PURPOSE: Fever plays an important role in causing disturbances in the fluid and electrolyte balance, especially in an immature brain. Recently, it was reported that hyponatremia enhanced the susceptibility of febrile convulsions in children and increased the risk of repeat convulsions during the same febrile illness. We studied the relationship between hyponatremia and febrile convulsions. METHODS: Blood samples for electrolyte measurements were taken from 52 children who visited Chosun University Hospital between June 1997 and July 1998(patient group I: simple febrile convulsion, patient group II: repeated febrile convulsions). We checked serum electrolytes in groups of age-matched controls(control group I: no fever, no convulsion, control group II: fever only, control group III: non-febrile convulsion). The results were analyzed by Student's t-test and ANOVA test. RESULTS: The mean serum sodium level of both patient groups(136.8+/-2.3mmol/L) was significantly lower when compared to all control groups(control groupI: 140.7+/-2.5mmol/L, control group II: 139.7+/-3.1mmol/L, control group III: 139.7+/-4.6mmol/L)(P<0.05). The mean serum sodium levels were not different between each of the control groups(P>0.05). The mean serum sodium level in the group with repeat convulsions(136.8+/-2.4mmol/L) was not significantly lower than the mean in the group with simple febrile convulsions(136.7+/-2.2mmol/L). There was no statistical relationship between the level of serum sodium and the probability of repeat convulsions(r=0.19, P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results show that low serum sodium concentration may increase the risk of febrile convulsions. However, there is no statistical relationship between the level of serum sodium and the probability of repeat convulsions. These findings warrant further studies on the relationship between the control of electrolyte levels and seizures.
Brain ; Child ; Electrolytes ; Fever ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; Seizures ; Seizures, Febrile* ; Sodium* ; Water-Electrolyte Balance

Mixed tumor of the skin (chondroid syringoma) is a rare benign tumor composed of epithelial elements intermingled with myxoid or cartilagenous stroma which is not separated by basement membrane. It had been believed to originate from the eccrine gland but recently, it was described to be of apocrine gland origin in case of showing apparent apocrine secretion. We report on a 63-year-old man with a tumor on the right upper eyelid showing typical microscopic features of mixed tumor of the skin. Many apocrine decapitation secretions were seen in tubular structures and follicular differentiations were also seen, which represents the common origin of folliculo-sebaceous-apocrine unit.
Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; Apocrine Glands ; Basement Membrane ; Decapitation ; Eccrine Glands ; Eyelids ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Skin

Tubular apocrine adenoma is a well-circumscribed intradermal benign tumor with tubular structures showing apocrine differentiation. Most of those cases occur on the scalp in middle aged women. Histologically, tubular structure with apparent apocrine decapitation secretion, cystic dilatation of tubule, and connection with epidermis are the characteristic features of tubular apocrine adenoma. We presented a case of tubular apocrine adenoma that had recurred after incomplete excision. It showed apocrine decapitation secretion histologically and both eccrine and apocrine differentiation on immunohistochemical study.
Adenoma* ; Decapitation ; Dilatation ; Epidermis ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Scalp

Ota nevus is a dermal melanocytic harmatoma derived from neural crest melanoblast and involves skin innervated by the trigeminal nerve. Although most cases are clinically apparent at birth or around puberty, acquired lesions in adults have been rarely reported. We reported a 73 year-old Korean man with Ota nevus of the face and scalp that onset in his eighth decade and accompanied multiple solar comedo of the face.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Humans ; Neural Crest ; Nevus of Ota* ; Parturition ; Puberty ; Scalp ; Skin ; Trigeminal Nerve

We reviewed radiographs of 11 patients with 17 total knee replacement arthroplasty(TKRA) cases. These patients had a residual flexion contracture over 20 degree after TKRA that corrected spontaneously during follow-up. The mean age of patients was 46.5 years(range, from twenty nine to sixty six). Seven patients were bilateral cases and all knees were cases of rheumatoid arthritis. The mean preoperative flex- ion contracture was 53.8 and immediately postoperative contracture was 23.5. The remaining flexion contracture after TKRA was completely corrected during follow-up period in all cases. We measured the distance from upper margin of tibial components to a certain point on the fibula. This point is on a line perpendicular to long axis of the tibia, drawn from a certain point on the fibula. This dis- tance was measured on postoperative radiographs and radiographs with improved flexion contracture, and the differences calculated. There was no significant difference between the two distances. Although the number of cases are small, we conclude that flexion contracture might be corrected to the extent of 20-30 degree by soft tissue stretching rather than bone subsidence.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Contracture* ; Fibula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Tibia

BACKGROUND: A number of reports have been published regarding the use of imiquimod for the treatment of melanoma in situ and metastatic melanoma. Essential steps in the process of melanoma invasion and metastasis include degradation of basement membranes and remodeling of the extracellular matrix by proteolytic enzymes, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antiinvasive effect of imiquimod in human malignant melanoma cell lines, SK-MEL-2 and SK-MEL-24, in vitro, and to investigate imiquimod-induced changes in the expression of MMPs and TIMPs. METHODS: Invasiveness of melanoma cell lines following imiquimod treatment was evaluated by invasion assays. In order to investigate the mechanism of the anti-invasive effect of imiquimod, mRNA and protein levels of MMP-2, -9, membrane type 1 (MT1)-MMP, TIMP-1, and -2 were assessed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, gelatin zymography, and western blotting. RESULTS: Imiquimod treatment decreased in vitro viability of melanoma cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Imiquimod also elicited a concentration-dependent suppression of invasion in both melanoma cell lines. A concentration-dependent decrease in MMP-2 and MT1-MMP protein levels and a concentration-dependent increase in TIMP-1 and -2 protein levels by imiquimod was observed in both melanoma cell lines. However, expression of MMP-9 protein was increased in SK-MEL-2 but decreased in SK-MEL-24 with increasing imiquimod concentrations. Imiquimod elicited alterations in MMPs and TIMPs mRNA levels that parallel the observed changes in protein levels. CONCLUSION: Imiquimod may elicit an anti-invasive effect on human melanoma cells by regulating MMPs and TIMPs.
Basement Membrane ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Extracellular Matrix ; Gelatin ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 14 ; Matrix Metalloproteinases* ; Melanoma* ; Membranes ; Metalloproteases* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Peptide Hydrolases ; RNA, Messenger ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1

Rudimentary meningocele, also known as a 'variant of primary cutaneous meningioma' or 'acoelic meningeal hamartoma', is an unusual developmental anomaly in which meningothelial elements are found in the skin. A 8-month-old girl has a well-circumscribed, alopecic, atrophic patch on the midline of the occipital area since birth. Histologically, pseudovascular spaces lined with flattened or cuboidal cells were seen in the papillary and upper reticular dermis without collagen bodies. These flattened or cuboidal cells were positive for vimentin, but negative for EMA, immunohistochemically. Radiographic finding of the scalp revealed no underlying bony defect.
Collagen ; Dermis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Meningocele* ; Parturition ; Scalp ; Skin ; Vimentin

We report a 40-year-old woman with trichoblastoma on vertex scalp showing trichoepithelioma-like feature in upper part and focal sebaceous differentiation. The co-presence of trichoblastoma and trichoepithelioma-like feature in a same tumor represented that the inclusive term trichoblastoma is better for trichogenic tumors composed of follicular germinative cells, and sebaceous differentiation meant the common embryonic origin of folliculo-sebaceous-apocrine unit.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Scalp

A Clinical observation was made on five patients with ruptured right aortic sinus of valsalva who admitted Soonchunhyang College Hospital during the period of may, 1983-Jan., 1985. 1) Age distribution was from 18 to 46 years and four patients were male and the rest one was female. 2) Chief complaints were dyspnea, chest pain and palpitation. Continuous murmur was heard at third and fourth intercostal space along left sternal border with palpable thrill in all cases. 3) The ECG showed left ventricular hypertrophy in 4 cases and the M mode echocardiogram revealed the increased internal dimesion and the augmented motion of the left ventricle in all cases. The 2 dimensional echocardiogram revealed the aneurysmal sac in the right ventricle in 4 cases. 4) The aortogram by DSA method showed regurgitant flow from aorta to right ventricle in 4 cases. The cardiac catheterization showed a significant oxygen step up in the right ventricle in all cases. 5) Operation was done successfully in all cases, of which ventricular septal defect were in 3 cases and aortic regurgitation was in one case.
Age Distribution ; Aneurysm ; Aorta ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Chest Pain ; Dyspnea ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Male ; Oxygen ; Sinus of Valsalva*

The purpose of this study was to compare shear bond strength and interfacial pattern of composite bonded to dentin using self-etching adhesive systems. Sixty extracted human molars with exposed occlusal dentin were divided into four groups and bonded with four adhesives and composites: Single Bond/Filtek Z 250(SB), Tyrian SPE-One-Step Plus/Aelitefil(TY), Prompt L-Pop/Filtek Z 250(LP), and One-Up Bond F/Palfique Toughwell(OU). The results of this study were as follows; 1. Shear bond strength for OU was significantly lower than that of other groups(p<0.05). No significant difference was founded among SB, TY, and LP. 2. Failure modes to dentin showed adhesive and mixed for SB, TY, and LP, but them for OU showed adhesive in all spceimens. 3. Dentin-resin interface showed close adaptation for SB, TY, and LP, but it showed gap for OU. 4. The hybrid layers for TY, LP, OU were thinner than that of SB. Adhesive layers were observed between composite and hybrid layer, which were 5 microm thick for TY and 10 microm thick for OU.
Adhesives* ; Dentin* ; Humans ; Molar