BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic scars and keloids have been regarded as representative of the proliferative change of the connective tissue of the dermis. Clinically, postburn and surgical scars show a smooth, shiny, erythematous appearance at an early stage. It is readily conceivable that, in such scars, changes may take place not only in the dermis but also in the epidermis and, possibly in the stratum corneum (SC). However, in contrast to the tremendous number of studies of scars on the dermis, those studies focusing on the epidermis and the SC have been scarce. OBJECTIVE: We have focused on the function of the SC covering the post-burn scar tissue and keloids. METHODS: Using noninvasive bioengineering measurements of functional properties of the SC, such as transepidermal water loss(TEWL), we evaluated the SC barrier function in various types of healing wounds, such as early erythematous lesion, hypertrophic scar, keloid, healed atrophic scar, scar occurring at the recipient site of the skin grafts and the adjacent normal appearing skin for control. RESULTS: 1. The TEWL values were 14.9+/-7.3 in early erythematous lesions, 13.2+/-7.5 in hypertrophic scars, 10.2+/-5.8 in keloids, 5.6+/-1.3 in healed atrophic scars, 6.9+/-4.3 in scars occurring at the recipient site of the skin grafts. Significantly increased TEWL values were found in all individual lesions(p>0.01) except for the scars occurring at the recipient site of the skin grafts(p<0.05) compared with the corresponding normal control skin. 2. When we randomly compared early erythematous lesions, hypertrophic scars, kelids, atrophic
Bioengineering ; Cicatrix ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic* ; Connective Tissue ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Keloid* ; Skin* ; Transplants ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND: Whether the changes of risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, alcohol) can precipitate stroke remains unknown, and antecedent infection and psychologic stress are described insufficiently as predisposing risk factors for cerebral infarction. Therefore, we attempted to examine the roles of recent infection, psychologic stress, and the changes of risk factors as potential precipitants in each stroke subtypes. We also tested the temporal relationship between preceding exposure to coldness and stroke onset. METHODS: In this case-control study, 113 consecutive patients with acute cerebrovascular disease (38 small vessel disease, 43 large vessel disease, 11 cardiogenic infarction, 4 infarction of undetermined cause, and 17 intracerebral hemorrhage) and 23 control subjects were evaluated. Changes of the risk factors (and their management) were interviewed. A sign/symptom based questionnaire was used to characterize the prevalence of recent prior infection and exposure to coldness. Psychologic stress was measured with the use of Social Readjustment Rating Scale. RESULTS: The negative change of alcohol drinking was significantly higher in the stroke group. However, there was no significant difference between stroke and control groups in the changes of the other risk factors. The prevalence of previous (within 1 month) infection was significantly higher in the stroke group compared with control subjects (p=0.03). However, there were no significant differences among the stroke subtypes in the prevalence of infection(p=0.08). Upper respiratory tract infections constituted the most common type of infection. The exposure to coldness was significantly higher in the stroke group compared with control subjects (p=0.002). The level of stress within the prior 1 month/1 year was significantly higher in the stroke group than control group (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that preceding infection, exposure to coldness, psychologic stress, and the negative change of alcohol drinking may be com.
Alcohol Drinking ; Case-Control Studies ; Cerebral Infarction ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Infarction ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stress, Psychological* ; Stroke*

This study was performed to investigate clinical and histopathologic features of steroid acne, which was induced by systemic administration and topical application of corticosteroids. Thirty five cases of steroid acne visited to Department of Dermatology, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital from September, 1g79 to June, 1984 were analyzed, and the results obtained can be summarized as follows: 1. The peak age of the subjects was third decade(42.9%) with an average age of 30. 1 years, and male to female ratio was l.9: 1,2. The skin lesions had unique clinical features that showed many, uniform sized, erythematous papules and pust;ules. 3 The predilection sites of steroid acne induced by systemic steroid therapy were anterior chest(93.1%), back(44,8%), neck(31.0%), shoulder(31.0%) and face (20.7%) 4 Among thirty five cases of steroid acne, twenty cases were induced by parenteral adrninistration of dexamethasone disodium phosphate(group A), nine cases by oral administration of prednisolone(group B), and six cases by topical application of three kinds of steroid creams(group C). 5. The mean induction time after starting steroid in group A(ll. 3 days) was shorter than those in group B and C(18.9 days and l4.8 days respective)y). The mean total dosage of used steroid in group A was 191. 3mg of dexamethasone disodium phosphate and that in group B was 515. 7mg of prednisolone. On histopathologic findings of twenty two skin biopsy specimens of the three groups, perivascular inflammatory reaction was the most common finding followed by intra-and peri-follicular inflammatory reaction, dermal vascular dilatation, necrosis of follicular epithelium, comedo, intraand periollicular abscess and rupture of follicle.
Abscess ; Acne Vulgaris* ; Administration, Oral ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Biopsy ; Dermatology ; Dexamethasone ; Dilatation ; Epithelium ; Female ; Heart ; Humans ; Male ; Necrosis ; Prednisolone ; Rupture ; Skin

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Biofeedback, Psychology* ; Electric Stimulation*

Occasionally, patients with gastrointestinal Crohn's disease (CD) develop granulomatous skin lesions at sites remote from the gastrointestinal tract, separated from other ulcerations by normal skin, a phenomenon that has been referred to as metastatic cutaneous CD. Although metastatic CD of the vulval region has been often reported in English literature, we could not find such cases with family history. We report a case of vulval CD occurring in siblings.
Crohn Disease* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Siblings* ; Skin ; Ulcer ; Vulva*

Isolated dorsal dislocation of the trapezoid is an unusual injury. In 1990 Ostroski found only 15 cases of dorsal dislocation of the trapezoid in the world literature. The trapezoid is a wedge-shaped bone with the larger dorsal and smaller volar surface area, and stabilized by strong palmar ligaments. Therefore the dislocation of the trapezoid is produced hy a violent force against the dorsum of the hand on a rigid object and often associated with other injuries of the hand. The diagnosis is often missed or delayed perhaps secondary to the difficulty in interpreting the X-ray if you have not kept in mind. Several therapeutic modalities are performed from the collected experience of the authors reporting this injury. A rare example of an isolated dorsal dislocation of the trapezoid bone is described.
Diagnosis ; Dislocations* ; Hand ; Ligaments ; Trapezoid Bone

Aneurysmal bone cyst is a rare, non-neoplastic condition, which was first coined by Jaffe and Lichtenstein in 1942. Clavicle is an unusual site for aneurysmal bone cyst. Authors present a case of aneurysmal bone cyst which was found in the right clavicle of a 5 years old boy, because of its rarity of site of predilection.
Aneurysm ; Bone Cysts ; Clavicle ; Humans ; Male ; Numismatics

No abstract available.
Thrombosis* ; Veins*

In the orthopaedic field, some elective surgery such such as joint replacement, spinal surgery and limb sparing procedures for musculoskeletal tumors frequently need various amounts of blood trans- fusion. But homologous transfusion occasionally result in various side effect including allergic reaction, febrile reaction, coagulopathies due to reduced platelets and coagulating factors, graft versus host disease(GVHD) and transmission of infectious diseases such as malaria, syphilis, hepatitis and AIDS. Recently these complications especially in elective surgery might result in medicolegal and social problem. Risks of transfusion could be minimized with autologous blood. So many authors are interested in prebanked autologous transfusion in elective orthopaedic surgery to prevent these problems. But there might be need of additional homologous blood transfusion because of the time limited and low yield of autologous blood. Recombinant human erythropoietin(4-HuEPO) has been shown to increase erythropoiesis. The authors could yield 5 units during 14 days using r-HuEPO without any adverse reactions. Therefore we could performed decompression, posterolateral fusion with pedicular screw fixation in spondylolisthesis without additional homologous transfusion.
Blood Transfusion ; Communicable Diseases ; Decompression ; Erythropoiesis ; Erythropoietin ; Extremities ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Joints ; Malaria ; Social Problems ; Spondylolisthesis ; Syphilis ; Transplants