No abstract available.
Evoked Potentials, Visual* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

BACKGROUND: Lipids of horny layer forming multiple lamellar structure in the intercellular space acts as a skin barrier having a primary protective function and keeps softness and flexibility of the skin by absorbing and maintaining moistures. Among the intercellular lipids, ceramides mainly contribute to this important role. In xerotic eczema, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, ichthyosis, and experimentally induced scaly lesion showing dryness and scales, the amount of ceramides is decreased or distribution of ceramide is changed. In addition to lipids, free amino acids, a component of NMFs, serve as a water retainer and are decreased in ichthyosis or experimentally induced scaly lesion. Hand eczema has dry and scaly lesion showing impaired skin barrier and low water content. So, changes of ceramides or free amino acids can be considered in the lesion of hand eczema. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to confirm the relationship between the development of hand eczema and changes of ceramides or free amino acids. METHOD: The lipids and free amino acids in scales from lesion of hand eczema were analyzed by using high performance thin layer chromatography and amino acid analyzer. RESULTS: Amounts of total lipids extracted were 0.63+/-0.33 microgram/cm2 in hand eczema and 0.44+/-0.26 microgram/cm2 in control. There was no difference between the two groups. Cholesterol sulfate, glucosyl ceramide, cholesterol, triglyceride, sterol ester, and n-alkane showed no difference between hand eczema and control. But ceramides were significantly decreased in hand eczema(11.0+/-5.5%) compared with control(21.4+/-8.0%)(p<0.05). Especially, ceramide type IV was significantly decreased in hand eczema (6.6+/-5.3%) compared with control(15.6+/-6.2%)(p<0.05) but ceramide type III in hand eczema did not differ from control. Amounts of total free amino acids in 10mg of scale were 10.4+/-3.1nmol in hand eczema and 9.5+/-3.0nmol in control. There was no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Dry skin and scales in hand eczema are related to the decrease of total amount of ceramides and ceramide type IV than amino acids in horny layer. To clarify the exact pathogenesis of hand eczema, further investigations on all types of ceramides and their defect in the process on biosynthesis of ceramides will be necessary.
Amino Acids* ; Ceramides* ; Cholesterol ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Eczema* ; Extracellular Space ; Hand* ; Ichthyosis ; Pliability ; Psoriasis ; Skin ; Triglycerides ; Water ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: Lipids of horny layer forming multiple lamellar structure in the intercellular space acts as a skin barrier having a primary protective function and keeps softness and flexibility of the skin by absorbing and maintaining moistures. Among the intercellular lipids, ceramides mainly contribute to this important role. In xerotic eczema, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, ichthyosis, and experimentally induced scaly lesion showing dryness and scales, the amount of ceramides is decreased or distribution of ceramide is changed. In addition to lipids, free amino acids, a component of NMFs, serve as a water retainer and are decreased in ichthyosis or experimentally induced scaly lesion. Hand eczema has dry and scaly lesion showing impaired skin barrier and low water content. So, changes of ceramides or free amino acids can be considered in the lesion of hand eczema. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to confirm the relationship between the development of hand eczema and changes of ceramides or free amino acids. METHOD: The lipids and free amino acids in scales from lesion of hand eczema were analyzed by using high performance thin layer chromatography and amino acid analyzer. RESULTS: Amounts of total lipids extracted were 0.63+/-0.33 microgram/cm2 in hand eczema and 0.44+/-0.26 microgram/cm2 in control. There was no difference between the two groups. Cholesterol sulfate, glucosyl ceramide, cholesterol, triglyceride, sterol ester, and n-alkane showed no difference between hand eczema and control. But ceramides were significantly decreased in hand eczema(11.0+/-5.5%) compared with control(21.4+/-8.0%)(p<0.05). Especially, ceramide type IV was significantly decreased in hand eczema (6.6+/-5.3%) compared with control(15.6+/-6.2%)(p<0.05) but ceramide type III in hand eczema did not differ from control. Amounts of total free amino acids in 10mg of scale were 10.4+/-3.1nmol in hand eczema and 9.5+/-3.0nmol in control. There was no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Dry skin and scales in hand eczema are related to the decrease of total amount of ceramides and ceramide type IV than amino acids in horny layer. To clarify the exact pathogenesis of hand eczema, further investigations on all types of ceramides and their defect in the process on biosynthesis of ceramides will be necessary.
Amino Acids* ; Ceramides* ; Cholesterol ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Eczema* ; Extracellular Space ; Hand* ; Ichthyosis ; Pliability ; Psoriasis ; Skin ; Triglycerides ; Water ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation*

This study amis for examines the actual physical symptom and stress in caregivers of patients with cerebrovascular disease. The data were collected by a survey conducted from August to September, 1997 which included 65 caregivers of cerebrovascular disease patient in 4 hospitals located in Seoul. The caregiver's stress was measured by Choi(1992)'s instrument and the actual physical symptoms were investigated. The data were analyzed using ANOV, Scheffe test, pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression. The results were as follows : 1. The mean number of caregiver's physical symptom was 3.5. There were significantly higher number of physical symptom in women, those of who have a religious affiliation, those of two perceive their own health status perceived s bad, and those of two perceived their patients disease condition as serious than in their counterparts. Also, the number of caregiver's physical symptom was significantly higher in caregivers whose patients have a paralysis symptom and the disease onset as spontaneous. 2. The average of caregiver's stress was 57.9. The caregiver's stress was the highest in between the ages of 50 and 59. There were also significantly higher level of stress in women, those of two perceived the disease condition of their patient as serious than in counterparts. 3. The most common caregiver's physical symptom was fatigue(87.7%). This was followed by insomnia(58.5%) and muscle (47.4%). 4. Caregiver's physical symptom was positively correlated with caregiver's stress and negatively correlated with patient's activity of daily life. 5. The most important variable affecting the caregiver's physical symptom was patient's activity of daily life which accounted for 12.7% of the total variance in stepwise multiple regression analysis. The most important variable affecting the caregiver's stress was the patient disease condition perceived by the caregiver that accounted for 12.1% of the total variance.
Caregivers* ; Female ; Humans ; Paralysis ; Seoul

BACKGROUND: Massive bleeding, inability to identify important landmarks and structures, and necessity for a blood transfusion have been the usual problems of hemangioma excision. OBJECTIVE: We introduce a CO2 laser excision technique as a surgical method for the treatment of hemangioma of the lips and demonstrate its benefits. METHODS: In 4 patients with nevus flammeus of hemiface and accompanying hemangioma of the lips, excision of the hemangioma was performed using a focused beam from a CO2 laser under local anesthesia. RESULTS: Excellent to good results were achieved with minimal blood losses in all patients. No or minimal post-operative pain and edema and no significant complications were observed. CONCLUSION:The CO2 laser excision technique is recommended since it renders less textural change, greater volume reduction, hemostasis and an overall good cosmetic outcome than defocused modes or conventional scalpel surgery.
Anesthesia, Local ; Blood Transfusion ; Edema ; Hemangioma* ; Hemorrhage ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Lasers, Gas* ; Lip* ; Port-Wine Stain

No abstract available.
Sarcoma, Endometrial Stromal*

PURPOSE: To identify age, gender, medication, seasons and place of fall, and areas of the fractures from the fall among the hospitalized elderly patients in order to provide the basic data for future fall prevention program for the elderly. METHODS: This study was conducted for 106 elderly patients admitted into a university hospital by fractures from the fall during the period from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 1999. Data on the age, gender, medication, season and place of the fall, areas of the fracture were collected based on their medical records. RESULT: The age range of the subjects were from 60 to 96 years old. The subjects were aged between 60-69 years old 49(46.2%), between 70-79 years old 31(29.2%), between 80-89 years old 24(22.6%), and over 90 years old 2(1.9%). Male patients comprised was 34(28.3%), while female patients comprised 76(71.7%). The fall occurred in Winter most frequently 34(32%). The place of the fall included room 81(76.4%), streets 13(12.3%), bathroom 6(5.7%), stair 4(3.8%), and mountain 2(1.9%). Twenty-two subjects (20.8%) had medication regularly, while 84 subjects (79.2%) had no medication. The areas of the fracture from the fall included upper extremities 20(18.9%) and lower extremities 86(81.1%). Radius fracture (7.5%) was the area where the fracture occurred most frequently in upper extremities and femur fracture (52.8%) was the area where the fracture occurred most frequently in lower extremities. A significant difference was found in the fracture area by age, season and place of the fall (p<.05). No significant difference was found in the fracture area by gender and medication. In all age groups, seasons and places of the fall, occurrence of fracture in lower extremity was significantly higher than that in upper extremity.
Aged* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Femur ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Medical Records ; Radius Fractures ; Seasons ; Upper Extremity

The proliferating trichilemmal cyst is a rare, usually benign tumor of external root sheath origin. About 90% of the cases gccur on the scalp, with the residual 10% occurring mainly on the back. More than 80% of the patients are women, most of whom are elderly. The cysts are commonly large, measuring up to 6 cm or more in diameter. A 33-year-old woman visited our department with a history of a matchhead- sized erythematous tender papule on her left knee that had been present for two years. A histopathological examination revealed a well-circumscribed, multilobulated cystic tumor with trichilemmal keratinization in the dermis. There were individual cell keratinization and focal calcification in some areas. This case was diagnosed as a proliferating trichilemmal cyst. This case was very unusual not only because the tumor occurred on the knee as a matchhead-sized papule but also because of her young age at presentation.
Adult ; Aged ; Dermis ; Female ; Humans ; Knee ; Scalp

PURPOSE: To investigate the relation of the gastric epithelial cell proliferation, apoptosis and genotypes of H. pylori in children. METHODS: Histologic grading by updated Sydney system, PCNA immunostaining, TUNEL method and the genotypes (cagA, picB and iceA) by PCR were performed in H. pylori positive (N=20) and negative (N=20) gastric biopsy specimens. RESULTS: PCNA index was significantly different between H. pylori positive children (77.4+/-13.12) and H. pylori negative children (52.3+/-12.20) (p=0.000). There were positive correlations between PCNA index and H. pylori density (r=0.624, p=0.000), polymorphonuclear neutrophil activity (r=0.460, p=0.005) and chronic inflammation (r=0.433, p=0.009). Apoptosis index of H. pylori positive children (0.70+/-0.411) was significantly higher than of H. pylori negative children (0.14+/-0.201) (p=0.000). Positive correlations between apoptosis index and H. pylori density (r=0.691, p=0.000), polymorphonuclear neutrophil activity (r=0.585, p=0.000) and chronic inflammation (r=0.535, p=0.001) were noted. As PCNA index increased, apoptosis index significantly increased (r=0.527, p=0.001). The positive rates of genotypes were cagA 90%, picB 75%, iceA1 60% and iceA2 15%, respectively. There were no significant correlations between the status of the genotypes and PCNA index, apoptosis index, the endoscopic findings and the histologic findings. CONCLUSION: PCNA index and apoptosis index in H. pylori positive children were higher than in H. pylori negative children but were not related to H. pylori genotypes. This study suggested that correlatively increased gastric epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis are important to pathogenesis of H. pylori infection in children.
Apoptosis* ; Biopsy ; Child* ; Epithelial Cells* ; Genotype* ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Inflammation ; Neutrophils ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen