PURPOSE: To evaluate types of gray matter heterotopias, associated brain anomalies, and its correlation with the patterns of seizure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated retrospectively 19 patients(male :female=10:9, mean age 21 years) with gray matter heterotopias on brain MRI. Using 1.0T superconducting MR unit, spin echo TI-, proton-density- and T2-weighted images in axial, coronal and sagittal planes were obtained. RESULTS: Types of gray matter heterotopias were single subependymal in four patients, multiple subependymal in one, focal subcortical in eight, diffuse subcortical in two, mixed multiple subependymal and focal subcortical in four. Associated anomalies were seen in 11 patients:other neuronal migration anomalies in eight patients, corpus callosum agenesis in two, and combined holoprosencephaly and Dandy-Walker malformation in one. Fifteen patients had seizure. The patterns of seizure were not correlated with the types of heterotopias. CONCLUSION: In addition to subependymal, focal subcortical, and diffuse subcortical types, gray matter heterotopias included mixed variant of of multiple subependymal and subcortical type. Schizencephaly was the most common form of accompanying anomalies, and patterns of seizure were not correlated with types of gray matter heterotopias, even though main clinical menifestation was seizure.
Agenesis of Corpus Callosum ; Brain ; Dandy-Walker Syndrome ; Holoprosencephaly ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Malformations of Cortical Development ; Neurons ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures

No abstract available.

Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn is an uncommon disorder characterized by firm b-cutaneous plaques and nodules usually appearing shortly after birth. It runs a relatively be, n course and may completely resolve in a few months without any recurrence. We report a case of subcutaneous fat necrosis in a 15 day-old male suffering from severe p inatal asphyxia and hypoxic cardiomyopathy, who presented with indurated subcutane s nodules and plaques on the both shoulders and the back. Histologically the subcutaneous fat showed focal necrosis with needle-shaped clefts, lymphohistiocytic infiltration and foreign body reactions consistent with subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn. In our patient, compromised cardiac output due to cardiomyopathy might have aggravated hypoxic condition and it could be speculated that cardiomyopathy-induced systemic hypoxia gave rise to hypothermia of the skin as a result of peripheral vasoconstriction. This report presents a causal relationship of cardiomyopathy and subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn.
Anoxia ; Asphyxia ; Cardiac Output ; Cardiomyopathies* ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Hypothermia ; Infant, Newborn* ; Male ; Necrosis* ; Parturition ; Recurrence ; Shoulder ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Fat* ; Vasoconstriction

A 53-year-old man had skin-colored linear serpiginous plaque within brownish patch on his left thigh for one year. He habitually drank natural spring water for 3 years. We diagnosed this case as sparganosis infiltrated within dermis by histologic and parasitologic diagnosis. The skin lesion mimicked the cutaneous larva migrans by showing dermal migration of sparganum to pro-duce itchy linear serpiginous plaque. We report an interesting case of sparganosis mimicking cutaneous larva migrans.
Dermis ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Larva Migrans* ; Middle Aged ; Natural Springs ; Skin ; Sparganosis* ; Sparganum ; Thigh ; Water

No abstract available.
Evoked Potentials* ; Intercostal Nerves* ; Neural Conduction*

No abstract available.
Delusional Parasitosis ; Delusions ; Humans ; Infarction ; Posterior Cerebral Artery

Results from two in vitro assays, Pharmacia CAP system(CAP) and fluoroallergosorbent test(FAST), for detecting serum specific IgE to three allergens, mugwort, Derraatophagoides pteronyssinus, and eat epithelium, were compared with skin prick test(SPT) results in 53 atopie dermatitis patients with positive SPT and 25 non-atopic controls. Using SPT results as the reference standards, CAP achieved higher sensitivity than FAST in determination of three allergens. CAP for measuring total IgE and eosinophil cationic protein(ECP) was also compared with FAST and ECP radioimmunoassay(RIA), respectively. In comparison of two assays for total serum IgE, the values obtained with CAP were significantly higher than those with FAST. In comparison of CAP and RIA for measuring ECP, the values obrained with CAP were significantly higher than those with RIA and the differences between ECP values of two assays were significant in high ECP group(>8.3 micro gram/1). These results suggest that CAP is the preferred test and seems to be more appropriate method for detection of specific IgE and ECP in patients with allergic digeases.
Allergens ; Artemisia ; Dermatitis ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein* ; Eosinophils* ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Radioimmunoassay* ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Stratum corneum lipids serve as a water retainer as well as permeability barrier by forming a multi-lamellae structure in the stratum corneum. The major constituent of these lipids, ceramides, have been shown to be predominantly associated with both functions. OBJECTIVE: Exposure of human epidermis to ultraviolet(UV) irradiation leads to changes in the physiologic and biochemical features of the skin. In order to investigate the effect of UVB irradiation on the skin barrier function in hairless mice, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and lipid composition of stratum corneum were evaluated in hairless mice. METHODS: Hairless mice were irradiated 3 times weekly for 3 weeks with suberythemal dose (0.6MED, Group I) and minimal erythemal dose(MED), Group II) of UB. The mice of Group III received high dose of UVB(3MED) on the back in a single exposure. The control was Group IV. TEWL measured by evaporimeter and lipid composition of stratum corneum appraised by high performance thin layer chromatography(HPTLC) were evaluated weekly for 3 weeks. RESULTS: 1. Each time it was measured, the values of TEWL in group I were lower than group IV, but the difference was not significant. The peak value of TEWL in group II was 8.2+/-1.56 g/cm/h on the 7th day. The increase in TEWL was markedly significant at this point(P<0.001). Although the values of TEWL on the 14th and 21th day in group E increased compared with those of the control group, the significance of the values decreased (P<0.05). 2. The peak value of TEWL in group III was 9.88+/-1.13 g/cm/h on the 2nd day, showed a markedly significant increase compared with that of the control group(P<0.001). The values of TEWL decreased to the level of the control group on the 14th day. 3. The lipid(cholesterol sulfate, ceramide and neutral lipid) and total lipid mass in group 1 were insignificantly larger than that of the group IV measured each time. On the 7th and 14th day, the amount of each three lipid and total lipid mass significantly increased (P<0.05). On the 21th day, the amount of ceramide and neutral lipid showed a significant increase(P<0.05), furthermore the total lipid mass increased pronouncedly(P<0.01) in group II. 4. The amount of the 3 kinds of lipid and total lipid mass in group III significantly increased compared with those of the control group on the 2nd day(P<0.05). After the 7th day, no significant difference of the lipid mass except neutral lipid compared with that of the control group was seen. Comparing the 2nd and 14th day, there was a significant decrease in the amount of ceramide and total lipid mass(P<0.05) CONCLUSION: These results results suggest that considerable amount of UVB irradiation given in single or repeated exposure causes the disruption of skin barrier function, but a compensatory increase of skin lipid, especially ceramide, protests it from further damage and also improves skin barrier function.
Animals ; Ceramides ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Hairless* ; Permeability ; Skin*

We report a case of a 25-year-old woman with systematized epidermal nevi associated with alopecia universalis and onychodystrophy. The histopathologic examinations by light and electron microscopies of the epidermis of the trunk and scalp lesions showed epidermal nevus with characteristic features of epidermolytic hyperkeratosis. This is a rare case of systematized epidermal nevi associated with congenital alopecia universalis and onychodystrophy. Though there is no apparent gross skin lesion on the hair bearing area, the development of epidermal nevi can affect the hair and nail units which are derived from the common epidermal germinative cells.
Adult ; Alopecia* ; Epidermis ; Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Hyperkeratosis, Epidermolytic ; Microscopy ; Nevus* ; Scalp ; Skin

Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular coccidian protozoan, is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, a widespread infection affecting various birds and mammals including humans. In immunocompetent hosts, the infection is usually asymptomatic and benign. Toxoplasmosis is either congenital or acquired. In general prenatal therapy of congenital toxoplasmosis is beneficial in reducing the ncy of infant infection. Therapies are based primarily on spiramycin because of the relative lack of toxicity and high concentration achieved in the placenta. Clindamycin is the standard drug for chemoprophylaxis in newborn infants, and is directed at preventing the occurrence of retinochoroiditis as a late sequel to congenital infection. The standard treatment for acquired toxoplasmosis in both immunocompetent and immunodeficient patients is the synergistic combination of pyrimethamine and sulphonamides. Toxoplasmic encephalitis is tbe most common manifestation of acquired toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised patients and if not treated is fatal. However, because of toxicity, the therapeutic efficacy of pyrimethamine sulphonamide combinations may be seriously limited in immunodeficient patients. We have experienced a case of toxoplasmosis during the workup of habitual aborter. So we report this case with a brief review of literatures.
Birds ; Chemoprevention ; Clindamycin ; Encephalitis ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Mammals ; Placenta ; Pyrimethamine ; Spiramycin ; Toxoplasma ; Toxoplasmosis* ; Toxoplasmosis, Congenital