BACKGROUND: Seborrheic dermatitis is a very common chronic inflammatory disease. The causal factor of the disease is still unknown, but early investigators focused on the role of Malassezia yeasts. These yeasts are also normal skin commensals, thus their importance as pathogens in this disorder came to be doubted. However, it was subsequently found that treatment of seborrheic dermatitis with an antifungal agent not only resulted in clinical improvement but also reduced the number of Malassezia yeasts on the skin. OBJECT: The purpose of this study is to confirm relationship between seborrheric dermatits and Malassezia yeast, and to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of oral itraconazole in the seborrheic dermatitis. METHODS: Using the scrub-wash technique in the glabella and swabbing technique in the scalp, the number of cultured Malassezia yeasts were counted in 30 patients with seborrheic dermatitis and 20 control persons. The patients took itraconazole, 100mg/day, during 4weeks. The clinical and mycologic score were measured at the initial evaluation, followed after 2weeks and 4weeks RESULT: The number of Malassezia yeasts in patient with seborrheic dermatits were significantly higher than in normal control group. There was statistically significant decrease in the clinical and mycological score after a 4 week trial of oral itraconazole in the seborrheic dermatitis group. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that Malassezia yeast may be one of the important causative factor of seborrheic dermatitis and itraconazole plays an important role in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis
Dermatitis, Seborrheic* ; Humans ; Itraconazole* ; Malassezia ; Research Personnel ; Scalp ; Skin ; Yeasts

A 33-year-old woman was presented with dyspnea and chest discomfort after indigesting approximately 500ml of oil paint brush washing fluid. Hypoxic symptoms and radiographic infiltrates rapidly progressed. The patient was intubated and received mechanical ventilation. Bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial lung biopsies were performed. The CT scan of the lung showed bilateral extensive pneumonitis with necrosis and the lung tissue pathologic findings showed diffuse alveolar damage with extensive necrosis and numerous lipidladen macrophages. After intensive medical care with mechanical ventilation, her symptoms and radiological findings improved.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Dyspnea ; Eating* ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; Macrophages ; Necrosis ; Paint ; Pneumonia* ; Respiration, Artificial ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Recent immunological investigations have demonstrated that the patients with psoriasis have various humoral and cellular immune abnormalities, such as increased serum IgG, IgE and secretory IgA, anti-IgC factor in psoriatic lesions, in peripheral blood lymphocytes and in serum, rhumatoid-like factors in IgA and IgG classes of immunoglobulins, antinuclear antibodies (ANA; reacting with the basal cell nuclei of uninvolved skin., anti-stratum corneum antibody and complements in psoriatic scales, immuoglobulin and complement bearing polymorphonuclear leucocytes in the Muro microabscess. These abnormal findings are enough to suggest an autoimmune mechanism in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Several investigators have also reported the results of T cell enumeration in the peripheral blood in psoriatic patients. However, the results are not in general agreement,. Thee present study was undertaken to clarify any abnormality in the proportion of T cells in the peripheral blood in psoriatic patients. Forty-one patients with active psoriasis registered at the Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University Hospital entered this study from May, 1979 through April, 1980. Twelve healthy medical and paramedical personel the comprised the control group. Active and total T cells were enumerated by the method of E-rosetting technique, and the results were as follows. 1, in normal controls, the active and total T celIs identified as E rosetteforming cells accounted for 61.6+7.4% and 68.1+8.9% of the total lymphocyte population, respectively. 2. In patients with psoriasis, significant decrease of active T cells (54. 2,+11.0%,p<0.005) and total T cells (62.2+11.2%, p<0.05) was observed. More profound reduction of T cells was noted in patients with wide spread psoriasis than those with limited extent.
Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Cell Nucleus ; Complement System Proteins ; Dermatology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins ; Lymphocytes ; Psoriasis* ; Research Personnel ; Seoul ; Skin ; T-Lymphocytes* ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Language Development Disorders*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vacuolar type H+-ATPase (V-H+-ATPase) has a role in the regulation of endolymphatic pH and certain cells (including strial marginal cells, inner hair cells and epithelial cells of the endolymphatic sac) may be specialized for this regulation. Bafilomycin is a specific V-H+-ATPase inhibitor affecting inner ear function by controlling the intracytolic pH decrease. We designed the study to analyze the effect of bafilomycin delivered to the inner ear on the hearing threshold measured by auditory brainstem response (ABR) and endolymphatic potential (EP). MATERIALS AND METHOD: For measuring the hearing threshold change, 13 guinea pigs with normal Preyer's reflex and normal ABR were used. Guinea pigs were randomly divided into control group (n=3, 6 ears) and study groups which were subdivided into the following ;1 mM bafilomycin group (n=3, 6 ears), 5 mM bafilomycin group (n=3, 6 ears) and 10 mM bafilomycin group (n=4, 8 ears). The mastoid cavity was opened to expose the round window and HBSS buffer (300 osm) was applied for the control group and bafilomycin with different concentrations were also applied to the round windows of studied guinea pigs. The hearing threshold was measured using ABR before and after the application of appropriate solutions. For measuring of EP, the cochlea helix and round window of guinea pig with normal hearing were defined and a tungsten micro needle was inserted into the endolymphatic space at 2nd turn of guinea pig's cochlea. EP was measured after application of HBSS buffer as control, 1 mM, 5 mM, and 10 mM bafilomycin. RESULTS: In the control group, the hearing threshold was 21.6+/-2.8 dB (mean+/-SD) initially both before and after mastoidectomy and stayed that way all throughout the study. The hearing threshold increased as bafilomycin was applied. For 1 mM of bafilomycin application, the threshold changed from initial 30.0+/-5 dB to 33.3+/-5.7 dB after 2 hours. For 5 mM of bafilomycin application, the threshold changed after 2 hours from initial 30.0+/-5 dB to 50.0+/-0 dB. With 10 mM of bafilomycin application, the threshold changed after 2 hours from initial 27.5+/-6.4 dB to 52.5+/-8.6 dB. For 5 mM and 10 mM bafilomycin group, there was a significant statistical change of hearing threshold (p<0.05). However, there was no meaningful difference between 5 mM and 10 mM group (p=0.88). Initial EP was 85+/-10 mV and was significantly decreased in 5 mM (35 mV) and 10 mM (19.8 mV) bafilomycin groups, but such was not observed in 1 mM bafilomycin and control group. CONCLUSION: We could observe the elevation of hearing threshold and decrease EP after applying bafilomycin on the round windows of guinea pigs and also observed that this change reached a critical point when the concentration of bafilomycin was 5 mM or higher. From these results, we can conclude that bafilomycin does affect the hearing threshold through its mechanism and the degree of damage has a critical point dependent on the concentration of bafilomycin.
Animals ; Auditory Threshold ; Cochlea ; Ear, Inner ; Epithelial Cells ; Evoked Potentials ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Hair ; Hearing* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Mastoid ; Needles ; Reflex ; Tungsten

BACKGROUND: An increase in oxidative stress has been suggested to play major roles in the complications of diabetes. The bulk of the experimental data favors enhanced free radicals in diabetes and antioxidant defense mechanisms may be reduced in diabetes. Melatonin, the major secretory product of the pineal gland has been shown to be a potent and specific hydroxyl radical scavenger. The purpose of our study was to determine the antioxidative effeet of melatonin in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200-240 g were divided into 3 groups: normal controls(n-7), diabetic contmls(n-9), melatonin-treated diabetic animals(n-9). Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotoein(55 mg/kg body weight) and melatonin(6 mg/kg body weight) was orally administered for 20 days. At day 20 after streptozotocin administration, blood was collected for the assay of glucose, albumin and cholesterol. Erythrocyte membrane lipid peroxidation was determined by malonyldialdehyde(MDA) reactivity. RESULTS: 1) The MDA resctivity of erytbrocyte membrane in melatonin-treated diabetic animals (meanstandard deviation: 5.52+-1.52nmol/ml packed cells) were lower(p<0.05) than that in diabetic controls(7.68+-1.16nmol/mL packed cells). But, there was no significant difference between melatonin-treated diabetic animals and normal contls(4.93+-1.19 nmol/mL packed cells). 2) There were no significant differences of blood glucose and body weight between diabetic controls and melatonin-treated diabetic animals. CONCLUSION: These results show the antioxidative effect of melatonin in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Further clinical and long-term experimental studies are needed to assess the effect of melatonin on development and progression of diabetic complications.
Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Defense Mechanisms ; Diabetes Complications ; Erythrocyte Membrane ; Free Radicals ; Glucose ; Hydroxyl Radical ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Melatonin* ; Membranes ; Oxidative Stress ; Pineal Gland ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Streptozocin

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cochlear implantation is regarded as a safe and effective treatment for patients with profound sensorineural hearing loss. However, a few patients, especially with inner ear anomalies, suffer from complications with variable degrees after operation. This study reports various complications encountered in patients with inner ear anomalies undergoing cochlear implantation in 3rd referreral center. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We retrospectively analyzed 342 patients who had cochlear implantation between April 1999 and December 2005. There were 70 patients with various inner ear anomalies. Immediate and delayed complications were defined according to their onset which happened within or over 1 week. Minor and Major complications were defined according to their severity which needed further operation or management. RESULTS: Among 342 patients, there were 35 cases (10.2%) with various postoperative complications. In patients with inner ear anomalies, the total number of complications was 20 cases (28.6%). There were 4 cases (5.7%) of major complications including facial nerve palsy, recurrent meningitis, device failure, and cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Reimplantation was performed in 3 cases (4.3%). CONCLUSION: Although the rate of postoperative complications in patients with inner ear anomalies was higher than in patients with normal inner ear, most of them were minor and could be managed with conservative treatments. The tolerable rate of major complications suggests that cochlear implantation is a safe operation even for patients with inner ear anomalies.
Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Cochlear Implantation* ; Cochlear Implants* ; Ear, Inner* ; Equipment Failure ; Facial Nerve ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Humans ; Meningitis ; Paralysis ; Postoperative Complications* ; Replantation ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: Apoptosis of outer hair cell (OHC) can be identified through nuclear staining by specific nuclear changes. The change of filamentous actin (F-actin) is also involved in early cell death process. The study was designed to investigate OHC death along the whole length of the organ of Corti. METHODS: BALB/c hybrid mice were used in this study. The noise group was exposed to white noise of 120 dB SPL for 3 hr per day for 3 consecutive days. The tone burst auditory brainstem response (ABR) test was conducted and cochleas from each group were obtained for the immunostaining of FITC phalloidin for F-actin and propidium iodide (PI) for nuclei. RESULTS: ABR threshold of the noise group significantly increased after noise exposure (P<0.001). No threshold shift was found in the control group. Threshold shift of the noise group constantly increased from 4 to 16 kHz, but threshold shifts at 16 kHz and 32 kHz were similar. Patterns of OHC staining were subclassified as FITC+PI- cells, FITC+ PI+ cells, FITC-PI+ cells and missing cells. Proportion of normal live OHCs (FITC+PI-) rapidly decreased from the apex to the base. In the basal turn, FITC-PI+ cells and vacancy OHC (missing cells) were observed easily. Apoptotic and missing cells were most abundant at 60% of the whole length of the Corti organ. CONCLUSION: We could subclassify morphologic changes in OHC death after noise exposure. Quantitative changes in OHCs along the whole Corti organ showed a plateau pattern similar to that of a frequency-specific threshold shift.
Actins ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Death ; Chimera ; Cochlea ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate ; Hair ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; Humans ; Mice ; Noise ; Organ of Corti ; Phalloidine ; Propidium

BACKGROUND: Thyroid nodules are among the most common endocrine diseases requiring surgical treatment. To determine the appropriate treatment methods for thyroid nodules, we conducted this study by analyzed the clinical characteristics of thyroid nodules, the surgical procedure, and postoperative complications. METHODS: We experienced 39 cases of thyroid nodules below 1 cm in size and treated them by surgical intervention at the Department of Surgery, Masan St. Mary's Hospital, from April 1994 to June 1996. We examined the age and the sex distributions, the clinical manifestations, the locations of the thyroid nodules, the pathologic findings, the ultrasonographic findings, the aspiration biopsy cytology findings, the surgical procedures, and the postoperative complications. RESULTS: 1) The mean age of the patients was 45 years, and the sex ratio of males to females was 1:18.5. 2) The nodules were located in the right lobe (24 cases), the left lobe (10 cases), both lobes (3 cases), isthmus (2 cases). 3) When 39 cases were examined by ultrasonography, the malignant nodules were found in 1 of 14 cases of anechoic nodules and 10 of 25 cases of isoechoic nodules. 4) Aspiration biopsy cytology was performed in 21 cases, and the false negativity was 25%, the false positivity was 25%, and the accuracy rate was 75%. 5) The histopathologic classification of the benign nodules were follicular adenomas, 13 cases; adenomatous goiters, 12 cases; Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 1 case; Hurthle cell adenoma, 1 case; and simple cyst, 1 case. The malignant diseases were papillary carcinoma, 10 cases; and follicular carcinoma, 1 case. 6) Most cases of benign nodules were treated with a lobectomy (72.4%). Malignant nodules were treated with an extended lobectomy and anterior compartment node dissection. 7) The major postoperative complication was transient hypocalcemia. CONCLUSIONS: When voice change or hoarseness is observed and a thyroid nodule is suspected on ultrasonography, aspiration biopsy cytology is considered to be required to exactly distinguish benign nodules from malignant nodules. Further, in case of malignant nodules, it can be concluded that a more active and careful operation may be required to minimize the complications, to decrease the recurrence rate, and to increase the survival rate.
Adenoma ; Biopsy, Needle ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Classification ; Endocrine System Diseases ; Female ; Goiter ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Hypocalcemia ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Sex Distribution ; Sex Ratio ; Survival Rate ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule* ; Thyroiditis ; Ultrasonography ; Voice

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It has been known that the motility of the outer hair cell controls the physiological characteristics of the organ of Corti. Motility can be divided into two different types: fast and slow motility. Slow motility can be induced by high concentration of KCl and increase of intracellular Ca2+ concentration. In this study, authors aimed to define the effect of acetylcholine, one of the efferent neurotransmitters, on the slow motility of the outer hair cells of guinea pig. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Outer hair cells were isolated from guinea pigs by enzymatic and mechanical dissociation. The length of the hair cells was recorded by CCD camera equipped on an inverted microscope. Slow motility was induced by 10 (micro)M of ionomycin and 150 mM of KCl. Carbamylcholine (1 mM), a non-hydrolyzable derivative of acetylcholine, was used to observe the effect of acetylcholine and choline chloride (1 mM) was used as control. RESULTS: The length of outer hair cell was decreased after adding 150 mM of KCl and increased after adding 10 (micro)M of ionomycin. Stimulation of carbamylcholine (1 mM) did not induce the length change of the outer hair cells. Preincubation of 1 mM of carbamylcholine also did not affect the length change induced by ionomycin or KCl in outer hair cells. CONCLUSION: We could suggest that carbamylcholine does not have an effect on the slow motility of outer hair cell induced by the change of osmotic pressure which was elicited by high potassium, or intracellular Ca2+ increase.
Acetylcholine ; Animals ; Calcium* ; Carbachol ; Choline ; Guinea Pigs ; Hair* ; Ionomycin ; Neurons, Efferent ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Organ of Corti ; Osmotic Pressure ; Potassium Chloride ; Potassium*