PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of growth hormone(GH) secretion on serum concentration of leptin, we evaluated the differences in serum concentration of leptin between patients with growth hormone deficiency(GHD) and GH normal short stature in prepubertal male children, and the relationship between GH and serum leptin level. Also, we analyzed the correlation between serum concentrations of leptin and insulin-like growth factor-I(IGF-I), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3(IGFBP-3), total cholesterol(TC), free fatty acid(FFA) and body mass index(BMI). METHODS: Eight cases with GHD and 10 cases with GH normal short stature were included in this study. Patients were all male, prepubertal children with mean age 10.6 years. Blood samples were collected in these patients by L-dopa GH provocation test. Statistical analysis of the comparisons of serum leptin level and correlation of multiple variables were performed using PC-SAS program. Significance was defined as P<0.05. RESULTS: The mean serum concentration of leptin in GHD(12.27+/-10.63ng/mL) was significantly higher than in GH normal short stature(5.39+/-3.21ng/mL)(P=0.0344). Serum concentration of leptin was negatively correlated to GH(y=-7.7x+43.3, r=-0.23, P=0.0109). Serum concentration of leptin was positively correlated to BMI(y=2.5x-33.3, r=0.75, P=0.0003). Serum concentration of leptin was not correlated to IGF-I, IGFBP-3, TC and FFA. CONCLUSION: Serum concentration of leptin was siginificantly increased in patients with GHD compared to GH normal short stature and was negatively correlated to GH.
Child ; Growth Hormone* ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Leptin* ; Levodopa ; Male

Growth hormone (GH) has been available for more than 4 decades for the treatment of GH deficiency. But mass production of recombinant DNA growth hormone has made GH therapy widely available for children with no GH deficiency. The use of GH therapy in children has resulted in adverse effects ranging from minor disturbances such as edema and injection site reactions to more significant, but rare events such as benign intracranial hypertension and slipped capital femoral epiphysis. Yet there has been no report in the dermatological field on skin adverse effects associated with GH therapy. We report here on 2 cases of psoriasis following GH therapy in children.
Child ; DNA, Recombinant ; Edema ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Pseudotumor Cerebri ; Psoriasis ; Skin ; Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphyses

Traumatic scars on skin covering areas of high movement, especially areas on the face, can be stressful for patients. We report two cases of traumatic scars that occurred on the chin, and that were successfully treated with a combined therapy of 595-nm pulsed dye laser (PDL) and intramuscular injection of botulinum toxin. After the treatment, good cosmetic results were achieved in both patients. The only adverse effect during and after the treatments was mild pain, which resolved within several days without any additional treatment. In conclusion, the combination of 595-nm PDL and intramuscular botulinum toxin injection was shown to be a safe and effective treatment for traumatic scars on the mobile chin area in Korean patients.
Botulinum Toxins* ; Chin ; Cicatrix* ; Humans ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Lasers, Dye* ; Skin

OBJECTIVE: The surgical treatment of symptomatic degenerative disc disease remains one of the most controversial topics among spine surgeons. Recently, advances in many endoscopic surgical techniques have resulted in lowered morbidity, expense, and suffering associated with their open surgery counterparts. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic anterior lumbosacral interbody fusion in our patients with symptomatic degenerative disc disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed laparoscopic anterior interbody fusion for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 in 26 patients who were unresponsive to conservative treatments for 1 year, from Oct. 1996 to Dec. 1997. This technique consists of a four-puncture laparoscopic approach with a 10mm trocar at the umbilicus for laparoscope, two 5mm trocars at left and right flanks for dissection, and a 15mm trocar at suprapubic area for working port. We performed complete discectomy and stabilized the spine with carbon interbody fusion cages filled with allograft bone. RESULTS: Laparoscopic fusion at L5-S1 was successful in 22 of 26 patients and the remaining four patients were successfully converted to minilaparotomy. The operation time averaged 150 minutes, hospitalization 4.1 days and average blood loss was 90cc. The mean follow-up period was 16.8 months. Radiographic fusion was achieved in 23 of 26 patients(88.5%) and clinical results showed excellent in 11/26, good in 11/26, fair in 3/26, poor in 1/26 according to Macnab's criteria. There were four complications; retroplacement of cages(1), transient dry ejaculation (1), transient urinary bladder dysfunction(1) and malposition of cages(1). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic fusion at L5-S1 in degenerative disc disease seems to be safe, with satisfactory clinical results. Main advantage are early recovery and short hospitalization time compared with conventional technique.
Allografts ; Carbon ; Diskectomy ; Ejaculation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Laparoscopes ; Laparotomy ; Male ; Spine* ; Surgical Instruments ; Umbilicus ; Urinary Bladder

