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

Antiseptics are substances that kill or prevent the growth of microorganisms when applied to living tissue. They must be effective against microorganisms but must also retain their activity in presence of body fluids without being harmful locally or systemically. Among many antiseptics, Betadine(R) has been widely used because of its low toxicity and high germicidal efficacy. We reported 2 cases of allergic contact dermatitis to Betadine(R) in surgical patients. They had eczematous eruption along the Betadine(R) applying sites. Path tests Betadine(R) confirmed the diagnosis.
Anti-Infective Agents, Local ; Body Fluids ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Diagnosis ; Humans

Ankle arthrodesis has been regarded as a good operative treatment for post traumatic and rheumatoid arthritis of ankle, and ankle arthroplasty has been also developed with several types, from 1970, by Lord & Marotte. Ankle arthroplasty is more functional & less cosmetic troublesome than arthrodesis, and with more developed prosthesis design, more good result will come. The authors operated 6 cases of total ankle arthroplasty for posttraumatic and rheumatoid arthritis of ankle, which were also indications of arthrodesis, and introduce the results and operative problems of ankle arthroplasty.
Ankle ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Arthrodesis ; Arthroplasty ; Prosthesis Design

We report a case of trichorrhexis nodosa in 16-year-old male. Multiple broken hair patches were seen on the both eyebrows. Scanning electron micrascopic findings revealed typical trichorrhexis nodosa; nodular swelling of hair shaft, loss of hair cuticle, longitudinal fissuring and fracture of hair cortex, and paintbrush effect on the side of fracture. Simple avoidance of trauma gave some regrowth of hair. Intralesinional administration of triamcinolone acetonide was not to be effective.
Adolescent ; Eyebrows* ; Hair ; Humans ; Male ; Triamcinolone Acetonide

Kerion celsi is severe inflammatory type of tinea capitis. It occurs almost exclusively in pre-pubertal children. We report a case of Kerion celsi occuring in a 79-year-old woman. Culture of infected hair on Sabouraud glucose agar showed Microsporum canis Farnily history and fungus study suggested the importance of indirect route in Microsporum canis infection.
Agar ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Fungi ; Glucose ; Hair ; Humans ; Microsporum* ; Tinea Capitis*

To evaluate whether mast cells are involved in developing pathologic feature of psoriasis, 60 biopsy specimens of patients with psoriasis were analyzed. They had not been treated for at least 1 week before skin biopsy. Histological findings in early and fully developed lesions and numbers of mast cells in their dermal papillae were investigated. The results were as follows: 1. In epidermal changes of psoriatic lesions, parakeratosis and acanthosis revealed different findings between early lesions and fully developed lesions. While early lesions revealed mounds of parakeratosis and mild to moderate acanthosis, fully developed lesions revealed confluent parakeratosis and moderate to severe acanthosis. In dermal changes of psoriatic lesions, papillomatosis revealed different findings between early developed lesions and fully developed lesions. While early lesions revealed normal to moderate papillomatosis, fully developed lesions revealed moderate to severe papillomatosis. 2. Degree of acanthosis is related to the degree of papillomatosis. The more increase in the degree of acanthosis, papillomatosis, and parakeratosis, mast cell numbers in dermal papillae were more increased. 3. Mast cell numbers in dermal papillae were more increased in fully developed lesions than early lesions. 4. These findings suggest that mast cell may play an active role in developing pathologic finding of psoriasis.
Biopsy ; Humans ; Mast Cells* ; Papilloma ; Parakeratosis ; Psoriasis* ; Skin

BACKGROUND: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the accuracy of reduction based on postoperative computed tomography (CT) images after arthroscopic stabilization using tightrope system for unstable distal clavicle fracture. METHODS: Twelve patients with distal clavicle fracture combined with coracoclavicular (CC) ligament injury (type II, V) who received arthroscopically assisted fixation using a flip button device were evaluated for accuracy of reduction using 3-dimensional postoperative CT scan by measuring the degree of distal clavicular angulation and clavicular shortening. RESULTS: Immediate postoperative plain radiograph confirmed restoration of the CC distance (CCD) in 10 patients. At final follow-up, the CCD remained reduced anatomically on plain radiographs in these patients. All patients showed excessive posterior angulation and shortening compared to the opposite side. The average Constant score recovered to 94.8 at final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Indirect reduction and arthroscopic subacromial approach with flip button fixation of unstable distal clavicle fractures demonstrated favorable clinical results despite unavoidable posterior angulation of distal clavicle and shortening the total length of clavicle.
Arthroscopy ; Clavicle ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Papaverine has been widely used to reverse cerebral vasospasm because of its vasodilatory effect. However, its therapeutic value has been limited at least in part. In a previous study, low concentration papaverine was observed to potentiate a phorbol dibutyrate induced constriction of rat cerebral microvessels in vitro. The purpose of this study was to investigate the above effect in large cerebral arteries. Rabbit basilar artery was constricted in vivo by topical application of phorbol dibutyrate. The basilar artery was visualized using transclival exposure, and its diameter monitored using videomicroscopy. At the concentrations of 50, 100, and 500 M, papaverine elicits a dose-dependent vasodilatation of basilar artery that had been preconstricted with 20 nM phorbol dibutyrate. Subsequently, the above procedure was repeated, using lower concentrations of papaverine at 0.1, 1 and 10 M with no observable consistent potentiation effect. These results suggest that structural and pharmacological differences between large cerebral arteries and cerebral microvessels may contribute to the differences in their vasospastic response.
Animals ; Basilar Artery* ; Cerebral Arteries ; Constriction ; Microscopy, Video ; Microvessels ; Papaverine* ; Rats ; Vasodilation ; Vasospasm, Intracranial

Granular cell tumor (GCT) of the breast is a rare neoplasm that is usually benign in nature. The results of physical examination and ultrasonographic findings of GCT of the breast often mimic those of other malignancies. A 46-year-old woman underwent wide excision for removal of a large mass in the left breast (about 10 cm in diameter). The pathologic finding of the excised mass was benign GCT. A year after initial surgery, recurrence of the left breast mass was found along with a newly developed mass in the contralateral right breast, which was excised. In this study, we describe the case of a newly developed GCT in the contralateral breast 1 year after excision of a larger breast GCT.
Breast* ; Female ; Granular Cell Tumor* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Physical Examination ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: Bone graft is essential for successful spinal fusion. So, we clinically assessed the effect of uniting grafted autologous bone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis is performed on 46 patients who had grade I or II, one segmental, degenerative spondyloiisthesis according to Meyerding classification and treated operatively by posterolateral fusion with posterior decompression and autologous iliac bone graft from January 1991 to June 1996. We got the data from simple anteroposterior, lateral, flexion- extension X-ray film at preoperative, postoperative and last follow-up period, and from clinical results at last OPD follow-up according to Kirkaldy-Willis criteria. We compared the union of grafted autologous bone with clinical results using X2-test. We also compared preoperative spinal instability, with/without instrumentation and intraoperative reduction with the union of grafted autologous bane and clinical results. RESULTS: There was high significant correlation (P=0.000) between the union of grafted autologous bone and clinical results statistically, CONCLUSIONS: This results suggest that the union of grafted autologous bone was an important factor in determing clinical results.
Classification ; Decompression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; Spondylolisthesis* ; Transplants* ; X-Ray Film