BACKGROUND: Recentliy copper vapor laser(CVL) has been applied with encouraging results in the treatment of port wine stain. The CVL emits yellow light(578nm) in a sequence of about 10,000 to 15,000 pulses/second(10-15kHz) with a pulse duration of 15-50 cases. One of the basic methods of evaluationg the effects of laser lights is to study histologic changes after laser irradiation. OBJECTIVE: The effects of power output and energy density on the histologic change of guinea pig skin following CVL irradiation was evaluted to suggest a way of deciding parameters of CVL to achieve the best clinical results. METHODS: After setting the power output for one of 0.8W, 1.6W and 2.4W, the laser was irradiated with an energy density of 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20J/cm. A biopsy was done 15 minutes after irradiation and the biopsy specimens was stained with H&E and NBTC histocberr ical method. RESULTS: 1. At the power of 0.8W, specimens irradiated with an energy density above 14J/cm showed diffuse nonspecific coagulation necrosis of the epidermis and upper dermis. 2. At the power of 1.6W, specimens irradiated with energy density of 14, 16J/cm showed coagulation necrosis of dermal vessel and perivascular collagen. With energe density of 18, 20J/cm, diffuse nonspecific coagulat,ion necrosis of epidermis and upper dermis were observed. 3. At the power of 2.4W, specimens irradiated with an anergy density of 12, 14, 16, 18J/cm showed coagulation necrosis of the dermal vessel and perivascular collagen. With an energy density of 20J/cm, diffuse nonspecific coagulation necrosis of the epidermis and upper dermis was observed. CONCLUSIONS : With the above results it was found that t,he higher power output of CVL enlarged the range of energy density confining thermal damage to the dermal v-ssels and perivascular collagen. Additionally the higher power raised the upper limit of energy density with which t,he epidermis was viable.
Animals ; Biopsy ; Collagen ; Copper* ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Lasers, Gas* ; Necrosis ; Port-Wine Stain ; Skin*

BACKGROUND: Recentliy copper vapor laser(CVL) has been applied with encouraging results in the treatment of port wine stain. The CVL emits yellow light(578nm) in a sequence of about 10,000 to 15,000 pulses/second(10-15kHz) with a pulse duration of 15-50 cases. One of the basic methods of evaluationg the effects of laser lights is to study histologic changes after laser irradiation. OBJECTIVE: The effects of power output and energy density on the histologic change of guinea pig skin following CVL irradiation was evaluted to suggest a way of deciding parameters of CVL to achieve the best clinical results. METHODS: After setting the power output for one of 0.8W, 1.6W and 2.4W, the laser was irradiated with an energy density of 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20J/cm. A biopsy was done 15 minutes after irradiation and the biopsy specimens was stained with H&E and NBTC histocberr ical method. RESULTS: 1. At the power of 0.8W, specimens irradiated with an energy density above 14J/cm showed diffuse nonspecific coagulation necrosis of the epidermis and upper dermis. 2. At the power of 1.6W, specimens irradiated with energy density of 14, 16J/cm showed coagulation necrosis of dermal vessel and perivascular collagen. With energe density of 18, 20J/cm, diffuse nonspecific coagulat,ion necrosis of epidermis and upper dermis were observed. 3. At the power of 2.4W, specimens irradiated with an anergy density of 12, 14, 16, 18J/cm showed coagulation necrosis of the dermal vessel and perivascular collagen. With an energy density of 20J/cm, diffuse nonspecific coagulation necrosis of the epidermis and upper dermis was observed. CONCLUSIONS : With the above results it was found that t,he higher power output of CVL enlarged the range of energy density confining thermal damage to the dermal v-ssels and perivascular collagen. Additionally the higher power raised the upper limit of energy density with which t,he epidermis was viable.
Animals ; Biopsy ; Collagen ; Copper* ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Lasers, Gas* ; Necrosis ; Port-Wine Stain ; Skin*

No abstract available.

