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

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

No abstract available.
Acne Vulgaris*

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*

Calcaneus was the most commonly involved bone among the tarsal bone fractures. Although various methods have been practiced in treating calcaneal fractures, controversy exists between conservative and operative ones. Also there have been many complications such as persistent pain and limitation of motion on subtalar joint which compromised final result. The purpose of this study is that open reduction of the subtalar joint, especially posterior facet joint, could reduce the complications. Twenty seven cases of displaced intra-articular fracture of calcaneus were treated with open reduction, internal fixation, and cancellous bone graft from 1984 to 1989 at the Department of Orthopedic surgery, Kang-Nam General Hospital Public Corporation. Seventeen cases were analysed with more than one year follow-up and summarized as follow:1. All of the cases were the type IV and V on the basis of Rowe's classification. 2. The lateral approach was used in all cases. 3. The pre-operative Bohler's angle was from −30°to 15°(average −1.4°). The postoperative Bohler's angle was from 15°to 40°(average 24.5°), which was increased significantly. 4. Based on Rowe's grading, excellent and good results were obtained 13 cases. 5. Among 3 cases of fair result, arthritis of the subtalar joint occurred in 2 cases and peroneal spasm in one. In one case of poor result, postoperative infection occurred. 6. It was thought that open reduction of the posterior facet joint of calcaneus could restore the congruity of subtalar joint near to normal, and contributed to a large extent to the decrease of foot pain commonly developed after calcaneal fracture.
Arthritis ; Calcaneus ; Classification ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Hospitals, General ; Intra-Articular Fractures ; Orthopedics ; Spasm ; Subtalar Joint ; Tarsal Bones ; Transplants ; Zygapophyseal Joint

The present study reports two cases of femoral component fracture using Whiteside Ortholoc prosthesis(Dow Corning Wright, Arlington, Tennessee) with cement. The causes of the fracture were investigated by radiological findings, prosthetic design and metallurgical study using scanning electron microscope(SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS). Respectively, the findings from this study are summarized as follows. In X-ray study, one case had valgus 3 mechanical axis(normal: valgus 7 axis) while the other case had 10 tibial anterior slope(normal: 10 posterior slope). The medial side of femoral component fractured in both cases. The fracture site was in the junction between the posterior bevel and distal surface of the medial side of femoral component. The analysis of the prosthetic design showed that the Whiteside Ortholoc femoral stem was thinner, and shorter at the site of posterior bevel surface of the femoral stem than other TKA(Total Knee Arthroplasty) system. The metallurgical study by SEM showed that the crack was developed initially near the inner surface of fractured femoral component and was extended to the outer surface. Carbon particles were detected in the fractured femoral component by EDS. The findings imply that operating technique is very important especially during bone cutting and soft tissue balance in TKA. It is also proposed from this study that a minor design modification such as a thicker and longer Whiteside Ortholoc femoral component would be better and that the cast-iron ware of TKA system has to he produced by careful metallurgical process, that precludes the incorporation of any foreign material such as carbon particles.
Arthroplasty* ; Carbon ; Knee* ; Prostheses and Implants* ; Zea mays

CT and portographic findings of 63 patients with hepatoma, undergone hepatic angiography and superiormesenteric portography for evaluation of tumor and thrombosis of portal vein and determination of indication oftranscatheter arterial embolization for palliative treatment of hepatoma from April,85 to June, 86 in Hanyanguniversity hospital, were reviewed. The results were as follows: 1. In 36 cases, portal vein thrombosis wasdetected during portography. Nineteen of 37 cases which revealed localized hepatoma in the right lobe of the livershowed portal vein thrombosis; 9 of 11 cases of the left lobe; 8 of 14 cases which were involved in entire liverrevealed thrombosis. One case localized in the caudate lobe showed no evidence of invasion to portal vein. 2.Twenty-four of 34 cases with diffuse infiltrative hepatoma revealed portal vein thrombosis and the incidence ofportal vein thrombosis in this type were higher than in the cases of the nodular type. 3. The portal veinthrombosis appeared as filling defects of low density in the lumen of the portal veins in CT and they did notreveal contrast enhancement. 4. CT revealed well the evidences of obstructions in the cases of portal veinthrombosis and the findings were well-corresponded to the findings of the superior mesenteric portography. 5. Fiveof the cases of the portal vein thrombosis were missed in the CT and the casuses were considered as due to partialvolume effect of enhanced portal vein with partial occlusion or arterioportal shunts. 6. Six of 13 cases withocclusion of main portal vein showed cavernous transformation and they were noted as multiple small enhancedvascularities around the porta hepatis in the CT. According to the results, we conclude that CT is a usefulmodality to detect the changes of the portal veins in the patients of the hepatoma.
Angiography ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Humans ; Incidence ; Palliative Care ; Portal Vein ; Portography ; Thrombosis ; Veins ; Venous Thrombosis

No abstract available.
Amniotic Fluid* ; Female ; Iron* ; Meconium* ; Staphylococcus aureus* ; Staphylococcus*

No abstract available.
Amniotic Fluid* ; Female ; Staphylococcus aureus* ; Staphylococcus*

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is highly prevalent in hospitals in Korea. The overall rate of MRSA in hospitals in Korea was estimated over 60%. Recently hospital infections caused by MRSA are getting increased and problematic in Korea, Our hospital Seoul Paik Hospital, has been trying to solve this problem. We had not applied exact methods for hospital infection control. Therefore, we adapted strict methods under the control of hospital infection control committee (HICC) and assessed the effectiveness of these methods. METHODS: Every month, the number of MRSA isolates was collected and analyzed; the results of the analysis were reported to every ward. All wards were supplied with Microshild(R) (Johnson & Johnson, Australia), Clean N' Fresh(R) (Carroll, USA), and standard paper towels. Health care workers were regularly educated for hospital infection control. The use of antibiotics was controlled by the HICC. We compared MRSA isolation rate between before and after applying the strict infection control methods under the regulation of HICC. Mann-Whitney U test, one-way ANOVA, and Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis of the results. RESULTS: After restricting the uses of antibiotics, glycopeptides and carbapenems were prescribed 15% less (20.3 vs 17.3 DDD /1000 patient-days) and 35% less (9.3 vs 6.0 DDD /1000 patient-days) respectively, compared to before restricting antibiotics. Methicillin resistance rate was decreased from 78% to 69% compared to before the methods(p=0.02). The isolation rate of MRSA was reduced by 31-42% from 2.33 to 1.35-1.60/1000 patient-days compared to before adapting strict infection control methods (p=0.04-0.07). CONCLUSION: This study showed that applying the strict infection control methods in the hospital can be effective to reduce the isolation rate of MRSA.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Carbapenems ; Cross Infection* ; Delivery of Health Care ; Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane ; Glycopeptides ; Infection Control ; Korea ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Seoul ; Staphylococcus aureus* ; Staphylococcus*