BACKGROUND: Although the main features of psoriasis consist of abnormal epidermal proliferation and T cell infiltration, which of these is the initial abnormality has been a longstanding unresolved question. Recently there has been definite evidence that activated T cells produce the cytokines that induce keratinocyte abnormalities. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the distributions and relative numbers of T lymphocyte subpopulations, that is, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, to verify the more important T cell subtype and its infiltrating site in the formation of psoriatic lesions. METHODS: Paired psoriatic lesional and non-lesional skin tissues were obtained from eight typical psoriatic patients. Immunohistochemical staining was done on the frozen sections using a labelled streptavidin-biotin peroxidase complex method with DAKO LSAB kit. The primary antibodies used in this study were monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against CD3, CD4, CD8, HLA-DR, and ICAM-1. RESULTS: In lesional psoriatic skin, the epidermis was mainly infiltrated by CD8+ T cells. There were little or no T cells in non-lesional epidermis. In both lesional and non-lesional dermis, CD4+ T cells were the main ones. In lesional skin, anti-ICAM-1 antibody positively stained diffusely in the endothelial cells of papillary and subpapillary plexuses and focally in epidermal keratinocytes, but in non-lesional skin only the endothelial cells in the subpapillary plexus were stained. There were many HLA-DR+T lymphocytes in lesional and non-lesional dermis. In the epidermis, HLA DR was detected only in lesional keratinocytes and T lymphocytes. CONCLUSION: These results suggest (1) participation of activated epidermal CD8+ T lymphocytes in the formation of psoriatic plaques, and (2) a pathogenetic role of ICAM-1 expression on papillary microvessels.
Antibodies ; Cytokines ; Dermis ; Endothelial Cells ; Epidermis ; Frozen Sections ; HLA-DR Antigens ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Keratinocytes ; Lymphocyte Subsets* ; Lymphocytes* ; Microvessels ; Peroxidase ; Psoriasis ; Skin* ; T-Lymphocytes

The coexistence of the variants of porokeratosis is very rare. We report a case of coexistence of linear porokeratosis with disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP). A 43-year-old wornan first noticed a brownish papule on the left side of groin in early infancy. She developed multiple discrete or confluent keratotic plaques in linear fashion on the left lower extrernity and trunk in childhood. These leaions became pruritic in summer. Two years ago, she developed multiple scattered small annular lesions on the face and forearms. Her family history showed no abnormalities. Biopsy specimene from the groin and trunk showed eornoid lamella.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Forearm ; Groin ; Humans ; Porokeratosis*

The skin lesions of leprosy have a great similarity to various other lesions. Fasal has called it the great imitator. Sometimes these skin lesions can b misdiagnosed because the physician does not consider leprosy. We reported a case of early lepromatous leprosy in 42 year old male. His skin lesions were similar to secondary syphilid. There were no sensory changes on the skin lesions and no enlargement of the peripheral nerves. Numerous AFB(+) bacilli from the skin smear confirmed our diagnosis of leprosy.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Leprosy ; Leprosy, Lepromatous* ; Male ; Peripheral Nerves ; Skin Manifestations* ; Skin* ; Syphilis, Cutaneous

No abstract available.

The authors wish to retract this article due to duplicate publication.

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis*

BACKGROUND: Many non-invasive, continuous-monitoring blood culture systems have introduced technology that reduces the time and labor. There is a report that terminal subculture is necessary to decrease false negative. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the terminal subcultures for blood cultures monitored by VITAL system and to determine the clinical significance of positive blood cultures not detected by VITAL system. METHODS: From June to August 1996, a total of 3,988 blood culture bottles were processed by VITAL system and terminal subcultures were performed on consecutive 5 day blood culture. Any culture that was instrument positive but negative upon terminal subculture was considered to be false positive. Any culture that was instrument negative but positive upon terminal subculture was considered to be false negative. And false negative were categorized into minor and major errors. RESULTS: Two-hundred and nineteen (5.5%) out of 3,988 blood culture bottles were signaled as positive by VITAL system. Twenty-four bottles out of 219 were VITAL positive but negative upon terminal subcultures (false positive rate, 0.8%). And seven of the 3,988 terminal subcultures were false negative (0.2%). Four out of seven were major error and three were minor error. The isolates of major error bottles were Staphylococcus spp. and minor error bottles were Escherichia coli and Candida tropicalis. These isolates were clinically significant pathogens, but there were no changes on antimicrobial chemotherapy after reporting the positive blood culture reports. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that using VITAL system, terminal subculture of 5 day instrument-negative blood culture bottles is not necessary and the VITAL system provides for the rapid and convenient tool for detecting bacteremia.
Bacteremia ; Candida tropicalis ; Drug Therapy ; Escherichia coli ; Staphylococcus

