Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed malignant skin tumors and develops characteristically on sun-exposed areas, such as the head and neck. Ultraviolet light exposure is an important etiologic factor in BCCs, and BCCs arising from non-sun- exposed areas are, therefore, very rare. In particular, the axilla, nipple, the genital and perianal areas are not likely to be exposed to ultraviolet light; thus, if BCC develops in these areas, other predisposing factors should be considered. Herein, we report a case of BCC arising on the pubic area in a 70-year-old man. We also performed a survey of the literature and discussed the 19 cases of BCC from non-sun-exposed areas reported to date in Korea.
Aged ; Axilla ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Head ; Humans ; Korea ; Neck ; Nipples ; Skin ; Ultraviolet Rays

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate abnormal findings of social brain network in Korean children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared with typically developing children (TDC). METHODS: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed to examine brain activations during the processing of emotional faces (happy, fearful, and neutral) in 17 children with ASD, 24 TDC. RESULTS: When emotional face stimuli were given to children with ASD, various areas of the social brain relevant to social cognition showed reduced activation. Specifically, ASD children exhibited less activation in the right amygdala (AMY), right superior temporal sulcus (STS) and right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) than TDC group when fearful faces were shown. Activation of left insular cortex and right IFG in response to happy faces was less in the ASD group. Similar findings were also found in left superior insular gyrus and right insula in case of neutral stimulation. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that children with ASD have different processing of social and emotional experience at the neural level. In other words, the deficit of social cognition in ASD could be explained by the deterioration of the capacity for visual analysis of emotional faces, the subsequent inner imitation through mirror neuron system (MNS), and the ability to transmit it to the limbic system and to process the transmitted emotion.
Amygdala ; Brain* ; Autism Spectrum Disorder* ; Child* ; Cognition ; Humans ; Limbic System ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Mirror Neurons

PURPOSE: Peritoneal recurrence has been reported to be the most common form of recurrence of gastric cancer. Peritoneal recurrence can generally be suggested by several types of image studies and also if there is evidence of ascites or Bloomer's rectal shelf. It can be confirmed by explorative laparotomy, but diagnostic laparoscopy is a good alternative method and laparoscopic surgery has also been widely used. We reviewed and analyzed the ability of diagnostic laparoscopy to detect peritoneal recurrence or carcinomatosis, and especially for gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review the 45 gastric cancer patients who were operated via diagnostic laparoscopy between 2004. 2. and 2009. 3. We analyzed the perioperative clinical characteristics and the accuracy of the diagnostic methods. RESULTS: The study groups included 14 patients who had confirmed gastric cancer, but they suspected to have carcinomatosis, and 31 patients who had previously underwent gastric resection, but they suspected to have recurrence. The mean operation time was 44.1+/-6.9 minutes and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 2.7+/-.8 days. There was one case of operation-related complication and no postoperative mortality occurred. The sensitivities for detecting peritoneal recurrence or carcinomatosis were 92.1% for diagnostic laparoscopy, 29.7% for detecting ascites and rectal shelf on the physical examination, 86.5% for abdominal computed tomography, 69.2% for PET CT and 18.8% for CEA. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic laparoscopy does not require a long operation time or a long hospital stay, and it showed a low complication rate in our study. It has high sensitivity for detecting peritoneal recurrence of gastric cancer. It can be an alternative diagnostic confirmative method and it is useful for deciding on further treatment.
Ascites ; Carcinoma ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Length of Stay ; Physical Examination ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: Because of the limited penetration into the central nervous system after systemic administration of numerous therapeutic compounds, intratumoral chemotherapy for brain tumors has also been used. However, the efficacy of intratumoral drug administration is restricted by the poor diffusion of drug through tumor and brain interstitium. In order to enhance the diffusion of chemotherapeutic agent and increase the cytotoxicity with minimal dose, the authors report the results of convection-enhanced delivery(CED) of chemotherapeutic agent to the malignant brain tumor as a method of enhancing cerebral drug delivery. METHODS: Authors used "CADD-Micro(R) ambulatory infusion pump" from Deltec, which can be programmed for continuous infusion. Intratumoral injection of chemotherapeutic drug using the pump was applied to eight patients with glioma and one patient with lymphoma. Surgery was done and tumor was removed as much as possible. The tip of catheter was placed in the center of tumor cavity. Adriamycin (0.16~0.32mg) was put in the reservoir which was connected to the proximal catheter and fixed in the pump device. Twenty-four hours after surgery, Adriamycin was infused. RESULTS: There was no adverse reaction of CED technique. Compared with current delivery techniques, the improvement of survival rate has been observed(5 patients: alive, 3 patients: dead, 1 patient: lost(alive to 5 mo.)). CONCLUSION: CED can be useful method for distributing therapeutic molecules in the interstitial space of tumor and can be utilized for chemotherapeutic agents, immunotoxins, and gene etc..
Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Catheters ; Central Nervous System ; Diffusion ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy ; Glioma ; Humans ; Immunotoxins ; Lymphoma ; Survival Rate

