BACKGROUND: According to the areas and people that are examined, there are many differences in the prevalence of syphilis in Korea. However, the reactive rate of the serologi test for syphilis showed an increase in the 1960s, and it has deerea@sed from the beginning of the 1970s. OBJECTIVE: Comparing the results of tke serologic test for syphilis which lotad been performed for the 5 years(1987-1991) on the physical examines and pregnant women who were considered as healthy, with the results with normal people, who were considered as healthy, which had been already reported, we tried to observe the change of reactive rate of serologic test for syphili. METHODS: The serologic test for syphilis, including serum VDRL test and serum TPHA test, were carried out on 25,254 healthy adults(20,405 were physical examineea eamined at National Medical Center and 4,849 were pregnant women delivered at National Medical Cer ter). RESULTS: The reaetive rate of serum VDRL test was 0.8% in 25,25 the althy adults(physical examinees 0.8%, pregnant women 0.7%). There were no stistically differerces between the annual incidences. 85.5% of VDRL-reactive subjects showed low VDRL titers(below 1:4) by the quantitative serum VDRL test, The biologic false positive reaction of serum VDRL test was 29(19.5%) in 149 VDRL-reactive subjects, using serum TPHA test as a standard. CONCLUSION: This study suggested thai, there was a decrease in the prevslence of syphilis in Korea.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; False Positive Reactions ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Pregnant Women ; Prevalence* ; Serologic Tests ; Syphilis*

BACKGROUND: Ciclopiroxole.minsolution or cream is the topical in imycotic agent which has been known to have the ability to penetrate the horny skin and nail keratin. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pierapeutic effect of 1% ciclopiroxolamine solution on onychomycosis. METHODS: 1% ciclopiroxolamie solution was applied topically to hentire surface of t,he diseased nail at least twice a day for 12 to 36 weeks according to the verity of nail involvement and degree of improvement in 21 cases of onychomycoses. RESULTS: 1. With only topical application of 1% ciclopiroxolamine solutior, 4 out of 21 cases(67%) showed 25% or more reduction of the affected nail area, and 8 out of 21 cases(38%) showed 50% or more reduction of the affected nail area. 2. There was no significant difference in the degree of improvem of according to the duration of disease. 3. Therapeutic effect was relat.ively high on Candida albicans, while it was relatively low on Aspergillus species. 4. 3 out of 7 cases of mild(up to 30%) involvement showed a 7% or more reduction of the affected nail, while 4 out of 6 cases of severe(60-100%) involvement showed a 25% or less reduction of the affected nail. 5. As side effects during the topical application of 1% ciclopiroxol nr ne solution, periungualer ythema appeared in 3 cases, and a burning sensation in 4 of 21 cases. CONCLUSION: 1% ciclopiroir olaniine solution could be tried as an effctive therapeutic agent on onychomycosis for the patient who would not be tolerable to oral an ifiigal medication for associated systemic diseases or who does not want oral medication.
Aspergillus ; Burns ; Candida albicans ; Humans ; Onychomycosis* ; Sensation ; Skin

Herpes zoster is characterized by several groups of vesicles situateu unilaterally within the distribution of the cranial or spinal nerve coming from one posterior ganglion Biateral involvement and recurrence are rare, and zoster involves two widely separated regions at on time are even rarer. We report a case of bilateral eupes zoster. A 5-years-old female patient was presented with painful bilateral grouped vesicles on an erythematous base along the dermatome of Lt T2 and Rt T5. Tzanck smear revealed multinucleated giant cells, and histopathologic findings were consistent with herpetic infection. She was successfully treated by administration of acyclovir without any significant cornplications.
Acyclovir ; Female ; Ganglion Cysts ; Giant Cells ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Spinal Nerves

