The study was performed to measure and compare the peripheral blood T cell and T subsets in normal controls and psoriatic patients. Thirty-two normal controls and fift:en psoriatic patients were subjected to the study and the percentages and the rati vs of peripheral blood T cell and T subsets were measured. The results were as follows: 1. Mean percentages of peripheral blood lymphocytes reactive with OKT3 monoclonal antibody in psoriatic patients were 72. 8+-8. 2%, They decreased significantl) as compared with these in control group(76, 6- i-4. 7%). Mc an percentages of peripheral blood lymphocytes reactive with OKT4 monoclonal antibody in psoriatic patients were 47. 3+6, 7p;. They increased as compared with these in control group(46. 5+-3. 9p;), but the increase was insignificant. 3. Mean percentages of peripheral blood lymphocytes reactive with OKT8 monoclonal antibody in psoriatic patients were 27. 2+5. 5g, They decreased significantly as compared with these in control group(30, 6- l-4. 3%) 4. Mean ratios of lymphocytes reactive with OKT4 monoclonal antibody to these reactive with OKT8 monoclonal antibody in psoriatic patients were 1.8+- 0. 48 They increased significantly as compared with these in control group(1. 6+ 0.34).
Allergy and Immunology ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Muromonab-CD3 ; Psoriasis

Tubular apocrine adenoma and papillary eccrine adenoma are rare sweat gland neoplasms that appear as a small solitary lesion on the scalp or extremities, respectively. Although these lesions are thought to be distinct entities, there are enough similarities between them to group them under the term tubulopapillary hidradenoma or papillary tubular adenoma. We describe a case showing many tubular structures with papillary projection, syringocystadenoma-like structures, and eccrine hirocystoma-like structures in the axillary area. The term of papillary tubular adenoma or tubulopapillary hidradenoma may be prefered in this case.
Acrospiroma ; Adenoma* ; Extremities ; Scalp ; Sweat Gland Neoplasms

The gene for tyrosinase has been mapped to the long arm of chromosome 11 at 11q14-21. The gene is at least 50Kb in length and its coding region is divided into five exons. Until now several mutations of the tyrosinase gene have been identifed in patient with typical oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) who are responsible for tyrosinase negative OCA. It may be possible to determine the types of OCA by measuring the hairbulb tyrosinase activity. Hairbulb tyrosinase activity was examined in a Korean albino to determine the type of OCA. And also tyrosinase assay was carried out in normally pigmented individuals and all members of a Korean albino's family to examine the tyrosinase activities. Five exons of tyrosinase gene from a Korean albino were amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Each amplified exon segments were independently subcloned and DNA sequences of clones were determined. The results obtained were as follows : 1. A Korean albino had no measurable hairbulb tyrosinase activity and was identified as type IA (tyrosinase negative) oculocutaneous albinism. 2. Normally pigmented individuals had different ranges of hairbulb tyrosinase activity. 3. A Korean albino had two single base insertions within exon V (between 337bp and 338bp, 353bp and 354bp) of tyrosinase gene. These insertional mutations might disrupt tyrosinase function and were associated with a total lack of melanin biosynthesis.
Albinism* ; Albinism, Oculocutaneous ; Arm ; Base Sequence ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; Clinical Coding ; Clone Cells ; Exons ; Humans ; Melanins ; Monophenol Monooxygenase* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVE: Transabdominal cervico-isthmic cerclage(TCIC) may increase the fetal salvage rate and pregnancy outcome in selected women when poor obstetric outcome is related to previously failed transvaginal cervical cerclage and an anatomically defective cervix. Our purpose was to evaluate the outcomes after transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage during pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review was done from patients who had been received transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage during pregnancy at Hanyang University Medical Center from October, 1989 to April 1997. The fetal salvage rate before and after post-conceptional transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage were compared and analysed. RESULTS: The seventy-eight patients had 95 successful pregnancies out of a total of 97. Thus the fetal salvage rate of TCIC during in pregnancy was 97.9 %. Of 78 patients, nineteen patients had the second succesful pregnancies and repeat cesarean deliveries after TCIC. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage during pregnancy offers a high fetal salvage rate with a minimal complications in patients with extremely poor obstertric histories as a result of cervical incompetence, where vaginal cerclage is not warranted.
Academic Medical Centers ; Cerclage, Cervical ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Cervical Incompetence

