The authores did clinical analysis of 150 cases of the Degenerative Joint Disease of the Knee and reviewed literature.
Joint Diseases ; Joints ; Knee

The serum level of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in 28 atopic patients and 41 healthy, normal, non-allergic subjects were measured by standard radial immunodiffusion method (RIDT). The correlation between IgE level and clinical manifestations are studied. The results are as follows. 1) IgE value was higher in atopic dermatitis than normal subjects. 2) IgE value in atopie dermatitis revealed no sigaificant difference between in male and in female. 3) IgE value was increased parallel with the severity of the disease. 4) IgE value was not correlated with the extent of disease. 5) IgE value was not correlated with the duration of disease. 6) IgE value was not correlated with the age of onset. 7) IgE value was not correlated with the eosinophil count of peripheral blood.
Age of Onset ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Humans ; Immunodiffusion ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Immunoglobulins ; Male

Serum zinc is an essential element in men and animals. Recently on the dermatologic fields, the serum and the skin levels and the roles of zinc have been studied especially in acne vulgaris, but the results were controversial. So to confirm the previous reports and for evaluation of the relationship between the various aspects of acne vulgaris and the serum levels of zinc, the serum levels of zinc were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer in 13 healthy controls and 46 patients with acne vulgaris. In the healthy controls, their mean values of zinc were 0.843+0.251 ppm in total, 0.920+0.219 ppm, in females and 0.777+0.260 ppm in males. There was no statistical difference attributable to sex. In the 46 patients with acne vulgaris, their mean value of zinc was 0.741+0.195 ppm. There was no significant difference in the mean serum zinc level compared with the controls. In the males with acne, the mean va1ue of zinc was 0.727+0.166 ppm, and 0.748+0.208 ppm in females with acne. There was no significant statistical difference between males and females with acne. And females, but not males, with acne had significantly lower serum zinc levelss than controls of the corresponding sex. (p<0.1) By clinical severity, classifying the 46 patients with acne vulgaris into three groups: mild type (only comedones), moderate type (comedones with pa.pules) and severe type (includes pustules, comedones, and papules, etc.), the serum zinc levels of each group were 0.774+0.185 ppm, 0.7880. 200 ppm and 0.666+0.176 ppm. The significant statistical difference was found only in the severe type of acne compared with the healthy controls (p<0.05). Also classifying the patients into three groups (acute, moderate and chronic types of acne) by duration of acne, the serum values of zinc were 0.738+0.158 ppm, 0.692+0.283 ppm and 0.769+0.241 ppm, respectively. Only in the moderate type of acne, the mean serum level of zinc was significantly reduced compared with the control group (p<0.1)
Absorption ; Acne Vulgaris* ; Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Skin ; Zinc*

We observed a case of tuberculosis cutis orificialis, which occurred in 50 year-old man. He had been suffered from single markedly inflamed, erythematous painful ulcer, covered by dirty brown pseudomembranous material, around anus for 3 months. The laboratory findings (CBC, routine urinalysis, stool ova and parasite with occult blood) are within normal limits except elevated ESR (52mm/hr.). Staphyloeoccus aureus and proteus are observed on wound culture, and many AFB are seen on scrapings of wound but not on sputum for 3 times. Unfortunately culture was not done. Tuberculin skin test revealed strong reaction (36mm/hr.). Chest PA and small bowel series showed far advanced pulmonary tuberculosis and intestinal tuberculosis on ileocecal area. But the findings of upper gastro-intestinal series and barium enema are within normal limits. Histopathologic findings of skin lesion showed tuberculous and tuberculoid granuloma in the deep dermis and subcutaneous tissue. We observed a case of tuberculosis cutis orificialis, which occurred in 50 year-old man. He had been suffered from single markedly inflamed, erythematoas painful ulcer, covered by dirty brown pseudomembranous material, around anus for 3 months. The laboratory findings (CBC, routine urinalysis, stool ova and parasite with occult blood) are within normal limits except elevated ESR (52mm/hr.). Staphyloeoccus aureus and proteus are'observed on wound culture, and many AFB are seen on scrapings of wound but not on sputum for 3 times. Unfortunately culture was not done. Tuberculin skin test revealed strong reaction (36mm/hr.). Chest PA and small bowel series showed far advanced pulmonary tuberculosis and intestinal tuberculosis on ileocecal area. But the findings of upper gastro-intestinal series and barium enema are within normal limits. Histopathologic findings of skin lesion showed tuberculous and tuberculoid granuloma in the deep dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Treatment with INH, myambutol and rifampin resulted in some improvment on the chest and considerable improvement on the skin and intestine within 6 months.
Anal Canal ; Barium ; Dermis ; Enema ; Ethambutol ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Intestines ; Middle Aged ; Ovum ; Parasites ; Proteus ; Rifampin ; Skin ; Skin Tests ; Sputum ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Thorax ; Tuberculin ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; Ulcer ; Urinalysis ; Wounds and Injuries

