We roport herein three cases of pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy in two primigravidas and one multigravida in erythematous papules and urticarial plaques on both thighs, buttock and upper extremites. In the second case, lesions initially developed on both thighs and then preaded on abdomen, back and exter ities. Abdomen, thighs and extremites were involved in the third case. Histopathologic findings revealed acanthosis orfocal spongiosis in epidermis and lymphocytic perivascular infiltration with or without eosinophilsn dermis. They were treated with systemiror topical steroids and, mtihistamines. Itching was relieved within a few days after therapy and skin lesions resolved spontaneously after delivery.
Abdomen ; Buttocks ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Pregnancy* ; Pruritus ; Skin ; Steroids ; Thigh

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

Baboon syndrome is used to denote a systemic allergic contact dermititis with a characteristic color and distribution pattern. It is also referred to as mercury exanthem, because inhalation of mercury vapor usually causes the skiri lesion in a sensitized person. Diffuse pi,ikish erythema of the buttock, upper inner thigh, and axilla are characteristic features. We report a case of baboon syndrome developed after exposure to the smoke of a burning amulete a charm written on a piece of paper in a 12 year-old female. Mercury sensitivity was confirrned by a patch test. Atomic absorption by a spectrographic method and Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive for analysis X-ray detected mercury in the urine and the ed scraped pigments from the amulet, respectively.
Absorption ; Axilla ; Burns ; Buttocks ; Child ; Erythema ; Exanthema ; Female ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Papio* ; Patch Tests ; Smoke* ; Thigh

BACKGROUND: Plant extracts have been widely used as important therapeutic drugs for many centuries all over the world. There have been many reports that natural products have various kinds of biological activities such as anti-allergy, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. Recently, the screening for the efficacy and safety of natural products has been extensively performed. OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to find a beneficial plant extract possessing excellent antioxidative and anti-melanogenic activities. We have found that the leaf of Robinia pseudo-acacia L. has active substances which are involved in those activities. METHODS: To confirm the antioxidative activity of the extract obtained from the leaves of Robinia pseudo-acacia L., scavenging ability of the extract on DPPH free radicals and its inhibitory effects on lipid autoxidation and peroxidation were investigated. In addition, inhibitory effects of the extract on mushroom tyrosinase as well as melanin biosynthesis in cultured B16 melanoma cells were evaluated. RESULTS: The acacia extract showed not only powerful antioxidative activity but also antimelanogenic acitivity as strong as that of arbutin which is a well known inhibitor of melanogenesis. CONCLUSION: These resulis suggest that the extract from the leaves of Robinia pseudo-acacia L. could be used as a 4ghtening and antioxidative agent for the skin.
Acacia ; Agaricales ; Arbutin ; Biological Products ; Free Radicals ; Mass Screening ; Melanins ; Melanoma, Experimental ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Plant Extracts ; Plants ; Robinia* ; Skin

No abstract available.
Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Perfusion*

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: This study was aimed to elucidate the effect of thiopental anesthesia on circulatory response to hemorrhage in rats by power spectral analysis of heart rate and blood pressure variability. METHODS: Sixteen male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 350~475 g were divided into thiopental (50 mg/kg, ip)-anesthetized (T, n=10) and conscious (C, n=6) groups. Hemorrhage was induced with a withdrawal pump from the femoral artery at 3 ml/kg/min for 5 min. Arterial pressure was measured with a pressure transducer connected to the contralateral femoral artery for 5 min before, during and after hemorrhage. The blood pressure signal digitized at 500 Hz through a data acquisition system was analyzed with fast Fourier transform algorithm to yield power spectra of sytolic (SP) and diastolic (DP) blood pressure and instantaneous heart rate (HR). Powers of very low frequency (VLF, 0.02~0.26 Hz), low frequency (LF, 0.26~0.75 Hz) and high frequency (HF, 0.75~5.00 Hz) band were expressed as percent of total power. RESULTS: Before Hemorrhage blood pressure was lower in T (113 6/83 6 mmHg) than in C (157 4/101 2) rats, but was not changed by hemorrhage in both groups. Before Hemorrhage HR was lower in T (331 22 beats/min) than in C (378 27) rats. HR was significantly increased to 412 26 beats/min in C, but was not changed in T during hemorrhage. Total powers of Before Hemorrhage blood pressure and HR variability were lower in T than in C. During hemorrhage, total power of blood pressure variability tended to increase in both groups, and that of DP was significantly increased during hemorrhage in T. Total power of HR was significantly increased in C, but was not changed in T. T rats showed lower LF and higher HF power of blood pressure, and lower VLF and LF and higher HF power of HR than C rats. During hemorrhage, both groups showed no significant change in spectral distribution of HR power, except for a significant increase in LF of HR after hemorrhage in C. Spectral distribution of blood pressure power was not changed by hemorrhage in C. In T rats, VLF of DP was significantly increased and HF of DP was decreased during hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS: It suggests that autonomic activity, especially cardiac sympathetic activity is increased in response to hemorrhage in C. Thiopental anesthesia depresses overall autonomic activity, especially sympathetic activity, and vasomotor tone. Hemorrhage under thiopental anesthesia induces depression of baroreceptor reflex activity, while increased levels of vasoconstrictor hormones help to maintain the blood pressure.
Anesthesia ; Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Baroreflex ; Blood Pressure* ; Depression ; Femoral Artery ; Fourier Analysis ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Male ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thiopental ; Transducers, Pressure

In order to study the clinical characteristics of primary acute angle closure glaucoma, we analyzed the data of 72 eyes from 63 patients with the disease from January 1, 1990 to December 31, 1993 to the Department of Ophthalmology of Chonnam University Hospital. The mean age of the patients was 63.3 years and female and male ratio was 5.9:1. And the mean IOP at first visit was 53.2 mmHg. There was no significant difference of rop between right and left eyes, and 11 patients had the disease in both eyes. 38% of the patients developed the disease in winter time. The development of the disease was closely associated with physical illness and emotional stress. 39 eyes(49.3%) of them was required filtering surgery because medication and laser treatment was insufficient to lower IOP.
Female ; Filtering Surgery ; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure* ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Male ; Ophthalmology ; Stress, Psychological ; Trabeculectomy

BACKGROUNDS: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSA) can divided into two groups, positional (PP) and non-positional(NPP) obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, according to the body position while sleeping. In this study, we evaluated the differences of anthropometirc data and polysomnographic recordings between the two types of sleep apnea syndrome. MATERIALS: Fifty patients with OSA were divided two groups by Cartwright's criteria. The supine respiratory disturbance index (RDI) was at least two times higher than the lateral RDI in the PP group, and the supine RDI was less than twice the lateral RDI in the NPP group. This patients underwent standardized polysomnographic recordings. The anthropometirc data and polysomnographic data were analyzed, statistically. RESULTS: Of all 50 patients, 30% were found to be positional OSA. BMI was significantly higher in the PP group(p<0.05). Total sleep time was significantly longer in the PP group (350.6±46.0min, p<0.05). Sleep efficiency was high in the PP group(89.6± 6.4%, 85.6±9.9%, p<0.05). Deep sleep was significantly higher and light sleep was lower in the PP group than in the NPP group but no difference was observed in REM sleep between the two groups. Apnea index(AI) and RDI were significantly lower(17.0±10.6, 28.5±13.3, p<0.05) and mean arterial oxygen saturation was higher in the PP group(92.7 ±1.8%, p<0.05) than in the NPP group. CONCLUSION: Body position during sleep has a profound effect on the frequency and severity of breathing abnormalities in OSA patients. A polysomnographic evaluation for suspected OSA patients must include monitoring of the body position. Breathing function in OSA patients can be improved by controlling their obesity and through postural therapy.
Apnea ; Humans ; Obesity ; Oxygen ; Polysomnography ; Respiration ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* ; Sleep, REM

BACKGROUND: Canine scabies is caused by an infestation of Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis (S. canis) in dogs and they can be transmitted to humans. Recently pet raising has been increasing in Korea and various parasitic infestations contracted from them have also been increasing including canine scabies. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical and histopathological features of experimental canine scabies. METHODS: Two dogs experimentally infested were observed for a year. They were examined physically and the numbers of S. cans were counted from scraping samples of the ear, leg and abdomen every 3 to 7 days and skin biopsies were taken. One was given systemic corticosteroids(Dogl) and the other was observed in its natural course(Dog2). RESULTS: Dogl-Clinically severely pruritic, markedly thick hyperkeratotic scales, crust and generalized erythema on the whole body developed with huge numbers(up to 754.9/100mg from scales of the abdomen) of mites, and histopathologically showed features similar to human crusted scabies. Dog2-Clinically showed milder features than Dogl including the number of S. canis(up to 242.6/100mg from scales of the ear), but histopathologically showed similar features with Dogl. Dog2 also showed a prompt response to one topical application of 20% benzyl benzoate solution. CONCLUSIONS: 1) The number of S. canis increased markedly in both normal and corticosteroidtreated dogs, although it was more significantly increased in the corticosteroid-treated one. 2) Histopathology showed features similar to classical scabies in the early stage but features of human crusted scabies in the full-blown stage. 3) Morphologically Sarcoptes canis differs from Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis.
Abdomen ; Animals ; Benzoates ; Biopsy ; Dogs ; Ear ; Erythema ; Humans ; Korea ; Leg ; Mites ; Sarcoptes scabiei ; Scabies* ; Skin ; Weights and Measures