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a common pathogen in humans, is suspected as the cause of multiple pregnancy-related pathologies including depression, preeclampsia, and stillbirth. Moreover, transmission of EBV through the placenta has been reported. However, the focus of EBV infection within the placenta has remained unknown to date. In this study, we proved the expression of latent EBV genes in the endometrial glandular epithelial cells of the placenta and investigated the cytological characteristics of these cells. Sixty-eight placentas were obtained from pregnant women. Tissue microarray was constructed. EBV latent genes including EBV-encoding RNA-1 (EBER1), Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1), late membrane antigen (LMP1), and RPMS1 were detected with silver in situ hybridization and/or mRNA in situ hybridization. Nuclear features of EBV-positive cells in EBV-infected placenta were compared with those of EBV-negative cells via image analysis. Sixteen placentas (23.5%) showed positive expression of all 4 EBV latent genes; only the glandular epithelial cells of the decidua showed EBV gene expression. EBV infection status was not significantly correlated with maternal, fetal, or placental factors. The nuclei of EBV-positive cells were significantly larger, longer, and round-shaped than those of EBV-negative cells regardless of EBV-infection status of the placenta. For the first time, evidence of EBV gene expression has been shown in placental tissues. Furthermore, we have characterized its cytological features, allowing screening of EBV infection through microscopic examination.
Decidua ; Depression ; Epithelial Cells ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Herpesvirus 4, Human* ; Humans* ; Image Cytometry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Mass Screening ; Membranes ; Pathology ; Placenta* ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnant Women ; RNA, Messenger ; Silver ; Stillbirth ; Virus Latency

PURPOSE: Helicobacter pylori infection has been reported as a major factor of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastric lymphoma, and stomach cancer. In some uncontrolled studies, a high seroprevalence of H. pylori infection unexpectedly has been found in patients with colorectal cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with colorectal neoplasm. METHODS: 93 colonic tissue samples were collected during the colonoscopic biopsy. The specimens included polyp, cancer, and normal colonic mucosa. The CLO testTM kit (Delta West Ltd., Bentley, Western Australia) was used for detection of H. pylori. The SAS program (USA) was used for the Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: H. pylori infection was detected 11 (11.8%) of total 93 specimens, 7 (25.7%) of 27 in cancers and 3 (6.9%) of 43 in polyps. Significantly higher H. pylori infection was detected in the colorectal cancers than non-cancer lesions (p=0.012) and polyps (p=0.038). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a statistically significant association between H. pylori and colorectal neoplasm. The mechanism underlying this association needs to be investigated.
Biopsy ; Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Mucous Membrane ; Peptic Ulcer ; Polyps ; Prevalence ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms

Zygoma fracture is very common in facial trauma because zygoma composes a prominent part of the midface. For the zygoma fracture, its precise reduction and fixation is very important to prevent residual facial asymmetry. There are various modalities of treatment of fractured zygoma and now open reduction with multiple rigid fixation technique is widely accepted. The method of internal fixation enables accurate reduction and stable fixation. However, closed reduction can be used in simple and uncomminuted cases. Although the closed reduction has some advantages of simplicity, it has lost popularity because of the inadequate mechanical fixation and poor visualization. We designed an improved technique of the closed reduction and fixation using double Kirschner's wires. 19 patients were treated with this technique and all cases showed successful results without any complications. The potential advantages of this technique include simple procedure, short operation time, less incisional scar and soft tissue violation and fairly low price without use of foreign materials like miniplates. We conclude that double Kirschner's wire suspension technique is a simple and effective method in the treatment of uncomminuted zygoma fracture.
Cicatrix ; Facial Asymmetry ; Humans ; Zygoma*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fibrosis of the subepithelial layer is a characteristic finding in chronic allergic rhinitis. Heterogeneity of the fibroblasts in the nasal mucosa was already clarified and a different response of the fibroblasts can be expected from various stimulations occurring within the mucous membrane of the nose. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of fibroblasts in differentiation and function of fibroblasts in allergic mucosa of the nose. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the 3rd passage of fibroblasts taken from the inferior turbinates of allergic and non-allergic patients, we measured the proliferative potential by comparing cell growth in the culture system of fibroblasts, and calculated the doubling time and the percent change. We also compared the production of stem cell factor (SCF) and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) after stimulation with interleukin (IL)-4 and/or histamine. Morphologic differences were examined by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: In the case of non-stimulated fibroblasts, proliferation was prominent in the non-allergic group (NAG). However, the proliferation was remarkably increased in the allergic group (AG) on day 6 when the fibroblasts were stimulated with IL-4 and/or histamine. On the production of GM-CSF, both non-stimulated and histamine stimulated fibroblasts were more prominent in the AG than in the NAG, and the production of SCF in the AG was similar to that in the NAG in the non-stimulated fibroblasts. Also, the production of GM-CSF and SCF were remarkably increased in the AG on day 4 after histamine stimulation. Morphologic differences were demonstrated between the AG and the NAG. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that IL-4 could be involved mainly in promoting the proliferation of allergic fibroblasts in the exponential period, and the production of GM-CSF and SCF could be remarkable in the early stage of the culture period by histamine stimulation.
Fibroblasts* ; Fibrosis ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Histamine* ; Humans ; Interleukin-4* ; Interleukins ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mucous Membrane ; Nasal Mucosa* ; Nose ; Population Characteristics ; Rhinitis* ; Stem Cell Factor ; Turbinates

PURPOSE: The liver is one of the most commonly injured organs in abdominal trauma. Surgery has played a major role in treating traumatic liver injury. Recently, it was reported that conservative treatment could be the first-line management for hemodynamically stable patients without combined intraabdominal surgical problems. The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic factors in traumatic liver injury. METHODS: The medical records of 41 patients who were treated for traumatic liver injury at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from March 2003 to October 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Among the 41 patients, 34 cases (82.9%) were managed nonsurgically, and 7 cases (17.1%) were managed surgically. Out of the 5 (12.2%) mortalities, 2 were encountered in those who underwent surgery, and 3 were encountered in those who were treated nonsurgically. Univariate analysis showed that the initial systolic blood pressure, the initial hemoglobin level, and the grade of liver injury were significant prognostic factors for survival. Multivariate analysis indicated that initial low systolic blood pressure was the only independent risk factor. CONCLUSION: Patients with unstable vital signs initially have a poor prognosis. Aggressive management might be helpful for improving the survival rate in these patients.
Blood Pressure ; Humans ; Liver* ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Seoul ; Survival Rate ; Vital Signs

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of other diseases associated with psoriasis has been investigated in recent years. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to see diseases associated with psoriasis in Korea. METHODS: From september 1999 to May 2000, a total of 293 patients with psoriasis, who visited the department of dermatology in 6 hospitals were enrolled in a subject group for the study. We surveyed the incidence rates of associated diseases. RESULTS: In our study, diseases more concomitantly present in patients with psoriasis were dermatophyte infection, seborrheic dermatitis and benign tumor and nevus in skin diseases and obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, gastritis and hepatitis in systemic diseases. Less concomitantly present in patients with psoriasis were erythroderma, acne, contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, bacterial infection, tonsillitis, and internal cancer. CONCLUSION: Our observations show a distinct pattern of diseases associated with psoriasis in Korea. Further investigation will be mandatory to elucidate concomitant diseases in psoriasis.
Acne Vulgaris ; Arthrodermataceae ; Bacterial Infections ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic ; Dermatology ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Gastritis ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Korea ; Nevus ; Obesity ; Palatine Tonsil ; Prevalence ; Psoriasis* ; Skin Diseases ; Tonsillitis