BACKGROUND: The EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) is the most frequently used questionnaire in cost-utility studies such as the quality-adjusted life year measure. Nevertheless, little attention has been paid to the relationship between an individual's visual analogue scale (VAS) score and EQ-5D dimensions. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between the EQ-5D and VAS quality of life measures after adjusting for socio-demographic factors in the Korean general population. METHODS: The Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which is a national representative sample, was used to analyze the impact of the EQ-5D dimensions on the VAS. The known-group construct validity of the VAS was assessed by factors that included age, income and comorbidities. The ordinary linear regression models were applied to test for the effect of the EQ-5D dimensions after adjusting for socio-demographic and clinical factors. RESULTS: We found that the VAS showed good construct validity. The VAS significantly declined as age increased, and as education and income levels decreased. VAS scores decreased for all EQ-5D dimensions as the response level rose. The explanatory power of the VAS increased from 23.0% in the first model, which included only the EQ-5D dimensions and levels, to 25.0% in the full model, which included socio-demographic and clinical factors. CONCLUSIONS: While the EQ-5D dimensions were significant factors in determining the VAS, they did not, however, explain a sufficient amount of variance in the VAS. Further research is required on adding more dimensions to the EQ-5D preference-based instrument.
Comorbidity ; Korea ; Linear Models ; Nutrition Surveys ; Quality of Life ; Quality-Adjusted Life Years

Upper and lower eyelid defects of 40-60% can be reconstructed by the Tenzel semicircular flap technique. Lower eyelid defects of 75-80% can be successfully corrected if the lower eyelid retractors and inferior orbital septum are severed from their attachment. This technique provides several distinct advantages. It is useful for reconstruction of both the upper and lower eyelids. It can be accomplished without borrowing tissues from other sites. It provides a length about 1.5 times greater than would be available along the straight line diameter. The indications for the use of this procedure included basal cell carcinoma(4 cases), compound nevus(1 case), post-traumatic eyelid deformity(2 cases). We obtained cosmetically good results in all cases without any senous postoperative complications.

The prevalence of dermographism in 96 patients of acute or chronic urticaria was studied using dermographic tester. The results were summarized as follows : 1. The prevalence rate of dermographism in acute or chronic urticaria was 26.0% (25/96). 2. Dermographism was more common in acute or chronic urticaria than in the general population(p<0.005). 3. There was no significant difference in the prevalence rate of dermographiam between acute and chronic urticaria. 4. The prevalence rate of dermographism was not significantly correlated with the level of serum IgE.
Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Prevalence ; Urticaria*

A 72-year-old woman with a pea sized, bluish, firm nodule was diagnosed as having a cellular type of dermatofibroma histopathologically. A biopsy specimen revealed a relatively well circumscribed, non-encapsulated, nodular infiltration of irregularly distributed histiocytes in the deep dermis. Foam cells were also noted. Gomoris iron stain revealed large amounts of hemosiderin deposits and some collagen were present as individual fibers in the lesion with Masson's trichrome stain.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Collagen ; Dermis ; Female ; Foam Cells ; Hemosiderin ; Histiocytes ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Humans ; Iron ; Peas

Atypical fibroxanthoma(AFX) occurs most on sun-exposed area of the head and neck of elderly person. It has an excellent prognosis after conservative, but complete, excision. However, because of its potential, albeit small, for metastasis, it is widely regarded as a low-grade sarcoma. We present herein two cases of atypical fibroxanthoma. The case 1 was a 86-year-old female who had a small egg-sized, dome shaped nodule with eroive surface on the left cheek. The other case was a 60-year-old male who had solitry bean-sized, nodulo-ulcerative lesion on the vertex. Immunohistochemical studies revealed positive reaction for vimntin and a-antichymo trypsin. These patients have received completely total surgical ecis on and remained free of recurrence for a period of about, 2 years follow up.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cheek ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma ; Skin* ; Trypsin

No abstract available.
Rupture* ; Thorax*

We report a case of congenital giant pigmented nevus with malignant melanoma of brain in a 14-year-old male patient. He had giant pigmented nevus on the back and neck, and multiple satellite lesions over the whole body since birth. One year prior to visit to our hospital, the patient suffered from various neurologie symptoms including headache, nausea, vomiting, seizure and right side motor weakness. Flistologic findings of skin lesions were benign nevocytic nevi. Computed tomogram of brain demonstrated increased densities in the both fronto-parietal leptameninges and brain parenchyme. Histologic findings of brain parenchyme by stereotaxic long needle biopsy showed the infiltration of melanin containing atypical melanocytes. There was no evidence of malignant melanoma at other organs. All of these findings suggested that origin of malignant melanoma of brain parenchyme was leptomeninges rather than skin.
Adolescent ; Biopsy, Needle ; Brain* ; Headache ; Humans ; Male ; Melanins ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma* ; Nausea ; Neck ; Nevus ; Nevus, Pigmented* ; Parturition ; Seizures ; Skin ; Vomiting

Mucormycosis is an infectious disease caused by fungi of the order Mucorales. Almost all patients have a serious uriderlying condition such as diabetes mallitus, imrnunosuppression, starvation, burn, but a few cais have been reported in previously heilthy subjects. In order to successfully treat this infection, diagnosis must be prompt and acior. panied by aggressive debridement and parenteral administration of amphotericin B. We report a case of primary cutaneous mucormycosis in 58-year-old man. The lesion was a well-circumscribed erythematous plaque with central necrcis Histopathologically, a biopsy revealed broad, nonsptate with branches occuring at right anghles.
Amphotericin B ; Biopsy ; Burns ; Communicable Diseases ; Debridement ; Diagnosis ; Fungi ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mucorales ; Mucormycosis* ; Starvation

No abstract available.

No abstract available.