BACKGROUND: Xerosis is a relatively common disorder, especially in the elderly. The condition is characterized by fine scaling and is associated with generalized pruritus. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of Zalsming cream in patients with xerosis and pruritus. METHODS: Thirty patients were treated with Zalsming cream. Clinical efficacy, as measured by the score of subjective symptom and objective signs, transepidermal water loss(TEWL) and electron microscopic finding, were asessed at 2, 4, and 6 weeks after topical application of the cream. RESULTS: The scores of clinical signs and TEWL showed statistically significant improvements. No one developed any local or systemic side effects. CONCLUSION: Topical application of Zalsming cream was found to be effective and safe for patients suffering from xerosis and pruritus.
Aged ; Humans ; Pruritus*

A 55-year-old Korean female patient who presented with longitudinal black pigmentation affecting the right thumbnail is described. Direct microscopic examination of nail tissue in 15% potassium hydroxide and cultures on Sabourauds glucose agar revealed Candida species. Cardida species as a cause of longitudinal melanonychia has, to our knowledge, been described only once in the literature. Our case may be the second one.
Agar ; Candida* ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pigmentation ; Potassium

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Caveolin 1*

Zonisamide was administered to 20 patients with refractory epileptic seizures. The mean duration of the administration was 6 months, and the mean dosage was 7.2 mg/kg/day. The efficacy of zonisamide was rated remarkable in 15% of the cases, improvement in 40%, and no change in 45%. The response rates of zonisamide were 62.5% for myoclonic seizures, 50% for tonic-clonic seizures, 80% for atonic seizures and 33.3% for atypical absence seizures. There was no correlation between the clinical response and dose or serum concentration of the drug. The adverse effects were observed in 35% of the cases which were drowsiness, dizziness, ataxia, nausea, and vomiting. In all cases, however, the administration of zonisamide could be continued.
Ataxia ; Child* ; Dizziness ; Epilepsy* ; Epilepsy, Absence ; Humans ; Nausea ; Seizures ; Sleep Stages ; Vomiting

Serum alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity is elevated in hepatobiliary disease, bone disease, pregnancy and certain neoplasms. Recently we experienced marked elevation of serum AP activity after administration of albumin preparation in nephrotic patients who suffered from hypovolemic symptoms. So serum AP activity and the isoenzymes in the albumin preparations & patient's serum after the administration of albumin preparation were studied. Serum AP activity was significantly higher after administration of albumin preparation (318+/-101 IU/L) then before (123+/-43 IU/L). The predominant isoenzyme after administration of albumin was placental type, while liver and bone type was predominant before administration. AP activity in albumin preparation was high (2,133+/-1,410 IU/L) and the isoenzyme was mostly placental type. So we concluded that marked elevation of serum AP activity after administration of albumin was traced to the placental type AP isoenzyme in some albumin preparations which was manufactured from the plasma of placental origin. Elevated serum AP activity like these may lead to erroneous interpretation. Manufactures should notify alkaline phosphatase activity in albumin preparations of placental origin.
Administration, Intravenous* ; Alkaline Phosphatase* ; Bone Diseases ; Humans ; Hypovolemia ; Isoenzymes ; Liver ; Plasma ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is primarily influenced by environmental factors including exposure to pollutants and indoor allergens (particularly, house dust mites). Al-though house dust mite antigens are the most prevalent components of indoor allergens in Korea, cockroaches also can be considered to act as an important allergen. OBJECT: This study was done to evaluate the differences in three different atopic patch test (APT) techniques, and the relationship between APT and skin prick test, total IgE, and specific serum IgE level using cockroach allergen. Methods: We performed patch test in 57 patients with AD and 30 normal controls on clinically lesional and normal appearing skin with German cockroach (GC) allergens (extract, as is) in three different techniques (standard, scratch, DMSO). Reactions were evaluated after 48hours, and compared with the results of skin prick test, total and specific IgE levels. Detailed atopy history and severity scoring were taken. RESULTS: In the GC (whole body) prick test positive group, there was 1263.02 IU/ml of total IgE, and this amount was significantly higher than GC (whole body) prick test negative group who had 549.46 IU/ml (P<0.05). The positive reaction rate to whole body of American cock-roach (AC) was significantly higher in the patient group than control group (p<0.05), but the positive rate to whole body of GC was high, but not significantly high in the patient group (p=0.053). There were significant differences in positive patch test reactions to either Ext or As is between patient group and control group (p<0.05). The positive rate to As is was significantly higher than to Ext in either lesional skin or non-lesional skin in patient group (p<0.05). But there were no considerable differences in positive reactions to either Ext or As is between 3 different methods (standard, scratch, DMSO mix) in both lesional and non-lesional areas (p>0.05). There was no significant relationship between the positive reactions to patch test and prick test to Ext and As is antigen. The APT results showed no significant concordances with skin prick test and RAST for cockroach antigens. CONCLUSIONS: APT seems to be a different dimension of atopic skin inflammation and may pro-vide further diagnostic information in addition to a patient's history, skin prick test, and RAST results.
Allergens ; Blattellidae ; Cockroaches* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; Dust ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Immunoglobulin E ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Patch Tests ; Pyroglyphidae ; Skin

