BACKGROUND: Epidermolysis bullosa is a group of inherited disorcier characterized by blistering of the skin as a result of minor trauma. OBJECTIVE: There exist very little epidemiologic data for most of the major and minor subsets of inherited epidermolysis bullosa in Korea. We look forward to obtaining basic data for the pathogenesis and treatment of epidermolysis bullosa. METHOD: We performed 1st and 2nd trial of survey with the help of 28 dermatologic Departments snd 28 pediatric departments of medical colleges and 14 dermatologic dipartments of general hospitals. RESULTS: 68 cases were collected and classified by disease type, sex distribution, age distribution, and regional distribution. In disease type, 42 cases of EB simplex(62%), 8 cases of junctional type(12%), 10 cases of dominant dystrophic type(15%), 8 cases of recessive dytrcphic type(12%) were reported. In most cases males predominnted, but in dominant dystrophic type both sexes were equivalent. EB simplex, junctional type, RDEB were mostly developed in the 1st decade of life, dominant dystrophic type in the 2nd decade of life. In regional distribution, the number of pi tients was outstanding in large cities such as Seoul, Pusan, Taegu, Kwanju. CONCLUSION: Due to many limitations and shortage of techniques, this epidemiologic study may be notgood enough for the total estimated number of epidermolysis bullos. patients, prevalence rate, and therapeutic modalities. Furthe evaluation should be necessary next time.
Age Distribution ; Blister ; Busan ; Daegu ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Epidermolysis Bullosa* ; Gwangju ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Prevalence ; Seoul ; Sex Distribution ; Skin

Uterine inversion is a rare but a potentially fatal complication of labor, and may occur in the third stage of labor. Because it can lead to shock and hemorrhage, immediate management should be attempted to replace the inverted uterus. We report a case in which uterine inversion was not replaced by manual manipulation, but which was successfully replaced by the induction of general anesthesia.
Anesthesia, General* ; Hemorrhage ; Shock ; Uterine Inversion* ; Uterus

Aberrant breast tissue is usually found in proximity to the normal breast, that is, in the axillary, sternal or clavicular regions. Carcinoma occurs more frequently in the aberrant tissue of the axilla than the extra-axillary site though the overall incidence of tumors of aberrant breast tissue is low. To our knowledge, studies regarding the carcinoma of aberrant breast tissue of the extra-axillary site have been reported rarely. Here we report a recent case of carcinoma originating from the extra-axillary aberrant breast tissue, presenting as a subcutaneous nodule on the right upper anterior chest wall. It is suggested that subcutaneous nodules of uncertain origin around the periphery of the breast should be suspected for breast carcinoma as a differential diagnosis and treated properly.
Breast Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; Choristoma/*diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Human ; Middle Age ; Thoracic Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: The advantages of epidural anesthesia for Caesarean section are well documented. However, its disadvantages include a slow onset time, which preclude its use for urgent procedures. The object of this clinical trial was to ascertain if a useful reduction in onset time may be obtained by fentanyl supplementation versus plain ropivacaine. METHODS: Twenty healthy women scheduled for Caesarean section were allocated randomly to receive 20 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine with normal saline 1 ml (group 1) or 20 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine with fentanyl 50 mcg (group 2) via a epidural catheter inserted 3 cm into the epidural space, identified by the loss of resistance technique using a midline approach at the L3-4 interspace. After insertion of the catheter, and with the patient supine, a test dose of 3 ml of the solution was given, and then the remainder was injected at a rate of 10 ml/min. The time for sensory block to develop at T8 by loss of cold discrimination using an alcohol sponge was defined as the onset time. Onset of block was timed from the end of the last injection. If a sensory block of T6 or higher was not present at 30 min, 5 ml of 2% lidocaine mixed with 0.5 ml of 8.4% sodium bicarbonate were administered until an adequate height of block had been achieved. After surgery had started and discomfort was felt, 50 mcg of i.v. fentanyl was administered repeatedly after delivery. Side effects (hypotension, nausea/vomiting, shivering, bradycardia, respiratory depression) during surgery were recorded, and the upper limit of sensory analgesia to the alcohol sponge was determined. RESULTS: The onset time was 8.7 +/- 4.3 min in group 1 and 11.9 +/- 5.4 min in group 2, respectively. No significant difference was evident between the two groups in terms of onset time to the sensory block to T8. The number of patients that required supplementary analgesia and experiencing side effects was similar. The maximum upper level observed in any patient was C6 in group 1 and C4 in group 2. CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of ropivacaine and fentanyl did not reduce sensory onset or produce an unnecessarily extended sensory block level.
Analgesia ; Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Bradycardia ; Catheters ; Cesarean Section* ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Epidural Space ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Porifera ; Pregnancy ; Shivering ; Sodium Bicarbonate

