The increase of the eosinophil leukocytes can be taken as a sign of an allergic reaction it might be a helpful means for obtaining information on the etiology of diseases, therefore, examinations for eosinophil leukocytes in Cantharidin blisters was undertaken in normals and with various skin disorders. 1. In 30 healthy suhjects, blister eontained 56.47+42.5/mm3 of eosinophil leucocytes, and 80% of them never exceeded 66/mm3 of eosinophil leucocytes. 2. The highest eosinophil leukocytes among the various dermatoses was seen contact dermatitis (93.07+40.3/mm3) and drug eruption (92.17+21.1/mm3), atopic dermatitis (75.37+41.0/mm3), and chronic urticaria (72.28+24.2/mm3) were followed in order. 3. The eosinophil leukocytes were slightly increased in psoriasis vulgaris (69.14+29.9/mm3) and herpes zoster (63.25+20.4/mm3). 4. The eosinophil leucocytes were markedly increased in the skin disorders of allergic nature and slightly in non-allergic skin disorders.
Blister* ; Cantharidin* ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Drug Eruptions ; Eosinophils* ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Leukocytes ; Psoriasis ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Urticaria

Keratosis punctata of the palmar creases (KPPC) is rare skin condition characterized by punctiform hyperkeratotic pits confined to the palmar and digital creases. Although this condition has been regarded as a variant of classical punctate keratoses, there are some differences between classical punctate keratosis and KPPC. We herein report a case of KPPC in a 22-year-old man who had numerous, tiny, hyperkeratotic pits limited to the palmar creases of both hands with typical histologic findings.
Hand ; Humans ; Keratosis* ; Skin ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Retroperitoneal Fibrosis*

PURPOSE: Combined androgen blockade(CAB) is often used in the management of advanced adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Recent case reports indicated that hypogonadism from CAB therapy is associated with osteoporosis and related fracture. The effect of CAB on bone mineral density(BMD) has not been adequately studied in men with prostate cancer. In this study, the possibility, frequency and severity of osteoporosis following CAB in prostate cancer patient was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 19 men with advanced prostate cancer receiving CAB were evaluated for the presence of osteoporosis defined as bone mass 2.5 standard deviation below peak bone mass of young normal men(T-score). The BMB of the femoral neck and lumbar spine were measured. The BMD was then compared to the age-matched control value and reported as the Z-score. BMD measurements were compared to duration of CAB and Gleason score. RESULTS: Osteoporosis occurred in 10 of 15 patients in lumbar spine, and 4 of 18 patients in femoral neck. Osteoporosis was unrelated to the type of the CAB(orchiectomy, or LHRH-agonist). CAB caused a decrease in mean BMD of lumbar spine and femoral neck. There is a negative linear relation between mean BMD and duration of CAB(lumber spine; R2=0.059, Y=-2.368-0.016X, p>0.05, femoral neck; R2=0.089, Y=-1.923-0.020x, p>0.05). There is a statistically significant negative linear relationship between Gleason score and mean T-score of femoral neck(lumbar spine; R2=0.391, Y=-0.08-0.371X, p<0.05, femoral neck; R2=0.517, Y=0.855-0.450x, p<0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Our study provide evidence for acceleration of osteoporosis among men whose prostate cancers were treated with CAB. This study indicates a need for bone mineral density determination at the onset of CAB and at periodic intervals there after to begin appropriate therapy, undefined at this point, for prevention of osteoporosis and its complications aggravated by this therapy.
Acceleration ; Adenocarcinoma ; Bone Density ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Male ; Neoplasm Grading ; Osteoporosis* ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Spine

PURPOSE: To report the experiences at our institute of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in combination with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) injection in patients with retained lens material after cataract surgery. METHODS: The medical records of patients who underwent PPV between January 2005 and December 2006 after complicated cataract surgery in which lens material was dropped into the vitreous cavity were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Five eyes of five patients were treated by vitrectomy and removal of the dislocated lens material and were administered an adjuvant intravitreal injection of 4 mg triamcinolone acetonide at the end of surgery. IVTA administration induced a rapid improvement in vision within six weeks postoperatively. Final visual acuity was 20/32 or better in all patients. Inflammatory cystoid macular edema (CME) that existed preoperatively was promptly improved after IVTA. Intraocular pressure increased transiently in one patient. No procedure-related complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: PPV with additional IVTA was successfully performed in five eyes with retained lens material and resulted in a marked resolution of vitreous inflammation, an improvement in CME and rapid visual recovery. The authors recommend that IVTA administration should be investigated more thoroughly as an adjunct during the management of retained lens material.
Aged ; Cataract Extraction/adverse effects ; Device Removal/*methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glucocorticoids/*administration & dosage ; Humans ; Injections ; Intraoperative Care/methods ; Lens Subluxation/pathology/*surgery ; Lenses, Intraocular/*adverse effects ; Macular Edema/etiology/pathology/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Treatment Outcome ; Triamcinolone Acetonide/*administration & dosage ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy/*methods ; Vitreous Body

PURPOSE: Myocutaneous flap was widely used for trochanteric pressure sore but it had many drawbacks such as donor site morbidity, dog-ear deformity and functional muscle sacrifice. We have performed fasciocutaneous flap based on perforating vessels and succeeded in overcoming its drawbacks. METHODS: We experienced 11 cases of perforator-based fasciocutaneous flap for the coverage of trochanteric pressure sore in 9 patients, 2 cases of which were bilateral. The ambulatory status of patient group is as follows: 6 of them used a wheelchair, 2 of them are free walking, 1 of them use a wheelchair or crutches. Flap was supplied by cutaneous perforating vessel of descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery and the third perforating artery of the deep femoral artery. The size of wounds were from 4x6.5cm to 10x13cm. RESULTS: We did not find any flap loss or congestion except 2 partial wound dehiscences and 1 wound infection. Donor site morbidity was not found. We observed no recurrence of the pressure sore during the 2.5 year follow-up period. CONCLUSION: We considered that perforator-based fasciocutaneous flap could overcome the traditional drawbacks of the conventional myocutaneous flap and its modified flap for trochanteric pressure sore. And this flap has many advantages for covering trochanteric pressure sore without any donor site deformity and morbidity, which would greatly improve the aesthetic result.
Arteries ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Crutches ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Femoral Artery ; Femur* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Myocutaneous Flap ; Pressure Ulcer* ; Recurrence ; Tissue Donors ; Walking ; Wheelchairs ; Wound Infection ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND: Recently, patients' demands for emergency medicine are increasing, and most of prehospital medical care, including basic life support, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and triage, are provided by paramedics or emergency medical technicians. Evaluation of the adequacy of prehospital management and triage has become important for improving the quality and the effectiveness of the emergency medical system. METHODS: The 202 patients who were transferred by ambulance with paramedics, nurses, or emergency medical technicians to the Emergency Department in Gil Medical Center from July 1, 1999, to September 31, 1999, were enrolled. This study was conducted prospectively by using the emergency physician's log and newly devised protocols recorded by paramedics or nurses. RESULTS: 1) Male to female ratio was 1:0.8, and the peak age of the patients were the 4th(18.8%) and 6th decade(15.3%). 2) Of the 202 patients, 84 patients were transferred for trauma and 118 for medical problems. The mean transfer time was 6+/-1.73 minutes. 3) The validities of prehospital triage and decisions using the trauma severity measure and the disease severity measure, were 33.3% in trauma patients and 57.6% in medical patients. 4) The results for the adequacy rate in prehospital management analyzed by using the rate of necessity of treatment, performance of treatment, and adequate treatment were as follows: oxygen supply, 38.1/41.6/93.8; wound dressing, 19.3/71.8/92.9; immobilization of the cervical spine, 15.8/56.3/92.9; application of a spinal board, 12.9/42.3/72.7; application of a splint, 9.9/50.0/60.0; manual maintenance of an airway, 9.9/55.0/63.6; and CPR, 4.5/66.7/0.5) Kind of ALS(Advanced Life Support) were not conducted(peripheral IV, EKG, intubation medical administration, defibrillation, pacing). The rates of necessity of treatment were as follows: peripheral IV, 40.6%; ECG monitoring, 23.3%; endotracheal intubation, 8.9%; medical administration, 8.9%; defibrillation, 3.5%; and pacing, 1.5%. CONCLUSION: The adequacy of prehospital triage and decisions using trauma and disease severity measures was relatively low. To improve the adequacy of BLS(Basic Life Support) and to increase the performance of ALS(Advanced Life Support), we must create challenges to develop new protocols and to supplement new equipment.
Allied Health Personnel ; Ambulances ; Bandages ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Electrocardiography ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Technicians ; Emergency Medicine ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Male ; Oxygen ; Prospective Studies ; Spine ; Splints ; Triage* ; Wounds and Injuries

OBJECTIVES: Public release of and feedback (here after public release) on institutional (clinics and hospitals) cesarean section rates has had the effect of reducing cesarean section rates. However, compared to the isolated intervention, there was scant evidence of the effect of repeated public releases (RPR) on cesarean section rates. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of RPR for reducing cesarean section rates. METHODS: From January 2003 to July 2007, the nationwide monthly institutional cesarean section rates data (1 951 303 deliveries at 1194 institutions) were analyzed. We used autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) time-series intervention models to assess the effect of the RPR on cesarean section rates and ordinal logistic regression model to determine the characteristics of the change in cesarean section rates. RESULTS: Among four RPR, we found that only the first one (August 29, 2005) decreased the cesarean section rate (by 0.81 percent) and continued to have an impact period through the last observation in May 2007. Baseline cesarean section rates (OR, 4.7; 95% CI, 3.1 to 7.1) and annual number of deliveries (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.6 to 4.7) of institutions in the upper third of each category at before first intervention had a significant contribution to the decrease of cesarean section rates. CONCLUSIONS: We could not found the evidence that RPR has had the significant effect of reducing cesarean section rates. Institutions with upper baseline cesarean section rates and annual number of deliveries were more responsive to RPR.
Cesarean Section/standards/trends/*utilization ; Disclosure ; Female ; Hospitals/classification/statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; *Information Dissemination ; Logistic Models ; Pregnancy ; Program Evaluation ; *Quality of Health Care ; Republic of Korea

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the incidence of lumbosacral bony deformities including occult spina bifida in patients with noninflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) compared to that in control group, and the significance of plain radiography in assessment of CPPS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1995 and May 1999, 71 men presented for pelviperineal pain and lower urinary tract symptoms eventually led to the diagnosis of noninflammatory CPPS. The mean duration of pain was 21.4 months. The control group consisted with 123 symptom free heathy adults. The plain radiography was performed in both groups, and bony deformities of lumbosacral area were evaluated by one urologist. RESULTS: The principal pain regions in patients were perineum (45.1%) and scrotum and/or testis (36.6%). The number of patients who complained of obstructive and irritative urinary symptoms were 37 (52.1%) and 29 (40.8%) cases respectively. The incidence of deformities of lumbosacral area in patients (21.1%) was significantly greater than that of control group (9.7%) (P=0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Higher incidence of lumbosacral bony deformities was found in patients with noninflammatory CPPS than in normal control group. It is suggested that neurophysiologic and radiologic studies will be needed to determine whether deformities of lumbosacral area account for chronic pelvic pain and voiding symptoms in noninflammatory CPPS.
Adult ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Male ; Pelvic Pain* ; Perineum ; Prostatitis ; Radiography ; Scrotum ; Spina Bifida Occulta ; Testis