No abstract available.
Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome*

Tuberculosis, once thought to be the most common cause of uveal is now thought to be a relatively rare cause of ocular disease. This is because of a decreased incidence of tuberculosis as well as a lessened emphasis on its diagnosis. Tuberculosis of uveal tract has long been a controversial subject in ophthalmology. Several factors have been implicated including the marked pleomorphism of the lesions, owing to variations in the virulence of the invading organisms, host resistance, and the presence or absence of host immunity. Solitary choroidal tuberculoma is rare and characterized as gradually growing until it resembles a tumor projecting as a round white or yellowish globular mass into the cavity of the eye. It may progress continuously and so finally, in the absence of treatment, the sclera is involved and perforation results which is followed by phthisis bulbi or pyogenic infection and panophthalmitis. We have experienced a 19-year old female who had a solitary choroidal tumor like lesion, which about 17 months later resulted in scleral perforation, in the posterior pole of the left eye. We performed enucleation of the left eyeball under the clinical diagnosis of the maligant melanoma associated with scleral perforation and obtained the histopathological diagnosis of ocular tuberculosis.
Choroid ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Melanoma ; Ophthalmology ; Panophthalmitis ; Sclera ; Tuberculoma ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Ocular ; Virulence ; Young Adult

From Oct. 1985 to Mar. 1987, 141 cases of intraocuiar lenses were implanted, and 121 cases had been followed up for more than 2 months. The results were as follows: 1. Surgical technique is planned extracapsular cataract extraction(ECCE) in 81 eyes, Kelman phacoemulsification(KPE) in 21 eyes, Irrigation and Aspiration in 12 eyes, secondary implant in 4 eyes. 2. Post operative visual acuity of 0.5 or better was achieved in 112 eyes(92.5%) and or better in 75 eyes(61.9%). Average of visual acuity was 0.90 +/- 0.25 in toto, 0.88 +/- 0.24 in planned ECCE, 0.96 +/- 0.22 in KPE, 0.92 +/- 0.24 in others. There was not significant carrelation between planned EOCE and KPE(p<0.005). 3. The mean spherical equivalent of post operative corrective spectacle lens power was -0.59 +/- 1.13 in toto, -0.57 +/- 0.92 in planned ECCE. -0.85 +/- 1.13 in KPE. 4. Post operative repractive state was myopic in 98 eyes(80%), emetropic in 10 eyes(8%) and hyperopic in 9 eyes(7%).
Cataract ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular* ; Lenses, Intraocular* ; Visual Acuity

We report a case of erythema nodosurn associated with ulcerative colitis which occurred in a 13-year-old girl who showed well demarcated, painful, erythematous nodules and plaques on both upper and lower extremities. The patient also experienced frequent intermittent abdominal pain and bloody stools for about 1 year. Laboratory findings revealed polymorphonuclear leukocytosis and occult blood in the stool. Findings of sigmoidoscopy, barium enema, and rectal biopsy were consistent. with ulcerative colitis. A skin biopsy from the lesion on the right shin revealed a moderate inflammatory cell infiltrate in the septa of the subcutaneous fat layer, composed chiefly of lymphohistiocytes and a few epitheloid cells. The symptoms and signs responded well to orally administered prednisolone and sulfasalazine.
Abdominal Pain ; Adolescent ; Barium ; Biopsy ; Colitis, Ulcerative* ; Enema ; Erythema Nodosum* ; Erythema* ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocytosis ; Lower Extremity ; Occult Blood ; Prednisolone ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Sulfasalazine ; Ulcer*