No abstract available.

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

A case of Lymphangiomatosis of the skeleton and soft tissue in a 23 years old woman is presented. Lymphangiomatosis are benign tumors formed of lymphatic vessel and like hemangiomatosis are probably best thought of as harmatomatous malformation. As term imply, the endothelial space in these lesions are lymph-rather than blood containing. Bone involvement are very rare condition that affect mainly the ilium and features a largely lytic pattern, consisting of tiny elliptical radiolucents slots. Treatment and Prognosis depend on the site and extent of involvement and progression. Although irradiation may be the treatment of choice, the lesions have not been usually successfully treated.
Female ; Humans ; Ilium ; Lymphatic Vessels ; Prognosis ; Skeleton

BACKGROUND: Defective adhesion and migration of melanocyte may be involved in pathogenesis of vitiligo. Tenascin, a glycoprotein of the extracellular matrix, has a role in cell adhesion and migration. It has been reported that abundant expression of tenascin in vitiligo lesion may inhibit melanocyte adhesion and migration. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the tenascin expression in vitiligo skin lesions and to compare with clinical findings. METHODS: We studied 9 patients with vitiligo. The expressions of tenascin were studied by immunahistochemieal techniques.
Cell Adhesion ; Extracellular Matrix ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Melanocytes ; Skin ; Tenascin* ; Vitiligo*

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis, characterized by dry, flasky, easily irritated skin, is the most common form of dermatitis seen during childhood. Infants with atopic dermatitis and other eczematous conditions need special dermatologic care to hydrate their skin and to minimize contact with irritants or allergens. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the skin products developed for children. METHODS: Twenty-eight normal children and 26 children with atopic dermatitis were evaluated clinically after using following commercal skin products : (lotion, cream, shampoo, soap, face wash wash) for 2 weeks. Water content of the skin of 14 volunteers was measured serialy over 8 haurs at 2 hour intervals after the application of each skin product. The skin pH of 16 volunteers was also measured serialy over 60 minutes at 30 minute intervals after application. We performed visual skin erythema grading, skin erythema grading by dermaspectrometer, transepidermal water loss measurement, skin water content measurement, and keratinocyte morphology observation by D-squame after the application of the skin products to 13 volunteers for 4 days.
Allergens ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Child ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Erythema ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Infant ; Irritants ; Keratinocytes ; Keratosis, Seborrheic ; Skin* ; Soaps ; Volunteers

PURPOSE: Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and subsequent percutaneous ethanol injection (PEi) was attempted in 8 patients with 9 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) for complete tumor necrosis of HCCs less than 5cm in greatest diameter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PEI was performed with 2-8ml of absolute (99.9%) ethanol two weeks after TACE under CT or ultrasound guidance. For each patient PEI was done twice to four times within 4-10 days of each procedure. After completion of a series of PEI, follow up examination (range:3 months-l.5 year period) was done with angiography, CT or ultrasound and correlated with serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level. RESULTS: On follow up anglograms, the lesions completely disappeared or decreased in size without tumor vessels or staining in 5 of 6 patients. On follow up CT of 6 patients, the lipiodol-laden HCCs were surrounded by non-enhancing low density and the losion sizes were slightly decreased or not changed. These are suggestive of necrosis of tumor itself and adjacent liver parenchyma. The tumors could not be detected on follow up ultrasound examination in 2 patients. Serum AFP was decreased in 7 patients and was well corresponded to the results of imaging modalities. CONCLUSION: The authors concluded that the combined TACE and PEI is an appropriate treatment for small HCCs having high surgical risks.
alpha-Fetoproteins ; Angiography ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Ethanol* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver ; Necrosis ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Clinical success rate is determined by patients compliance which depends on treatment method and period. Retrospective study to clinical success rate may give the information to promote compliance with oral medications for onychomycosis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical success rate in the different treatment group. METHOD: For the retrospective study, 618 patients diagnosed clinically and mycologically as having onychomycosis were evaluated for the cure rate and drop-out rate. RESULTS: The drop-out rate was 31.5% in itraconazole monthly pulse group, 74.3% in itraconazole daily continuous group, 77.5% in terbinafine daily continuous group and 97.8% in fluconazole weekly pulse group. Therefore the success rate was 68.5% in itraconazole monthly pulse group, 25.7% in itraconazole daily continuous group, 22.5% in terbinafine daily continuous group and 2.2% in fluconazole weekly pulse group. The drop-out rate was high in the first period of treatment schedule in most of treatment groups except itraconazole monthly pulse and daily continuous groups. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the treatment duration and method are the critical factor to treat tonail onychomycosis relating in determining patients' preference for treatment schedules.
Antifungal Agents* ; Appointments and Schedules ; Compliance ; Fluconazole ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Nails* ; Onychomycosis* ; Patient Compliance ; Retrospective Studies*

