No abstract available.
Animals ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Rats*

BACKGROUND: Dermoscopy is a real-time, noninvasive technique that increases the diagnostic accuracy of clinical evaluation by the dermatologist. Characterization of facial actinic keratosis via dermoscopy is valuable in guiding the dermatologist in the differential diagnosis of facial skin lesions. To our knowledge, dermoscopic evaluation of actinic keratosis has not yet been reported in Korean literature. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the dermoscopic features of facial actinic keratosis in Koreans. METHODS: We examined 60 patients with facial actinic keratosis using dermoscopy. We determined the frequency of specific features revealed by dermoscopy across the Korean patient population and compared our results with those of other published studies. RESULTS: A total of 67 facial actinic keratoses were observed in 60 patients. The common features of non-pigmented actinic keratoses revealed by dermoscopy were a red pseudo-network (66%), white-to-yellow surface scales (48.9%), linear wavy vessels (38.3%), and targetoid hair follicles (42.6%). The common features of pigmented actinic keratoses revealed by dermoscopy were slate-grey dots (55%) and globules (30%), annular-granular pattern (35%), a brown-to-gray pseudo-network (40%), and targetoid hair follicles (30%). The frequency of specific features revealed by dermoscopy across the analyzed patient population was not significantly different from that reported in other studies, except for rhomboidal structures (5%), which was lower in Koreans than in other populations (35.8%, p<0.05). The frequency of dermoscopic features was different according to histopathologic subtypes (hypertrophic, atrophic, bowenoid, acantholytic actinic keratosis). CONCLUSION: Dermoscopy revealed specific features of facial actinic keratosis that can be utilized to evaluate and diagnose facial skin lesions.
Actins ; Dermoscopy* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Keratosis, Actinic* ; Skin ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: The need for dermatological consultations for hospitalized patients has gradually increased and there are a number of dermatoses caused by underlying psychological conditions. However, the data regarding the analyses of these consultations for psychiatric inpatients are limited. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the demographics and the type of dermatoses among inpatients with primary psychiatric diseases. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 581 consultation reports for inpatients referred by the Department of Psychiatry between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2014. RESULTS: The proportion of the consulted patients from the Department of Psychiatry was 25.9% (331 consulted inpatients/1279 psychiatric inpatients). The most common age group was the 40~49 year-old group (19.3%) and the male to female ratio was 1:1.14. There were no remarkable findings regarding the annual or seasonal distribution. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), the most common underlying psychiatric disorders were mood disorders (41.0%), followed by schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders (25.0%), and substance-related disorders (12.1%). The most frequent skin disorders were eczematous dermatoses (34.6%) and infectious dermatoses (32.2%); dermatomycosis (20.8%) was especially common. The most common reasons for consultation were new-onset dermatologic problems (68.5%), followed by persistence or aggravation of pre-existing dermatologic disorders (28.7%). CONCLUSION: This study reports the dermatologic characteristics of psychiatric inpatients. We conclude that dermatologists and psychiatrists need to be concerned about the education and continuous management of various skin diseases in psychiatric patients.
Demography ; Dermatomycoses ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Male ; Mood Disorders ; Psychiatry ; Psychotic Disorders ; Referral and Consultation* ; Retrospective Studies ; Schizophrenia ; Seasons ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Substance-Related Disorders

Trazodone has favorable pharmacological profiles with a few anticholinergic effects and cardiac conduction abnormailties. Thus it is more acceptable in geriatric population than tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) especially in patients with combined medical conditions, although attention should be paid to monitor its well-known side effects, orthostatic hypotension and priapism. Unlike expected favorable profiles, we had experienced a case of increased intraocular pressure (IOP) shortly after lowdose trazodone treatment in a known-glaucoma patient.
Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure* ; Humans ; Hypotension, Orthostatic ; Intraocular Pressure ; Priapism ; Trazodone*

BACKGROUND: There were two occurrences of typhoon and the floods in Korea from early to late September, 2000. The Korean Combat Police and policemen participated in cleaning activities at the flooded area. Leptospirosis broke out among these participants. This study describes the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of leptospirosis patients among policemen. METHODS: Of 16,750 individuals involved, 3,752 subjected to passive hemagglutination antibody (PHA) test at the Regional Health Care Units or the National Police Hospital. With 1 case of dead plus 12 cases which were turned out to be seropositive by PHA test and confirmed by microagglutination (MA) test, epidemiological and clinical characteristics were studied by questionnaire survey, laboratory test, and history of treatment while being hospitalized. RESULTS: The seropositive rate of leptospira antibody was 0.3% (12/3,752). All 12 seropositives were bare-footed while working at the flooded area and of these, 8 patients (67%) were noticed abrasions either on hand or feet. However, no statistically significant correlation was found between the duration of outdoor activity and the seropositive rate (r=-0.46, p=0.36). There were clinical difference among patients who has the same serotype of leptospirosis, physical conditions, circumstance and the same work area. Two abnormal EKG results are present, the one who complained of chest pain is myocardial ischemia and the other who didn't complain of any symptoms is sinus pause. Correlation between the febrile period before and the duration of fever after the use of antibiotics was estimated as; febrile period after antibiotics use = 0.102804 + 0.995327 x febrile period before antibiotics use (p=0.058). CONCLUSION: When leptospirosis is related to group activities, it is possible to educate in advance and to manage systematically afterwards, it may prevent the occurrence of leptospirosis or the related complications.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Chest Pain ; Cyclonic Storms ; Delivery of Health Care ; Electrocardiography ; Epidemiology ; Fever ; Floods ; Foot ; Hand ; Hemagglutination ; Humans ; Korea ; Leptospira ; Leptospirosis* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Police ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Post-menopausal women experience variable biological and psychological changes. The effect of reduced levels of estrogen can effect on post-menopausal depression. Estrogen triggers physiological responses by binding to the estrogen receptor (ER). Two subtypes of ER, ERa and ERb are now known. We investigated the significance of ERa and ERb polymorphisms and post-menopasal depression in this study. Forty three women with post-menopausal depression and 63 post-menopausal women without depression as normal controls were recruited. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method was used to investigate genotypes of ERa and ERb polymorphisms. Genotypes of PvuII and XbaI polymorphism of ERa receptor were significantly different in patients with post-menopausal depression comparing with controls. Genotypes of ERb did not show association with post-menopausal depression. Our study showed that ERa receptor polymorphism had an association with depression in post-menopausal women. It suggests that investigation of ER genes and their functions might be important for understanding pathophysilogical mechanism of post-menopausal depression.
Depression ; Estrogens ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Menopause

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell*

OBJECTIVE: To compare the usefulness of prenatal screening tests for chromosomal abnormalities by analyzing the cytogenetic results of midtrimester amniocentesis METHODS: We reviewed a total of 1264 cases of midtrimester prenatal genetic amniocentesis performed from February 1997 to September 2003, of which accorded to indications of cytogenetic studies. Cytogenetic results were analyzed with the distribution of maternal age, indications of amniocentesis. RESULTS: The most common age of total subjects was in between 35-39 years (37.1%). The indications of amniocentesis were abnormal maternal serum marker (60.0%), advanced maternal age (34.8%), abnormal ultrasonographic findings (3.2%), in order. The overall incidence of chromosomal aberration was 3.9% (49/1264). No significant difference was found between the mean maternal age with and without abnormal fetal karyotype. According to indications, there was 12.5% (5/49) of chromosomal abnormalities in abnormal sonographic finding group, 5.2% (36/688) in abnormal maternal serum screening group and 2.4% (12/498) in advanced maternal age group. There was statistical significance (P=0.004) only in abnormal ultrasonographic finding group. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography was become to be more important due to development of high resolution ultrasonography, skillful technique and awareness of sonographic markers. Ultrasonographic abnormality could be the most predictive marker for abnormal fetal karyotypes.
Amniocentesis* ; Biomarkers ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetics ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Karyotype ; Mass Screening ; Maternal Age ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Ultrasonography

In order to evaluate the status of cold exposure and its health hazards of workers at cold storage workplaces and to provide basic data for effective health care, the author measured core temperature and also observed clinical symptoms and signs, past and present history, and general health examination data on 99 cold exposed workers for exposure group and 96 non-exposed workers for control group working at 2 food refrigerating companies in Pusan area from January 6, 1998 to February 24, 1998. The results were as follows : 1. There was statistically significant difference in water intake between the exposure and control group and increased urine volume, urine frequency in exposure group without statistically significant difference. 2. Past and present illness in exposure group were hypertension (18.2%), hepatopathy(8. 1%). gastro-intestinal disease(7. 1%). arthritis (4.0%), intervertebral disc herniation(4.0%). and so on, and hypertension, arthritis was statistically significant difference compared to control group. 3. Symptoms inexposure group were. fatigue(89.9%), headache (64.6%), drowsy(63.6%), neck stiffness(59.6%), excessive food intake (59.6%). general weakness(58.6%), hunger(58. 6%), numbness(54. 5%), and so on, and there was statistically significant difference between the exposure and control group except fatigue, drowsy. 4. As results of clinical test abnormality rate of the systolic, diastolic blood pressure and electrocardiogram were significantly higher in exposed group that control. 5. Core temperature in exposure group was statistically significantly lower than control group and the highest statistically significant inverse correlation with the working hours and working frequency of daily mean cold storage. As above results, the author suggested that the further studies should be conducted to evaluate the health status of workers about chronic health effects in cold workplaces and to establish effective health care methods for them.
Arthritis ; Blood Pressure ; Busan ; Delivery of Health Care ; Drinking ; Eating ; Electrocardiography ; Fatigue ; Headache ; Hypertension ; Intervertebral Disc ; Neck