In order to increase the positive rate of cultre for dermatophyte infections of the nails, the authors devised the new file method. It is to perform the KOH mount arid culture with fine subungual hyperkeratotic debris obtained from the hyponycLium after grinding the nail plate from the surface to the bottom using various files, And we compared the result of this new method with that of conventional scraping and punch methods in 40 toenails and ]1 fingernails. The positive rate of culture for tinea unguium by three different methods was as follows: It was 52.5%(21 cases) through conventional scraping method, 70% (28 cases) through punch method and 80% (32 cases) through file method in the 40 toenai ls. lt was 18.2% (2 cases) through punch method, 27. 3% (3 sases) through scraping method and 54. 6%(6 cases) through file method in the 11'fingernails. In conclusion, the file method was found to be a more effective and successful method to detect the causative organisms of tinea unguium and was also easy to handle.
Arthrodermataceae ; Nails ; Onychomycosis* ; Tinea*

We experienced a 49-year-old female with a slowly growing tumor(4.0x3.5x3.0cm) on her right knee over 3 months' duration. She sustained a flame burn on her right knee at 7 year-old-age. A biopsy on the skin lesion revealed a malignant melanoma picture. Extensive local excision and grafting was done. Nine months after the operation, there was no evidence of recurrence or metastasis.
Biopsy ; Burns* ; Female ; Humans ; Knee ; Melanoma* ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Transplants

A 3-year-old-male had the appearance of red urine at birth and developed recurrent bullae in sun-exposed area of the skin, erythrodontia, alopecia, splenomegaly and hemolytic anemia, We observed coral red fluorescence of the teeth and urine under Wood's light and detected excessive excretion of the uroporphyrin in the urine and coproporphyrin in the stool wlth inreased porphyrin in the blood. Fluorescence of erythrocyte was demonstrated by:fluoreacence microscopy. Histologic findings showed subepidermal bulla with PAS-positive hyaline deposits around the blood vessels and revealed IgG deposits in the wall of blood vessels and dermo-epidermal junction by direct immunofluorescence.
Alopecia ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Anthozoa ; Blood Vessels ; Erythrocytes ; Fluorescence ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Hyalin ; Immunoglobulin G ; Microscopy ; Parturition ; Porphyria, Erythropoietic* ; Porphyrias ; Skin ; Splenomegaly ; Tooth

Red lunula, dusky red erythema of nailbed in the area of lunula, has ben reported in patients with alopecia areata and rheumatuid arthritis. We report a case of red lunula in a 63-year-old man. The patient showed dusky red, blanchable erythema of the lunula area in nailbecl of total fingernail, and toer.iails in association with hypertension due to nephrotic syndromc.
Alopecia Areata ; Arthritis ; Erythema ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Middle Aged ; Nails ; Nephrotic Syndrome*

No abstract available.
Ectodermal Dysplasia*

No abstract available.
Ectodermal Dysplasia*

No abstract available.
Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis*

Experimental dermatophyte infections are essential for studying dermatophytosis. Induction of standard infections depends on control of three factors-spore dose, scarification, and species of the experimental animals. The authors evaluated the three factors in the experimental infection models, which were inoculated with quantitated spore solution of N.gypsea “+” and A. benhomiae “+” in rabbit, guinea pig, rat, and mouse. The results were as follows. 1. Infection was correlated with concentration of inoculums. 2. In traumatization method, abrasion with knife was the most effective for inoculation, followed by pricking, epilation, and shaving of hair in decreasing order. 3. Rabbit and guinea pig were more susceptible to dermatophyte infection rather than the rat and mouse. However, the mouse was not infected at all. 4. Guinea pig was the proper animal model for experimental dermatophytosis in susceptibility, degree of clinical response, and duration of the infection. 5. A.benhamiae “+” showed more severe inflammation and shorter course the N.gypsea “+”.
Animals* ; Arthrodermataceae* ; Guinea Pigs ; Hair ; Hair Removal ; Inflammation ; Methods ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Rats ; Spores ; Tinea

BACKGROUND: Women smoker faces increased risk for heart disease, stroke, cancers, and respiratory diseases as well as a number of gender specific risks. Maternal smoking has been linked to harmful effects on their offspring such as increased incidence of premature, stillbirth and sudden infant death syndrome, etc. Recently, the rate of female adolescent smoking in Korea is increasing, and the rate of adult woman is expected to increase. This study is aimed at obtaining basic information about smoking patterns and factors associated with smoking in Korean adult women. METHODS: From May 1995 to April 1999, a self-administered questionnaire was distributed to the female visitors of Health Promotion Center in Seoul National University Hospital. The number of smokers was 492. The control group(984 nonsmokers) was selected by 1:2 age group matched random sampling. Smokers and control group were divided into three age groups-young age(20-39 years), middle age(40-59 years), old age(60 years and over)-and analysed the resalts using SPSS and EpiInfo software. RESULTS: The most frequent amount of cigarette smoking was below 10 cigarettes in all age groups. The duration of smoking was below 10 years in most young and middle age groups. In the old age group the duration of smoking was longer than others. Variables positively associated with smoking included alcohol drinking, being engaged in trade service, being unmarried or divorced or separated or parted for ever, high stress status, dissatisfation of life in young age group. The variable of no exercise was added to them in middle age group. In old age group alcohol drinking, no exercise, no school education were the positive meaningful factors associated with smoking in multivariant logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The modifiable variables associated with smoking in Korean adult women included alcohol drinking, high stress status, dissatisfation of life and no exercise.
Adolescent ; Adult* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Divorce ; Education ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Middle Aged ; Seoul ; Single Person ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Stillbirth ; Stroke ; Sudden Infant Death ; Tobacco Products ; Surveys and Questionnaires

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: By analyzing the patients of neurofibromatosis with spinal deformities, to identify presence of dystrophic changes, progression of deformity and associated factors, and treatment results according for sagittal curve pattern and operative methods. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: A single thoracic curve involving four, five, or six vertebrae is recognized as the most common pattern. Risk factors for progression of curve were anterior vertebral scalloping, particularly in younger patients, three or more penciled ribs, abnormal kyphosis, etc. It has been stated that the most effective management for dystrophic curves is early and aggressive surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty nine patients with neurofibromatosis and spinal deformities were reviewed with chart and radi-ographic review from 1977 to 1999. RESULTS: Four of thirty nine patients were nondystrophic type, and all patients were treated nonoperatively. Thirty five of thirty nine patients were dystrophic type, and twenty seven patients were treated operatively. Eight of these patients had been in progress till operation with 7.9 degrees/year progression rate, and their commonest pattern of deformity is a single curve in lower thoracic area with dystrophic changes such as vertebral scalloping, wedging, pencilling of average four ribs, particularly. Forty three percent of dystrophic type has sagittal plane deformities. The pedicle screw system was most excellent among the instrumentations. The complications of surgery were 6 progression of curve, 2 metal failure. Reoperation was done in 5 of 27 operated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Nondystrophic type had good results with nonoperative treatment, but dystrophic type mostly required surgical intervention and had rapid progression. The treatment should be done by rigid fixation after considering sagittal plane deformi-ties and long term follow-up was needed for progressions of curve.
Congenital Abnormalities* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Pectinidae ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Ribs ; Risk Factors ; Scoliosis ; Spine