Melanoma is relatvely uncommon malignant tumor arising in the skin from epidermal melanocytes, from the junctional component of a cellular nevus or, rarely within a blue nevus and frequently metastasizes to regional lymph nodes first, followed by hematogenous spread to lungs, liver, gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, adrenal, heart and brain. All melanoma patients are carefully evaluated according to several parameters. A complete history and physical examination are carried out, with particular attention being devoted to other pigmented tumors that the patient may have. The patient should be further evaluated to determine the presence or absence of metastases by chest X-ray examination, metastatic series or bone scan, liver function studies, liver scan, EKG, etc. Special factors such as age, sex, and race, as well as site, size, and growth rate of lesions are also evaluated. We had a case of 59 year-old male patient with disseminated malignant melanoma. Upon his first visit, we did not find any abnormality in his physical examination and routine laboratory findings except skin tumors on left heel and left leg.
Brain ; Continental Population Groups ; Electrocardiography ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Heart ; Heel ; Humans ; Leg ; Liver ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma* ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nevus ; Nevus, Blue ; Pancreas ; Physical Examination ; Skin ; Thorax

A case of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) was presented in 46 year-old male patient. The characteristic skin lesions of TEN were developed after some medictions and tetanus anti-toxin (TAT) injection due to trauma. Probably, the cause of the disease was drugs, TAT injection or trauma inself. On the pathologic findings, lower epidermis and dermo-epidermal cleavage were noticed. He was treated with massive antibiotics and steroid. About 7 days after therapy, much improvement achived. However foul odorous yellowish discharge was noticed since 20 days of hospitalization. Wide debridement of necrotic tissue was carried without improvement. Patient expired on 48th hospital day due to sepsis and impending hepatic coma.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Debridement ; Epidermis ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odors ; Sepsis ; Skin ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome* ; Tetanus

This study was designed to investigate the effect of GABA and related substances on the spontaneous contraction of rat small intestine. The rats (Sprague-Dawley), weighing 200-250g, were sacrificed by cervical dislocation, and the small intestine was isolated. Longitudinal muscle strips from duodenum, jejunum and ileum were suspended in Biancani's isolated muscle chambers and myographied isometrically. GABA and muscimol, a GABA A receptor agonist relaxed the duodenum and jejunum significantly, but baclofen-induced relaxation in those muscle strips negligible. The effectiveness of GABA and muscimol in various regions were the greatest on duodenum, and greater on jejunum than on ileum The effect of GABA and muscimol was antagonized by bicuculline, a competitive GABA A receptor antagonist and picrotoxin, a noncompetitive GABA A receptor antagonist. Duodenal relaxation induced by GABA and muscimol was unaffected by hexamethonium, but was prevented by tetrodotoxin. These results suggest that GABA inhibit the contractility of smooth muscle with distinct regional difference of efficacy, and the site of inhibitory action is the GABA A receptor existing at the presynaptic membrane of postganglionic excitatory nerves.
Animals ; Bicuculline ; Dislocations ; Duodenum ; GABA-A Receptor Agonists ; GABA-A Receptor Antagonists ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid* ; Hexamethonium ; Ileum ; Intestine, Small* ; Jejunum ; Membranes ; Muscimol ; Muscle, Smooth ; Picrotoxin ; Rats* ; Receptors, GABA-A ; Relaxation ; Tetrodotoxin

A case of metastatic tumor of the skin is described with literature review. Cutaneous metastases of malignant tumor is rarely seen but lung cancer in male and breast cancer in female are not infrequently reported. This patient, 37 year old male, had lung cancer, had several chest tappings for pleural effusion and a pleural biopsy. 8 months later, skin manifestation of diffuse erythematous sclerotic patches and confluent nodules was noted on pleural biopsy site, right lateral chest wall. Histopathological finding was compatible with metastatic carcinoma. This metastatic skin tumor is considered to be arisen from the lung probably due to pleural biopsy.
Adult ; Biopsy* ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic* ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Pleural Effusion ; Skin Manifestations ; Skin* ; Thoracic Wall ; Thorax

Inflammatory mediators, such as oxidants, TNF-alpha, and IL-6, play a major role in the systemic response to bum injury It has been known that a continuing inflammatory response cause a sepsis and subsequent multiple organ failure. Recent studies have shown that burn patients receiving recombinant human growth hormone(rhGH) therapy have an improvement of the general condition, but the mechanism by which rhGH exerts its effects has not been clearly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of rhGH on the early bum injury. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups : control group, bum group, burn plus rhGH treated group, and rhGH only treated group. Animals were killed at 30min., 3, 6, 24, and 48 hours after treatment. Histology and biochemical changes including malondialdehyde(MDA) content, tissue reduced glutathione(GSH) and catalase activity in the lung and liver, and plasma TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels were examined. Lung histology in the bum plus rhGH treated group showed decreased inflammtory response such as neutrophil and lymphocyte infiltrations, interstitial thickening, and edema compared with the bum group. Liver histology in the bum group revealed mild neutrophil and lymphocyte infiltrations, vacuolization .of hepatocytes, disrupted lobular structures, and dilated sinusoids. But liver histology of the bum plus rhGH was similar to control group. Lung and liver MDA in the burn plus rhGH and rhGH only treated groups were decreased with time compared with the burn group. Lung and liver GSH and catalase activities in the bum plus rhGH and GH only treated groups remained significantly increased compared with the bum group for the 48-hours period. Plasma TNF-alpha levels in the bum group remained elevated for the 48-hours period compared with the bum plus rhGH and rhGH only treated groups. Plasma IL-6 levels in the burn group were significantly increased only at first compared with the bum plus rhGH and rhGH only treated groups. These results suggested that rhGH showed inhibitory effects on the inflammatory cell infiltration and lipid peroxidation in the lung and liver after bum injury. Increased GSH levels and catalase activities seemed to be associated with the antioxidant effect of rhGH. But the inhibitory effect of rhGH on plasma TNF- and R-6 levels was not clearly demonstrated.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; Burns ; Catalase ; Edema ; Female ; Hepatocytes ; Human Growth Hormone* ; Humans* ; Interleukin-6* ; Lipid Peroxidation* ; Liver ; Lung ; Lymphocytes ; Multiple Organ Failure ; Neutrophils ; Oxidants ; Plasma* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sepsis ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

This study was aimed at investigation of the stimulatory innervations on the rat urinary bladder. Detrusor muscle strips of 15 mm long were suspended in isolated muscle chambers containing 1 ml of PSS maintained at 37℃ and aerated with 95% O²/5% Co². Isometric myography was performed, and the results were as followings: Muscle strips showed “on-contraction” by electric field stimulation (EFS) frequency-dependently. The EFS-induced contraction was not affected by hexamethonium, a ganglion blocker, but abolished by tetrodotoxin, a nerve conduction blocker. Physostigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor enhanced the EFS-induced contraction which was inhibited by hemicholinium, an inhibitor of choline uptake at the cholinergic nerve ending. Such an EFS-induced contraction was antagonized by atropine only partially, and the atropine-resistant portion was completely abolished by the desensitization of purinergic receptors by prolonged incubating of the strips in the presence of high concentration of ATP. Bethanechol, a cholinergic agonist, elicited concentration-dependent contraction. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a purinergic agonist, induced a weak but concentration-dependent contraction of short duration. Bethanechol-induced contraction was not affected by ATP-desensitization, and ATP-induced contraction was not affected by tetrodotoxin. These results suggest that there are at least two main stimulatory components of innervations in the detrusor muscle, cholinergic muscarinic and purinergic; and those receptors are independent each other.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Atropine ; Bethanechol ; Choline ; Cholinergic Agonists ; Cholinesterases ; Ganglion Cysts ; Hemicholinium 3 ; Hexamethonium ; Myography ; Nerve Endings ; Neural Conduction ; Physostigmine ; Rats* ; Receptors, Purinergic ; Tetrodotoxin ; Urinary Bladder*