Mach bands, a visual phenomenon resulting from lateral inhibitory impulsess in the retina, are recognized aslucent or dense lines at the borders of different radiographic densities. A number of clinical situations have been described in which Mach bands may cause difficulty in radiographic diagnosis. Photodensitometric measurement of the film can differentiate the true change in film density from the Mach band which is an optical illusion. Authors present several examples of photodensitometric tracings of Mach bands, with the brief review of themechanism of their production.
Diagnosis ; Optical Illusions ; Retina

A case of stasis dermatitis with hepatomegaly is reported. The patient is 50 year old male. About 3 years ago a dark-brownish macule on the left shin was appeared with the severe itching sensation and spread to the margin with edema, ulceration, and appeared the varricous veins on the margin, Biopsy on the ulceration revealed the hemociderin deposition and fibrosis in the dermis. The physical examination revealed that the liver was enlarged 3cm, below the right costal margin and liver biopsy showed early cirrhotic change, but without impairment of liver function. He was treated with massage, elastic bandage for 2 weeks with good response.
Biopsy ; Compression Bandages ; Dermatitis* ; Dermis ; Edema ; Fibrosis ; Hepatomegaly ; Humans ; Liver ; Male ; Massage ; Middle Aged ; Physical Examination ; Pruritus ; Sensation ; Ulcer ; Veins

Even though ultrasonography is a primary tool for evaluation of gynecological pelvic mass, CT can be helpful when ultrasonography is suboptimal either because of abundant intestinal gas or marked obesity. Authors experienced 3 cases of hydatidiform mole demonstrated by CT. The findings of hydatidiform mole are enlargement of uterus, low density in the uterine cavity, irregular soft tissue mass with small multiple cysts, and strong contrast enhancement of the soft tissue mass within the uterine cavity. CT can be a useful diagnostic tool for differentiation of hydatidiform mole from choriocarcioma because of good visualization of uterine wall and pelvic structures.
Female ; Hydatidiform Mole ; Obesity ; Pregnancy ; Ultrasonography ; Uterus

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Humans ; Obesity*

No abstract available.
Ixodes* ; Tick Bites* ; Ticks*

BACKGROUND: Langerhans cells (LC), keratinocytes and Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells(DEC) are epidermal cells which are known to have important roles in inflammatory or immunologic skin disorders. Allergic contact dermatitis(ACD) is a prototype of a delayed hypersensitive reaction in which LC, keratinocytes and T lymphocytes play an important role. The role of LC in ACD is well known, but the role of Thy-1+ DEC is not yet fully revealed. Futhermore, the mechanism of irritant contact dermatitis(ICD) is not known and more study is required on the interaction between these epidermal cells in ICD. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to observe the changes of these cells in ACD and ICD and to discuss their possible roles in the disease precess. MEHTODS: We evoked ACD with DNFB and ICD with croton oil in BALB/c mice and observed the morphologic changes of LC, Ia+ keratinocytes, and Thy-1+ DEC by immunoperoxidase staining when the inflammation was at its peak and at the resolution state. RESULTS: 1. In the control group, LC were evenly distributed and their average number was 1147+/-132/mm*. Thy-1+ DEC were slightly bigger than LC and showed uneven distribution. The average number of Thy-1+ DEC was 57+/-69/mm* Ia+ keratinocytes did not appeared. 2. On the 1st day of DNFB challenge, the number of LC was significantly decreased and their size and dendritic processes were increased when compared to those of the control group. Most of the keratinocytes showed Ia antigen expression on their surfaces. 3. On the 12th day of DNFB challenge, no significant changes in the number and morphologyof LC were noted when compared to the cotrol group, Ia+ keratinocytes were not observed. 4. there were no significant changes in the number and morphology of Thy-1+ DEC in ACD on the 1st and 12th day after DNFB challenge. 5. On the 2nd day after croton oil application, the number of LC was significantly decreased but the morphology not significantly changed. Ia+ keratinocytes were not observed. 6. On the 20th day after croton oil application, the number of LC was significantly increased but the morphology was not significantly changed. Ia+ keratinocytes were not observed. 7. There were no significant changes in th number and morphology of Thy-1+ DEC in ICD on the 2nd and 20th day after application of croton oil. Ia+ keratinocytes were not observed. CONCLUSION: In can be deduced that the LC have important roles in the mechanisms of both ACD and ICD reactions. Ia+ keratinocytes have an important role mainlyin the inflammatory precess of ACD. In addition, since the changes of the number of Langerhans cells in ACD and ICD showed different time courses and Ia+ keratinocytes appeared only in ACD, we hypothesized that different pathways of inflammation exist in ACD and ICD, and different cytokines may be responsible. It is probable that Thy-1+ DEC does not have any significant role in the inflammatory process of both ACD and ICD.
Animals ; Croton Oil ; Cytokines ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Dinitrofluorobenzene ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II ; Inflammation ; Keratinocytes ; Langerhans Cells ; Mice ; Skin ; T-Lymphocytes

No abstract available.

