We herein report a 4-year-old boy with infantile digital fibrornatosis developing on the distal & middle phalanx portion of the right index & ring fingers, and the middle phalanx portion of the right middle finger, which started at the age of 5 months after birth. Biopsy specimen taken from the right middle finger showed the proliferating collagen bundles and fibroblasts in the dermis and eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions within the fibroblasts. Although we attempted to treat tbe patient with intralesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide suspension and cryotherapy 5 times biweekly, there was no signifit effect.
Biopsy ; Child, Preschool ; Collagen ; Cryotherapy ; Dermis ; Eosinophils ; Fibroblasts ; Fibroma* ; Fingers ; Humans ; Inclusion Bodies ; Injections, Intralesional ; Male ; Parturition ; Triamcinolone Acetonide

OBJECTIVES: REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) has received little attention in epidemiologic studies. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of probable REM sleep behavior disorder (pRBD) in the elderly population and its clinical features. METHODS: A random sample of 1,588 was selected from a roster of 14,050 elderly population living in Osan city. The subjects were asked to fill out the REM sleep behavior disorder screening questionnaire (RBDSQ). Subjects whose score were 5 or higher on RBDSQ underwent a diagnostic phase of person-to-person assessment by experts in RBD. RESULTS: Among 1,588 subjects, 886 elderly subjects participated in the screening phase and 123 subjects were assessed in the diagnostic phase. Eleven subjects were diagnosed as having pRBD, so prevalence was 1.5% (95% CI=0.70-2.30%). The frequency of depression and cognitive decline was significantly increased in patients with pRBD compared to subjects without pRBD, and there was no difference in sleep disturbances between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Probable REM sleep behavior disorder is not rare in the elderly but frequently under-recognized. More attention should be paid to evaluation and treatment of RBD.
Aged ; Depression ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; REM Sleep Behavior Disorder ; Sleep, REM

Psoriasis has been known to have various humoral and cellular immune abnormalities. And adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities are known to be decreased in immune deficiency diseases. The present study was designed to measure the activities of ADA in sera and erythrocytes of psoriasis patients by Giustiss method. There were no significant differences in the erythrocytes ADA activities between normal subjects (9, Gp+4 43 units/10 cells) and psoriasis patients (7, 29+3. 64 units /10 cells). The ADA activities in sera of the psoriasis patients (13. 15+3. 43 units/ L) showed lowered activities than those of normal subjects (20. 44-2, 07 units/L).
Adenosine Deaminase* ; Adenosine* ; Deficiency Diseases ; Erythrocytes* ; Humans ; Psoriasis*

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: Cadherins are a family of transmembranous glycoproteins involved in intercellular adhesion. E-cadherin, an epithelium specific cadherin, plays a major role in the maintenance of epithelial tissue and therefore in neoplastic progression of many human carcinomas. In order to search for more accurate prognostic factors, we investigated the relationship between decreased E-cadherin expression and tumor grade, stage, recurrence and progression in bladder tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 62 formalin fixed paraffin embedded specimens which were taken from 34 patients with transitional cell carcinoma who underwent TURB, partial cystectomy, radical cystectomy were retrospectively analyzed with E-cadherin immunohistochemical staining from January 1989 to December 1997. Correlations were evaluated between E-cadherin immunohistochemical staining and grade, stage, recurrence and progression. RESULTS: Decreased E-cadherin expression correlated with both increased grade and stage(x2=25.6, p<0.01 and x2=26.7, p<0.01 respectively). Also, abnormal E-cadherin expression correlated with recurrence and progression of superficial bladder tumors(Fisher Exact test: p=0.008 and x2=6.6, p=0.01 respectively). In multiple linear regression analysis controling the effects of other factors, only the tumor grade showed weak correlation with E-cadherin expression(coefficient=-0.25, r2=40.1%, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that decreased expression of E-cadherin is correlated with higher grade, advanced stage, recurrence and progression respectively. But, E-cadherin could not be used as an independent prognostic marker in bladder cancer.
Cadherins* ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; Cystectomy ; Epithelium ; Formaldehyde ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Paraffin ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

PURPOSE: The renal histological and hemodynamic changes and the expressions of hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were evaluated according to the differential renal function (DRF) during total ureteral obstruction (TUO) in a rabbit model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In forty-nine control (5) and 16 experimental rabbits (16 in TUO 3 days, 13 in TUO 7 days and 15 in TUO 14 days), the renal blood flow (RBF) and 99mTc-DTPA renal scan were measured both before and after TUO. The cut-off of the DRF group was 40%. The histological changes and expressions of HIF-1alpha and VEGF were evaluated using H&E and immunohistochemical stain, respectively. RESULTS: The entire control group demonstrated more than 40% DRF. Contrary to the control group, the DRF was less than 40% in 4 (25%), 7 (53%) and 6 rabbits (40%) in TUO 3, 7 and 14 day groups, respectively. The postobstructive compared to preobstructive RBF was decreased in each group. The RBF was more decreased in the lower than the higher DRF group (more than 40%) in all of the experimental groups. Abnormal histological changes were more prominent in the experimental groups, and increased with the obstruction time. However, there was no difference in relation to the DRF. The expressions of HIF-1alpha and VEGF were more prominent in the experimental and lower DRF groups. CONCLUSIONS: During acute TUO, the decreased RBF and hypoxia may play a role in preservation of the DRF.
Anoxia* ; Hemodynamics ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 ; Rabbits ; Renal Circulation ; Ureter* ; Ureteral Obstruction* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

The intrachoroidal changes in Harada's disease were studied by indocyanine green(ICG)angiography. ICG angiography using confocal laser scanning ophthalmoscope (Heidelberg Retina Angiograph, HRA)and fluorescein angiography were performed in 12 eyes of 6 patients during the acute stage before the initiation of corticosteroid treatment and recovery stage, and the findings were evaluated retrospectively. During the acute stage, early phase HRA images disclosed a dark background fluorescence in all eyes due to the diffuse filling delay and the vague contour of choroidal vessels. In the midphase, Intrachoroidal hyperfluorescence resulting from vascular leakage and scattered hypofluorescent spots were intermingled, and in some eyes patchy hypofluorescence representing focal filling defect was observed. These choroidal changes could be observed before any visible retinal changes appeared. During the recovery stage, choroidal filling was more rapid and choroidal vessels were more clearly visible. However the scattered hypofluorescent spots due to the blockage by the inflammatory precipitates were still observed in small numbers, and in some eyes focal vascular leakage remained. According to these findings, we hypothesize the pathogenesis of Harada`s disease as follows. Severe inflammatory precipitates and vascular leakage can make the choroid edematous with highly viscous fluid. It adds mechanical damage to choroidal vessels already injured by the inflammatory process, leading to reversible circulatory disturbances. The retinal pigment epithelium and the sensory retina may be damaged secondarily.
Angiography ; Choroid ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Ophthalmoscopes ; Retina ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium ; Retinaldehyde ; Retrospective Studies

A giant intracranial venous aneurysm(varix) is rare and has been associated mostly with vein of Galen fistulae. A 32-year-old man presents with intracranial hemorrhage which was caused by the rupture of supratentorial arteriovenous malformation with giant venous aneurysm. Surgical resection was performed without the occurrence of additional neurological deficits. We review the literatures on this clinical entity.
Adult ; Aneurysm* ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; Cerebral Veins ; Fistula ; Humans ; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Rupture

42 patients with the clinical evidences of endocarditis were examined by echocardiography. In 28 of 42 cases(66.7%) vegetation was present, whereas in 14(33.3%) vegetation was not visualized. Alpha-hemolytic streptococcus was the most common infecting organism(47.6%) and rheumatic heart disease was the most common predisposing heart disease(47.6%). Patients with echocardiographically demonstrable vegetation had a higher incidence of congestive heart failure compared to the patients without vegetation(75.0% vs. 21.4% p<0.05). But major embolism was not significantly different in the two groups. Mortality was higher in the patients with vegetation than in the patients without it(39.3% vs. 0%, p<0.05). Among vegetation positive patients, mortality was highest in aortic valve patients.(58.3%) So patietns with aortic valve vegetation should be regarded as high risk group and early surgical intervention should be considered if indicated. The causes of mortality were congestive heart failure(45.5%), cerebral embolism(36.4%), myocardial infarction(9.1%) and ventricular tachycardia(9.1%) in decreasing frequency.
Aortic Valve ; Echocardiography* ; Embolism ; Endocarditis ; Endocarditis, Bacterial* ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mortality ; Rheumatic Heart Disease ; Streptococcus

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem* ; Humans*