We report two human cases of tick bite. A 63-year-old male had a pruritic pea-sized brownish nodule on the left popliteal area. Another 41-year-old male had an asymptomatic bean-sized black nodule in the pubic area. The ticks were identified as Ixodes nipponensis, which are the 18th and the 19th cases in Korea.
Adult ; Animals ; Bites and Stings/*parasitology/pathology ; Human ; *Ixodes/anatomy & histology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Skin/*parasitology/pathology ; Tick Infestations/*parasitology/pathology

No abstract available.
Epidermis* ; Psoriasis

PURPOSE: Cytokines are known to play a major role in mediating many of the immunological and pathological findings of allergic disease. Many studies on allergen-specific T cell clones isolated from atopic individuals have shown that these cells produce cytokines of the Th2 phenotype. The purpose of the present study was to investigate cytokine patterns of T lymphocyte induced by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in atopic asthma. METHODS: Freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells of Dp(+) asthmatic children, Dp(-) asthmatic children, nonasthmatic children, and normal adults were stimulated with Dp antigen and examined for the induction of IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-5 mRNA using RT-PCR. RESULTS: The lymphoproliferative response to crude Dp antigen was maximized at Dp concentration of 2.5 microgram/mL. The lymphoproliferative response was low in children including Dp(+) asthmatics, Dp(-) asthmatics and nonasthmatics, but that of normal adults was high. The expression of IFN-gamma was not so different in each group, but the expression of IL-4 was least in adults, and that of IL-5 was most prominent in Dp(+) asthmatic children. In adult healthy group, IFN-gamma expression without IL-4 and IFN-gamma without IL-5 was significantly higher than those in children. IL-5 expression with or without IFN-gamma was the highest in Dp(+) asthmatic children. IL-4 and IL-5 or IL-5 without IL-4 expression were observed more frequently in Dp(+) asthmatic children than in any other groups. Th2 response was most prominent in Dp(+) asthmatics, and Th1 response was most prominent in normal adult group. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we observed significantly prominent Th2 response in Dp(+) asthmatic children, especially that of IL-5.
Adult ; Asthma ; Child ; Clone Cells ; Cytokines* ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus* ; Gene Expression* ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; Lymphocytes ; Negotiating ; Phenotype ; Pyroglyphidae* ; RNA, Messenger

The use of self-expanding metal stent has been widely reported that its utility can make a palliative decompression treatment and one stage operation without doing colostomy in the patient with unresectable and resectable obstructive colorectal cancer, respectively. It, however, can sometimes cause complications such as intestinal perforation. We report that the conservative treantment could be possible without removing stent or performing laparotomy in case of intestinal perforation during chemoradiotheraphy after insert of stent for relieving colonic obstruction in the 53 years old female patient with stage IV rectal cancer.
Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Colostomy ; Decompression ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Perforation ; Laparotomy ; Middle Aged ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Stents*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical results of resection of os subfibulare and lateral ligament reattachment or modified Brostrom procedure in patients with symptomatic os subfibulare. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study on fourteen patients (14 ankles) who have symptoms associated with os subfibulare. Between August 1999 and July 2004, they underwent 4 resection of os subfibulare and lateral ligament reattachment for ankle pain due to os subfibulare or 10 resection of os subfibulare and modified Brostrom procedure available for ankle instability due to os subfibulare. Follow-up period is averaged for 17.6 months (12-24 months). Clinical results were graded according to the AOFAS clinical rating system. RESULTS: Clinical results were rated as good in 4 ankles after resection of os subfibulare and lateral ligament reattachment, excellent in 5, good in 4, and fair in 1 ankle after the resection of os subfibulare and modified Brostrom procedure. In the last follow up period, 1 case of anterolateral ankle instability, 1 case of ankle pain and 1 case of inversion limitation were present postoperatively, but all symptoms were improved progressively. CONCLUSION: Resection of os subfibulare and modified Brostrom procedure is a good surgical technique for chronic ankle instability due to os subfibulare. But if just the ankle pain is present, resection of os subfibulare and lateral ligament reattachment is a sufficient procedure.
Ankle ; Collateral Ligaments ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster is a significant and troublesome disease. The pain of acute herpes zoster may be severe, but is usually transitory. Some patients, especially the elderly at particular risk, go on to develop neuralgia. Unfortunately, neuralgia is often severe and refractory to most forms of treatment. The purpose of this study was to estimate improved rates of neuralgia according to associated factors. METHODS: We observed the improved rates of neuralgia in 123 patients who had herpes zoster with severe pain and treated with antiviral therapy after admission. Also, we compared them by age group, dermatomal distribution, and initiating day of antiviral therapy. RESULTS: At 4 weeks of treatment, the improved rates of neuralgia according to age younger group was high and older group was low. The improved rates of neuralgia according to the starting day of treatment was high 100% in 1 day, 76.5% in 2, 65.0% in 3days, and 18.2% in 7 days after skin eruption. CONCLUSION: In herpes zoster with severe pain, age and initiation of antiviral therapy are significant predictors of neuralgia.
Aged ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Neuralgia ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic* ; Skin

