Ketotifen, a benzocycloheptathiophene, has an orally effective antiallergic as well as antihistaminic properties. In pervious studies, Ketotifen has shown encouraging results on patient with allergic rhinitis, either perennial or seasonal. 39 patients with allergic rhinitis had been treated with Ketotifen 1 mg twice daily for 8 weeks. And we obtained following results. 1) The efficacy rate in sneezing attack was 73.5%, in nasal discharge 71%, in nasal obstruction 58%. 2) Some improvements in at least one of three-major symptoms were noted within 1 week in 30.7%, within 2 weeks in 55.8%, within 3 weeks in 66.7%, within 8 weeks in 87.2%. 3) Physical findings such as colour, swelling of turbinate, character of rhinorrhea were not improved significantly. 4) Side effect was observed only in one patient with abdominal pain and diarrhea, which was subsided after interruption of administration. These results suggested that Ketotifen was effective in treatment of allergic rhinitis.
Abdominal Pain ; Diarrhea ; Humans ; Ketotifen* ; Nasal Obstruction ; Rhinitis, Allergic* ; Seasons ; Sneezing ; Turbinates

Fracture of the scaphoid constitute 60% to 70% of all diagnosed carpal injury. The acute fracture will heal approximately 90% of the time if recognized early and properly immobilized. But nonunion are common since the symtoms do not alert patients to seek early medical treatment and the diagnosis is easily missed. Authors have experienced 19 cases of scaphoid nonunion and accomplished good result in all case by Russe procedure. The results were summerized as follow: 1 The cause of fratures was mainly due to fall down dinjury (36.8%). 2. The most common mechanism of the fracture was fall on the outstretched hand (52.7%). 3. Fractures were shown on the anterior-posterior, lateral and billiards view in all cases. 4. In ten cases, the fractures were found on the waist of scaphoid. 5. The cases of nonunion were probably inadequate intial treatment and delayed diagnosis. 6. The good results were obtained by bone graft according to Russe procedure.
Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis ; Hand ; Humans ; Transplants

PURPOSE: This study was tried to evaluate the potential benefits of concurrent chemoradiation therapy (low dose daily cisplatin combined with split course radiation therapy) compared with conventional radiation therapy alone in stage III non-small cell lung cancer. The end points of analyses were response rate, overall survival, survival without locoregional failure, survival without distant metastasis, prognostic factors affecting survival and treatment related toxicities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between April 1992 and March 1994, 32 patients who had stage III non-small cell lung cancer were treated with concurrent chemoradiation therapy. Radiation therapy for 2 weeks (300cGy given 10 times up to 3000cGy) followed by a 3 weeks rest period and then radiation therapy for 2 more weeks (250cGy given 10 times up to 2500cGy) was combined with 6mg/M2 of cisplatin. Follow-up period ranged from 13 months to 48 months with median of 24 months. Historical control group consisted of 32 patients who had stage III non-small cell lung cancer were received conventionally fractionated (daily 170-200cGy) radiation therapy alone. Total radiation dose ranged from 5580cGy to 7000cGy with median of 5940 cGy. Follow-up period ranged from 36 months to 105 months with median of 62 months. RESULTS: Complete reponse rate was higher in chemoradiation therapy (CRT) group than radiation therapy (RT) group (18.8% vs. 6.3%). CRT group showed lower in-field failure rate compared with RT group (25% vs. 47%). The overall survival rate had no significant differences in between CRT group and RT group (17.5% vs. 9.4% at 2 years). The survival without locoregional failure (16.5% vs. 5.3% at 2 years) and survival without distant metastasis (17% vs. 4.6% at 2 years) also had no significant differences. In subgroup analyses for patients with good performance status (Karnofsky performance scale 80), CRT group showed significantly higher overall survival rate compared with RT group (62.5% vs. 15.6% at 2 years). The prognostic factors affecting survival rate were performance status and pathologic subtype (squamous cell cancer vs. nonsquamous cell cancer) in CRT group. In RT alone group, performance status and stage (IIIa vs IIIb) were identified as a prognostic factors. RTOG/EORTC grade 2-3 nausea and vomiting (22% vs. 6%) and bone marrow toxicities (25% vs. 15.6%) were significantly higher in CRT group compared with RT alone group. The incidence of RTOG/EORTC grade 3-4 pulmonary toxicity had no significant differences in between CRT group and RT group (16% vs. 6%). The incidence of WHO grade 3-4 pulmonary fibrosis also had no significant differences in both group (38% vs. 25%). In analyses for relationship of field size and pulmonary toxicity, the patients who treated with field size beyond 200cm2 had significantly higher rates of pulmonary toxicities. CONCLUSION: The CRT group showed significantly higher local control rate than RT group. There were no significant differences of survival rate in between two groups. The subgroup of patients who had good performance status showed higher overall survival rate in CRT group than RT group. In spite of higher incidence of acute toxicities with concurrent chemoradiation therapy, the survival gain in subgroup of patients with good performance status were encouraging. CRT group showed higher rate of early death within 1 year, higher 2 year survival rate compared with RT group. Therefore, to evaluate the accurate effect on survival of concurrent chemoradiation therapy, systematic follow-up for long term survivors are needed.
Bone Marrow ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Cisplatin ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Nausea ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Survival Rate ; Survivors ; Vomiting

