24-hour ambulatory ECG monitoring has been examined for the evaluation of heart rate and longest pause in 34 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation (20 patients treated with digoxin and 14 patients without treatment). Following results were obtained: 1. In 34 patients, the mean of average heart rates was 75.7±13.8/minute, fastest heart rates 148.0±32.4/minute, slowest heart rates 48.1±8.4/minute, difference between fastest and slowest heart rates in individual patients 99.9±29.0/minute and longest pauses 2.95±1.06seconds. The longest pauses of more than 4.0 seconds occurred in 4 of the 34 patients and made an exception of comparison groups. 2. In 27 of the 34 patients, ventricular premature contractures were developed and in 11 of 27, mainly occurred less than 100/24 hours and aberrant conduction occurred in all patients. 3. In 20 patients treated with digoxin (0.25 mg/day), the mean of average heart rates was 78.4±13.7/minute, fastest heart rates 152.5±33.1/minute, slowest heart rates 48.9±8.5/minute, difference between fastest and slowest heart rates in individual patients 103.6±31.7/minute and longest pauses 2.55±0.50 seconds. 4. In 10 patients without treatment, the mean of average heart rates was 78.0±10.7/minute, fastest heart rates 154.5±26.8/minute, slowest heart rates 50.6±7.1/minute, difference between fastest and slowest heart rates in individual patients 103.9±22.2/minute and longest pauses 2.66±0.39 seconds. 5. The difference of heart rates and longest pauses between patients with treatment and without treatment were statistically not significant (P>0.05). In summary, authors seemed to consider that 24-hour ambulatory ECG was useful and safe method for clinical evaluation of patients with chronic atrial fibrillation.
Atrial Fibrillation* ; Contracture ; Digoxin ; Electrocardiography* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Methods

No abstract available.
Gallbladder* ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Tamoxifen*

No abstract available.
Ulcer*

One hundred and seven patients with alopecia areata were studied in regard to the character of personality, emotional stress during their military life, socioeconomic status and their possible role in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata by ready-made chart and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (M.M.P.I,) While only 55. 4% of out patients were enlisted men, 73. 0% of alopecia areata patients were soldiers suggesting that soldiers are more prone to develop alopecia areata. This trend was more apparent among soldiers who were less than 6 months in the service. In clinical scale, abnormal MMPI profiles were noted in 65 patients (60. 7%). Among abnormal MMPI profiles, hysteria scale is most common (23. 1%) and followed by hypochondriasis scale 18. 5%, psychiasthenia scale 16. 9%, and paranoia scale 12. 3%. The alopecia areata group showed significant difference in psychopathic deviate, schizophrenia, and paranoia which is high in person having psychotic symptoms and psychopathic personality. The neurotic triad or anxiety index is not significantly elevated.
Alopecia Areata ; Alopecia* ; Antisocial Personality Disorder ; Anxiety ; Humans ; Hypochondriasis ; Hysteria ; Male ; Military Personnel ; MMPI ; Outpatients ; Paranoid Disorders ; Schizophrenia ; Social Class ; Stress, Psychological

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a demyelinating disease resulting from infection of oligodendrocytes with JC virus. PML was a rare disease, but nowadays not uncommon as AIDS prevailed. Histopathologic features of the affected lesion shows infiltrations of foamy macrophages and hyperchromatic, pleomorphic, reactive astrocytes that may raise the suspicion of a brain tumor. We recently met with 3 cases of PML. Two of the patients had AIDS and the other had been treated for lymphoma. All cases were diagnosed by histopathologic examination in stereotactic brain biopsies.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Astrocytes ; Biopsy ; Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host* ; JC Virus ; Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal* ; Lymphoma ; Macrophages ; Oligodendroglia ; Rare Diseases

Calcifying fibrous pseudotumors are rare soft-tissue lesions pathologically characterized by hyalinized collagen, psammomatous or dystrophic calcification, and lympho-plasmacyte infiltration. They are clinically benign with an extremely low rate of recurrence and complete surgical resection is known to be the treatment of choice. We performed the resection of a calcifying fibrous pseudotumors in the anterior mediastinum without complications.
Collagen ; Hyalin ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; Mediastinum ; Recurrence

Calcifying fibrous pseudotumors are rare soft-tissue lesions pathologically characterized by hyalinized collagen, psammomatous or dystrophic calcification, and lympho-plasmacyte infiltration. They are clinically benign with an extremely low rate of recurrence and complete surgical resection is known to be the treatment of choice. We performed the resection of a calcifying fibrous pseudotumors in the anterior mediastinum without complications.
Collagen ; Hyalin ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; Mediastinum ; Recurrence

Background: Axillary bromhidrosis is a disease characterized by malodor caused by the interaction between apocrine gland secretions and bacteria. Current treatment modalities include topical treatment, liposuction curettage, microwave therapy, and surgical intervention. Objective: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes and quality of life over a 3-year follow-up period of the 1,444-nm Nd:YAG laser and surgical treatment for bromhidrosis. Methods: Forty-five patients participated in the study, with 20 patients receiving laser treatment and 25 patients undergoing surgery using the modified Inaba method. The degree of remaining axillary malodor, pain, reduced mobility, and overall patient satisfaction were assessed retrospectively through medical records and direct or indirect patient interviews at 7 days, 1 month, 2 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years after each treatment. The modified Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) was used to evaluate the quality of life. Results: Over the course of all the assessed time periods, the remaining odor and overall satisfaction scores did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, the laser-treated group reported significantly lower pain scores, reduced mobility, and total DLQI score. There were no significant differences in adverse events between the two groups. Conclusion In our study, laser treatment for bromhidrosis showed comparable efficacy to surgery. Moreover, fewer adverse events occurred in the laser group. In addition, patient quality of life was better after laser treatment. In conclusion, subdermal coagulation treatment with the 1,444-nm Nd:YAG laser may be a less invasive and effective therapy for bromhidrosis.

Background: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer. In patients with darker skin, most BCCs are pigmented. Studies suggest that increased pigmentation in BCC may be inversely associated with tumor aggressiveness. Objective: This study analyzed the dermoscopic features and histopathologic patterns of BCCs to evaluate the correlation between BCC pigmentation and tumor aggressiveness. Methods: A total of 76 BCC lesions were included in this retrospective study. The Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) stage and tumor depth were measured as indices of tumor aggressiveness. The Fontana–Masson stain was performed for the identification of melanin, and immunohistochemical analysis was performed using Melan-A and HMB-45 to identify melanocytes. Results: In MMS stage 1, the dermoscopic pigmentation value was 34.48%±14.22% (mean±standard deviation). In MMS stages 2 and 3, dermoscopic pigmentations were 13.72%±7.54% and 15.50%±17.52%, respectively. In the logistic regression model, higher dermoscopic pigmentation (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.68~0.99), melanin (95% CI, 0.63~0.89), and melanocyte-stained areas (95% CI, 0.70~0.92) were associated with a lower possibility of BCC tumor infiltration over the middle and lower layers. Conclusion We found an inverse correlation between the pigmentation and aggressiveness of BCCs. Clinicians can predict the subclinical infiltration depth of BCC on the basis of the pigmentation observed on dermoscopy. Pigmentation can be considered a favorable prognostic factor for BCC.