BACKGROUND: Clinical success rate is determined by patients compliance which depends on treatment method and period. Retrospective study to clinical success rate may give the information to promote compliance with oral medications for onychomycosis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical success rate in the different treatment group. METHOD: For the retrospective study, 618 patients diagnosed clinically and mycologically as having onychomycosis were evaluated for the cure rate and drop-out rate. RESULTS: The drop-out rate was 31.5% in itraconazole monthly pulse group, 74.3% in itraconazole daily continuous group, 77.5% in terbinafine daily continuous group and 97.8% in fluconazole weekly pulse group. Therefore the success rate was 68.5% in itraconazole monthly pulse group, 25.7% in itraconazole daily continuous group, 22.5% in terbinafine daily continuous group and 2.2% in fluconazole weekly pulse group. The drop-out rate was high in the first period of treatment schedule in most of treatment groups except itraconazole monthly pulse and daily continuous groups. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the treatment duration and method are the critical factor to treat tonail onychomycosis relating in determining patients' preference for treatment schedules.
Antifungal Agents* ; Appointments and Schedules ; Compliance ; Fluconazole ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Nails* ; Onychomycosis* ; Patient Compliance ; Retrospective Studies*

This study was carried out to provide some principles for the improvement of clinical training in medical students. To investigate the current problems in our systems of clinical training, we made sev eral questionnaires and distributed to the individuals of each survey groups. Senior medical students (59), interns (31), residents (14) and medical staffs (15) were included in these survey groups. The summarized current problems in clinical training are as follows : 1) lack of personnels in charge of clinical training, 2) lack of objective criteria for the evaluation of clinical training, 3) lack of involvement of students in clinical patient management, 4) needs of improvement in contents of clinical education, 5) lack of strict execution of education program, 6) lack of places for clinical education, 7) lack of interests in clinical training of the staffs, 8) needs of the orientation for the students about hospital systems. With this summary we held workshop for the staffs (29) in charge of clinical education. The summarized methods to improve clinical education were to promote interests in clinical education of staffs, to select the personnel in charge of clinical education, to make assignment of patient to the students, to let the student write patient progress note, to improve evaluation method for clinical education, to orient student about clinical education.
Education ; Humans ; Linear Energy Transfer ; Medical Staff ; Students, Medical* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This study was carried out to provide some principles for the improvement of clinical training in medical students. To investigate the current problems in our systems of clinical training, we made sev eral questionnaires and distributed to the individuals of each survey groups. Senior medical students (59), interns (31), residents (14) and medical staffs (15) were included in these survey groups. The summarized current problems in clinical training are as follows : 1) lack of personnels in charge of clinical training, 2) lack of objective criteria for the evaluation of clinical training, 3) lack of involvement of students in clinical patient management, 4) needs of improvement in contents of clinical education, 5) lack of strict execution of education program, 6) lack of places for clinical education, 7) lack of interests in clinical training of the staffs, 8) needs of the orientation for the students about hospital systems. With this summary we held workshop for the staffs (29) in charge of clinical education. The summarized methods to improve clinical education were to promote interests in clinical education of staffs, to select the personnel in charge of clinical education, to make assignment of patient to the students, to let the student write patient progress note, to improve evaluation method for clinical education, to orient student about clinical education.
Education ; Humans ; Linear Energy Transfer ; Medical Staff ; Students, Medical* ; Surveys and Questionnaires