BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster is an important and troublesome disease. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was the elucidation of the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of herpes zoster through patient assessrnent. METHODS: During a 5- Year period, January 1990 to December 1994, 215 patients with herpes zoster were assessed with regard to annual and monthly frequency in occurrence, age and gender incidence. Associated conditions, dermatomic distributions, the relationship of onset of pain and skin lesions, Multi-CMI test and complications were also evaluated. RESULTS: 1. The annual freguency of herpes zoster ranged from 0.88% to 1.78% (mean 1.23%) during the 5-year period. The highest number of herpes zoster patients was observed in winter (p<0.001) especially in January. 2. Herpes zoster was found to most frequently afflict persons aged 50-59 (27.9%). 71% of the patients were over 40 years of age. 3. In 76 patients (41.8%), neuralgia occurred several days (4 days mean) before the development of skin lesions. In 92 patients (50.5%), pain and skin lesions developed simultaneously while skin lesion development occurred before the onset of pain in 14 patients (7.7%). 4. Among the patients, 42.8% had associated conditions such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, pulmonary tuberculosis, liver diseases, peptic ulcer, hypothyroidism, pharyngitis, fracture, etc. 5. The dermatomic invclvement of herpes zoster patients having one dermatome was most frequent in thoracic dermatome ca. es (52.6%). Others included cervical (16.7%), trigeminal (11.6%), sacral (6. 0%), lumbar (4.2%), facial (0.5%). Cases having two different dermatomes constituted 8.4%. 6. The most common complication of herpes zoster was postherpetic neuralgia although instance of ophthalmologic compiications, secondary bacterial infection, scar formation, Ramsay-Hunt syndrome, keloid formation, and urinary difficulty were also documented. 7. Multi-CMI (Cell-mediated immunity) tests were done on 88 herpes zoster patients. Thirteen of them (14.8%) were found to have comparatively depressed scores. Ten of the 79 single dermatome involvement patients (12.7%) and three of the 9 two dermatome involvement patients (33.3%) exhibited similar scores. CONCLUSION: These results are in accordance with those of previous reports with the exception of the higher incidence ot two different dermatome involvements and seasonal variation.
Bacterial Infections ; Cicatrix ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Hypothyroidism ; Incidence ; Keloid ; Liver Diseases ; Neuralgia ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Peptic Ulcer ; Pharyngitis ; Seasons ; Skin ; Tuberculosis

We report a case of mycosis fungoides with small follicular papules and plaques on the trunk. Histopathological findings showed lymphocytic infiltration within and around the follicular epithelium and Pautrier's microabscess in the epidermis. Immunohistochemical studies showed atypical T lymphocytes infiltrating the follicles and electron microscopic examination revealed the presence of lymphocytes with large convoluted nuclei around the follicles. These findings suggest that the follicular lesions were specific for a special variant of mycosis fungoides.
Epidermis ; Epithelium ; Lymphocytes ; Mycosis Fungoides* ; T-Lymphocytes

No abstract available.
Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Pulmonary Sclerosing Hemangioma*

PURPOSE: We conducted a phase II study in previously untreated patients with unresectable stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer to evaluate the response rate and toxicity of the combination chemotherapy regimen of etoposide, ifosfamide and cisplatin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 1993 to December 1996, twenty patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (stage IIIB 5 and IV 15) (squamous cell 8, adeno- carcinoma 12), were enrolled in this study. There were 13 (65%) males and 7 (35%) females, and median age of patients were 56 years (range: 34~66). Eighteen patients had performance status (ECOG) 0~1, two patients had performance status 2. Treatment was consisted of cisplatin (20 mg/m2 i.v., day 1~4), VP-16 (etoposide) (75 mg/m2 i.v., day 1~4), ifosfamide (1000 mg/m2 i.v., day 1~4) with mesna. This treatment was repeated every four weeks. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 25%. Complete response rate was 5% (1/20) and partial response rate was 20% (4/20). The median cycle of response was 4 (2~6) cycles. The median overall survival time was 28 weeks (9~98 weeks). The median time to progression was 10 weeks (3~50 weeks). Toxicities were evaluated by WHO criteria. Toxicity > GradeIII included: leukopenia 1.6%, thrombocytopenia 3.2%, nausea and vomiting 15%, alopecia 30%, stomatitis 10%. These toxicities were tolerable and reversible. CONCLUSION: VIP regimen was not superior to previous regimens for advanced non-small all lung cancer, and the toxicities were tolerable.
Alopecia ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Cisplatin* ; Drug Therapy, Combination* ; Etoposide ; Female ; Humans ; Ifosfamide* ; Leukopenia ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Mesna ; Nausea ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma* ; Stomatitis ; Thrombocytopenia ; Vomiting

