BACKGROUND: There is concem about the rising incidence of skin cancer. However, few articles have reported the change in the clinical and epidemiological aspects of skin cancer. OBJECTIVE: We performed this study in order to clarifiy the recent changes in cutaneous premalignant and malignant lesions. METHODS: A statistical analysis was made using 101 cases of cutaneous premalignant lesions and 205 cases of ma]ignant tumors out of a total number of 20,175 new outpatients that visited the Department of Dermatology at the Seoul National University Hospital during a 6 year period(1990-1995). RESULTS: The frequency of premalignant lesions was 0.50% and that of malignant tumors was 1.02%. The frequency showed an increasing tendency compared to previous reports. In the premalignant lesion cases, actinic keratosis was most common and represented a figure of 82.2%. Among the malignant tumors, basal cell carcinoma was most frequent at 24.4%. Age, sex and anatomical site distribution of basal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma was no different. The mean age of squamous cell carcinoma was greater than in previous reports and main preceding lesions were actinic keratosis and cheilitis. The frequency of lymphoma was markedly increased but the reason for this remains to be determined. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed the continous increasing incidence of skin cancers and emphasize the need for public eduacation, early diagnosis and proper treatment.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cheilitis ; Dermatology ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Lymphoma ; Melanoma ; Outpatients ; Seoul ; Skin Neoplasms ; Statistics as Topic*

BACKGROUND: Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a genetic disorder of the melanin pigment system in which melanin synthesis is reduced or absent in the skin, hair, and eyes. OCA is classified into two major types, and tyrosinase-related OCA can be produced by mutations of the structural gene for tyrosinase enzyme (TYR gene). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the segregation of mutant alleles of the TYR gene in tyrosinase-negative and tyrosinase-positive Korean OCA patients and families. METHODS: We amplified exon I, II, and III of the TYR gene of Korean OCA patients and their families by polymerase chain reactions (PCR), and analyzed the mutations by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis in exon I and single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analyses in exon II and exon III. RESULTS: Two tyrosinase-negative cases showed mutations in exon I. Four tyrosinase-nega-tive cases and one tyrosinase-positive case showed mutations in exon II, and one tyrosinase-neg- ative case showed mutations in exon III. In summary, we found three kinds of mutation in four tyrosinase-negative OCA patients and one tyrsinase-positive OCA patient. CONCLUSIONS: RFLP and SSCP analysis can provide a basis for a rapid and sensitive screening system to detect TYR gene mutations of Korean OCA patients and their families.
Albinism, Oculocutaneous* ; Alleles ; Exons ; Hair ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mass Screening ; Melanins ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Skin

BACKGROUND: One of the main disadvantages of caudal block is the long latent period before a satisfactory blockade is obtained. Many investigators have used various preparations of local anesthetic solutions to improve the speed of onset. This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of prewarming of lidocaine HCl for caudal block. METHODS: Fifty healthy young patients (ASA I) were allocated into two groups, A and B. In group A, the local anesthetic solution were injected at room temperature (25 degrees C), while in group B, they were injected at 37oC. All the caudal block were performed using 2% lidocaine HCl 20 ml with fentanyl 100ug and epinephrine 1:200,000. The onset time was defined as the period from completion of injection until the patient first noticed loss of sensation to pin-prick on perianal region. Assessment of sensory loss was made at 15 seconds interval. We have compared the onset of sensory blockade between groups. The duration of analgesia and any significant side effects were also recorded. RESULTS: The onset of sensory blockade was significantly faster in group B (3.5 +/- 0.5 minutes) than group A (6.2 +/- 0.9 minutes). The duration of analgesia were not significantly changed between groups. Side effects of urinary retention, pruritus and nausea were noted between both groups but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: We have found that the onset time was 44% faster with warm lidocaine-fentanyl mixture (37 degrees C) than with the room temperature (25 degrees C). The improved clinical usefulness was achieved with no increase in side effects. The technique is a safe and effective method to reduce the latency of onset.
Analgesia ; Epinephrine ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Nausea ; Pruritus ; Research Personnel ; Sensation ; Urinary Retention

In 2007, the Public Sanitation Administration Law in Korea was partially amended to subdivide cosmetology into general and skin cosmetology. Thus starting from 2008, a skin cosmetology qualification requirement license was newly created in Korea. Instead of improving the health standards concerning public health, the amendments have exaggerated the monopolistic right of trade of the Korean Central Esthetician's Association with the assistance of the Division of Sanitary Policy in the Korean Ministry for Health. In addition, the amended ordinances stipulate that cosmetologists can analyze skin conditions, hence allowing medical diagnostic procedures by non-medical personnel which has serious health problems causing serious conflict with Korean Medical Law. Legislation precedents from around the world demonstrate that medical supervision by physicians is absolutely necessary with fastidious requisitions in order to safeguard public health. However, in Korea there is a subversive attempt by some esthetician groups to limit the employment of estheticians by medical institutions in order to safeguard their private privileges. The newly amended Public Sanitation Administration Law should be revised in order to preserve the fundamental rights of the people, to enhance public health, and to uphold the well being of the people instead of catering to special interest groups.
Employment ; Human Rights ; Jurisprudence ; Korea ; Licensure ; Organization and Administration ; Public Health ; Public Opinion ; Sanitation ; Skin

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight*

No abstract available.
Graves Disease* ; Insulin*

The aim of this study was to investigate necrophagous blowflies to confirm their forensic importance in criminal investigations and to produce a pictorial key to easily identify blowflies that are likely to be present at the scene of death. Of the 26 calliphorid species recorded in Korea, 16 species were sampled from 103 animal cadavers including 63 rabbits and 40 pigs. We identified 13 species in Calliphorinae, Aldrichina grahami (Aldrich), Calliphora nigribarbis Vollenhoven (= C. lata Coquillett), C. subalpina (Ringdahl), C. vicina (Robineau-Desvoidy), C. vomitoria (L.), Hemipyrellia ligurriens (Wiedemann), Lucilia ampullacea Villeneuve, L. caesar (L.), L. cuprina (Wiedemann), L. illustris (Meigen), L. papuensis Macquart, L. porphyrina (Walker), and L. sericata (Meigen), and three species in Chrysomyinae, Chrysomya megacephala (F.), Ch. pinguis (Walker), and Ch. rufifacies (Macquart). They were repeatedly recorded from various localities in different habitats and seasons. These species should be given importance in approaches to forensic science particularly as their ecological implications are well understood. An identification key for these forensically essential species is prepared in a user-friendly manner using characteristics easily visible to the bare eye or at least under a magnifying glass.

A 33-yr old female patient with coagulation factor VII deficiency was scheduled for laparoscopic oophorectomy under the diagnosis of ovarian teratoma. Plasma concentration of factor VII of this patient was 9 IU/dl (normal range; 60-140 IU/dl) and the prothrombin time INR (International Normalization Ratio) was 1.79 (normal range; 0.8-1.2) on the day before the operation. Total 1,200microgram (30microgram/kg) of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) was administered just before the start of the laparoscopic procedure, which was accomplished safely without severe hemorrhage or other complications. Postoperative course was uneventful. In addition, this article provides the clinical implication of rFVIIa in terms of hemostasis management in hemophiliacs and surgical patients.
Blood Coagulation ; Blood Coagulation Factors* ; Diagnosis ; Factor VII* ; Factor VIIa* ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; International Normalized Ratio ; Ovariectomy ; Plasma ; Prothrombin Time ; Teratoma

Background: Esmolol as a drug for induced hypotension can, not only avoid many drawbacks of nitroprusside, but reduce the amount of intraoperative bleeding and make better operative field. This study was performed to evalute cardiovascular changes during esmolol-induced controlled hypotension. Methods: Induced hypotension using esmolol was applied to 18 adult patients receiving spinal surgery under the diagnosis of spinal stenosis or scoliosis. After prehydraion of 2,000 ml of crystalloid solution, 0.5 mg/kg esmolol was used as loading dose once, twice or three times until mean blood pressure (MBP) fell below 70 mmHg, followed by continuous infusion (50~300 microg/kg/min) of esmolol. MBP and heart rate (HR) were measured before, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60 and 90 min after esmolol administration, and 5, 10 and 15 minutes after discontinuation of esmolol. In 8 patients, cardiac output (CO) and mixed venous oxygen tension and saturation were measured before, during and after esmolol use. Results: MBP was decreased from 91+/-12 mmHg to 67+/-7 mmHg after 15 min (P<0.05). HR(BPM) was decreased from 76+/-17 to about 60 after 15 min (P<0.05). CO was decreased about 30% during induced hypotension but recoverd to initial level 15 min after esmolol discontinuation. While oxygen transport was reduced significantly during induced hypotension (P<0.05), oxygen consumption was maintained all the time. Conclusion: With the use of esmolol, stable hypotension could be achieved. Although oxygen transport decreased possibly due to reduction of CO, but oxygen consumption was maintained.
Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Diagnosis ; Heart Rate ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypotension* ; Hypotension, Controlled ; Nitroprusside ; Oxygen ; Oxygen Consumption ; Scoliosis ; Spinal Stenosis

No abstract available.
Cervix Uteri* ; Extracellular Fluid* ; Female ; Humans