Systolic time interval measurements were made sequentially during second, third trimesters and postpartum period. Recordings were made in the supine position after bed rest for at least five minutes in order to obtain a steady state. In second trimester, pre-ejection period index (PEPI) was significantly shortened and left ventricular ejection period index(LVETI) remained normal while PEP/LVET decreased. Four possible mechanisms may be involved to account for the alterations in hemodynamic changes during this period(late stage of second trimester) : (1) increased metabolic demands of pregnancy: (2) hemodynamic effects of hypervolemia: (3) circulatory adjustments secondary to an arteriovenous shunt-like effect of the placental circulation: (4) cardiovascular effect of steroid hormone. The third trimester was characterized-by a markedly shortened LVETI, a prolonged PEPI and PEP/LVET. This findings are consistent with impaired left ventricular performance and are probably due to decreased left ventricular preload resulting from diminished venous return secondary to inferior vena caval obstruction by the large gravid uterus. In the postpartum period, the PEPI and PEP/LVET remained elevated and the LVETI shortened in the supine position. It is concluded that alterations in systolic time intervals occur normally during the course of uncomplicated pregnancy and persist into the postpartum period.
Bed Rest ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Placental Circulation ; Postpartum Period* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third* ; Supine Position ; Systole* ; Uterus

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Many studies report using various agents to reduce morbidity of post-tonsillectomy. Steroid, for example, is often given to decrease postoperative morbidity. This study was designed to determine the efficacy of the intraoperative topical injection of steroid into the pillar and tonsillar bed. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Eighty patients aged between 15 to 30 years were randomly divided into two groups: 40 patients (Group I) received a single intraoperative dose of topical dexametha-sone sodium phosphate, whereas the control group was given normal saline. After the operation, each patient was evaluated for pain, oral intake, use of analgesics. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences noted in pain score, oral intake, use of analgesics among the two groups of patients. CONCLUSION: From the post operative day 1 to post operative day 7, dexamethasone sodium phosphate may play a limited role in the patient recovery from tonsillectomy. The results showed that a single dose of the topical dexamethasone sodium phosphate did not affect the postoperative morbidity.
Analgesics ; Dexamethasone ; Humans ; Sodium ; Steroids ; Tonsillectomy

PURPOSE: We evaluated whether Cyberknife radiosurgery is an effective and safe method of therapy for medically intractable trigeminal neuralgia (TN). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the outcome of 26 patients, who failed to surgery or were not suitable candidates for invasive intervention and were treated by Cyberknife radiosurgery between March 2004 and May 2005. Radiosurgery doses of 60~64 Gy were delivered to the 80% isodose line prescribed to an 6 mm length of the nerve, sparing the most proximal 3 mm away from the trigeminal nerve root entry zone (median dose: 64 Gy). RESULTS: Follow-up period was 3~15 months (median follow-up period: 9 months) Preliminary results from a cohort of 26 patients undergoing Cyberknife radiosurgery for TN showed that pain relief was achieved in 50% (13/26) of patients within the first 24 hrs after treatment. At last follow-up, 96.2% (25/26) of patients reported early pain relief within 7 days. Treatment failure developed in 2 of 26. Poor response occurred in one patient and relapse was observed in the other patient. 3 patients had hypoesthesia (11.5%), which was the only complication observed with any of our patients. CONCLUSION: With these results, authors assumed that Cyberknife radiosurgery for TN could be one of safe and effective therapeutic methods.
Cohort Studies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Radiosurgery* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Failure ; Trigeminal Nerve ; Trigeminal Neuralgia*