The number of workers with noise induced hearing loss which comprise 56.9% in the total number of workers with work-related diseases in Korea of 1994, are becoming in position of the most serious problem. Periodic health examination system which was introduced for health care of workers on hazardous workplace has played important role in health care and the prevention of work-related diseases. The goal of periodic health examination may be obtained when we not only discover occupational disease, but also control them effectively. To study the post-examination health status of workers with noise induced hearing loss diagnosed from 1991 to 1994 in the periodic health examination, all 154 workers in 102 manufacturing factories in Banwol and Siwha industrial complex were reviewed. ' 1. Among 154 workers, 87 workers (56.5%) were changed to different department, 67 workers (43. 5%) remained in the same department. 2. Among 102 workplaces, only 23 workplaces (22.9%) 'had changed their working environment while 79 workplaces (77.1%) did not. 3. In this study, post-examination health care of the workers diagnosed as noise induced-hearing loss had significant correlated with the presence of health care manager, Industrial Health and Safety Committee in workplace and size of industry. The improvement of working environment is also closely related with the presence of health care manager in workplace. 4. Among 154 respondents, 3 Wkers(l. 9%) had received! compensationwhile 151; workers(98.1%) did not. 5. The reasons for not requesting the compensation were that 117 workers (77.5^) were ignorant of the administrative procedure for compensation, 30 workers (19.9%) were not sure of receiving compensation, 4 workers (2.6%) were busy. Considering the result of this study, we must establish the guide of management or contents of post management for noise induced hearing loss. To prevent the noise induced hearing loss, and protect the workers with noise induced hearing loss, education about post management is much required for employer and employee.
Compensation and Redress ; Data Collection ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Education ; Hearing Loss* ; Hearing* ; Korea ; Noise* ; Occupational Diseases ; Occupational Health

The number of workers with noise induced hearing loss which comprise 56.9% in the total number of workers with work-related diseases in Korea of 1994, are becoming in position of the most serious problem. Periodic health examination system which was introduced for health care of workers on hazardous workplace has played important role in health care and the prevention of work-related diseases. The goal of periodic health examination may be obtained when we not only discover occupational disease, but also control them effectively. To study the post-examination health status of workers with noise induced hearing loss diagnosed from 1991 to 1994 in the periodic health examination, all 154 workers in 102 manufacturing factories in Banwol and Siwha industrial complex were reviewed. ' 1. Among 154 workers, 87 workers (56.5%) were changed to different department, 67 workers (43. 5%) remained in the same department. 2. Among 102 workplaces, only 23 workplaces (22.9%) 'had changed their working environment while 79 workplaces (77.1%) did not. 3. In this study, post-examination health care of the workers diagnosed as noise induced-hearing loss had significant correlated with the presence of health care manager, Industrial Health and Safety Committee in workplace and size of industry. The improvement of working environment is also closely related with the presence of health care manager in workplace. 4. Among 154 respondents, 3 Wkers(l. 9%) had received! compensationwhile 151; workers(98.1%) did not. 5. The reasons for not requesting the compensation were that 117 workers (77.5^) were ignorant of the administrative procedure for compensation, 30 workers (19.9%) were not sure of receiving compensation, 4 workers (2.6%) were busy. Considering the result of this study, we must establish the guide of management or contents of post management for noise induced hearing loss. To prevent the noise induced hearing loss, and protect the workers with noise induced hearing loss, education about post management is much required for employer and employee.
Compensation and Redress ; Data Collection ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Education ; Hearing Loss* ; Hearing* ; Korea ; Noise* ; Occupational Diseases ; Occupational Health

Intraorbital hemorrhage is a rare clinical condition caused by orbital trauma, surgery around the orbit, intraorbital vascular abnormalities, and neoplasm. It was reported to occur spontaneously without any known causes and in association with orbital pseudotumor in a very few cases. A 59-year-old, female patient admitted with sudden onset of severe exophthalmos and pain on the left eye. Orbital CT and MR imaging suggested hemorrhage in the upper part of retrobulbar area of the left orbit. Cerebral angiography was taken to rule out any possible vascular abnormalities. On the left carotid cerebral angiography, the run-off of the distal ophthalmic artery was not seen and the engorgement of the supraophthalmic artery was noted. Systemic administration of corticosteroid did not improve the clinical status and craniectomy was done and retrobulbar hematoma was removed, and the clinical symptoms and signs were improved. Authors report a case of spontaneous intraorbital hemorrhage with the clinical features similar to those of orbital pseudotumor, requiring surgical decompression.
Arteries ; Cerebral Angiography ; Decompression, Surgical ; Exophthalmos ; Eye ; Female ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Ophthalmic Artery ; Orbit ; Orbital Pseudotumor

