It is well studied about the composition of tear and it`s function, but not about the proportion of tear proteins in the dry eye, in which tear volume is reduced and tear film is unstable. Therefore, we performed this study to determine the proportion of tear proteins. This study involved 150 subjects, 50 volunteers and 100 outpatients who visited Ophthalmologic department from January to December in 1997. Dry eye was classified into mild and severe dry eyes. Four fractions of tear protein were demonstrated by electrophoresis. The proportion of tear proteins in fraction 1 to 4 were 31.0+/-5.9%(mean+/-standard deviation), 2.9+/-1.3%, 40.8+/-5.5%, 25.2+/-5.2%, in control group, 33.4+/-7.1%, 3.4+/-3.0%, 41.6+/-7.7%, 21.5+/-4.8% in mild dry eye group, 37.5+/-11.4%, 3.2+/-2.2%, 40.3+/-9.1%, 19.5+/-5.3% in severe dry eye group respectively. With severty of the dry eye, the proportion of fraction 1 was increased and the proportion of fraction 4 was decreased, both of which were statistically significant difference(P<0.01). In proportion to the severity of dry eye, the proportion of tear proteins became unstable. For the diagnosis and management of the dry eye,we consider the supplement of the decreased portion of tear proteins.
Diagnosis ; Electrophoresis ; Humans ; Outpatients ; Tears* ; Volunteers

We reviewed the complications associated with silicone tube intubation in the treatment of disorders of the lacrimal system in 68 cases from January 995 to December 1997. Complications included conjuctival and corneal irritation 7 cases, punctal erosion 6 cases, tube prolapse 5 cases, tube extrusion or breakage 4 cases, and intranasal irritation 3 cases. After silicone intubation complications occurred in 7 cases in the 1st month, 8 cases between 1 and 3 months. Among them each 3 cases had their tubes removed. Complications occurred in 4 cases between 3 and 6 months, 6 cases longer than 6 months. After 3 months, all patients with complications had their tubes removed. Operation result of patients with tube removed was good.
Humans ; Intubation* ; Prolapse ; Silicones*

We reviewed the medical records of 122 patients (122 eyes) who had been admitted for the traumatic hyphema at the Wallace memorial Baptist Hospital between January 1993 and June 1996, excluding perforating eye injury. And according to the degree of hyphema, the incidence of its complications such as early glaucoma, late glaucoma, rebleeding, or conreal staining , and decreased final visual acuity was analyzed. The degree of hyphema was graded by the amount of the anterior chamber filled with blood clot after layering of the red blood cells: Grade I was defined as less than one third of anterior chamber, Grade II as one third to one half of it, Grade III as one half to nearly total of it, or Grade IV as total of it. The early or late glaucoma was defined as intraocular pressure using Goldmann` s applanation tonometer of 21mmHg or more on admission or at about 1 month after admission. The decreased final visual acuity is defined as final corrected visual acuity using Hans chart of 0.5 or less. Of 122 eyes, there were 92 eyes(75.4%) in Grade I, 20 eyes(16.4%) in Grade II, 6 eyes(4.9%) in Grade III, or 4 eyes(12.3%) in Grade IV. According to the grade, the incidence of early glaucoma was 10.9%(10 eyes) in Grade I, 25.0%(5 eyes) in Grade II, 16.7%(1 eye) in Grade III, or 25.0%(1eye) in Grade IV; that of late glaucoma was 3.3%(3eyes) in Grade I, 5.0%(1 eye) in Grade II, zero in Grade III, or 25%(1 eye) in Grade IV; that of rebleeding was zero in Grade I, 10.0%(2 eyes) in Grade II, 50.0%(3 eyes) in Grade III, or 50.0%(2 eyes) in Grade IV; that of conreal staining was 50.0%(2 eyes) in Grade IV but zero in Grade I, Grade II or Grade III; and that of decreased final visual acuity was 8.7%(8 eyes) in Grade I, 20.0%(4 eyes) in Grade II, 33.3%(2 eyes) in Grade III or 25%(1 eye) in Grade IV. The higher the grade, the higher the incidence of its complication and decreased final visual acuity not showing the statistical significance (P>0.05). However, the incidence of rebleeding and decreased final visual acuity was higher in Grade II to IV groups showing the statistical significance in comparison with Grade I(P<0.01). Therefore, it is considered that diagnosis, treatment , and follow-up should be made correctly and attentively in Grade II to IV groups than in Grade I.
Anterior Chamber ; Diagnosis ; Erythrocytes ; Eye Injuries ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Hyphema* ; Incidence* ; Intraocular Pressure ; Medical Records ; Protestantism ; Visual Acuity*

Staphylococcus lugdunensis is part of the normal human skin flora and has the ability to establish primary infection in deep skin and vascular infections. A 41-year-old male presented with brittle, thick, crusted right thumb nail with yellow to brown discoloration and erythematous edema around the nail fold. We identified S. lugdunensis by bacterial culture for the pus. The lesion was improved after 2 months treatment of oral cefditoren and clarithromycin. We report a case of onychia and paronychia caused by S. lugdunensis.
Adult ; Cephalosporins ; Clarithromycin ; Edema ; Humans ; Male ; Nails ; Paronychia ; Skin ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus lugdunensis ; Suppuration ; Thumb

No abstract available.
Herpes Zoster* ; Urinary Retention*

We report a case of tuberculosis verrucosa cutis in a 39-year-old male patient, who presented verrucous plaque on the dorsum of right third finger. Seven months ago, he had a cut with paper and skin lesion developed. Histopathologic features revealed parakeratosis, irregular acanthosis in the epidermis and inflammatory cellular infiltrates and tuberculoid granulomas in the dermis. AFB- positive bacilli were demonstrated. He has been treated with isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide for 4 months till now and the skin lesion has been markedly improved.
Adult ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Ethambutol ; Fingers ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Isoniazid ; Male ; Parakeratosis ; Pyrazinamide ; Rifampin ; Skin ; Tuberculosis*

We report two cases of warty dyskeratoma which is uncommon skin lesion. A 50-year-old male presented with an asymptomatic dermal nodule on periauricular area. Histopathologic findings showed the dermal cystic structures lined by epithelial wall of papillomatosis and suprabasal cleft formation with numerous villi and acantholytic cells. The second case was a 48-year-old male with an asymptomatic papule on cheek. Histopathologic finding showed the cup-shaped keratin-filled invagination lined by papillomatotic wall and filled with numerous acantholytic, dyskeratotic cells. Both findings were the characteristic features of warty dyskeratoma.
Cheek ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Papilloma ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Recently, foreigners among outpatients in dermatologic clinics are increasing as foreigners staying in Korea are increasing. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiologic and histopathologic characteristics of skin diseases in foreign patients. METHODS: Total 277 foreign patients had undergone skin biopsies among patients visiting through international health services, Samsung medical center during 7-year period between January, 1996 and December, 2002. Their clinical data and histopathologic findings were reviewed. RESULTS: The number of skin biopsies taken from foreign patients was 429(4.6%) among total 8779 skin biopsies during 7 years. It showed a tendency to increase with time. The mean age of patients was 42.3 years and the ratio of men to women was about 2: 1. Distribution of nationality showed most of the patients came from North America(47.7%) and Europe (22.0%). Patients from USA were most common(41.5%). The distributions of dermatoses were common melanocytic nevi(24.2%), seborrheic keratoses (11.4%), actinic keratoses(8.4%), dysplastic nevi(6.8%), and epidermal or pilar cysts(5.1%). Total 266 cases(62%) were the dermatoses which could be clinically manifested as pigmented lesions. The numbers of cutaneous premalignant lesions and malignant tumors were 20(4.7%) and 68(15.9%), respectively. CONCLUSION: This study showed epidemiologic and histopathologic characteristics of the skin diseases of foreign patients staying in Korea. In comparison with Korean patients, it seems that foreign patients concern themselves much more about skin cancers and want their pigmented skin lesions to be examined. Dermatologists should consider performing skin biopsies in foreign patients who presented pigmented skin lesions.
Actins ; Biopsy ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Ethnic Groups ; Europe ; Female ; Health Services* ; Humans ; Keratosis, Seborrheic ; Korea ; Male ; Outpatients ; Skin Diseases* ; Skin Neoplasms ; Skin*

BACKGROUND: Recently, foreigners among outpatients in dermatologic clinics are increasing as foreigners staying in Korea are increasing. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiologic and histopathologic characteristics of skin diseases in foreign patients. METHODS: Total 277 foreign patients had undergone skin biopsies among patients visiting through international health services, Samsung medical center during 7-year period between January, 1996 and December, 2002. Their clinical data and histopathologic findings were reviewed. RESULTS: The number of skin biopsies taken from foreign patients was 429(4.6%) among total 8779 skin biopsies during 7 years. It showed a tendency to increase with time. The mean age of patients was 42.3 years and the ratio of men to women was about 2: 1. Distribution of nationality showed most of the patients came from North America(47.7%) and Europe (22.0%). Patients from USA were most common(41.5%). The distributions of dermatoses were common melanocytic nevi(24.2%), seborrheic keratoses (11.4%), actinic keratoses(8.4%), dysplastic nevi(6.8%), and epidermal or pilar cysts(5.1%). Total 266 cases(62%) were the dermatoses which could be clinically manifested as pigmented lesions. The numbers of cutaneous premalignant lesions and malignant tumors were 20(4.7%) and 68(15.9%), respectively. CONCLUSION: This study showed epidemiologic and histopathologic characteristics of the skin diseases of foreign patients staying in Korea. In comparison with Korean patients, it seems that foreign patients concern themselves much more about skin cancers and want their pigmented skin lesions to be examined. Dermatologists should consider performing skin biopsies in foreign patients who presented pigmented skin lesions.
Actins ; Biopsy ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Ethnic Groups ; Europe ; Female ; Health Services* ; Humans ; Keratosis, Seborrheic ; Korea ; Male ; Outpatients ; Skin Diseases* ; Skin Neoplasms ; Skin*

Spindle cell hemangioma is an uncommon variant of vascular tumor, and it was first described as a unique vascular lesion that's characterized by cavernous blood vessels separated by spindle cells. It is recently thought to be a benign hemangioma with a reactive process. It mostly affects the distal extremities and it present as single or multiple lesions that are often painful. Histologically, thin-walled cavernous vessels are seen to be intermixed with varying proportions of bland spindle cells with vesicular nuclei. We report here on an interesting case of spindle cell hemangioma in a 39-year-old woman.
Adult ; Blood Vessels ; Caves ; Extremities ; Female ; Hemangioma ; Humans