We report a case of Mycobacterium(M.) fortuitum infection in a 65-year-old female who presented with erythematous to purplish colored tender nodules and plaques with curst and purulent discharge on both upper and lower extremities along the sites of acupuncture. The culture of surgically excised specimen in 3% Ogawa media yielded slightly yellowish colored colonies within 2 days. Several tests for identification of the species were performed and growth on 5% NaCl, negative niacin test, positive results in nitrate reduction, catalase, urease and iron uptake tests were noted. Excision of the lesions followed by administration of minocycline and ciprofloxacin showed no sign of relapse to data a year after treatment.
Acupuncture* ; Aged ; Catalase ; Ciprofloxacin ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; Lower Extremity ; Minocycline ; Mycobacterium fortuitum* ; Mycobacterium* ; Niacin ; Recurrence ; Urease

Acrodermatitis continua (AC) of Hallopeau is one of the chronic relapsing pustular eruptions of the extremities. Generalization of AC sometimes occurred spontaneously, or induced by withdrawl of drugs such as corticosteroid, or pregnancy. We report a case of generalized AC in a 50-year-old woman who has been treated intermittently with various medications other than systemic retinoids. The histopathologic findings of the pustules on the fingertips and trunk revealed subcomeal abscesses and/or spongiform pustules. The patient was treated with etretinate in the dose of 50mg/day, and UVB exposure. Two months after treatment, skin lesions were markedly improved.
Abscess ; Acitretin ; Acrodermatitis* ; Etretinate ; Extremities ; Female ; Generalization (Psychology) ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pregnancy ; Retinoids ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that pityrosporurr yeasts, normal resident flora of skin, may be important in the pathogenesis of dandruff seborrheic dermatitis and confluent and reticulated papillomatosis. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the incidence and distribution of pityiosorum yeasts on clinically normal skin as a more reasonable method for providing the basic data or proving the relationship of pityrosporum and pathogenesi, of the diseases. MEHTODS: A total of 350 subjects were studied. Skin scrapings were stained with 20% Parker ink-KOH(P-KOH) solution. The numbers of pityrosporum spores and hyphe per high power field( x 400) were counted and designated according to a new grading method using bacterial index(BI) of lepra bacilli. RESULTS: The incidence rates of pityrosporum orbiculare(p. orbiculare) and pityrosporum ovale(p. ovale) were 60-70% and 20-50% of subjects respectively on seborrheic area., The incidence of p. orbicilare was highter than that of p. ovale on all examined sites except for the iterior scalp. And pityrosporal hyphae was present on anteriand posterior scalp and earwax in 24-25% of subjects respectively. The incidence of pityrosporum was higher in summer than other seasons The incidence rate of p. orbiculare and hyphae in the group aged below 9 (except neonates) and above 60, were lower than that of other age groups. The inciderice rates and distribution of grades of pityrosporum of neonates were lower than those of older subjects. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that the incidence and distribution of pityrosporum spores were similar to previoureports and hyphal forms were found 25% approximately on clinically normal skin of the scalp and carwax. The significance of the presenet of pityosporal hyphae and the relationship between normal skin and pityrosporal hyphae are to be firther elucidated.
Dandruff ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Incidence* ; Infant, Newborn ; Malassezia ; Papilloma ; Scalp ; Seasons ; Skin* ; Spores ; Yeasts

OBJECTIVE: The objective is to describe the relationship of anatomical landmark required for the middle fossa approach to preservation of hearing. METHODS: Dissection of 16 fixed human cadaveric heads was performed. we identified a rhomboid-shaped middle fossa landmarks that serve as a guide to minimize cochlea injury. The points of this construct are as follows ; 1) the junction of the greater superficial petrosal nerve and the trigeminal nerve ; 2) the lateral edge of the porus trigemius ; 3) the intersection of the petrous ridge and arcuate eminence ; and 4) the intersection of the lines extended along the axes of the greater superficial petrosal nerve and arcuate eminence. Mean, minimum, and maximum measurements of all distances were determined. RESULTS: The average cochlea-geniculate ganglion distance measured in the dissected specimens was 3.0+/-0.8mm with a range of 1.2 to 4.1mm. The average cochlea-petrous carotid genu distance was 2.9+/-0.9mm with a range of 1.2 to 4.0mm. The average cochlea-internal acoustic meatus distance measured in the dissected specimens was 9.0+/-0.5mm with a range of 7.8-10.9mm. The average cochlea-mandibular nerve distance measured was 9.4+/-0.4mm with a range of 7.6-11.3mm. CONCLUSION: The middle fossa approach requires special knowledge of the anantomy to reduce the risk of damage to cochlea. It is important that the surgeon understand the surgical anantomy. The present study describes the simple geometric construct that proposes to assist in locating the cochlea.
Acoustics ; Cadaver ; Cochlea ; Ganglion Cysts ; Head ; Hearing ; Humans ; Trigeminal Nerve

the ineidence of abdominal subcutaneous endometriosis is quite rare we have experienced one case of subcutaneous endometriosis. The typical clinical bistory and local findings of endometriasis enabk us to make the conect diagnosis. the treatment of choice is complete surgical excision of endometrial tissue and post operative medical therapy. This case was reported with a brief review of the comcemed literatures.
Diagnosis ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Subcutaneous Tissue*