Targetoid hemosiderotic nevus (THN) is a rare variant of melanocytic nevus, characterized by a sudden development of a targetoid ecchymotic halo around a pre-existing nevus. THN clinically raises concern for malignant transformation due to its abrupt change in color and size. THN should be distinguished from other diseases showing a peripheral halo, including targetoid hemosiderotic hemangioma, halo nevus, and Meyerson nevus. Dermoscopy can help clinicians to differentiate THN from these diseases. The typical dermoscopic features of THN are known to be divided into two distinctive areas: the central melanocytic area and the peripheral ecchymotic area. In our case, dermoscopy revealed a novel bull’s eye pattern composed of a central area with characteristic features of benign melanocytic nevus, an intermediated white circular ring, and a peripheral milky red area. When a sudden change occurs in a pre-existing nodule showing targetoid features, dermoscopy should be considered before conducting a biopsy or surgical intervention.

BACKGROUND: Recently, in dermatologic area, the number of skin biopsy for diagnosis and treatment has been increased and the dermatosurgery which should give patients satisfaction developed widely. As the frequency of direct contact with patients increases, we must recognize and prevent infectious diseases such as hepatitis B and C. Also, because drugs which may affect function of liver were used in many medical clinics and shops, we have more chance of evaluating liver function before the treatment. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the prevalence and associated diseases of the patients with elevated transaminase (AST,ALT), positive of hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-HCV Ab. And we tried to study the causes of elevated transaminase. METHOD: All the 1704 outpatients who visited the dermatologic clinic of Pusan National University Hospital from March 1996 to February 1999 were enrolled. AST and ALT level were assessed by kinetic method and elevated group comprised the subjects with AST and ALT levels exceeding the upper limit of normal for our laboratories (AST >40IU/L or ALT >37IU/L). HBsAg and anti-HCV Ab were tested by enzymeimmunoassay(EIA) and medical records were reviewed. RESULTS: The prevalence of elevated transaminase was 13.6% and the peak age was the sixth decade. Most common associated disease categories were drug druption, eruption & urticaria. The prevalence of positive hepatitis B surface antigen was 9.7% and the peak age was the fourth decade (42.4%). Associated diseases of antigen positive patients were lichen planus, urticaria, cryoglobulinemia, etc. The prevalence of positive anti-HCV Ab was 3.4% and the sixth decade was the peak incidence of age distribution. The diseases such as urticaria, erythema nodosum, psoriasis, alopecia, and so on were investigated in the patients. Common suspected causes of elevated transaminase(AST, ALT) were hepatotoxic drug and viral hepatitis. Conclusion: Increased hepatic parenchymal enzyme was investigated in a high percentage of studied patients. Also, the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection in dermatologic patients were relatively higher than that of reported normal Korean people. Therefore dermatologists should recognize these facts and be careful in dermatologic procedure.
Age Distribution ; Alopecia ; Biomarkers* ; Biopsy ; Busan ; Communicable Diseases ; Cryoglobulinemia ; Diagnosis ; Erythema Nodosum ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lichen Planus ; Liver ; Medical Records ; Outpatients ; Prevalence* ; Psoriasis ; Skin ; Urticaria

Hamstring injuries are common forms of muscle strains in athletes but a complete rupture of a proximal hamstring origin is rare. Often there is a considerable delay in diagnosis and stringent treatment because of its rarity, difficulty in clinical diagnosis, and initial attempts of conservative care. We report two cases of acute complete rupture of the proximal hamstring tendons treated with early surgical repair. The diagnosis and treatment of this unusual injury are discussed.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Football/*injuries ; Humans ; Male ; Martial Arts/*injuries ; Rupture ; Tendon Injuries/diagnosis/*surgery ; Thigh ; Young Adult

We saw a case of minoxidil induced pericardial effusion in a 36 years old female who developed generalized edema, weakness and hypertrichosis after taking minoxidil for 1 year. Her chest PA showed globular shaped cardiac enlargement and pulmonary congestion. Echocardiography of the heart showed moderate amount of pericardial effusion. 10 days later after cessation of the drug administration and conservative managements, her chest PA showed marked improvement of heart size and pulmonary congestion. 20 days later her blood pressure became normal with the continued use of other antihypertensive drugs.
Adult ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Pressure ; Echocardiography ; Edema ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Female ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypertrichosis ; Minoxidil* ; Pericardial Effusion* ; Thorax