Forty year old woman with dysphagia underwent surgical correction of complete vascular ring formed by right aortic arch, Kommerell's diverticulum and ligamentum arteriosum. Operation consisted of ligamentum division, reduction diverticuloplasty and posterior diverticulopexy via left posterolateral thoracotomy. Dysphagia was relieved postoperatively, and concentic narrowing of esophagus in the level of aortic arch disappeared on postoperative esophagography.
Aorta, Thoracic ; Deglutition Disorders ; Diverticulum* ; Esophagus ; Female ; Humans ; Thoracotomy

A 2-year-old spayed female British Shorthair cat presented with an increased frequency and duration of cough since infant period. Based on radiographic, ultrasonographic, and computed tomography findings, peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia was considered so that repair surgery was planned. During celiotomy, lax diaphragm was identified instead of defect. Transabdominal diaphragmatic plication was performed to resolve lax diaphragm and to prevent recurrence by overlapping relatively normal part of diaphragm. Diagnosed with diaphragmatic eventration postoperatively, the cat showed improvement in clinical signs and imaging results. Transabdominal diaphragmatic plication is a suitable treatment; the patient maintained normally during a 14-month follow-up period.

BACKGROUND: Mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) is an important molecule in transducing extracellular signal from cell surface to the nucleus. MAPK family includes ERK(extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase), JNK(stress-activated c-Jun N-terminal kinase), p38 kinases. Not only various growth factors and cytokines, but also other signals such as UV light are able to activate MAPK, resulting in various cellular responses including proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to determine patterns of MAPK expression in epidermal tumors including seborrheic keratosis(SK) on sun-exposed skin and unexposed area, actinic keratosis(AK), Bowen's disease(BD), acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma(ASCC), and other squamous cell carcinoma(SCC). METHODS: Using pan ERK, JNK-2 and p-JNK, we have examined MAPK expression immunohistochemically in epidermal tumors(total 30 cases) including SK on sun-exposed skin(5 cases) and unexposed areas(5 cases), AK(5 cases), BD(5 cases), ASCC(5 cases), and SCC(5 cases). RESULTS: ERK was expressed in AK and ASCC positively but not in BD, and the staining pattern with ERK also showed positivity in microinvasive area and dysplastic cells of SCC. JNK was not expressed in all tumor cells of SK, AK, BD, and ASCC with the exception of dyskeratotic cells in BD and acantholytic cells in ASCC. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that ERK expression may be related to sun exposure and responsible for proliferation of tumor and invasion into surrounding tissue. JNK may not be related with malignant progression of tumor and carcinogenesis cauesd by sun exposure, but with apoptosis of tumor cells.
Actins ; Apoptosis ; Carcinogenesis ; Cytokines ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Phosphotransferases ; Skin ; Solar System* ; Ultraviolet Rays

OBJECTIVE: The definition of empty sella syndrome is 'an anatomical entity in which the pituitary fossa is partially or completely filled with cerebrospinal fluid, while the pituitary gland is compressed against the posterior rim of the fossa'. Reports of this entities relating to the brain tumors not situated in the pituitary fossa, have rarely been reported. METHODS: In order to analyze the incidence and relationship of empty sella in patients having brain tumors, the authors reviewed preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 72 patients with brain tumor regardless of pathology except the pituitary tumors. The patients were operated in single institute by one surgeon. There were 25 males and 47 females and mean patient age was 53 years old (range from 5 years to 84 years). Tumor volume was ranged from 2 cc to 238 cc. RESULTS: The overall incidence of empty sella was positive in 57/72 cases (79.2%). Sorted by the pathology, empty sella was highest in meningioma (88.9%, p = 0.042). The empty sella was correlated with patient's increasing age (p = 0.003) and increasing tumor volume (p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: Careful review of brain MRI with periodic follow up is necessary for the detection of secondary empty sella in patients with brain tumors. In patients with confirmed empty sella, follow up is mandatory for the management of hypopituitarism, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea, visual disturbance and increased intracranial pressure.
Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Empty Sella Syndrome ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypopituitarism ; Incidence ; Intracranial Pressure ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Meningioma ; Pituitary Gland ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Tumor Burden