No abstract available.
Angiokeratoma* ; Hypertrophy*

Contact Urticaria is a wheal-and-flare response to chemicals applied to the skin. Contact urticaria due to bee sting therapy has never been reported in Korea. A 45-year-old male was seen for erythematous plsques and patches with the duration of 3 days. Histologicall, the skin biopsy specimen showed necrosis and dyskeratotic cells in the epidermis. Collagen degenerati in and perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates were seen in the upper dermis.
Bees* ; Biopsy ; Bites and Stings* ; Chronic Pain* ; Collagen ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Skin ; Urticaria*

BACKGROUND: 1. Conventional topical treatments of alopecia areata such as intralesional injection and topical application of glucocorticosteroids, and induction of conttact sensitivity using DPCP have had dieadvantages as follow 1) a time -consuming treatment perioed 2) various forms of discomfort during and after treatment 3) many side effects. 2. Though hair follicllee are easily damaged by intense cryo-application, we anticipate the regrowth of hair without damage to the tissue when applied to the scalp lightly OBJECT: We evaluated the efficacy of treatment and side effect of cryotherapy in patients with alopecia areata and whether this method can be used for the firstiline treatment of small alopecic patches, avoiding the above disadvantages of conventional methods METHOD: 19 patients witt alopecia areata lesion(s) confined within one fourth of the totaI scalp area were treated by dip-stick method with liquid nitrogen once a week luring the first 4 weeks, then at a two week interval. A cotten tip was lightly applied to the alopecic, patches for one to two seconds. We surveyed side effects and regrowth of hair during a periodic follow up. RESULT: The results can be summurized as follows : 1. Therapeutic responses were noted in 17(89%) of 19 patients studid. 2. In all the patients who responded, vellus hair appeared within 4 weeks of treatment, and terminal hair appeared within 6 weeks of treatment. 3. There were no specific fectors showing statistical significance between therapeutic responses. 4. There were no significanf, side effects except very faint pain during cryoapplication. 5. Recurrence was observed in only patieni during a 9-12 months follow-up CONCLUSION: Cryotherpy of the alopecia areata can be regarded as an effective mode of treatment with many advantages. These include relatively good therapeutic results, short-term treatment, a simple and convenient method, and nearly no side effects. We recommerld cryotherapy as a first-line mode of treatment of alopecia area.ta lesions which are small in size and few in number.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Cryotherapy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hair ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; Nitrogen ; Recurrence ; Scalp

Dried specimens of the genus Inocybe collected from mountain areas throughout the Korean country from 1982 to 1998 and preserved in NIAST were investigated. Out of them, Inocybe hystrix were confirmed as an unrecorded species in Korea. In 1991 Lee et al., previously recorded Inocybe kasukayamensis only with its scientific name and korean common name. In this study we report it with full descriptions of morphological characteristics and diagnosis of micro-structures of this species.
Diagnosis ; Korea* ; Porcupines

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a demyelinating disease resulting from infection of oligodendrocytes with JC virus. PML was a rare disease, but nowadays not uncommon as AIDS prevailed. Histopathologic features of the affected lesion shows infiltrations of foamy macrophages and hyperchromatic, pleomorphic, reactive astrocytes that may raise the suspicion of a brain tumor. We recently met with 3 cases of PML. Two of the patients had AIDS and the other had been treated for lymphoma. All cases were diagnosed by histopathologic examination in stereotactic brain biopsies.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Astrocytes ; Biopsy ; Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host* ; JC Virus ; Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal* ; Lymphoma ; Macrophages ; Oligodendroglia ; Rare Diseases

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether intravenous injection of the zoledronic acid could promote osseointegration of the porous implant inserted into the rabbit medullary cavity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A rabbit intramedullary osseointegration model was used. A specially designed porous nitinol implant (Bio-Smart, Sungnam, Gyeonggi-do, Korea) was inserted in the right distal femur of twenty six rabbits. They were randomized into the control or the experimental groups. In the control group, an intravenous injection of normal saline 2 ml/kg (Daihan Pharm, Seoul, Korea) was given at the end of the operation. In the experimental group, an intravenous injection of zoledronic acid 0.1 mg/kg (AclastaG(R) 2 ml/kg, Norvatis, Stein, Switzerland) was given at the end of the operation. Six weeks later, all animals were sacrificed and undecalcified histologic sections were prepared. Then, histomorphometric measurement of bone affinity index (%) and bone ingrowth area rate (%) was carried out. RESULTS: Six rabbits were excluded due to death and wound infection. Nine rabbits in the control group and eleven rabbits in the experimental group were included for the analysis. The bone affinity indices were 19.9+/-7.9% in the control group, and 28.4+/-7.2% in the experimental group. Although there was no statistical significance (p=0.056), the bone affinity index of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group. The bone ingrowth area rates were 8.7+/-3.7% in the control group, and 12.1+/-4.1% in the experimental group (p=0.046), indicating zoledronic acid had an positive effect on the promotion of bone ingrowth into the porous implant. CONCLUSION: In our rabbit intramedullary osseointegration model, intravenous injection of the zoledronic acid promoted early osseointegration of the porous implant. Zoledronic acid might be useful to promote the early osseointegration of the joint replacement implants.
Alloys ; Animals ; Diphosphonates ; Femur ; Imidazoles ; Injections, Intravenous ; Joints ; Osseointegration ; Rabbits ; Wound Infection

BACKGROUND: It is well known that when macrophages are stimulated with endotoxin, they produce a wide variety of cytokine mediators, including TNF-α and IL-1β. However, there is an alterationnin the macrophages responsiveness when they are challenged with repeated bouts of endotoxin, termed 'endotoxin tolerance' which is regarded as a self-protective phenomenon from continuous stimulation. In this study, endotoxin tolerance in the peripheral blood monocytes of sepsis patients was evaluated. METHODS: Fourteen patients with organism-documented sepsis were included. The severity of illness was evaluated by APACHE IIscore. Peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from the patients and diluted to 1×105/well. After stimulation with endotoxin(LPS of E. coli O114:B4, 100 ng/ml), they were incubated at 37℃ in 5% CO2 incubator for 24 hours. Supernatant was collected for the measurement of TNF-αand IL-1β with ELISA method. Peripheral blood monocytes of seven healthy volunteers were used as control. RESULTS: The APACHE IIscore(mean±SD) of the patients at the time of blood sampling was 12.2±5.7. The primary infection foci were urinary tract infection, pneumonia, subacute bacterial endocarditis, and catheter related infection, etc. The causative organisms were gram negative rods(10 cases), gram positive cocci(6 cases) with two cases of mixed infection. Serum TNF-α could be measured in 4 cases with 29.9±27.7 pg/ml. Serum IL-1β was measureable in only one patient. The TNF-α level of supernatant of cultured peripheral blood monocytes was 2,703±2,066 pg/ml in patients and 2,102±1,914 pg/ml in controls. The IL-1β level of supernatant was 884±1,050 pg/ml in patients and 575±558 pg/ml in controls. There was no difference of TNF-α and IL-1β level between patients and controls. CONCLUSION: We cannot prove the phenomenon of endotoxin tolerance in this study. Future study needs to be focused on the more severe sepsis patients who were taken for sampling earlier. Addition of serum to the culture medium could be an another valuable option for the success of this study.
APACHE ; Catheters ; Coinfection ; Endocarditis, Subacute Bacterial ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Incubators ; Macrophages ; Monocytes ; Pneumonia ; Sepsis* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha* ; Urinary Tract Infections

BACKGROUND: Cardiac arrhythmias and other cardiac dysfunctions occur in relation with acute cerebral ischemia. This study was undertaken to evaluate the sequential changes of electrocardiogram and cardiac enzymes after acute ischemic stroke, and to evaluate the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias. METHODS: Forty-three patients with acute ischemic stroke were recruited for this study. Electrocardiogram and cardiac enzymes were checked at 1, 3, 5, 7, 15, and 30 days after onset. RESULTS: Heart rates were decreased acutely after ischemic stroke and showed maximal decrease at day 3 (p<0.05). Heart rates were more significantly decreased in the right-sided lesions than the left (p<0.05) and in the supratentorial lesions than the infratentorial (p<0.05). PR intervals and durations of QRS complex were prolonged at day 3 and 5 but were not significant. The prolongation of the QTc interval was found in 21 patients (48.8%) and sustained QTc prolongation at day 30 were seen in 16 patients. Compared with controls, patients showed significantly higher incidence of arrhythmias (p<0.01). Creatine phosphokinase-MB (CK-MB) was significantly increased at day 5 (p<0.01) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) was increased at day 7 (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the incidence of neurogenic cardiac abnormalities in acute ischemic stroke was higher than that of previous studies. Abnormalities peaked at days 3 and 5 were nearly similar to control levels at day 30. These periods of peak abnormalities coincided with those of increasing brain edema. Therefore, we postulate that cardiac autonomic controls are also influenced by acute brain edema. (J Korean Neurol Assoc 19(3):207~212, 2001)
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Brain Edema ; Brain Ischemia ; Cerebral Infarction ; Creatine ; Electrocardiography* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Incidence ; Oxidoreductases ; Stroke*

PURPOSE: To analyze the differences of semen parameters in Korean young population for three periods from 2002 to 2013. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 516 semen samples were collected from Korean men presenting for infertility, varicoceles or other infectious problems for three periods from 2002 to 2012: January 2002-December 2003, January 2007-December 2008, and January 2012-December 2013. A standard World Health Organization procedure for semen analysis was performed for assessment of semen concentration, volume, motility, morphology, and pH. RESULTS: A total of 160, 162, 194 men constituted the study populations in 2002 to 2003, in 2007 to 2008, and in 2012 to 2013, respectively. The overall sperm parameter results suggested a statistically significant difference between 2002 to 2003 and 2012 to 2013 except pH. However, considering the data from 2007 to 2008, there were no trends in changes in overall semen parameters. Negative correlations were observed in all semen parameters with increasing age in all patients, except for pH. In addition, semen volume, motility, and morphology had higher negative correlation coefficients with age, from 2002 to 2013, serially. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant changes in the semen parameters of Korean men from 2002 to 2013. In addition, semen volume, motility, and morphology showed higher negative correlation coefficients with age from 2002 to 2013, serially.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aging/pathology/physiology ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Infertility, Male/*diagnosis ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Semen ; Semen Analysis/*methods ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa/cytology ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To determine effectiveness of Valsalva maneuver and standing position on scrotal color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) for the varicocele diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the physical examination and CDU finding in 87 patients who visited National Police Hospital from January 2011 to April 2014. Diameters of pampiniform plexus were measured bilaterally during resting and Valsalva maneuver in the supine position and standing position. We calculated the ratio of mean of maximal vein diameter (mMVD) during resting and Valsalva maneuver (resting-Valsalva ratio) and compared in the both position. RESULTS: In the resting and supine position, mMVD of varicocele testis units were 1.8 mm, 2.1 mm, 2.6 mm (grades I, II, III, respectively), and that of normal testis units (NTU) 1.2 mm. During Valsalva maneuver in the supine position, mMVD were 3.0 mm, 3.4 mm, 4.2 mm (grades I, II, III) vs 1.8 mm (NTU) (p=0.007, p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). Average of resting-Valsalva ratio in the supine position were 0.69, 0.74, 0.74 (grades I, II, III) and 0.67 (NTU). Whereas in the resting and standing position, mMVD were 2.8 mm, 3.3 mm, 3.8 mm (grades I, II, III) and 1.8 mm (NTU) (p=0.002, p<0.001, p<0.001). During Valsalva maneuver in the standing position, mMVD were 5.0 mm, 5.8 mm, 6.6 mm (grades I, II, III) and 2.5 mm (NTU) (p=0.002, p<0.001, p<0.001). And average resting-Valsalva ratio were 0.76, 0.90, 0.71 (grades I, II, III) and 0.26 (NTU), which showed significant differences from all grades (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that the standing position and Valsalva maneuver during CDU could improve diagnostic ability for varicocele. Resting-Valsalva ratio in the standing position could be a new diagnostic index for varicocele diagnosis using CDU.
Adult ; Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Positioning/*methods ; Physical Examination/methods ; Posture/physiology ; Scrotum/*ultrasonography ; Supine Position/physiology ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color/methods ; *Valsalva Maneuver ; Varicocele/*ultrasonography ; Veins/ultrasonography ; Young Adult