To determine the normal interindividual variability of global visual field indices in normal subjects and investigate the correlations of visual field changes with intraocular pressure and myopic degrees, OCTOPUS 2000R automated perimetry was tested in 70 eyes of 40 normal subjects who had undergone one previous visual field on two separate sessions. The average value of Mean Defect(MD) was 3.83 +/- 1.15dB. Three eyes(4.3%) were within 2dB of the normal. In the statistical analysis of Global indices between the 1st and the 2nd fields. there were no differences(p>0.05). MD and myopic degrees showed a significant positive correlation (r=0.237, p<0.05). These results indicate that visual field indices should be interpreted with caution and used as one adjunctive parameter with other clinical findings.
Intraocular Pressure ; Myopia ; Octopodiformes* ; Visual Field Tests ; Visual Fields

Microsportcm gypseum is a geophilic fungi abundant in soil throughout the world. The infections may occur either from animal to man(zoophilic) or from soil to man (geophilic). Patierit of 13-year-old Korean male sought medical attention with skin lesion on scalp which showed scaly patch with broken hairs and a round pilar cyst like nodule. Identification of Microsporum gypseum was made by culture on Sabouraud agar media and microscopic exarnination.
Adolescent ; Agar ; Animals ; Epidermal Cyst ; Fungi ; Hair ; Humans ; Male ; Microsporum* ; Scalp ; Skin ; Soil ; Tinea Capitis* ; Tinea*

Background: Fluvastatin is the first entirely synthetic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A(HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor. Clinical data indicate that this agent exhibits the proven efficacy of its class and also has some theoretical advantages in safety for long-term use because of its unique pharmacololgic property consistent with hepatoselectivity(i.e., low systemic exposure). This study is to evaluate efficacy and safety of fluvastatin in hypercholesterolemic patients in Korea. Methods: An open clinical trial with fluvastatin was conducted in 31 subjects who continued to have high blood cholesterol levels of 6.21 mmol/L(240 mg/dl) or greater after 1 month of lipid-lowering diet plus single blind placebo period. Fluvastatin was administered for 8 weeks with the initial dose of 20 mg per day and if serum cholesterol levels did not fall below 5.20 mmol/L(200 mg/dl) after 4 weeks the dose was increased to 40 mg per day for the second 4 weeks. On each visit every 4 weeks they underwent interview and laboratory tests about side effects and tolerability. Results: The mean % changes in plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol from baseline were
Cholesterol ; Creatine Kinase ; Diet ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Korea ; Oxidoreductases ; Plasma ; Sleep Stages ; Triglycerides

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to review our recent experiences with deep neck abscesses in children and adolescents and to provide helpful information in treatment and diagnosis by comparing them with those in other available literatures. METHODS: Medical records of 36 children and adolescents admitted for deep neck abscess at two hospitals from January 2000 to October 2010 were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Male to female ratio was 1.4 : 1 and the mean age was 6.5 years. Painful neck swelling and fever were the most frequent symptoms in patients under thirteen years of age whereas trismus and headache were frequent symptoms in patients over fourteen years of age. Submandibular space was the most common site of deep neck abscess in patients under thirteen years of age, whereas peritonsillar space was the most common site in patients over fourteen years of age. The results of bacterial cultures were positive in 61.5% of drained cases. Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly identified bacteria in 6 patients (37.5%) and 5 of them were under 2 years of age. Twenty six patients received surgical drainage while the others were treated with antibiotics only. There were no statistically significant differences in the durations of admission, fever after admission, and antibiotic treatment between surgical and medical treatment groups. CONCLUSION: The common sites of deep neck abscess, associated symptoms, and causative organisms were different between children and adolescents. As there were no differences in durations of admission, fever, or antibiotics treatments between surgical and medical treatment groups, surgical drainage may be avoided by early recognition and suspicion. However, if there is no improvement of symptoms or size of abscesses within 48-72 hours of antibiotic treatment, surgical drainage should be considered.
Abscess ; Adolescent ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Child ; Drainage ; Female ; Fever ; Headache ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Neck ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Trismus