No abstract available.
Anisakiasis*

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberance is a relatively rare malignant soft tissue tumor which is locally invasive and looks like a protruded hardened plaque composed of multiple nodules. It seldom occurs on the scalp and the occurrence rate is less than 5%. Nowadays there is a tendency to choose Mohs surgery as a primary treatment instead of a wide excision, because Mohs surgery can reduce cases of recurrence. We report a case of multiple dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans on the scalp of a 32-year-old man. We planned a delayed operation using tissue expanders. We inserted two skin expanders and successfully expanded scalp tissue more than 150% after 7 months. Mohs surgery was performed with a 4 cm distance from borderline of lesions and then the large scalp skin defect was covered by the expanded skin which had been prepared by tissue expanders. It has been 9 months since the operation was performed and there have been no signs of recurrence.
Adult ; Dermatofibrosarcoma* ; Humans ; Mohs Surgery* ; Recurrence ; Scalp* ; Skin ; Tissue Expansion Devices ; Tissue Expansion*

Heterotopia refers to the finding of normal tissue in foreign sites, entirely separate from the main organ. Heterotopic gastric mucosa has been observed throughout the alimentary tract, everywhere from the oral cavity to the rectum. However, occurrences in the umbilicus are an extremely rare and peculiar phenomena. We report the case of heterotopic gastric mucosa in the umbilicus.
Gastric Mucosa ; Mouth ; Rectum ; Umbilicus

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis is a small vessel inflammatory disease, mediated mostly by deposition of immune complexes. Medications cause 10~24% of cases of leukocytoclastic vasculitic skin lesions, but warfarin has rarely been implicated. We report a case of warfarin-induced leukocytoclastic vasculitis in a 72-year-old woman which developed 45 days after warfarin medication. Palpable purpura, hemorrhagic vesicles, and ulcers developed on both lower legs. A skin biopsy showed characteristic features of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Warfarin was replaced by clopidogrel, and the skin lesions gradually disappeared after 3 weeks.
Aged ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Biopsy ; Female ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Leg ; Purpura ; Skin ; Ticlopidine ; Ulcer ; Vasculitis ; Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous ; Warfarin

Decubitus ulcer is a pressure-induced ischemia-reperfusion injury overlying a bony prominence. Various dressing methods have been developed to treat it, but clinical management is still a challenging practice. A patient presented with stage IV decubitus ulcer on the left lateral side of the buttock, which was caused by compulsively lying down on the left side due to schizophrenia. The ulcer was resistant to occlusive dressing method for five weeks. However, the patient successfully recovered in three weeks by our applying a negative pressure dressing with the portable vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) system. Our experience shows negative pressure dressing can be effectively used to treat intractable decubitus ulcer in outpatient settings.
Bandages ; Buttocks ; Deception ; Humans ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy ; Occlusive Dressings ; Outpatients ; Pressure Ulcer ; Reperfusion Injury ; Schizophrenia ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND: Xanthelasma palpebrarum is the most common type of xanthoma. Due to its delicate location near the eye, treatment of xanthelasma palpebrarum is rather difficult. The treatment includes surgical excision, local treatment with chemicals, and various laser therapies. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to review the various therapeutic modalities and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bichloroacetic acid (BCA) for the treatment of xanthelasma palpebrarum. METHODS: Nine patients, with a total of 19 xanthelasma lesions, were treated with BCA. The efficacy and safety were assessed over a follow-up period of 6 to 24 months (average, 16 months). RESULTS: All lesions were grossly removed completely with a single treatment and the treatment was well-tolerated by patients. Erythema and oozing were observed in six patients but improved after two weeks' dressing. Xanthelasma palpebrarum recurred in three patients, but the mean size of the recurred lesions was smaller in comparison to the primary lesion. CONCLUSION: BCA is an effective and safe therapeutic modality for xanthelasma palpebrarum. Advantages include simplicity, cost-effectiveness, speed, safety and efficacy.
Bandages ; Dichloroacetic Acid* ; Erythema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; Xanthomatosis