BACKGROUND: Despite concern about prevention of dermatophytosis, little is known about the survival period of dermatophytes. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the survival period of dermatophytes according to various environmental conditions. METHODS: Scales for testing were collected from skin lesions of 25 patients with dermatophytosis. They were categorised into different treatment groups: kept scales themselves(S), scales in a humid condition(S+H), scales mixed with sterilized dusts(S+D), and scales mixed with sterilized dusts in a humid condition(S+D+H). They were then cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar once a week until there was no colony growth. Data was evaluated with the Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: 1) The mean survival period of Microsporum canis isolated from 5 patients with tinea(T.) capitis was 17.6(S+D+H), 16.6(S+D), 8.4(S+H) and 7 weeks(S). 2) The mean survival period of Trichophyton rubrum isolated from 20 patients of T. corporis, T. cruris, T. pedis & T. unguium was 11.8, 7.4, 9.4 and 12.2 weeks(S+D+H); 7.4, 6.8, 9.2 and 7.4 weeks(S+D); 6.6, 3.4, 8.0 and 10.4 weeks(S+H); 5.0, 2.8, 5.4, 8.2 weeks(S), respectively. CONCLUSION: We found that the survival period of dermatophytes was longest in scales mixed with sterilized dusts in a humid condition.
Agar ; Arthrodermataceae* ; Dust ; Glucose ; Humans ; Microsporum ; Skin ; Tinea ; Trichophyton ; Weights and Measures

Multiplex PCR for three STRs of same repetition unit [GATA]n, 4804LR[D12S66], 27H39LR[DYS19] and 4815LR[D12S67] loci, was constructed for forensic application DNA was extracted from 200 unrelated Koreans and amplified with a mixture of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, so called Amp-FLP procedure. Three loci could be co-amplified in a reaction with easy, and reaction condition was not so quite different from that of each locus. The PCR products of each locus could be separated bp, and 4815LR from 241 bp to 281 bp, so these alleles of each locus could be separated on a single electrophoresis. A total of six alleles was noted in 4804LR and heterozygosity was 0.5764. The allele 11 and allele 12 were frequently noted with the frequency of 0.6225 and 0.1775, respectively. Sequencing was done for 2 alleles, and the exact size of the alleles and the repetition unit were confirmed. Through statistical analysis forensic applicability of the STR 4804LR locus was confirmed. For 4815LR and heterozygosity was 0.5764. The allele 11 and llele 12 were frequently noted with the frequency of 0.6225 and 0.1775, respectively. Sequencing was done for 2 alleles, and the exact size of the alleles and the repetition unit were confirmed. Through statistical analysis forensic applicability of the STR 4804LR locus was confirmed. For 4815LR locus the amplification was successful, but the separation of the alleles on routine polyacrylamide gel was not successful. Some alleles was hardly separable, some alleles did not match the allelic ladder exactly, so the interallele was suspicious. On sequencing gel the electrophoresis pattern was quite different with that of routine polyacrylamide gel. A total of 11 allele was noted in 4815LR and heterozygosity was 0.765. For the routine use of the 4815LR locus, more meticulous method for the separation of the alleles such as using automatic DNA sequencer was necessary.
Alleles ; DNA ; Electrophoresis ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

No abstract available.
De Lange Syndrome*

We report a case of vulvar syringoma suggesting milia. A 20-year-old pregnant woman visited the obstetrical department of our hospital for labor pain. On physical examination, the skin lesions were revealed accidently and showed symmetrically distributed, numerous, 2-4mm sized, yellow to skin colored papules on the vulva. The lesions developed in the fifth gestational month and were aggravated thereafter. After delivery, we performed a skin biopsy of the lesion. Histopathologic findings of the biopsy specimen showed the typical findings of syringoma and milia.
Biopsy ; Female ; Humans ; Labor Pain ; Physical Examination ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Skin ; Skin Pigmentation ; Syringoma ; Vulva* ; Young Adult

In recent years, with the increasing use of ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT), a large number of renal cell carcinoma has been founded incidentally for a variety of occasions. We reviewed 107 cases of renal cell carcinoma treated surgically from 1988 to 1995, and compared symptomatically suspected group (62 cases) to incidentally detected group (45 cases). The groups were compared according to stage, grade, tumor size, age, sex, laterality and survival rate. The chief imaging methods of detection were ultrasonography (80%), IVP (11%), CT (9%). The main reasons for examination leading to the diagnosis in incidentally detected group were follow-up of other diseases (58%), general health check (31%), and follow-up of unrelated symptoms (11%). The frequency of incidentally detected renal cell carcinoma was increased from 29% (1988-1991) to 48% (1992-1995). The tumor stage and grade were lower in incidentally detected group than suspected group, and tumor size was smaller in incidentally detected group. The 2-year disease free survival rate in incidentally detected group tended to be better (95% vs 68%). So screening test with ultrasonography to detect renal cell carcinoma at an early stage, may be essential.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Diagnosis ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Mass Screening ; Survival Rate ; Ultrasonography

Idiopathic thrombocytupenic purpura is known as an autommune t,hrombocytopenic purpura. It is characterized by either an acute or gradual onset of petechiae or ecchymoses in the skin and mucous membranes, especially in the mouth. Epistaxis, conjunct.ival hemorrhage, hemorrhagic bullae in the mouth, gingival bleeding, melena, and hematemesis may occur. We report a case of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in a 10-year-old male, who showed multiple petechiie and ecchymoses on both lower extremities, and hemorchagic bullae in the mouth. Periheral blood smear showed decreased platlet count, and in the bone marrow megakeyocytes were incraesed. Bleeding time was increased, but coagulation time was normal.
Bleeding Time ; Bone Marrow ; Child ; Ecchymosis ; Epistaxis ; Hematemesis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Melena ; Mouth ; Mucous Membrane ; Purpura ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic* ; Skin

No abstract available.
Down Syndrome* ; Humans ; Twins, Monozygotic*

Meralgia paresthetica is a syndrome consisting of numbness, pain, tingling, burning and/or a variety of other paresthesias on the distribution of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) of the thigh. We report a case of meralgia paresthetica in a 41-year-old woman who complained of the symptoms of pain, burning sensation, and dysesthesia which occurred whilst standing up without any other constitutional symptoms. The authors suspect that frequent. and persistent squatting may play a role in the development of the present symptoms.
Adult ; Burns ; Female ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Paresthesia ; Sensation ; Thigh

No abstract available.

Hyperkeratosis of the nipple and areola is a rare condition. We report a case of hyperkeratosis of the nipple and areola occurrinp in man with no underlying endocrirop thy or synthetic estrogenic drug therapy. The patient was not associated with epidermal nevus orichthyosis and so fitted into the nevoid form of hyperkeratosis of the nipple and areola. The clinical appearance and histological findings of the lesion were the same as those reported before. He showed a slight improvement in the color and hyperkeratcsis of the nipple and areola with 6 months use of a topical keratolytic agent and corticosteroid crearn.
Drug Therapy ; Estrogens ; Humans ; Nevus ; Nipples*