Acrokeratosis verruciformis is a familial disease characterized by indolent papules resembIing flat warts on the backs of the hands and feet with lesser involvement of volar surfaces, wrists, and ankles. A cas of 42 years old female with acrokeratosis verruciformis is reported. The skin lesions of this patient showed numerous rice to pea sized, flat-topped, round or polygonal, warty papules on the dorsal aspects of the hands and feet and also, pitted keratolysis on both volar surface of the hands. The hitologic findings were those of features of acrokeratosis verruciformis, i.e. the epidermis shows marked hyperkeratosis with slight acanthosis and papillomatosis and circumscribed elevations of the epidermis resembling church spires characteristically.
Adult ; Ankle ; Darier Disease* ; Epidermis ; Female ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Papilloma ; Peas ; Skin ; Warts ; Wrist

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to examine the mental health status of the laid off by comparing the unemployed with the employed. METHODS: A survey questionnaire was used to investigate the mental health status of the laidoff in comparison with that of the employed. The study sample consisted of 247 laid-off people formerly employed in A auto factory and 167 employees working in B auto factory. RESULTS: The proportion exercising regularly was 20.2% for the laid-off and 34.8% for the employed and the proportion having regular meals was 10.9% and 50.6%, respectively. In addition, the frequency and amount of alcohol consumption and smoking of the laid-off were higher than those of the employed. Among the laid-off, 69.4% responded that they spent less time in talking to their spouse, and 65.4% also reported reduced sexual activities with their spouse. Because of unemployment, 41.8% of the laid-off experienced conflicts with their children, and 53.5% also perceived that they were stigmatized and treated badly by their neighbors, friends and relatives. Mean IFR in the laid-off was 22.9, which was much higher than the 15.3 recorded in the employed. The mean PWI-SF was 24.2 for the laid-off and 13.0 for the employed, which indicates the lower psychological health status of the laid-off than that of the employed. Age, annual salary, family relationship, regular exercise, regular diets, possibility to return to work and perception of the future were related to mental health status for the laid-off. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that the most important factor influencing mental health status for the laid-off was family relationships. CONCLUSIONS: According to the above results, the mental health of the laid-off is worse than that of the employed. Based on this study, a follow-up study focusing on the mental health status of the reemployed to the same factory, is needed to understand the direct mental health effect on the laid-off.
Alcohol Drinking ; Child ; Diet ; Family Relations ; Friends ; Humans ; Meals ; Mental Health* ; Questionnaires ; Return to Work ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits ; Sexual Behavior ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spouses ; Unemployment

PURPOSE: To analyze clinical, radiological and pathological features as well as clinical outcome after surgical treatment of patients with secondary chondrosarcoma arising from osteochondroma(tosis). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed clinical records, radiographs, pathologic slides of 14 patients. Nine patients were male and five were female. The mean age was 34 years. The mean follow-up period was 54 months. RESULTS: All patients had a history of previous mass since childhood or puberty. Preexisted osteochondroma was single in 3 patients and multiple in 10. Remaining 1 patient had multiple osteochondromatosis with enchondromatosis. MRI clearly provided thickness of cartilage cap, which was over 2 cm except in 2 cases. Chondrosarcoma was grade 1 in all except 1 case, which was grade 2. Wide excision was performed in 10 patients, marginal excision in 3 and amputation in 1. Twelve patients were doing very well without evidence of disease. Among 3 patients with marginal excision, 1 patient had local recurrence and 1 patient died of disease. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive understanding of clinical, radiological and pathological features of secondary chondrosarcoma is warranted for accurate diagnosis. The best result can be expected with early recognition of malignant change of osteohcondroma(tosis) and wide excision.
Amputation ; Cartilage ; Chondrosarcoma ; Enchondromatosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Osteochondroma ; Osteochondromatosis ; Puberty ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

