No abstract available.
Adrenogenital Syndrome* ; Congenital Hypothyroidism*

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

Anetoderma is a rare cutaneous disorder characterized by circumscribed loss of skin elasticity. This has been historically divided into inflammatory(Jadassohn-Pellizzari) and non-inflammatory(Schw eninger-Buzzi) type. We herein, report a case of Schweninger-Buzzi type anetoderma occurring on a 6 year-old girl. The lesions did not have an inflammatory onset. Histologically, the focal loss of elastic fibers was seen on the lesion.
Anetoderma* ; Child ; Elastic Tissue ; Elasticity ; Female ; Humans ; Skin

Many authors reported the etiology of hypoplasia of the nasomaxillary complex as trauma, infection, underdevelopment. To correct these deformities, Le Fort II Osteotomy and its modification has been popularly applied. This method enabled total advancement of nasomaxillary complexes and acquirememt of midfacial esthetics. But it has some limitations such as various occlusal deviation or lateral shifting of nasomaxillary complex in case of nasomaxillary retrusion. We grouped these patients as follows : 1. Nasomaxillary retrusion without shifting of nasomaxillary complex (1) Anteroposterior deviation of occlusal plane (2) Lateral deviation of occlusal plane(including canting) (3) Supero-inferior deviation of occlusal plane (4) Combined disturbance of occlusal plane without shifting of nasamaxillary complex 2. Lateral shifting of nasomaxillary complex with or without deviation of occlusal plane We performed Le Fort II and I combined osteotomy on eleven cases of midfacial deformity from June 1994 to July 1997 and in most of the cases, followed up maximum 36 months and could acquire positional stability and improvement of facial eathetics.
Congenital Abnormalities* ; Dental Occlusion ; Esthetics ; Humans ; Osteotomy*

Trichilemmoma is a benign neoplasm originated from the outer root sheath of hair follicle and usually occurs as small solitary papule on the face, particulary on the nose and cheek. Most lesions are clinically misinterpreted as basal cell carcinoma or verruca vulgaris. We report two cases of trichilernmoma on the face which were misdiagnosed as verruca vulgaris clinically. The histopathologic findings revealed lobular acanthosis of glycogen rich clear cells oriented about a follicle. At the edge of the lesions, a, palisade of columnar cells, which resembled the outer root sheath of hair follicle, rested on a thickened basement membrane. The skin lesions were removed by 3mm punch without recurrence.
Basement Membrane ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Cheek ; Glycogen ; Hair Follicle ; Nose ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Warts

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to investigate the effect of exercise training on defense mechanism of chronic degenerative disease, aging, and memory impairments of senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM)P8 under the hypothesis that "Senile dementia may be prevented by regular exercises". METHODS: To evaluate the effects of exercise training on the defense mechanism of aging and memory impairment, SAMP8 were divided into two groups, the control group and exercise training groups. the exercise training group were performed with low (O2max 25~33%), middle (O2max 50%) and high (O2max 66~75%) intensity exercise. All SAMP8 mice were fed experimental diet ad libitum until 4, 8 months, and dead period. RESULTS: Median lifespan in middle exercise group resulted in a significantly increased (23.5% and 18.7%, respectively), whereas these lifespan in high exercise group resulted in an unexpectedly decreased (13.5% and 12.1%, respectively) compared with control group. Body fat levels in 4 and 8 months of age were significantly decreased 43% to 51% in middle exercise group, whereas were remarkably deceased to 57% in high exercise group compared with control group. It is believed that extended median and maximum lifespan may be effected by calory restriction through the exercise training. Acetylcholine (ACh) levels were significantly increased 6.7% and 8.5% in middle and high exercise groups, and also choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activities were significantly increased 10.3% and 11.9% in middle and high exercise groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that proper and regular exercises such as middle group (O2max 50%) may play an effective role in attenuating an oxygen radicals and may play an important role in improving a learning and memory impairments of senile dementia.
Acetylcholine ; Adipose Tissue ; Aging* ; Alzheimer Disease ; Animals ; Choline O-Acetyltransferase ; Dementia ; Diet ; Exercise ; Learning ; Memory* ; Mice ; Reactive Oxygen Species

