The eosinophil is the major cell responsible for the inflammatory reaction in bronchial asthma. Secretion of granular components is probably of considerable importance for the inflammatory effects of the eosinophils. Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is the one of the secretory components of the eosinophil granule and-is considered as an activation marker of eosinophil count, serum concentration of ECP and serum IgE were studied in normal, symptomatic and asymptomatic asthmatic children. In symptomatic asthma, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was studied and methacholine challenge test was done in asymptomatic asthma in addition. Blood eosinophil count and serum ECP in asthma were significantly raised compared with those of the normal children. And the level of serum ECP in symptomatic asthma was higher than that in asymptomatic asthma. The mean % fall of PEFR was significantly correlated with serum ECP and blood eosinophil count in symptomatic asthma. In asymptomatic asthma, there was no correlations between methachloine PC20 and blood eosinophil count or methachloine PC20 and serum ECP level. Our findings show that blood eosinophil count and serum ECP levels differ not only between normal children and asthmatic children, but also between symptomatic asthma and asymptomatic asthma.
Asthma ; Child* ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein* ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Methacholine Chloride ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate

Herpes simplex virus infections, with their increasing tendenes are one of the most common infectious diseases. But there have been no systematic investigations on the prevalence of HSV antibodies according to ages in Korea. We therefore decided to investigate this prevalence using micro-neutralization tests. Blood samples were collected from 502 randomly selected men and women, 5 months to 77 years of age who were outpatients or hospitalized patients at the Hanyang University Hospital between 1990-1991. Students at the Hanyang university college of medicine, and other volunteers were also tested. All of the serum samples were assayed for antibodies to HSV useing the microneutralization test. The Cos strain of HSV 1 and the YHS 2-1 strain of HSV 2 were use3 in our study. The antibody titers were expressed as the highest serum dilution causing 80% plaque reduction. The individuals with a neutralizing antibody titer of 1: 2 or higher to HSV 1 were regardel as having the antibody to HSV l. To determine HSV 2 antibody activity, the II/I index was used (II/I mdex : log HSV1 antibody titer/log, HSV 2 antibody titer, lI/I index >0.85) The results obtained were the followings : 1. HSV 1 antibodies were found at a relatively high rate in young a es and its prevalence gradually increased with age. 2. HSV 1 antibody titers iricreased with age. 3. HSV 2 antibodies were not found in children under 11 years of ae but were found in teenagers at a relatively low rate. The prevalence tended to increas with age. 4. HSV 2 antibody titers showed a higher value in those over 31 years of age.
Adolescent ; Antibodies ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Child ; Communicable Diseases ; Female ; Herpes Simplex* ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Outpatients ; Prevalence* ; Simplexvirus* ; Volunteers

A 56-year-old woman presenting a 10-year history of atrophic discoid patches with underlying subcutaneous nodules was seen. These skin lesions were distributed on the upper arms bilaterally. Biopsy specimens taken from the lesional skin showed epidermal and dermal changes consistent with the discoid lesions of the cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Deep dermis and subcutaneous fat tissue revealed sclerosis and fibrinoid alterations of the collagen and necrosis of fat cells, the features corresponding to the lupus ei ythematosus profundus. She had no laboratory evidences suspective of systemic lupus erythematosus or other connective tissue diseases. This patient with lupus erythernatosus profundus which cleveloped subsequent to the discoid lesion is consiclered to be a rarely encounteririg observation in lupus erythematosus.
Adipocytes ; Arm ; Biopsy ; Collagen ; Connective Tissue Diseases* ; Connective Tissue* ; Dermis ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Panniculitis, Lupus Erythematosus* ; Sclerosis ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Fat

In Systemic lupus erythematosus several correlations with anti-Ro antibodies have been noted. They are the increased incidence of photos nsitive skin disease, rheumatoid factor positivity, Sjogren's syndrorme, and a greatly increased incidence of the DR 3 hapIotype. In this study we examined the prevalence of anti-Ro anibodies(not concerned for anti-La, Sm, RNP) by double immunodiffusion method among thirty two Korean patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who had positive results on routine fluorescent antinuclear antibody test. We also have seen skin manifestations on these patients, and examined if there is any difference of the incidence for each skin sign between anti-Ro positive and negative subgroups. From the data obtained, the proportion of anti-Ro positives among these patients with systemic lupus erythematosus was 53% Regarding to the difference of the incidence of cutaneous rnanifestations between the two subgroups, the photosensitivity reaction was recongnized as a uniqu symptorn rnore prevalent (p<0. 05) in anti-Ro positive subgroup with the frequency of 65%.
Antibodies ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Immunodiffusion ; Incidence ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Prevalence ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Skin Manifestations

