BACKGROUND: Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare disease in which a painful nodule or pustule breaks down to form a progressive enlarging ulcer. Until now, only 8 cases of pyoderma gangrenosum have been reported in Korea. Therefore, we thought it necessary to perform a clinical analysis of pyoderma gangrenosum in Korea with a review of literature. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to find the clinical features of pyoderma gangrenosum in Korea. METHODS: Fourteen cases with pyoderma gangrenosum were investigated by reviewing medical records. Results There were 6 males and 8 females. The onset age was between 4 years and 65 years, and most(9 cases) had developed the condition between the ages of 20 and 60. Thirteen cases involved the extremities and 3 cases had whale body involvement, Seven cases(50%) had multiple lesions. All cases had pain at the lesional sites. Two cases were classified as the bullous type and the others were ulcerative in nature. The histological fmdings were non-specific. Dense inflarnmatory infiltrates composed of lymphocytes and predominant neutrophils were found in the epidermis and dermis associated with ulceration. Two cases were treated only with systemic steroids, and 2 cases with dapsone and steroids, 2 cases with colchicine and steroids, and 1 case with steroids, dapsone and colchicine. One case was treated with colchicine and anti-Tbc drug, 1 case with dapsone, 3 cases with antibotics, 1 case with the anti-Tbc drug and 1 case with anti-cancer drugs. Systemic disease was present in 5D% of the cases. The associated diseases were Behcets disease(3 cases), tuberculosis(2 cases), systemic lupus erythematosus(1 case), pancytopenia(1 case), iron deficiency anemia(1 case), acute leukemia(1 case), and colon adenoma(1 case). Recurrence developed in 2 cases and positive pathergy reactions were observed in 3 cases. CONCLUSION: Pyoderma gangrenosum was eccompanied with systemic disease in 50% of the cases and the most common therapeutic drugs were steroids. It is therefore impartant to detect the presence of any underlying disease and to treat this alongside pyoderma gangrenosum.
Age of Onset ; Colchicine ; Colon ; Dapsone ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; Korea ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Medical Records ; Neutrophils ; Pyoderma Gangrenosum* ; Pyoderma* ; Rare Diseases ; Recurrence ; Steroids ; Ulcer ; Whales

Aplasia cutis congenita is a congenital localized or widespread absence of the skin. We report a case of aplasia cutis congenita, type V, in a 6-day-old male infant born with the stellate and linear skin lesions covered by granulation tissue and soft capsule with slightly elevated erythematous edges on the trunk and lower extremities without any associated family history. The patient had amniotic bands and were diagnosed as aplasia cutis, type V. The patient received conservative treatment such as antiseptic dressing and prophylactic systemic antibiotics with healing of the ulcer.
Amniotic Band Syndrome ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bandages ; Ectodermal Dysplasia* ; Granulation Tissue ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Skin ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify the relationship of malnutrition, social network and health-related quality of life and to investigate the main factors influencing health-related quality of life in elders. METHODS: The research design was a descriptive survey design using a convenience sampling. Data were collected by self-report questionnaires from 196 elders. Data analysis was done using SPSS 18.0 pc+ program for descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: The average score for health related quality of life was 3.33 (SD=0.86). Differences in health-related quality of life were statistically significant according to age, gender, occupation, presence of spouse, monthly income, source of income, economic status, medicine, and existence of chronic disease. Health-related quality of life was significantly correlated with malnutrition and social network. Major factors affecting health related quality of life for elders were malnutrition, occupation, age, social network, and economic status which explained 52.0% of the variance in health related quality of life. CONCLUSION: Findings provide a basis for developing nursing interventions to improve health-related quality of life. Future studies are needed a wide variety of variables that might influence health-related quality of life in elders.
Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Malnutrition ; Occupations ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Research Design ; Spouses ; Statistics as Topic

We present a case of erosive adenomatosis of the nipple in a 22-year-old woman. The clinical features of erosive adenomatosis of the nipple are similar to Paget's disease in that it has erythematous erosions with oozing and fissured crusts on one nipple. However, histologic findings are characteristic, consisting of dilated tubular structures that are lined by a peripheral layer of cuboidal cells and a luminal layer of columnar cells showing secretary properties into the lumen. The clinical course is benign, so simple mastectomy is enough for treatment.
Female ; Humans ; Mastectomy, Simple ; Nipples* ; Phenobarbital ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Many modalities of treatment for vitiligo have been elucidated and yet the treatment of vitiligo remains to be a challenge. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this article is to review our results and experiences with narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy for vitiligo. METHOD: We studied 9 patients with vitiligo who received narrow band UVB phototherapy for 6 months in our department. This is a retrospective analysis of our experiences and results. RESULTS: Nine patients were able to be evaluated for the purpose of this analysis. Their ages ranged from 6 to 68 years(mean, 18.4 years). Six patients of 9 patients achieved more than 75% repigmentation with a mean of 25 sessions of phototherapy. The remaining three patients had 50%, 40% and 30% repigmentation after 44, 40, and 45 sessions of phototherapy, respectively. Adverse effects were mild. CONCLUSION: Narrow-band UVB is a useful and well-tolerated therapy for vitiligo in comparsion with other therapies.
Humans ; Phototherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Vitiligo*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Mice* ; Premature Birth*

PURPOSE: We report a case of systemic cystinosis who showed cystine crystal depositions within cornea. METHODS: A 13-year-old boy with systemic cystinosis who had chronic renal failure, growth retardation, rickets for 9 years was consulted for ophthalmic examination for photophobia. We performed complete ophthalmic examinations including slit lamp examination, corneal pachymetry, corneal sensitivity test, specular microscopy, corneal topography, and fundoscopic examination. RESULTS: There were needle-like cystine crystal depositions within the entire corneal stroma. Other findings were within normal. CONCLUSIONS: We report a case of sytemic cystinosis that had cystine crystal depositions within cornea. It is the first case report in Korea.
Adolescent ; Cornea* ; Corneal Pachymetry ; Corneal Stroma ; Corneal Topography ; Cystine* ; Cystinosis* ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Korea ; Male ; Microscopy ; Photophobia ; Rickets

No abstract available.
Apoptosis* ; Placenta Previa* ; Placenta*

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) and to measure FasL-Fas complex and FasL-IgG complex in the sera of patients with various rheumatic diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic sclerosis (SSc), and adult onset Still? disease (AOSD). METHODS: Serum samples were obtained from 37 patients with SLE, 40 with RA, 30 with SSc, 20 with AOSD, and 40 healthy controls. The serum sFasL, FasL-Fas complex, and FasL-IgG complex were measured using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay. Hospital medical records were retrospectively reviewed for clinical and laboratory characteristics in patients with SLE. Disease activity in SLE patients was assessed by the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score. RESULTS: In patients with SLE, serum sFasL levels (383.1+/-208.9pg/ml) were significantly higher (p<0.001) than those of healthy controls (192.0+/-84.7pg/ml). sFasL levels in patients with RA (150.8+/-30.7pg/ml, p=0.014), SSc (115.4+/-13.5pg/ml, p<0.001), and AOSD (137.5+/-12.9pg/ml, p=0.001) were significantly lower compared with healthy controls. The frequencies of positive FasL-Fas complex and FasL-IgG complex were higher in patients with SLE (56.8%, 56.8% respectively) than in healthy controls (2.5%, 0% respectively) (p<0.001). All patients with RA or AOSD were negative for FasL-Fas complex and FasL-IgG complex. No patients with SSc were positive for FasL-Fas complex. On the other hand, the positive frequency of FasL-IgG complex was greater in patients with SSc (16.7%) than in healthy controls (0%)(p=0.012). Serum levels of FasL-IgG complexes in active SLE patients (OD 0.467+/-0.050) were tended to be lower than those in inactive SLE patients (OD 0.509+/-0.055)(p=0.060). SLEDAI score was tended to be negatively correlated with the serum levels of FasL-IgG complex in patients with SLE (r=-0.308, p=0.068). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that FasL may possibly play a role in the pathogenesis of SLE.
Adult ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Fas Ligand Protein* ; Hand ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Rheumatic Diseases* ; Scleroderma, Systemic

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) and to measure FasL-Fas complex and FasL-IgG complex in the sera of patients with various rheumatic diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic sclerosis (SSc), and adult onset Still? disease (AOSD). METHODS: Serum samples were obtained from 37 patients with SLE, 40 with RA, 30 with SSc, 20 with AOSD, and 40 healthy controls. The serum sFasL, FasL-Fas complex, and FasL-IgG complex were measured using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay. Hospital medical records were retrospectively reviewed for clinical and laboratory characteristics in patients with SLE. Disease activity in SLE patients was assessed by the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score. RESULTS: In patients with SLE, serum sFasL levels (383.1+/-208.9pg/ml) were significantly higher (p<0.001) than those of healthy controls (192.0+/-84.7pg/ml). sFasL levels in patients with RA (150.8+/-30.7pg/ml, p=0.014), SSc (115.4+/-13.5pg/ml, p<0.001), and AOSD (137.5+/-12.9pg/ml, p=0.001) were significantly lower compared with healthy controls. The frequencies of positive FasL-Fas complex and FasL-IgG complex were higher in patients with SLE (56.8%, 56.8% respectively) than in healthy controls (2.5%, 0% respectively) (p<0.001). All patients with RA or AOSD were negative for FasL-Fas complex and FasL-IgG complex. No patients with SSc were positive for FasL-Fas complex. On the other hand, the positive frequency of FasL-IgG complex was greater in patients with SSc (16.7%) than in healthy controls (0%)(p=0.012). Serum levels of FasL-IgG complexes in active SLE patients (OD 0.467+/-0.050) were tended to be lower than those in inactive SLE patients (OD 0.509+/-0.055)(p=0.060). SLEDAI score was tended to be negatively correlated with the serum levels of FasL-IgG complex in patients with SLE (r=-0.308, p=0.068). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that FasL may possibly play a role in the pathogenesis of SLE.
Adult ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Fas Ligand Protein* ; Hand ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Rheumatic Diseases* ; Scleroderma, Systemic