Scanning electron microscopic(SEM) examination of hair is an efficient and definite method for the diagnosis of hair anomaly. The Hair specimen is placed on a stub, gold coated, and directly viewed without prior fixation or treatment for identification. We have analyzed 25 cases of scalp hair and 2 cases of eyebrow that were sampled with the suspicion of hair anomalies at Seoul National University Hospital during the last 7 year period from January 1988 to June 1992. All 27 cases had certain abnormalities of the hair. They consisted of monilethrix(1 case), hair casts(4 cases), pili torti(1 case), uncombable hair syndrome(1 case), trichorrhexis nodosa(5 cases), woolly hair(5 cases) and other anomaly(1 case). Some cases of them were mixed with two or three anomalies in hairs. Their combinations were; hair casts and woolly hair(1 case), hair casts and pili torti and uncombabla hair syndrome(1 case), hair casts and uncombable hair syndrome and trichorrhexis nodosa(1 case), trichorrhexis nodosa and uncombable hair syndrome(3 cases). Most of these defects included brittleness of scales and distortion of the hair shaft.

No abstract available.
Skin Diseases*

Fracture of the carpal scaphoid bone is the most common fracture of the carpus. Unfortunately, nonunion are common since the symptoms do not alert patents to seek early medical treatment and the diagnosis is easily missed. Fracture of the scaphoid is a common condition whose management remains controversial. The conservative treatment has many complications, these include inability to word while in plaster, stiffness of the wrist afterwards, muscle wasting, weakness and malunion. So various operative treatments of scaphoid fracture have been developed. Open reduction by use of screws suggested by Maclaughlin first in 1954. In 1984 a new and simple operative technique has been developed to provide rigid internal fixation for all types of fractures of the scaphoid by T.J. Herbert. This involves the use of a double-treaded bone screw which provides good fixation that, after operation, a plaster cast in rarely required and most patients are able to return to work within a few weeks. Authors have experienced 10 cases of scaphoid fracture and accomplished good result in all cases by internal fixation using Herbert screw. The results are as follows Of these 10 fractures, 2 were fresh fractures and 8 were nonunions of scaphoid fracture. In nonunion cases, the time interval between fracture and operation was from 5 months to 5 years. The postoperative immobilization period was average of 4 weeks. Short period of immobilization achieved early functional recovery of the wrist. The bony unions in roentgenogram were seen from 3 months to 9 months after operation. In 2 cases the fracture gap was seen after 9 months. But in these cases the symptoms such as pain and range of motion of wrist were improved.
Bone Screws ; Casts, Surgical ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Return to Work ; Scaphoid Bone ; Wrist

We report a case of multiple Bowen's disease associated with leprosy. A 68-year-old man was seen because of slightly pruritic multiple erythematous scaly patches and plaques on the trunk and the both extremities for 5 years. He has been treated for leprosy with many kinds of drugs consisting of the herb medications for over 40 years. He also showed decreased cell-mediated immunity in skin tests. It is considered that depressed cellular immunity may be an important predisposing factor in the development of mutiple Bowen's disease in this case, .although arsenics can not be completetly excluded.
Aged ; Bowen's Disease ; Causality ; Extremities ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Leprosy* ; Skin Tests

BACKGROUND: It is not yet clear whether the abnormal cytokine production in relation to serum IgE levels in atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with the amount of mRNA of cytokine gene. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to delineate the effect of reciprocal correlation in the level of mRNA between interleukin-4 (I") and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in severe AD. METHODS: We examined 15 cases including 5 AD patients with high serum IgE (>2,000 kU/liter), 5 AD patients with low serum IgE (<100 kU/liter), and 5 healthy controls. Using semi quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, IL-4 and IFN-γ gene expressions in peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) were examined. RESULTS: 1) IL-4 gene expression in spontaneous PBMC was higher in AD patient groups than in control group, significantly higher only in AD patient group with high serum IgE level (p < 0.05). 2) IFN-γ gene expression in spontaneous PBMC showed increased tendency in AD patient groups than in control group without statistical significance. 3) IL-4 and IFN-γ gene expressions in stimulated PBMC were not different among all three groups. CONCLUSION: In light of our results, high and low IgE subgroups in AD can exist and AD may not be R characterized by the shift in the reciprocal relationship between IL-4 and IFN-γ when T cells are stimulated under antigen presenting cell-independent conditions.
Dermatitis, Atopic ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Interferon-gamma* ; Interleukin-4* ; RNA, Messenger ; T-Lymphocytes

