BACKGROUND: In recent studies, tacrolimus ointment has been shown to be effective for the treatment of atopic dermatitis with an excellent safety profile. OBJECTIVE: This study was done to assess the efficacy and side-effects of tacrolimus ointment for the facial atopic dermatitis(AD) in Korean. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Open-label, non-comparative study with 2 months' follow-up was done to assess the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus ointment (Protopic0ointment 0.1%, Fujisawa, Japan) in moderate to severe facial AD. Patients were instructed to apply it two times daily for 8 weeks. Facial lesions were evaluated at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks of treatment with in-tensity score by investigator. RESULTS: In comparing of intensity scores and each clinical score at baseline with those of 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, a significant decrease was noticed at all follow-up periods. Burning sense(54.5%) and pruritus(18.2%) were detected. CONCLUSION: Tacrolimus ointment is effective in treatment of severe facial AD and has tolerable mild adverse effects at the site of application in Korean.
Burns ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Research Personnel ; Tacrolimus*

In vitro culture of Toxoplasma gondii in HL-60 cells cnd cell-mediated immunity against Toxoplasma in dimethylsulfoxide(DMSO)-induced HL-60 cells, i.e., differentiation into granulocytes, were pursued. HL-60 cells were treated with various concentrations of DMSO, and 1.3%(v/v) for 3 day incubation was chosen as the optimal condition for differentiation into granulocytes. The degree of differentiation was assayed in physiological and functional aspects in addition to morphological point. When treated with 1.3% DMSO for 3 days, HL-60 cells did not synthesize DNA materials beyond background level, and showed active chemotactic response to chemotactic peptide, formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine(FMLP). Morphologically promyelocytes of high nuclear/cytoplasmic(N/C) ratio changed to granulocytes of relatively low N/C ratio. The relationships between HL-60 cells or DMSO-induced HL-60 cells and Toxoplasma were examined after stain with Giemsa and fluorescent dye (acridine orange). HS-60 cells did not show any sign of toxoplasmacidal activity but showed intracellular proliferation of Toxoplasma to form rosette for 72 hr co-culture. In contrast, DMSO-induced HL-60 cells phagocytosed Toxoplasma within 1 hr, and performed a process of intracellular digestion of Toxoplasma thereafter. With the above results, it is suggested that phagosome-lysosome fusion is one of the critical events for the parasitism by Toxoplasma or for susceptibility of host cells. The in vitro culture system of this study has offered a defined condition to study the protozoan parasite-host cell interactions.
parasitology-protozoa ; Toxoplasma gondii ; HL-60 cells ; dimethylsulfoxide ; in vitro culture ; dimethylsulfoxide

No abstract available.

It is evident that an elevation of airway albumin excreation rate without clinical proteinuria strongly predicts a later progression on diabetic renal disease. So we studied the correlation between Microalbumin checkly RIA & Micral-Test®. We collected urine between 08:00 h and 08:00 h next day and then checked microalbuminuria by radioimmunoassay method and Micral-Test® The results are as follows: 1. There was significant correlation between microalbuminuria checked by RIA & Micral-Test® 2. There was poor correlation between diabetes duration or HV-A1c and maximal change in albumin excreation rate. 3. So we concluded that Micral-Test® can be used in laboratory instead of RIA.
Methods ; Proteinuria ; Radioimmunoassay

No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Female ; Humans

No abstract available.
Meningitis, Aseptic*

Serous cystadenoma of the pancreas, also known as microcystic adenoma or glycogen-rich cystadenoma, is an unusually benign tumor. It is usually large and composed microscopically of many small cysts lined by small, cuboidal or flattened cells containing abundant glycogen. It has been suggested that serous cystadenoma probably arise from the ductular cells or centroacinar cells. Herein, we report on a case of serous cystadenoma of the pancreas in a 55-year-old female. The tumor, measuring 13.5x11.5x10.0 cm, was located in the head of the pancreas and the cut surface revealed a sponge-like appearance due to innumerable tiny cysts containing clear serous fluid. Microscopic analysis showed cystic spaces lined by cuboidal cells with intracytoplasmic glycogen.
Female ; Humans ; Cysts ; Adenoma

Objective: This study determined the threshold for recurrent depressive episodes that predicted conversion from major depressive disorder (MDD) to bipolar disorder (BD). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 296 patients diagnosed with MDD for a minimum of 5 years in two university hospitals. We examined their the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition diagnoses and detailed clinical information at the initial admission and yearly assessments after discharge to establish the threshold for recurrent depressive episodes indicating a risk of diagnostic conversion from MDD to BD. Optimal cut-offs were derived using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: ROC curve analysis revealed that more than four recurrent depressive episodes was indicative of potential diagnostic conversion from MDD to BD (area under the curve, 0.604; sensitivity, 0.353; specificity, 0.855; positive predictive value, 0.421; negative predictive value, 0.816). Conclusion These findings suggest that the best predictor of conversion from MDD to BD is more than four recurrent depressive episodes. Our findings have the potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy and treatment efficiency. To validate our results, longitudinal prospective studies are necessary.

No abstract available.
Crohn Disease*

Perioral dermatitis is a facial dermatoses affecting the nasolabial folds, the chin, and the upper lip with sparing of a rim of skin at the vermilion border. The classic distribution is of the perioral area, but the glabella, eyelids and even forehead may be affected. In the patients with the periocular variety, the history, course, and response to treatment are exactly the same as in those with classic perioral dermatits. Herein, we report a case of perioral dermatitis involving the eyelids in a 23-year-old man who had used topical corticosteroids but experienced symptom aggravation and improvement after doxycycline treatment.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Chin ; Dermatitis, Perioral* ; Doxycycline ; Eyelids* ; Facial Dermatoses ; Forehead ; Humans ; Lip ; Nasolabial Fold ; Skin ; Young Adult