The ability of nicotinic acid and its substitutes to increase cutaneous blood flow has been measured by laser Doppler flowmeter in 30 healthy human volunteers. We applied nicotinarnide, nicotinic acid ethyl ester, nicotinic acid methyl ester, hexyl nicozinate each in an acqeous solution at a concentration of 10 mM/liter for 10 minutes occlusion on the forearm. The change of blood flow was serially checked at 5 to 10 minutes intervals for one hour. The study results were as follows : l. The relative maximum cutaneous blood flow response was in following order nicotinic acid methyl ester(100%), nicotinic acid ethyl ester(98%), hexyl nicotinate (84%) and nicotinic acid(63%). However, there was no statistically significant difference(p>0.05) between each drug. There was statististically significant difference between nicotinamide and all other nicotinic acid substitutes(p<0.05). 2. The time required to reach maximum blood flow response was 6.7 minutes for hexyl nicotinste, 10 minutes for nicotinic acid ethyl ester, 12.5 minutes for nicotinic acid methyl ester and 20 minutes for nicotinic acid. However, there was statistically significant difference between hexyl nicotinate and nicotinic acid only(p<0.05). 3. Significant decrease of cutaneous blood flow was observed one hour after the removal of the patches in all drugs.
Flowmeters ; Forearm ; Healthy Volunteers ; Niacin* ; Niacinamide

This study was undertaken to observe the difference of patch test and prick test positive reactions in three groups, 20 atopic dermatitis patients, 20 chronic urticaria patients, and 20 normal controls, Twenty commercial antigens (ToriiCo.) and twenty three frozen and boiled antigens of fishes and shellfishes were used as test materials. The results were as follows: 1. No positive reaction was observed in all sixty subjects in patch test. 2 In prick test, difference in reactivity was observed among atopic dermatitis (14. 7%), chronic urticaria (8.7%), and normal control(1. 5%) 3. There was significant difference in reactivity between Torii and frozen antigens in atopic dermatitis group, but no significance in chronic urticaria and control groups. 4. Boiling altered the reactivity in tested materials in all three groups of subjects singificantly. 5. Patients with past or family history of allergic diseases showed double fold higher reactivity tban patients without any history.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Fishes ; Humans ; Patch Tests ; Shellfish* ; Urticaria*

Recently, people living in a rapidly industrializing country such as Korea seems to have less opportunity to be exposed to Rhus and Ginkgo trees than before, which may cause a lower prevalence of sensitivity to such allergens than those reported in the past. To prove the prevalence of sensitivity in Koreans, we have tested 0. 002g and 0.0l%, Urushiols and 10% Ginkgo leaves produced by Torii company to 72 atients with or suggesting contact dermatitis. The results were as follows: 1) Twelve of 72 patients(13, 9%) showed positive reactions and two patients(2. 8 %) showed active sensitization to both 0. 002% and 0. 0l% Urushiols. Only one patient(]. 4%) reacted to 10g Ginkgo leaves, and she was also reacted to the Urushiols. 2) Age and sex distribution of the positive reactors were none under thirty, 2 in thirties, 3 in forties, 4 in fifties, one over sixty, and seven female patients outnumber three male patients. 3) Out of 5 patients having past history cf contact dermatitis to Rhus tree, only patients showed positive reactions. Out of 67 patients without past history of allergy to Rhus, 8(ll, 9%) showed positive reactions and 59(88. 1%) showed negative reactions.
Allergens ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Female ; Ginkgo biloba* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Male ; Prevalence* ; Rhus* ; Sex Distribution ; Trees

No abstract available.
Funnel Chest*

We observed the histopathological findings in 16 patients with nevus flammeus according to the time sequence after argon laser therapy. The results were as follows : 1. Immediately after treatment There was nonspecific damage to the epidermis, upper part of the dermis and upper portion of the pilosebaceous unit to a depth of 0.4~0.5mm depth. The specific damage to the vessels, which showed thrombi formation and partial disruption of the vessel walls was seen to a depth of 0.8~0.9mm. 2. One week after treatment Crust was formed and the epidermis regenerated almost completely. The thrombi still persisted and there was partial disappearance of the vessel walls. 3. Four to 10 months after treatment The epidermis appeared normal except the rete ridge flattening. The upper dermis was diffusely fibrotic, with relatively few residual vessels, many of them with slit-like contour.
Argon* ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; Nevus* ; Port-Wine Stain*

No abstract available.
Angiography ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; Lower Extremity

