BACKGROUND: After the development of the Q-switched lasers, it was possible to remove tattoos without causing scarring. Currently, Q-switched ruby lasers, Q-switched Nd: YAG lasers and Q-switched alexandrite lasers are used selectively to treat tattoos. The objective of this study was to determine the difference of effectiveness aceording to color, site and duration in removing tattoo pigments by the alexandrite laser. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30 tattoos were treated with a Q-switched alexandrite laser(model IL-l, Candela Laser Corporation. Wayland. U.S.A.). Pretreatment evaluation included a clinical desrviption of the site, color, duration and photographs were taken. The effects were examined by fether photo graphs and telephone follow-up. The response was expressed as the percentage area cleared of the tattoo. The clearance was graded as follows: clear, >95%; excellent, 76-95%; good, 51-75%; fair, 26-50%; poor < 25%. The occurence of adverse events were also examined. RESULTS: 1""he results are summarized as follows: 1. Treatment with fluences that ranged from 6.0-8.0J/cm2 was given on average 1.7 times and better results were achived than expected in 80% of all patients with tattoo. 2. The effectiveness of laser therapy correlated with the number of treatments. 3. After 1 laser session, tattoos of black and darkblue showed better results than light blue in terms of color. 4. After 1 laser session, the sites of tattoos on upper extremitise showed better results than those of the eyebmw, eyeline and face. 5. Differences in duration after 1 laser session were not seen. 6. Hyperpigmentation in 2 cases and bulla formation in 1 case occurred and all complications had ceased after a few months. CONCLUSION: The alexandrite laser is an effective treatment for cosmetic, general and traumatic tattoos with a low incidence of significant adverse effects and provides excellent cosmetic results.
Cicatrix ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Incidence ; Laser Therapy ; Lasers, Solid-State* ; Telephone

Lymphomatoid papulosis, first described by Macaulay in 1558 is a chronic disease characterized by the recurrent self-healing papulonecrotic or nodular skin lision, showing histological features of malignant lymphoma. The clinical course is variable, with rogression to disseminated malignant lymphoma in up to 10-20% of patients. Ki-1 appears to the a representative marker for large cells ir lymphomatoid papulosis and these cells can be detected in l-1 lymphorna, Hodgkins diseasen other disorders with aetivated T cells. However, positive Ki-1 staining is useful for supporting a diagnosis of lymphomatoid papulosis, under the appropriate clinical and histopathologic findings. We report a case of positive lymphomatoid papulosis which is characterized by the typical findings of clinical, histojpathological and immunohistochemica sizdies.
Chronic Disease ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Lymphomatoid Papulosis* ; Skin ; T-Lymphocytes

No Abstract Available.
Humans

BACKGROUND: Propioriacterium acnes plays an importantol in the development of inflammatory acne, and inflarnmatory lesions are improved by oralnc topical antibiotics. But as Pacnes frequently develop resistance to antibiotics in patients neing long term systemic antibiotic therapy, the theravuti effects diminish, and eventually thay fails. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate theerral susceptability of P. acnes to antibiotics and the difference in the MIC depending on the of oral and/or topical antibiotics, therapeutic effects and disease duration in patients with acie ulgaris. METHODS: We used twenty six strains of P. acnes which were obtained from patients with acne and performcd suseptibility testing for antibiotics usir the E test procedure. RESULTS: 1. The growth of P. acnes was completely inhibited by e ythromycin and chloramphenicol at concentrations of 0.023ug/ml and 0.064ug/ml, respectively cefoxitin at 0.094ug/ml, and by tetracycline and clindarnycin at 0.190 ug/ml. 2. P. acnes was mot susceptible to erythromycin, and olwed by chloramphenicol, cefoxitin, tetracycline, clindamycin in order of decreasing susceptibilit . 3. There were no significant differences in the MIC in reat in to previous antibiotic treatment. 4. For tetracycline, The MIC was significantly lower(p<0.01) in patients who improved after treatment. 5, For tetracycline and chloramphenicol, the MIC was grficantly lower(p<0.05) in patients with less than 2 years disease duration. CONCLUSION: The susptibility of antibiotics for P. acneias highest in erythromycin. There were no significant differences in the MIC in relation to prvious antibiotic treatment, and for some antibiotics the suseptibility was low in patients who dill not show clinical improvement or who had long disease duration.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cefoxitin ; Chloramphenicol ; Clindamycin ; Erythromycin ; Humans ; Propionibacterium acnes* ; Propionibacterium* ; Tetracycline

