No abstract available.
Humans* ; Melanocytes* ; Tretinoin*

About 40% of patients with diabetes mellitus develops to diabetic nephropathy, and these patients show increment of glomerular filtration rate and renal volume at early phase. 99mTc-DMSA SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) can measure a functional renal volume because 99mTc- DMSA it is taken up by the viable proximal tubular cells located in the renal cortex. To evaluate the renal volume in early diabetic nephropathy, we compared functional renal volume between diabetic patients and control, renal transplantation donor. 99mTc-DMSA was injected intravenously and SPECT was done after 2 hours in 15 diabetic patients, 18 renal transplantation donors, and 2 patients with end stage renal disease due to chronic glomerulonephritis. In diabetic patients with creatinine clearance more than 30ml/min and proteinuria, right and left renal volume were 247+/-22ml/BSA(m2), 256+/-37ml/BSA (m2), which were greater than those of diabetic patients with normal renal function and without proteinuria, or renal transplantation donors(P<0.05). In conclusion, we measured the functional renal volume by 99mTc-DMSA SPECT. Renal volume of diabetic patients with proteinuria were larger than the volume of control group or diabetic patients with normal renal function and without proteinuria. 99mTc-DMSA SPECT was thought to be useful test a for the measurement of functioning renal volume.
Creatinine ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Glomerulonephritis ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Kidney Transplantation ; Proteinuria ; Succimer ; Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid* ; Tissue Donors ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

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

Progressive zosteriform macular pigmented lesion(PZMPL) is a chronic pigmentary dermatosis similar to progressive cribriform and zosteriform hyperpigmentation(PCZH). This dermatosis described by Simoes in 1980 is characterized by a uniformly tanned macular pigmented lesion in a zosteriform distribution preceded by multiple pruritic macular pigmentation in a part of the dermatome for a period. PZMPL is not a fully understood disease entity but it is thought to be a variant of PCZH. It is differentiated from PCZH by accompanying pruritus as a prodromal symptom, a characteristic clinical course, and histological findings such as pigmentary incontinence. We report herein a case of PZMPL in a 17 year-old girl with the pigmentary skin lesion extending from the left forearm to the left chest along the Blaschkos line. The histological findings revealed increased melanin pigments in the basal layer and focal pigmentary incontinence in the upper dermis. To our knowledge, this case is the first report of PZMPL in korea thought to be the same case reported by Simoes.
Adolescent ; Dermis ; Female ; Forearm ; Humans ; Korea ; Melanins ; Pigmentation ; Prodromal Symptoms ; Pruritus ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Thorax ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl

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

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*

PURPOSE: To report a case of deterioration of a retinal arterial macroaneurysm after panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) for diabetic retinopathy. CASE SUMMARY: A 70-year-old woman visited our clinic for evaluation of diabetic retinopathy. Fundus examination and fluorescein angiography showed severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and PRP was planned for the patient. In addition, the patient was found to have a retinal arterial macroaneurysm on the superotemporal area of the retina on her right eye. However, the lesion was small and was located far from the macula, causing no symptoms; thus we decided to observe the patient over a period of time. Two months after PRP, the patient revisited the clinic complaining of acute visual loss. Fundus examination showed vitreous and retinal hemorrhage and optical coherence tomography revealed subretinal fluid in the corresponding area. This was considered to be due to aggravation of the pre-existing macroaneurysm. Intravitreal Bevacizumab injection, C₃F₈ gas injection, and pars plana vitrectomy were performed. After absorption of the hemorrhage, barrier photocoagulation was performed around the retinal macroanerysm. The visual acuity improved and the retina remained stable through the most recent follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: We experienced the rupture of a preexisting retinal arterial macroaneurysm in an asymptomatic patient after panretinal photocoagulation. PRP in diabetic patients could aggravate retinal arterial macroaneurysms. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully examine the patient for retinal macroaneurysms when planning a PRP for diabetic retinopathy.
Absorption ; Aged ; Bevacizumab ; Diabetic Retinopathy* ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Light Coagulation* ; Retina ; Retinal Hemorrhage ; Retinaldehyde* ; Rupture ; Subretinal Fluid ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy ; Vitreous Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to discover ways to screen urine culture specimens through Gram stains, urine stick analyses and microscopic examinations for the laboratory cost saving. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-eight urine specimens for culture were included. Fifty uL of urine were inoculated onto one well each of 10-well slide, dried on the hot plate, and Gram-stained. The results combined with routine urinalyses including urine nitrite and leukocyte esterase, and pyuria, were compared with the routine culture results. RESULTS: The screening of bacteriuria by Gram stains, urinalyses and microscopic examinations revealed the high sensitivity (91.9%) and negative predictive value(95.5%) with cost saving of 41.8% of inoculating media. Not considering the Gram stains, the screening revealed 83.8% sensitivity and 92.5% negative predictive value, even if the cost saving of inoculating media were as high as 50.1%. CONCLUSION: It was demonstrated that it was sensitive and economic and produced rapid preliminary results to screen bacteriuria by the Gram stains combined with urinalyses and microscopic examinations.
Bacteriuria ; Coloring Agents ; Cost Savings ; Leukocytes ; Mass Screening* ; Pyuria ; Urinalysis*

No abstract available.

The influence of serum IgE level on T cell function and number in atopic dermatitis was performed. For the study we selected 2 groups of atopic derrnatitis patients which were 10 cases of atopic dermatitis patients with more than 400 IU/ml of serum 1gE level and 1(l cases with less than 400 IU/ml, The lymphocyte transformation test with phytohernagglutinin and E-rosette test with AET treated sheep cell were perforrned in each group and compare the result of each group with each other and al'o with those of control group. The reults are as follows; l. The mean serum level of IgE in AD(538. 8 407.42 IU/ml) was higher than in normal control(126. 5 133, R8 IU/ml) (p<0.01). 2 The mean LTT S.I. in AD(8.83 -3.85) was lower than in nomnal control (13.99 5.55) (p<0.01). 3. The mean percentage of E-rosette in AD(68,65+6.6g) was lower than 4pp IU/ml(mean+2x SD of serum IgE of control groups), 1) The LTT S, I. was decreased in both groups according to increment of serum IgE, The higher IgE group(8.64+3,9p) had statistical significance compared to normal control(13.gg+5.55) (p<0.01) but not in low IgE group(9.08:4.11).2) The percentage of E-rosette was decreased in both groups according to increment of serum IgE. The both groups of low IgE(71.08.-6,24) and high IgE(66. 22 6. R7) had statistical significance compared to normal control(77.65+4.39 %) (p 0.01).
beta-Aminoethyl Isothiourea ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Sheep