We report a case of Buerger's disease manifested by a scrotal mass, in view of its rarity. A tender bean sized mass was palpated in the left scrotum of a 34 year-old male heavy smoker, who had a history of right pain two years ago which subsided spontaneously. The left testis with the paratesticular tissue was excised. Vessels of the spermatic cord and epididymis showed microscopic changes of Buerger's disease. The involved arteries and veins revealed a predominantly subacute pattern with granulomatous inflammation and Langhans' type giant cells within the thrombi.
Male ; Humans

We report a case of mediastinal lymphangioma associated with Gorham's disease in a 38-year-old man who had suffered recurrent clavicular fractures during a seven-year period. Mediastinal widening associated with osteolysis of the clavicles and the sternal manubrium was revealed by chest radiography, while computed tomography demonstrated a cystic anterior mediastinal mass infiltrating mediastinal fat and associated with osseous destruction of the clavicles and manubrium. Chylothorax recurred during the course of the disease.
Adult ; Case Report ; Chylothorax/*complications ; Human ; Lymphangioma/*complications/radiography ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms/*complications/radiography ; Osteolysis, Essential/*complications/pathology/radiography ; Thoracic Vertebrae/*pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Methotrexate*

No abstract available.
Female ; Meigs Syndrome*

No abstract available.
Female ; Meigs Syndrome*

Objectives: Excess deaths, an indicator that compares total mortality rates before and during a pandemic, offer a comprehensive view of the pandemic’s impact. However, discrepancies may arise from variations in estimating expected deaths. This study aims to compare excess deaths in Korea during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic using 3 methods and to analyze patterns using the most appropriate method. Methods: Expected deaths from 2020 to 2022 were estimated using mortality data from 2015-2019 as reference years. This estimation employed 3 approaches: (1) simple average, (2) age-adjusted average, and (3) age-adjusted linear regression. Excess deaths by age, gender, and cause of death were also presented. Results: The number of excess deaths varied depending on the estimation method used, reaching its highest point with the simple average and its lowest with the age-adjusted average. Age-adjusted linear regression, which accounts for both the aging population and declining mortality rates, was considered most appropriate. Using this model, excess deaths were estimated at 0.3% for 2020, 4.0% for 2021, and 20.7% for 2022. Excess deaths surged among individuals in their 20s throughout the pandemic, largely attributed to a rise in self-harm and suicide. Additionally, the results indicated sharp increases in deaths associated with “endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases” and “symptoms, signs, and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified.” Conclusions Substantial variations in excess deaths were evident based on estimation method, with a notable increase in 2022. The heightened excess deaths among young adults and specific causes underscore key considerations for future pandemic responses.

Objective:To determine the effect of Lentinula edodes extract on ultraviolet (UV) A and UVB-induced changes in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and typeⅠprocollagen expression using human immortalized HaCaT keratinocytes. Methods:Lentinula edodes ethanol extract (LEE) was obtained by extraction with 80％ ethanol for 4 h at 80 ℃. Effect of LEE on UV-induced alteration on the expression and production of MMPs and typeⅠprocollagen in keratinocytes was investigated using ELISA, RT-PCR, and Western blotting assay. To determine the underlying mechanism of LEE-mediated effects, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and activator protein 1 signaling pathways were analysed by Western blotting assay. Results:LEE significantly inhibited the expression of MMP-1 and MMP-9 and increased the expression of typeⅠprocollagen in UVA and UVB-irradiated HaCaT keratinocytes. The phosphorylation levels of p38 were significantly inhibited by LEE whereas it did not affect c-Jun N-terminal kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation. Suppression of p38 phosphorylation was also accompanied by downregulation of UVA and UVB-induced increase in c-Fos. Conclusions:LEE effectively inhibits the expression of MMP-1 and MMP-9 and increases typeⅠprocollagen production through the p38 MAPK/c-Fos signaling pathway in UVA and UVB-irradiated HaCaT keratinocytes. This findings suggest that Lentinula edodes may be developed as a cosmetic material to suppress UV exposure-mediated skin aging.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of infant massage on stress, immune function and self-confidence in postpartum mothers. METHOD: From September, 2003 to February, 2004, 65 women who had delivered babies and were enrolled in the postpartum clinic were assigned to the experimental group or control group. In the experimental group, infant massage was given for 20 minute sessions twice a day from 4 days to 14 days after delivery. The instruments were Parental Stress Index, serum cortisol levels, WBCs, lymphocytes, and Self Confidence Scale. RESULTS: Stress scores, WBCs and lymphocytes showed significant differences by the time, but there weren't significant differences according to the group and interactions between the group and the time. Cortisol and self-confidence scores showed significant differences by the time and the group. CONCLUSIONS: Applying massage to their newborn baby influenced cortisol levels of postpartum mothers. Therefore stress, cortisol, and immune functions in postpartum mothers should be generally screened and follow up studies are needed for the effective application of massage in postpartum mothers.
Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Lymphocytes ; Massage* ; Mothers* ; Parents ; Postpartum Period*

