Disfiguring hyperpigmentation of the exposed areas may have impartant and lasting effects on the emotional well-being of the patient. And many attempts to treat areas of hyperpigmentation have been earried out, but all of them are not very successful. Recently 4-isopropylcatechol has been known to inhibit melanin pigmentation with a selective action on melanocytes either destroying or inactivating the melanocytes experimentally. There is no report on its clinical trial till now. In this study, 1% 4-isopropylcatechol cream was topieally applied to the hyperpigmented lesions of 29 patieots of melasma, freckle, and cafe-au-lait spot. The bleaching effect on meiasmas was very satisfactory in all patients but coantact dermatltis in 3 patients and reticular hyperpigmentation with areas of depigmented spots in one patient were developed as the side effects of the drug. Freckle and cafe-au-Iait spots were not bleached.
Cafe-au-Lait Spots ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Melanins ; Melanocytes ; Melanosis ; Pigmentation

PURPOSE: This study is to verify the correlations between xerostomia, oral health quality of life, and knowledge about water intake among community-dwelling older adults and to suggest basic data for the development of oral health enhancement programs to improve the quality of life in the elderly. METHODS: A convenience sample of 112 elders was recruited in W city, Gangwon-do from July to August 2017. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficients with SPSS/WIN 23.0 Program. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 73 years old. As the score of knowledge about water intake was average 3 point (out of ten), the knowledge about physical symptoms in case of water deficiency was very insufficient. Xerostomia showed negative correlations with the oral health quality of life (r=−.379, p < .001) and knowledge about water intake (r=−.228, p < .016). CONCLUSION: For the relief of xerostomia having effects on the oral health quality of life in the elderly, it would be necessary to develop and apply oral health enhancement programs including the recommendation of water intake, and then to verify the effects.
Adult* ; Aged ; Drinking* ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Oral Health* ; Quality of Life* ; Water* ; Xerostomia*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of combination functional electrical stimulation (FES) and standing frame training on standing balance in stroke patients. METHODS: Patients who had hemiparesis and postural instability after stroke were randomly assigned to one of the two groups; study group underwent FES on the quadriceps and tibialis anterior muscle simultaneously with standing balance training. The control group received standing frame training and FES separately. Both the groups received their respective therapies for 3 weeks. Stability index in Biodex Balance master system, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), manual muscle test, the Korean version of Modified Barthel Index, and Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination were used to evaluate the effects of the treatment. RESULTS: In total, 30 patients were recruited to the study group and 30 to the control group. Three weeks after treatment, both the groups showed improvement in postural stability scores and physical and cognitive functions. When changes in postural stability were compared between the groups, the study group showed more significant improvement than the control group with regards to the scores of BBS and the stability indices. CONCLUSION: In this study, we found the therapeutic effectiveness of combined therapy of FES and standing frame in subacute stroke patients. The presented protocol is proposed as time-saving and can be applied easily in the clinical setting. Thus, the proposed combined therapy could be a useful method for improving standing balance in subacute stroke patients.
Cognition ; Electric Stimulation ; Humans ; Methods ; Paresis ; Rehabilitation ; Stroke

To explore the relationship between economic status and food and nutrient intake patterns, the 2001 National Health and Nutrition Survey result was analyzed. Dietary intake data of 6,978 Korean adults of 20 years and older who participated in the 2001 National Health and Nutrition Survey were used along with their demographic data. Economic status of the subjects was classified into the following 4 groups based on the self-reported average monthly income of household with reference to the minimum monthly living expenses (MLE) in 2001: low<100% MLE < or = middle<200% MLE < or = high<300% MLE < or = higher. Individuals in the higher income class had significantly higher mean intake for most of the nutrients including energy, protein, carbohydrate, fat, calcium, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C, and a higher percentage of energy intake from fat. In addition, they consumed more animal foods including meats, eggs, fish/shellfish, milk/dairy products and fats. On the other hand, the mean intakes of individuals in the lower economic class for calcium, vitamin A, and riboflavin were lower than 75% of RDAs. And, there was a predominant difference in contribution of fat to total energy intake among the groups of different economic status. These results showed that household income is an important factor influencing the food and nutrient intake patterns of the Korean adult population. Although individuals at different age classes may respond differently to a change in economic status, developing and implementing nutrition policy and intervention programs for those nutritionally vulnerable groups should consider the economic status as an important factor to customize and differentiate the content of the program.
Adult* ; Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; Calcium ; Eggs ; Energy Intake ; Family Characteristics ; Fats ; Hand ; Humans ; Meat ; Niacin ; Nutrition Policy ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Ovum ; Riboflavin ; Vitamin A

This study was designed to clarify the dependency of hypoxic coronary vasodilation (HCD) on the endothelium and the role of the K+ channels on HCD in the rabbit coronary artery. HCD was investigated in an isolated left circumflex coronary artery precontracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha. Vascular rings were suspended for isometric tension recording in an organ chamber filled with Krebs-Henseleit (KH) solution. Hypoxia was induced by gassing the chamber with 95% N2 + 5% CO2 and was maintained for 15 approximately 25 min. Hypoxia elicited a vasodilation in the precontracted coronary artery with and without endothelium. There was no difference between the amplitude of the HCD induced by two consecutive hypoxic challenges and the effects of 20% O2 + 5% CO2 + 75% N2 and 95% O2 + 5% CO2 control K-H solution of subsequent responses to hypoxia. Inhibition of the cyclooxygenase pathway by treatment with indomethacin had no effect on HCD. Blockades of the tetraethylammonium chloride-sensitive K+ channel abolished HCD. Apamin, a blocker of the small conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ (KCa) channel, and iberiotoxin, a blocker of the large conductance KCa channel had no effect on HCD, respectively. Glibenclamide, a blocker of the ATP-sensitive K+ (K+ATP) channel, reduced HCD. Cromakalim, an opener of the K+ATP channel, relaxed the coronary artery precontracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha. The degree of relaxation by cromakalim was similar to that by hypoxia while glibenclamide reduced both hypoxia- and cromakalim-induced vasodilatations. In conclusion, these results suggest that HCD is independent on endothelium and HCD is considered to be induced by activation of K+ATP channel.
Animal ; Anoxia/physiopathology* ; Coronary Vessels/physiopathology* ; Coronary Vessels/drug effects ; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Female ; Indomethacin/pharmacology ; Male ; Nitroarginine/pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Tetraethylammonium/pharmacology ; Vasodilation/physiology*

PURPOSE: It has been stressed that age itself as well as multiple organ failure are important prognostic factors in acute renal failure (ARF) in children. This study was performed to find out the significance of age factor and underlying disease of ARF in children. METHODS: We tried to review 58 pediatric ARF cases, retrospectively, in the pediatric intensive care unit (excluding the neonatal and surgical intensive care unit cases) of the Samsung Seoul Hospital of Sung Kyun Kwan University from Sept., 1994. to Dec., 1996. RESULTS: We classified the enrolled 58 cases into 5 age groups and more than half were younger than 1 year old. As underlying causes, heart and gastrointestinal disease were predominant in less than 1 month of age group. After 1 year of age, intrinsic renal disease was the most common cause (43-50%). Among the renal disease, systemic lupus erythematosus (10-15 year group), hemolytic uremic syndrome (1-10 year group), and obstructive uropathy (less than 1 year age group) were common etiologies. The mortality was the highest (46.7%) in less than 1 year group and lowest (21.4%) in 10-15 year age group. CONCLUSION: The underlying disorders of ARF in children were different among the age group. Among intrinsic renal diseases, hemolytic uremic syndrome was the most common cause. The difference in the mortality was dependent on age and underlying disease.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Age Factors ; Child* ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Heart ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome ; Humans ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Mortality ; Multiple Organ Failure ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of upper limb rehabilitation combining robot with low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on unilateral spatial neglect in stroke patients. METHODS: Patients who had hemispatial neglect after right hemisphere stroke were randomly divided into rTMS only group, robot only group, and combined group. All groups received conventional neglect therapy and additional treatment for each group. rTMS group received rTMS therapy. Robot group received robot therapy, while combined group received both therapies. The effect of therapy was assessed with Motor-Free Visual Perception Test-3 (MVPT-3), line bisection test, star cancellation test, Catherine Bergego Scale (CBS), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the Korean version of Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI). These measurements were evaluated before and after treatment. RESULTS: For each group, 10 patients were recruited. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics or initial values among the three groups. Two weeks after the therapy, all groups showed significant improvement in MVPT-3, line bisection test, star cancellation test, CBS, MMSE, and K-MBI. However, changes in measurements showed no significant differences among groups. CONCLUSION: Treatment effect of the combined therapy of robotic therapy and low-frequency rTMS therapy for hemispatial neglect was not statistically different from that of each single treatment. RESULTS: of this study did not prove the superiority of any of the three treatments. Further study with large number of patients is needed to evaluate the superiority of these treatments.
Humans ; Perceptual Disorders* ; Rehabilitation ; Robotics ; Stroke* ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation* ; Upper Extremity ; Visual Perception

