Alopecia areata(AA) is a common dermatologic disease, the origin of which is still unknown. At least, it has been associated with some genetic influences in the etiopathogenesis. We have now evaluated AA patients to study the actual association of the genetic role by fingerprint analysis. The incidences of six or more arches were determined in 74 female and 86 male patients excluding alopecia totalis and universalis, and in healthy 167 female controls, based on Selmanowitz's thesis (1974). The results of this study are follows: 1. The difference between the frequency in AA patients(7. 5%) and in controls (3.3%) reaches the statistical significance(p<0.05 by x2-test). 2. The association of genetic background in AA is strengthened in the group of female patients(p<0. 01), recurrent episode(p<0.01). and multiplex farm (p<0.01). 3. Twenty patients(12. 5%) have family history. The incidence in 3(15.0%) of these patients is considerably common but not statistically significant. A correlation of biologic relevance and family predisposition in AA is not precluded. 4. The frequency of arches in patients and in controls is increased on both second fingers and decreased on both fourth fingers. It is more common on both second and left third fingers in female patients. The incidence of arches averages about 6 67% in patients and 4. 58% in controls.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Dermatoglyphics* ; Female ; Fingers ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male

Emergency nursing intervention should be provided to patients under fatal status with much quickness and accuracy. To improve the quality of emergency medical service, triage nurse systems, being implemented in advanced hospitals which successfully provide effective emergency services, are considered in this thesis. A triage nurse is defined as a nurse who first and immediately meets the patient at the very entrance of emergency department, and performs proper intervention according to the extent of injury. Triage functions include interviewing patients, physical evaluation, classifying patients, assigning nurses/doctors, and beds, performing preliminarily required tests and remedies, re-evaluation of waiting patients, emotional supports, arranging future medical services, and education. In Korea, triage nurse systems have not yet been introduced, however, some prleminary types of triage systems are being practised. The purpose of this thesis was to review the triage functions implemented in Korean emergency department and then to suggest a model of triage nurse system for Korean emergency departments. For field study, 10 emergency departments in Seoul, which have more than 13 nurses, are selected, and a nurse who have more than 1 year experience in emergency department was interviewed from each workshift, i.e. day, evening, and night. Data collection taken 17 days from Apr. 8 to Apr. 30, 1996. In the field study, we reviewed the triage functions performed in Korean emergency departments. 40.9% of interviewed nurses show that the triage functions are performed by general nurses, 18.42% and 10.15% indicate that the functions were performed by charge nurses and assigned nurses, respectively. Thus, triage nurse systems where pre-assigned nurses consistently perform triage functions were not yet introduced in Korean emergency departments. However, 96.7% of the nurses answered that triage systems are needed in their emergency departments and 82.77% showed that triage functions would be performed at the entrance of emergency department. A triage nurse systems will unload stresses which both patients and supporters cope with, provide secure and comfortable medical environments, and reduce the waiting time. Finally, it may be improve the patients' and supporters' satisfaction. Therefore, this study provides basic data to enhance emergency medical services and leads to a future study to implement and extend specialized nursing systems in emergency departments.
Data Collection ; Education ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medical Services ; Emergency Nursing ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Humans ; Korea ; Nursing ; Nursing, Supervisory ; Seoul ; Triage*

