BACKGROUND: Acne, one af the commonest dermatological disorders, is a disease of the pilosebaceous unit, and the primarily involved site is the face, where this structure exists in maximal density. Among the many etiologieal factors of acne, changes in the kinetics of sebum secretion in acne patients have been described, but there is no report to compare follicular density and the sebum excretion rate in different facial regions between normal and acne patients. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the sebum output and follicular density in different regions of the face in women with and without acne and to evaluate the differences between the two groups. METHODS: We studied 10 normal and 14 acneic women aged 19-27. Follicular density was determined by light microscopy counting pilosebaceous units on cyanoacrylate follicular biopsy specimens. The sebum excretion rate was calculated by an image analyzer with a sebum print on Sebutape. RESULTS: 1. Follicular density was not significantly different between the normal and acne group. The number of follicles decreased from the central to the lateral aspect of the face with the highest value being on the nose tip and the lowest on the lateral forehead. 2. The total sebum excretion rate and the number of actively secreting follicles showed different patterns in the two groups. There was a decreased value in the acne group in some central regions of face. In addition, central to lateral declining pattems, shown in the normd group, were not apparent in the acne group. 3. The follicular sebum excretion rate showed large variations in both groups, without apparent central to lateral declining patterns. The confluence of adjacent follicles seemed to produce falsely low or high values compared with previous studies. CONCLUSION: Sebum production is influenced both by the number of active follicles and their individual capacity to excrete sebum, and the total sebum excretion rate was lower than normal in low grade acne in this study. Obstruction of the outflow of sebum and regression of sebaceous glands due to comnlones may account for it.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Biopsy ; Cyanoacrylates ; Female ; Forehead ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Microscopy ; Nose ; Sebaceous Glands ; Sebum*

Membranous lipodystrophy is a peculiar type of fat necrosis, present in patients with various types of skin diseases. It is charaeterized by the presence of microcysts and macrocysts lined by amorphous eosinophilic material with a crenelated arabesque appearance and microgranules in the subcutis with massive fat necrosis. The eosinophilic lining and microgranules stain positively with periodic acid-Schiff, are resistant to diastase, and also stain with Sudan black B. We report three cases of subcutanous membranous lipodystrophy in patients with erythema induratum, posttraumatic panniculitis and morphea with typical clinical and histopathologic findings.
Amylases ; Eosinophils ; Erythema Induratum ; Fat Necrosis ; Humans ; Lipodystrophy* ; Panniculitis ; Scleroderma, Localized ; Skin Diseases ; Sudan

Eosinophilic panniculitis is characterized by a prominent infiltration of numerous eosinophils in subcutaneous fat, and has been identified in patients with a variety of associated clinical conditions. A case of eosinophilic panniculitis in a 20-year-old woman with a history of atopic dermatitis is reported. She later developed superior sagittal sinus thrombosis, and we stress the importance of systemic evaluations in patients with eosinophilic panniculitis.
Dermatitis, Atopic ; Eosinophils* ; Female ; Humans ; Panniculitis* ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Superior Sagittal Sinus* ; Thrombosis* ; Young Adult

Recently, the incidence of hematogenous osteomyelitis tends to increase dse to abuse of the antibiotics and resistent organisms to antibiotics. The three main causes of complication to be chronic stage in hematogenous osteomyelitis were failure of early diagnosis, inadequate choice of antibiotics with insufficient duration and insufficient surgical intervention. Furthermore, hematogenous osteomyelitis of fibula in children has low incidence, so the possibility of chronicity is able to be increased because of delayed diagnosis and inadequate treatment. During the period of 10 yesrs extending from 1977 to 1986, we have treated 12 cases of hematogenous fibular osteomyelitis in children and clinical analysis was made about comparison with prevalent hematogenous osteomyelitis of distal femur or proximal tibia. The following results were obtained; 1. The incidence in males was 1.4 times grester than females. 2. The incidence of involved sites was 2 times dominant in Rt, and all cases were observed in proximal and distal metaphyseal area of fibula. 3. Clinical symptomes and signs were pain, local heat, redness and local tenderness in all of acute cases and 70% of chronic cases with sinus formation and pathologic Fx. 4. ESR was elevated to average 42 mm/hr in all acute cases highestly, but highest leucocytosis was observed in subacute case. 5. Definite bone changes in radiologic findings was observed in only subacute and chronic cases, and uptake of radioisotope in bone scan was observed in 2 acute cases, which were all performed. 6. Causative organism was only staphylococcus aureus, and high sensitive antibiotics to taphylococcus aureus were Cephalosprin, Cloxacillin, Amikin and observed resistance to penicillin(82.5%) and tetracycline(82.5%). 7. Early diagnosis, adequate antibiotic choice with sufficient duration and early surgical decompression and drainage were considered to be essential part of management of hematogenous fibular osteomyelitis and preventing its chronicity.
Amikacin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child ; Cloxacillin ; Decompression, Surgical ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Femur ; Fibula ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Osteomyelitis ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Tibia

With the advent of faster scan time and new computer program, a scanning technique called “dynamic computedtomography” has become possible. Dynamic CT consists of performing multiple rappid sequence scans after injectionof contrast material. The authors have evaluated the clinical usefulness of CT and dynamic CT of 93 patients withbrain infarction and/or ischemia during the period of 17 months from April 1983 to Aug. 1983 to Aug. 1984 inDepartment of Radiology, Chonbuk National University Hospital. The results were as follows; 1. The agedistribution ranged from 18 years to 78 years. Among them the most common age group was between 50 years and 59years(40.9%). 2. The sites of brain infarction were cerebral lobes(63 cases,68), basal ganglia(15 cases, 16.1%)and mlultiple sites(6 cases, 6.4%). The common affected site was middle cerebral artery territories. 3. Thecontrast enhancement of acute infarction was noted in 14 cases(17.5%) which occured commonly between 3 days and 2weeks from ictus. 4. The patterns of time-density curve in brain infarction and/or ischemia were as follow: a .Depression of slow wash-in phase was 20 cases(59%). b. Lower peak concentration was 17 cases(50%), c. Lower anddelayed peak concentration was 7 cases(21%), d. No definite peak concentration was 6 cases(18%). First threepatterns of time-density curve were thought as relatively characteristic curve of brain infarction and/orischemia. 5. Two cases that showed negative findings on precontrast CT scan appeared to be positive findings ashypodensity on postcontrast CT scan and were confirmed as brain infarction by dynamic CT. 6. The diagnostic entityof dynamic CT scan were as follows: a. large artery thrombotic infarction were 23 cases (58%). b. lacunarinfarction were 6 cases (15%). c. ischemia were 5 cases (13%), d. normal were 5 cases(13%), In six cases oflacunar infarction which was doubtful hypodensity on pre-and postcontrast CT scan had a marked difference in CT#(HU) on absolute scale graph of dynamic CT, so diagnosis of lacunar infarction could be made easily. 7. Theclinical values of dynamic CT consist in not only diagnosis of lacunar infarction but also evaluation ofeffectiveness of medical or surgical treatment.
Arteries ; Brain Infarction ; Brain ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Jeollabuk-do ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Stroke, Lacunar ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Cystic parathyroid adenoma is one of the rare causes of hyperparathyroidism, and is usually located in neck and mediastinum. This type of adenoma tends to cause increased serum level of parathyroid hormone and alkaline phosphatase, similar serum calcium level when compared to those of solid adenoma. Thanks to current radioimmunoassay and easy accessibility to serum autoanalyzer, serum calcium level and parathyroid hormone level are more easily measured, which in turn lead to more easier diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism. Also improvement in imaging and nuclear diagnostic method of parathyroid lesion are suggested to enable easy diagnosis of cystic parathyroid adenoma. A 35-year-old male presented with easy fatigability for 12 months. The serum calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphotase were 11.5mg/dL, 1.4mg/dL, 194IU/L respectively and his parathyroid hormone level in serum was 126.42pg/mL. Neck CT showed enlargement of right lobe of thyroid gland with well defined inhomogenously enhanced density inside the right thyroid gland. The patient was diagnosed of hyperparathyroidim due to parathyroid adenoma and was surgically removed. The surgical biopsy showed cystic parathyroid adenoma. After operation his general condition was improved and serum calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone level were normalizd. We report a case of hyperparathyroidism caused by cystic parathyroid adenoma with brief review of literature.
Adenoma ; Adult ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Biopsy ; Calcium ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism* ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Neck ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Parathyroid Neoplasms* ; Radioimmunoassay ; Thyroid Gland