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is expected to provide fast and comfortable recovery, plus an early return to normal daily activities. This study was carried out to compare the characteristics of recovery after VATS in patients anesthetized with isoflurane, enflurane or propofol. METHODS: Sixty patients undergoing VATS were allocated randomly to receive propofol-N2O, isoflurane-N2O or enflurane-N2O anesthesia. The time between the end of anesthesia and extubation were compared. The orientation, cooperation and degree of sedation in Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) were recorded 5, 10, 30 and 60 min after anesthesia. Recovery was also evaluated by the P-deletion test (PDT) and Digit Symbol Substitution test (DSST) 30, 60 and 120 min after anesthesia for the comparison of the recovery of cognitive and psychomotor function. RESULTS: Early recovery was significantly (P < 0.05) faster in the propofol group (orientation, cooperation and degree of sedation in 10 min) when compared to the isoflurane and enflurane groups, but there was no significant difference in the other parameters of recovery. CONCLUSIONS: The authors concluded that although propofol was associated with faster emergence from anesthesia than enflurane and isoflurane after VATS, recovery of cognitive and psychomotor function were similar in the three anesthetic groups.
Ambulatory Surgical Procedures* ; Anesthesia* ; Enflurane* ; Humans ; Isoflurane* ; Propofol* ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is a relatively common acquired depigmentating disorder that affects at least 1 % of the population. The mode of transmission has not been clearly,stablished, but either polygenic or autosomal dominant with incomplete penetrance and variable expresion has been proposed. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the causative factor, variable clinical features and current teratment of generalized vitiligo patients. METHOD: This clinical in vestigation was made with 225 outpatiens of generalized type vitiligo who had visited the Department of Dermatology, Keirnyung Universitv Hospital from January 1987 till December 1991. Results & CONCLUSION: 1. There were 125 female, (55.5%) and 100 males(44.4%). 2. The mean age of onset was 21.4 years(male . 24.3, female: 19.1). 3. The mean age at the first visit was 27.5 years (male : 28.8, female : 26.5). 4. The mean duration of the disease was 10.7 years(male : 9.9, female : 10.9). 5. The mean interval between onset and visiting was 6.1 years (male : 4.5, female : 7.4). 6. The most common sites of involvernent at the first visit was tie face 11.7% (male : 11.4%, female : 11.8%). 7. The most common precipitating factor was trauma(8.8%). 8. The most common previous treatment was sunlight irradiaion after application of topical oxoralene(33.2%). 9. The most common degree of depigmented lesion was 5-10%(64.4%). 10. The most common occupations of the patients were students mals, and housewife females.
Age of Onset ; Dermatology ; Female ; Humans ; Occupations ; Penetrance ; Precipitating Factors ; Sunlight ; Vitiligo*

BACKGROUND: Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) is unique to pulmonary circulation but the mechanism remains elusive. Red blood cells (RBCs) are known to augment HPV and to release more ATP as oxygen content falls. Leukotrienes constrict smooth muscle and could be important for the regulation of the pulmonary circulation. Hence we hypothesized that ATP and leukotrienes are mediators of HPV produced during acute alveolar hypoxia. METHODS: In forty Sprague-Dawley rats, lungs were isolated and perfused. We administered ATP (10 micrometer) to the ATP group (n = 8), the ATP antagonist, suramin (100 micrometer) to the suramin group (n = 8), leukotriene C4 (LTC4, 5 microgram) to the LTC4 group (n = 8), the LTC4 antagonist, LY171883 (20 micrometer) to the LY171883 group (n = 8), and LTC4 (5 microgram) + ATP (10 micrometer) to the LTC4 + ATP group (n = 8) during normoxic ventilation. HPV responses were induced by three hypoxic challenges for 5 minutes separated by 5 minutes of ventilation with a normoxic gas mixture. Baseline pulmonary artery pressure change after exposure to each drug and hypoxic pressor response between a period 21% normoxic gas ventilation and that of 3% hypoxic gas ventilation were measured. RESULTS: ATP and LTC4 + ATP increased baseline pulmonary artery pressures but LTC4 did not alter it. ATP did not affect hypoxic pressor response. Suramin, LY171883 and LTC4 + ATP inhibited the pressor response to hypoxia. LTC4 increased hypoxic pressor response. CONCLUSIONS: In isolated rat lungs, HPV may be mediated by ATP and LTC4 appears more likely to be a modulator than a mediator of HPV.
Acetophenones ; Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Anoxia ; Erythrocytes ; Leukotriene C4 ; Leukotrienes ; Lung ; Muscle, Smooth ; Oxygen ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Circulation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Suramin ; Tetrazoles ; Vasoconstriction ; Ventilation

