Scrotal calcinosis, consisting of solitary or multiple circumscribed calcium deposits within the dermis of the scrotum, is generally assumed to be one the idiopathic type of calcinosis. We present herein a case of serotal calcinosis associated with scrotal epidermal cysts in a 29-year-old male patient who had multiple, 2 to 6mm sized, yellowish or flesh colored nodules in the dermis, Histopathologically multiple ncdules showed intact epidermal cyzts, an epidermal cyst with a partialIy degenerated wall and surrounding foreign body reaction, and calcium deposits with foreign body reaction in the dermis without an epithelial lining around calcium deposit. Therefore, idiopathic scrotal calcinosis may repreeent the end stage of dystrophic calcificati.on associated with inflammation of the scrotal epidermal cysts.
Adult ; Calcinosis* ; Calcium ; Dermis ; Epidermal Cyst* ; Foreign-Body Reaction ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Scrotum

No abstract available.
Drug Therapy*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Hypothyroidism* ; Siblings*

BACKGROUND: Hemophiliacs are known to have higher risk of exposure of hepatitis virus and immunosuppression. The aim of this study is to investigate the positive rate of viral markers for hepatitis and anti-HIV and the changes of lymphocyte subpopulations in Hemophiliacs in Chonnam GwangJu area. METHODS: One hundred four patients who had visited to the Hemophilic Clinic, Chonnam University Hospital from 1999 to 2001 were enrolled. They were checked for type A, B, C hepatitis viral markers, anti-HIV and lymphocyte subpopulations. The prevalence of hepatitis and lymphocyte subpopulation were compared according to severity and age of hemophiliacs. RESULTS: Anti-HAV IgM, anti-HAV IgG, HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HCV were positive in 40%(22/55), 65.5%(66/101), 42.3%(42/97) of cases tested. Positivity of anti-HCV showed trends of increase according to the severity of hemophiliacs (P<0.01) and age(P<0.001). Previous infection of hepatitis B were increased according to age (P=0.01) but not to the severity (P=0.194). Positive rate of anti-HCV and previous infection of hepatitis B were significantly lower in young age group (10 years old) than in older age group (>11 years old) (P=0.003, P<0.001, respectively). Although all enrolled patients were negative for anti-HIV, absolute T and B cells counts were decreased in 71.6% and 14.9% of patients, respectively and inversion of CD4/CD8 ratio were found in 65.7%. But there were no statistical difference in not only decrease of T and B cells but also inversions of CD4/CD8 ratio according to age and severity. CONCLUSION: The number of hemophiliacs with previous history of hepatitis B virus infection and seropositivity of anti-HCV were increased according to the age and severity of hemophilia. Active vaccinations of hepatitis B may be required in hemophiliacs. The greater part of hemophiliacs showed decrease in T cell count and inverted CD4/CD8 ratio. The hemophiliacs need a cautiion for infection and follow up tests for immunologic function.
B-Lymphocytes ; Biomarkers ; Cell Count ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gwangju* ; Hemophilia A ; Hepatitis A Antibodies ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis Viruses ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Immunosuppression ; Jeollanam-do* ; Lymphocyte Subsets* ; Lymphocytes* ; Prevalence ; Vaccination

Peritoneal tuberculosis is a disease rarely seen nowadays. Its symptoms are easy fatigue, abdominal distension, intermittent abdominal pain and ascites. Its onset is insidious, which si-mulates symptoms of peritonitis or carcinomatosis. Peritoneal tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis when a Patient's symptoms and signs are ascites, ovarian tumor, vague abdominal pain and abdominal distension with high serum level of CA 125, an antigenic determinant of epithelial ovarian cancers. We have recently experienced a case of peritoneal tuberculosis with markedly elevated serum level of CA 125 in 54 year-old woman and report our case with a brief review of the literature.
Abdominal Pain ; Ascites ; Carcinoma ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fatigue ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Peritonitis ; Peritonitis, Tuberculous*

No abstract available.
Salmonella*

BACKGROUND: Making the distinction between large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) and small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) is difficult in some samples of biopsy tissues, but we have to separate LCNEC from SCLC because the two types of cancer may need different therapy and they have different prognostic implications. Thus far, there are no specific immunohistochemical markers that allow distinguishing these two kinds of tumors. METHODS: We performed an immunohistochemical analysis to study the expressions of p63, Bcl-2, and 34betaE12 and to investigate whether these 3 molecules have correlations in LCNEC and SCLC. We also evaluated the expression of the neuroendocrine markers chromogranin, synaptophysin and CD56. RESULTS: A statistical analysis was performed for p63, Bcl-2, and 34betaE12 in separate and combined panels. According to the combinations of p63, Bcl-2, and 34betaE12, there were frequent expressions of p63-/Bcl-2+ or Bcl-2+/34betaE12- in the SCLC, and there was a superior proportion of them in the SCLC rather than that in the LCNEC. The p63-/Bcl-2+ and Bcl-2+/34betaE12- antibody combinations showed higher specificities compared to any single antibody for diagnosing SCLC. CONCLUSIONS: Bcl-2 and selective p63 or 34betaE12 made up a most useful panel of markers for making the differential diagnosis of LCNEC and SCLC.
Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; Synaptophysin

Twin-twin transfusion syndrome(TTTS) is a serious complication of monozygotic mu-ltiple pregnancy. TTTS is associated with high perinatal mortality rate. The acute form has been attributed to rapid transfer of blood through superficial artery-to-artery or vein-to- vein anastomoses during labor and delivery, resulting in a hypovolemic, anemic donor twin and a hypervolemic, plethoric recipient twin of similar birth weight. The authors present a case of acute twin-twin transfusion syndrome with a review of literature.
Birth Weight ; Humans ; Hypovolemia ; Perinatal Mortality ; Pregnancy ; Tissue Donors ; Veins

PURPOSE: Prompt reperfusion therapy by means of primary percutaneous coronary intervention is an effective method for treating patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). According to the ACC/AHA guidelines for these patients, the interval between arrival at the hospital and intracoronary balloon inflation (door-to-balloon time) should be 90 minutes or less. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of establishing an ECG transmission system and communication procedure in the emergency department (ED) to minimize door-to-balloon time for STEMI patients. METHODS: We established both the out-of hospital and in-hospital aspects of the ECG transmission system. Before patient arrival at our ED, we would attempt to receive initial ECGs from the referring hospitals via fax. In ideal cases, ECG findings were immediately reported to interventional cardiologists by the referring primary ED physician. Door-to-balloon time segments were analyzed in a retrospective manner. We compared the effectiveness in minimizing reperfusion time between the use of inter-hospital 12-lead ECG transmission before patient arrival, and direct communication between emergency physicians and attending interventional cardiologists. RESULTS: Of the total 142 STEMI patients who received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) during the study period, 112 (78.9%) received PCI within 90 min. The mean door-to-balloon time of the 27 patients admitted with a pre-arrival 12-lead ECG transmission was significantly less than the others. CONCLUSION: Establishing both out-of hospital and in hospital strategies to reduce door-to-balloon time in patients with STEMI, by using pre-arrival ECG transmission and direct communication between emergency physicians and interventional cardiologists, is an effective approach to minimize time to reperfusion.
Electrocardiography ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Inflation, Economic ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Reperfusion ; Retrospective Studies ; Total Quality Management

BACKGROUND: Essential hyperhidrosis is caused by an unexplained over activity of the high thoracic sympathetic nervous system. Since the development of video endoscopic surgery, the use of thoracoscopic sympathectomy has gradually increased. However, reports on major anesthetic problems related to bilateral thoracic symathectomy and one lung ventilation (reventilation of a collapsed lung), which are commonly used for this operation are few. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in cardiovascular function and arterial oxygenation during reventilation of the collapsed lung for bilateral thoracoscopic sympathectomy. METHODS: Twenty one patients with essential hyperhidrosis in ASA physical status class 1, undergoing bilateral thoracoscopic T2-3 sympathectomy in the semi-Fowler's position were selected. Mean arterial blood pressure (MBP) of both radial arteries, skin temperature of both palmar area, and heart rate (HR) were recorded just before and after, 5 min and 10 min after sympathectomy. Simultaneously, arterial oxygen tension was obtained 30 min after left lung ventilation (LLV, baseline) and right lung ventilation (RLV, left lung collapse) and 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 min after LLV (reventilation of the collapsed left lung) under general anesthesia (isoflurane-100% oxygen). RESULTS: MBPs of bilateral radial arteries were significantly reduced after sympathectomy. However, there were no difference in the percent change of the MBP between both sides. HR was reduced only after right sympathectomy. The skin temperature of ipsilateral thenar area was significantly elevated after sympathectomy. Aterial oxygen tension was markedly reduced after 10 min of reventilation of the collapsed left lung (246.9 +/- 11.3 --< 102.3 +/- 5.7 mmHg) and then slowly returned to the baseline value after 50 min of reventilation. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracic sympathectomy in patients with essential hyperhidrosis causes a marked decrease of HR and MBP of the bilateral radial arteries and an increase of skin temperature of the ipsilateral palmar area. Reventilation of the collapsed lung for bilateral thoracoscopic T2-3 sympathectomy, causes a marked reduction in the arterial oxygen tension.
Anesthesia* ; Anesthesia, General ; Arterial Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis ; Lung* ; One-Lung Ventilation ; Oxygen* ; Radial Artery ; Skin Temperature ; Sympathectomy* ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; Ventilation