No abstract available.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn

We report an uncommon case of sebaceous adenoma in a 36-year-old male who had a solitary, well-de6ned, 0.5×0.8cm sized, round, erythematous nodule on the right side of his forehead. Microscopically, the nodule was composed of poorly developed sebaceous lobules that were irregular in size and shape in the deep reticular dermis. The lobules were composed of mature sebaceous cells in the center and undifferentiated basaloid cells at the periphery. In most lobules, the two types of cells occured in approximately equal proportions. We excised the lesion completely and no evidence of recurrence was observed for 2 years.
Adenoma* ; Adult ; Dermis ; Forehead ; Humans ; Male ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND: Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a strong urticariogenic agent and a primary irritant. A DMSO test which measures erythema and wheal responses in skin after exposure for 5 min could be a simple and easy method in evaluating cutaneous irritation. Several non-invasive bioengineering methods for the evaluation of skin irritancy have been developed in recent decades. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the DMSO test using filter paper discs instead of the open well with measurements of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and erythema index (E-index) could be useful to study skin irritancy. METHODS: Twenty healthy volunteers (19-29 years, 10 males and 10 females) with no history of atopic dermatitis were included. DMSO solutions (90%, 95%, and 100%) of 60l were applied to the left volar forearm for 5 min using filter paper discs (12mm) for large Finn chamber. Visual scores (whealing scores and erythema), TEWL and E-index were measured at 30 min after removal of the filter papers. RESULTS: The number of subjects showing erythema and wheals after DMSO exposure were: 6 (30%), 8 (40%) with 90% DMSO solution; 14 (70%), 15 (75%) with 95% DMSO solution; and 20 (100%), 20 (100%) with 100% DMSO solution, respectively. Whealing scores were 0.5±0.6 (90%), 1.4±1.1 (95%), 3.5±0.9 (100%), and erythema ones were 2.9±4.9 (90%), 7.7±7.2 (95%), 20.0±6.5 (100%). E-index results were 10.0±3.4 (90%), 10.9±3.1 (95%), 12.3±2.7 (100%), and TEWL values were 14.6±4.9 (90%), 21.0±8.8 (95%), 44.9±15.3 (100%). As the DMSO concentrations were increased, there were significant increases in whealing scores, and erythema and TEWL values. E-index results were not significant, but showed a rising score tendency. There were no significant differences between the males and the females. CONCLUSION: DMSO testing may be a quick and simple method to assess cutaneous irritation. Also, TEWL measurements may be more accurate and sensitive than those of E-index measurement in the assessment of erythema and wheals. DMSO testing using filter paper discs with TEWL measurement could be a useful method in the study of cutaneous irritation.
Bioengineering ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide* ; Erythema ; Female ; Forearm* ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans* ; Male ; Methods ; Skin* ; Water

Cephalosporins are B-lactam antibiotics. They are usually bactericidal in action and act by inhibiting mucopeptide synthesis in the bacterial cell wall. Cephalosporins have been used widely in Korea. However, allergic contact dermatitis to cephalosporins has not been reported in the Korean dermatologiy literature. We report a case of allergic contact dermatitis due to cephalosporins in a 23-year-old nurse who suffered from itchy, erythematous patches and plaques with numerous fissures on both hands. A patch test with ceftriaxone and a prick test with cefotiam were positive.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cefotiam ; Ceftriaxone ; Cell Wall ; Cephalosporins* ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Hand ; Humans ; Korea ; Patch Tests ; Young Adult

No abstract available.

To determine the frequencies of the genotypes of NAT2 gene in healthy Korean populations and to identify the high-risk genotypes of NAT2 gene in colorectal cancer patients, 115 healthy controls and 109 cancer patients were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP). The distribution of NAT2 polymorphism in healthy Korean was found to be 7.8% of S/S genotype, 48.7% of S/F genotype, and 43.5% of F/F genotype. And the frequency of phenotypes was 8% of slow acetylator and 92% of rapid acetylator. S/S genotype of colorectal cancer patients was slightly more frequent than that of healthy controls(11.9% vs 7.8%). The relative risk of S/S genotype to colorectal cancer was estimated to be 1.41, taking the risk of F/F genotype as a baseline(1.00). These results suggest that the distribution of frequencies of NAT2 genotypes is very unique in Korean characterized by extremely low frequency of slow acetylator geno type(S/S) in comparison to the other ethnic groups. And the slow acetylator genotype(S/S) in Korean was found to be more susceptible to colon cancer. Therefore, S/S genotype may have a certain role an colonic carcinogenesis in Korean.
Carcinogenesis ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Ethnic Groups ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Korea* ; Phenotype

No abstract available.
Female ; HELLP Syndrome* ; Pregnancy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of spiral CT in predicting the depth of tumor invasion in patients with gastric cancer by comparing with histopathological finding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied spiral CT scans of forty-eight patients, in whom gastric cancer was proven by gastrofibroscopic biopsy and surgery. After distending the stomach with 400ml tap water or effervescent granules, 100ml of contrast media was given intravenously at a rate of 3ml/sec. CT scanning was started at 45 sec after administration of the contrast material. Gastric tumors were subdivided into five types according to enhancing pattern from the inner layer of gastric wall to the outer layer. These pattern were correlated with histopathologic results. RESULT: The tumor masses were detected on CT scan in 10(77%) of 13 patients with early gastric cancer, while, the tumor masses were seen on CT scan in all patients with advanced gastric cancer. Of 9 patients with type 1 or type 2 enhancing pattern, early gastric cancer(T1) were proven in 7 patients(78%), serosal invasion (T3) in 2 patients(22%). In contrast, among 29 patients with type 4 and type 5, 22 patients(76%) were proven as serosal invasion(T3). Of 7 patients with type 3, 3 patients(43%) were proven as serosal invasion(T3), three(43%) as subserosal invasion(T2), one as early gastric cancer(T1). CONCLUSION: Analysis of morphological enhancing pattern on spiral CT is useful in predicting the depth of tumor invasion in patients with gastric cancer.
Biopsy ; Contrast Media ; Humans ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Tomography, Spiral Computed* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Water

BACKGROUND: An epidemiologic study was performed after the outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) from December 2006 to May 2007. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was performed using the medical records of the patients. The case and control patients were compared for age, gender, total length of stay in MICU, prior carbapenem use, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACH II) score, presence of central line, effect of mechanical ventilation, and sputum suction. Environmental and hand-washing studies were performed during the outbreak. RESULTS: Ten CRAB-affected patients and 29 controls were enrolled in this study. Univariate analysis showed that the age, total length of stay in MICU, presence of central line, and prior carbapenem use were associated with the CRAB outbreak. However, multivariate analysis showed that only prior carbapenem use was associated with the CRAB outbreak (odd ratio: 8.67, P=0.01). The outbreak disappeared after implementing a combined infection control strategy, including the sequential disinfection of MICU and strict compliance with cross-transmission prevention protocols. CONCLUSION: The use of carbapenem was associated with an increased risk of CRAB infection. This study suggests that the MICU contamination and infection transmission by health-care workers played a major role in the CRAB outbreak. Novel strategies such as restricted use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, strict hand hygiene, strict isolation of the patients, and MICU disinfection may be required to prevent the CRAB outbreak.
Acinetobacter ; Acinetobacter baumannii ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; APACHE ; Case-Control Studies ; Compliance ; Disease Transmission, Infectious ; Disinfection ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Hand Hygiene ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sputum ; Suction

The pat,hogenesis of atopic dermititis(AD) is still undefined. The prominent immunologic abnormalities associated with AD are defective cell-mediated immunity and increased IgE production. Also, the predominant CD4 subset in the skin lesion of AD is a Th2-like. Thymopentin, the active pentapepide of a thymic hormone, promotes differentiation of thymocytes and exhibits immunomodulating function. We experienced 2 case. of severe AD patients who were treated with subcutaneous injection of thymopentin three times a week for 6 weeks or 8 weeks. We compared the effects of cyclosporine A(CsA), FK -506 and thymopentin on the production of IL-2, IL-3, IL-4 and sIL-2R in vitro. In patient 1, there was no clinical response with thymopentin therapy. There was no difference in the serum IgE levels between before and after treatment. The ratio of Th/Ts was increased after treatment. In vitro study, CsA and FK-506 inhibited the production of IL-2, IL-3, IL 4 and sIL-2R, and thymopentin inhibited the production of IL-2, IL-3, IL-4 and sIL-2R. In patient 2, the clinical score of the patient was improved from 15 to 10 after treatment with thymopentin. There was no difference in the serum IgE level. The ratio of Th/Ts was decreased after treatment. In vitro study, the production of IL-2, IL-3 and IL-4 were decreased in lymphocytes added with CsA and FK-506, but the production of sIL-2R was increased by CsA and FK-506. Also, the production of IL-3 and IL-4 were increased in lymphocytes added with thyrnopentin, but the proluction of IL-2 and sIL-2R were increased by thymopentin. Our data suggest that thymopentin could be effective in the treatment of severe AD through the upregulation of Thl-like subset, not via the downregulation of Th2-like subset.
Cyclosporine ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunoglobulin E ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-3 ; Interleukin-4 ; Lymphocytes ; Skin ; Tacrolimus ; Thymocytes ; Thymopentin* ; Up-Regulation