The size of spinal canal is mesured to detect the lumbar spinal stenosis syndrome and expanding intraspinaltumors by CT. This study was desinged for taking accurate measurement of the normal lumbar spinal canal in Koreanadults. The anteroposterior diameter, interpediculate distance and cross-sectional area of lumbar spinal canalwere measured in 110 normal adults. The results were as follows; 1. The window center that showed identical valueconsistent with actual measurement of phantom was between + 160HU and + 240HU and the window width was below +300HU. 2. In anteroposterio diameter, upper part of the canal was larger value than that of middle and lowerparts, but in interpediculate distance, lower part of the canal revealed larger value than that of upper andmiddle parts. There was no significant difference in cross-sectional area. 3. All measurements male were largerthan those of female at all levels of the spinal canal and 42 measurements(58%) were significant statisstically.4. Compared with Americans, Korean showed lower value in anteriopsterior diameter and cross-sectional area buthigher value in interpediculate distance. 5. Above results should contribute to making an another criteria fordiagnosing the lumbar spinal stenosis in Koreans.
Adult ; Asian Americans ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Stenosis

There is growing evidence that oxygen-derived free radicals(OFR's) play a role in the pathogenesis of pancreatic diseases, especially of acute pancreatitis. Many types of experimental ex vivo and in vitro pancreatitis can be inhibited by superoxide dismutase and catalse. (continue...)
Hyperamylasemia* ; Oxygen* ; Pancreatic Diseases ; Pancreatitis ; Superoxide Dismutase

BACKGROUND: Distinct patterns of T cell cytokine production have been shown to influence the outcome of infection. There will be plethora of dynamic changes of T cells and their cytokine production after starting drug therapy in leprosy skin lesions. OBJECTIVE: To determine dynamics of cytokine expression, T cell and macrophage populations in the lesions taken serially in early part of World Health Organization-Multiple Drug Therapy in BL patients. METHODS: Cytokine mRNA expression of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 in BL skin lesion was detected by RT-PCR analysis. To determine cellular phenotypes of infiltrated cells, immunohistochemical staining method was performed using antibodies to CD4, CD8, CD56, CD57, CD 68, gammadelta-TCR , and S-100 protein. RESULTS: TNF-alpha mRNA, initially showed no consistent change, increased 6 months after MDT. IFN-gamma and IL-10 mRNA showed decreasing tendency initially, but failed to show any consistent increase or decrease after 6 months. IL-4 mRNA was not detected in our patients. In reactional states, mRNA expression of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-10 was increased in 2 patients but decreased in 1 patient compared to baseline. Ratio of TNF-alpha positive cells decreased during MDT compared to baseline(p<0.05), but ratio of cells expressing IFN-gamma showed no significant change after MDT. Only CD68 positive cells decreased after MDT(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Variable treatment induced changes in cellular patterns and cytokine expression within BL lesion observed in this study suggest that complex mechanism of immune systems - including cytokine regulation and defect in macrophages - may exist and be involved in the pathogenesis of leprosy.
Antibodies ; Drug Therapy* ; Humans ; Immune System ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-4 ; Leprosy* ; Leprosy, Multibacillary* ; Macrophages ; Phenotype* ; RNA, Messenger ; S100 Proteins ; Skin* ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; World Health ; World Health Organization

BACKGROUNDS: This study investigated whether or not a polymorphism in the gene encoding the surfactant protein A(SP-A) has any bearing on the individual susceptibility to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) in a genetically homogenous Korean population. METHODS: The genotypes of 19 COPD patients and 20 healthy neonates as controls were tested using a polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis for the SP-A gene. RESULTS: The specific frequencies of the 6A2 and 6A18 alleles of SP-A1 and the 1A2 allele of SP-A2 were much higher in the COPD group than control group (p<0.05). However, the frequencies of the 6A3 and 6A4 alleles of SP-A1 and the 1A0 allele of SP-A2 in the COPD group were significantly lower than the control group. In the COPD group, the frequencies of the +50 locus genotypes GG of SP-A1 and the +9 locus genotypes CC of SP-A2 were 85.0% and 60.6%, respectively, and 19.7% and 24.8% in the control group, respectively. The frequencies of the polymorphic genotypes or alleles showed a statistically significant difference between the COPD group and the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: A genetic polymorphism in SP-A is associated with the development of COPD in the Korean population.
Alleles ; Genotype ; Humans* ; Infant, Newborn ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive*