The retinoic acid and retinoid(Ro 11-1430) were alternately applied topically on forty patients with acne vulgaris. Therapeutic effects and side reactions of this regimen were compared with our previous studies of the treatment with retinoic acid alone and with retinoid alone. Compared with the treatment with retinoic acid alone, the therapsutic effect of the alternating treatment was relatively superior as indicated by the markedly reduced severity of local side reactions.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Humans ; Tretinoin

Soft denture liners or conditioners may be valuable therapeutic materials. The life of these liners is short and varies, but it can be extended by the use of a mono-poly(polymethyl methacrylate coating material). This study determined whether coating three temporary soft denture liners with mono-poly affected the resiliency of soft liners, and evaluated the ability of mono-poly to prevent water absorption and alcohol loss from the underlying soft liners. 20x12mm cylindrical specimens of Coe-Soft, Soft-Liner, Coe-Comfort soft lining materials were made and divided into two groups of mono-poly uncoated(control) and mono-poly coated specimens. Specimens were immersed in water and compressed on an instron universal testing machine and weighted at initial, 24 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks. resiliency was determined by measuring the energy absorbed by the soft liners when stressed to a specific yield point. Mono-poly coating significantly increased the resiliency of the Soft-Liner, but had no effect on the other soft liners. Among the 3 soft liners, Soft-Liner showed the hightest resiliency and modulus of elasticity. The weight loss in Soft-Liner was the least among the 3 liners, and the weight loss in Coe-Soft was decreased by monopoly coating.
Absorption ; Denture Liners* ; Dentures* ; Elastic Modulus ; Water ; Weight Loss

Monilethrix is a rare hereditary disorder of hair which was described by smith in 1879. The scalp hair is most frequently affected but the body or sexual hair are rarely affected. The affected hair shows periodic constrictions that break easily, so the hair could not grow more than a few millimetere long. It is thought that the node of the affected hair is normal and the thin internodal segment is deficient in hair matrix. Keratosis pilaris is generally an associated feature. We experienced a case of monilethrix with keratosis pilaris. The 4 years old male patient with monilethrix affected only scalp hair with keratosis. The family history was non-contributory.
Child, Preschool ; Constriction ; Hair ; Humans ; Keratosis* ; Male ; Monilethrix* ; Scalp

No abstract available.
Humans ; Inpatients*

BACKGROUND: Asthmatic patients frequently suffer cold-weather-associated respiratory symptoms. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and diagnostic value of isocapnic hyperventilation of cold air(IHCA) using a multistep method was investigated in patients suspected to have asthma. METHOD: One hundred and 29 adult patients who had an IHCA performed between july 1999 and December 2000, had an methacholine bronchoprovocation test because of a clinical suspicion of asthma. RESULTS: According to strict criteria, 50 were defined as asthmatics and 79 as symptomatic nonashmatics. There were no differences in age, sex and smoking state between the asthmatic and symptomatic nonasthmatic groups. There was a significant decrease in the percentage reduction in the forced expiratory volume in 1 second(FEV1) after the IHCA between the asthmatics(-10.0±6.8%) and the symptomatic nonasthmatics(-2.3±2.5%). The factors associated with a reactivity to IHCA were FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75/FVC and FEV1(% of predicted). The accuracy was highest using a 7% fall in FEV1; the sensitivity was 76% and the specificity 96%. CONCLUSION: IHCA is a specific, although not a sensitive, test for diagnosing asthma in adult patients. Furthermore, the diagnostic cut-off value of the different methods of IHCA need to be determined.
Adult* ; Asthma* ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Hyperventilation* ; Methacholine Chloride ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Smoke ; Smoking

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Thyroid disorders are common endocrine disease with various clinical symptoms. Biochemical function tests are important to detect thyroid function disorders, but guideline for screening of thyroid dysfunction is controversial. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical significance of thyroid dysfunctions with analyses of public screening and follow-up results on our hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed on 3309 subjects (1753 men, 1556 women) that visited in our health promotion center for periodic health examination from January to June 2007, with review of medical records. Serum T3, Free T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations were measured with radioimmunoassay using commercial kits, and ultrasonogram and scan of thyroid were conducted if needed. RESULTS: The study showed the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction was 11.8% (389 cases) and among the subjects, prevalence of undiagnosed hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism were 1.8% (7 cases) and 3.1% (12 cases), subclinical hyperthyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism was 0.5% (2 cases) and 4.9% (19 cases). However, prevalence of normal thyroid function with follow up clinically was 37.3% (145 cases). CONCLUSION: This study indicates significance of screening and confirmation through follow-up for thyroid disorders with high prevalence of thyroid dysfunctions with guidelines to minimize the false positive results.
Endocrine System Diseases ; Follow-Up Studies ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Hypothyroidism ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Medical Records ; Prevalence ; Radioimmunoassay ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyrotropin

No abstract available.
Occupations*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Poisoning*

The laparoscopic cholecystectomy, performed for the first time in France in 1987, has been accepted as in many countries the method of choice when performing a cholecystectomy. The trend toward minimally invasive surgery has prompted general surgeons to try it instead of open cholecystectomy. We performed 1000 laparoscopic cholecystectomies at the Department of General Surgery of Eulji Medical College Hospital from January 1992 to April 1997. The outcome data have been analyzed retrospectively. Moreover, we have compared the case histories of 13 patients who received cholecystostomy with those of 43 patient who did not. We also present preliminary results for an interval laparoscopic cholecystectomy which was a preceded by percutaneous cholecystostomy. The results are as follows: 1) The mean age was 54.3 years ranging from 17 to 86; there were 402 males and 598 females. 2) Of the 1000 patients, 123 patients (12.3%) had a history of abdominal surgery. 3) More than half of the patients(560 patients, 56.0%) underwent operations within 6 months of the onset of symptoms. 4) A preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholecystoscopy was performed on 220 patients (22.0%), and of these, 93 patients received endoscopic sphincterotomies because of bile duct stones. 5) The majority of patients(744 patients, 74.4%) had laparoscopic cholecystectomies which lasted 40 minutes or less. 6) More than half (54%) of the removed gallbladders showed grade II inflammation. 7) Drains were used in 142 patients (14.2%). 8) Postoperative complications were encountered in 48 patients (4.8%). 9) Postoperative oral intake was resumed within 24 hours in most patients. 10) Most patients(854 patients, 85.4%) were discharged within 3 days of the operation. 11) The pathologic diagnosis was chronic nonspecific inflammation in most cases (823 cases, 82.3%). 12) The most common microorganism in the bile was E. coli. 13) Patients who received a cholecystostomy had many benefits: a shorter operation time, a low rate of open cholecystectomy, early oral intake. 14) For the 1160 patients who underwent a cholecystectomy during the same period, the rate of open cholecystectomy was 13.8%.
Bile ; Bile Ducts ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Cholecystostomy* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; France ; Gallbladder ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive

No abstract available.
Diaphragmatic Eventration* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn*