BACKGROUND: Pemphigus is a rare, chronic blistering disease of the skin and mucous membranes with severe morbidity and occasional mortality. The clinical data of Korean pemphigus patients are quite limited, and an appropriate treatrnent regimen is not yet established. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to analyze the clinical characteristics of, and establish an appropriate treatment regimen for Korean pemphigus patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted for 24 pemphigus patients seen between 1992 and 1996. RESULTS: Pemphigus vulgaris(PV) was the most common type with 17 cases, followed by seven cases of pemphigus foliaceus(PF). There were no sexual preferences, and the average age at onset for PV and PF was 46 and 50 years old, respectively. Mucosal involvement was noted in 14 cases(82%) of PV and only in one case(14/o) of PF. There was no correlation between the extent of involvement and the titer of anti ICS(intercellular substance) antibody. Most patients received prednisolone of lmg/kg, and 12 PV patients also received immunosuppressive agents. Systemic side effects were noted in 10 cases of PV, and seven PF cases did not manifest any systemic side effects. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical manifestations and results of imrnunofluorescent studies of 24 Korean pemphigus patients were similar to those of the previous studies. For treatment of pemphigus, the lowest possible doses(less than 1mg/kg) of corticosteroid in combination with immunosuppressive agents appears to be more effective and less toxic than high doses of corticosteroid. We propose a regimen for treatment of Korean pemphigus patients based on these experiences. Further rnulti-center clinical trials are advocated to confirm an effective management protocol for Korean pemphigus patients.
Blister ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Mucous Membrane ; Pemphigus* ; Prednisolone ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin

No abstract available.
Dental Enamel* ; Dental Porcelain*

No abstract available.
Blood Coagulation* ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Mice* ; Ultraviolet Rays*

We have presented three cases of Ritter's disease appearing on 11, 14, and 14 days old boys respectively. Staphyloccccus albus was cultured from bullar contents of case 1 and 2, and coaguIase positive staphylococcus from case 3. These patients were successfully treated with systemic and topical antimicrobials.
Humans ; Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome* ; Staphylococcus

No abstract available.
Plasminogen Activators* ; Plasminogen* ; Pulmonary Embolism*

For many years permanent soft denture liners has been widely used in dental practice directly or indirectly because of its function in absorbing and distributing the impact force. However, it reveals problems such as lack of permanency and decreased bond strength in long term use. The purpose of this study is to measure the bond strength and failure between denture base resin and several permanent liners. Lucitone 199 was used as denture base resin with soft acrylic liners (Triad, Tokuso Rebase) and silicone elastomers (Tokuyama, Ufi Gel C) bonded to measure the tensile strength before and after thermocycling. The thermocycling was done in 2000 cycles at 5degrees C, 26degrees C and 55degrees C and the measured tensile strength values before and after thermocycling were compared. The mode of failure was investigated in the separated specimens. The results are as follows. 1. As to tensile strength, the strongest material is Tokuso Rebase followed by Triad, Tokuyama, Ufi Gel C in before thermocycling and the order of Triad, Tokuso Rebase, Tokuyama, Ufi Gel C in after thermocycling state. There was significant difference between the values of Triad, Tokuso Rebase and Tokuyama, Ufi Gel C(p<0.05). 2. As to degree of displacement, Ufi Gel C showed most displacement with or without thermocycling treatment and also the difference was significant with the other materials(p<0.05). 3. As to comparisons before and after thermocycling, Tokuso Rebase and Tokuyama showed significant difference in bond strength, whereas Triad and Tokuso Rebase showed significant difference in the degree of displacement(p<0.05). 4. In debonded specimens, Triad and Ufi Gel C showed adhesion failure and Tokuyama showed cohesion failure. Both failures were observed in Tokuso Rebase with adhesion failure up to 70%. The results of this study showed that degree of bond strength between permanent soft denture liner and denture base resin were variable. There was a significant difference between soft acrylics and silicone elastomers with regard to bond strength. Further research in improving bond strength of widely used silicone elastomers and in developing the method of measuring bond strength between denture base resin and the lining materials is needed.
Denture Bases* ; Denture Liners* ; Dentures* ; Silicone Elastomers ; Tensile Strength

Two cases of tuberous sclerosis are reported. Case 1: A 13 years-old girl had a triad of adenoma sebaceum, mental deficiency and epileptic seizures associated with ichthyosis vulgaris, but family history revealed no evidences of the disease except ichthyosis in her mother. Case 2 : A 21 year-old woman had a adenoma sebaceum, shagreen patch, periungual fibroma and fihromatous plaque, showing intracranial calcificatins on roentgenographic examination, but has not demonstrated any neurological manifestations as yet. Family history also revealed adenoma sebaceum in her father and two younger sisters. We feel this case is a "forme fruste" of tuberous sclerosis.
Adolescent ; Epilepsy ; Fathers ; Female ; Fibroma ; Humans ; Ichthyosis ; Ichthyosis Vulgaris ; Intellectual Disability ; Korea* ; Mothers ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Siblings ; Tuberous Sclerosis* ; Young Adult

A case of dermatitis herpetiformis assaciated with erythema annulare centrifugum is reported. The patient was a 21 year-old male, who had papulovesieles, erythematous lesions, pigmentation, and erythema annulare centrifugum lesions on the trunk, shoulders, buttocks and extensor surfaces of the extremities, and severe itching sensation of 9 months' duration. The skin biopsy from the vesicular and erythema annulare centrifugum lesion showed subepidermal bulla and vesicles with neutrophil and eosinophil infiltrations.
Biopsy ; Buttocks ; Dermatitis Herpetiformis* ; Dermatitis* ; Eosinophils ; Erythema* ; Extremities ; Humans ; Male ; Neutrophils ; Pigmentation ; Pruritus ; Sensation ; Shoulder ; Skin ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Pneumoconiosis* ; Thorax*