PURPOSE: This descriptive study was designed to investigate Body Mass Index(BMI), weight control behavior, and self-esteem in high school adolescents. METHOD: The convenience sample consisted of 129 high school females and 106 high school males. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire from November to December, 1999. BMI was calculated by using the subject's self-reported body weight and height to identify objective obesity. Self evaluation about subjective obesity was measured by a single item question. Preferred BMI was calculated by using the subject's self-reported body weight and height which the subjects desired. The Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale was utilized to measure the level of self-esteem. RESULTS: Results of the study revealed that high school females perceived themselves as more more obese than their the actual BMI, excessively participated in dieting behavior and exercises, and reported lower self-esteem than that of males. CONCLUSION: Based on this study, health care providers need to educate female adolescents about healthy behavior as well as the normal weight range in BMI.
Adolescent* ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Diet ; Exercise ; Female ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; Weight Loss ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Chronic subdural hematoma is a relatively common disease which is practically always secondary to severe or minor injury to the head but may occur in connection with blood dyscrasias or cachexia in the absence of trauma. Early diagnosis and proper operative treatment result in complete recovery in most cases, but the outcome without operative treatment is almost invariably fatal. During 1972 to 1975, 28 patients with chronic subdural hematoma were examined and operated in the Department of Neurosurgery, Korea University, and clinical observation and analysis were made particularly of the relationship of age to clinical and pathological findings. Incidence of hematoma was predominated by men and estimated as 71.4% of total cases over the age group of 31 to 40 years and In the group of under 10 years were found in 3 cases A history of craniocerebral trauma in varying degrees was obtained in 23 cases(82%), and remainings had no history of it or any other illness. The average time interval from trauma to operation was 31.7 days and it was shorter in the young patients who had more evidence of increased intracranial pressure. The prevalence of the most commonly encountered symptoms and signs, especially in different age groups were analyzed. Headache was by far the commonest symptom in this series, being present in 20(71.4%) vomiting in 15(53,6%), hemiparesis in 13(16.43%) speech disturbance in 5(18%), papilledema in 16(57.2%), and convulsion in 2(7.14%). There was a tendency that young patients had headache more frequent and severe than the older patients, while mental symptoms, such as somnolence, confusion, and memory less were significantly more frequent in the older age group. Hemiparesis and other pyramidal tract signs were more frequent in the older age group. Leukocytosis in peripheral blood was investigated in 75% of cases and roentgenograms of the skull showed evidence of a linear fracture in 10 of the total cases. Carotid angiograms were of diagnostic value in that they demonstrated a lentiform shaped avascular zone by in 28% and a crescent shaped-one in the remainders by an inward displacement of the terminal branches of the middle cerebral artery. The hematomas were most frequently found in the parietotemporal region. The thickness of the hematomas as measured from angiograms increased with the age of the patient. Only 1 of 28 cases died of reaccumulation of blood in the subdural space and bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract following the operation. Excellent recovery following operation is obtained in 82% of the cases at the time of discharge from hospital.
Cachexia ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Early Diagnosis ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Head ; Headache ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intracranial Pressure ; Korea ; Leukocytosis ; Male ; Memory ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Neurosurgery ; Papilledema ; Paresis ; Prevalence ; Pyramidal Tracts ; Seizures ; Skull ; Subdural Space ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of anxiety, depression and self-esteem on the amount of smoking and nicotine dependency among woman smokers. METHOD: The convenience sample consisted of 121 unmarried woman smokers. The STAI, the CES-D Scale, the Self-Esteem scale and the FTQ were utilized to measure the level of anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and nicotine dependency. The amount of smoking was calculated based on the number of cigarette used. RESULTS: Results indicated that woman smokers were depressed. Nicotine dependency was relatively low. Subjects had smoked a mean of 9.58 cigarettes per day. The level of depression influenced on smoking and nicotine dependency. Self-esteem influenced on the amount of smoking and anxiety influenced on nicotine dependency. CONCLUSION: The results of this study revealed that the amount of smoking of unmarried woman smokers was very high. Both the amount of smoking and nicotine dependency were affected by levels of depression. Education programs and campaigns are needed to prevent smoking of young adult women.
Anxiety* ; Depression* ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Nicotine* ; Single Person* ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Tobacco Products ; Young Adult