We investigated the overall survival rate after pulmonary metastasectomy in the bone and soft tissue sarcoma and the available prognostic factors related with the survival rate after pulmonary metastasectomy. Between 1986 and 1995, 9 patients (median age 32) with bone and soft tissue sarcoma with pulmonary metastasis were managed in the Catholic University of Korea. Until the final follow-up in May 1996, 6 patients have died of disease and their mean survival period was 28 months (9- 58months). The actual 5-year survival rate by Kaplan-Meier method was 33%. Prognostic factors such as tumor free interval, number of metastatic lesion, postoperative chemotherapy and histologic grade were analyzed. Three patients who had the tumor free interval over 3 years were alive (mean survival period: 52.6 months), whereas six patients who had the tumor free interval less than 3 years were dead (mean survival period: 19 months). Out of four patients with low grade tumor, three patients were alive with average 39.2 months survival period, whereas five patients with high grade tumor were all dead with average 19.2 months survival period. These results suggested that pulmonary metastasectomy in bone and soft tissue sarcoma may prolong the survival rate. The long tumor free interval, histological low grade and soft tissue sarcoma may influenced on prolonged survival rate. However, number of metastatic lesion or postoperative chemotherapy has not influenced on the survival rate.
Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Metastasectomy* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Sarcoma* ; Survival Rate*

Infantile fibrosarcoma is a rare malignant soft tissue tumor occurring especially in newborn and young children under 2 years. We experienced three cases of infantile fibrosarcoma presenting in the neonatal period. Case 1 presented with a multiseptated cystic mass on his left thigh at birth that was diagnosed as lymphangioma. After picibanil injection, we noted the size of the mass doubled and a solid lesion was prominent in the magnetic resonance image. Case 2 was found to have a reddish mass on his lower back mimicking hemangioma. Over 2 weeks, the mass grew rapidly with internal hemorrhaging. Case 3 was noted to have an encircling mass around the splenic flexure, which developed into congenital bowel obstruction. All of the tumors were resected completely, but microscopic resection margin was not clear in two patients. The two patients received adjuvant chemotherapy and all patients are well without evidence of recurrence.
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Child ; Colon, Transverse ; Fibrosarcoma ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Lymphangioma ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Parturition ; Picibanil ; Recurrence ; Thigh

An epidemiological study on brugian filariasis was carried out in endemic areas including Cheju Island in Korea, with a brief review of literatures.The results showed that the incidence among residents has remarkably decreased in Cheju Island, which was the main endemic area. Reviewing available informations on the prevalence of filariasis reported in recent years and also judging from the present socio-economic conditions which enable people to practice personal protection against mosquitos, it can be said with confidence that filariasis has almost disappeared from Cheju Island and inland areas. The disease is considered to remain at a low level of endemicity in Hugsan Islands. Certainly mass diethylcarbamazine (DEC) treatment carried out in Cheju Island in the 1960s and 1970s and remarkable economic growth followed by improved living standard and altered life-style of inhabitants could all have combined effects on the disappearance of this mosquito-borne diseae in this island. If the present trends go on, the possibility of resurgence of filariasis in Cheju Island is hardly postulated.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda ; Brugia malayi ; filariasis ; epidemiology

On a total 375 sera with reactive results on VDRL and/or FTA-ABS test(s), derived from severance Hospital, qualitative and quantitative TPHA tests were carried out. The objectives of the present study were to compare the result of VDRL, FTA-ABS and TPHA teats in different syphilis stages, and to as sess the suitability of the TPHA test as a screening test for syphilis. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The sensitivity of VDRL test was poor compared with TPHA and FTA-ABS tests except in secondary syphilis. 2. The FTA-ABS test(10Qp,) was more sensitive than the TPHA test(86g) in primary syphilis, but it is time consuming and costly. 3 The TPHA titers were relatively low in primary syphilis. 4, Below 1: 32Q in TPHA titer, the percentage of sera from patients tested over 1 year(64%) after the completion of treatment was higher than within 1 year(41%). The TPHA test showed 77%. agreement with VDRL test and 89% agreement with FTA-ABS test. The VDRL test is easy to perform and economic, but it showed poor effeetiveness as screening test for the detection of syphilis. On the other hand the TPHA test had a wide spectrum of reactivity in different stages of syphilis and was easy to perform. So on the basis of the results presented, we concluded that the TPHA test provides a very effective screen for syphilis.
Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody-Absorption Test ; Hand ; Hemagglutination Tests* ; Hemagglutination* ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Serologic Tests* ; Syphilis* ; Treponema pallidum* ; Treponema*

