BACKGROUND: Although warts are known to be caused by viruses, one of their peculiarities is that they may be treated by suggestion therspy or hypnosis. This suggests that psychologic or emotional factors influence the hosts response to the virus lesions. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to analyze the role of psychologic factors in the therapeutic response of warts. METHODS: The self-concept scale test(Korean Testing Center) was done in all 61 patients with common wsrts before the cryot.herapy from September 1991 to June 1993. Clinical follow-up data were obtained on 50 patients after 2 months, and then were evaluated usir g the self-eoncept scale in treated vs untreated group. RESULTS: 1. The overall cure rate was 56.0%, being higher in females and patients with high education, 1-3 in number of lesions and no previous treatment history as well as in those with less than 1 year of duration. 2. In the comparison of self-concept scale between treated(n=18) and untreated(n=22) groups, the treated group had remarksble results in moral ethical self, personal self and family self scores (p<0.05). Only 14 items were significantly different between two groups(p<0.05 by Wilcoxon rank sum test). 3. Patients of 20 years or more showed a high cure rate(67.79%, p<0.05 by t-test) and demonstrated significance in total positive self score and its self identity, and satisfaction, self behavior, physical self, moral ethical self and family self scores(p<0.05, by t-test). CONCLUSION: The self-cancept significantly related to the positive aersonality, harmonious family, stable self-esteem and high normal ethics, may influence at least the therapy to the warts in the treated patients in contradistintion to the untreated ones.
Cryotherapy* ; Education ; Ethics ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypnosis ; Warts*

PURPOSE: To report the effectiveness of Minocin sclerotherapy in the treatment of renal cysts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed minocin sclerotherapy to 19 patients with 21 renal cysts composed of 17 cases of solitary renal cyst and three cases of multiple renal cyst and one case of polycystic kidney comfirmed by ultrasound and CT. After aspiration of cyst fluid, if the amount was less than 50ml, 500mg of minocin was mixed with 3ml of normal saline,if more than 50ml, 1000mg of minocin mixed with 5ml of normal saline were injected, and each case was followed-up over 3 months by ultrasound. RESULTS: Of all 21 renal cysts, 14 cases were followed-up three months after minocin sclerotherapy. In 12 of 14 cases, the size of the cysts decreased by 10% or collapsed completely. Of the remaining two cases, one collapsed after 6 months while the other recurred after 6months. Three cases were followed up after 20 months and only one of them recurred. 19 of all 21 cases(91%) were cured, and two of 21 cases(9%) were recurred. Pain was the only complaint. and four of 10'cases needed analgesics. CONCLUSION: Sclerotherapy with minocin has low recurrence-rate and low complication, and relatively early high cure-rate.
Analgesics ; Cyst Fluid ; Humans ; Minocycline* ; Polycystic Kidney Diseases ; Sclerotherapy* ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Pulmonary Atelectasis*

BACKGROUND: Anomalous origin of a coronary artery is rare, but it can lead to angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction, or even sudden death in the absence of atherosclerosis. Even when an anomalous vessel is identified angiographically, it may be difficult to delineate its true course on the basis of angiography alone. We attempted to determine whether transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is of value in making the diagnosis and outlining the course of anomalous left circumflex (LCx) or right coronary arteries (RCA). METHOD: Eight adult patients with anomalous origin of LCx or RCA documented by selective coronary angiography were studied by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and multiplane TEE. RESULTS: Anomalous coronary ostia were visualized in all eight patients by TEE, but in only one with anomalous RCA out of eight patients by TTE. The proximal segments of anomalous coronary vessels were delineated in all eight patients by TEE and in only three with anomalous LCx out of eight patients by TTE. CONCLUSION: TEE is a valuable adjunctive diagnostic tool for the identification of anomalous coronary origin and course and is superior to TTE in adult patients.
Adult ; Angina Pectoris ; Angiography ; Atherosclerosis ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels* ; Death, Sudden ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal* ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Humans

There are a lots of evidences that colorectal cancer arise as a result of multiple alterations of genes. Many attempts were made to understand the role of oncogenes and suppressor genes as a prognostic indicator, recently. Although histopathologic staging of tumor is the most important prognostic factor up to now, it is not enough to be used with full confidence. Apoptosis or programmed cell death represents a deletion of damaged or natural cell mechanism. The bel-2 proto-oncogene is known as a inhibitor of apoptosis that may allow accumulation and propagation of cells containing genetic alterations. Overexpression of bcl-2 probably plays a role in colorectal carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine bcl-2 and p53 expression in colorectal carcinoma in correlation with apoptosis, clinical parameters, and histopathology, and to test their prognostic significance in patient with colorectal carcinoma. The bel-2 and p53 protein were identified by immunohistochemical staining using monoclonal and polyclonal antibody. The apoptotic index was detetermined by microscopic examination of hematoxyln and rosin-stained sections at x400. The materials subiected to this study were 54 paraffin-embedded colorectal carcinomas, which were collected randomly from January of 1992 to December of 1994 at Department of Surgery, Chosun University Hospital. Of 54 cases, 21 (38.9%) and 22(40.7%) showed positive expression of bel-2 and p53 protein respectively. Mean apoptotic index(AI) was 2.99% in colorectal carcinoma. Bcl-2 expression did not correlated with p53 expression or apoptotic index. Positive expression of p53 or AI was not correlate with any other clinical and pathologic parameters. An inverse correlation was found between bel-2 expression and increased tumor stage or Iymph node metastasis (P<0.05). In conclusion, these results suggest that bcl-2 expression is significant associated with early stage in colorectal carcinoma. But bcl-2 p53 and AI can`t be a independent prognostic factor in colorectal carcinoma. Further investigations to clarity its possible role in controlling the tumor decelopment and growth of colorectal carcinoma are needed.
Apoptosis ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Death ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Genes, Suppressor ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oncogenes ; Proto-Oncogenes

