The lupus band test(LHT) has been proposed as a diagnostic test for lupus erythematosus(LE), differentiating discoid I E from systemic LE and also has prognostic values. For the better understanding of relation between LBT and prognosis in SLE. a study was carried out in 32 SLE patients with skin lesions. Immunofluorescent study was done with biopsies taken from involved skin and uninvolved skin of patients with SLE. The results were as follows . 1) Incidences of a positive LBT were 84% in both involved and uninvolved skin and IgM was most frequently deposited(66% & 72%) in both, whereas IgA was least frequently deposited(34% & 19%) in both. 2) Deposits in DEJ of IgG, IgM, IgA and C were found with approximately same frequency in patients with different clinical manifestations and different laboratory findings. 3) Incidences of positive LBT in patients with renal disease were approximately same as in patients without renal disease. And deposits of all clssses of immuno glcbulins were found with about the same frequency in these two groups. 4) A positive LBT composed of IgG alone or IgG and other Igs were associated with an increase of anemia, ANA, anti-DNA and hypocomplementemia. Ten renal biopsies showed diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis(GN) in focal proliferative GN in 3 and membranous CiN in 2 and no correlation to immune deposits.
Anemia ; Biopsy ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Incidence ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Prognosis ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Whether the changes of risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, alcohol) can precipitate stroke remains unknown, and antecedent infection and psychologic stress are described insufficiently as predisposing risk factors for cerebral infarction. Therefore, we attempted to examine the roles of recent infection, psychologic stress, and the changes of risk factors as potential precipitants in each stroke subtypes. We also tested the temporal relationship between preceding exposure to coldness and stroke onset. METHODS: In this case-control study, 113 consecutive patients with acute cerebrovascular disease (38 small vessel disease, 43 large vessel disease, 11 cardiogenic infarction, 4 infarction of undetermined cause, and 17 intracerebral hemorrhage) and 23 control subjects were evaluated. Changes of the risk factors (and their management) were interviewed. A sign/symptom based questionnaire was used to characterize the prevalence of recent prior infection and exposure to coldness. Psychologic stress was measured with the use of Social Readjustment Rating Scale. RESULTS: The negative change of alcohol drinking was significantly higher in the stroke group. However, there was no significant difference between stroke and control groups in the changes of the other risk factors. The prevalence of previous (within 1 month) infection was significantly higher in the stroke group compared with control subjects (p=0.03). However, there were no significant differences among the stroke subtypes in the prevalence of infection(p=0.08). Upper respiratory tract infections constituted the most common type of infection. The exposure to coldness was significantly higher in the stroke group compared with control subjects (p=0.002). The level of stress within the prior 1 month/1 year was significantly higher in the stroke group than control group (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that preceding infection, exposure to coldness, psychologic stress, and the negative change of alcohol drinking may be com.
Alcohol Drinking ; Case-Control Studies ; Cerebral Infarction ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Infarction ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stress, Psychological* ; Stroke*

No abstract available.
Aged* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

Porphyria cutanea tarda(PCT) is a photocutaneous disorder due to excessive porphyrins in the skin. We experienced 4 male patients who showed typical clinical manifestations. Histologic findings revealed subepidermal bullae with festooned derrnal papi11ae, and typical porphyrin excretion pattern of PCT was detected. One case had on 500mg daily of chloroquine with r.linical and biochemical improvement 4 months later without any adverse effects. Other 2 cases had on 125mg of chloroquine twice a week and the other one had perforrned phlebotomy.
Chloroquine ; Humans ; Male ; Phlebotomy ; Porphyria Cutanea Tarda* ; Porphyrias* ; Porphyrins ; Skin

No abstract available.
Humans ; Peptic Ulcer*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to discuss the characteristic CT and MR findings in persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous(PHPV) and to compare the detectability of those findings in each modality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated CT and MR findings in 32 patients with PHPV. Twenty-five patients had CT, 13 patients had MR, and 6 patients had both CT and MR. RESULTS: Major findings of PHPV in 32 patients on both imaging modalities were lens deformity(78%), shallow anterior chamber(72%), heterogeneous vitreous opacity(72%), enhancing hyaloid artery or remnant of fibrotic hand(69%), and microophthalmos(67%). Minor findings were retinal detachment(22%), and vitreous hemorrhage(6%). In MRI, lens deformity(92%) and shallow anterior chamber(85%) were detected most commonly whereas in CT, opaque vitreous(80%) was the most common finding. Findings of enhancing hyaloid vessel or remnant of fibrotic band, considered characteristic of PHPV, were more commonly detectable in MR (85%) than CT(52%). CONCLUSION: Characteristic MR and CT findings of PHPV were lena deformity, shallow anterior chanber, heterogeneons vitreons opacity, enhanciny hgalind artery or remnant fibrotic band, and microphthalmos. MR seemed to be more useful than CT in detecting Globe pathology.
Arteries ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Microphthalmos ; Pathology ; Retinaldehyde ; Retrospective Studies

We report 2 cases of eosinophilic pustular folliculitis, one in s 29-year-old woman and the other in a 24-year-old man. Crops of papules and pustules developed on well demarcated, walnut-sized, erythematous plsques on the cheeks and forehead. Eruptions were more pronounced on the periphery of the plaques with central clearing. Blood eosinophilia was evident in case 1. Histologic findings showed a dense inflammatory infiltration and abscesses composed mainly of eosinophils in and around hair follicles, sebaceous glands and around blood vessels. We could see beneficial responses by administration of dapsone in both cases, but its effect was just suppressive and temporary.
Abscess ; Adult ; Blood Vessels ; Cheek ; Dapsone ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils* ; Female ; Folliculitis* ; Forehead ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Sebaceous Glands ; Young Adult

We report a case of erythema elevatum ditinum in a 6-year-old girl. Th symmetrically distributed skin lesions consisted of elevated purplish annular plaques and nodules on the elbows, knees, ankles and buttocks, and some of the lesions showed vesicles, hemorrhagic crusts, and necroses. Biopsy specimens from the knee and ankle revealed typical leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Ve performed a Multites CMI, a test for delayed r.utaneous hypersensitivity, in which the patient showed positive reaction to streptococcal antigen(Lancefield group C). We tried oral prednisolone and dapsone seperately and could see a remarkable response to both drugs.
Ankle ; Biopsy ; Buttocks ; Child* ; Dapsone ; Elbow ; Erythema* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Knee ; Necrosis ; Prednisolone ; Skin ; Vasculitis

PURPOSE: This study was a secondary data analysis aimed at identifying the predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the home-dwelling disabled person by using EQ-5D which is a standardized instrument used as a measure of health outcome. METHODS: Data were drawn from the 3rd Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW). Subjects were 1,021 home-dwelling disabled persons over 19 years of age. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, t-test, Pearson's correlation, one-way ANOVA, Scheffe test, and Stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: HRQoL (Health Related Quality of Life) is differentiated within age, genders, educational level, employment status, economic status, types and grades of disability, health problems associated with limited mobility, and the limited duration of time. HRQoL is correlated with age, number of cohabiters, educational level, grades of disability, activities of daily living (ADL), and instrumental ADL (IADL). HRQoL is significantly associated with ADL, health problems in connection with limited mobility, employment status, types of disability, marital status, grades of disability, and the limited duration of time. These factors explained 63.7% of variance in HRQoL. CONCLUSION: HRQoL among the disabled is related to their characteristics, ADL, and IADL. For this reason, it is necessary to develop health programs to promote those variables required to improve HRQoL.
Activities of Daily Living ; Disabled Persons ; Employment ; Humans ; Korea ; Marital Status ; Quality of Life ; Statistics as Topic

Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy is due to acute ischemia of the anterior part of the optic nerve, whose main source of blood supply is from the posterior ciliary circulation, either by direct branches or through the peripapillary choroid, with minor and differing contributions from other sources. The clinical features are charaterized by sudden visual impairment, optic nerve related visual field defect and optic disc edema. For pathogenetic as well as therapeutic reasons, these patient can be subdivided into two major subgroups: a nonarteritic group, an arteritic group. The authors experienced a case of AION, which occurred in a young male, probably arteritic. So, the literature of the AION was briefly reviewed and the purpose of this review is to increase awareness of this not uncommon condition.
Choroid ; Edema ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Male ; Optic Nerve ; Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic ; Vision Disorders ; Visual Fields