The high variability of measured olfactory thresholds in humans reflects very broad range of sensitivity within and among individuals. This can be derived from the strongly compressive nature of olfaction, which makes it relatively hard to compare the size of two stimuli in odor sensation. However, we know that some portion of the variation is the result of extrinsic factors e.g. the method used to measure the olfactory threshold. For this reason, in order to address the bias and reliability of a psycophysical method, we combined the use of the CCCRC (Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center) test with the step method in 40 normal Korean adults twice a week for the evaluation of threshold. The measured thresholds showed high test-retest reliability and the threshold estimates remained consistent during the testing without trial-biases. Based on the results, we can conclude that a combined test using the CCCRC test and step method can be used in the measurement of olfactory threshold in a clinical context.
Adult* ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Humans ; Odors ; Sensation ; Smell

The term halo congenital nevus is a condition in which halo formation is associated with congenital melanocytic nevus. The regression of congenital melanocytic nevi is usually accompanied by the halo phenomenon and this is considered to be a rare event, although this may be underestimated. We describe here a 9-year-old boy with verrucous congenital nevus surrounded by a depigmented halo on the right upper arm. Histologically, the nevus lesion revealed a dense lymphocytic infiltration in the upper dermis intermingled with some remnants of nevus cell nests. Most of the infiltrating cells were CD8+ T lymphocytes. At the edge of the lesion, corresponding to the area of the halo, neither melanocytes nor melanin were found in any significant amounts.
Arm ; Child ; Dermis ; Humans ; Melanins ; Melanocytes ; Nevus ; Nevus, Pigmented ; T-Lymphocytes

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical outcomes of silicone tube intubation according to the site of resistance to lacrimal duct probing in complete or partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction patients. METHODS: This study included 102 eyes of 72 patients who were diagnosed with complete or partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction and who underwent silicone tube intubation. According to the site of resistant to nasolacrimal duct probing, eyes were divided into proximal resistance (Group I), distal resistance (Group II) and both side resistance (Group III). The success rate was estimated based on functional (symptom relief) and anatomical (normalization of tear meniscus) success. RESULTS: The success rates in Group I, Group II, and Group III were 53.1%, 78.8%, and 27.0%, respectively, showing that Group II attained the highest success rate (Pearson chi-square test, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In cases of only distal resistance to lacrimal probing without dacryocystography, silicone tube intubation should be performed with expectation of good clinical outcomes, even if complete nasolacrimal obstruction was suspected on syringing.
Humans ; Intubation* ; Nasolacrimal Duct ; Silicones*

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical outcomes of silicone tube intubation according to the site of resistance to lacrimal duct probing in complete or partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction patients. METHODS: This study included 102 eyes of 72 patients who were diagnosed with complete or partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction and who underwent silicone tube intubation. According to the site of resistant to nasolacrimal duct probing, eyes were divided into proximal resistance (Group I), distal resistance (Group II) and both side resistance (Group III). The success rate was estimated based on functional (symptom relief) and anatomical (normalization of tear meniscus) success. RESULTS: The success rates in Group I, Group II, and Group III were 53.1%, 78.8%, and 27.0%, respectively, showing that Group II attained the highest success rate (Pearson chi-square test, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In cases of only distal resistance to lacrimal probing without dacryocystography, silicone tube intubation should be performed with expectation of good clinical outcomes, even if complete nasolacrimal obstruction was suspected on syringing.
Humans ; Intubation* ; Nasolacrimal Duct ; Silicones*

An atypical clinical form of pityriasis versicolor has been infrequently reported, in which cutaneous atrophy is associated with individual pityriasis versicolor lesions. The pathogenesis of this atrophy remains unclear, but is believed to be a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to antigens derived from the Malassezia species. A 60-year-old man presented with multiple, slightly scaly, and depressed maculopatches or plaques on the trunk and extremities. Our microscopic examination of the skin scrapings on a KOH preparation revealed numerous short hyphae and spores. The patient was treated daily with 200 mg of itraconazole in combination with topical antifungals, achieving clinical improvement and mycological recovery, which was confirmed upon follow-up 1 month later. This is the first case report of atrophying pityriasis versicolor in Korea. It needs to be differentiated from other atrophying disorders of the skin.
Atrophy ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Hyphae ; Itraconazole ; Korea ; Malassezia ; Middle Aged ; Pityriasis ; Skin ; Spores ; Tinea Versicolor