Palisaded encapsulated neuroma (PEN) is a distinctive benign cutaneous tumor that was first described by Reed et al. in 1972. We have recently experienced two cases of PEN. Clinically, these lesions were asymptomatic, flesh-colored or reddish brown papules or nodules. Light microscopy revealed several lobulated, partially encapsulated dermal tumors composed of interlacing Schwann cell fascicles. In some areas, palisading of nuclei was observed, but this was not characteristic. On Bodian staining, moderate to large numbers of tiny axons were observed. Electron microscopy demonstrated many myelinated axons incompletely invested by Schwan cell cytoplasm.
Axons ; Cytoplasm ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron ; Myelin Sheath ; Neuroma*

Purpose: To evaluate the proportion of bevacizumab and the reason for its usage in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records was performed for 1,541 patients who received ranibizumab, aflibercept, or bevacizumab injection to treat wet AMD. The proportion of bevacizumab among the entire set of injections was identified. The reason for selecting bevacizumab was additionally identified. Results: During the study period, a total of 2,929 anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections were performed; 2,236 (76.3%) were ranibizumab or aflibercept injections and 693 (23.7%) were bevacizumab injections. The most common reason for bevacizumab usage was ‘having a 0.1 or worse best-corrected visual acuity or being unable to assure reimbursement due to the development of extensive scarring or geographic atrophy’ (297 bevacizumab injections, 42.9%). The second most common reason was ‘the inability to assure reimbursement such as extrafoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) or early CNV without definite fluid in the foveal region’ (201 bevacizumab injections, 29.0%). Conclusions Bevacizumab was used in 23.7% of the anti-VEGF injections to treat wet AMD. When analyzing patients’ treatment burden and financial impact, the results of the present study may provide useful information. Further multi-center studies are required to evaluate more precisely the usage of anti-VEGF drugs.

Purpose: To evaluate the proportion of bevacizumab and the reason for its usage in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records was performed for 1,541 patients who received ranibizumab, aflibercept, or bevacizumab injection to treat wet AMD. The proportion of bevacizumab among the entire set of injections was identified. The reason for selecting bevacizumab was additionally identified. Results: During the study period, a total of 2,929 anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections were performed; 2,236 (76.3%) were ranibizumab or aflibercept injections and 693 (23.7%) were bevacizumab injections. The most common reason for bevacizumab usage was ‘having a 0.1 or worse best-corrected visual acuity or being unable to assure reimbursement due to the development of extensive scarring or geographic atrophy’ (297 bevacizumab injections, 42.9%). The second most common reason was ‘the inability to assure reimbursement such as extrafoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) or early CNV without definite fluid in the foveal region’ (201 bevacizumab injections, 29.0%). Conclusions Bevacizumab was used in 23.7% of the anti-VEGF injections to treat wet AMD. When analyzing patients’ treatment burden and financial impact, the results of the present study may provide useful information. Further multi-center studies are required to evaluate more precisely the usage of anti-VEGF drugs.

Purpose: To evaluate 24-month outcomes of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). Methods: Retrospective review of medical records was performed for 34 patients (34 eyes) who were diagnosed with PCV. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was measured before the injection and at 6, 12, and 24 months after the first injection. The value measured before treatment was compared with those measured after treatment. Results: The patients received mean 6.5 ± 2.1 intravitreal anti-VEGF injections during the 24-month follow-up period. The logarithm of minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) BCVA before the injection and at 6, 12, and 24 months after the first injections were 0.57 ± 0.32, 0.43 ± 0.29, 0.46 ± 0.33, and 0.62 ± 0.39, respectively. The BCVA was significantly improved at 6 and 12 months (p = 0.001 and p = 0.037, respectively). However, there was no significant difference between BCVA before the injection and 24 months (p = 1.000) after the first injection. At the 24-month follow-up, stable (< 2 logMAR lines of change) or improved (≥ 2 logMAR lines of improvement) BCVA was noted in 13 (38.2%) and 10 eyes (29.4%), respectively. Conclusions Anti-VEGF therapy was beneficial in maintaining long-term visual acuity in PCV. However, significant improvement in visual acuity was not noted.