Background: Data on the relationship between Parkinson's disease (PD) and stroke have been conflicting, some studies showing a reduced risk of stroke during life because of low prevalence of vascular risk factors, and others indicating an increased risk of strokerelated death. The objective of this study is to determine the frequency of vascular risk factors in PD in relation to an unaffected control group and ischemic stroke patient group. Methods: We performed a case-control study on 206 consecutive PD patients, 207 ischemic strokes patients (served as "Disease" controls) and 138 age and sex matched normal subjects (served as controls), calculating multivariate risk estimates (odd ratio) for a series of established risk factors for vascular disease. Results: We found that (1) cigarette smoking (smoker, 0.078, CI=0.034-0.178; ex-smoker, 0.031, CI=0.011-0.088), and diabetes mellitus (0.340, CI=0.169-0.682) were significant less frequent in PD patients than controls, (2) cigarette smoking (smoker, 0.230, CI= 0.094-0.561; ex-smoker, 0.132, CI=0.050-0.348), hypertension (0.283, CI=0.175-0.459), diabetes mellitus (0.257, CI=0.136-0.486), previous stroke (0.063, CI=0.020-0.191), heart disease (0.344, CI=0.176-0.673) than ischemic stroke patients, respectively. Conclusion: We found the significant negative association of a series of vascular factors with PD, indicating a protective effect of PD against ischemic stroke.
Case-Control Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Parkinson Disease* ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors* ; Smoking ; Stroke ; Vascular Diseases*

PURPOSE: It is known that lactoferrin serves as a source of iron for H. pylori in gastric mucosa. This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between lactoferrin and H. pylori infection coexistent with iron-deficiency anemia by determining the lactoferrin levels in gastric biopsy specimens, and by locating the major sites of lactoferrin expression, according to the presence or absence of iron-deficiency anemia. METHODS: Fifty-five adolescents that underwent gastroduodenoscopy were divided into three groups: NL (n=19) for normal controls, HP (n=15) for patients with H. pylori, and IDA (n=21) for patients with H. pylori gastritis and coexisting iron-deficiency anemia. Histopathologic features were graded from null to marked on the basis of the Updated Sydney System. The gastric mucosal levels of lactoferrin were measured by immunoassay. Immunohistochemical technique was used to allow identification of the location and quantification of the lactoferrin expression. RESULTS: Lactoferrin levels in the antrum increased significantly, in proportion to, H. pylori density, polymorphonuclear cell infiltration, and chronic inflammation in the histologic specimens. Patients in the HP and IDA groups showed significantly increased mucosal levels of lactoferrin compared with that observed in the normal group (p=0.0001). The lactoferrin level in IDA group tended to be higher than that in the HP group (p=0.2614). The major sites of lactoferrin expression by immunohistochemistry were in glands and neutrophils within epithelium. Lactoferrin was stained weakly in NL, and strongly in HP and IDA. CONCLUSION: The lactoferrin sequestration in the gastric mucosa of IDA was remarkable, and this finding seems to give a clue that leads to the clarification of the mechanism by which H. pylori infection contributes to iron-deficiency anemia.
Adolescent ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency* ; Biopsy ; Epithelium ; Gastric Mucosa* ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inflammation ; Iron* ; Lactoferrin* ; Neutrophils

Halo nevus is a pigmented nevus surrounded by a round or oval depigmentation. Of patients with halo nevus, 18 to 26% patients have vitiligo, either involving the nevus or at a distant site. While the exact etiology of halo formation and vitiligo is unknown, several theories suggest that common immunologic mechanisms are involved in the destruction of melanocytes of both phenomena. Unlike common melanocytic nevus, congenital nevus associated with both halo formation and concurrent extralesional vitiligo is very uncommon and only one case has been reported in the Korean dermatological literature. A 19-year-old female presented with surrounding depigmentation around a congenital hairy nevus on the left forearm. Simultaneously, vitiligo appeared on the lowerabdomen and surrounding regions of both areola. The halo depigmented lesion around congenital nevus and the periareolar vitiliginous lesion shared some histological and immunohistochemical features. These findings further support common immunological mechanisms of pigment destruction in both phenomena.
Female ; Forearm ; Humans ; Melanocytes ; Nevus ; Nevus, Halo ; Nevus, Pigmented ; Vitiligo ; Young Adult