BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of some therapeutic modalities for cutaneous sporotrichosis may be changed depending on the individual and geographic characteristics, and the clinical type. Itraconazole has been known to be effective for it, however, there have been no standard and ideal guideline on the oral dosage and duration yet. OBJECTIVE & METHODS: In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of oral itraconazole in patients with cutaneous sporotrichosis in relation to dosage and clinical status. The observation of 17 patients with sporotrichosis were made retrospectively Oral itraconazole was administered at the dose of 200 mg daily in 15 adults over 18 years old and 100 mg in the other 2 children. RESULTS: The duration for healing was within 30 days in 4 cases, within 60 days in 4 cases, within 90 days in 2 cases, within 120 days in 3 cases, and within 150 days of therapy in 2 cases. The average duration in all cases was 12.1+/-8.6 weeks. Comparison our results to the previous reported one revealed that more shorter treatment time was needed in cases treated with 200 mg daily than that with 100 mg. There was no treatment failure by drug intolerance or resistance. The duration for healing was significantly shorter in the patient groups with prevalence duration more than 5 months, however there was not any significant difference in sex of patients, and the clinical types. The cases with the lesion on the face and cases with fixed type tended to be healed more rapidly than the others. CONCLUSION: Oral itraconazole may be a safe and e(fictive antifungal agent for the treatment of cutaneous sporotrichosis in a daily dose of 200 mg for 3 months on the average. However, duration for healing could be influenced by the clinical status.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Humans ; Itraconazole* ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sporotrichosis* ; Treatment Failure

Angioma serpiginosum is a rare acquired vascular lesion that usually presents in the first two decades of life with a predilection for females. A typical lesion is characterized by deeply red nonpalpable puncta that are grouped closely together in a macular or netlike pattern on the lower extremities and buttocks. Histopathologically, thin-walled dilated capillaries are seen in some of the dermal papillae and the superficial reticular dermis without extravasation of red blood cells. We report a case of angioma serpiginosum on the left chest and left upper extremity in a 37-year-old man.
Adult ; Buttocks ; Capillaries ; Dermis ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Thorax ; Upper Extremity

Papular mucinosis, or lichen myxedematosus, is a rare cutaneous disease characterized by papular-lichenoid eruptions, mucin deposition, paraproteinemia, no abnormalities of thyroid function and IgG or IgM deposition in the reticular dermis or just below the epidermis in about 35% cases on direct immunofluorescence study. We report a case of papular mucinosis in a 48-year-old male, who noticed the skin colored or yellowish waxy papules on his upper arm 1 year ago. Since then, similar lesions developed on his upper extremities, upper trunk, and neck during last year. Histopathological findings of the lichenoid papules showed that the collagen fibers in the upper dermis are loosly arranged and separated by amorphous materials. These amorphous materials were positve with colloidal iron stain. Serum protein electrophoresis showed no abnormal bands and an abnormal paraprotein was not detected. Direct immunofluorescenc study of a skin biopsy specimen showed a granular IgM deposit in the papillary dermis. This is the sixth case of papular mucinosis reported in Korea, but is the first case showing IgM deposit in the skin by immunofluorescence study.
Arm ; Biopsy ; Collagen ; Colloids ; Dermis ; Electrophoresis ; Epidermis ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Iron ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucins ; Neck ; Paraproteinemias ; Scleromyxedema* ; Skin ; Thyroid Gland ; Upper Extremity

We report a case of a 77-year-old woman with a cutaneous sinus tract located on the right cheek secondary to a periapical abscess of the right maxillary first molar. The lesion was a nodule with surrounding dimple and drained purulent fluid. Previous topical and systemic treatment was temporarily effective. Radiologic examination of the maxillary and mandibular regions demonstrated diffuse radiolucency involving the apices of the right maxillary first molar, consistent with periapical abscesses. Removal of the involved teeth and curettage of the granulation tissue accompanied by antibiotic therapy resulted in the complete healing of the cheek lesion. In the presence of a single chronic suppurative or nodulocystic lesion of the face, it is always useful to perform a radiologic evaluation of the maxillary and mandibular regions to promptly exclude a possible odontogenic background.
Aged ; Cheek ; Curettage ; Female ; Granulation Tissue ; Humans ; Molar ; Periapical Abscess ; Skin* ; Tooth

Cystic lymphangioma of the broad ligament is very rare benign cystic lesion. They rarely present in adult life. We present the case of a 37-year-old female with a history of chronic recurrent left lower abdominal dull pain over a period of several months. Clinical presentation of these tumors varies greatly from an asymptomatic mass to serious complications. The therapy of choice is a complete excision, unless vital structures were involved. Once excised, the prognosis is excellent. Our patient had complete excision of her lesion with a good outcome.
Adult ; Broad Ligament* ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphangioma, Cystic* ; Prognosis

There are many variant forms in Turner's syndrome which is characterized by female phenotype, short height, primary amenorrhea, infertility, abnormal secondary sexual development, and mental retardation. Among these 45,XO/46,XX/47,XXX form is known as rare variant of Turner's syndrome. 45,XO/46,XX/47,XXX mosaicism is characterized by normal height, possibility of normal sexual development, menstrual/pregnancy history and normal intelligence. We report a cse of 45,XO/46,XX/47,XXX Turner's syndrome associated with primary amenorrhea in 17-year old Korean female.
Adolescent ; Amenorrhea* ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility ; Intellectual Disability ; Intelligence ; Mosaicism* ; Phenotype ; Sexual Development ; Turner Syndrome

Cervical pregnancy is a rare life-threatening form of ectopic pregnancy. The exact etiology of cervical pregnancy is not known, but several contributing factors have been considered. Probably a combination of factors leads to cervical pregnancy. The first case was required hysterectomy. The second case was successfully treated with a unique combination of precurettage cerclage, suction curettage and postcurettage balloon tamponade. Conservative treatment has evolved in recent years, with a considerable reduction in the number of hysterectomies. We present two cases of cervical pregnancy associated with multiple risk factors in elderly gravida, with brief reviews.
Aged* ; Balloon Occlusion ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Risk Factors* ; Vacuum Curettage

The success of accelerating the onset of neuromvacular blocking drugs by giving them in divided doses encouraged others to attempt the same "priming principle" using reversal agents. Naguib et al and Abdulatif et al demonstrated that the reversal time(time to reach a TOF of 0.75) was reduced when the reversal agent was administered in divided doses at T, 10% of control. But Donati et al and Szalados et al either could not detect any differences in the rate of reversal when anticholinestereses were administered in divided doses. This study hes been conducted to evaluate the reversal effects of neostigmine or pyridostigmine with priming principle in the rabbit after pancuronium injection when pro- found relaxation(PTC=0) was confirmed. Rabbits(n=60) were randomly allocated to 4 groups. After pancuranium 0.2mg/kg IV, the onset and recovery times were evalusted. When the profound relaxation(PTC=0) was confirmed at Smin. after pancuronium injection, neostigmine 50 ug/kg and atropine sulfate (atropine) 20 ug/kg were injected in group 1. At thst time, neostigmine 10/kg and atropine 4 ug/kg were injected and after 3min. neostigmine 40/kg and atropine 16 ug/kg were injected in group 2. At that time, pyridostigmine 250 ug/kg and atropine 20 ug/kg were injected in group 3. At that time, pyridostigmine 50 ug/kg and atropine 4 ug/kg were injected and after 3min. pyridostigmine 200 ug/kg and atropine 16 ug/kg were injected in group 4. The results were as follows :. 1) The time until 75% recovery of twitch amplitude was 53.1+/-12.4min. in group 1, 44.9+/-212.1min. in group 2, 54.9+/-9.7min. in group 3 and 48.2+/-7.1min. in group 4. The reversal times were tended to reduce when the reversal agents were administered with "priming principle" at the profound relaxation. 2) At the profound relaxation the reversal effects of neostigmine were greater than that of pyridostigmine.
Atropine ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors* ; Muscle Relaxation* ; Neostigmine ; Pancuronium ; Pyridostigmine Bromide ; Relaxation

BACKGROUND: While inferior petrosal sinus sampling (IPSS) correctly diagnoses pituitary dependent Cushings syndrome if a significant ratio of plasma ACTH between the IPS and the peripheral blood is demonstrated, little has been said about the significance of a negative ratio in Cushings disease (e.g. false negative result). We evaluated the results of IPSS with Cushings disease, and compared them with imaging findings through transsphenoidal surgery. METHODS: 29 patients with Cushings disease underwent transsphenoidal examination of the pituitary gland from 1989 to 1998 at Seoul National University Hospital were evaluated. We compared the results of IPSS and imaging findings with sellar CT or dynamic MRI. The ratio of the ACTH concentrations at the IPS and in the peripheral blood (IPS:P ratio) and the ratio of the ACTH concentrations between the IPSs (interpetrosal ratio) were calculated before and after CRH infusion. RESULTS: With IPSS the diagnosis of Cushings disease was possible in 90% (26/29), and 3 cases in whom IPSS did not show significant IPS:P ACTH ratio were confirmed to be Cushings disease through hemihypophysectomy of lesion suspected by sellar dynamic MRI and achieved remission after operation (e.g. false negative result of diagnosis for Cushings disease by IPSS). However, accurate localization of microadenoma was achieved in only 59% (17/29). Imaging study detected microadenoma in 76% (22/29) and correctly localized in 66% (19/29). Both IPSS and imaging study precisely localized the pituitary microadenoma in 10 (34.5%) cases of 29 cases and a discrepancy between two studies existed in 7 (24.1%) cases in which the imaging study correctly localized microadenoma in 6 cases and IPSS in 1 case. CONCLUSION: Only when a significant IPS:P ACTH ratio is present can Cushings disease be established by IPSS. The absence of a significant IPS:P ACTH ratio does not necessarily imply ectopic secretion of ACfH, nor does it exclude Cushings disease. The results of lateralization by IPSS do not remove the need for transsphenoidal examination of the sella turcica because false negative result can be. IPSS and radiologic study should be complementary used in diagnosis of Cushings disease and localization of microadenoma, as IPSS can be used when sellar imaging study failed to visualize the lesion and hemihypophysectomy of suspected lesion by imaging study can be considered when IPSS did not show significant ratio of ACTH.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Petrosal Sinus Sampling* ; Pituitary Gland ; Plasma ; Sella Turcica ; Seoul

Gastric volvulus is a rotation of the stomach of at least 180 associated with a closed loop obstruction. Pare described the first case of gastric volvulus m 1579. Laxity of the gastric ligament, a congenital or acquired diaphragmatic defect, increased abdominal pressure, and a genetic component contributing to gastric volvulus. Gastric volvulus has been classified clinically as acute and chronic gastric volvulus, and can be classified anatomically as organoaxial, mesenteroaxial or a mixed type. Gastric volvulus occurs in children usually before 1 year of age or elderly patients. In acute gastric volvulus, and be patients complain of sudden abdominal or chest pain. The chest pain, which can radiate to the arms and neck accompanied by dyspnea, may initially lead to consideration of ischemic heart disease. Chronic gastric volvulus is difficult to diagnose because it may be associated with mild and nonspecific symptoms such as epigastric discomfort, fullness or heartburn. We experienced a case of 83 year old male with an organoaxial type of chronic gastric volvulus, iagnosed by upper gastrointestinal series, and treated with conservative rnanagement.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arm ; Chest Pain ; Child ; Dyspnea ; Heartburn ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Neck ; Stomach ; Stomach Volvulus*