No abstract available.
Composite Resins* ; Dental Porcelain*

No abstract available.
Aspirin* ; Epithelial Cells*

No abstract available.
Bandages*

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a motivation-enhanced self-management (MESM) intervention for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and to evaluate its effects on female college students with IBS. Methods: The program was constructed to reflect the conceptual framework of the self-determination theory including autonomous motivation enhancement strategy through the satisfaction of psychological needs. The experimental group (n=24) participated in the all eight weekly MESM sessions, and the control group (n=25) received one hour education of IBS. Primary outcome measures were the IBS symptom severity scale (IBS-SSS) and the IBS specific quality of life (IBS-QOL), and assessed at the baseline and at eight and 16 weeks after the allocation. Others were autonomous motivation, self-determined behavior, and psychological distress assessed at the baseline and at eight weeks. Results: The experimental group showed improvement in the IBS-SSS (p<.001) at 16 weeks compared to the control group. They showed markedly more improvement in the IBS QOL (p=.008), but the magnitude of this difference decreased at 16 weeks. The experimental group showed improvements in autonomous motivation (p=.035), self-determined behavior (p=.023), and psychological distress (p=.044) compared to the control group. Conclusion Study results suggest that the MESM intervention for female college students may effectively improve the IBS-SSS and the QOL.

Endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) is a rare malignancy. Development of extrauterine ESS form endometriosis is particularly rare. The majority of extrauterine ESS occurs in areas with preexisting endometriosis. The most common site is the ovary. We experienced a case of ESS of the ovary that arose from endometriosis with multiple disseminated lesions. This disease was managed by total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, both pelvic lymph nodes dissection, omentectomy, and appendectomy followed by postoperative high-dose progesterone therapy. Here, we report this case with literature review.
Appendectomy ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Hysterectomy ; Lymph Nodes ; Ovary* ; Progesterone ; Sarcoma, Endometrial Stromal*

Dermal melanocytosis is histologically characterized by the presence of ectopic melanocytes in the dermis. Mongolian spots, nevus of Ota, nevus of Ito and blue nevus are the most common types and these are usually present at birth or in early childhood. However, it has been reported that several types of dermal melanocytosis could appear in adult life. We report here on an unusual case of acquired dermal melanocytosis occurring in a 51 year-old female. She had bilaterall brownish or slate-bluish pigmented patches on the face and the posterior auricular, supraclavicular, scapular and back areas. The skin biopsy specimen taken from the upper back revealed scattered, darkly pigmented, spindle-shaped cells and dendritic cells containing abundant golden brown pigment in the dermis.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Dendritic Cells ; Dermis ; Female ; Humans ; Melanocytes ; Mongolian Spot ; Nevus ; Nevus of Ota ; Nevus, Blue ; Parturition ; Skin

PURPOSE: Lead toxicity affects every organ system, most importantly, the central and periphral nervous systems, kidney, and blood. Not yet, there are not so many data about blood lead levels of children in Korea. The children residing in Ulsan have some risk exposured to lead because of air pollution resulted from rapid industrialization and some lead-using industries. So we estimated the blood lead levels of children in Ulsan and tried to abtain the predict values of them. METHODS: Venous blood specimens were obtained for lead levels from two groups of 60 primary school children(30 residing in suburb, near-industry, and 30 in inner-city), aged 11-12 years. We also determined serum iron, ferritin, and hemoglobin. We compared blool lead levels between two groups according to nature of housing, age of housing, using the paint, condition of paint, parent's occupation. RESULTS: 1) The mean blood lead levels of 60 chiddren was 6.20+/-2.29 g/dl. 2) The children residing in inner-city had the higher blood lead levels(7.02+/-2.29 g/dl) than near-industry, suburban children (5.38+/-1.99 g/dl) with statistical significance (p<0.01). 3) Four children had the blood lead level over 10 g/dl, but all of them below 15 g/dl, and no intellectual deficit. 4) Air lead in classroom of 2 schools was not detected. 5) The serum iron, ferritin and hemoglobin level were all within the normal range. 6) There were no significant difference of blood lead levels between two groups according to nature of husing, age of housing, using the paint, condition of paint, parent's occupations. CONCLUSIONS: The mean blood lead levels of some primary school children in Ulsan was 6.20+/-2.29 g/dl, within the acceptable ranges. Children residing in inner-city had slightly higher blood lead levels than near-industry, suburban children.
Air Pollution ; Child* ; Ferritins ; Housing ; Humans ; Iron ; Kidney ; Korea ; Nervous System ; Occupations ; Paint ; Reference Values ; Ulsan*

