In order to increase the positive rate of cultre for dermatophyte infections of the nails, the authors devised the new file method. It is to perform the KOH mount arid culture with fine subungual hyperkeratotic debris obtained from the hyponycLium after grinding the nail plate from the surface to the bottom using various files, And we compared the result of this new method with that of conventional scraping and punch methods in 40 toenails and ]1 fingernails. The positive rate of culture for tinea unguium by three different methods was as follows: It was 52.5%(21 cases) through conventional scraping method, 70% (28 cases) through punch method and 80% (32 cases) through file method in the 40 toenai ls. lt was 18.2% (2 cases) through punch method, 27. 3% (3 sases) through scraping method and 54. 6%(6 cases) through file method in the 11'fingernails. In conclusion, the file method was found to be a more effective and successful method to detect the causative organisms of tinea unguium and was also easy to handle.
Arthrodermataceae ; Nails ; Onychomycosis* ; Tinea*

BACKGROUND: Recently, it is substituted automatic sphygmomanometer for mercury sphygmomanometer. But it seems to be insufficient for data of its accuracy. A sample accurate automatic sphygmomanometer could have an important role in the management of hypertension. The aim of this study is to assess the accuracy of the automatic sphygmomanometer that is used common practice and at home. METHODS: We collected 247 patients who visited the department of Famiiy Practice of Taegu medical center from April to August 1996. BP was measured sequentially same arm by standard device(mercury. sphygmomanometer), test device A(A&D TM-2650), test device B(seine SE-2000). We assessed the automatic sphygmomanometer according to the standards set out by the British Hypertension Society(BHS) protocol and the American Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation(AAMI). These data were analysed using pearson' correlation and paired t-test. RESULTS: Test device A was highly correlated to mercury sphygmomanometer in systolic and diastolic BP(r=0.90, r=0.88). Also test device B was highly correlated to that(r=0.90, r=0.87). The mean difference between BP value obtained by the standard device and those obtained by the test device A were 0.59+/-7.66mmHg systole(mean+/-SD) and 3.83+/-6.43mmHg diast.ole, whereas the difference between the former and those obtained by the test device B were 1.70+/-7.99mmHg systole.and 5.58+/-6.38mmHg diastole. Comparing to standard device, there were a signifioant difference except systolic BP of test device A(P<0.05). According to the criteria of the AAMI, the diastolic BP of test device B was not enough and according to the criteria of the BHS, the diastolic BP of both test device were not enough. CONCLUSIONS: Both test device were highly correlated to mercury sphygmomanometer. But according to the criteria of the BHS and AAMI, there were not enough. Because the use of automatic sphygmomanometer was popularized, I think that further study will be required to assess of accuracy.
Arm ; Blood Pressure* ; Daegu ; Diastole ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Sphygmomanometers*

We experienced a 49-year-old female with a slowly growing tumor(4.0x3.5x3.0cm) on her right knee over 3 months' duration. She sustained a flame burn on her right knee at 7 year-old-age. A biopsy on the skin lesion revealed a malignant melanoma picture. Extensive local excision and grafting was done. Nine months after the operation, there was no evidence of recurrence or metastasis.
Biopsy ; Burns* ; Female ; Humans ; Knee ; Melanoma* ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Transplants

This report presents a case of a 17-year-old-girl who developed a, Kaposis varicelliforrn eruption(eczema herpeticum) during oral prednisolone therapy in order to control pemphigus foliaceus. Diagnosis was made by the history, clinical feature and histologic examination. Within 24 hours after the initiation of therapy with ribavirin(Viramid), new lesions had ceased to develop.
Diagnosis ; Kaposi Varicelliform Eruption* ; Pemphigus* ; Prednisolone