BACKGROUND: Inadequate preoperative evaluation leads to delay or cancellation of elective surgery. To minimize this problem, we launched an anesthesia preoperative evaluation clinic. We analyzed major causes of referral, requested departments and distribution of age to make guidelines of management and laboratory tests. METHODS: The data was collected based on 6,902 patients referred to the anesthesia preoperative evaluation clinic from August 1997 to February 2002. The number of patients each year, distribution of sex, age, requested departments and clinical causes of referral were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The sex ratio (M/F) was 42:58. Twenty-three percent of the patients were in their 7th decade. Obstetrics and gynecology (24.3%), general surgery (20.7%), and orthopedic surgery (15.4%) were the main requested departments. Major causes of referral were cardiovascular problems (27.5%) and pulmonary problems (21.0%). Irrespective of age and department, the most common consultations were related to cardiovascular or pulmonary problems. Nineteen percent of patients had more than two problems that included diabetes mellitus and hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that increases in the number of referral patients and making guidelines related to cardiovascular and pulmonary problems will contribute to reduce delay or cancellation of elective surgery.
Anesthesia* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Obstetrics ; Orthopedics ; Referral and Consultation ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Ratio

BACKGROUND: Protein kinase C represents an important component of a signal transduction pathway that regulates vascular smooth muscle contraction. This study was performed with an inhibitor and activators of protein kinase C to determine their effects on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) in isolated rat lung model. METHODS: Isolated lungs from Sprague-Dawley rats were ventilated with a normoxic gas (21%O2-5%CO2-balanced N2) and a hypoxic gas (3%O2-5%CO2-balanced N2) alternatively, and then perfused with constant pulmonary blood flow. Baseline hypoxic pressor responses (delta PAP) were measured as the difference of pulmonary artery pressure between normoxic ventilation and hypoxic ventilation. After baseline delta PAP had obtained, rats were randomly divided into a chelerythrine group, an phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate (PDBu) group, and a farnesylthiotriazole (FTT) group. The different concentrations of each drug were added into the perfusate sequentially. delta PAP in the different concentrations of each drug were calculated as a percentage of the delta PAP in each concentration of drug to the baseline delta PAP in the absence of drug (%delta PAP). RESULTS: The %delta PAP of chelerythrine were 83.7 +/- 19.2%, 71.5 +/- 24.1% and 68.4 +/- 28.3% at 0.1, 1, and 10micrometer, respectively (P < 0.05). The %delta PAP of PDBu were 111.3 +/- 10.1%, 144.4 +/- 37.8% and 168.4 +/- 89.1% at 20, 100, and 300 nM, respectively (P < 0.05). The %delta PAP of FTT were 80.1 +/- 25.1%, 61.0 +/- 17.2% and 30.1 +/- 18.4% at 1, 10, and 30micrometer, respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that regulator of protein kinase C influence HPV.
Animals ; Lung* ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Protein Kinase C* ; Protein Kinases* ; Pulmonary Artery ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Vasoconstriction* ; Ventilation

BACKGROUND & METHODS: Approximately 10% of the essential hypertensive patient have overt proteinuria due to renal target organ damage, which indicates poor prognosis. Recently microalbuminuria has been prove to be a good early predictor for renal damage in patients with diabetes or hypertension. Some authors reported that near 40% of the essential hypertensives have microalbuminuria. To determinate prevalence of microalbuminuria in Korea essential hypertensives, 24-hr ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and radioimmunoassay to detect BP and UAER were performed after 4 weeks wash-out period in 137(78 hypertensive and 54 normotensive) consecutive cases. RESULTS: Among 78 hypertensives, overt proteinuria was seen in 8.97%(7/78). And prevalence of microalbuminuria were 29.4%(23/78) in hypertensives and 16.7%(9/54) in normotensives. Urine microalbumin excretion rate(UAER) was significantly correlated with mean arterial pressure(MAP) in total subjects(r=0.286, p=0.0012), but not in total hypertensives(r=0.135, p=NS) or in hypertensives with UAER(r=-0.098, p=NS).UAER of female hypertensives was increase than that of male hypertensives(13.17+/-16.28microg/min vs 22.87microg/min, p=0.027). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of microalbuminuria in Korean hypertensives was relatively lower then other reports. Overt proteinuria was noted in 8.97% of the hypertensives which is same prevalence as other countries. Moreover MAP was well correlated with UAER in total subjects. Further evaluation should be done to detect exact role of UAER in hypertensives as an early predictor for renal target organ damage.
Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory* ; Blood Pressure* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Male ; Prevalence* ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Radioimmunoassay