BACKGROUND: Cryotherapy of warts with liquid nitrogen is the most widely used method of treatment by dermatologist , but little is known about its ideal method. OBJECTIVE: This study is to investigate the ideal methods in cryotherapy of warts. METHODS: 127 cases of viral warts were studied. These warts consisted of three groups of verruca vulgaris, palmoplantar wart, and periungual wart. 104 cases were treated with a Cry-Ac(R) spray, 23 cases with a cotton wool bud. Using either technique, liquid nitrogen was applied until ice-ball formation had spread from the center to include a margin of 2-4 mm around each wart. Treatment was done at 2-week or 3-weekly intervals and with two to six freeze thaw cycles. The endpoint of the study was complete clearance of all warts. RESULT: Each cure rate for treatment interval is 70.0% for 2-weekly treatment, and 71.6% for 3-weekly treatment. The rate of pain and blister with a shorter interval is higher. Each cure rate for freeze thaw cycles is 73.7% for 2 cycles, 70.4% for over 3 cycles. The morbidity for blister is higher in over 3 cycles than 2 cycles. Cure rates were 70.2% in the spray and 73.9% in the cotton wool bud. CONCLUSION: This study shows no significant benefit of the trial beyond 2 freeze-thaw cycles. We suggest that 3-weekly treatment is the optimal treatment and cryotherapy is equally effective when treated with a spray or a cotton wool bud.
Blister ; Cryotherapy* ; Nitrogen ; Warts* ; Wool

BACKGROUND: Although sclerotherapy is an established procedure in treating varicose veins, a wide disparity remains in the rates of success. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and complications of sclerotherapy in combination with compression. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From December 2000 to September 2001, a combined total of 50 legs in 39 patients with primary varicose veins were treated with sodium tetradecyl sulfate as sclerosant with the empty vein technique. Immediately after the injection, local compression was increased by a cotton wool roll, and additional compression was obtained with class II medical compression hosiery. Patients were evaluated at 5 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 6 weeks for degree of improvement and complications. RESULT: There were 36 women and 3 men ranging in age from 26 to 66 years, with a mean age of 45.3 years. Good sclerosing results were obtained in all patients. Of fifty legs, five had minor complications, two small intravascular clots, two pigmentations, and one compression-related bulla, which needed no treatment. CONCLUSION: The use of a cotton wool roll for local compression is highly effective, and sclerotherapy in combination with compression is safe and effective in the treatment of varicose veins.
Female ; Humans ; Leg ; Male ; Pigmentation ; Sclerotherapy* ; Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate ; Varicose Veins* ; Veins ; Wool

We report two cases of progressive localized retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) defect following cotton wool spots and a dot hemorrhage, 63-year-old woman with RNFL defect in inferior temporal retina of the right eye and 43-year-old man with RNFL defect in superior temporal retina of the right eye. Case 1 showed a dot hemorrhage adjacent to RNFL defect in the right eye and a new slit-like localized RNFL defect in the left eye 5 months later. The visual field in the left eye demonstrated corresponding field defect 9 months later. Case 2 showed a slit-like RNFL defect starting from cotton wool spots in the right eye and corresponding visual field defect. Cotton wool spots and dot hemorrhages represented ischemic damages at the nerve fiber layer. Two noticeable cases showed the progression of RNFL defect caused by repetitive localized microvascular ischemic events, resulting in visual field loss.
Adult ; Eye ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Fibers ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde ; Visual Fields ; Wool

PURPOSE: We report one case of Purtscher's retinopathy related to chest compression by safety belts during motor vehicle accident. METHODS: A 31 old year man was referred to our ophthalmologic department because of diminished vision in the left eye at 6 days after motor vehicle accident. Best uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was right eye 1.0 and left eye 0.5. RESULTS: Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was both 1.0. In the left fundus there was multiple cotton wool spots, retinal hemorrhages and macular edema. At 15 days after accident, multiple cotton wool spots and retinal hemorrhages still be seen. Fluorescein angiography showed capillary nonperfusions and blocked fluorescence by retinal hemorrhages in the arteriovenous phase, leakage of dye in the region of capillary nonperfusion in the late venous phase. At 58 days after accident, multiple cotton wool spots remarkably decreased, however vision remained as 0.2. At 78 days after accident, left eye vision improved to 0.5. CONCLUSIONS: This case suggested to consider a safety belt injury as the cause of Purtscher's retinopathy.
Capillaries ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Fluorescence ; Macular Edema ; Motor Vehicles ; Retinal Hemorrhage ; Thorax ; Vision, Low ; Visual Acuity ; Wool

Cyanide(hydrogen cyanide-HCN: potassium cyanide-KCN) is an important lethal poison that asphyxates by blocking the utilization of oxygen by the tissues through chemical binding of respiratory enzyme. It taken orally causes extensive corrosion of the stomach including oral and esophageal mucosa and leads to sudden death. In addition, it is one of the toxic agents with carbon monoxide in fire victims and is released by combustion of nitrogen-containing organic material such as plastic and wool. Until now there are few reports about blood cyanide concentrations in fatalities by fire in Korea. So, in this study, we examined blood cyanide concentration in 12 cases of fire fatalities. Simple microdiffusion procedure was used as a analysis method of cyanide. In 12 cases of fire victims, blood cyanide concentrations averaged 2.30 microgram/ml, with a range of 0.64 -4.27 microgram/ml.
Carbon Monoxide ; Corrosion ; Death, Sudden ; Fires* ; Korea ; Mucous Membrane ; Oxygen ; Plastics ; Poisoning* ; Potassium ; Stomach ; Wool