No abstract available.
Female ; Ovary*

No abstract available.
Bowen's Disease ; Fingers

Red lunula, dusky red erythema of nailbed in the area of lunula, has ben reported in patients with alopecia areata and rheumatuid arthritis. We report a case of red lunula in a 63-year-old man. The patient showed dusky red, blanchable erythema of the lunula area in nailbecl of total fingernail, and toer.iails in association with hypertension due to nephrotic syndromc.
Alopecia Areata ; Arthritis ; Erythema ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Middle Aged ; Nails ; Nephrotic Syndrome*

BACKGROUND: The cell mediated immunity has an important role in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis. sIL-2R has been known as a sensitive marker of T lymphocyte activation. Elevated serum levels of sIL-2R have been found in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders, organ transplantation, autoimmune diseases, and various granulomatous diseases. Elevated levels of sIL-2R have been also found in the seam and pleural fluid of the patients with tuberculosis. To evaluate the diagnostic value of sIL-2R in the differentiation of tuberculous pleurisy and. nontuberculous pleurisy. We measured the level of sIL-2R in the sera and pleural fluids of 12 patients with tuberculous pleurisy and 32 patients with nontuberculous pleurisy. METHOD: Samples of pleural fluid and serum were centrifuged at 2500 rpm for 10 min to remove cell pellets. Soluble R-2R was measured with a sandwitch enzyme immunoassay using the Cellfree r Interleukin-2 Receptor Test kit( T-cell science, Inc. Cambridge, MA). RESULTS: The results obtained were as follows: 1) The sIL-2R level in pleural fluid of the patients with tuberculous pleurisy was higher than that of patients with nontuberculous pleurisy(P<0.005). 2) When the sIL-2R level above 5,000 u/ml in pleural fluid was used as the cut-off value to diagnose tuberculous pleurisy, it had a sensitivity of 84.6% and a specificity of 90.9%. 3) The sIL-2R level in the sera of the patients with tuberculous pleurisy was higher than that of patients with bacterial pleural effusions and normal control group(P<0.05) and there was no difference of levels compared with malignant pleural effusions and transudative pleural effusions(P>0.05). 4) In patients with tuberculous pleurisy, the mean concentration of sIL-2R in pleural fluid was higher than that in serum(P<0.005). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the measurement of elevated levels of pleural fluid sIL-2R in tuberculous pleurisy may be useful in the differential diagnosis between patients with tuberculous pleurisy and nontuberculous pleurisy.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Interleukin-2* ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; Organ Transplantation ; Pleural Effusion ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant ; Pleurisy* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; T-Lymphocytes ; Transplants ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pleural*

A 50-year-old woman with lupus erythematosus profundus of about a year's duration was reported. The patient had no history of discoid lupus erythematosus or systemic lupus erythematosus. Dermatologic examination revealed two, firm, freely movable, well demarcated, subcutaneous plaques, with mildly erythematous overlying skin, measuring 2 x 2 cm (right), 5 x 5 cm (left), was present on the both deltoid region. Histopathologically, this showed panniculitis. Diret immunofluorescence studies showed IgG and IgM deposition on the dermoepidermal junction.
Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Middle Aged ; Panniculitis ; Panniculitis, Lupus Erythematosus* ; Skin

A 3-year-old-male had the appearance of red urine at birth and developed recurrent bullae in sun-exposed area of the skin, erythrodontia, alopecia, splenomegaly and hemolytic anemia, We observed coral red fluorescence of the teeth and urine under Wood's light and detected excessive excretion of the uroporphyrin in the urine and coproporphyrin in the stool wlth inreased porphyrin in the blood. Fluorescence of erythrocyte was demonstrated by:fluoreacence microscopy. Histologic findings showed subepidermal bulla with PAS-positive hyaline deposits around the blood vessels and revealed IgG deposits in the wall of blood vessels and dermo-epidermal junction by direct immunofluorescence.
Alopecia ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Anthozoa ; Blood Vessels ; Erythrocytes ; Fluorescence ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Hyalin ; Immunoglobulin G ; Microscopy ; Parturition ; Porphyria, Erythropoietic* ; Porphyrias ; Skin ; Splenomegaly ; Tooth