No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell*

No abstract available.
Knee Joint* ; Knee*

BACKGROUND: Nummular eczema, known as nummular dermatitis or discoid eczema, is an idiopathic disease that manifests coin-shaped, circular, or oval-shaped plaques with definite margins. These plaques can be exudative, erythematous, or edematous. The plaques are composed of tiny vesicles in the early stage, and later tend to be more scaly, dry, lichenified and thickened. It is a chronic condition which exhibits long periods of recurrence and relapse, plus changes depending on environmental conditions. For example, it is known that the eczema worsens in low humidity, or during winter. OBJECTIVE: Since there has been an absence of studies conducted since the 1970's, we investigated epidemiology, etiology, aggravation factors, family and past history, associated diseases such as atopic dermatitis, clinical menifestations, laboratory abnormalities, and course and prognosis with statistical analysis. METHOD: A total of 211 individuals, who had visited the Department of Dermatology, Kyungpook National University Hospital in Daegu, Korea between 2000-2004 with a diagnosis of nummular eczema, were selected. The data was based on a retrospective survey of hospital records. However, whenever the information was lacking, we called patients to ask lists of questions for this investigation. To clarify the prognosis and course of nummular dermatitis, we classified the course of the disease into 5 groups; "healed" (cleared completely), "almost healed" (more than 90% cleared), "improved" (from 50 to 90% cleared), "stationary" (less than 50% improvement), and "wax & waned" (repetitive recurrence). RESULTS: The male to female distribution showed about a 1.4-fold predominance for males. The onset of the disease in patients was often in their twenties, which correlated with previous reports which noted that onset of lesions in patients occurred in their twenties and sixties. Nummular eczema was most frequently aggravated in summer. Thirty five of the 211 patients had atopic dermatitis, and 53 had dry skin. Thirty five of 103 patients showed an elevated serum Ig E level (more than 250 IU/ml). Seventeen of 120 patients had an elevated eosiophil count (more than 7%). If the patients had had the eczema for a short duration, these seemed to be a better chance of the condition healing. CONCLUSION: This investigation is expected to help understand and obtain more information on nummular eczema.
Daegu ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatology ; Diagnosis ; Eczema* ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hospital Records ; Humans ; Humidity ; Korea ; Male ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin

To investigate the infection status of zoonotic trematode metacercariae in yellowfin goby, Acanthogobius flavimanus, from coastal areas of the Republic of Korea (Korea), we examined total 344 gobies from 21 localities with an artificial digestion method from 2013 to 2017. The metacercariae of Stictodora lari were most frequently detected in 45.3% goby from 7 localities, i.e., Taean-gun (Chungcheongnam-do), Gochang-gun (Jeollabuk-do), Muan-gun, Shinan-gun, Haenam-gun (Jeollanam-do), Hadong-gun and Goseong-gun (Gyeongsangnam-do). Their infection rates were 90.0%, 66.7%, 46.7%, 8.0%, 3.3%, 26.7%, and 86.7% and intensities were 1,090, 6.2, 1.6 1.0, 2.0, 2.0, and 7.2 metacercariae per fish infected respectively. Heterophyopsis continua metacercariae were found in 38.2% goby from 6 localities, i.e., Gochang-gun, Muan-gun, Shinan-gun, Gangjin-gun, Boseong-gun (Jeollanam-do) and Goseong-gun, and their intensities were relatively low, 1–21 metacercariae. Stictodora fuscata metacercariae were detected in 61.3% goby from 4 localities, i.e., Taean-gun, Gochang-gun, Hadong-gun and Goseong-gun. Their infection rates were 90.0%, 53.3%, 5.9%, and 73.3% and intensities were 1,081, 3.1, 3.0, and 10.2 metacercariae per fish infected respectively. Heterophyes nocens metacercariae were found in 55.0% goby from Muan-gun and Shinan-gun. Total 3 metacercariae of Isthmiophora hortensis were detected in 2 (8.0%) gobies from Shinan-gun. Total 15 metacercariae of Centrocestus armatus were detected in 5 gobies (33.3%) from Gyeongpo-ho (ho means lake) in Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do. The present study suggests that yellowfin goby, A. flavimanus, acts as the infection sources of zoonotic intestinal flukes in western and southern coastal areas than in eastern coastal areas of Korea.
Digestion ; Gangwon-do ; Heterophyidae ; Korea ; Metacercariae ; Methods ; Republic of Korea ; Trematoda

Mycophenolate mofetil(MMF) is a new immunosuppressant which non-competitively and reversibly blocks the de novo synthesis of guanine nucleotides required for DNA and RNA synthesis during lymphocyte proliferation. So MMF selectively inhibits lymphocyte proliferation and it has less side-effects than other immunosuppressants. We described 2 cases of generalized pustular psoriasis improved with MMF. We administered MMF combined with cyclosporin in case 1 and acitretin in case 2. Both patients markedly improved with MMF administration 3 days after and had no severe side-effects. Thus the authors thought that MMF appears to be an effective therapeutic alternative in the treatment of generalized pustular psoriasis.
Acitretin ; Cyclosporine ; DNA ; Guanine Nucleotides ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Lymphocytes ; Psoriasis* ; RNA

The infection status of freshwater fish with digenetic trematode metacercariae was examined in water systems of Hantangang and Imjingang (River), the Republic of Korea. A total of 877 (594 from Hantangang and 283 from Imjingang) fishes were examined by the artificial digestion methods. Clonorchis sinensis metacercariae were detected in 7 (1.2%) fishes (in 3 spp.) from Hantangang in Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do, and 40 (14.1%) fishes (in 7 spp.) from Munsancheon in Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do. The average densities were 1.9 and 35.6 per fish infected, respectively. Metagonimus spp. metacercariae were detected in 312 (52.5%) and 113 (39.9%) fishes from Hantangang and Imjingang, and their average densities were 47.5 and 9.6 per fish infected, respectively. Centrocestus armatus metacercariae were found in 161 (27.1%) and 70 (24.7%) fishes from Hantangang and Imjingang, and their average number per fish infected was 694 and 82, respectively. Echinostoma spp. metacercariae were detected in 50 (8.4%) and 94 (33.2%) fishes from Hantangang and Imjingang, and their average densities were 9.6 and 23.1 per fish infected, respectively. The infection status of fishes with metacercariae of Stephanoprora spp., Diplostomum spp., Clinostomum complanatum, Metorchis orientalis, and Metorchis taiwanensis were analyzed by surveyed regions. Conclusively, it was confirmed that C. sinensis metacercariae were quite commonly detected in fishes from Munsancheon but rarely from other localities, whereas the metacercariae of other digenetic trematodes were relatively prevalent in fishes from water systems of Hantangang and Imjingang in Korea.
Animals ; Female ; Fish Diseases/epidemiology/*parasitology ; Fresh Water/parasitology ; Male ; Metacercariae/classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Trematoda/classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Trematode Infections/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary

The infection status of zoonotic trematode metacercariae was investigated in a total of 2,293 freshwater fish collected from 11 rivers or streams in 9 administrative regions of Gangwon-do, Korea for 5 years (2009-2013). All fish were collected by netting methods and examined using the artificial digestion methods. Clonorchis sinensis metacercariae were detected in 4 fish species, i.e., Pungtungia herzi, Squalidus japonicus coreanus, Acheilognathus rhombeus, and Ladislabia taczanowskii, from only Hantangang in Cheorwon-gun. Metagonimus spp. metacercariae were found in 1,154 (50.3%) fish and their average number per infected fish was 55.8. Among the positive fish species, especially Tribolodon hakonensis from Namdaecheon in Yangyang-gun and Plecoglossus altivelis from Osipcheon in Samcheok-si were most heavily infected. Centrocestus armatus metacercariae were detected in 611 (26.7%) fish and the average metacercarial burden per infected fish was 1,032. Two chub species, Zacco platypus and Zacco temminckii were highly and heavily infected with C. armatus metacercariae in almost all regions surveyed. Echinostoma spp. metacercariae were also found in 24 fish from a few localities, but their numbers per fish infected were very low. From the above results, it is confirmed that the metacercariae of intestinal flukes, especially Metagonimus spp. and C. armatus, were heavily infected, while C. sinensis metacercariae were rarely found in fish from Gangwon-do, Korea.
Animals ; Biodiversity ; Fish Diseases/*epidemiology/*parasitology ; Fishes ; Fresh Water ; Korea ; Parasite Load ; Prevalence ; Trematoda/*classification/*isolation & purification ; Trematode Infections/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary

Anaphylaxis is an acute and fatal systemic allergic reaction to an allergen, and it can be an unpredictable and life-threatening cause during anesthesia. Latex is the second most common cause of anaphylaxis following the use of neuromuscular blocking agents during general anesthesia or surgery. We report on a 67-year-old male who had undergone surgery under general anesthesia without any problem but who presented with severe intraoperative anaphylaxis to latex surgical gloves. This case emphasizes the need for anesthesiologists to quickly diagnose and properly manage an allergic reaction in patients under general anesthesia.
Aged ; Anaphylaxis ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Gloves, Surgical ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Latex ; Male ; Neuromuscular Blocking Agents

Thrombocytosis(a platelet count>400,000/mm3) is found to be frequently in association with malignant disease and recently has been suggested to be a poor prognostic indicator in patients with certain cancers. The objective of this retrospective study was to determine the relevance of a preoperative platelet count in ovarian cancer with a possible prognostic significance of thrombocytosis in this disease. Between June 1989 and December 1995, eighty-five patients with epithelial ovarian cancer were evaluated, who were managed at Asan Medical Center by cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy, and had at least 6 months' follow-up. Prevalence of thrombocytosis was 22.4% and significantly correlated with FIGO stage(p=0.003), histologic subtype(p=0.002), tumor grade(p=0.040), performance status of patient(p=0.006) and preoperative serum CA 125 level(p=0.002). And the linear regression analysis revealed a significant correlation(p<0.001) between platelet count and preoperative serum CA 125 level, which suggested that platelet count was positively associated with tumor volume. No difference in survival between patients with or without thrombocytosis was found(p=0.68), whereas residual tumor size and serum CA 125 level after 2nd chemotherapy were found to be independent prognostic factors. In conclusion, thrombocytosis is not a useful prognostic factor in epithelial ovarian cancer, but significantly associated with tumor volume.
Blood Platelets ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Platelet Count ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombocytosis* ; Tumor Burden

BACKGROUND: For the treatment of primary varicose vein of greater saphenous vein(GSV) due to reflux from incompetent saphenofemoral junction(SFJ), several methods such as ligation and stripping, or duplex-guided sclerotherapy have traditionally been introduced. As for sclerotherapy, the recurrence rate has been reported to be very high. In spite of higher success rate, traditional high ligation with stripping of GSV requires several days' admission with general anesthesia and several more days before returning to normal daily life. New modalities, which are less invasive and possibly have lower recurrence to rate with a chance for early ambulation, are being proposed. They are such as endovenous radiofrequency(RF) therapy, endovenous laser therapy, etc. OBJECTIVE: We tried to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endovenous RF therapy as an alternative to high ligation and stripping in case of GSV varicosity in mild to moderate degrees. METHODS: Both GSV varicosities and varicosed tributaries are marked by doppler and/or ultrasonic imaging. A catheter connected to RF generator is inserted proximally through the incision of vein wall percutaneously, usually above or below the knee. After confirming position of the SFJ using ultrasound, the catheter is progressed as far as to 1-2cm below the SFJ. Then, the generator is activated and the catheter withdrawn slowly for complete heating and occlusion of the target vein. Additional ambulatory phlebectomy or sclerotherapy is optional. We wrap the limbs with self-adhesive short stretch bandage for 2-3 days and encourage the patient to walk regularly and wear compressive stocking later. RESULTS: We performed endoluminal RF treatment on 10 legs of 9 patients(5 males and 4 females). Follow-up intervals varied from 2 to 10 months. Patients were generally satisfied with improvement of symptom. On the clinical evaluation with doppler and duplex examination, there were a few blood flows except only some segments of GSV in 7 patients CONCLUSION: Although endoluminal RF therapy may have a somewhat higher recurrence rate than that of traditional high ligation with stripping of GSV, endoluminal RF therapy is expected to have several advantages over traditional surgery, including less invasiveness, no need for admission or general / spinal anesthesia, earlier return to normal daily life, and finally easy performance, especially for the dermatologist.
Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Bandages ; Catheters ; Early Ambulation ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heating* ; Hot Temperature* ; Humans ; Knee ; Laser Therapy ; Leg ; Ligation ; Male ; Recurrence ; Saphenous Vein* ; Sclerotherapy ; Ultrasonography ; Varicose Veins* ; Veins