Male breast cancer is a rare disease, representing approximately 1% of breast cancer and less than 1.5% of malignant tumors occurring in men. We report a case of cuaneous metastasis of male breast cances. a 64-year-old male who presented with multiple nodules and erythematous plaque on the right anterior chest and enlargement of the right axillary lymplinodes. The histopathologic findings of the nodule showed atypical tumor cells with a somew eat gland-like pattern. The cells showed potive reactions in PAS, DPAS and alcian blue stains, and also positive for estrogen and roiesterone receptors. Biopsy specimens taken from the plaque showed cellular arrangement in show line, referred to as Indian filing, between thiclenecin collagen bundles. He was treated not, tamoxifen, 5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide and megestrol acetate. 5 months after nitiation of the treatment, the skin lesions were improved vvith a decreased number and size or dules and decreased intensity of erythema.
Alcian Blue ; Biopsy ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast Neoplasms, Male* ; Collagen ; Coloring Agents ; Cyclophosphamide ; Doxorubicin ; Erythema ; Estrogens ; Fluorouracil ; Humans ; Male ; Male* ; Megestrol Acetate ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Rare Diseases ; Skin ; Tamoxifen ; Thorax

We report an extremely rare case in which two tuberculids, papulonecrotic tuberculid and erythema nodosum, occurred together. A 16-year-old girl had two types of clinically distinct lesions; asymptomatic necrotic papules on the upper and lower extremities and painful subcutaneous nodules on the legs. A Mantoux test showed a strong positive reaction. Histopathologic findings of the necrotic papule and subcutaneous nodule were consistent with papulonecrotic tuberculid and erythema nodosum, respectively. There was no extracutaneous focus of tuberculosis. Polymerase chain reaction for tuberculous bacilli in the papulonecrotic tuberculid lesion revealed a negative result. Antituberculous therapy brought a rapid clinical improvement of both lesions.
Adolescent ; Erythema Nodosum* ; Erythema* ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Cutaneous*

A 31-year-old woman had a livedo reticularis of reticulated, bluish discoloration on both arms and legs for 18 months with a burning pain in the right hand and numbness in both lower legs. The findings of the electromyography were consistent with mononeuropathy multiplex and bilateral ulnar-median nerve anastomosis. A biopsy specimen from the right sural nerve showed perivascular lymphocytic infiltration and occasional myelin digestion chambers, which were consistent with vasculitic neuropathy. We present a patient with livedo reticularis idiopathica associated with mononeuropathy multiplex syndrome who also has bilateral ulnar-median nerve anastomosis.
Adult ; Arm ; Biopsy ; Burns ; Digestion ; Electromyography ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Leg ; Livedo Reticularis* ; Mononeuropathies* ; Myelin Sheath ; Sural Nerve

Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genetic Counseling ; Humans ; Mandible ; Mass Screening ; Mothers ; Odontogenic Cysts ; Recurrence ; Siblings ; Skin ; Young Adult

The objective of this study were to evaluate a correlation between airborne benzene concentrations and urinary muconic acid and to evaluate that between airborne benzene concentrations and urinary phenol concentrations. The high performance chromatographic method was used to measure the muconic acid concentrations in urine samples collected from 69 workers exposed to benzene and 155 non-exposed workers. The time weighted average benzene concentrations in breathing zone of workers were also determined. The physical examination and blood counts (hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell, and white blood cell) were made for both workers exposed to benzene and control group. The results are as follows; 1. The geometric mean of airborne benzene concentrations for all workers was 2.0ppm (0.1-56.9ppm). The mean airborne benzene concentration of workers in adhesive tape manufacturing industry was 12.2ppm (8.3-56.9ppm), which was the highest by type of industry. 2. The geometric mean concentration of muconic acid in urine from male workers exposed to benzene was 3.9 mg/l (0.8-40.8 mg/l), which was significantly higher than that of non-exposed workers. The highest muconic acid concentration was indicated in the workers at the adhesive tape manufacturing industry. 3. There was a significant difference between the mean concentration of muconic acid of workers exposed to airborne benzene concentration of 5-10 pm and that of workers exposed to concentrations below 5 ppm. The urinary muconic acid concentration were correlated with airborne benzene concentration for workers (r=0.85). However there was no significant correlation between urinary phenol concentrations and airborne benzene concentrations. 4. The correlation coefficients between the urinary muconic acid concentration and airborne benzene concentration, urinary phenol concentration, exposure dose(airborne benzene concentration x work duration) and white blood cell were 0.85, 0.74, 0.63 and -0.33, respectively.
Adhesives ; Benzene* ; Environmental Monitoring* ; Erythrocytes ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Phenol ; Physical Examination ; Respiration