The serologic tests for syphilis including VDRL and TPHA tests were performed on generaI entertainers in Jung Ku and Young Deung Po Ku, and prostitutes including general entertainers in the Pa Ju area from January 1978 to June 1978. In the same period, direct vaginal smear with Gram stain and culture in Thayer-Martin media were carried. aut for all the general entertainers in Jung Ku and Young Deung Fa Ku as well as for the prostitutes in the Pa Ju area. The results were as follows: 1. An overall VDRL reactive rate of 5, 6 A was found among the 6, 666 general entertainers and prostitutes studied. The reactive rate of VDRL test was 5.3, in 5,289 general entertainers, and 7.6% among the 837 prostitutes in the Pa Ju area. 2. With regard to the VBRL quantitative test, the reactive rate of the group with a titration of 1: 8 or higher rvas 34.8, among the general entertainers of Young Deung Po Ku and Jung Ku. 3. The overall biologic false positive rate of VDRL test was 16.8% in the Young Deung Po Ku and Pa Ju areas using the TPHA test as the standard. 4. The positive rates of culture in Thayer-Martin media were 8.6% out of 1,387 general entertainers of Young Deung Po Ku and l.3% out of 4,352 in Jung Ku respectively, and 2.5 out of 326 prostitutes in the Pa Ju area. The findings seem to be probable that no remarkable change of the incidence of syphilitic and gonococcal infection has taken place recently among the genera. entertainers and prostitutes.
Humans ; Incidence ; Serologic Tests* ; Sex Workers* ; Syphilis ; Vaginal Smears

PURPOSE: To evaluate the radiologic manifestations of the rectal leiomyosarcoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed CT and barium study of 2 cases of rectal leiomyosarcoma, which were operated and pathologically proved. RESULTS: In both cases colon studies showed a huge smooth marginated filling defect in the rectum. Precontrast CT scans showed a well-circumscribed, slightly Iobulated, inhomogeneous mass without calcification. Postcontrast scans showed minimal enhancement with internal low-density areas. In pathologic specimens there were large areas of necrosis and hemorrhage in the masses. Pericolic fat infiltration, lymph node metastasis, or distant metastasis were not detected. CONCLUSION: Leiomyosarcoma is rarely developed in the rectum, but general radiologic findings are similar to that of other part of the gastrointestinal tracts except for the tendency of intraluminal growth due to narrow pelvic space.
Barium ; Colon ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemorrhage ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Lymph Nodes ; Necrosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Rectum ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Double outlet right ventricle, a complex of congenital cardiac anomalies in which both great arteries arise wholly or in large part from the morphologic right ventricle presents diverse clinical manifestations according to the morphological characteristics. Eighty cases with DORV were diagnosed and operated at Yonsei Cardiovascular Center from 1988 to 1992. The analysis of the morphological characteristics of this anomaly and comparative study of operative methods and mortality according to the morphological classification led to the following results: 1) The location of VSD varied to be subaortic in 40 cases, subpulmonic in 15, doubly committed in 6 and noncommitted in 19 cases. The great arteries were interrelated in D-malposition in 43 cases and L-malposition in 18 and 26 cases among above mentioned 61 cases revealed the side-by-side relationship. Ten of the cases showed normal position and the rest 9, A-malposition. 2) Pulmonary stenosis was found in 60 cases, and when associated with subpulmonic VSD, occurring less frequently. PDA and ASD secundum were associated in successional order and only 3 cases were verified to carry aortic arch anomalies such as coarctation and interruption, all with subpulmonic VSD. 3) Intraventricular tunnel repair was possible in every case associated with subaortic VSD and the postoperative prognosis was excellent. In comparison, most of the cases associated with other types of VSD in which only palliative surgery or various types of intraventricular repair were performed, the general outcome was poor. But total cavopulmonary connection, one of the physiological corrective methods, showing a better postoperative prognosis is being carefully considered for its broad adoptation in future. In conclusion, double outlet right ventricle, a pathophysiological complex of various anomalies, should be thoroughly evaluated for the morphological characteristics to decide the most appropriate types of operation and for consequent improvement of prognosis.
Aorta, Thoracic ; Arteries ; Classification ; Double Outlet Right Ventricle* ; Heart Ventricles ; Mortality ; Palliative Care ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis