PURPOSE: To evaluate the CT and MR findings of bronchial anthracofibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-one patients with ronchoscopically confirmed bronchial anthracofibrosis were included in this study. Thirty-six were female and five were male, and all were aged between 53 and 89 (mean, 70) years. The CT (n=41) and MR findings (n=5) were retrospectively analysed with regard to bron-chostenosis, atelectasis, air-space consolidation, lymph node enlargement, calcified lymph node, mass and bronchial wall thickening, as seen on CT, and signal intensity of the mass and lymph nodes, as seen on MR. RESULTS: CT scans revealed the presence of bronchostenosis (n=34, 83%), atelectasis (n=24, 59%), pneumonic consolidation (n=26, 63%), enlarged mediastinal lymph node (n=39, 95%), calcified lymph node (n=22, 54%), mass (n=4,10%), and thickening of bronchial wall (n=1, 2.4%). Multifocal involvement of bron-chostenosis, atelectasis, and air-space consolidation occurred in 61%, 50% and 30% of cases, retrospectively. MR imaging showed low signal intensity of mass (n=3) and lymph nodes (n=10) on T1WI and T2WI. but in one case, mass and lymph node showed central high signal intensity on T2WI. CONCLUSION: A multiplicity of bronchostenosis, atelectasis, air-space consolidation and enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes were characteristic CT findings of bronchial anthracofibrosis. Most MR findings included relatively low signal intensity of masses and lymph nodes on T2WI, possibly indicating the benign nature of the diseases
Female ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pneumoconiosis ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Background: Nickel is one of the leading causes of allergic contact dermatitis. Positive patch tests for nickel suggest the possibility of persistent dermatitis from nickel-plated item usage and nickel-containing food ingestion. Previous studies have suggested the clinical improvement of dermatitis in such patients after a nickel-restricted diet. Objective: This retrospective study aimed to assess the efficacy of nickel-restricted diets in nickel-sensitized patients and evaluate their adherence to nickel-restricted diets. Methods: A review of the records of nickel-sensitized patients from June 1, 2018 to April 30, 2020 with positive patch tests for nickel was conducted. Patients were interviewed in May 2020 to assess the current status of dermatitis and self-reported adherence. Results: A total of 245 patients were identified, and 100 patients were contacted. The degree of nickel sensitivity between patients with localized skin lesions (n=44) and generalized skin lesions (n=56) did not show difference. Twenty-four of 29 patients (82.8%) with good compliance showed improvement, while only 32 of 71 patients (45.1%) with poor compliance showed improvement. The percentage of improved patients in the group with good compliance and that in the group with poor compliance showed a statistically significant difference (p=0.00086). Of the patients with good compliance, those with localized skin lesions showed statistically significant improvement (p=0.0074). Conclusion To improve patient compliance, revised, simplified, and interventional guidelines for nickel-restricted diet should be implemented along with dermatologists’ encouragement and reassurance of a diet modification.

no abstract available

A 44-year-old male presented with 7 months history of nonpruritic round oozing plaques on the extremities and red papules on the trunk. The lesions were resistant to topical and oral steroid prescribed at the other local clinics. Histopathological examination showed parakeratosis with acanthosis and rete ridge elongation as well as spongiotic intraepidermal blisters and dense dermal infiltration of small to medium sized atypical lymphoid cells. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed the lymphocyte infiltrate to be predominantly CD4 + T cells, with CD4/CD8 ratio to be greater than 10:1. Infiltration of large cells that were CD30 + were also noted. This histopathologic findings are consistent with vesicular mycosis fungoides (MF). He was prescribed with narrow-band ultraviolet B twice per week and topical steroid, combined with interferon-α injection for 5 weeks, and his skin lesions significantly faded and were flattened. Vesicular MF is associated with poor prognosis, but our patient was able to show benign course of disease thanks to timely diagnosis. One must consider vesicular MF as a differential for recalcitrant eczematous lesions.

Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin and mucosa. Of the various types, the hypertrophic type is characterized by thickened, purplish hyperkeratotic plaques and nodules. The course of hypertrophic LP tends to be more chronic than those of other types. A 12-year-old girl presented with a 2-year history of warty papules and plaques in a zosteriform configuration along one flank. Histopathology revealed hyperkeratosis and papillomatosis with wedge-shaped hypergranulosis. A lichenoid lymphocytic infiltrate with vacuolar change in the basal layer was evident. She was prescribed oral doxycycline, a topical corticosteroid, and tacrolimus. After 7 weeks, the skin lesions became significantly flattened and faded. LP is less common but more severe in children than in adults. The unilateral, linear hypertrophic type of LP is uncommon. Herein, we report a rare case of linear hypertrophic LP in a child.

Background: Nickel is a leading cause of allergic contact dermatitis. Patients with nickel allergy may suffer from persistent dermatitis not only through contact with nickel-plated items but also through ingestion of nickel-containing food. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the current nickel content in Korean food products and provide more up-to-date Korean nickel-restricted diets that would increase patient compliance. Methods: The most frequently consumed food items were selected with replicates. Food samples were prepared according to the practices of normal consumers. The solid specimens were finely ground, and the liquid specimens were homogenized using a sterilized mixer. Tea bags were brewed in 100 mL of distilled water at 100 °C for 5 minutes. Solid (0.5 g) and liquid (2 g) specimens were subjected to microwave-assisted nitric acid digestion using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Results: In total, 147 samples were collected from different food categories, including plant-based products, animal-based products, packaged foods, and drinks. Cocoa powder had the highest concentration of nickel (1.56 mg/kg), which is consistent with the results of previous studies. Soy products such as fermented soybean paste (Doenjang) (1.16 mg/kg), fermented soybean with red chili paste (Ssamjang) (0.67 mg/kg), and tofu (0.37 mg/kg) had elevated concentration of nickel. Moreover, nut-derived products such as chocolate (1.10 mg/kg), ground coffee (0.86 mg/kg), almond (0.84 mg/kg), and peanuts (0.64 mg/kg) contained elevated nickel concentration. Conclusion The nickel content in food constantly changes depending on the food processing procedures and place of origin. Therefore, revising the nickel-restricted diet is necessary to enhance patients’ understanding of it and help reduce dietary nickel intake.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of exposure to hexavalent chromium, 93 male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to hexavalent chromium solution. METHODS: Rats were divided into 4 groups and exposed to 0.1 ml of 0 mM, 0.4 mM, 2.0 mM, and 10.0 mM potassium chromate in the first experiment, and to 0.1 ml of 0 mM, 20 mM, 40 mM, and 80 mM in the second for consecutive 3 days by tracheal instillation. Three and 10 rats were the controls for the first and the second experiments, respectively. Lung tissues were then removed to measure the 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) level using the HPLC-ECD method, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity using the cytochrome C method, and 8-hydroxyguanine endonuclease activity using the oligonucleotide nicking assay. RESULTS: The results showed no significant linear relationship between chromium exposure level and 8-OH-dG level or 8-hydroxyguanine endonuclease activity. In the first experiment, 8-OH-dG level and 8-hydroxyguanine endonuclease activity increased in 0.4 mM group, and then decreased in 2.0 mM and 10.0 mM groups. The correlation coefficients between 8-OH-dG level and 8-hydroxyguanine endonuclease activity was statistically significant (P<0.01), and total SOD activity was elevated by chromium exposure in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). In contrast, there was no significant dose-response pattern or correlation in the second experiment. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the fact that there was no linear relationship between chromium dose and 8-OH-dG level or activity of the repair enzyme, it seems unlikely that 8-OH-dG formation is the major mechanism of chromium carcinogenesis.
Animals ; Carcinogenesis ; Chromium* ; Cytochromes c ; Humans ; Lung* ; Male ; Potassium ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase* ; Superoxides*

OBJECTIVE: The advent of high resolution magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) contributed to the preoperative localization of epileptogenic area. Even the discrete lesion visualized on MRI can be often correlated with seizure onset zone. If MRI does not, however, show any lesions in the extratemporal epilepsy, it imposes a significant challenge. This study is designed to evaluate the surgical treatment of extratemporal lobe epilepsy in which MRI does not show any lesion, to define the surgical strategy and to investigate the underlying pathology. METHODS: We studied the nineteen patients with MRI-negative extratemporal epilepsy who underwent resective surgery after careful preoperative investigation between 1993 and 1995. RESULTS: Scalp EEG could not lateralize the epileptogenic foci in 9 patients. Intracranial EEG recording was performed in all patients with successful localization: depth electrode study in 12, and subdural grid and strip study in 7 patients. Resection was performed in frontal(n=14), in parietal(n=3), and in multilobar area(n=2). Pathological findings comprised cortical dysplasia in 10, gliosis in 7, and collagenoma in one patients. The surgical outcome was classified as seizure free in 10, rare seizures in 2, significant reduction in 5, and no change in 2 patients. CONCLUSION: MRI-invisible extratemporal epilepsy can be managed surgically with promising results. Cortical dysplasia and gliosis are two major pathological findings in this context though MRI does not demonstrate any lesions.
Electrodes ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy* ; Gliosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Malformations of Cortical Development ; Pathology ; Scalp ; Seizures

BACKGOUND: The late referral to nephrologist was founded as independent risk factor of poor survival in hemodialysis patients. Patients referred lately are prone to initiate dialysis urgently through temporary catheter and the use of catheter increase the incidence of catheter related complications. But patients' survival may be influenced by multiple and more complex factors beside referral pattern and use of catheter. So we planed to evaluate the effect of referral pattern on patients' survival and related factors. METHODS: This analysis included 629 incident hemodialysis patients in single center. Demographical, clinical, laboratory data were collected retrospectively. Early referral was defined as first nephrology visit over 3 months prior to initiation of dialysis. Clinical characteristics were compared between early (ER) and late referral groups (LR). Survival analysis and Cox models were performed to assess the relationship of referral pattern and mortality. Significant differences were defined as p value less than 0.05. RESULTS: ER included 269 patients and their mean age, male proportion were not different from those of LR. In ER, pre-dialysis education program and nutritional counseling were offered much more than LR and lesser catheter usage, higher serum albumin at the initiation of dialysis. ER survived longer but in Cox models, only older age, presence of diabetes, lower serum albumin at the initiation of dialysis were independent risk factor for death (odds ratio 1.047, 1.547, 0.615, respectively) CONCLUSION: Although early referral decrease catheter use at the initiation and urgent hemodialysis, classical risk factors such as old age, presence of diabetes, nutritional status at the initiation are more important in patients prognosis.
Catheters ; Counseling ; Dialysis ; Education ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mortality ; Nephrology* ; Nutritional Status ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Referral and Consultation* ; Renal Dialysis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Serum Albumin

BACKGROUND: The Worker Role Interview (WRI) is an assessment tool that looks at factors impacting return to work capabilities and the client’s capacity to return to work. The WRI is developed and originally written by Braveman et al. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to provide a Filipino translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the WRI, as well as establish its face, content, and convergent validity and inter-rater, testretest, and internal consistency reliability. METHODS: Expert panels were utilized in the two phases of the study. Phase 1 involves forward translation, synthesis of the translations, backward translation, expert panel review, and pilot testing involving 31 participants. Phase 2 involves retranslation, expert panel review, and administration of the Filipino WRI to 85 participants. RESULTS: Certain items were subjected for retranslation to adequately represent the domain of content addressed by the tool to ensure cultural equivalence. The tool has good inter-rater (ICC = 0.75-0.90), test-retest (rs(85) = 0.72-0.91, p<0.001), and internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha= 0.96) reliability. Convergent validity with the Worker Role Self-Assessment yielded a weak correlation (rs(85)=0.42 - -0.04, p<0.001) due to possible differences in language used and manner of administration. CONCLUSION At this level, the WRI has good validity and reliability properties which can assess the ability of Filipino early adults with disability to return to work.