BACKGROUND: The 5α-reductase inhibitor finasteride blocks the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone(DHT), the androgen responsible for androgen- etic alopecia in genetically predisposed men. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of finaster- ide treatment according to the type of androgenetic alopecia in Korea. METHODS: 196 patients with finasteride(1.25mg/day) were registered in this study and 68 patients were followed over 8 months. Efficacy was evaluated by globa1 photographs, investigator assessment of clinical change,and patients' self assessment via self administered hair growth questionnaire. RESULTS: Patients' self-assessment demonstrated that finasteride treatment slowed hair loss, increased hair growth, and improved appearance of hair. These improvements were corroborated by objective assessments after 4 months of treatment. Adverse effects such as sexual dysfunction were minimal. CONCLUSION: Oral finasteride 1.25mg/day slowed the progression of hair loss and increased hair growth in clinical tria1s of men with androgenetic alopecia over 8 months. With its generally good tolerability profile, finasteride is a new approach to the management of this condition, for which treatment options are few.
Alopecia* ; Finasteride* ; Hair ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Research Personnel ; Self-Assessment ; Testosterone

BACKGROUND: Human hair usually emerges from the scalp in groups of 2 or 3-hair units. Hair densities and grouping patterns in androgenetic alopecia (AGA) patients are known to be different from those in normal adults, but no comparative study has ever before been made in Korea. Therefore we have developed some technical improvements on phototrichogram methodology to evaluate the differences between these two groups. BACKGROUND: Objectives: This study was performed to quantify Koreans' hair characteristics at each site (vertex, occipital, temporal) of the scalp according to the age and to compare the differences of hair characteristics of AGA and normal adults using phototrichogram. METHODS: Hairs in the precisely defined circle at each (vertex, temporal, occipital) site of the scalp in 37 AGA male patients and 15 healthy male volunteers were evaluated according to age. Each circumscribed area of the scalp, centered with a dot tattoo to ensure reproducibility, was photographed just after shaving, and named 'primary image'. Two days later, the same area was again photographed, and named 'secondary image', from which the hair density and the grouping pattern of hair follicular units were determined by the image analyzer program. RESULTS: The results can be summarized as follows: 1. In normal adult males, the range of hair density was 117~13/cm2~140~16/cm2, with the hair density of the occiput being significantly higher than that of the temple. No significant differences in hair density were shown between vertex and occiput. 2. In AGA male patients, the range of hair density was 102~23/cm2-137~17/cm2, and the differences of the hair density between vertex and occiput were statistically significant. 3. The numbers of grouped hair units per square centimeter in the non-bald adult male group ranged from 59~11/cm2 to 73~14/cm2. The most common grouped hair unit was a 2-hair unit, followed by a 1-hair unit and a 3-hair unit group. 4. In the AGA group, the numbers of grouped hair units per square centimeter ranged from 57~6/cm2 to 72~12/cm2, showing no significance with the control group. The most common grouped hair unit was a 1-hair unit, followed by a 2-hair unit and a 3-hair unit group. CONCLUSIONS: The AGA group compared remarkably with the normal adult male group, showing a lower hair density with a larger proportion of 1-grouped hair units. Based on the data about hair density and hair grouping patterns in AGA patients, surgeons can estimate the area of donor scalp with the most probable number of follicular units in hair trans-plantation procedures.
Adult ; Alopecia* ; Hair* ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Scalp* ; Tissue Donors ; Volunteers

Clear cell sarcoma of tendon and aponeurosis is a rare malignant tumor. It occurs chiefly in young adults, predominates in women and is most common in the regions of the foot and ankle. We report a case of clear cell sarcoma of tendon and aponeurosis in s 22-year-old man. he pstient had had a asymptomatic, normal skin colored, relativerly hard, dome shsped nodule on the anterior chest for 6 months. Histopsthologic findings revealed uniform pattern composed of compact nests of round or fusiform cells which had clear cytoplasm and were surrounded by delicate framework of fibrocollagenous tissue, and the individual tumor cell had a fairly regular appearance of possessing round to avoid vesicular nucleus with prominent basophilic nucleolus. One year after surgical excision and post operative radiotherapy, there was no recurrence.
Ankle ; Basophils ; Cytoplasm ; Female ; Foot ; Humans ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma, Clear Cell* ; Skin ; Tendons ; Thorax* ; Young Adult

A fixed drug eruption is a cutaneous reaction caused by various drugs, which include phenazone derivatives, barbiturates, sulfonamides, tetracyclines and phenolphthaleins. An eruption caused by piroxicam is very rare and there have been no previous reports in Korea. A 49-year-old woman was seen with mutiple erythematous patches and some bullae that appeared after oral administration of piroxicam. The patient had had two similar episodes after oral administration of piroxicam. We performed patch test with piroxicam and could confirm a fixed drug eruption caused by this durg.
Administration, Oral ; Antipyrine ; Barbiturates ; Drug Eruptions* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Patch Tests ; Phenolphthalein ; Phenolphthaleins ; Piroxicam* ; Sulfonamides ; Tetracyclines

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The transmission routes of HCV infection were not determined in the half of the HCV infected patients. So intrafamilial personal contact, sexual contact, vertical transmission and some vectors are supposed as a route of HCV infection. We investigated the prevalence of anti-HCV positivity in healthy Korean children and compared with the data from the healthy adults whether the vertical transmission is feasible. METHODS: Serum samples from 2,080 children in 8 elementary schools were tested for serum aminotransferases, hepatitis B viral markers by radioimmu- noassay, and anti-HCV by the third generation EIA. Sera from anti-HCV positive children were tested for HCV-RNA by RT-PCR. Six months later, same tests were repeated. RESULTS: Anti-HCV was positive in 17 children among 2,080(0.82%). Among 17 anti-HCV positive children, HCV-RNA was detected only in one case and the HCV genotype was type II by Okamotos classification. Anti-HCV was tested again in 7 of 17 anti-HCV positive children after 6 months later and all of these children were anti-HCV positive and additional 3 of 19 family members were anti-HCV positive. But HCV-RAN was not detected in alL CONCLUSION: Anti-HCV positive rate in children was 0.81%.
Adult ; Biomarkers ; Child* ; Classification ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B ; Humans ; Prevalence* ; Transaminases

Lymphangiectasia is an uncommon disease that may arise after surgery or radiation therapy. We report a case of lymphangiectasia in a 57-year-old woman who had been treated for cervix cancer by radical transabdominal hysterectomy with post operative radiotherapy. She had variable sized transluscent vesicles on both sides of labia major with lymphedema on lower extremities. A biopsy specimen showed large cystic dilatations lined by a single layer of endothelial cells in the upper dermis. We treated her with CO2 laser.
Biopsy ; Dermis ; Dilatation ; Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Lasers, Gas ; Lower Extremity ; Lymphedema ; Middle Aged ; Radiotherapy ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Loss of Heterozygosity*

BACKGROUND: Self-inflicted dermatosis is a kind of self-inflicted skin disease. Most Vietnam veterans from Korea have visited the Veterans Hospitals for dermatological examination to determine the relationship between their skin diseases and Agent Orange. We were suspicious of the possibility that several Vietnam veterans intentionally produced their own skin lesions. OBJECTIVE: We conducted this study to determine the clinical characteristics of self-inflicted dermatoses of Korean Vietnam veterans. METHODS: From January, 1999 to December, 2007, a total 24 Vietnam veterans who were diagnosed as having self-inflicted dermatoses during their dermatological examinations at our hospital were included in this study. We investigated their clinical presentation, the laboratory examinations, the pathologic examinations, the medical records and the associated diseases. RESULTS: Itching was the most common subjective complaint and the duration of the itching was as follows; 20 to 30 yrs (50.0%), 1 to 10 yrs (25.0%), 10 to 20 yrs (20.8%) etc. The skin lesions were all multiple, and the involved area was as follows; upper extremities (83.3%), trunk (75.0%), lower extremities (70.8%) etc. There were two categories of clinical skin presentation. The first was the cases with lesion that were thought to be made by physical trauma such as stinging or excoriation, and the second more common cases had lesions that were thought to be made by chemical agents (70.8%). These cases resembled allergic or toxic irritant dermatitis and the lesions were composed of vesicles, erosions, ulcers and crusts that were within an arm's reach. Only 4 cases admitted to intentionally inflicting their skin lesions because of intense itching, and the others denied that they made the skin lesions by themselves. Skin biopsies were carried out in 19 of the total 24 cases, and the most common finding was spongiotic dermatitis (57.8%). CONCLUSION: This study showed the distribution and characteristics of self-inflicted dermatoses, and the study provides fundamental data for dermatologists to assess patients with self-inflicted dermatoses.
2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid ; 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid ; Biopsy ; Bites and Stings ; Citrus sinensis ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Irritant ; Hospitals, Veterans ; Humans ; Intention ; Korea ; Lower Extremity ; Medical Records ; Pruritus ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin ; Ulcer ; Upper Extremity ; Veterans ; Vietnam

PURPOSE: Until several years ago, gastric or hepatic resection was seldom indicated for metastatic gastric cancer because of the expected dismal prognosis. Recently, some studies have reported benefits from gastric or hepatic resection for metastatic gastric cancer. We performed this retrospective study to see the prognosis after aggressive surgery in gastric cancer patients with hepatic metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 112 gastric cancer patients were confirmed to have liver metastasis at the time of initial surgery or preoperative evaluation during the 8-year period from January, 1987 to December, 1994 at the Department of Surgery, Yonsei University, College of Medicine. Thirty eight cases (33.9%) underwent gastrectomy (total gastrectomy: 15, subtotal gastrectomy: 23). Of these 38 cases, 12 underwent a combined resection of metastatic hepatic tumors (segmentectomy: 7, wedge resection: 3, lobectomy: 1 and enucleation: 1). RESULTS: The locations of primary lesion were most common in the lower 1/3 of the stomach in all of the nonresected, the gastrectomy only, and the gastrectomy & hepatectomy group. Most of the cancers belonged to Borrmann type III and IV. Histologically, dedifferentiated cancer (poorly differentiated cancer, signet ring cell cancer, mucinous cancer) was more frequent in the nonresected group (67.4%) while differentiated cancer (papillary cancer, well differentiated cancer, moderately differentiated cancer) was more frequent in the resected group (60.9%). The number of metastatic hepatic nodules were less than two in the resected group and the location of metastatic lesions tended to be limited to one lobe. Concerning the prognosis, the mean survival of the resected group was better than the nonresected group (nonresected group: 8.4 months, gastrectomy only group: 18.4 months, gastrectomy & hepatectomy group: 35.5 months). The mean score of QOL (quality of life) according to Spitzer index was better in the resected group (nonresected group: 5.1, gastrectomy only group: 6.0, gastrectomy & hepatectomy group: 7.5). CONCLUSION: Resection of both the primary gastric lesion and the metastatic hepatic lesion should be considered in selected cases to improve the survival and the quality of life in patients with hepatic metastasis.
Gastrectomy ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver* ; Mucins ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Prognosis* ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms*

Angiokeratoma of the vulva is a relatively rare, benign condition that usually presents as single or a few isolated papules mainly on the labia majora. It is histologically identical to angiokeratoma of the scrotum. A 50-year-old woman presented with a one year history of nonpruritic lesions on the vulva. Her skin lesions used to bleed vith subtle trauma. Several dark purplish papules, ranging in diameter from 3 to 5mm, were noticed on both labia majora. A biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of angiokeratoma. A simple electrodesiccation of all lesions was performed under local anesthesia. The patient has remained asymptomatic nd without recurrence for the follow-up period of 10 months without any recurrence.
Anesthesia, Local ; Angiokeratoma* ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Scrotum ; Skin ; Vulva*