Hypospadias can be repaired in the majority cases in 1-stage with a high success rate. We reviewed clinical experience of 50 patients who underwent primary hypospadias repair by 1 surgeon using 1-stage repairs except 3 cases in a 30-month period. The results were 1). The half of patients were younger than 5 years (48%). 2). A total of 34 cases (68.0%) had an associated ventral curvature. The dorsal tunica albuginea plication to correct intrinsic curvature was done in 21 cases (61.8%) and dividing the urethral plate in only 3 cases (8.8%). 3). Associated anomalies were cryptorchidism in 7, hydrocele in 3 and severe penoscrotal transposition in 8 cases. 4). 19 cases of anterior hypospadias were repaired by meatoplasty using Heineke-Mikulicz tissue rearrangement (9 cases), MAGPI (3 cases), pyramid procedure (4 cases), Mathieu urethroplasty (2 cases) and onlay island flap (1 case). Of the 31 cases of middle and posterior hypospadias onlay island flap repair was performed in 24 cases (77.4%). 5). The success rates in anterior, middle and posterior hypospadias were 94.7, 64.7 and 42.9%, respectively. The overall success rate was 70%. 6). The most commonly used procedure was onlay island flap urethroplasty. Only 14 of 25 cases (56.0%) were successful with this method but the last 8 cases were repaired with no complications. 7). The most common complications were urethrocutaneous fistula (11 cases) and meatal retraction (3 cases). The complications were managed by rotational advancement flap (11 cases), meatal based flap (2 cases) and urethral advancement (1 case) and the success rate was 73.3%. In conclusion, to achieve more satisfactory results the choice of operation depends on the configuration of either glans or meatus, presence or absence of chordee and status of ventral penile skin in anterior hypospadias. Although the 2-stage repair remains a safe and reliable alternatives for severe hypospadias 1-stage repair was more useful except severe hypospadias combined with penoscrotal transposition."
Cryptorchidism ; Female ; Fistula ; Humans ; Hypospadias* ; Inlays ; Male ; Skin

Staphylococcus aureus is one of many causative agents of the fu uncles. As the S. aureus strains resistant to penicillinase-repsistant penicillins (methicillin-resistant S. aureus, MRSA) are more frequently isolated, their accuiate identification became a very important step in selection of an appropriate therapeutic regimen. We report herein a case of multiple furunculosis caused by metkicillin-resistant S. aureus in a 11-year-old male patient, who was successfully treated with sulbactam/ampicillin and amikacin.
Amikacin ; Child ; Furunculosis* ; Humans ; Male ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Penicillins ; Staphylococcus aureus

Immune complex deposits have been found in the choroid plexus in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, and it can be assumed that an immune complex injury to the choroid plexus might be related to the neuropsychiatric disorder seen in patients with SLE. Acute serum sickness was experimentally induced in rabbits by intravenous injection of crystalized BSA. Prednisolone in conventionl dosage was administered to study the immunologic injury of the choroid plexus as well as the mechanisms involved in the prednisolone effect. Light, electron microscopic and immunofluorescent studies were made. The host immunoglobulins(IgG, IgA, IgM) and beta 1 C globulin were demonstrated in the choroid plexus. Histopathological findings included mild to moderate interstitial and perivascular lymphocyte and plasma cell infiltrations and edema. Control animals showed no immune deposits and no histopathologic changes. Electron microscopic findings comparing the immunofluorescent and histopathologic changes were minimal, and showed sparse, vague electron dense deposits particularly in the interstitial spaces, knob-like focal thickening of vascular basement membrane, swelling of endothelial cells, and some accentuation of interstitial cells. The morphologic and functional similarities of the choroid plexus and glomerular basement membrane, the findings in morphologic, electron microscopic and immunofluorescent examinations of the experimental rabbits, along with the observed effects of prednisolone, together with similar reports in the recent literature suggest that immunologic injury of the choroid plexus could be considered as a new disease entity. This immunologic injury might play a significant role in neuropsychiatric disorders in the long standing immune complex deposit diseases. The very interesting finding is the nature and function of the interstitial cell between the endothelial (vascular) and epithelial side basement membranes, and speculation as to whether or not the role of this interstitial cell in choroid plexus injury may be in its possible analogy with glomerular mesangial cells.
Acute Disease ; Animal ; Choroid Plexus/drug effects ; Choroid Plexus/immunology* ; Choroid Plexus/pathology ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/etiology ; Prednisolone/pharmacology* ; Rabbits ; Serum Sickness/chemically induced ; Serum Sickness/complications* ; Serum Sickness/immunology