BACKGROUND: The patcl test is widely used for diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis. However, it is sometimes difficiilt or even impossihle to differentiate between allergic and irritant reactions in patch test readings. The achievernent of valid results from the patch test require intelligent and careful patch testing and physirians with skills and experiences. OBJECTIVE: The purpos of this study was to assess the frequency, age and sex distr ibution, and the seasonal variatioii of irritant. and lost reactions in standard patch tests. METHODS: Patch test records of day 2 and day 4 were reviewed and analysed. Frequency of inritant and lost reactions were analysed by allergen, age, sex and season. RESULTS: A total 212 c ses of standard patch test records(male 69, female 143) were analysed. The results were as follovs ; 1. The over all frequency of lost reactions in the standard patch test were 33.5 percents and that of irritant reactions were 8.0 percents. 2. The frequency of lost reactions was lower in the age groups under twenty(7.7%) than in the older age groups(35.5%). However, there was no significant difference between the age groups over the third dec ide. 3. The seasonal variation was evident in lost reactions. The order of frequency was summer(45.0% ), winter(33.7% ), spring and fall(2l.1% ). 4. The order of frequency of lost reactions in the stclndard patch allergen was captan(5.7%), potassium dichromate(5.2%), cobalt chloride(4.7%), mercury amrnoniurn chloride(3.8%) c3lld wool alcohol(3.8%). CONCLUSION: Our result, show a relatively high frequency of lost and irritant. reaction in the standird patch test, and uggest second readings in the patch test would he of value.
Cobalt ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Patch Tests* ; Potassium ; Reading ; Seasons ; Wool

Collateral circulation that develops in the chronic stage of branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) was known to affect the cliniral course of this disease. To study the development of collateral circulation according to the types of BRVO, 45 eyes with BRVO in which fluorescein angiographies(FAG) were taken more than two times were divided into 3 groups by the combination of the area of capillary non perfusion and the amount of cotton wool patches. Group I showed a small area of nonperfusion, group II, a wide-spread nonperfusion area with no or several cotton wool patches and group III, a wide-spread nonperfusion area with predominant cotton wool patches. The collateral and the venovenous anastomosis was further subdivided into high-low anastomosis, bridging vessel and recanalization. Then we compared the incidence of collateral vessels in each group. As a result, in group II and III, higher incidence of arteriovenous anastomosis, arteriovenous and venovenous anastomosis was recognized compared to group I. In the cases of major temporal vein occlusion, higher incidence of arteriovenous anastomosis compared to the cases of macular branch vein occlusion. And in group III, higher incidence of neovascularization was found compared to group I.
Arteriovenous Anastomosis ; Capillaries ; Collateral Circulation* ; Fluorescein ; Incidence ; Perfusion ; Retinal Vein Occlusion* ; Retinal Vein* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Veins ; Wool

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of unknown etiology, which affects skins, joints and other parts of body. Retinopathies associated SLE occur in 3.3% to 28% of cases, the incidence rising with the severity of systemic disease, and generally are found late in the disease. The most common findings described are cotton wool spots, retinal hemorrhages, and optic disc edema. We report two cases of SLE who had retinopathies as early manifestation of disease.
Edema ; Incidence ; Joints ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Retinal Hemorrhage ; Retinal Vasculitis ; Retinaldehyde* ; Skin ; Wool

With the rapid development of MS technologiesy, the demands for a more sophisticated MS interpretation algorithm haves grown as well. We have developed a new protein fingerprinting method using a binomial distribution, (fBIND). With the fBIND, we improved the performance accuracy of protein fingerprinting up to the maximum 49% (more than MOWSE) and 2% than(at a previous binomial distribution approach studied by of Wool et al.) as compared to the established algorithms. Moreover, we also suggest a the statistical approach to define the significance of transcription factors and motifs in the identified proteins based on the Gene Ontology (GO).
Binomial Distribution ; Fungal Proteins* ; Gene Ontology ; Peptide Mapping ; Transcription Factors* ; Wool ; Yeasts*

We studied the retinal complication of systemic alpha-interferon in 52 patients who had chronic myelogenous leukemia of chronic phase. 32 patients of them were systemically injected with alpha-interferon for 6 months or more, and 20 patients who were not injected were used as a control. In the injected group, 10 of the 32 patients(31%) showed retinopathies such as yellowish white subretinal deposits, multiple blot shaped hemorrhages, and cotton wool spots. However in the control group, there was only one patient who showed blot shaped hemorrhage. The injected group had significantly much higher chance to have retinopathy than the control group(p<0.05). Majority of the retinal findings were yellowish white subretinal deposits rather than retinal hemorrhage or cotton wool spots. The possibility of interferon related retinopathy increased in older patients and in the patients with longer use of systemic alpha-interferon (p>0.05). The sex and hematologic factor did not affect the development of retinopathy(p<0.05). Since the patients under long term treatment of systemic alpha-interferon are at higher risk of retinopathy, their fundus should be examined periodically.
Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; Interferons* ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; Retinal Hemorrhage ; Retinaldehyde ; Wool