We report a case of 54-year-old female with two intracranial tumors, a meningioma and multifocal glioblastoma multiforme with extracranial metastasis. The simultaneous occurrence of meningioma and glioblastoma multiforme and extracranial metastasis of glioblastoma multiforme are rare. We demonstrated additional clinical and pathological features of interest and reviewed the relevant literatures, and have speculated on the causes of this phenomenon.
Female ; Glioblastoma* ; Humans ; Meningioma* ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis

No abstract available.
Erythema Nodosum* ; Erythema*

BACKGROUND: Chronic telogen effluvium is a common problem in middle-aged women. It has been suggested that reduced iron stores are a cause of this type of baldness. OBJECTIVE: We performed this study in order to elucidate the pathogenesis of chronic telogen effluvium and to evaluate the differences in serum stored iron levels between normal females and those with chronic telogen effluvium. METHODS: Blood levels of hemoglobin, iron, ferritin, and TIBC were examined in 20 patients with chronic telogen effluvium and 20 normal females. RESULT: 1) Ferritin levels were significantly decreased in the patients group(p=0.008). 2) TIBC levels were significantly increased in the patients group(p=0.001). 3) There were no significant differences in Hb and serum iron in both groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggested that the variation of serum ferritin level may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic telogen effluvium, but further studies will be needed for evaluation of this condition.
Alopecia ; Female* ; Ferritins ; Humans ; Iron*

The purpose of this study was to regenerate human dental pulp tissues similar to native pulp tissues. Using the mixture of type I collagen solution, primary cells collected from the different tissues (pulp, gingiva, and skin) and NIH 3T3 (1 x 10(5) cells/ml/well) were cultured at 12-well plate at 37degrees C for 14 days. Standardized photographs were taken with digital camera during 14 days and the diameter of the contracted collagen gel matrix was measured and statistically analyzed with student t-test. As one of the pulp tissue engineering, normal human dental pulp tissue and collagen gel matrix cultured with dental pulp cells for 14 days were fixed and stained with Hematoxyline & Eosin. According to this study, the results were as follows: 1. The contraction of collagen gel matrix cultured with pulp cells for 14 days was significantly higher than other fibroblasts (gingiva, skin) (p < 0.05). 2. The diameter of collagen gel matrix cultured with pulp cells was reduced to 70.4% after 7 days, and 57.1% after 14 days. 3. The collagen gel without any cells did not contract, whereas the collagen gel cultured with gingiva and skin showed mild contraction after 14 days (88.1% and 87.6% respectively). 4. The contraction of the collagen gel cultured with NIH 3T3 cells after 14 days was higher than those cultured with gingival and skin fibroblasts, but it was not statistically significant (72.1%, p > 0.05). 5. The collagen gel matrix cultured with pulp cells for 14 days showed similar shape with native pulp tissue without blood vessels. This approach may provide a means of engineering a variety of other oral tissue as well and these cell behaviors may provide information needed to establish pulp tissue engineering protocols.
Blood Vessels ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I* ; Dental Pulp* ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Fibroblasts ; Gingiva ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; NIH 3T3 Cells ; Skin ; Tissue Engineering*

No abstract available.
Down Syndrome*

Sclerosing panniculitis refers to the skin induration and hyperpigmentation of the legs that often occurs in patients who have venous insufficiency. Sclerosing panniculitis is similar to those described under the designations hypodermitis sclerodermiformis or lipodermatosclerosis. Histologically the septa of the subcutis become thickening by inflammation and fibrosis. Adipocytes coalesce to form small and large pseudocysts. Some of these are lined by refractile, amphophilic crenulated membranes. This alteration was referred to as lipomembranous change. We report a case of sclerosing panniculitis in a 40-year-old female patient presented as induration and depression of the skin and subcutaneous tissues of the lower third of the leg.
Adipocytes ; Adult ; Depression ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Inflammation ; Leg ; Membranes ; Panniculitis* ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Venous Insufficiency