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the characteristics of occupational diseases among agricultural, forestry and fishery workers compensated under the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance that is operated by the Korea Labor Welfare Corporation (KLWC). METHODS: Using the KLWC database, we collected 667 cases of occupational disease compensated during the 8 years between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2005. We analyzed the characteristics of occupational diseases using the KLWC electronic data and the data investigated by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency. RESULTS: KLWC approved 667 cases, including 69 deaths (10.3%). Men accounted for 76.0%of the approved cases. The most common age group was 50~59 years of age (37.3%). The most common size of enterprise was 5 to 49 workers (47.5%). The proportion of occupational diseases was 54.1%, of which 45.9% was work-related. Among occupational diseases, the most common was skin diseases (147 cases, 40.7%), followed by infectious diseases (131 cases, 36.3%), including scrub typhus (123 cases) and intoxication (40 cases, 11.1%). The causal hazardous agents were biological (320 cases, 88.6%), chemical (29 cases, 8.0%), and physical (11 cases, 3.0%). The major type of industry and occupation were forestry (445 cases, 66.7%) and elementary (151 among 235 cases, 89.3%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Major compensated occupational diseases were infectious diseases, including scrubtyphus, skin diseases and toxic disease, which occurred among workers who were older, and had short tenure and elementary occupation, and these workers were out of the occupational health policy. A management policy must be established to prevent occupational diseases occurring in such vulnerable workers.
Accidents, Occupational ; Agriculture ; Communicable Diseases ; Compensation and Redress ; Fisheries* ; Forestry* ; Humans ; Insurance ; Korea* ; Male ; Occupational Diseases* ; Occupational Health ; Occupations ; Scrub Typhus ; Skin Diseases ; Workers' Compensation

No abstract available.
Lung*

We report two cases showing typical clinical features of subcutaneous granuloma annulare. Clinically, rapidly growing non-tender subcutaneous nodules developed on the scalp of healthy children without histories of trauma or infection. Histopathologically, collagen degeneration surrounded by histiocytes and lymphocytes in a palisading arrangement were seen in the deep dermis and subcutaneous layer. The foci of degeneration contained pale and edematous basophilic mucinous deposits. The skin lesions resolved spontaneously without specific treatment. Subcutaneous granuloma annulare should be considered in the differential diagnosis of children presenting with soft tissue masses.
Basophils ; Child ; Collagen ; Dermis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Granuloma Annulare* ; Granuloma* ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Mucins ; Scalp ; Skin

Eosinophilic panniculitis is characterized by a prominent infiltration of numerous eosinophils in subcutaneous fat, and has been identified in patients with a variety of associated clinical conditions. A case of eosinophilic panniculitis in a 20-year-old woman with a history of atopic dermatitis is reported. She later developed superior sagittal sinus thrombosis, and we stress the importance of systemic evaluations in patients with eosinophilic panniculitis.
Dermatitis, Atopic ; Eosinophils* ; Female ; Humans ; Panniculitis* ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Superior Sagittal Sinus* ; Thrombosis* ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Drug reactions are common problems in hospital inpatients and outpatients. Reliable diagnosis is essential but often difficult. OBJECTIVE: This study attempts to define the clinical features and causative drugs in the patients with drug eruptions, and to evaluate the diagnostic value of skin tests. METHODS: Sixty one patients with drug eruptions were reviewed clinically. In 18 patients, patch and prick tests were performed using suspected drugs. RESULTS: 1. The highest incidence of drug eruptions was observed in the third and forth decades(44.2%) and there was no sexual prodominence. 2. The most frequent latent peroid was 4 hours to 1 week(49.2%). 3. The common morphological features were exanthematous eruptions(57.3%), urticaria(14.8%) and fixed drug eruptoins(11.5%). 4. The major causative drugs were antibiotics(cephalosporin, ampicillin), antipyretics/anti-inflammatory analgesics(aspirin, piroxicam) and CNS depressants(diphenylhydantoin). 5. Clinical manifestations according to possible causative drugs were as follows; exanthematous eruptions by antibiotics, antipyretics/analgesics, herbs, CNS depressants, propylthiouracil and captopril; urticaria by antibiotics and herbs; fixed drug eruption by sulfonamide, antipyretics/analgesics and phenobarbital; acneiform eruptions by diphenylhydantoin and isoniazid; Stevens-Johnson syndrome by ampicillin, sulfonamide, aspirin and piroxicam, erythema nodosum by sulfonamide, and lichenoid drug eruptions by propylthiouracil. 6. Positivity to patch and prick tests was shown in 2 of the 18 patients and in 1 of 18 patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent clinical feature of the drug eruptions were exanthematous in nature and the most common causative drugs were antibiotics, as suspected. To search for the causative drug of the drug eruption, the only usual methods of patch and prick tests were not sufficient in our study.
Acneiform Eruptions ; Ampicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Aspirin ; Captopril ; Central Nervous System Depressants ; Diagnosis ; Drug Eruptions* ; Erythema Nodosum ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inpatients ; Isoniazid ; Outpatients ; Patch Tests ; Phenobarbital ; Phenytoin ; Piroxicam ; Propylthiouracil ; Skin Tests* ; Skin* ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome ; Urticaria

Membranous lipodystrophy is a peculiar type of fat necrosis, present in patients with various types of skin diseases. It is charaeterized by the presence of microcysts and macrocysts lined by amorphous eosinophilic material with a crenelated arabesque appearance and microgranules in the subcutis with massive fat necrosis. The eosinophilic lining and microgranules stain positively with periodic acid-Schiff, are resistant to diastase, and also stain with Sudan black B. We report three cases of subcutanous membranous lipodystrophy in patients with erythema induratum, posttraumatic panniculitis and morphea with typical clinical and histopathologic findings.
Amylases ; Eosinophils ; Erythema Induratum ; Fat Necrosis ; Humans ; Lipodystrophy* ; Panniculitis ; Scleroderma, Localized ; Skin Diseases ; Sudan