BACKGROUND: Superficial dermatomycoses are fungal infections of the skin, hair, or nails and are most commonly caused by dermatophytes. Superficial dermatomycoses are very common diseases in the field of dermatology; however, their prevalence and clinical characteristics vary with geographical areas and populations. Moreover, pathogenic species change constantly over time. OBJECTIVE: This multicenter study aimed to investigate the epidemiologic and clinical findings of tinea corporis, tinea faciale, and tinea capitis in Korea during 2016-2017. In addition, we sought to identify the pathogenic organism causing these three different types of fungal infections. METHODS: Total 453 patients from the dermatology clinics of 13 tertiary hospitals in Korea were enrolled in this study. Information regarding demographic characteristics, comorbidities, occupation, family history of superficial dermatomycoses, suspected routes of infection, and treatment was collected. Fungal cultures and molecular analyses were performed for patients with tinea corporis, tinea faciale, and tinea capitis. RESULTS: Of the 453 patients, 275 were men and 178 were women. With respect to past history, 214 patients (53.4%) had at least one comorbidity. Tinea corporis (27.3%) was the most common form of superficial dermatomycosis, followed by tinea pedis (23.2%) and tinea unguium (16.6%). Overall, the fungal culture positivity was 77.8% (126/162). Trichophyton rubrum was the most common causative organism for tinea corporis (66.7%, 68/80) and tinea faciale (43.8%, 14/23), while Microsporum canis was the most common causative organism for tinea capitis (36.7%, 11/23). CONCLUSION Trichophyton rubrum was consistently the most common causative organism of superficial dermatomycoses, except for tinea capitis in Korea.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the results of arthroscopically guided suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) and blinded axillary nerve block with those of blinded SSNB in terms of postoperative pain and satisfaction within the first 48 hours after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. METHODS: Forty patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair for medium-sized full thickness rotator cuff tears were included in this study. Among them, 20 patients were randomly assigned to group 1 and preemptively underwent blinded SSNB and axillary nerve block of 10 mL 0.25% ropivacaine and received arthroscopically guided SSNB with 10 mL of 0.25% ropivacaine. The other 20 patients were assigned to group 2 and received blinded SSNB with 10 mL of 0.25% ropivacaine. Visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain and patient satisfaction score were assessed 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: The mean VAS score for pain was significantly lower 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours postoperatively in group 1 (group 1 vs. group 2; 5.2 vs. 7.4, 4.1 vs. 6.1, 3.0 vs. 5.1, 2.1 vs. 4.2, 0.9 vs. 3.9, and 1.3 vs. 3.3, respectively). The mean patient satisfaction score was significantly higher at postoperative 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours in group 1 (group 1 vs. group 2; 6.7 vs. 3.9, 7.4 vs. 5.1, 8.8 vs. 5.9, 9.2 vs. 6.7, 9.5 vs. 6.9, and 9.0 vs. 7.2, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopically guided SSNB and blinded axillary nerve block in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair for medium-sized rotator cuff tears provided more improvement in VAS for pain and greater patient satisfaction in the first 48 postoperative hours than blinded SSNB.
Humans ; Nerve Block* ; Pain, Postoperative ; Patient Satisfaction ; Rotator Cuff* ; Tears ; Visual Analog Scale

Coronary air embolism is a rare event. We report a case in which an acute myocardial infarction occurred in the region supplied by the right coronary artery after the removal of a double-lumen hemodialysis catheter. Emergent coronary angiography revealed air bubbles obstructing the mid-segment of the right coronary artery with slow flow phenomenon distally. The patient expired due to myocardial infarction.
Catheters* ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; Embolism ; Embolism, Air* ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; No-Reflow Phenomenon ; Renal Dialysis*

Pylephlebitis, or suppurative thrombophlebitis of the portal venous system, is a rare condition occurring secondary to abdominal infections such as diverticulitis. Pylephlebitis can be diagnosed via ultrasonography or CT scan, and is characterized by the presence of a thrombus in the portal vein and bacteremia. However, the diagnosis may be delayed due to the vague nature of the clinical symptoms, causing morbidity and mortality due to pylephlebitis to remain high. Early diagnosis and immediate antibiotic therapy are important for favorable prognosis. Therefore, pylephlebitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis for cases of nonspecific abdominal pain and fever. We report a case of pylephlebitis secondary to diverticulitis, associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis. Such cases have not been widely reported.
Abdominal Pain ; Bacteremia ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diverticulitis* ; Early Diagnosis ; Fever ; Liver Abscess* ; Liver* ; Mortality ; Portal Vein ; Prognosis ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa* ; Pseudomonas* ; Sepsis* ; Thrombophlebitis ; Thrombosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

Breast metastases from extramammary malignancies are uncommon. The most common sources are lymphomas/leukemias and melanomas. Some of the less common sources include carcinomas of the lung, ovary, and stomach, and infrequently, carcinoid tumors, hypernephromas, carcinomas of the liver, tonsil, pleura, pancreas, cervix, perineum, endometrium and bladder. Breast metastases from extramammary malignancies have both hematogenous and lymphatic routes. According to their routes, there are common radiological features of metastatic diseases of the breast, but the features are not specific for metastases. Typical ultrasound (US) features of hematogenous metastases include single or multiple, round to oval shaped, well-circumscribed hypoechoic masses without spiculations, calcifications, or architectural distortion; these masses are commonly located superficially in subcutaneous tissue or immediately adjacent to the breast parenchyma that is relatively rich in blood supply. Typical US features of lymphatic breast metastases include diffusely and heterogeneously increased echogenicities in subcutaneous fat and glandular tissue and a thick trabecular pattern with secondary skin thickening, lymphedema, and lymph node enlargement. However, lesions show variable US features in some cases, and differentiation of these lesions from primary breast cancer or from benign lesions is difficult. In this review, we demonstrate various US appearances of breast metastases from extramammary malignancies as typical and atypical features, based on the results of US and other imaging studies performed at our institution. Awareness of the typical and atypical imaging features of these lesions may be helpful to diagnose metastatic lesions of the breast.
Adenocarcinoma/secondary/ultrasonography ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Breast Neoplasms/*secondary/*ultrasonography ; Breast Neoplasms, Male/secondary/ultrasonography ; Carcinoma/secondary/ultrasonography ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis/ultrasonography ; Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell/pathology/ultrasonography ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/pathology/ultrasonography ; Male ; Melanoma/secondary ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma/secondary/ultrasonography ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating/pathology

Tinea incognito (TI) is a dermatophytic infection which has lost its typical clinical appearance because of improper use of steroids or calcineurin inhibitors. The incidence of TI is increasing nowadays. We conducted retrospective review on 283 patients with TI from 25 dermatology training hospitals in Korea from 2002-2010 to investigate the demographical, clinical, and mycological characteristics of TI, and to determine the associated risk factors. More than half (59.3%) patients were previously treated by non-dermatologists or self-treated. The mean duration of TI was 15.0 +/- 25.3 months. The most common clinical manifestations were eczema-like lesion, psoriasis-like, and lupus erythematosus-like lesion. The trunk and face were frequently involved, and 91 patients (32.2%) also had coexisting fungal infections. Among 67 isolated strains, Trichophyton rubrum was the most frequently detected (73.1%). This is the largest study of TI reported to date and the first investigational report concerning TI in Korea. We suggest that doctors should consider TI when a patient has intractable eczema-like lesions accompanied by tinea pedis/unguium. Furthermore, there should be a policy change, which would make over-the-counter high-potency topical steroids less accessible in some countries, including Korea.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Demography ; Eczema/pathology ; Face/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psoriasis/pathology ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Tinea/*diagnosis/microbiology ; Trichophyton/isolation & purification ; Young Adult

The purpose of this study was to develop a risk communication material on artificial food color additives for elementary school students. The development was based on a previous study on the perception and information needs of elementary school students on artificial food colors including that the students usually were interested in artificial food colors, but didn't know about those well, and they wanted to get information on the safety of their intake, function and necessity of food color additives. Based on the above results, a comic book on artificial food colors was developed as a risk communication material for the elementary school students by brainstorming and consultation with experts. The book was titled as 'Variegated artificial food colors! Understanding and Eating'. It contained basic information on food additives focused on artificial food colors including definition, function, calculation of ADI, usage of artificial food colors, quizzes and useful web sites, etc. The results of field evaluation for the developed material by 101 elementary school students were very positive in getting the correct information, understanding artificial food colors and having proper attitude for healthy dietary life. Therefore, the developed material could be used to help elementary school students have proper perception on artificial food colors and facilitate the risk communication on food additives.
Food Additives ; Humans

PURPOSE: The outcomes of infants weighing less than 1,500 gm(very low birth weight infant : VLBWI) reflect recent progress in neonatal intensive care. In this study, we analyzed changes over time in survival rate and morbidity of VLBWIs during the past seven years. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records was analyzed for VLBWIs admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Samsung Medical Center within three days from birth. We compared the outcomes of previous corresponding data(period I : Oct. 1994 to Sept. 1996), with the outcomes of period II(Oct. 1996 to Dec. 1998) and period III(Jan. 1999 to Dec. 2000). RESULTS: As shown in Tables 1 and 3, the distribution of birth weight, gestational age(GA), gender, and inborn admissions did not change during the 7-year study. The overall survival rate of VLBWI increased significantly over time(period I : 72% vs period III : 88.3%, P<0.05). Between period I and period II, the birth weight-specific survival rate increased by 23.6%(75% vs 92.7%, P<0.05) for infants 1,000 to 1,249 gm. Between period II and period III, the birth weight-specific survival rate increased three times(20% vs 66.7%, P<0.05) for infants <750 gm. The survivors of lowest birth weight included infants at 624 gm(GA : 26(+5) weeks), 667 gm(GA : 25(+6) weeks) and 480 gm(GA : 26(+2) weeks) in each period. The gestational age-specific survival rate in period III increased significantly in GA 25-26 weeks and 29-30 weeks(vs period I and period II, P<0.05). The survivors of lowest gestational age included infants at GA 26 weeks(970 gm), GA 23(+5) weeks(791 gm) and GA 24(+1) weeks(740 gm) in each period. The incidence of severe IVH(grade III, IV) and the early death rate( Birth Weight ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight* ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Medical Records ; Parturition ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Survivors

No Abstract Available.
Female ; Hormone Replacement Therapy* ; Humans ; Life Style* ; Osteoporosis*

Functional paraganglioma of the mediastinum is an uncommon tumor of the paraganglion system that causes symptoms and signs of episodic catecholamine release. It has not been reported in Korea. We experienced a case of a 17 years old man with a history of diaphoresis and paroxysmal hypertension refractory to therapy since 14 years old. Urinary execretion of catecholamine and its metabolites were elevated. Computed tomography(CT) scan revealed high density mass located on the posterior mediastinum in the area of the right fifth intercostal space. At thoracotomy, a 3X3X4cm sized lesion was resected and confirmed as a paraganglioma.
Adolescent ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Korea ; Mediastinum* ; Paraganglioma* ; Pheochromocytoma ; Thoracotomy