PURPOSE: Although influenza is one of the most important causes of acute respiratory tract infections in children, effective antiviral therapies are not common and there are only a few clinical studies on treatment of influenza in children. We evaluated the efficacy of oseltamivir in the treatment of naturally aquired influenza in children during the first half of 2004 in Busan. METHODS: From January 2004 to June 2004, throat swabs and nasal washes were performed and cultured for the isolation of influenza virus and tested by rapid antigen detection test (QuickVue influenza test) in children with suspected influenza infections. The children who responded positively to the QuickVue influenza test, we divided into two groups: an oseltamivir treatment group and a control group. We compared their clinical symptoms (including fever duration) and diagnosis. The medical records of patients with influenza virus infection were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 621 individuals were suspected of influenza infection. Influenza viruses were isolated in 79 (17.2 percent) out of 621 patients examined. QuickVue influenza tests were positive in 181 cases. The treatment group (83 individuals) received oseltamivir twice daily for 5 days, and the control group (99 individuals) were administered only symptom relief medicine. There was no differences between the two groups in clinical diagnosis and symptoms. Oseltamivir treatment reduced the fever duration and other respiratory symptoms. There were no adverse events associated with oseltamivir treatment. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that oral oseltamivir treatment reduces the fever duration and other respiratory symptoms of acute influenza without side effects in children.
Busan* ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Fever ; Humans ; Influenza, Human* ; Medical Records ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Oseltamivir* ; Pharynx ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Chronic myelogenous leukemia is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder characterized by leukocytosis with myeloid elements at all stages of differentiation, t(9;22)(q34;q11) and bcr/abl rearrangement. We studied hydroxyurea induced apoptotic changes such as externalization of phosphatidylserine, caspase activities on human chronic myelogenous leukemic cell line, K562 cells. METHODS: K562 cells were grown in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and treated hydroxyurea. Viability was examined by MTT assay. Apoptosis were examined by annexin V stain, caspase (such as caspase-, caspase-, caspase-, caspase-, and caspase-) activities, and DNA fragmentation. RESULTS: The viability of K562 cells were markedly decreased in a dose dependent manner of hydroxyurea. Phosphatidylserine externalization was detected by annexin V stain after 3 hours in hydroxyurea treated K562 cells and the value of lactate dehydrogenase was not significantly changed in their culture media. The upstream effector of caspase- was slightly increased and had influenced on caspase-. And downstream acting caspase protease of caspase- was markedly increased in a time dependent manner at hydroxyurea treated K562 cells. In addition, however the activities of caspase- and caspase- were not increased. We also found DNA fragmentation at hydroxyurea treated K562 cells between 48 hours and 72 hours on agarose gel electrophoresis. CONCLUSIONS: Hydroxyurea induces apoptotic change in K562 cells via externalization of phosphatidylserine, activations of caspase-, caspase-, caspase- proteases, and DNA fragmentation.
Annexin A5 ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line* ; Culture Media ; DNA Fragmentation ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Humans ; Hydroxyurea* ; K562 Cells* ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; Leukocytosis ; Myeloproliferative Disorders ; Peptide Hydrolases