BACKGROUND: Several modalities have been used for the treatment of livedo vasculitis. However, in some cases conspicious morbidity is caused by recurrent painful ulceration resistant to therapy. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness and adverse effects of the danazol in treatment of livedo vasculitis. METHODS: Nine patients with ulcerative lesions due to livedo vasculitis were included for danazol therapy. Danazol 200mg was administered daily for 4 to 8 weeks. RESULTS: Eight of the patients showed remarkable improvement and were satisfied with this therapy. Significant adverse effects were not observed. CONCLUSION: We suggest that a low dose of danazol may be considered as the first line of treatment and is worthwhile to try in cases recalcitrant to the other treatment.
Danazol* ; Humans ; Ulcer ; Vasculitis*

No abstract available.
Scrub Typhus*

Background: If phototoxic:ity can be predetermined in vitro, the information will aid in prognosticating whether or not caimpounds have a photosensitizing pczrlial. OBJECTIVE: For the evaluation of the phototoxic potentials of reral drugs, we performed the Candida albicans test and the photohemolysis test. METHODS: The Candida altiicans test is based on growth inhibtion of Candida albicans after application of the drug and ultraviolet light A( UVA ) irradiatior and the photohemolysis test is based on hemolysis of red blood cells caused by irradiation ir the presence of photosensitizing compounds. In the Candida albicans test, clear zones around the drug patches were evaluated, which means positive results for the phototoxic potential of the drugs. In the photohemolysis test, the amounts of hemolysis were evaluated by measuring the relar absorbance at 540nm using a spectrophotometer. RESULTS: In the Candida albicans test, ibuprofen, naldix acid, chlorpromazine and thiodiphenylamine showed positive results, whereas others did not the photohemolysis test, griseofulvin, ibuprofen and nalicdixic acid showed increased amounts hemolysis at UVA and ultraviolet light B(UVB) irracliation, and chlorpromazine, thiodiphenylaiair, chlorothiazide and piroxicam showed increased amounts of hemolysis at UVA irradiation only. CONCLUSION: The results showed that both methods were goodness screening tests for demonstrating the phototoxicity of therapeutic drugs.
Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Chlorothiazide ; Chlorpromazine ; Dermatitis, Phototoxic* ; Erythrocytes ; Griseofulvin ; Hemolysis ; Ibuprofen ; Mass Screening ; Piroxicam ; Ultraviolet Rays

Baboon syndrome is used to denote a systemic allergic contact dermititis with a characteristic color and distribution pattern. It is also referred to as mercury exanthem, because inhalation of mercury vapor usually causes the skiri lesion in a sensitized person. Diffuse pi,ikish erythema of the buttock, upper inner thigh, and axilla are characteristic features. We report a case of baboon syndrome developed after exposure to the smoke of a burning amulete a charm written on a piece of paper in a 12 year-old female. Mercury sensitivity was confirrned by a patch test. Atomic absorption by a spectrographic method and Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive for analysis X-ray detected mercury in the urine and the ed scraped pigments from the amulet, respectively.
Absorption ; Axilla ; Burns ; Buttocks ; Child ; Erythema ; Exanthema ; Female ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Papio* ; Patch Tests ; Smoke* ; Thigh

The ankle stability has a vital role in normal gait and walking. An accurate and anatomic reduction with rigid fixation has been emphasized as important regimens as well as early motion and weight bearing exercises. The authors analysed 90 cases(88 patients) of ankle fractures which were admitted and treated in orthopedic department, Chung-Ang Gil General Hospital from March 1987 to May 1992. Males were affected 1.7times than female and the age group of third and fourth decades constituted 60.2%. The most common cause was vehicle accident(35 cases; 38.9%). According to Lauge-Hansen classification, supination-external rotation type was most common(32 cases; 35.6%). Accoompanyng injuries were noted on 45 cases(50%) and fractures in lower extremities were most common(17 cases; 18.9%). According to meyer's assessment of result, the clinical and radiologic results were better in operative method than conservative ones. From the evaluation of clinical results, anatomic reduction and rigid internal fixation of lateral malleoli and distal tibiofibular joint are more important factors. Complications are resulted in 19cases(21.1%) and traumatic arthritis is the most common (10 cases; 11.1%). The extent and degree of injury was an important factor in an overall results of treatment as well as the anatomic reduction of fracture alignment.
Ankle Fractures ; Ankle ; Arthritis ; Classification ; Exercise ; Female ; Gait ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Joints ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Methods ; Orthopedics ; Walking ; Weight-Bearing

No abstract available.
Hematoma*

A reproducible noninvasive technique for measuring right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) was developed using first pass quantitative radionuclide angiocardiography. Tests were carried out in the right anterior oblique position with a computerized multicrystal scintillation camera with high count rate capabilities. RVEF was calculated on beat to beat basis from the high frequency components of the background-corrected right ventricular time-activity curve. The following results were obtained; 1) In 10 normal adults, RVEF averaged 50.9+/-8.2. In 20 patients with chronic obstructive lung diseases (COPD), RVEF was 37.9+/-6.1% and significantly lower than that of normal persons(P<0.005). 2) There was meaningful correlation between RVEF and forced expiratory volume (FEVI) in patients with COPD (r=0.51). And there was significant difference of RVEF between 13 patients with FEVI less than IL/min (6 patients with right ventricular failure, 7 patients with patients without that) and 7 patients with FEVI IL/min or more (35.7+/-6.0%, 42.1+/-3.2% respectively. P<0.005). 3) All 6 patients with clinical manifestation of right heart failure had abnormal RVEF and had FEVI less than IL/min, which was significantly lower than that of 14 patients without clinical manifestation of right heart failure (33.6+/-4.8%, 39.8+/-5.6%, respectively. P<0.005). 4) In 14 patients without clinical manifestation of right heart failure, 11 patients among whom 7 patients had FEVI less than IL/min, had abnormal RVEF.
Adult ; Angiocardiography ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Gamma Cameras ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Obstructive* ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Radionuclide Ventriculography* ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Function, Right*

BACKGROUND: The angiotensin-converting enzyme(ACE) plays an important role in cardiovascular disease by production of angiotensin and degradation of bradykinin. Cloning of ACE gene revealed an insertion/deletion(I/D) polymorphism according to the presence/absence of a 287 base pair fragment in the 16th intron of ACE gene, and the ACE polymophism was associated with ACE activity. The genotype DD was identified as a risk factor for myocardial infarction in several studies. We analyzed the ACE I/D polymorphism in 62 patients with myocardial infarction and 67 normal subjects. METHODS: Genomic DNA from peripheral blood was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and characterized by three ACE genotypes; two insertion alleles(genotype II), two deletion alleles(genotype DD) and heterogenous alleles(genotype ID). ACE activity was determined by spectrophotometric method utilizing the synthetic substrate. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in ACE polymorphism between patients and normal subjects. But, the frequency of genotype DD was significantly increased in the low-risk group of patients compared with the high-risk group. The multi-vessel disease was more strongly associated with genotype DD, but there was no statistical significance. The ACE activity was strongly associated with ACE polymorphism with the activity being highest in genotype DD. There was no significant difference between patients and control subjects of the same genotype. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in ACE polymorphism between patients and normal subjects. The frequencies for genotype II, ID, DD were 0.328, 0.537, 0.134, respectively in normal subjects. There was high frequency of genotype II compared with Caucasians. A deletion polymorphism(genotype DD) may increase the risk for myocardial infarction in lowrisk group, and the serum ACE activity was correlated with three genotypes.
Angiotensins ; Base Pairing ; Bradykinin ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; DNA ; Genotype ; Humans ; Introns ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Risk Factors

No abstract available.
Mycobacterium* ; Skin*

A number of noninvasive technics have been advocated as reflecting left ventricular performance. These methods include systolic time intervals, echocardiography and imaging of the left ventricular chamber with radionuclides during systole and diastole. Radionuclide evaluation of left ventricular function by means of the gamma camera and gating currently appears to be the most reliable noninvasive method for approximating angiographic evaluation of left ventricular performance. Utilizing the radionuclide angiography, we measured the left ventricular function in 19 normal healthy control, 60 patients with coronary artery diseases 7 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, 5 patients with hypertension. 1) Left ventricular ejection fraction decreased in 12 patients with anterior myocardial infarction (39.9+/-11.6%), 17 patients with inferior myocardial infarction (49.9+/-8.4%) and 7 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (19.0+/-5.8%), and there was a statistically significant difference compared with 19 normal control group (63.5+/-8.2%)(p<0.005). However there were no statistically significant difference between normal control group, patients with hypertension (58.8+/-7.6%) and patients with angina pectoris (60.1+/-6.5%). 2) Left ventricular ejection fraction decreased in both anterior and inferior myocardial infarction, and there was a statisically significant difference between both groups (p<0.01). All 13 patients with acute myocardial infarction had abnormal LVEF (40.5+/-9.1%) whcih was significantly lower than that of 16 patients with old myolardial infarction (50.1+/-10.5%)(p<0.01).
Angina Pectoris ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diastole ; Echocardiography ; Gamma Cameras ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Infarction ; Inferior Wall Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Infarction ; Radioisotopes ; Radionuclide Angiography* ; Stroke Volume ; Systole ; Ventricular Function, Left*