicators of environmental lead pollution.
Animals ; Atmosphere ; Body Size ; Columbidae ; Daegu ; Femur ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Kidney ; Korea ; Lead Poisoning ; Liver ; Lung ; Metals, Heavy ; Soil* ; Stomach