Trichoblastoma is a benign cutaneous neoplasm that consists of follicular germinative cells. There have only been a few case reports describing the malignant counterpart of trichoblastoma. We report trichoblastic neoplasms that show histological features of malignancy. The histological sections revealed locally aggressive neoplasms showing prominent differentiation towards hair germ and follicular sheath with formation of papillary mesenchymal bodies and follicular bulb-like structures. The tumor was widely excised with a clear margin. No sign of recurrence has been noted 1 year later.
Hair ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND: Acute diffuse alopecia areata (AA) was described as a unique AA which mimics anagen effluvium, or in which the initial hair loss is diffuse and followed by total denudation of scalp within several weeks or months. In spite of its peculiar clinical feature, there was neither further characterization nor known effective treatment for this form of AA. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the characteristic clinical findings of acute diffuse AA and confirm the effect of high dose methyl prednisolone therapy. METHODS: The medical records of 13 patients with acute diffuse AA between January 2002 and April 2006 at the Department of Dermatology, Chungnam National University Hospital were reviewed. All patients were treated with high dose methylprednisolone therapy. RESULTS: Of the 13 patients who completed the study, 8 patients (61.5%) were male and 5 patients (38.5%) were female. The mean age was 29.6 years old. The progress of hair loss stopped 2.4 weeks on average after initial treatment and newly emerging hairs were recognized 4.1 weeks on average after initial treatment. 84.6% (11/13) of patients showed terminal hair growth, and 46.2% (6/13) of patients completely responded to this therapy. CONCLUSION: Acute diffuse alopecia areata can occur in male as well as in female patients. High dose methylprednisolone therapy appears to be effective in patients with rapidly progressing acute diffuse alopecia areata to prevent the progression of the disease.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Dermatology ; Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Methylprednisolone ; Prednisolone ; Scalp

PURPOSE: This study was performed to investigate the oxidation and antioxidation capacity in the maternal venous plasma of preterm labor with intact membranes, and premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), and also to evaluate their roles in the pathophysiology of PPROM. METHODS: Seventy five women in the following categories had venous blood retrieved: (1) Group A, normal pregnancy (n=24). (2) Group B, preterm labor with intact membranes (n=25). (3) Group C, preterm premature rupture of membranes (n=26). Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels as a marker of lipid peroxidation by thiobarbituric acid reaction, protein carbonyl content by 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine reaction, and total antioxidant capacity by oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay (ORAC) were measured. Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Lipid peroxide levels in the venous plasma of group B and C were significantly higher than those of group A (group B: 4.59+/-0.30, group C: 5.40+/-0.22 vs. group A: 3.90+/-0.26 nmol/mg protein, P<0.05). Lipid peroxide levels in the venous plasma of group C were significantly higher than those of group B (P<0.05). Protein carbonyl levels in the venous plasma of group C were significantly higher than those of group A (group C: 5.68+/-0.42 vs. group A: 5.43+/-0.41 nmol/mg protein, P<0.05). There was no significant difference of protein carbonyl levels in the venous plasma between group A and B. ORAC levels in the venous plasma of group B and C were significantly lower than those of group A (group B: 117.90+/-0.48, group C: 111.68+/-1.23 vs. group A: 119.14+/-1.12 mM/mL, P<0.05). ORAC levels in the venous plasma of group C were significantly lower than those of group B (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: In the blood of the women with preterm premature rupture of membranes, the lipid peroxidation was increased and the antioxidant capacity was decreased compared to women with normal pregnancy and preterm labor with intact membranes. These results suggest that oxidative stress was increased in preterm premature rupture of membranes.
Female ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Malondialdehyde ; Membranes* ; Obstetric Labor, Premature* ; Oxidative Stress* ; Oxygen ; Plasma* ; Pregnancy ; Rupture*