Microsporum gypseum, long considered to be of animal origin, has recently been found to be soil inhabitating fungus and abundant in soil throughout the world. M. Gypseum infections tend to increase nowadays in Korea. Nineteen cases of ringworm caused by M. gypseum were reported in Korean literature until 1980 to the best of our knowledge. We present 5 cases of M. gypseum infection confirmed by culture findings on Sabouraud agar media and microscopic examination. The first case was 4 year-old boy with solitary coin sinzed pruritic annular erythernatous plaque ontaining papules, pustules and scales on the right cheek of on month duration. The second case, 7 year-old boy, had solitary walnut sized ovoid plaque consisted with papulopustules, oozing and peripheral scaling on right cheek of one month duration. The third case, 5 year-old boy, had solitary egg sized pruritic erythematous plaque with papuIes, scales and crust on the right lower leg of three weeks duration. The fourth case, 63 year-old female, had solitary egg sized sharply demarcated erythematious scaly patch with central clearing on nose and. nasolabial area of 10 days duration. The last case was 2 year-old girl with solitary coin sized annular erythematous scaly pIaque on left lower leg of two weeks duration.
Agar ; Animals ; Cheek ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fungi ; Humans ; Juglans ; Korea ; Leg ; Male ; Microsporum* ; Middle Aged ; Nose ; Numismatics ; Ovum ; Seoul* ; Soil ; Tinea ; Weights and Measures

We herein report three caes of xanthogranuloma occurring in aduls representing solitary nodule or multiple papules. Blood lipid substances such as cholesterol and triglyceride were normal and extracutaneous manifestatioiis were not found in all cases. Histopathorogic findings commonly revealed a granulomatous infiltrate c(intaining foam cells, foreign body gianf. cells and Touton giant cells as well as histiocytes and lymphocytes.
Adult* ; Cholesterol ; Foam Cells ; Foreign Bodies ; Giant Cells ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Triglycerides

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: Alteration of p53 and telomerase activity may be responsible for gastric carcino- genesis. In this study, we tried to observe modulation of telomerase activity by wild type p53 in gastric cancer cell lines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used five gastric cancer cell lines (KATO-III, AGS, SNU-1, SNU-5, SNU-16). In order to find p53 mutation, we used western blot and PCR-SSCP. The TRAP-eze kit which supplied by Oncor (Gaithersburg, MD) was used to detect telomerase activity of the five gastric carcinoma cell lines. The wild type p53 gene was transfected by electroporation method. RESULTS: The expression of p53 protein was increased in four gastric carcinoma cell lines and one cell line (KATO-III) did not express. We found p53 point mutation in exon 5 and 8, and the p53 gene was deleted in KATO-III. The telomerase activity were observed in all five gastric carcinoma cell lines and there were no difference in telomere repeat length among five cell lines. After transfection with wild type p53, we could not find the change of telomerase activity in KATO-III. CONCLUSION: Although activation of telomerase activity and mutation of p53 gene may be needed in gastric carcinogenesis, the telomerase activity was not affected by restoration of p53 function in gastric carcinoma cell lines.
Blotting, Western ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Line* ; Electroporation ; Exons ; Genes, p53* ; Point Mutation ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Telomerase* ; Telomere ; Transfection

Conventional intraoral radiography continues to be the most widely used image modality for the diagnosis of dental caries. But, conventional intraoral radiography has several shortcomings, including the difficulty of exposing and processing intraoral film of consistently acceptable quality. In addition, radiographic retaking that was the result of processing errors, may result in increased discomfort and radiation dose to the patient. Recently, various digital radiographies substitute for conventional intraoral radiography to overcome these disadvantages. The advantages of digital radiography are numerous. One of advantages is the elimination of processing errors. In addition, the radiation dose for digital system is approximately 20% to 25% of that required for conventional intraoral radiography. Another potential advantage of digital imaging is the ability to perform image quality enhancements such as contrast and density modulation, which may increase diagnostic accuracy. The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic ability of artificial proximal defects to conventional intraoral radiography, direct digital image(CDX2000HQ(R)) and indirect digital image(Digora(R)). Artificial defects were made in proximal surfaces of 60 extracted human molars using #1/2, #1, #2 round bur. Five dentists assessed proximal defects on conventional intraoral radiography, direct digital image(CDX2000HQ(R)) and indirect digital image(Digora(R)). ROC(Receiver Operating Characteristic) analysis and Two-way ANOVA test were used for the evaluation of detectability, and following results were acquired. 1. The mean ROC area of conventional intraoral radiography, direct digital image(CDX2000HQ(R))and indirect digital image(Digora(R)) were 0.6766, 0.7538, 0.6791(Grade I), 0.7176, 0.7594, 0.7361(Grade II), and 0.7449, 0.7608, 0.7414(Grade III), respectively. 2. Diagnostic ability of direct digital image was higher than other image modalities. But, there was no statistically significant difference among other imaging modalities for Grade I, II, III lesion(p>0.05). In conclusion, when direct and indirect digital system are comparable with conventional intraoral radiography, these systems may be considered an alternative of conventional intraoral radiography for the diagnosis of proximal surface caries.
Dental Caries ; Dentists ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; Imidazoles ; Molar ; Nitro Compounds ; Radiographic Image Enhancement