Liver function tests before treatment showed abnormalities of liver function tests during treatment, while 15(68. 2%) of 22 patients who had abnormal liver function tests before treatment showed abnormalities during treatment. In 12 of the 25 patients who showed abnormalities of liver function tests during treatment with allopurinol, allopurinol was stopped and all patients showed improvement of liver function tests. In remaining 13 patients, 10 patients were improved and other 2 patients showed only mild abnormalities of liver function tests despite of continuing allopurinol and 1 patient was lost during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Abnormalities of liver function tests were common during treatment with allopurinol. Most patiensts who had mild abnormalities of liver functions tests during treatment with allopurinol were improved regardless of continuing allopurinol.
Allopurinol* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gout* ; Humans ; Liver Function Tests* ; Liver*

Tuberculoma means a tumor-like mass resulting from enlargement of a caseous tubercle which microscopically shows infiltration of epithelioid cells, Langhans giant cells and lymphocytes. In a 57-year-old woman suffering from left renal tuberculosis, we incidentally found a large retroperitoneal tuberculoma (site: retrohepatic, above right adrenal gland, below diaphragm and outside Gerota`s fascia, size: 13X11x9cm). Generally, Mycobacteria tuberculosis invade the lung via airway, and subsequently, they can be disseminated to any organ or tissue. They are apt to establish disease in the organ or tissue of high oxygen tension level. We report a case of retroperitoneal tuberculoma with wonder that it could develop in the retroperitoneum of poor blood supply.
Adrenal Glands ; Diaphragm ; Epithelioid Cells ; Fascia ; Female ; Giant Cells, Langhans ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymphocytes ; Middle Aged ; Oxygen ; Tuberculoma* ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Renal

OBJECTIVE: Adult onset Still s disease is an acute systemic inflammatory disorder. There are no pathognomonic symptoms or specific laboratory abnormalities. In recent reports, serum ferritin concentration is increased in active disease phase and decreased after defervescence. Our purpose was to determine the clinical significance of serum ferritin as an indicator for disease activity. METHODS: Seven patients who were diagnosed as adult onset Still s disease at Samsung Medical Center between October 1994 and March 1997, were reviewed. In these patients we checked leukocyte count, ESR, CRP and serum ferritin concentrations at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up periods and recorded febrile events during follow-up periods. RESULTS: At the time of diagnosis and during febrile periods, the concentrations of ferritin were extremely high(927ng/ml to 96,650ng/ml normal 10-290.8 ng/ml). The values were unrelated to other manifestations of the disease or laboratory findings. The ferritin concentrations decreased rapidly after adequate treatment. Eleven febrile reattacks happened in 7 patients. Serum ferritin concentrations were increased in 8 febrile attacks, while leukocyte count, ESR, and CRP were increased in 5, 5, 6 febrile attacks respectively, There were 10 events of increased serum ferritin concentrations in 7 patients during follow-up periods and 8 events were related with fever. The increases of other laboratory tests were similar. CONCLUSIONS: In all patients, serum ferritin concentrations were increased at the time of diagnosis and closely related to fever. During follow-up periods, serum ferritin concentrations are helpful in monitoring disease activity and guiding decisions about treatment.
Adult* ; Diagnosis ; Ferritins* ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Still's Disease, Adult-Onset*

No abstract available.
Budd-Chiari Syndrome* ; Vena Cava, Inferior*

Trichogenic tumors are very rare and described as cutaneous neoplasms probably derived from hair germ which develops into hair follicles. We report a case of trichoblastic fibroma on the left parietal scalp of a 45-year-old man. The lesion was a solitary, firm, non-tender, 2×2cm subcutaneous nodule. The histopathological study showed a well circumscribed dermal tumor composed of abundant basophilic palisading basaloid lobules with some keratinous cysts, hair follicle differentiation and fibroblastic stroma.
Basophils ; Fibroblasts ; Fibroma* ; Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Rabeprazole ; Scalp

From December 1986 to August 1988, three patients with early prostatic cancer diagnosed primarily by fine needle aspriation cytology and/or Tru-cut needle biopsy underwent potency preserving radical retropubic prostatectomy. Herin we report the results and associated problems. Most difficulty was the diagnosis of the early prostatic cancer. We used fine needle aspiration cytology to diagnose the prostatic cancer primarily. One case of class V on the preoperative cytologic examination has proved to be BPH with chronic prostatitis postoperatively. Another problem was possibility of major bleeding intraoperatively, and complications were uncommon and not serious.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Biopsy, Needle ; Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Needles ; Prostatectomy* ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Prostatitis

From December 1986 to August 1988, three patients with early prostatic cancer diagnosed primarily by fine needle aspriation cytology and/or Tru-cut needle biopsy underwent potency preserving radical retropubic prostatectomy. Herin we report the results and associated problems. Most difficulty was the diagnosis of the early prostatic cancer. We used fine needle aspiration cytology to diagnose the prostatic cancer primarily. One case of class V on the preoperative cytologic examination has proved to be BPH with chronic prostatitis postoperatively. Another problem was possibility of major bleeding intraoperatively, and complications were uncommon and not serious.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Biopsy, Needle ; Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Needles ; Prostatectomy* ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Prostatitis