BACKGROUND: There have been several reports which assessed the activity of antifungals including azoles on Malassezia furfur by agar dilution method. However, they did not differentiate M. furfur into groups. In addition, the media for growth and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination, incubation temperature and length of incubation differed from each other. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to test the antifungal activities of miconazole, clotrimazole, ketoconazole and itraconazole by determining MICs for M. furfur serovars A, B and C for these drugs. METHODS: MICs were determined by the agar dilution method. Leeming & Notman's Malassezia furfur agar medium was used. RESULTS: In all strains of serovars A, B and C, the MICs for miconazole were similar to those for clotrimazole ; MICs for ketoconazole were also similar to those for itraconazole ; MICs for miconazole or clotrimazole were higher than those for ketoconazole or itraconazole. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that ketoconazole or itraconazole could be used more effectively than miconazole or clotrimazole for the treatment of the diseases caused by M. furfur.
Agar ; Azoles ; Clotrimazole ; Danazol* ; Itraconazole ; Ketoconazole ; Malassezia* ; Methods ; Miconazole ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests* ; Serogroup

No abstract available.
Animals ; Germinal Center* ; Lymph Nodes* ; Mice*

BACKGROUND: Peak expiratory flow (PEF) provides a simple, quantitative, and reproducible measure of the existence and severity of airflow obstructions. Peak flow meters are designed to monitor the condition asthma patients. There are many reports showing the normal predicted value of PEF in other countries. studies on healthy Korean adults have been performed in a relatively small sample number and a lower limit for the normal value was not reported. therefore, an attempt to provide normal predictive PEF value with a lower limit was made. METHOD: The PEF(Mini-Wright peak Flow Meter) measurements and spirometry were done in 233 men and 631 woman without history of respiratory disease. all subjects were non-smokers with no respiratory symptoms. the normal predictive value and its lower limit were developed by multiple regression analysis. The result was compared with regression equations in other reports. RESULTS: The regression equation for the normal PEF predictive value(L/min) is 25.117+4.587×Age(year)-0.064×Age2+2.931×Height(cm) in men in men(R2=0.25), and 146.942-0.011×Age2+1.795×Height(cm)+0.836×Weight (kg) in women(R2=0.21). The regression equation for the lower limit of this value (L/min) is 25.117+4.587×Age(year)-0.064×Age2+1.936×Height (cm) in men, and 146.942-0.011×Age2+1.232× Height (cm)+0.481×Weight (kg) in women. The residuals were normally distributed. The PEF in Korean males was similar to those reported in British and Japanese subjects. The PEF in Korean females was similar to that in British subjects, But higher than the PEF in Japanese subjects. The lower limit of normal value was 71% of normal predictive PEF value in men and 76% in women. CONCLUSION: The normal predictive PEF value and its lower limit was measured from 233 male and 631 female asymptomatic, lifelong non-smoking participants. The normal predictive value was different from those of other studies on Korean subjects. Therefore, further studies are required.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Asthma ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Reference Values ; Spirometry

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (Hoffmann, 1925) is an uncommon, locally malignant fibroblastic tumor of the skin, which is characterized by infrequent metastasis and marked tendency of local recurrence after excision. Usual clinical lesion of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a firm, raised, multinodular, tender tumor, which is fixed to the skin above, but movable over underlying tissues. Histopa,thologically, this tumor shows the characteristic cartwheel patterns, with the fibroblasts arranged radially about a small central hub of fibrous tissue. The authors report a case of recurred dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, developed on the left arm of a forty-year old woman. There was no evidence of metastasis.
Arm ; Dermatofibrosarcoma* ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Hydration, the water content of the stratum corneum, is an important factor in both the appearance and the barrier function of the skin. Many non-invasive methods have been developed in order to assesa the hydration state of the skin and the effect of various moisturizers. The hydrometer and carneometer are commercially available instruments which are widely used in dermatologic research. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare the measuring usefulnes of both instruments on normal subjects with a wide range of hydration states of the hornylayer. METHODS: We measured the conductance with the hydrometer and the capacitance with the corneometer in various hydrating eonditions and compared both insruments. RESULTS: Conductance had a non linear correlation with capacita ice. Capacitance measured with the corneometer had a high sensitivity to moisture in a wide range of hydration levels. On the other hand, conductance guaged with the hydrometer showed a few sensitivity to moisture at a low level. When the hydretion level was measured after a moiturizer was added, 10 % urea cream showed a sharp increase by 256% in terms of conductanae, and H-base by 97.8%. Mineral oil decreased by 41.5% and petrolatum by 62% respectively. On the other hand, when measured in terms of capacitance under the same conditions as above, 38.9 increase in 10% urea cream, 19.3% increase in H-base, 20% decrease in mineral oil, and 43.5 % decrease in petrolatum were reported. Conductance showed a higher hygroscopicity and a lower water holding capacity than capacitance did. When the measurement of the moisture level iri virious parts of the human body is performed, the corneometer provided us with more stable alies than the hydrometer. While the hydrometer can not the available and appropriate under the condition of insulation, the corneometer can measure moisture levels even down at the depth of 250mm. When measured after the oily surface of the forehead was cleansed with soft tissue, conductance and capacitance revealed higher values of moisture levels than before the eleanin. However, there is no statistical significance in these values. CONCLUSION: The hydrometer is a more appropriate tool for the measurement of moisture at a high level, and the corneometer at a low moisture level. The hydrcmeter is a more sensitive method of measuring the increase and the decrease in the moisture level.
Forehead ; Hand ; Human Body ; Ice ; Lasers, Gas ; Mineral Oil ; Petrolatum ; Skin* ; Urea ; Water ; Wettability

BACKGROUND: Hydration, the water content of the stratum corneum, is an important factor in both the appearance and the barrier function of the skin. Many non-invasive methods have been developed in order to assesa the hydration state of the skin and the effect of various moisturizers. The hydrometer and carneometer are commercially available instruments which are widely used in dermatologic research. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare the measuring usefulnes of both instruments on normal subjects with a wide range of hydration states of the hornylayer. METHODS: We measured the conductance with the hydrometer and the capacitance with the corneometer in various hydrating eonditions and compared both insruments. RESULTS: Conductance had a non linear correlation with capacita ice. Capacitance measured with the corneometer had a high sensitivity to moisture in a wide range of hydration levels. On the other hand, conductance guaged with the hydrometer showed a few sensitivity to moisture at a low level. When the hydretion level was measured after a moiturizer was added, 10 % urea cream showed a sharp increase by 256% in terms of conductanae, and H-base by 97.8%. Mineral oil decreased by 41.5% and petrolatum by 62% respectively. On the other hand, when measured in terms of capacitance under the same conditions as above, 38.9 increase in 10% urea cream, 19.3% increase in H-base, 20% decrease in mineral oil, and 43.5 % decrease in petrolatum were reported. Conductance showed a higher hygroscopicity and a lower water holding capacity than capacitance did. When the measurement of the moisture level iri virious parts of the human body is performed, the corneometer provided us with more stable alies than the hydrometer. While the hydrometer can not the available and appropriate under the condition of insulation, the corneometer can measure moisture levels even down at the depth of 250mm. When measured after the oily surface of the forehead was cleansed with soft tissue, conductance and capacitance revealed higher values of moisture levels than before the eleanin. However, there is no statistical significance in these values. CONCLUSION: The hydrometer is a more appropriate tool for the measurement of moisture at a high level, and the corneometer at a low moisture level. The hydrcmeter is a more sensitive method of measuring the increase and the decrease in the moisture level.
Forehead ; Hand ; Human Body ; Ice ; Lasers, Gas ; Mineral Oil ; Petrolatum ; Skin* ; Urea ; Water ; Wettability

No abstract available.
Humans ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Peritonitis*

No abstract available.
Follow-Up Studies* ; Pneumonectomy*

BACKGROUND: Cancer invasion and metastasis require the dissolution of the extracellular matrix in which several proteolytic enzymes are Involved. One of these enzymes is the urokinase - type plasminogen activator(u-PA), and plasminogen activator inhibitors(PAI-1, PAI-2) a]so have a possible role in cancer invasion and metastasis by protection of cancer itself from proteolysis by u-PA. It has been reported that the love]s of u-PA and plasminogen activator inhibitors in various cancer tissues are significantly higher than those in normal tissues and have significant correlations with tumor size and lymph node involvement Here, we measured the concentration of plasma u-PA and PAI- 1 antigens in the patients with lung cancer and compared the concentration of them with histologic types and staging parameters. METHODS: We measured the concentration of plasma u-PA and PAI-1 antigens using commercial ELISA kit in 37 lung cancer patients, 21 benign lung disease patients and 24 age-matched healthy controls, and we compared the concentration of them with histologic types and staging parameters in lung cancer patients. RESULTS: The concentration of u-PA was 1.0α0.3ng/mL in controls, 1.0α0.3ng/mL in benign lung disease patients and 0.9α0.3ng/mL in lung cancer patients. The concentration of PAI-1 was 14.2α6.7ng/mL in controls, 14.9α6.3ng/mL in benign lung disease patients, and 22.1 α9.8ng/mL in lung cancer patients. The concentration of PAI- 1 in lung cancer patients was higher than those of benign lung disease patients and controls. The concentration of u-PA was 0.7α0.4ng/mL in squamous cell carcinoma, 0.8α 0.3ng/mL in adenocarcinoma, 0.9ng/mL in large cell carcinoma, and 1.1α0.7ng/mL in small cell carcinoma. The concert traction of PAI-1 was 22.3α7.2ng/mL in squamous cell carcinoma, 22.6α9.9ng/mL in adenocarcinoma, 42ng/mL in large cell carcinoma, and 16.0α14.2ng/mL in small cell carcinoma. The concentration of u-PA was 0.74ng/mL in stage I, 1.2α0.6ng/mL in stage II, 0.7 α 0.4ng/mL in stage IIIA, 0.7α0.4ng/mL in stage IIIB, and 0.7α0.3ng/mL in stage IV. The concentration of PAI-1 was 21.8ng/mL in stage I, 22.7α8.7ng/mL in stage II, 18.4 α4.9ng/mL in stage IIIA, 25.3α9.0ng/mL in stage IIIB, and 21.5α10.8ng /mL in stage IV. When we divided T stage unto T1-3 and 74, the concentration of u-PA was 0.8α 0.4ng/mL in T1-3 and 0.7α0.4ng/mL in T4, and the concentration of PAI-1 was 17.9α 5.6ng/mL in T1-3 and 26.1α9.1ng/mL in T4. The concentration of PAI-1 in T4 was significantly higher than that in T1-3. The concentration of u-PA was 0.8α 0.4ng/mL in M0 and 0.7α0.3ng/mL in Ml, and the concentration of PAI-1 was 23.6α8.3ng/mL in M0 and 21.5α10.8ng/mL in M1 CONCLUSIONS: The plasma levels of PAI-1 in lung cancer were higher than benign lung disease and control, and the plasma levels of PAI-1 in 74 were significantly higher than T1-3. These findings suggest involvement of PAI-1 with local invasion of lung cancer, but it should be confirmed by the data on comparison with pathological staging and tissue level in lung cancer.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Large Cell ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Extracellular Matrix ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Peptide Hydrolases ; Plasma* ; Plasminogen ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1* ; Plasminogen Activators ; Plasminogen Inactivators ; Proteolysis ; Traction ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator*

Pityriasis lichenoides Chronica is a cutaneous disorder of unknown etiology and characterized pathologically by vasculitis and clinically by its marked chronicity and lack of specific treatment. Emollient-phototherapy is a recently introduced effective treatment for psoriasis. The authors treated 3 patients with pityriasis lichenoides chronica by the emollient-phototherapy technic with quite satisfactory results.