Effects of Pravastatin(Mevalotin(R)), a new HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor on the blood lipids were studied for the period of 3 months in 40 subjects with hypercholesterolemia more than 250mg/dl. Age of the subject was 50 years in average with range of 34 to 72 years. There were 22 cases of male and 18 cases of female. The cause of hyperlipidemia was not specified, but there were no case of liver, thyroid and renal disease. The 10mg of Preavastatin was given in devided doses in the morning and at bed time for 3 months. Serum LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride and atherogenic index were measured before and after the medication in every month and following results were obtained. 1) Serum cholesterol decreased maximally at 2months after the medication with average decrease of LDL-cholesterol 79.8mg/dl(43%), serum total cholesterol 99.8mg/dl(34%) and the atherogenic index 3.0(45%). The decrease of total serum cholesterol was dependent on the pretreatment level. 2) The serum triglyceride decreased in average 81mg/dl(26%) in one month after the medication however the change was not statistically significant because of wide variation. 3) The HDL-cholesterol decreased in average 1.6mg/dl(4%) in one month and statistically significant. 4) The serum total cholesterol started to change in 3 days and tended to decrease with unstable variation up to the end of 2 weeks after the medication. In one month after cutting drug, there were slight increase of cholesterol but did not return to control value. 5) The significant effect of blood lipid lowering drug in non-specific hyperlipidemia should be evaluated when the changes are more than intra-individual variation of blood lipids. 6) There were only 2 cases of side effect with epigastric pain and fullness which subsided soon and there was no change in liver functions, serum creatinine and fasting blood sugar after the medication. In conclusion, the pravastatin is an excellent new lipid lowering drug with safety.
Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Fasting ; Female ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hyperlipidemias* ; Liver ; Male ; Oxidoreductases ; Pravastatin ; Thyroid Gland ; Triglycerides

CT has facilitated early recognition and treatment of focal brain injuries in patients with head trauma. However. CT shows relatively low sensitivity in identifying nonhemorrhagic contusion and injuries of white matter. MR is known to be superior to CT in detection of which matter injuries, such as diffuse axonal injury. MR imaging in 14 cases of diffuse axonal injury on 2.0T was studied. The corpus callosum, especially the body portion, was the most commonly involved site. The lesions ranged from 5 to 20 mm in size with ovoid to elliptical shape. T2WI was the most sensitive pulse sequence in detecting lesions such as white matter degeneration, hemorrhagic and nonhemorrhagic contusion. The lesions were nonspecific as high and low signal intensities on T2WI and T1WI respectively. CT showed white matter abnormality in only 1 case of 14 cases. We propose MR imaging as the primary imaging procedure for the detection of diffuse axonal injury because of its multiplanar capabilities and higher sensitivity.
Brain Injuries ; Contusions ; Corpus Callosum ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Diffuse Axonal Injury* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; White Matter

PURPOSE: To establish signal intensity characteristics of the trachea according to the histologic layers, we performed in vivo and in vitro MR studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed MR imaging of the trachea at 1.5T unit in 11 patients mediastinal masses, vascular anomalies, tracheal stenosis or iatrogenic tracheoesophageal fistula, aryepiglottic fold thickening or mass, tracheal carcinoid, one healthy volunteer and one cadaveric trachea. By using anterior, volume neck or 3 inch dual coil with various pulse sequences, axial and coronal images of the trachea were obtained. The tracheal layers with different signal intensity on MR images were correlated with the histology. RESULTS: In vivo and in vitro MR studies revealed two layers of the trachea ;the inner layer had intermediate to high signal and the outer had low signal. The tracheal cartilage showed low signal intensity in all pulse sequences. The submucosa appeared as intermediate signal intensity on T1 weighted images but high signal intersity on other images due to its abundant mucous and mucoserous glands. However, the mucosa and perichondrium could not be defined on MR images. CONCLUSION: Characterization of the signal intensity according to the histologic layers of the trachea might be helpful for the evaluation of intrinsic lesions of the irachea or the possibility of tracheal invasion from the adjacent tumors.
Cadaver ; Carcinoid Tumor ; Cartilage ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Mucous Membrane ; Neck ; Trachea ; Tracheal Stenosis ; Tracheoesophageal Fistula

We experienced a case of granulation tissue occuring in lateral sulci of the right thumb, index, middle and left thumb, middle finger nails in 71-year-old psoriatic male patient taking 5pmg daily(0.6mg/kg/day) during 4th week of etretinate therapy. The excision of the granulation lesion and partial nail ablation was performed and his doses was lowered to 25mg daily (0. 3mg/kg/day). The condition were resolved with no recurrence 4 weeks later after the operation.
Acitretin* ; Aged ; Etretinate* ; Fingers ; Granulation Tissue* ; Humans ; Male ; Nails ; Recurrence ; Thumb

Pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis is a rare disease of haphazard overproliferation of smooth muscle from perilymphatics, peribronchial and perivascular regions of the lung that leads to chylous effusion, hemoptysis, spontaneous pneumothorax and pulmonary insufficiency. The disease only affects women of child-bearing age. There is presently no successful therapy and most of the patients die within 10 years of diagnosis. We experienced a case of pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis in a 30-year-old woman who had suffered from three episodes of spontaneous pneumothorax for 4 years. Open lung biopsy was performed. Microscopically, abnormal excess proliferation of smooth muscle tissue was identified in the wall of perivascular lymphatic channels as well as around small bronchi, and more distal air spaces. Varying sized cytic spaces Iined by cuboidal cells were also present. Tamoxifen, given if February 1991, did not influence the course of her disease. She died of respiratory failure at age of 31 in April 1991.
Female ; Humans ; Biopsy

No abstract available.
Denture, Partial, Fixed*

We report herein a case of polymorphic pemphigoid in a 65-year-old woman, who had one-year history of generlized polymorphic eruption with intensely pruritic excoriated vesicobiullous lesions and residual pigmentation. Face and oral mucosa were spared. The skin biopsy specimen showed a subepidermal blister containing many eosinophils. Linear deposition of 1gG and C3 along the basement membrane was noticed on direct irnmunofluorescerice. Polyclonal garnmopathy with a tendency of beta-gamma bridging and increased IgG, IgA and kappachain, was frund on serum protein electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoresis. Skin lesions were well coritrolled by a combined therapy of prednisolone(20 mg/d), dapsone(100 mg/d) and cyclophosphamide(100 mg/d) for 4 months. Direct immunofluorescence performed 11 rnonths after the cnmpletion of the therapy was negative.
Aged ; Basement Membrane ; Biopsy ; Blister ; Electrophoresis ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Humans ; Immunoelectrophoresis ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin G ; Mouth Mucosa ; Pemphigoid, Bullous* ; Pigmentation ; Skin

The clinical state with EEG pattern similar to interval discharge of epileptics is named as latent epilepsy, which does not necessarily mean that the patient will develop epilepsy later. However, since there is possibility of developing epilepsy on later date, antiepileptic mainly dilantin was tried to control the abnormal EEG. Since January to October 1985, total 580 headache cases with more than moderately abnormal EEG visited the Neurology Clinic. Among them 162 cases with interval seizure pattern (ISP) of epilepsy were selected for the study. The main ISP was 1. diffuse theta and/or delta bursts and 2. spikes. Since the study in only analysis of clinical treatment of 162 cases without previous planning based on financial aid, about 30% of the patients did not return after the 1st EEG examination, in 42% failed to follow the EEG after the treatment and only remaining 28% of the cases were studied. Among 29 patients who were treated with Dilantin 100mg tid po, 16 improved and 13 not. Of the 13, 4 showed partial improvement and partial progression. Case1. In 4 weeks of antiepileptic therapy (AR), spikes disappeared but in 2 months developed bursts. Case2. In 17days of AR, spikes and bursts disappeared but in 3 months bursts reccured. Case3. In 1 week of AR, bursts disappeared but spikes developed. Case4. In 3 months of AR, no change of spikes and bursts and she discontinued the AR. In 6 months she developed grandma seizure. Eighteen cases, treated with other drugs except antiepileptics, all showed improvement. The other drugs were vincaprol, polygammalon, aronamin, ATP and hydergine. The improved cases had spikes more often than theta bursts. In view of the small number of the cases due to dropping most patients out of present study, it is considered meaningless to perform statistical analysis. Further well planned study with more patients is to be expected.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Anticonvulsants ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy* ; Ergoloid Mesylates ; Headache ; Humans ; Neurology ; Phenytoin ; Seizures