Among chemical agents in herbicides, dioxin(2,3,7,8-tetrachloro dibenzo-rho-dioxin: a chemical contaminant in herbicides sprayed during the vietnam war has been known to be the major agent causing toxic effects. Approximately 320,000 korean soldiers participated the vietnam war from 1964 to 1974. Although the potential hazards of the herbicides among Korean veterans exposed were implicated, the problem had not been a public issue until 1991 when Korean veterans were informed U. S. companies, the herbicides manufacturer payed fund, from which a trust fund for New Zealand and Australian Class members were established in 1985. After a series of appeals and demonstration by the korean veterans demanding medical care and compensation for their serious health damages, a bill of medical care and compensation for herbicides victims was promulgated in March 1993 and become effective from May 1993. This study was carried out with two major objectives: the first to understand the health problems caused from the herbicides by reviewing literatures published, and the second to examine the nature and extent of health impacts among Korean veterans exposed and to develop valid study methods for the major study by interviewing and reviewing records on a part of veterans (638 persons) registered and completed medical examination in Seoul Veterans Administration Hospital from June to october 1993. The results obtained are as follows: 1. The literature review of 107 papers revealed that: l) Dioxin is teratogenic, carcinogenic and affects almost all organs including nertous, endocrine, and reproductive systems in animal experiments. 2) The diseases showing evidence of causal association were Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's disease, lung cancer, lymphoma, soft tissue sarcoma, chloroacne and polyneuropathy when judged on the basis of consistency in study results and biological plausibility. 2. Interview and medical record review study on 638 veterans, though limited validity owing to lack of control group, crude estimates of dioxin exposure levels (no biomarkers measurable), and uncertainty of diagnosis, showed that: 1) Most of the study subject's were in their 40's of age and had been dispatched to vietnam during the period from 1965-1970 around one year. 2) Most frequently complained symptoms in medical examination were motor weakness(32%), sensory abnormalities in extremities(23%), skin diseases(22%), and pain in extremities(20%) whereas in interview they were more frequent in order of skin problem(44%), motor weakness (38%), sensory abnormalities and pain in extremities(l7% and 19% each). Kappa indices on the same category of complaints between two sources of information were variable and relatively low. 3) On medical examination, only a part of the 638 subjects had initial impression (442 pts) and final diagnosis (218 pts) suggesting decision making on diagnosis appeared to be difficult even with all available modern medical technologies; in initial impression disorders from peripheral and central neuropathy were predominant whereas in final diagnosis various types of skin disorder were most frequent. 4) when dose-response relationship between several conditions (from questionnaire) and arbitrary exposure scores were examined by CMH linear trend test, spontaneous abortion, sexual problems and health problem of offsprings showed statistically significant linear trends. However, pregnancy, accident and suicidal attempts did not show any relationship in this study capacity. 5) Among complaints, psychosis and neurosis(anxiety, phobia) in interview study, and memory disorder and psychosis in medical record study revealed linear trend. 6) Skin disorder was the only condition showing linear trend in initial impression and none in final diagnosis on medical examination. Even though objective to select out dioxin-related disease or group of diseases from this study was not achieved the research experiences provided firm basis for developing various methodological approaches. 3. From this preliminary study we concluded that a larger scale major epidemiologic study on health impacts of herbicides among Korean veterans exposed is not only indispensible but also well designed study with more valid exposure information and diagnosis may be able to establish causal relationship between certain groups of diseases and exposure to the herbicides among Korean veterans.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Animal Experimentation ; Biomarkers ; Compensation and Redress ; Decision Making ; Diagnosis ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Female ; Financial Management ; Herbicides* ; Hodgkin Disease ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Lymphoma ; Medical Records ; Memory Disorders ; Military Personnel ; New Zealand ; Polyneuropathies ; Pregnancy ; Psychotic Disorders ; Sarcoma ; Seoul ; Skin ; Uncertainty ; United States Department of Veterans Affairs ; Veterans* ; Vietnam*

Malignant deciduoid mesothelioma is a rare malignant neoplasm occurring in the peritoneum of young women. We report a case of malignant deciduoid mesothelioma that occurred in the omentum of a 47-year-old woman. The patient had never exposed to asbestos and had no history of cesarean section. The lesions were multiple infiltrative nodules affected the peritoneal cavity, omentum, and surface of the uterus with both ovaries. Microscopically, the nodules were composed of mesothelial cells similar to decidual cells
Asbestos ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Humans ; Mesothelioma* ; Middle Aged ; Omentum ; Ovary ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Peritoneum ; Pregnancy ; Uterus

Herein, the case of a 5-year-old boy with cytomegalovirus-induced Menetrier's disease, with peripheral eosinophilia, presenting with abdominal pain and vomiting, followed by generalized edema, is reported. The initial laboratory findings, hypoalbuminemia and peripheral eosinophilia were noted, with no evidence of renal, hepatic, cardiac or allergic diseases. Gastrofiberscopy was performed under the suspicion of eosinophilic gastroenteritis with protein losing gastropathy. The gastrofiberscopy showed the characteristic features of giant hypertrophy of the gastric rugae, with large quantities of adherent gelatinous material on the gastric fundus and body. The histological findings revealed foveolar hyperplasia, compatible with Menetrier's disease, with massive eosinophilic infiltrations. The presence of cytomegalovirus infection was identified by serology and confirmed by urine PCR. His symptoms, gastrofiberscopic findings and peripheral eosinophilia resolved spontaneously, and he has remained well for 10 months.
Abdominal Pain ; Child, Preschool ; Cytomegalovirus ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; Edema ; Eosinophilia* ; Eosinophils ; Gastric Fundus ; Gastritis, Hypertrophic* ; Gastroenteritis ; Gelatin ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Hypertrophy ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Vomiting