LASIK is an effective and exact procedure to correct myopic refractive error but fatal complication may be happened during making corneal flap using microkeratome. We report a patient who developed acute central stomal melting following LASIK on postoperative day 4. This complication was treated by lifting the flap and scraping the interface of corneal flap & central stroma with a metal blade. After 4 months, overcorrected hyperopic refractive error was retreated with excimer laser ablation and patient recovered successful visual acuity. The pathogenesis of this case is not completely understood. Corneal endothelium and central cornea stroma may be mechanically damaged due to excessive suction ring application during LASIK procedure. Interface epithelial ingrowth may be associated with early postoperative inflammation and infection of corneal flap may produce proteinase which melts corneal flap. If corneal flap melting happens after LASIK procedure, early surgical debridement of melting stroma and proper reattachment of the flap may be needed.
Cornea ; Debridement ; Endothelium, Corneal ; Freezing* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ* ; Lasers, Excimer ; Lifting ; Refractive Errors ; Suction ; Visual Acuity

No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic*

Granuloma pyogenicum is a benign vascular tumor, usually about 0.5 to 2cm in diameter. It occurs as a single lesion with few exceptions and consists of pedunulated nodule with a dull red or slightly purplish color. We observed a 29-year old man who had multiple satellite recurrences in the scapular region which developed after excision of a single lesion of granuloma pyogenicum. Histapathologic findings showed many newly formed capillaries that had prominant endothelial cells and showed varying degrees of dilation without appearance of epiderrnal collarette sign. The lesions were much improved by X-ray irradiation.
Adult ; Capillaries ; Endothelial Cells ; Granuloma* ; Granuloma, Pyogenic* ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Shoulder*

No abstract available.
Classification*

BACKGROUND: Several methods have been developed to measure skin thickness, including the use of the radiography, micrometer screw gauge, Harpenden's caliper, and ultrasound, but there are no reports to measure skin thickness using computed tomography. OBJECTIVE: We measured skin thickness on the CT films retrospectively. This study was to investigaste variations of skin thickness by age, gender, and different sites. METHODS: Skin thickness was measured on the CT films of 562 patients, including 357 males and 205 females who had undergone brain, chest, and abdominal CT in our hospital. Patients with endocrinologic, malignant, or collagen disease and those on antimetabolite or steroid therapy were excluded. Comparisons of histometric and computed tomographic methods weremade in 5 skin tumors and 1 localized lipodystrophy. Results: 1. The measurements of the skin thickness(mean) in examined sites varied from 0.84 to 3.07 milimeters : the posterior part at the level of the chest(aortic arch level) was the thickest and the anterior part at the level of the forehead(aortic arch level) was the thickest and the anterior part at the level of the forehead(frontal sinus level) was the thinnest. 2. Skin thickness in males wal generally thicker than in females : the anterior and lateral part at the level of the forehead(P<0.0001), the posterior part at the level of the bladder(P<0.2) were thicker in males than in females. 3. In each gender, the thickness of the skin increased with age of 40 or 60, and then decreased with age at every level. 4. Skin on posterior parts of the body was thicker than on other parts. 5. Unlike other levels, skin was thicker on the lateral parts than on the anterior parts at the levels of the forehead and bladder. 6. The measured skin thickness in about 7% greater in formalin fixed tissues than on CT films. CONCLUSION; Computed tomographic measurement of the skin thickness in a reliable method in the aquisition of normal values and their individual variations during cutaneous aging. Moreover, this method is useful in evaluating skin tumors and monitoring the response to therapy of inflammatory conditions.
Aging ; Brain ; Collagen Diseases ; Female ; Forehead ; Formaldehyde ; Humans ; Lipodystrophy ; Male ; Radiography ; Reference Values ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin* ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder

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.
Catheters*

Ants(Family Formicidae) are very successful organisms occuring in trernendous numbers worldwide in terrestrial habitats. All ant species may bite, and on species sting. 48 species in 26 genus have been reported in Korea, but only systemic reaction induced by the anti Brachyponera chinersis, has been reported in the Korea terature. A 48 year old man was stung on the neck, abdomen, and dorsum of the hand by flying stinging ants. He experienced moderate pain, burning and itching sensation. Clinical course and histopathologic findings of the lesions caused by the stinging ant was observed without specific treatment. The stinging ants collected from t,he patient.s skin and his house were identified as Euponera chosensis belonging to Subfamily Ponerinae. To the best of our know ledge, this is the first clinical repor of the insect sting by Euponera chosensis in the Korean literature.
Abdomen ; Ants ; Bites and Stings ; Burns ; Diptera ; Ecosystem ; Hand ; Humans ; Insect Bites and Stings* ; Insects* ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Pruritus ; Sensation ; Skin

We have experienced a case of neurofibromatosis with unusual giant pigmentation, which presents itself as a 28 cm x 40 cm sized, serrated bordered light brownish patch speckled with small dark hyperpigmented macules on his back. Histopathologic examinations of light brown patch and speckles showed only an increase in basal melanin pigmentation.
Melanins ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Pigmentation*

No abstract available.
Meconium* ; Peritonitis*