Background: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, inflammatory disease affecting the skin including the scalp, nails, and lips. One of the main pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis is skin barrier impairment. Transepidermal water loss is a noninvasive measurement of water loss across the stratum corneum for assessing skin barrier function. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the skin barrier function of various skin sites including hairy skin, non-keratinized areas, and hard keratin in patients with atopic dermatitis. Furthermore, the relationship between the severity of atopic dermatitis and transepidermal water loss was investigated. Methods: In total, 73 patients with atopic dermatitis and 65 age-matched healthy controls were included in this study. Transepidermal water loss was measured at 8 different skin sites including hairy skin (vertex, occiput), the cheek, non-keratinized area (lower lip), lateral side of the upper arm, flexor side of the forearm, extensor side of the forearm, and hard keratin (fingernail). The severity of atopic dermatitis was assessed using the eczema area and severity index. Results: Transepidermal water loss was observed to be higher at all the measured sites including the scalp, nails, and lips of atopic dermatitis patients in comparison with that of the age-matched controls. Transepidermal water loss were correlated with the severity of atopic dermatitis in the cheek, lips, upper arm, and forearm. Conclusion Patients with atopic dermatitis have impaired skin barrier function, including in regions of hairy skin, non-keratinized areas, and hard keratin areas. Barrier dysfunction is associated with the severity of atopic dermatitis.

PURPOSE: This study describes the CT and MR findings of mucoceles occurred in the post-operative maxillary sinuses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT and/or MR of 19 maxillary mucoceles in 16 patients who had been operated by CaldwelI-Luc procedure were reviewed. CT scans were performed after contrast enhancement in axial and coronal planes with 5mm thickness. Three cases were studied with a 2.0 T or 0.5 T MRI, which demonstrated multi-compartment lesions. RESULTS: The lesions were bilateral in 3 cases. Compartmentalization of the antral cavity was seen in 7 out of 19 involved sinuses. Surgical bone defect of the anterior wall was the most frequent route of extension (11 cases) and extension into the infratemporal fossa with erosion of posterolateral wall was seen in 7 lesions. In 6 cases, the lesions involved orbit. The expansile and erosive bone changes were localized in every case. In one case with multi-compartment lesion, both T1- and T2-weighted MR images showed different signal intensities in each compartment which represented different protein concentration. CONCLUSION: Post-operative maxillary mucocele showed CT findings of localized erosion and bulging most frequently at the anterior wall in which the bone windows were made during the previous surgery. Post-operative compartmentalization of maxillary antrum may cause eccentric expansion of mucocete and each compartment may show different signal intensities on MR.
Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Maxillary Sinus* ; Mucocele* ; Orbit ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Oral (p.o.) administration has a delayed onset time of several weeks and moderate efficacy in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), therefore a more rapidly effective treatment is required. The aim of this paper was to review available data detailing the clinical outcome of intravenously (i.v.) administered antiobsessional drug in OCD patients. Review of the research indicates that i.v. administration exhibits a faster onset and greater improvement than p.o. administration. I.v. pulse administration showed clinically significantly faster onset than i.v. gradual administration. I.v. administration was safe and rapidly effective in treatment resistant OCD patients and might be a valuable new treatment.
Administration, Intravenous ; Citalopram ; Clomipramine ; Humans ; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

SPARC, secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine, is a extracellular matrix-associated protein implicated in the modulation of cell adhesion, migration, cell cycle regulation, and angiogenesis. SPARC is expressed in fibrocytes and endothelial cells involved in tissue repair and invasive malignant tumors in the gastrointestinal tract, breast, lung, kidney, adrenal cortex, ovary, and brain. This study was aimed to characterize the different expression of SPARC in the thyroid follicular adenomas and follicular carcinomas. Immunohistochemical staining was performed in paraffin-embedded tissues of 25 follicular adenomas and 15 follicular carcinomas of the thyroid gland. Immunohistochemically, SPARC was not expressed in the 19 follicular adenoma and 2 follicular carcinoma but highly expressed in the 6 follicular adenoma and 13 follicular carcinoma. These findings suggest that SPARC is a potential diagnostic marker of follicular carcinoma and is helpful to distinguish follicular carcinoma from follicular adenoma without vascular or capsular invasion.
Adenoma* ; Adrenal Cortex ; Brain ; Breast ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Movement ; Cysteine ; Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Kidney ; Lung ; Ovary ; Thyroid Gland*