BACKGROUND: The erythemal response of the skin to UVB radiation is used as a diagnostic phototest and guideline to phototherapy. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the UVB-induced MEDs to the back, arm, and thigh skin METHODS: A sunlight fluorescenct lamp(Waldmann UV 7001K) was used as a UVB radiation source. The back, arm, and thigh skin were irradiated with the dose, from 40mJ/cm2 to 180mJ/cm2. The minimal doses for erythema responses to the skin were assessed visually at 24 hours after irradiation. RESULTS: MEDs of the back, arm and thigh skin were 92.6 +/- 17.3mJ/cm2(mean +/- S.D.), 123.0 +/- 24.2mJ/cm2, and 126.6+/- 28.3mJ/cm2, respectively. The most frequent MED was 100mJ/cm2 for the back skin and 120mJ/cm' for the arm skin and thigh skin. CONCLUSION: In this study, UVB-induced MEDs to the back, arm, and thigh skin in young adult Koreans were assessed. A significant difference in the MED was found between the back and extremities skin, with a lower value for the back skin(92.6 +/- 17.3mJ/cm2) than for the arm skin(123.0 +/- 24.2mJ/cm2) or for the thigh skin(126.6 +/- 28.3mJ/cm2).
Arm ; Erythema* ; Extremities* ; Humans ; Phototherapy ; Skin* ; Sunlight ; Thigh ; Young Adult*

As public awareness of the various warning signs of malignancy increases, so does the concern evoked by the self identified finding of mass in the head and neck area. Not all the palpable masses are always significantly abnormal, but any nontender mass especially to the adult is significant enough to warrant further full investigation and follow up, the object of which should be to determine the possibility of malignancy and urgency of treatment. Approach to the diagnosis of the neck mass is so important in that it affects decision regarding further evaluation would lead to the determination of the most efficacious mode of therapy, eventually to the good prognosis. So, it should be emphasized that approach to the diagnosis of neck mass should be planned, systematic and thorough, this begins with the taking careful history following performance of complete examination of the head and neck especially to the nasopharynx, tongue base, pyriform sinus, palatine tonsil and larynx. Then a number of laboratory and radiologic studies are available, following triple endoscopy under general anesthesia and blind biopsy if needed. The most important rule to keep is that any biopsy procedures should be delayed to the last modality of effort to the diagnosis and if it should be done, under the plan of radical neck dissection.
Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Humans ; Larynx ; Nasopharynx ; Neck Dissection ; Neck* ; Palatine Tonsil ; Prognosis ; Pyriform Sinus ; Tongue

No abstract available.
Keloid* ; Recurrence*

Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is a relatively rare, but is a well known tumor that occurs almost in male, most frequently during the adolescent stage. Its character is histologically benign but clinically malignant because of locally invasive character to the adjascent structures, massive bleeding tendency during surgical procedure and high recurrence rate after treatment. Recently many advancements diagnostic method and surgical technique has reached satisfactory result in treating this difficult tumor. The authors present a case of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma in 16 years old male patient, who was received surgical removal of the tumor through the transpalatal approach after full diagnostic evaluation and preoperative hormonal therapy.
Adolescent ; Angiofibroma* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Methods ; Recurrence

No abstract available.
Gangwon-do* ; Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver* ; Prevalence*

No abstract available.
Humans*

No abstract available.
Candida albicans* ; Candida*

This study is to clarify the results of atrial septal defect (ASD) repair and mitral valve surgery through right anterolateral thoracotomy since 1989, and those of more generalized application of minimal invasive cardiac surgery since August 1997. We retrospectively analyzed the results of open heart surgery (OHS) through other than full sternotomy carried out until October 1997. There were 28 cases of OHS done through right anterolateral thoracotomy (17 cases of ASD, 4 cases of mitral valve repair, 6 cases of mitral valve replacement, and 1 redo mitral and tricuspid valve repalcement) which has demonstrated no surgical mortality or morbidity except only 1 case of reoperation for bleeding. During the period between August and October 1997, we performed near routine application of upper sternotomy or transverse sternotomy in aortic valve cases and routine application of minimal incision in cases with ASD and there was no evidence of early and late complications associated with this approach. We conclude that OHS with the use of minimal incisions is very safe, cosmetically excellent, and superior in terms of the amount of bleeding. The indication for minimal incision, therefore, should be extended afterwards.
Adult* ; Aortic Valve ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Heart* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Mortality ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Sternotomy* ; Thoracic Surgery* ; Thoracotomy ; Tricuspid Valve

No Abstract Available.
Epinephrine* ; Lidocaine*

BACKGROUND: The skin of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) exhibits a striking susceptibility to colonization with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Superantigens produced by S. aureus and their specific IgE antibodies are thought to be important precipitating factors of AD, but there are few reports evaluating these 2 factors at the same time, particularly in adult AD patients. OBJECTS: Our purpose was to investigate the differences in the culture degree of S. aureus from the lesion, non-lesion, and control group of child and adult AD patients, to research the correlation between the exotoxin production, total IgE, anti-SEA IgE and the disease severity by SCORAD index, to ascertain the differences between child and adult AD patients. METHODS: The clinical severity of 30 child (2 to 15 years of age) and 30 adult patients (16 to 40 years of age) with AD was evaluated by using SCORAD index. S. aureus was isolated from lesional and non-lesional skin of AD patients, and from healthy controls. Staphylococcal exotoxins were detected by using reversed passive latex agglutination toxin detection kits. Anti-SEA IgE antibody was determined by using AlaSTATt assay RESULTS: S. aureus colonizations were found in 11 (36.7%) of the lesional skin, in 5 (16.7%) of the non-lesional skin of 30 child AD patients, and in 26 (86.7%), in 20 (66.7%) of 30 adult AD patients, respectively. The colonization rates of S. aureus in child patients were much lower than those in adult patients, both form lesional skin and non-lesional skin. Staphylococcal exotoxins were detected in 5 (45.5%) of the 11 colonizations from lesional skin, in 2 (40%) of the 5 colonizations from non-lesional skin of children, and in 10 (38.5%) of the 26 colonizations, in 9 (45%) of the 20 colonizations of adults, respectively. Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) was most frequently detected in both groups. S. aureus colonization was correlated with the severity of AD in childhood, but not in adulthood. However, there were no statistical significances between severity of AD and others such as exotoxin production, and the level of total IgE and anti-SEA IgE in both groups. CONCLUSION: The colonization of S. aureus was more common in adult AD patients than child AD patients. Anti-SEA IgE level was much higher in adult AD patients than in child AD patients. It is tempting to speculate that the colonization of S. aureus and exotoxin production might be related to the disease. duration rather than clinical severity of AD.
Adult ; Agglutination ; Antibodies ; Child ; Colon ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Enterotoxins* ; Exotoxins* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Latex ; Precipitating Factors ; Skin ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Strikes, Employee ; Superantigens