Recently anterior spinal device in the treatment of the unstable thoraco-lumbar spine has been used. We have experienced 11 patients of the unstable thoraco-lumbar spine, which were composed of 8 patients with burst fracture and 3 patients with tuberculous spondylitis. The 11 patients with neurological deficit were treated with an one stage anterior operation consisting of anterior decompression through vertebrectomy, realignment with Kanedae device. No patient showed neurologic deterioration after surgery. The anterior spinal instrumentation with Kaneda device afford enough stability to enable early ambulation with good alignment and solid fusion.
Decompression ; Early Ambulation ; Humans ; Spine ; Spondylitis

OBJECTIVE: Platinum (Pt) based drugs including cisplatin and carboplatin are widely used as anticancer drugs in various human cancers. Many studies have shown that chemotherapeutic agents synergistically enhance cell death induced by death ligands. However it has been recently reported that cisplatin may inhibit tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced cell death through inactivation of caspases. Thus, we investigated whether carboplatin also inhibits TRAIL-induced cell death. METHODS: HeLa cells were treated with TRAIL in the presence of cisplatin or carboplatin, and cell death was analyzed using the crystal violet staining method. Caspase activation was checked through detection of Bid cleavage by Western blotting using anti-Bid antibody. RESULTS: Cisplatin inhibits TRAIL-induced cell death in HeLa cells; however, carboplatin enhanced TRAIL-induced cell death. Whereas cisplatin inhibited caspase-8-mediated Bid cleavage, carboplatin had no effect on caspase-8 activity. CONCLUSION: Although cisplatin and carboplatin are platinum-containing cancer therapeutic agents, they have the opposite effects on TRAIL-induced cell death.
Blotting, Western ; Carboplatin ; Caspase 8 ; Caspases ; Cell Death ; Cisplatin ; Gentian Violet ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Ligands ; Necrosis ; Platinum

We investigated the comparative effect of magnesium and thiosulfate on the calcium oxalate crystallization. Magnesium is a strong inhibitor of calcium oxalate crystallization and it is sported to inhibit calcium phophate by about 20%. Even if it's mechanism is not clearly known, thiosulfat can resolve 250~100,000 times more than other calcium salts when it is combined with calcium. Wistar rats were fed by 1.0% ethylene glycol (EG) mixed with water. 500mg of magnesium oxide (MgO) per 100gm chows and 10mMo1 of S2O3 per 100gm chows were provided by oral intake respectively. Forty eight wistar rats were divided into following 6 groups. Each group has equal 8 wistar rats; A group (normal chow and water), B group (normal chow and 1%EG), C group (MgO and 1%EG), D group (MgO and water), E group (S2O3 and 1%EG), and F group (S2O3 and water). First, we examined calcium oxalate crystallization on bladder aspiration urine for 6 groups before the experiment and every week for 4 weeks after the experiment. Second, we also examined the degree of formation of calcium oxalate crystallization in renal tissue under polarizing microscope. Calcium oxalate crystallization was found in all 8 wistar rats in B group while it was not round in A, D, F group. Calcium oxalate crystallization was also found in one out of 8 wistar rats in C group, and 5 out of 8 wistar rats in E group. In conclusion, we believe that both MgO and sodium thiosulfate are effective in preventing calcium oxalate stone, and we also believe MgO is more elective than sodium thiosulfate. We think that further researches on administrating methods, the side effects and dosage of these two agents in human are necessary.
Calcium Oxalate* ; Calcium* ; Crystallization* ; Ethylene Glycol ; Humans ; Magnesium Oxide* ; Magnesium* ; Nephrolithiasis ; Rats, Wistar ; Salts ; Sodium* ; Sports ; Urinary Bladder ; Water

Fourteen consecutive patients underwent application of V.S.P(Variable Screw Placement) spinal plate between January 1989 and July 1989. Operative indications were spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, segmental instability, herniated disc with instability, pseudoarthrosis. unstable fracture, and failed surgery syndrome. Our patients consist of 8 cases of spondylolisthesis, 4 cases of fracture-dislocation, one case of spondylolysis with instability, one case of herniated disc(L1- 2 interspace). Overall results showed 36% excellent, 50% good, 7% fair, 7% poor. Two deep wound infections were observed. Screw alignment and the angular relationship of each screw to the spinal plate is considered as important technical factors in minimizing screw failure.
Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Pseudarthrosis ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine* ; Spondylolisthesis ; Spondylolysis ; Wound Infection

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine the time-dependant effects of Glutathione on the Cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity of human cervical carcinoma cells. METHODS: Two human cervical carcinoma cells, SiHa (squamous cell carcinoma cell), and CaSki (epidermoid metastatic carcinoma cell) were cultivated with RPMI1640 media. Reduced glutathione (GSH) and 2-oxo 4-thiazolidine carboxylic acid (OTC) were added one hour before and after Cisplatin (2-50 micro M/ml) was applied. The cells were incubated an additional 24 hours and viable cells were examined using a 3-[4,5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. RESULTS: The MTT reduction rate of cisplatin-treated cervical carcinoma cells was increased significantly by the addition of glutathione (5 mM) or OTC (5 mM) both one hour before and after Cisplatin. A difference between MTT reduction rates one hour before and after cisplatin were not observed in either GSH or OTC. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that GSH and OTC have a protective effect on cisplatin-induced toxicity, and that this effect is about the same whether the agents were applied before or after the Cisplatin.
Cisplatin* ; Glutathione* ; Humans*