The spotted grouped pigmented nevi is one of special forms of non-giant congenital melanocytic nevi. Histologically the nevus cells tend to proliferate around the skin appendages. We have experienced a case of spotted ground pigmented nevi in a 11 year old girl who had a pigmented plaque consisting of grouped brown black regularly distributed papules on the left inguinal region since birth. Histology revealed intradermal nevus. The skin appendages, especially the hair follicles and eccrine sweet ducts were enveloped by the neuvs cells. Electron microscopic study revealed that this nevus cells were mostly of type B cells. We would like to consider that the spotted grouped nevi are closely related pathogenically with the skin appendages.

No abstract available.
Thanatophoric Dysplasia*

No abstract available.
Thanatophoric Dysplasia*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although interferon-a(IFNa) is currently the most effective antiviral agent for treating patients with chronic hepatitis C, its efficacy is not always reliable. Factors suggested to infruence outcome of IFN-a therapy for chronic hepatitis C are histological activity, level of viremia and HCV genotype, etc. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between several pretreatment factors and response to IFN-a therapy in patients with chronic HCV infection. METHODS: Fifty-four patients with chronic HCV infection(47 with chronic hepatitis and 7 with liver cirrhosis) who received IFN-a(2a or 2b) therapy(3 6 MU, three times a week, for 3 12 months) were included. Level of serum HCV RNA(50 patients), HCV genotype(27 patients) and IgM anti- HCV(21 patients) during pretreatment period were assayed. RESULTS: Overall, 19(35%) subjects achieved sustained response(SR), 12(22%) had transient response(TR) and 23(43%) did not respond (nonresponse;NR). Mean age of patients with SR, TR and NR was 46+ 10, 51+ 7.5 and 54+ 9.7 years, respectively(p<0.05 between SR and NR). Among 30 patients with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis, 13(43%) achieved SR;but only one(14%) in 7 patients with liver cirrhosis. Mean serum HCV RNA level(X10' copies/ml) was higher in nonresponders(7,7+ 13.0) compared with SR(2.3+ 2. 7) or TR(3.1+ 4.9), although statistically insignificant HCV genotyping in 27 patients revealed type la in 5(18.5%), 1b in 14(52%), 2a in 5(18.5%), 2b in 1(3.7%) and 4 in 2(7%), respectively. In non-1b patients, SR rate was significantly higher than 1b patients(69.2% vs. 21.4%, p=0.03). Although IgM anti-HCV was positive in 12(57%) among 21 patients studied, the positive rate and the titer of IgM anti-HCV was not significantly different in three groups. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that in patients with chronic hepatitis C, infection with genotype 1b, old age, high serum HCV RNA level and the presence of cirrhosis would predict poor response to IFN therapy.
Fibrosis ; Genotype ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Interferons* ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; RNA ; Viremia

The chondrogenic potential of free autogenous periosteal grafts for osteochondral defects was investigated at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yonsei University, Wonju College of Medicine. Five millimeter diameter of circular full-thickness defects were made in patellar groove of both femur in 64 adolescent rabbits and the rectangular periostei, prepared from the proximal tibiae, were placed over the defects of patellar groove and sutured(cambium layer, facing joint surface) and the rabbits were allowed to move actively. A serial gross and histologic examinations of neochondrogenesis were done during 8 weeks. The results were as follows. l. At 2 weeks after operation, neochondrogenesis was hardly seen either in the graft group or in the control group. The defects were partially filled with some fibrous tissue. 2. After 6 weeks of operation, all defects in the graft group(postop 6 weeks and 8 weeks) were filled with hyaline cartilage cells but only 38% (postop 6 weeks) and 44% (postop 8 weeks) of the control group were filled with hyaline cartilage cells. 3. The cartilages, formed at 6 and 8 weeks, were more mature and better than those formed at 4 weeks. 4. The newly formed hyaline cartilage of the graft group filled the defect earlier and were better than those of the control group. 5. The chondrocytes in the newly formed tissue were originated from the cambium layer of periosteal grafts. 6. Free autogenous periosteal grafts can repair a full-thickness defect in a joint surface by producing tissue that resembles articular cartilage grossly and histologically.
Adolescent ; Cambium ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular ; Chondrocytes ; Femur ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Hyaline Cartilage ; Joints ; Rabbits ; Tibia ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of the electroretinogram using EMS (Electrophysiology Modular System; TMS, Luneberg, Germany), a simpler method compared with standard ERG as a preoperative evaluation of cataract. METHOD: Forty-six eyes of 25 patients who had undergone cataract surgery were included. Scotopic, photopic and 30 Hz flicker response were examined with EMS. On the basis of fundus finding, the subjects were classified into two groups: Group 1 (cataract with normal fundus) and group 2 (cataract with abnormal fundus). On the basis of lens opacity, group 1 was subclassified into the following three sub-groups: mild, moderate, and severe opacity. We analyzed the differences of the ERG values of these three sub-groups. And also we analyzed the difference of the ERG values of two groups and postoperative visual acuity. RESULTS: In group 1, the ERG responses were generally reduced as the lens opacity increased and the photopic a wave amplitude was significantly reduced especially when the opacity was severe. But there was no significant difference between the lens opacity and the prognosis of postoperative visual acuity. In group 2, scotopic b wave and photopic a, b wave amplitude were significantly reduced and the prognosis of postoperative visual acuity was poor (P>0.05). Conclusion: Our results show that the ERG would be a clinically significant test in evaluating the function of the retina and detecting the retinal lesions, and it can be used in the prediction of the prognosis of postoperative visual acuity. And the EMS shows similar results comparable to the previous reports, so it can be used clinically in more simple manners.
Cataract Extraction* ; Cataract* ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde ; Visual Acuity*

PURPOSE: We investigated the risk factors related to the development and aggravation of allergic rhinitis, which is associated with residential environment and lifestyle habits of children residing in Incheon. METHODS: A total of 182 children diagnosed with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis and 67 healthy children were enrolled. A detailed questionnaire of the environmental characteristics and the dietary habits were completed by the parents. Further, skin prick tests with 14 common allergens were performed. RESULTS: The mean age of the children with allergic rhinitis and healthy control was 8.2+/-2.8 and 9.4+/-2.0 years, respectively. The presence of indoor mold was associated with an increased risk of development of allergic rhinitis. (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.96-9.27) Among the food groups, there was no significant difference of the daily intake of milk and yogurt between the patients and the controls. However, daily intake of vegetables, except Kimchi, and daily intake of fruits or fruit juice were associated with a decreased risk of allergic rhinitis. (aOR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.20-0.92 / aOR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.13-0.90, respectively) CONCLUSION: The results indicate that an indoor dampness is one of the risk factors of development and aggravation of allergic rhinitis. Control of indoor humidity and daily intake of fruits and vegetables can prevent the development and control symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
Allergens ; Child ; Diet ; Food Habits ; Fruit ; Fungi ; Humans ; Humidity ; Life Style ; Milk ; Odds Ratio ; Parents ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Risk Factors ; Skin ; Vegetables ; Yogurt

Thyroid dysfunction has heen reported as a side effect of alpha-interferon(IFN) therapy. The incidence of thyroid disorders was 1.2-12%' duripg 1FN therapy for chronic active hepatitis. We experienced a case of hypothyroidism developed after IFN therapy in a 48 year-old man with chronic hepatitis B. Baseline thyroid function before IFN therapy was normal and thyroid auioantibodies were also negative. High tiers ol' antimicrosomal antibody and anti-thyroglobulin antibody appeared and severe hypothyroidism followed at 6 months after starting the IFN therapy.
Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism* ; Incidence ; Interferon-alpha* ; Middle Aged ; Thyroid Gland

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to elucidate the psychiatric characteristics and nature of the neuropsychological deficits associated with subclinical hepatic encephalopathy(SHE) in patients with non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis. And also the authors prospectively studied the role of somatosensory evoked potentials(SEP) in the assessment of SHE. METHODS: Beck Depression Inventory(BDI) for measuring depression, State Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI) for measuring anxiety, and Health-related Quality of Life Questionnaire(HQLQ) for measuring quality of life were administered the 41 non-encephalopathic liver cirrhosis patients(NELC) group and 31 carefully matched normal controls. And a prospective study to compare the performance of NELC group and normal controls on a short but comprehensive cognitive tests was conducted. After several cognitive tests, NELC group was divided into two groups, SHE group and non-SHE group by results of digit symbol substitution test(DSST) and/or trail making test(TMT) A and B. And then median nerve evoked cortical responses in 13 SHE patients group, 11 non-SHE patients group, and 8 normal controls were recorded for latencies of N13, P16, N20, P25, N30, P45, N65, and P95. And also responses for N13-N20 interpeak latency(IPL) and N20-N65 IPL were recorded. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the NELC group and normal controls on BDI, trait anxiety scales in STAI, and almost all HQLQ except for the cognitive function, social interaction and life satisfaction(p<0.05). The NELC group exhibited poor performance in DSST, TMT A and TMT B compared with normal controls(p<0.05). As 17 NELC patients had abnormal cognitive test results, 41.5% of cirrhotic patients had SHE. In SEP assessment, NELC group with SHE and without SHE had higher N20-N65 IPL and only NELC group with SHE had higher N65 latency compared with normal controls(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the patients with liver cirrhosis exhibit relatively selective deficits in complex attentional and fine motor skills, with preservation of general intellectual ability, memory, language and visuospatial perception. DSST, TMT A and TMT B seem to be useful screening tests for the detection of SHE. And also it is expected that late components and N20-N65 IPLs of SEP are helpful in the assessment of SHE.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Diagnosis* ; Evoked Potentials* ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver* ; Mass Screening ; Median Nerve ; Memory ; Motor Skills ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Weights and Measures

The 16S rRNA analyzing method is a bacterial identification method that is useful in identifying bacteria which is difficult to do by other means. The following 7 types of bacteria which are Treponema, A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis, Fusobacterium, B. forsythus, P. intermedia, P. micros were evaluated in order to study their distribution among patients with adult periodontitis. The 16S rRNA analyzing method was used to compare bacterial distribution among 3 groups. Subgingival plaque acquired from the affected sites(pocket depth > or =6mm)of 29 patients with adult periodontitis were grouped as the experimental group while plaque from the non-affected sites(pocket depth< or =3mm)were grouped as control 2 and finally plaque acquired from students with healthy periodontal tissues were grouped as control 1. The results are as follows; 1. The distribution of Treponema was 12.5% for control 1, 21.4% for control 2 and 75.4% for the experimental group. For A. actinomycetemcomitans the distribution was 0.5%, 19.0%, 44.4% in respect to the order of groups mentioned above. P.gingivalis showed 10.5%, 43.1%, 94.0% distribution, Fusobacterium 33.0%, 48.3%, 81.0% distribution, B. forsythus 9.5%, 17.2%, 65.9% distribution, P. intermedia 1.0%, 12.1%, 26.3% distribution and finally P. micros 5.0%, 19.0%, 48.7% respectively. In all 7 types of bacteria, the experimental group showed higher bacterial distribution compared to the other two groups with statistically significant difference. 2. In the case of Treponema, A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis,Fusobacterium, B. forsythus, P. intermedia, P. micros showed significant difference between control 1 and 2. These results suggest that the 16S rRNA analyzing method which was applied on Koreans for the first time could be utilized and useful in finding potential pathogens of periodontal disease.
Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans