BACKGROUND: Calcipotrol, topical vitamin D analogue, has been demonstrated to have an effect for the treatment of psoriasis with good tolerability. It is required to have comparative studies with the other topical agents which are widely used for the treatment of psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose is to compare calcipotriol with desoxymethasone ointemtn in their therapeutic efficacy and ability to affect dermal inflammatory cellular events. METHODS: This study was a randomized, double blind, right/left comparison over 8weeks in 10 patients. The ointments were applied twice daily to the lesions of psoriasis. Clinical efficacy, as measured by the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index(PASI) was assessed at 2, 4, 6 and 8weeks after starting treatments. The changes in the numbers of dermal immunocytes were assessed on frozen and paraffin-embedded sections by using immunohistochemical stain methods before and after the treatemtns. RESULTS: Reduction of PASI was statistically significant at all time points for both of the treatments (P<0.01) but there was no significant defference between the two treatment modalities. At the completion of 8 weeks of treatments, the mean PASI reduction was 65 percents and 67 percents for calcipotriol and desoxymethasone ointments, respectively. On immunohistochemical staining, the numbers of LCA and HLA-DR positive cells were decreased significantly(P<0.05), and IL-2R and CD4 positive cells were not significaltly reduced in each group after the treatment. CONCLUSION: Calcipotriol ointment was as effective as desoxymethasone ointment, judged by the PASI and the dermal inflammatory cellular events on immunohistochemical staining.
Dermatitis, Atopic ; Desoximetasone* ; HLA-DR Antigens ; Humans ; Ointments* ; Psoriasis* ; Vitamin D

No abstract available.
Panniculitis ; Panniculitis, Nodular Nonsuppurative*

No abstract available.
Trichomonas*

No abstract available.
Trichomonas*

Heel cord advancement(HCA), which has been applied for the correction of equinus deformity in spastic cerebral palsy, has some theoretical advantages. However, HCA has also theoretical disadvantage that the procedure remove the tensile force exerting to the calcaneal apophysis. In order to evaluate the effect of HCA on the calcaneal growth, we compared the changes of calcaneal and foot lengths between the operated feet and non-operated feet after HCA. Among the 54 patients who had been treated with HCA at Seoul National University Childrens Hospital from March 1990 to August 1995, we excluded the cases who had been treated bilaterally, and also excluded hemiplegic patients in whom the ipsilateral feet were already shortened and the growth rates are different between the ipsilateral and contralateral foot. Seven patients who met the criterior of this study were included for the evaluation. There were 3 diplegics and 4 paraplegics, and average age at operation was 10 years and 6 months(range; 7 year 8 months-16 year 5 months). Average follow-up period was 3 years and 5 months(range; 2 years-4 years 9 mos). Total calcaneal lengths, anterior and posterior part of calcaneal lengths were measured on the standing lateral radiographs of the foot and ankle. Ratios of the operated limb over the non-operated limb were calculated for the three parameters. Ratios of posterior part of calcaneal lengths decreased significantly(P=0.031). Ratios of total calcaneal lengths decreased and ratios of anterior part of calcaneal lengths increased. However, the changes of two ratios were not significant. Ratios of posterior part calcaeal lengths over total calcaneal length decreases significantly(P=0.016). In conclusion, HCA can cause calcaneal growth retardation, especially posterior part of calcaneus, due to removal of physiologic tensile force of Achilles tendon.
Achilles Tendon ; Ankle ; Calcaneus ; Cerebral Palsy* ; Child ; Equinus Deformity ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Heel* ; Humans ; Muscle Spasticity* ; Seoul

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) refers to pain perceived in the pelvic region for over 6 months. It is described more specifically according to the organs involved. The diagnosis and classification of CPP are not easy because of the vague diagnostic criteria, variety of presenting symptoms, absence of diagnostic tools, and coexisting symptoms due to accompanying other diseases. This concise review aims to help urologists diagnose CPP by focusing on identifying urological pain.

No abstract available.
Uterine Prolapse*

No abstract available.

Holt-Oram Syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the association of upper-limb abnormalities and congenital heart disease. A woman with no family history of genetic disease underwent antenatal sonography at 27 weeks' menstrual age to screen for fetal anomalies. Ultrasonography revealed abnormalities in the upper limbs. The limb abnormalities included abscence of bilateral thumbs and radius: the left humus was short. Pregnancy termination was performed. The postnatal chromosomal analysis revealed a normal 46XX karyotype and the autopsy finding confirmed the Holt-Oram syndrome. We report a case of Holt-Oram Syndrome in fetus with unaffected parents with brief of the literatures.
Autopsy ; Extremities ; Female ; Fetus ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Parents* ; Pregnancy ; Radius ; Soil ; Thumb ; Ultrasonography* ; Upper Extremity

BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) , a potent stimulant of epithelialization, has been noted to increase the tickness of the epidermis, increase the epithelial cell proliferartion and keratinization, and accelerate wound contraction. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the efficacy of topical application of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) in the healing of full-thickness excision and burn wound. METHODS: Full-thickness excision and burn wound were made on the back of the male Wistar rat. Recombinant human epidermal growth factor was applied twice a day and the size of the wound was measured with planimetry every other day for 21 days. The keratinocytes of the circumcised foreskin were cultured in different concentrations of recombinant human epidermal growth factor and proliferation of the keratinocytes was evaluated. RESULTS: 1. Regardless of wound types or base types, wound healing in the experimental groups (rhEGF 10, 30, 50g/g) was generally better than that in the control or vehicle group. 2. The duration of wound healing was decreased as follows in order; in full-thickness excision wound, rhEGF 50 g/g group, rhEGF 30 g/g group, rhEGF 10 g/g group, vehicle group, and control group and in full-thickness burn wound, rhEGF 30 g/g group, rhEGF 50g/g group, rhEGF 10g/g group, vehicle group, and control group. 3. In the biopsy specimen taken from the wound at 9th and 13th day, neodermis, neovascularization, the thickness and maturation of the collagen bundles, and reepithelithelialization were more increased in the experimental groups than in the control or vehicle group. 4. In vitro culture of epidermal cells showed similar proliferation in the concentration of rhEGF higher than 10 ng/ml. CONCLUSION: these findings suggest that topical application of recombinant human epidermal growth factor in the healing of full-thickness excision and urn wound.
Animals ; Biopsy ; Burns ; Collagen ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Epidermis ; Epithelial Cells ; Foreskin ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Male ; Rats ; Ticks ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*