No abstract available.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the possible effect of an interaction between summertime heat waves and ozone on cardiopulmonary mortality during the 1994 heat wave in Korea. METHODS: The unusually hot summer of 1994 in Korea was defined as the heat wave in this study. We examined the associations of air pollutants with daily cardiopulmonary deaths between 1991-1995, considering the product term of the heat wave and each pollutant, weather and time trends. RESULTS: During the heat wave, while temperatures were uniformly higher than those of other summers, the within-heat-wave difference in mortality paralleled that in the regional ozone levels. In terms of the influence of the heat wave, the results of ozone were different to those of total suspended particles (TSP) and sulfur dioxide (SO2). The ozone association (relative risk (RR) =1.036; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.018-1.054) was observed only under heat wave conditions, while the TSP (RR =1.006, 95% CI = 0.999-1.012) and the SO2 (RR =1.018, 95% CI = 1.011-1.024) associations were found under normal weather conditions (per interquartile increase of each pollutant; results of three pollutants model). The ozone association under heat wave was attributable to the statistical interaction between the heat wave and ozone. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the possibility of a biological synergy between the heat wave and ozone, one that is not evident between the heat wave and other major pollutants like particles or SO2.
Air Pollutants ; Air Pollution ; Hot Temperature* ; Infrared Rays* ; Korea* ; Mortality* ; Ozone* ; Sulfur Dioxide ; Weather

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate the Incentive Spirometry (IS) and Deep Breathing Exercises (DBE) to prevent postoperative pulmonary complications after abdominal surgery in patients over 60 years of age. METHODS: We prospectively randomized 90 patients into 1 of 3 groups: the control group (30 patients) received no respiratory treatment, the IS group (30 patients) was treated with incentive spirometry 4 times daily and DBE group (30 patients) carried out deep breathing exercises under supervision for 15 min 4 times daily. ABGA was taken at ward, PR (preop.room), RR (recovery room), POD1 day and POD2 day. Roentgenographic changes observed at 24 h. and 48 h. after surgery. Pulmonary complications were defined as the development of 3 or more of 6 new findings: cough, sputum, dyspnea, chest discomfort, temperature greater than 38oC, pulse rate more than 100 beats/min. RESULTS: PaO2 in the DBE group and IS group at PR were significantly increased than the values at ward, and the values of the PaO2 in the DBE group at RR and POD1 day, and those of IS group at PR and POD2 day were significant higher than those of the control group (p<0.05). The frequency of development of pulmonary complications (43.3% in the control group, 20% in the DBE group, 20% in the IS group) and roentgenographic changes were comparable in the 3 groups (26.7%, 16.7%, 20% respectively). The DBE group showed the different incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications between upper and lower abdominal surgery (upper: lower= 35.7: 6.3%). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that DBE and IS were effective in preventing postoperative pulmonary complications after abdominal surgery and lower abdominal surgery causes lesser postoperative pulmonary complications than upper abdominal surgery.
Breathing Exercises ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Incidence ; Motivation* ; Organization and Administration ; Prospective Studies ; Respiration* ; Spirometry* ; Sputum ; Thorax

The accuracy and sensitivity of both direct and indirect immunofluorescence microseopy in diagnosing chronic bullous dermatoses were evaluated and compared in 11 cases of six different disease entities(pemphigus vulgaris, pemphigus vegetans, bullous pemphigoid, linear IgA bullous dermatosis, familial benign chronic pemphigus), which had been diagnosed clinically and by routine histopa thological studies. And the results obtained were as follows: 1) In 4 cases of bullous pemphigod, the direct IF of perilesional skin showed linear deposition of IgG and C2 along basement membrane zone(BMZ), whereas the indirect IF revealed negetive findings. 2) In 2 cases of pemphigus vulgaris, the direct IF showed deposition of IgG and C2 in intercellular substance(ICS) of perilesional epidermal tissue, and the indirect IF revealed auto-antibody to ICS(1:320) in one case. 3) In 2 cases of linear IgA bullous dermatosis, which were diagnosed as dermatitis herpetiformis by clinical and routine hisopathological findings, the direct IF of perilesional and uninvolved skin manifested linear deposition of IgA, IgM, C3 and F along BMZ, However, no immunofluorescence was detected by the indirect IF. 4) In a case of chronic bullous dermatosis of childhood, the direct IF of perilesional skin showed linear deplosition of IgA and IgM along BMZ. 5) In a case of pemphigus vegetans, the direct IF revealed no specific findings, while the inderect IF disclosed auto antibody positive to ICS(1:40). 6) In a case of familial benign chronic permphigus, no immunofluorescence was found by direct IF. These results indicate that both direct and indirect immunofluorescence micros-copy are valuable in diagnosing chronic bullous dermatoses and in understanding their immune pathogenesis.
Basement Membrane ; Dermatitis Herpetiformis ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Linear IgA Bullous Dermatosis ; Pemphigoid, Bullous ; Pemphigus ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous*

An 8-year-old girl had a rice sized erythematous nodule secreting mucoid fluid situated above the right sternoclavicular joint area since birth. Histopathological findings of the lesion revealed predominant mucous acini, serous acini, demilunes of mixed acini and excretory ducts in the deep dermis compatible with salivary gland. Electron microscopic findings revealed a lumen and serous cells containing serous granules and rough endoplasmic reticulurn. Recurrence has not been noted following total excision of the nodule.
Child ; Dermis ; Female ; Humans ; Neck* ; Parturition ; Recurrence ; Salivary Glands* ; Sternoclavicular Joint

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Epidermolysis Bullosa*

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacterial Infections ; Dental Caries ; Drainage ; Head ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ludwig's Angina ; Neck ; Penicillins ; Periodontal Diseases ; Suppuration ; Surgery, Oral ; Tracheostomy

This study was done with 5,980 cases of dermatomycosis of dermatological patients in Chnnnam University Hospital for 10 years(1976~1985). And the literatures concerning all fungal diseases reported in Korea were reviewed. The results were summarized as follows ; Among total dermatological patients, the average annual incidence of dermatomycosis was about 15+3%. Dermatophytosis was the most prevalent(77.34%), followed by candicliaais(14.38%), tinea versicolor(7.78%), sporotrichosis(0.45%). Of dermatophytosis, the decreasing orders of clinical localization by the incidence were T.pedis(42.2%), T.cruris(25.9%), T. manum(10.3% ), T. corporis(10.0%), T. ungium (6.2%), T.facialis(4.2%), and T. capitis(2.2%). The organisms identified from dermato phytoses were generally 9 species ; the decreasing orders of frequency were Trichophyton rubrum(59.4%), T. mentagrophyte(27.9%), Microsporum canis(8.5%), Epidermophyton floccosum(2.4%), T. ferrugineum(0.9%), and others(M. gypseum, T. schonleinii, T. violaceum, T. verrucosum). The most common causative organism was T. rubrum, but that of T. corporis and T. capitis was M. canis, which showed a continuous increase on the annual variation of dermatophytes. Of candidiasis, the most common clinical form was cutaneous candidiasis, which was prevalent under 10 years old. But vulvo-vaginitis and paronychia highly developed between 3rd and 5th decades. The occasion with precipitating faetors was 10.4% of total candidiasis, of which tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus were prevalent. Of T. versicolor patients, the peak age was 3rd decades but some cases were infant and child. Of sporotrichosis, the most common clinical location and form were hand and lym phatic respectively. The peak age was between 4th and 5th decades, and the most prevalent occupation was farmer. Of other deep mycosis, there were each case of cryptococcosis, systernic candidiasis, and Wangiella derm,atitidies infection.
Arthrodermataceae ; Candidiasis ; Candidiasis, Cutaneous ; Child ; Cryptococcosis ; Dermatomycoses* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Epidermophyton ; Exophiala ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Korea ; Microsporum ; Occupations ; Paronychia ; Sporotrichosis ; Tinea ; Trichophyton ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster(HZ), caused by reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus, is manifested by dermatomal distribution of skin rashes, acute pain and post-herpetic neuralgia by pathologic involvement of the sensory ganglia. Low-energy laser(LEL) deliver a small amount of energy without elevation of the tissue temperature. LEL is reported to have various biologic effects such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, regenerative, antiallergic, immunocorrective, and antibacterial effects. OBJECTIVE: We attempted to evaluate the therapeutic effect of LEL on an acute phase of HZ. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with acute HZ were enrolled in the study. The control group(30 patients) received medications including analgesics, antihistamine, and topical care without LEL irradiation. The experimental group(30 patients) were irradiated with LEL daily for 7 days in addition to the same kinds of medications for the control group. The efficacy of LEL irradiation for HZ was assessed by analyzing changes in skin rashes, pain scores, and postherpetic neuralgia.
Acute Pain ; Analgesics ; Exanthema ; Ganglia, Sensory ; Herpes Zoster* ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Humans ; Neuralgia ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic

We report a case of a morphologic variant of dermatofibroma. A coin sized, brownish, shinny, somewhat fibrotic pedunculated tumor in a 39-year-old male was diagnosed as a sclerosing hemangioma, a type of dermatofibroma histopathologically. Its dome shape morphology was unusual in comparison with the typical morphology of dermatofibroma that we know.
Adult ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Humans ; Male ; Numismatics