The skin manifestations of secondary syphilis, termed syphilid, show macular, papular and papulosquamous rashes in most cases, but may show lots of other clinical findings. We report a case of syphitid simulating purpura annulsris telangieitodes in 25-year-old male who had a history of genital ulcer 2 months ago. The skin lesion showed diffuse erythematous, 1-3 cm sized, telangiectatic annular patchea and purpuric plaques on both lower extremities and discrete papulosquamous rashes on both soles. The results of the serologic test for syphili was found to be reactive to 32 dilution in serum VDRL test and positive in serum TPHA test. Histovathologically, we could observe the obscuring of dermoepidermal juction, coat-sleeve-like perivascular infiltrate composed of mononuclear cells and a few plasma cells, and endothelial swellings. Afte the treatment with benzathine penicillin G, the titer of serurn VDRL test was decreased abruptly to 4 dilution and the skin lesions disappeared completely.
Adult ; Exanthema ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Penicillin G Benzathine ; Plasma Cells ; Purpura* ; Serologic Tests ; Skin ; Skin Manifestations ; Syphilis ; Syphilis, Cutaneous* ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND: Dermatophytoses show marked differences in their incidences, distributions, and causative organisms by age, sex, occupations, environmental conditions and geographic distributions. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the recent distributions of dermatophytes and compared them with the previous reports in Seoul. METHODS: We evaluated the incidences of dermatophytes according to the patient's age and sex, isolated month, and the infection sites with 387 strains of dermatophytes isolated from the various forms of dermatophytoses during the period from August 1985 to July 1991 in Seoul. RESULTS: T. rubrum was the most prevalent dermatophyte in all age groups except the first decade. The incidence of M. canis was high in age groups below 20 years old relatively high incidences of T. mentagrophytes and T. interdigitale in age groups over 30 years old. Dermatophytes were frequently isolated in summer season, but the incidence of M. canis was relatively high in October and December. T. rubrum was the most prevalent dermatophyte from all forms of dermatophytoses except tinea capitis, but the incidence of T. rubrum was relatively low in tinea corporis. The incidence of T. mentagrophytes was relatively high in tinea unguium and tinea manus, and M. canis was isolated only in tinea corporis and tinea capitis. From the cases showing more than two forms of dermatophytoses. T. rubrum was isolated for the most part. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that there was a rise in the cases of t. rubrum infections in Seoul and in recent years the prevalence of M. canis infections has markedly increased but those of E. floccosum and t. mentagrophytes have decreased.
Adult ; Arthrodermataceae ; Humans ; Incidence ; Occupations ; Onychomycosis ; Prevalence ; Seasons ; Seoul* ; Tinea Capitis ; Tinea* ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The Purpose of this study is to investigate th relations among ego identity, stress, and internet addiction in high school students. METHODS: In order to get the data by self-questionnaire, 750 subject were selected from Aug. 20 to Aug. 31, 2008. The data was analyzed by percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression using SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. RESULTS: Ego identity scores were 39.54, stress scores were 64.68, internet addiction scores were 65.34. There were significantly negative correlations between ego identity and stress, between ego identity and internet addiction. But there was significantly positive correlation between stress and internet addiction. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the most powerful predictor of internet addiction was stress related to individual. CONCLUSION: The findings of study suggest that broad internet addiction and stress program should be provided to prevent problems of internet addiction.
Ego ; Humans ; Internet*

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate the effects of meditation therapy on self esteem, social avoidance and distress. METHODS: The participants in this study were 97 nursing students (49 in the experimental group, 48 in the control group). For the research, a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design was used. The research was carried out from February 23rd to June 1st, 2006. The experimental group received the therapy a total of 6 times over 3 weeks: 60 minutes per session, twice a week. Data was collected by self-reported structured questionnaires. Collected data were analyzed using t-test with the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. Measurement of self esteem was done with a Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI), and social avoidance and distress with the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SADS). RESULTS: Scores for self esteem were significantly increased, and for social avoidance and distress significantly decreased after the meditation therapy in the experimental group. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that meditation therapy has a positive effects on self esteem, social avoidance and distress in nursing students.
Humans ; Meditation* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self Concept* ; Students, Nursing*

Trichophyton rnbrum is a.nthropophilic, and the most common and widely distributed dermato phyte of man. Characterisic lions are circular, usually sharplyn ginated, slightly erythematous, dry, scaly patches with a raised edge. Progressive central clearin produces annular outlines. Other variants are reported, such as granulomatous, bullous or verucius. We reported a case of Trichophyton rubrum infection showing an unusual clinical manifest tin. The skin leison showed multiple discrete brownishouni macules with a fine scale on both hi lower legs, dorsum of feet and buttocks. Central clearing and inflammed border were not not. On KOH mount, fungal hyphae were noted and Techophyton rubrum was isolated on the funu culture.
Buttocks ; Foot ; Hyphae ; Leg ; Lions ; Skin ; Tin ; Trichophyton*

Fusarium species are known as ubiquitous soil saprophytes and human skin comtaminants. Occasionally, however, they have been reported to cause a variety of infections in humans. We report herein a case of cutaneous infection by Fusarium sokmi in a patient with Burger's disease involving his right lower leg. He was treated with itraconazole 200 mg p.o. per day for 5 weeks and the skin lesion resolved without any noticeable side effects. Furthermore, there has been no evidence of recurrence of the disease 9 months after discontinuing the itraconazole. This is the first reported case of cutaneous infection by Fusarium sokmi in a patient with Burger's disease and itraconazole was an effective drug in our case.
Fusarium* ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Leg ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Soil

Pressure alopecia can occur after prolonged pressure on the scalp with the head fixed in one position. We have repor ted 5 cases of pressure alopecia, occurring over the contralateral temporoparietal 1 area after tympanomastoidectomy due to chronic ot.itis media. Total times of operations were from 4 hours to 7 hours. Four of the 5 patients experienced scalp pain during the early postoperative period and one of them showed large bulla formation. Loss of hairs followed between the 14th and 36th postoperative day, and new hairs began to grow 2 or 3 months after the operation.
Alopecia* ; Hair ; Head ; Humans ; Postoperative Period ; Scalp