BACKGROUND: Statistical errors have been noted in a large percentage of articles appearing in medical journals. Their incidence in the Annals of Dermatology and the Korean Journal of Dermatology, however, has not been studied. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of statistical methods in the Annals of Dermatology and the Korean Journal of Dermatology. METHOD: Original papers using the t test in the Annals of Dermatology(AD) and in the Korean Journal of Dermatology(KJD) from January 1990 to July 1994 were analyzed for correctness of statistical methods. RESULTS: Of the 376 original papers in the period considered, 78(20.7%) presented t tests and 43(55.1%) of these also contained some errors. Of the 9 papers from the Annals of Dermatology, 4(44.4%) included at least one error. Of the 69 papers from the Korean Journal of Dermatology, 39(56.5%) included at least one error. CONCLUSION: Misuse of statistical methodology may not be uncommon in the two Korean Dermatology journals, and it would be prudent to give more attention to statistical methodology.
Dermatology* ; Incidence ; Methods

The fractures of the ankle in children are differ from those of adults in terms of the fracture pattern and the possibilities of influence to growth. The injuries of the ankle in children occur mostly at the bony structure rather than ligamentous structure, and some injuries of the growth plate may result in the arrest of entire growth plate or parts of growth plate and these may lead to leg length discrepancy or deformity. Many authors agree that the prognosis of injuries of the growth plate is dependent on the fracture type, the age of the patient at the onset of injuries, the degree of displacement of the fracture fragments, whether the injuries open or closed, and the efficacy of reduction. But the authors can not postulate one uniformed method of classification and treatment of the children's ankle fracture because of the variability of injuries. We have reviewed 35 cases of children's ankle fracture treated at our clinics from Dec. 1979 to Feb. 1984. The results obtained are as follows: l. Over half of the patients were between the ages of 13 and 16 years (54.3%). 2. The incidence of each type as Salter-Harris classification was that of type II(48.6%), type I(20.0%),type III(14.3%),type IV (8.6%). 3. The traffic accidents were the main causes of injury (68.5%). 4. The type I fractures occured mostly under 10 years of age and the type II fractures in adolescents. 5. All the type I fractures were treated conservatively without any complication, and the type II fractures were treated conservatively in 13 cases (76.5%) and operatively in 4 cases (23.5%) with variable results. 6. Overall incidence of complication was 20.0%, consisted with two cases of conservatively treated but not accurately reduced type II fractures, a conservatively treated type III fracture, a triplane fracture, and the others.
Accidents, Traffic ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Ankle Fractures ; Ankle ; Child ; Classification ; Clinical Study ; Clothing ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Growth Plate ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leg ; Ligaments ; Methods ; Prognosis

BACKGROUND: There has been no statistical study of dermatoses in the Ganganm area of Seoul which has been rapidly developing in the last 10 years. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the recent distributions of dermatoses in the Gangam area of Seoul and compared them with the previous reports in Seoul and other provinces of Korea. METHODS: 47,015 new outpatients who visited the Yongdong Severance Hospital from 1983 to 1992 were analyzed statistically RESULTS: The study results are summarized as follows: 1. Among the 47,015 outpatients, the total number of number of male patients were 20,180(42.9%) and female patients 26,835(57.1%). 2. In age distribution, the most frequent age groups were the 3rd decade(21.3%), the lst decade(19.5%), and the 4th decade(19.2%) amounting to 60% of the total outpatients. 3. The most common 15 dermatoses were dermatophytosis, atopic dermatitis, urticaria, irritant contact dermatitis, acne vulgaris, allergic contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, other eczemas, warts, vitiligo, drug eruption, herpes zoster, psoriasis, bacterial infection, and syphilis. 4. Those dermatoses which showed an increasing tendency annually were seborrheic dermatitis, warts, vitiligo, and syphiiis. Dermatophytosis and bacterial infection showed a decreasing tendency. 5. Seasonal distribution showed that those diseases occurring most frequently during the summer were dermatophytosis, urticaria, allergic contact dermatitis, vitiligo, herpes zoster, and bacterial infection. The incidence of atopic dermatitis and psoriasis increased during the winter season. 6. In sexual distribution, acne, allergic contact dermatitis, and irritant contact dermatitis were more frequent in females, and the remainding common dermatoses did no show any difference. 7. In age distribution, atopic dermatitis and bacterial infection were most frequent in the lst decade. Urticaria, allergic contact dermatitis, acne, drung eruption, psoriasis, and syphilis were most frequent in the 3rd decade, with warts and vitiligo in the 2nd decade, and herpes zoster in the 6th decaded. 8. The distributions of dermotoses as disease groups were eczema(24.9%), urticaria-drug eruption (13.2%), dermatophytosis(10.7%), skin appendage disorder(10.1%), viral infection(10.1%), pigmentary disorders(4.5%), and papulosquamous diseases(4.0%) which constituted 78% of the total. 9. In patients dwelling in apartments, atopic dermatitis and molluscum contagiosumn showed a more frequent tendency in comparison to those living in house. 10. The most common 10 dermatoses among children were atopic dermatitis, urticaria, contact dermatitis, molluscum contagiosum, bacterial infection, dermatophytosis, vitiligo, other viral infections, and nevo-cellular nevi. On the other hand, the most common 10 dermatoses among the elderly were drmatophytosis, other eczemas, urticaria, herpes zoster, pruritus, contact dermatitis, drug eruption, lichen simplex chronicus, seborrheic dermatitis, and vitiligo. CONCLUSION: In contrast to earlier published report from Seoul, the infectous dermatoses, especially parasitic infestation, showed a decreasing tendency. The distribution pattern of the skin diseases did not differ fro other provinces of Korea in general.
Acne Vulgaris ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Bacterial Infections ; Child ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic ; Drug Eruptions ; Eczema ; Female ; Hand ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Molluscum Contagiosum ; Neurodermatitis ; Nevus ; Outpatients ; Pruritus ; Psoriasis ; Seasons ; Seoul* ; Skin ; Skin Diseases* ; Statistics as Topic* ; Syphilis ; Tinea ; Urticaria ; Vitiligo ; Warts

BACKGROUND: As co-factors of metalloenzymes, zinc(Zn) and copper(Cu) have a considerable effect on nearly all the metabolism that takes place in organs of the body, including the skin. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate zinc and copper status in alopecia areata patients. METHODS: We measured serum levels of zinc and copper in 30 cases of alopecia areata patients and 10 normal individuals by atomic absorption spectrometry. Furthermore, we studied the significance of the ratio between serum levels of the two metals. RESULTS: The serum levels of zinc were significantly lower in alopecia areata patients than in healthy controls. The serum levels of copper were slightly lower in alopecia areata patients than in healthy controls. Ratios of Cu/Zn were slightly higher in alopecia areata patients than in healthy controls. But their differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: We suggest that a serum Zn assay should be included in the chemical assessment of patients with alopecia areata.
Absorption ; Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Copper* ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Metals ; Skin ; Spectrum Analysis ; Zinc*

No abstract available.
Acne Vulgaris*

The pubic louse, Pthirus pubis is a blood-sucking ectoparasite adapted to hold onto pubic, axillary and body hairs. It is usually confined to the pubic and inguinal region. However, it may also rarely involve the scalp and eyelashes. We report two cases of phthiriasis occurring on unusual sites, the first case occurring on the scalp of a 5 month-old male infant, and the second case on the eyelashes of a 49-year-old fe-male.
Eyelashes ; Hair ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phthiraptera ; Scalp

Since 1985, 7 symmetrical thumb polydactylies were treated with Bilhaut-Cloquet operation (V-shaped wedge out). As for Wassel's classification, two cases were type I (duplicated distal phalanx but not epiphysis) and two type IV (duplicated proximal and distal phalanx), and three type II (duplicated distal phalanx and epiphysis). Preoperatively, thumb polydactylies must be symetric and cut articular surfaces be accurately approximated. As for Wassel's type IV polydactyly, preoperative angiogram was done for detection of any vascular anomalies and tried not to damage the anomalous digital arteries of thumb. There was no postoperative complications. All patients and their parents were much satisfied with the postoperative results, but somewhat limited thumb motions were remained. In type I (2 cases) the average IP joint range of motion was 39°, in type II (3 cases) the average IP joint range of motion was 22°, and in type IV (2 cases) the average range of motion of IP joint was 21° and MP joint was 26°.
Arteries ; Classification ; Humans ; Joints ; Parents ; Polydactyly ; Postoperative Complications ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Thumb

Fracture of the vertebral end plate in the lumbar and sacral spine has been reported as a rare lesion. Especially it is very rare that fractures are found at two levels simultaneously. To our knowledge, there has been only one reported case of this type of fracture in Korea3). We report a case of fractures of the vertebral end plates at two levels in adolescent patient.
Adolescent ; Humans ; Spine

No abstract available.

Benzoyl peroxide has been known to have bacteriostatic activity against Corynebacterium acnes and to have comedolytic action in patients with acne vulgaris. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic effect of Renoxal, a 5% benzoyl peroxide lotion, in patients with acne vulgaris. A total of 35 patients entered this study at the Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University Hospital during the five months period from March to July, 1978. All patients were instructed to apply Benoxal on their affected sites once or twice daily; and the number of lesions on three fixed areas were counted before and every week for four weeks after the treatrnent. Two female patients stopped the application due to developrnent of contact dermatitis to Benoxal The results observed in the 33 patients were as follows: 1. The percentage decrease in total number of lesions in four weeks after treatment was 51.1% 2. Closed and open comedones were gradually eliminated; and their numbers were decreased in four weeks after treatment by 45. 8% and 55. 3% respectively. The papules were decreased. by 59. 1 @2 after the first week of treatment, but showed. a transient lag around tbe second week and then marked 61. 5% in four weeks after treatment. 3. Observed side effects included burning sensation,(3 cases), tightness (3 cases), itching sensation (2 cases) and scaling (1 case). All were tolerable without any specific measure or discontinuance of the application. The authors concluded througb this experiment that Benoxal (5% benzoyl peroxide lotion) is a very effective local therapeutic agent in the treatment of acne vulgaris patients.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Benzoyl Peroxide ; Burns ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Dermatology ; Female ; Humans ; Propionibacterium acnes ; Pruritus ; Sensation ; Seoul ; Thiram