In a series of paleo-parasitological investigations, we have been able to obtain invaluable data on parasite infection patterns prevalent among the Joseon (1392-1910) people in Korea. Thus far we have established that the Joseon people were in fact heavily infected by various species of parasites, though precise patterns and exact statuses of infection in specific town and cities have proved elusive. In the present study, relevant historical documentation was obtained and examined, shedding light on some of the operative socio-cultural factors that might have played a role in inducing a high infection prevalence of Ascaris, a soil-transmitted roundworm, in Joseon society. On this evidentiary basis, we could confirm that the recycling of human feces as fertilizer and the habit of eating raw vegetables were both closely related to infection. These factors were sufficient to maintain the life cycle of Ascaris, there by perpetuating a cycle of infection and reinfection among the Joseon inhabitants. Overall, this study demonstrated the value of close medical-scientist / historian interdisciplinary collaboration infacilitating comprehensive and meaningful paleo-parasitological findings and interpretations.
Ascaris ; Cooperative Behavior ; Eating ; Feces ; Helminths ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Cycle Stages ; Light ; Parasites ; Prevalence ; Recycling ; Vegetables

Paraneoplastic pemphigus is a distinct and rare autoimmune disease characterized by extensive and painful mucosal ulcerations and polymorphic desquamated skin lesions in the setting of an underlying neoplasm, typically of lymphoreticular origin. Thus difficulties in the management of anesthesia can be expected. A 66-years-old man was scheduled for removal of intraabdominal sarcoma associated with paraneoplastic pemphigus. Physical examination showed multiple erythematous bullae, crusts, plaques and target-like lesions on the whole body and desquamated erythematous skin lesions on the back and extremities. In the operating room, his right femoral artery was cannulated with a 20 G, 12.7 cm CVP catheter and left femoral and subclavian veins with 14 G, 20 cm CVP catheters, respectively. After application of 4 % lidocaine spray, his oropharynx and supraglottic area were evaluated under direct laryngoscopy and revealed multiple ulcerations on oral mucosa, but no distinct lesion on supraglottic area. Anesthesia was induced by rapid-sequence method with fentanyl, thiopental sodium and succinylcholine followed by endotracheal intubation. The endotracheal tube was held by a roll gauze around the neck and its cuff was minimally inflated to avoid overpressure against his tracheal wall. After the end of surgery, his oral cavity was suctioned with no remarkable bleeding, and tracheal wall including cuff-contacted area was evaluated under fiberoptic bronchoscopy, revealed intact wall without any bulla or ulceration. The patient was transferred to intensive care unit for proper postoperative management after extubation of endotracheal tube.
Anesthesia ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Bronchoscopy ; Catheters ; Extremities ; Femoral Artery ; Fentanyl ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Laryngoscopy ; Lidocaine ; Mouth ; Mouth Mucosa ; Neck ; Operating Rooms ; Oropharynx ; Pemphigus* ; Physical Examination ; Sarcoma ; Skin ; Subclavian Vein ; Succinylcholine ; Suction ; Thiopental ; Ulcer

No abstract available.
Sternotomy*

Postpartum thyroiditis is a common but frequently unrecognized disorder, affecting approximately 5% of women during the first 12 months after delivery. It is characterized by transient hyperthyroidism occurring about 14 weeks postpartum followed by transient hypothyroidism at 19 weeks postpartum. Our aim is to investigate the prevalence of positive antimicrosomal antibody in women 3 months postpartum and an association of antimicrosomal antibody with symptomatic and biochemical thyroid disorders. We used data collected from 205 women who visited Dankook University Hospital in 3 months postpartum, Our results showed that the rate of positive antithyroid microsomal antibody was 12.7% in women 3 months postpartum and the prevalence of biochemical hyperthyroidism and biochemical hypothyroidism with positive antithyroid microsomal antibody women 3 months postpartum were 26.9% and 19.2%, respectively. The prevalence of postpartum biochemical thyroid dysfuncion 3 months postpartum was 13.7%. There was no relationship between any of the following factors and thyroid antibody status: fetal distress, birth weight and infant sex, matemal age, experiences and mode of delivery, previous medical disease(such as pstrointestinal and psychotic diseases), experiences of previous abortions, gestational age and past history of thyroid diseases.
Abortion, Induced ; Birth Weight ; Female ; Fetal Distress ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Hypothyroidism ; Infant ; Postpartum Period* ; Postpartum Thyroiditis* ; Prevalence ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Gland