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*

No abstract available.
Lipoma*

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

OBJECTIVES: Significant progress has been made in understanding psychosocial, psychological, and environmental factors associated with suicide. However it is only recently that attention has been paid to the understanding of the neurobiology of suicide. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between platelet serotonin level and suicidal behavior and psychological features of the suicidal attempters. METHODS: After a suicidal attempt platelet serotonin level was measured from 21 patients and compared it with those from depression patients and normal controls. Also MMPI, HAM-D, Barratt impulsiveness scale(BIS) were done to evaluate their psychological features. RESULTS: 1) There was no significant difference in sex ratio of the suicidal attempters. 2) There was no significant difference in platelet serotonin levels among three groups. 3) The analysis of MMPI revealed that the scores of D, Hs, Pt in clinical scales were significantly higher in suicide patients and scores of D, Pa, Si were in depression patients. 4)The HAM-D score was significantly higher in depression and suicide patients, especially in depression patients. 5) The analysis of Barratt impulsiveness scale revealed that the scores of nonplanning, motor and cognitive impulsiveness scale were significantly higher in suicide patients. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in platelet serotonin levels among three groups. However the analysis of psychological features revealed significant differences. Therefore we concluded that psychological examinations are benefit to evaluate the suicidal tendency.
Blood Platelets* ; Depression ; Humans ; MMPI ; Neurobiology ; Serotonin* ; Sex Ratio ; Suicide ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and safety of ultrasound guided automated gun biopsy with fine needle aspiration biopsy of focal liver lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed 32 automated gun(19.5G Autovac Biopsy Needle) biopsies and 27 fine needle aspiration(22G Westcott Style Biopsy Needle) biopsies in 48 patients with malignant focal liver lesion under the guidance of ultrasound. We compared the "positive for malignancy rate" and "pathologic diagnosis rate" of both methods with final diagnosis, and the rate of complications. RESULTS: The "positive for maiignancy rate" of automated gun biopsy and needle aspiration are 84.4%(27/32) and 66.7%(18/27) respectively(p=0.11). The "pathologic diagnosis rate" are 84.4%(27/32) and 55.6%(15/27) with significant statistical difference(p<0.05). And there is no difference of the rates of significant complications. CONCLUSION: When compared with the fine needle aspiration biopsy, ultrasound-guided automated gun biopsy is safe and more effective method for malignant focal liver lesion.
Biopsy* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Liver* ; Needles ; Ultrasonography*

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

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

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