BACKGROUND: Interferon alpha-2a has already been shown to be effective in clinical use of virus-originated diseases such as hairy cell leukemia, condyloma acuminatum, and AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma. The use of recombinant alpha-interferon may allow common warts to be treated relatively atraumatically and with less incidence of recurrence. OBJECTIVE: We tried to determine the safety and effectiveness of intralesional injections of recombinant alpha-2a interferon in the treatment of patients with common warts. METHODS: A single wart on each patient was weekly injected with 0.75 to 1.5×10(5) IU/25mm2 of interferon for 8 weeks, and the response to treatment was followed up-to 6 months. RESULTS: Clearing of the treated wart at the end of treatment occurred in 5(71%) out of 7 patients and the rest showed no improvement. With evaluation for relapses up-to 6 months after treatment, warts relapsed in 2(40%) out of 5 patients. Therefore, 3(43%) out of 7 patients were completely free of warts 6 months after treatment. CONCLUSION: Intralesional recombinant interferon alpha-2a has a limited therapeutic effect, but may be considered as a therapeutic modality of recalcitrant verruca or when it can be anticipated that destructive techniques or blistering agents will not be tolerated.
Blister ; Humans ; Incidence ; Injections, Intralesional ; Interferon-alpha ; Interferons* ; Leukemia, Hairy Cell ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma, Kaposi ; Warts*

This is a case report of a cystic hygroma with polycystic kidney in a fetus which was suspected by ultrasonography and was confirmed by autopsy. Recently, we have experienced this case in 25-year old woman repeatedly and we report that with a brief review of relevant literature.
Adult ; Autopsy ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Lymphangioma, Cystic* ; Polycystic Kidney Diseases* ; Ultrasonography

We report a case of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with unique histopathological findings in which numerous infiltrated neutrophils exhibited nuclear segmentation anomalies. In comparison with well-described neutrophilic dermatoses of myelodysplastic syndrome such as Sweets syndrome and pyoderma gangrenosum, this case took a rapid and aggressive clinical course. We suggest that a nuclear segmentation anomaly, pseudo Pelger-Hiiet anomaly, is likely to reflect acute transformation of MDS and can be a poor prognostic marker.
Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; Neutrophils* ; Pyoderma Gangrenosum ; Skin Diseases ; Sweet Syndrome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The endoscopic mucosal resection has now been adopted for a useful modality in both curative therapy and accurate diagnosis of early gastric cancer. A retrospective study was done to evaluate the indication and the limitation of endoscopic mucosal resection of early gastric cancer. METHODS: We studied 20 cases of early gastric cancer treated by endoscopic mucosal resection in Chungnam National University Hospital from November, 1995 to July, 1997. RESULTS: 1) The size affected the curability: 83. 3% of lesions less than 2 cm and 50. 0% of those larger than 2 cm were resected completely. 2) The depth of cancer invasion affected the curability: 87. 5% of lesion confined to mucosa were resected completely, while all of submucosal cancers were resected incompletely. 3) Among fourteen cases resected completely, three cases of lesions larger than 2 cm were residual cancer and two of those less than 2 cm were recurred locally. CONCLUSIONS: To be a curative therapy by endoscopic mucosal resection of early gastric cancer, we think that careful selection of the lesion, that is lesion less than 2cm and confined to mucosa, is necessary
Chungcheongnam-do ; Diagnosis ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms*

Chest draining is a common procedure for treating pleural effusion. Perforation of the heart is a rare often fatal complication of chest drain insertion. We report a case of a 76-year-old female patient suffering from congestive heart failure. At presentation, unilateral opacity of the left chest observed on a chest X-ray was interpreted as massive pleural effusion, so an attempt was made to drain the left pleural space. Malposition of the chest drain was suspected because blood was draining in a pulsatile way from the catheter. Computed tomography revealed perforation of the left ventricle. Mini-thoracotomy was performed and the drain extracted successfully.
Catheters ; Chest Tubes ; Female ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Pleural Effusion ; Stress, Psychological ; Thorax

Chest draining is a common procedure for treating pleural effusion. Perforation of the heart is a rare often fatal complication of chest drain insertion. We report a case of a 76-year-old female patient suffering from congestive heart failure. At presentation, unilateral opacity of the left chest observed on a chest X-ray was interpreted as massive pleural effusion, so an attempt was made to drain the left pleural space. Malposition of the chest drain was suspected because blood was draining in a pulsatile way from the catheter. Computed tomography revealed perforation of the left ventricle. Mini-thoracotomy was performed and the drain extracted successfully.
Catheters ; Chest Tubes ; Female ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Pleural Effusion ; Stress, Psychological ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Edema* ; Hydrops Fetalis*

No abstract available.
Edema* ; Hydrops Fetalis*

BACKGROUND: Superoxide dismutase(SOD) is an essential enzyme of protective defense mechanism in cellular compartments against the potential cytotoxicity of superoxide anion. It seems SOD activity is increased in psoriasis because of an increase in oxygen intermediates due to hyperoxia. However SOD activity is decreased paradoxically. OBJECTIVE: In order to understand the pathophysiology of psoriasis and to elucidate the significance of SOD activity in keratinocyte proliferation, we measured the SOD activities in psoriatic and in normal skin. METHODS: Authors assayed the level of SOD activities in 16 psoriatic and 16 and skin specimens, which were obtained from face/neck(1 and 4 specimens), forearm(5 and 4 specimens), trunk(6 and 3 specimens), and lower extremity( 4 and 5 specimens). We also investigated changes of SOD activity by age and regional differences of SOD activities in the psoriatic and normal skins. RESULT: First, activities of total SOD, Mn-SOD and Cu, Zn-SOD were 12.75+/-8.15, 4.28+/-3.62, 8.48+/-6.37 units/mg protein respectively in the psoriatic skin. Activities of total SOD, Mn-SOD and Cu, Zn-SoD were 17.63+/-9.10, 3.38+/-14.25+/-8.16 units/mg protein respectively in the normal skin. There as a significant difference between psoriatic and normal skins in Cu, Zn-SOD and Cu, Zn-SOD activities showed no significant differences between the age groups. Third, in sun exposed area and unexposed area, there were no significant differences between the psoriatic and normal skins in SOD activities. But it the normal skin, there were significant differences between sun exposed area and unexposed area in total SOD and Cu, Zn-SOD activities. CONCLUSION: There is a significant difference between psoriatic and normal skins in Cu, Zn-SOD activity. Namely, the Cu, Zn-SOD activity is significantly decreased in psoriasis.
Humans ; Hyperoxia ; Keratinocytes ; Oxygen ; Psoriasis ; Skin* ; Solar System ; Superoxide Dismutase* ; Superoxides*

A clinical observation was performed on 2,122 cases of premature infants who were admitted to Ilsin Christian during the past 5 years from Jan. 1986 to Dec. 1990. The results were as follows; 1) The incidence of prematurity was 5.7%, overall mortality rate was 15.8%, and the sex ratio of male to female was 1.5:1. 2) Concomitant maternal diseases were premature rupture of membrane 457 cases (21.5%), preeclampsia & eclampsia 424 cases (19.9%), multiple pregnancy 250 cases (11.7%) etc, in the order of frequency. 3) Prematurity was most prevalent among multipara over 3. 4) Incidence of prematurity according to maternal age was frequent in woman more than 35 years old. 5) Mortality of prematurity was higher inversely propotional to birth weight & gestational age. 6) Main causes of death were IRDS 45 cases (43%), congenital anomaly 72 cases (21.6%), sepsis 31 cases (9.3%), and unknown 84 cases (25.0%). 7) Clinical problems were hyperbilirubinemia 38.9%, hypoglycemia 28.6%, IRDS 18%, sepsis & other infections 8.1% etc, in the order of frequency. 8) Most deaths were seen within first 24hr (74.5%).
Adult ; Birth Weight ; Cause of Death ; Eclampsia ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; Hypoglycemia ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Male ; Maternal Age ; Membranes ; Mortality ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Rupture ; Sepsis ; Sex Ratio