PURPOSE:Craniopharyngioma is one of the most common causes of organic growth hormone deficiency leading to pituitary hormonal insufficiency. However, some growth hormone(GH)-deficient children with craniopharyngioma may grow normally or even show accelerated growth. This study was designed to evaluate several factors associated with growth of patients with craniopharyngioma. METHODS:Forty children operated on for craniopharyngioma were evaluated for their pituitary function, serum insulin like growth factor-I(IGF-I), serum insulin like growth factor binding protein-3(IGFBP-3) and serum prolactin levels. We also observed their growth status and corresponding changes with or without GH treatment. RESULTS:Among 40 patients, one had normal pituitary hormonal status and one had isolated GHD(GH deficiency). The other patients showed multiple pituitary hormone deficiency including GH(98%), LH, FSH(75%), TSH(65%), ACTH(62%), and ADH(38%) deficiencies. Patients with GHD were categorized into 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of children who showed normal growth, thus had not received GH treatment(n=14) and Group 2, those who showed subnormal growth(n=25). Patients in Group 2 were subdivided into Group 2A, when the patients had not received GH treatment in spite of subnormal growth(n=9) and Group 2B, when GH treatment had been added later on(n=16). There were no differences in the age at diagnosis of GHD, initial height standard deviation score(Ht SDS), body mass index(BMI), peak GH concentration between Group 1 and Group 2. Height velocities in Group 1, 2A, and 2B were 8.1+/-.2 cm/yr, 2.4+/-.2 cm/yr, 2.7+/-.2 cm/yr during the first year of endocrinologic follow-up, 7.1+/-.8 cm/yr, 1.2+/-.1 cm/yr, 7.6+/-.7 cm/yr during the second year, 5.9+/-.0 cm/yr, 2.8+/-.9 cm/yr, 7.3+/-.7 cm/yr during the third year, respectively. BMI changes during the first year of endocrinologic follow-up and postoperative prolactin levels were not significantly different between Group 1 and Group 2A. Postoperative IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels in Group 1 were significantly higher than those in Group 2A(P<0.05). Both IGFBP-3 and prolactin levels correlated significantly with height velocity in Group 1 and 2A(P=0.004 r=0.64 and P= 0.035 r=0.74 , respectively). CONCLUSION: In this study, growth in children with craniopharyngioma was likely to be associated with IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and prolactin levels. Further studies are needed to unravel other growth promoting factors related to GH independent growth.
Child* ; Craniopharyngioma* ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Prolactin

An 18-year-old man had suffered from intense burning with redness and an increased temperature of both the lower legs, forearms and hands since the age of 5. Symptoms were exacerbated by exposure to heat or walking. The patient obtained temporary relief by immersing his feet and hands in cold water. We observed the increase of skin temperature in relation to pain by thermography. No specific abnormalities were noted in laboratory studies. Treatment with aspirin was ineffective. We report a rare case of primary erythermalgia with typical features.
Adolescent ; Aspirin ; Burns ; Erythromelalgia* ; Foot ; Forearm ; Hand ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Leg ; Skin Temperature ; Thermography ; Walking ; Water

No abstract available.
Arteries* ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy* ; Umbilical Arteries*

Genital melanosis is an acquired, irregular, brown to black discoloration of the glans or shaft of the penis, or of the vulva and vagina. Although genital melanosis seems similar to malignant melanoma clinically, the histologic findings of genital melanosis show basal layer hyperpigmentation with or without melanocytic hyperplasia and no atypia of the melanocytes. We report a rare case of genital melanosis ; a vulvar melanosis.
Hyperpigmentation ; Hyperplasia ; Male ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma ; Melanosis* ; Penis ; Vagina ; Vulva

We report a case of cutaneous calcinosis following extravasation of calcium calcium chloride in a 3-week old neonate, After extravasation of 3% calcium chloride infusion, rapid and marked swelling, erythema, and signs of soft tissue necrosis developed over the extensor surface of both upper extremities. Through the small channels of the destroyed epidermis, tiny white pieces of calcific masses were eliminated spontaneously. Histologically the calcium deposits were found as amorphous masses in the upper dermis and the discharge of calcium deposits also took place by means of transepidermal elimination. The central bone formation and surrounding calcium deposition were present along with dense lymphohistiocytic cell infiltration in the deep dermis. Complications of extravasation of calcium solution during intravenous infusion included localized calcification and, ocasionally necrosis. The incidence of compllcations was about eight percent. This is a case which again emphasises of the danger of using calcium chloride intravenously in the neonate or young infant.
Calcinosis* ; Calcium Chloride* ; Calcium* ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Erythema ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Necrosis ; Osteogenesis ; Upper Extremity

Twenty four hyperlipidemic patients, consist of 13 males and 11 females, were administration a new hypolipidemic agents, Pantethine, and blood lipid level were checked sereally for 16 weeks. The following results are obtained. 1. The serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol are markedly increased by 11.8%. 2. The serum cholesterol level are reduced mildly by 4.8% & it seems to be insignificant. 3. The serum triglyceride level are moderately reduced by 10.7%. 4. In 11 female patients, pantethine are more than effect on male patients. 5. Pantethine has been well tolerated in most patients. With a consideration of remakable safety, it is promising that pantethine are effective in reducing cholesterol, Triglyceride and increasing high density lipoprotein-cholesterol level.
Cholesterol ; Female ; Humans ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; Male ; Triglycerides

No abstract available.
Humans ; Pregnancy, Twin* ; Rheology* ; Twins* ; Umbilical Arteries*

No abstract available.
Humans*

No abstract available.
Food Hypersensitivity* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E*

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*