Fifty-six patients with tinea versicolor were studied clinically and therapeutically, from July 1984 to August 1985, at the Department of Dermatology, Hanyang University. L atients were treated with 20g sodium thiosulfate solution, 1g isoconazole nitrate cream, lg bifonazole cream and. oral ketoconazole. The result obtained were as follows: 1. The average age of all patients at visit was RO. 1 years, the oldest patient was 72 year-old and the youngest patient was 13 year-old. The male to female ratio was 3. 7: 1. 2. Distribution of lesions were anterior chest(26.8%), back(23.9%), abdomen (19%), axilla (17%), neck(6. 3%), pubic area(4. 2%), upper extremities(1. 4%), hip(0.7%) and lower extremities(0.7%). The incidence of hyperpigmented lesions was 76. 8%, and that of hypopigmented lesions was 23. 2g. 3. Average of treatment duration in each trial group indicated 3. 71-I--0 83 weeks (M+SD) in 20g sodium thiosulfate regimen group, 3. 07+ 0. 73 weeks in 1g isoconazole nitrate, 3.29+1.14 weeks in bifonazole, R. 00+0. 68 weeks in oral ketoconazole. No treatment results show statistically significant differences among the trial groups.
Abdomen ; Adolescent ; Aged ; Axilla ; Dermatology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ketoconazole ; Male ; Sodium ; Tinea Versicolor* ; Tinea*

A case of Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica is reported with review of pathogenesis with literatures. Epidermolysis Bulloaa Dystrophica is a rare genetic disease which is characterized by the formation of blister upon the minor trauma or friction to the skin. A 7-year old boy was referred to our dept. in Aug. 1976 because of a severe bullous eruption primarily on his hands and feet. On admission tense bullae were noted on the dorsa of hands and feet which is usually serous but may be hermorhagic tendency. Soon thereafter tbis bullous lesion tend to break down into painful shallow denudation which may leave depigmented scars and milia after healing. Family history was negative for skin disorders.
Blister ; Child ; Cicatrix ; Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica* ; Epidermolysis Bullosa* ; Foot ; Friction ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Skin ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

We describe herein four cases of childhood dermatomysitis of Brunsting type. The ages of these patients were between 7 to 10 years at the time of the disease. All four patients had pathognomOnic cutaneous changes, such as heliotrope erythema and Gottron's papules, which are not seen frequently in adult type dermatomyositis. These patients did not show any marked serologic abnormalities suggestive of having other connective tissue diseases or autoimmune diseases. All patients were initially treated with prednisolone and chloroquine, and have been under control with low dose prednisolone, or chloroquine alone.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Chloroquine ; Connective Tissue Diseases ; Dermatomyositis* ; Erythema ; Humans ; Prednisolone

Penicillinase producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae(PPNG) have been reported from various cauntries throughout the world. We have been tr ying to assess the prevalence of PPNG in Korea since May, 1980 by means of chromogenic cephalosporin method. The total number of isolated Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains in 1983 was 733, among which 679 were tested for p-lactamase production, among which 178(26. 2%) were PPNGs. In 1984, 791 strains were isolated, among which 214(27.1%) were PPNGs. In all, 392(26.7%) strains were found to be PPNGs arnong 1470 Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains tested between 1983-1984.
Korea* ; Neisseria ; Neisseria gonorrhoeae ; Penicillinase ; Prevalence* ; Seoul*

No abstract available.
Ear* ; Replantation*

The idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) represents a heterogenous group of disorder characterized by prolonged eosinophilia of undetectable cause and multiorgan system dysfunction. Bone marrow is the most frequentry involved organ, but the most severe clinicopathologic involvement is heart. The major cause of death in patients with the HES is cardiac dysfunction especially congestive heart failure resulted from endocardial fibrosis and restrictive cardiomyopathy. We have experienced a case of DES with both cardiac and pulmonary involvements. The patient was an 18-month-old infant with poorly controlled lung abscess who complained of fever and productive cough. On the microscopic examination of pleural effusion, eosinophilic infiltration was noted. M-mode echocardiogram showed diffuse thickening of interventricular septum and left ventricular posterior wall. On the peripheral blood smear, prolonged eosinophilia was observed. We confirmed this case with bone marrow aspiration which showed eosinophilic hyperplasia.
Bone Marrow ; Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive ; Cause of Death ; Cough ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Fever ; Fibrosis ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome* ; Hyperplasia ; Infant ; Lung Abscess ; Pleural Effusion