OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the psychiatric status of HIV-infected/AIDS inpatients in a general hospital over the past 2.5 years. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of psychiatric consultations performed between January 1, 2011, and July 30, 2013. The records of 97 HIV-infected/AIDS patients were analyzed. These included a total of 282 psychiatric consultations. RESULTS: Of the 97 patients, 91(93.8%) were male, the mean age was 48 years, and mean number of consultations was 2.8. Depressed mood was reported in 102 consultations(23.8%), insomnia in 60(14.0%), and anxiety in 31(7.2%). Psychiatric disorders diagnosed on initial consultation included depressive disorder(37 patients ; 37.0%), cognitive disorder(11 ; 11.0%), and delirium(9 ; 9.0%). Recommended psychotropic medication included Lorazepam(99 ; 17.2%), Escitalopram(90 ; 15.7%), and Quetiapine(84 ; 14.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The main complaints of HIV-infected/AIDS patients were depressed mood, insomnia, and suicidal ideation(including suicide attempts). In total, 85(93.3%) patients of those consulted were diagnosed as meeting the criteria for a psychiatric condition. However, considering that only 16.9% of patients consulted received follow-up treatment, longitudinal research is needed to examine the influence of psychiatric disorders on the transmission of HIV-infection/AIDS, as well as on prognosis and treatment adherence.
Anxiety ; Follow-Up Studies ; HIV ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Male ; Prognosis ; Referral and Consultation ; Retrospective Studies ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Suicide

Elastofibroma is a rare disease which presents as a slowly-growing, solid, ill-defined fibroelastic mass occuring almost exclusively in elderly women and arising mainly from the connective tissue between the lower part of the scapula and chest wall. Of the 270 cases of elastofibroma which have been reported, 170 cases had developed in Japanese patients. Despite the fact that there have been only two case reports in Korea, there might be a higher prevalence of elastofibroma in Korea than expected because of geographical similarity. We experienced a case of elastofibroma occurring in a 56-year-old man. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of elastofibroma in Korean dermatologic of literature.
Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Connective Tissue ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Rare Diseases ; Scapula ; Thoracic Wall

BACKGROUND: Many physiologic, pharmacologic and immunologic abnormalities were reported in atopic dermatitis but the cause and pathogenesis of the disease remain obscure. OBJECTIVE: This study was done to investigate the systemic immunologic abnormalities in atopic dermatitis. METHOD: To evaluate the cell mediated immunity, me quantified pei ipheral blood T lymphocytes and their subsets, using flow cytometery, and assessed plasma neopteiin levels by means of radioimmunoassay. To evaluate the abnormal humoral immunity, we assessed the serum IgE levels by means of enzyme-immunoassay. RESULTS: Mean proportions of peripheral blood T lymphocytes and, heir subsets in atopic Dermatitis patients were within normal limits. Hut the suppvessor/cytotoxic T lyrphocytes(T8) were significantly decreased in the group of se"ere atopic dermatitis compared with the group of mild atopic dermatitis(P<0.05). Plasma neopterin lervels in the group of atopic dermatitis were found to be significantly elevated as compared vith the control group(P<0.01), but no significant cifference was found between the mild and severe group of atcpic dermatitis(P>0.05). Mean serum IgE levels in the patients with atopic dermatitis were higher than reference value. But there was no significant difference between the mild and severe atopic dermatitis group. Serum IgE levels ivere negatiiely correlated with T8(r=-0.3774, P<0.05) and positively with T4/T8 ratio(r =0.5007, P<0.05). Conclusions : These data;uggest that the atopic der matitis has abr ormalities in cell mediated immunity as well as elevated IgE level.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunoglobulin E ; Neopterin* ; Plasma* ; Radioimmunoassay ; Reference Values ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets* ; T-Lymphocytes

We report cases of two patients with acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis(AGEP). One patient had localized cutaneous infection and the other rhinoplasty. Both were being treated with ampicillin and developed intense erythemas followed by generalized subcorneal pustulation associated with fever and a neutrophilic leukocytosis. Histopathological findings were subcorneal spongiform pustules showing preponderance of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Generalized pustular psoriasis, subcorneal pustular dermatosis, impetigo and pemphigus foliaceus should be differentiated from AGEP. The causative drug in both of our cases was ampicillin and fast resolution of pustules was observed with a low dosage of systemic steroid within 5 days.
Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis* ; Ampicillin* ; Erythema ; Fever ; Humans ; Impetigo ; Leukocytosis ; Neutrophils ; Pemphigus ; Psoriasis ; Rhinoplasty ; Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted for development of the Korean version of the Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Checklist civilian version (PCL-C) by evaluating its reliability and validity for the North Korean defectors population. METHODS: A total of 69 North Korean defectors participated in this study. All patients were recruited from the psychiatric outpatient or inpatient ward. We categorized the participants into two groups according to the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) diagnosis of PTSD (PTSD, n=32 ; Non-PTSD, n=37). All Subjects completed psychometric assessments, including the PCL-C, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-PTSD), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). RESULTS: Findings provided support for psychometric properties of the Korean version of the PCL-C. The PCL-C showed good internal consistency (Cronbach alpha=0.93), and a significantly positive correlation with CAPS and MMPI-PTSD (r=0.47, r=0.61, respectively). The optimal cutoff point of PCL-C for the North Korean defectors was at a total score of 56 with sensitivity and specificity of 0.88, and 0.50, respectively. CONCLUSION: Overall, the Korean version of the PCL-C appears to be a valid and reliable measure of PTSD symptoms among the North Korean defectors.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Inpatients ; MMPI ; Outpatients ; Psychometrics ; Reproducibility of Results* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic*

No abstract available.
Ascites*

PURPOSE: It was generally accepted now a days that the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, small for gestational age (SGA), intrauterine growth retardation and fetal origin of adult diseases were related with a endothelial cell dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to know the relation of such diseases by assessing the level of endothelin-1. METHODS: SGA babies, newborns of preeclampsia and normal control mother were included in this study. Isolated endothelial cells were centrifugated and mixed with media in 37, 5% CO2 to obtain confluent monolayer of cultured human umbilical venous endothelial cell (HUVEC). Endothelin-1 levels were determined by Endothelin-1 colorimetric (EIA) Kits. We examined the endothelin-1 level in the HUVEC supernatants from SGA baby, and newborns from preeclampsia as well as normal mother. Also, we compared the endothelin-1 level of cultured normal HUVEC incubated with serum from cord blood of SGA, babies of preeclampsia or normal control mother. RESULTS: The endothelin-1 levels in cultured HUVEC supernatants of three groups showed no significant difference but the endothelin-1 levels of cultured normal HUVEC incubated with serum from preeclampsia mother or SGA mother was significantly higher than those from newborns of control mothers (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that there may be the factor which affect the endothelin-1 level in serum of cord blood from SGA and preeclampsia.
Adult ; Endothelial Cells* ; Endothelin-1* ; Fetal Blood ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Gestational Age* ; Humans* ; Infant, Newborn* ; Mothers ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Umbilical Veins

Chronic dermatophyte infection rarely fails to respond to topical or systemic antifungal therapy. Such refractory condition relates to many factors and one of them is the decreased response of delayed type hypersensitivity. A plausible mechanism by which the delayed hypersensitivity response may cause dermatophyte inhibition has been proposed already. Our patient had skin rashes for 6 years. It was diagnosed as tinea corporis and treated with various systemic antifungal agents, such as griseofulvin, itraconazole, fluconazole, terbinafine and topical forms of econazole and terbinafine. But the skin lesions did not resolve completely and reaggravated frequently. Numerous verrucae planar were found on face, neck and both extremities. Trichophyton rubrum was identified by fungus culture study. Laboratory examination showed no response against multi-CMI test, DPCP sensitization and prick test for trichophytons. We challenged the therapy with the combined antifungal agents and immune stimulatory drugs. This case is thought to be a chronic dermatophyte infection due to the defects in the both cell mediated immunity and immediate type hypersensitivity which is crucial for the host defence mechanisms against fungal infection.
Antifungal Agents* ; Arthrodermataceae* ; Econazole ; Exanthema ; Extremities ; Fluconazole ; Fungi ; Griseofulvin ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed ; Immunity, Cellular ; Itraconazole ; Neck ; Skin ; Tinea ; Trichophyton ; Warts

To evaluate the effectiveness of computed tomography for the differential diagnosis of cervical lymphadenopathy, we reviewed CT scans of 26 patients with cervical lymphadenopathy retrospectively. These included 10 patients with tuberculous lymphadenitis, 11 patients with metastasis and 5 patients with lymphoma, We evaluated the CT scans with a special attention to internal nodal density, feature of contrast enhancement and location of lymphadenopathy. Tuberculous lymphadenitis involved multiple nodes unilaterally and showed central low density with even or uneven rim enhancement, usually occurring in young patients (mean: 31.6 years). Two cases with tuberculous lymphadenitis showed calcifications within the lymph nodes. Lymphoma involved unilateral or bilateral nodes and appeared as conglomerated isodense mass with even rim enhancement. Metastasis involved multiple nodes unilaterally and showed focal, diffuse of mixed pattern of central low density with variable rim enhancement, usually occurring in old patients (mean: 59.4 years). Locations of most frequent lymph node involvements were internal jugular group (76%), spinal accessory group (54%) and retropharyngeal group(12%).
Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases* ; Lymphoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis, Lymph Node

PURPOSE: To prevent permanent neurologic deficit and/or spinal deformity in pyogenic spondylitis earlydiagnosis and prompt treatment are essential. The purpose of this study is to determine the MR imaging findings ofpyogenic spondylitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 31 patients with pathologically or clinically proven pyogenicspondylitis, MR images(31, T1-weighted ; 30, T2-weighted ; 31, Gd-enhanced T1-weighted) were retrospectivelyanalyzed. Analysis focused on the signal intensity and enhancement pattern of involved vertebral bodies andintervertebral discs, as well as paravertebral soft tissue abnormality. RESULTS: A total of 77 vertebral bodies(mean, 2.5 per patient) were involved. Signal intensity was low in 58 of 77 T1-weighted images, high in 63 of 75T2-weighted images and in 72 of 77 contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images, enhancement was diffuse. A total of 47intervertebral discs were involved. Signal intensity was low or intermediate in all 47 T1-weighted images, andhigh or intermediate in 38/46 T2-weighted images ; in 24 of 38 contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images, signalintensity was peripheral, and in 14, enhancement was diffuse. Twenty-six patients showed diffusely enhancedparavertebral soft tissue abnormality and in 14, the largest diameter was less than 1cm. CONCLUSION: With regardto vertebral bodies, MR imaging findings of pyogenic spondylitis are low signal intensity on T1-weighted images,and high or intermediate signal intensity on T2-weighted images, together with diffuse enhancement. Forintervertebral discs, signal intensity was low on T1-weighted images, high on T2-weighted images, and peripheralor diffuse enhancement was seen. Diffusely enhanced small paravertebral soft tissue abnormality was also present.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Spondylitis*