We report a case of primary cutaneous cryptococcosis on Rt. forehead and perioral area of 57 year old woman with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and Lt. cerebral infarction. She had large ulcers with yellowish purulent exudates on Rt. forehead and perioral area for 2months. A histopathological examination from the lesion showed numerous encapsulated, round spores and the organisms were identified as Cryptococcus neoformans in a series of fun-gal studies. The patient received a 5-week course of IV and oral fluconazole with resolution of her skin lesion. The patient is free of any lesion several months after completing therapy. This experience supports the use of fluconazole as initial and single therapy in primary cutaneous cryptococcosis.
Cerebral Infarction ; Cryptococcosis* ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Exudates and Transudates ; Female ; Fluconazole* ; Forehead ; Humans ; Skin ; Spores ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND: Sun exposure and therapeutic irradiation have been shown to induce alterations in extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, including elastin, glycosaminoglycan and collagens. The integrity of the connective tissue mainly depends on balanced rates of matrix synthesis and degradation of the extracellular matrix. Therefore, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may be involved in ultraviolet irradiation (UVR)-induced alterations in ECM proteins. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of UVA as well as UVB irradiations on ST-1 gene expression in cultured human skin fibroblasts. METHODS: After exposure of different doses of UVA and UVB on cultured human skin fibroblasts, we examined the expression of ST-1 gene by Northern blot analysis, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) assay with CAT construct containing AP-1 binding site. Additionally, we carried out the gel mobility shift assay to investigate the effects of UVR on the DNA-binding activity of AP-1. RESULTS: After UVR on fibroblasts, the steady-state levels of ST-1 mRNA were in-creased in response to UVA and UVB by 2.5-fold and 4.2-fold, respectively, as compared with controls. Similar results were obtained by CAT assay showing that CAT activity increased as the UVA and UVB doses increased. Furthermore, gel mobility shift assay demonstrated that both UVA and UVB increased AP-1 DNA binding complexes. CONCLUSION: UVB as well as UVA up-regulated ST-1 gene expression at transcriptional levels in vitro. We speculate that modulation of MMPs, including ST-1, gene expression by UVR may contribute to the connective tissue damage related to photoaging and other photocutaneous disorders.
Animals ; Binding Sites ; Blotting, Northern ; Cats ; Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase ; Collagen ; Connective Tissue ; DNA ; Elastin ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblasts* ; Gene Expression ; Humans* ; In Vitro Techniques ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin ; Solar System ; Transcription Factor AP-1

No abstract available.
Cryotherapy* ; Nevus*

Fractures of tibia are often trouble-some because of their easy compounding and associated soft tissue injury, especially neurovascular tissue. Initial proper treatments for fractures of tibia with severe compounding are very important for a better prognosis. In the orthopaedic Department of the Seoul Adventist Hospital, open reduction and internal fixation with Sherman plate were performed for 12 cases of tibia with severe compounding from January 1975 to October 1980 and the results were as follows; 1. The age of the patients ranged from 11 years to 50 years, and the majority of the patients were injuryed in traffic accident. 2. All of the patients were suffered from combined injures, so intensive close treatment was needed but 2 patients expired. 3. 7 out of 12 cases were found as vascular rupture and therefore 2 B-K amputations were carried out because of necrosis. 4. Average time for bone union was 6.9 months and infection was controlled without sequela. 5. Outcome of open reduction and internal fixation with Sherman plate for fractures of tibia with severe compounding was rather good, but comparisons are thought to be required after standardization of patients for open reduction without internal fixation. and openreduction with internal fixation.
Accidents, Traffic ; Amputation ; Clinical Study ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Prognosis ; Rupture ; Seoul ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Tibia ; Tibial Fractures

No abstract available.
Motor Endplate*

No abstract available.
Interleukin-6* ; Lymphocytes*

Three-dimensional (3D) structure of the bronchopulmonary segments should be understood for accurate diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases. Two-dimensional (2D) tools (e.g. anatomy books) or traditional 3D tools (e.g. plastic models) are not sufficient for understanding 3D structure of the bronchopulmonary segments. The lung of a cadaver may not always be available for dissection, when it is needed. To overcome this problem, virtual dissection programs of the lung have been made. However, most programs include either 2D images that do not permit free dissection or radiographs that do not reveal true color and have limited resolution, and cannot represent 3D structure of the bronchopulmonary segments. Moreover, it is necessary to make a virtual dissection program of each race and ethnic group. Thus, we attempted to make a 3D image and virtual dissection program of the lung using a Korean cadaver in order to help medical students and doctors better understand 3D structure of the bronchopulmonary segments. One pair of lungs was extracted from a Korean male cadaver. Dye with specific color was injected into each segmental bronchus to distinguish bronchopulmonary segments. The lungs were embedded with gelatin solution, and serially-sectioned with 1 mm- thickness using a meat slicer. Sectioned specimens from each lung were inputted into the computer using a scanner (300 X 400 resolution, true color). 2D images of the lungs were aligned on the alignment program which was composed using IDL language. In 2D images, the bronchopulmonary segments were manually segmented by help of dye. 3D images of the bronchopulmonary segments were reconstructed through the volume-based rendering of 2D images. With 3D images as the main features, the virtual dissection program of the bronchopulmonary segments was composed using IDL language. Various virtual dissection functions, such as sectioning a lung at free angles to show its plane, identifying the bronchopulmonary segments represented in the sectioned plane, and rotating the selected bronchopulmonary segments at free angles, were established. This virtual dissection program of the bronchopulmonary segments is helpful in better understanding 3D location and shape of the bronchopulmonary segments; it is expected to be used through CD-title or Internet as an educational tool for medical students and doctors.
Bronchi ; Cadaver* ; Continental Population Groups ; Diagnosis ; Ethnic Groups ; Gelatin ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional* ; Internet ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Male ; Meat ; Plastics ; Students, Medical

No abstract available.
Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Diagnosis* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal*

We report a case of trichorrhexis nodosa in a 27-year-old male. Scanning electron microscopic findings reveals those of typical trichorrhexis nodosa nodal swelling of affected hair showed longitudinal fissures and fractures in the cortex. A paintbrush effect was noted at the site of fracture. Simple avoidance of trauma gave some regrowth of hairs.
Adult ; Hair ; Humans ; Male

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic active gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. All patients with ulcers who are infected with H. pylori receive antimicrobial therapy. Therefore diagnosis of H. pylori infection is imperative for the treatment gastritis or ulcer patients. We evaluated the four diagnostic methods and three culture media for the isolation of H. pylori. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rapid urease test(CLO test), modified Gram stain, culture, and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed with 108 gastroscopic biopsy specimens from patients with peptic ulcer or chronic gastritis. Among them 40 specimens were inoculated onto each of 5% sheep blood agar, e99 Yolk emulsion (EYE) agar, and 7% horse blood agar containing antibiotics. RESULTS: The positive rates were the highest by the PCR(72%), 67% by modified Gram stain, 64% by CLO test, and 57% by culture. Among the three media the horse blood agar (selective medial) gave the highest isolation rate (48%), followed by sheep blood agar (45%), and EYE agar (38%). CONCLUSION: Though PCR was the most sensitive method for the detection H. pylori modified Gram stain was sensitive enough, simple, rapid, and economical as the routine diagnostic method of H. pylori. For the culture of H. pylori combination of sheep blood agar as nonselective media and horse blood agar as selective media would show the highest isolation rate.
Agar ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Biopsy* ; Culture Media* ; Diagnosis ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Horses ; Humans ; Peptic Ulcer ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sheep ; Ulcer ; Urease