BACKGROUND: Redundant and wrinkled face is a common finding in patients with long-standing leprosy, which is responsible for the appearance of premature aging. Chemical peeling plays a role in dermal regeneration in the treatment of wrinkles. However, the effect of chemical peeling has rarely been studied in patients with leprosy. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of chemical peeling on dermal connective tissue components and clinical improvement of facial wrinkles in patients with leprosy. METHODS: Five patients with clinically and bacteriologically inactive lepromatous leprosy were treated with 70% glycolic acid plus 35% trichloroacetic acid (GA-TCA). Histologic and clinical changes were evaluated at 0 and 90 days postpeel. RESULTS: Histologically, collagen fibers and ground substance increased significantly but elastic fibers did not change at 90 days postepeel. Clinically, fine wrinkles improved considerably, whereas most deep wrinkles remained unchanged at day 90. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that chemical peeling with GA-TCA, or medium-depth peeling, causes an increase in collagen and ground substance but not in elastic fibers. These changes result in limited clinical improvement in the facial wrinkles of leprosy patients. Therefore, medium-depth chemical peeling may be insufficient to improve the premature aging appearance in patients with leprosy.
Aging, Premature ; Collagen ; Connective Tissue* ; Elastic Tissue ; Humans ; Leprosy* ; Leprosy, Lepromatous ; Regeneration ; Trichloroacetic Acid

No abstract available.
Fetal Development* ; Gestational Age*

No abstract available.
Fetal Development* ; Gestational Age*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to provide baseline data by utilizing solutions to health problems caused by work-related stress and to examine a way of treatment by comparing and analyzing how the stresses link to fatigue and quality of researchers' life. METHODS: A survey was conducted with 50 researchers working for in H research institute in Daejeon Metropolitan City from April 10th to May 10th, 2012 to examine the correlation of work stress, fatigue and quality of life. The data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test to look into examine the difference in work stress, fatigue, and quality of life. Also, the correlation of work stress, fatigue and quality of life was measured through by the Pearson correlation coefficient. The data collected through the questionnaires was were analyzed by SPSS 21.0 based on the significant level with a p-value, 0.05. RESULTS: The results showed that fatigue was caused by work stresses in researchers and quality of life was ranked in a relatively low level. Correlation of work stresses, quality of life and fatigue and work stresses against mental health index was negative and fatigue against physical index was also negative. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to maintain more detailed provisions in order to improve mental health and stress level of researchers. Moreover, systematic, in-depth evaluation should be done to reduce researcher's work-related stress and fatigue. In addition, stress management and prevention program should be implemented for these researchers.
Academies and Institutes ; Fatigue* ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Quality of Life* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Research Personnel

To affect the complete closure of the eyelids in leprosy patients with lagophthalmos, we have used various surgical methods to avoid using the temporalis transfer method. Although widely accepted as the most effective treatment for the chronic lagophthalmos patient, the temporalis transfer method creates a simultaneous involuntary closure of the eyelids while biting or chewing. This side effect creates a social stigmata which former leprosy patients wish to avoid. As a result, we have attempted to identify the most effective treatment which will also eliminate this involuntary closure of the eyelids during biting or chewing. In the upper eyelid, we performed gold plate implantation and levator muscle severing. In the lower eyelid, lateral tarsal strip, permanent medial tarsorrhaphy, horizontal shortening, cartilage grafting and alloderm graft have all been used in the treatment of ectropion. Based on our treatment of multiple patients, we now believe medial tarsorrhaphy supplemented with the various other methods mentioned above are insufficient to achieve the desired result of complete closure of the eyelids. As a result, we are now looking to a modified temporalis transfer procedure to ensure complete closure of the eyelids without the eye closing side effect.
Cartilage ; Christianity ; Ectropion ; Eyelids ; Humans ; Leprosy ; Mastication ; Transplants

PURPOSES: To demonstrate changes in urinary biochemistry that lead to a supersaturation of some salt, which makes a higher prevalence of urinary stone in workers chronically exposed to a hot environment and massive sweating. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was performed at a metal plant and exposure to heat stress was estimated by the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature climatic index. Stone risk profile from our laboratory included volume, specific gravity, creatinine, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, uric acid, phosphorus and pH. On a randomly selected sample of 19 workers exposed and 19 workers not exposed to heat stress without any evidence of stone disease, and family history of nephrolithiasis or predisposing factors such as gout, we performed a stone risk profile by collecting the urine during the 8-hour work shift for 1 consecutive days. The independent student t-test was used to compare each parameter between the different groups. RESULTS: Among a randomly selected urine sample of 19 workers exposed and 19 workers not exposed to heat stress without any evidence of stone disease, significant differences were found in fluid intake (2816.0+/-1981.0 ml. versus 1200.0+/-4147.0), and concentration of creatinine (1481.0+/-691.0 ml./l. versus 1032.0+/-574.0), sodium (201.0+/-55.0 mg./l. versus 147.4+/-58.0), calcium (202.0+/-76.0 mg./l. versus 132.0+/-71.0), uric acid (475.0+/-138.0 mg./l. versus 359.0+/-196.0), phosphorus (638.0+/-283.0 mg./l. versus 328.0+/-196.0), pH(6.05+/-0.61 versus 6.72+/-0.92), specific gravity(1.029+/-0.005 versus 1.014+/-0.006) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the concept that heat stress represents a real lithogenic risk factors. Therefore, we recommend adequate fluid intake during hot occupations.
Biochemistry* ; Calcium ; Causality ; Creatinine ; Gout ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Magnesium ; Nephrolithiasis ; Occupations ; Phosphorus ; Plants ; Potassium ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sodium ; Specific Gravity ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Uric Acid ; Urinary Calculi ; Urolithiasis

Paralytic lagophthalmos and ectropion in leprosy are serious complications of facial paralysis, which may lead to expose keratitis, corneal ulceration, further lead to blindness. In 1995, 1997 and 1999, we had reported in this journal on the surgical treatment of paralytic lagophthalmos and ectropion. In the first report of 1995 for lid closing, I(Ahn) performed various method of traditional surgery such as temporal muscle transfer, medial and lateral canthoplasty as well as gold implantation. In the 2nd report of 1997, We(Ahn and Park) presented combination treatment of gold plate with minor change of design and weight in the upper lid and medial canthoplasty with horizontal shortening in the lower lid. In the 3rd report of 1999, We described an additional graft of conchal cartilage in the lower lid. However, the lateral end of the cartilage would warp and create new partial ectropion several months later. Therfore, we shifted from cartilage to Alloderm(R), acellular dermal graft. We applied it to the lower border of the tarsus instead of cartilage and fixed each end to medial and lateral canthal ligaments respectively. We think Alloderm(R) is a good substitute for the cartilage and is an effective volume expander to the atrophic lower lid.
Ankle ; Blindness ; Cartilage ; Corneal Ulcer ; Ectropion* ; Facial Paralysis ; Keratitis ; Leprosy ; Ligaments ; Temporal Muscle ; Transplants

Lobular carcinoma of the male breast is very rare, because of the absence of lobules in the normal male breast. Herein, a case of lobular carcinoma of the male breast with cellular features of signet ring cells is described. A 57-year-old man presented with a left breast mass. Histologic examination showed classic invasive lobular carcinoma with in situ component. Most infiltrating tumor cells had a prominent signet ring cell appearance. The patient was phenotypically male and had fathered children. There was no history of predisposing factors to breast lesion, such as hormone use or gynecomastia.
Breast* ; Carcinoma, Lobular* ; Causality ; Child ; Fathers ; Gynecomastia ; Humans ; Male* ; Middle Aged

Lobular carcinoma of the male breast is very rare, because of the absence of lobules in the normal male breast. Herein, a case of lobular carcinoma of the male breast with cellular features of signet ring cells is described. A 57-year-old man presented with a left breast mass. Histologic examination showed classic invasive lobular carcinoma with in situ component. Most infiltrating tumor cells had a prominent signet ring cell appearance. The patient was phenotypically male and had fathered children. There was no history of predisposing factors to breast lesion, such as hormone use or gynecomastia.
Breast* ; Carcinoma, Lobular* ; Causality ; Child ; Fathers ; Gynecomastia ; Humans ; Male* ; Middle Aged

We report herein a. case of angio-Behqets syndrome, arterial occlusion type in a 31 year-old male. He had a history of scrotal ulceration, frequent oral ulceration and ocular pain with decreased visual acuity. About 8 months ago, moderately dull pain developed on the volar aspect of left index finger. Subsequently, a bean sized bluish patch developed on the previous painful area and on the ipsilateral thumb tip. Subungual splinter hemorrhages developed on the distal portions of left thumb and index finger nails at the same time. The result of saline puncture test showed the positive reaction in both intradermal and subeutaneous injections. The hrachial angiography showed an obliteration of digital artery at the second proxirnal phalanx of ulnar side.
Adult ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Behcet Syndrome* ; Fingers ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Oral Ulcer ; Punctures ; Thumb ; Ulcer ; Visual Acuity