PURPOSE: Blood vessels within the retina are surrounded by Muller cells, and it is known that Muller cells may be related with the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy based on this histologic structure. Argon laser photocoagulation is routinely performed in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy by inhibiting neovascularization and edema, but its mechanism remains unclear. Muller cell changes were demonstrated utilizing carbonic anhydrase immunohistochemical staining to know a relation between argon laser photocoagulation and the effect of Muller cells in the rabbit retina. METHODS: Author used 16 rabbit retinas which were obtained from 8 rabbits. Exposure time and spot size were kept 0.15 second and 500 microgram. 150~350 mW of power intensity was needed to produce moderate degree coagulation in rabbit retina. RESULTS: We observed retina and its histological changes at 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks and 4 weeks after photocoagulation by using carbonic anhydrase staining. The differences in the morphological changes in Muller cells and retina layers were observed between moderate and severe degree coagulation. With severe degree coagulation, the loss of all the retinal layers was observed. On the other hand, with moderate degree coagulation, proliferated pigment epithelial cells and chorioretinal adhesion were observed with loss of photoreceptor and outer nuclear layer. Muller cells were observed by carbonic anhydrase staining with proliferated Muller cells with increased nuclei and proliferated process. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that Muller cells might be important in the scar formation by argon laser photocoagulation and that the proliferaration of Muller cells play a certain role in the therapeutic mechanism.
Argon* ; Blood Vessels ; Carbonic Anhydrases ; Cicatrix ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Edema ; Ependymoglial Cells ; Epithelial Cells ; Hand ; Light Coagulation* ; Rabbits ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is a pleomorphic sarcoma which most frequently arises in the soft tissue. About two-thirds of the tumors are located within skeletal muscle; relatively few cases have been reported arising in the skin. The micromorphology of the tumor is characterized by storiform histiocyte-like cells, malignant giant cells and bizzare mitoses. We report here a case of cutaneous MFH developed in xeroderma pigmentosum occurred in a middle-aged man.
Giant Cells ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous* ; Mitosis ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Sarcoma ; Skin ; Xeroderma Pigmentosum

To evaluate the value of HRCT imaging in middle ear cholesteatoma, we prospectively analysed the CT images in 28 surgically proven cases with cholesteatomas regarding main site of lesion, ossicular change, facial nerve exposure and fistula formation . The most common main site of lesion was the epitympanum (92.8%). The results of sensitivity, positive predictability, and accuracy by CT imagings were as follows: for ossicular involvement, 94.1%, 88.8%, and 86.2% in malleus, 96.0%, 88.8%, and 85.7% in incus, 81.2%, 81.2%, and 78.5% in stapes; for facial verve exposure, 66.6%, 57.1%, and 81.2%; for fistula formation, 100%, 75.0%, and 96.4%, respectively. In conclusion, the temporal bone HRCT imaging is an accurate preoperative method in detecting main lesion site, ossicular involvement, fistula formation. Because of the low sensitivity and positive predictability in detecting facial nerve exposure, it is necessary to correlate the HRCT images with the clinical status.
Cholesteatoma ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear* ; Ear, Middle* ; Facial Nerve ; Fistula ; Incus ; Malleus ; Methods ; Prospective Studies ; Stapes ; Temporal Bone* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

BACKGROUND: More than 90% of acute stroke patients have measurable cardiovascular sequelae, but we have been often overlooked in formal discussions of treatment. If we estimate the incidence of myocardial injury in patient with spontaneous SAH, we may figure the possibility of cardiac dysfunction in such patients. This study was designed to investigate the incidence of myocardial injury in patients with spontaneous SAH using cardiac troponin I(cTnI). METHODS: A prospective single emergency center study was performed to determined preoperative incidence of unrecognized cardiac injury in patients suffering spontaneous SAH. We include the spontaneous SAH patients who underwent serum measurements of the cardic troponin I immediately upon admission last six month period. ECG, CK, CK-MB and myoglobin were also performed at admission. We excluded the spontaneous SAH patients who had past history of myocardial ischemia and ECG abnormality. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients(34 females, 18 males) with spontaneous SAH were studied prospectively. 18 patients(34.6% of the total study population) had cTnI level above 0.5ng/ml. ECG was performed in 52 patients and was abnormal in 15 of the 52 patients(28.8%). CONCLUSION: The measurement of cTnI has provided physicians with a myocardial marker that has a cardiac sensitivity for cardiac injury equal to that of CK-MB yet with greater specificity. So, cardiac troponin I is useful to estimate the incidence of myocardial injury in patients with spontaneous SAH. And we may estimate the possibility of cardiac dysfunction in such patients. This knowledge will hopefully aid in the care and improve the outcome.
Electrocardiography ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Myoglobin ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stroke ; Troponin I* ; Troponin*