Dermatitis herpetiformis is a chronic, intensely itchy, papulovesicular skin disorder of unknown cause, which is usually symmetrically distributed on extensor surface. Most patients have an associated gluten-sensitive enteropathy which is usually asymptornatic. We report six cases of dermatitis herpetiformis diagnosed by direct immunofluorescence studies. The patients have had characteristic features of dennatitis herpetiformis, such as vesicles, erythernatous papules, urticaria-like plaques, and hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation, dispersed on the neck, back, and arms. None of the patients had subjective symptoms associated with gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Clinicians should be aware of the clinical features of this disease to avoid possible misdiagnosis, and to provide better therspeutic approaches in time.
Arm ; Celiac Disease ; Dermatitis Herpetiformis* ; Dermatitis* ; Diagnostic Errors ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Hypopigmentation ; Neck ; Skin

One-hundred-eleven herpes simplex viruses(HSV) were isolated from l09 patients who had visited the Department of Dermatology, Ophthalmology, and Gynecology of Hanyang University Hospital from 1986 through 1988, for suspected HSV lesions. The cultured viruses were classified into HSV-1 and HSV-2 by using direct and indirect immunofluorescent staining with monoclonal antibodies against HSV. In this study, HSV type 1 were predominantly involved in the HSV lesions above the waist of the patients(83.6%), and the infections caused by HSV type 2(I3.1 %) and bath HSV types(3.3%) were also noted. In contrast, the main organism of the HSV lesions below the waist were HSV-2(80.0%), and HSV-1(16.0% ) and both types(4.0%) were also involved in. The result suggested that the number of patients with HSV 1 genital herpes and/or with non-genital herpes by HSV-2 were apparently increasing. In conclusion, it is conceivable that the classification of HSV isolates might be useful for determining prognosis as well as performing epidemiologic studies of HSV infections.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Baths ; Classification ; Dermatology ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Gynecology ; Herpes Genitalis ; Herpes Simplex* ; Herpesvirus 1, Human ; Herpesvirus 2, Human ; Humans ; Ophthalmology ; Prognosis ; Simplexvirus*

PURPOSE: The purpose of the experiment with the rabbit was to evaluate the effect of human amniotic membrane transplantation in the extraocular muscle surgery area after the operation. METHODS: Five millimeters resection of both superior rectus muscles was performed in eight rabbits. The left eye was served as a control, and the right eye was covered with human amniotic membrane at the site where the operation was performed. Each rabbit was graded according to the degree of adhesion. A histological comparison was done after enucleation. RESULTS: At one week after the operation, it was discovered that the inflammation of the human amniotic membrane transplantation site was suppressed, but at two weeks the human amniotic membrane transplantation site was significantly inflamed. However, the inflammation decreased at six weeks. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that strabismus surgery with transplantation of human amniotic membrane may reduce postoperative inflammation and adhesion in strabismus surgery after one week. However, after two weeks the inflammation will increase and produce more postoperative adhesion. After six weeks there was no significant inflammation in comparison to the control group.
Amnion* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Muscles ; Rabbits* ; Strabismus* ; Tissue Adhesions*

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between age at menopause and mortality in a population-based sample of women in Kangwha, Korea. METHODS: From the Kangwha Cohort, followed-up from 1985 to 1999, the data of the over 55 year old female group(n=3,596) was used in this study to examine the association between age at menopause and mortality. We calculated the all causes mortality risk ratio and the cancer mortality risk ratio by age at menopause grouping using the Cox Proportional Hazards Model with adjustments for age, BMI, smoking, education, chronic disease, self-rated health status, alcohol consumption and age at first birth. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: Compared to women who had menopause at 45-49 years, the all causes mortality risk ratio was 1.24 for women with menopause at less than 40 years(95% CI=1.01-1.53) and 1.05 for women with menopause at over 50 years(95% CI=0.92-1.20). Also, compared to women who had menopause at 45-49 years, the cancer mortality risk ratio was 1.53 for women with menopause at less than 40 years(95% CI=0.78-2.98) and 1.17 for women with menopause at over 50 years(95% CI=0.77-1.80).
Alcohol Drinking ; Birth Order ; Chronic Disease ; Cohort Studies* ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Menopause* ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Odds Ratio ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Smoke ; Smoking

We report two cases of malignant schwannoma of skin in association with non-familial neurofibromatosis. Case 1, a 47 year old man, had a large subcutaneous tumor on the sacral area and case 2, a 62 year old woman, a painful, ulcerating tumor on the posterior aspect of the left arm. Both cases were histopathologically confirmed as malignant schwannomas and immunohistochemical studies showed 5-100 protein in the tumor cells. After surgical excision of the tumors, case 1 was lost to follow up, while case 2 remained without evidence of disease for more than one and half years.
Arm ; Female ; Humans ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Neurilemmoma* ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Skin ; Ulcer

Somatostatinoma is rare endocrine tumor that was first described in 1977 by Ganda et al. and Larsson et al. simultaneously. It seems nonfunctioning at clinical level. But it may present with diabetes, diarrhea, cholelithiasis, steatorrhea, indigestion, hypochlorhydria, and anemia. In contrast with pancreatic somatostatinoma, duodenal somatostatinoma, in general, is clinically silent. Duodenal endocrine tumors show similar histologic pattern. Therefore, the definite diagnosis is performed by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopic examination. We have experienced a case of somatostatinoma of duodenum in a 62-year-old male. He has complained generalized pruritus for one year and jaundice for 2 weeks. Grossly, the mass was a intraluminary protruding, polypoid lesion with focal mucosal erosion at immediately distal to Ampulla of Vater. Histologically, it showed tall, cylindrical cells with distinct cell membranes, having granular cytoplasm and small innocent looking nuclei. No mitosis was seen. The tumor cells were arraged in small solid groups and trabeculae, separated by fibrovascular stroma. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were strongly positive with somatostatin and negative with several other hormonal and neuroendocrine markers. Ultrastructurally, the cytoplasm contains numerous, homogeneous low electron dense secretory granules, which are essentially similar to those seen in normal delta cells.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the validity of recruiting medical checkup participants of Vietnam veterans using a mail survey, and to identify the 'Vietnam service related characteristics' and `general characteristics' of Vietnam veterans groups. METHOD: In this study, a total 900 veterans were randomly selected from the list of Vietnam veterans from 1964 to 1973. The veterans were classified into 5 groups, taking into consideration their registered status in the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs; the VRD (veterans who have agent orange-related diseases), VSD (veterans who have agent orange-suspected disease), VM (veterans who performed meritorious deeds during the war), VR (veterans who were registered with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affair) and OV (other veterans) groups. By means of postal surveys, the veterans' intention to participate in the medical checkup for our research, and their socioeconomic and general characteristics were investigated. 52 surveys were returned due to the subjects not residing at the listed address, and were excluded from the analysis. RESULT: 699 of the 848 veterans (82.4%) responded to the survey, of which 619 (88.6%) intended to participate in the medical checkup for our research. The 5 veterans groups all had similar ages, Vietnam service period, Agent Orange exposure, troop characteristic and wartime class, with the exception of VM, who were older, and with a greater number of officers than the other 4 groups. There was a big difference in the health statius among the Vietnam veterans group. The VM and OV were much healthier than VRD, VSD and VR groups. The socioeconomic stati of the VRD, VSD and VR groups were lower than those of the VM and OV groups. CONCLUSION: Although there were some limitations, the recruitment, by mail, of medical checkup participants from Vietnam veterans is a valid and feasible method. The VM and OV groups were much healthier, and with higher socioeconomic stati, than the VRD, VSD, and VR groups.
Citrus sinensis ; Humans ; Intention ; Methods ; Pilot Projects* ; Postal Service* ; Veterans* ; Vietnam*

OBJECTIVES: To propose a feasible, valid and appropriate study designs and epidemiologic methods for evaluating the adverse health effects of Agent Orange-chemical defoliants used in Vietnam- in Korea. METHODS: A literature study was performed on Agent Orange, herbicides, pesticides and dioxins. The study subjects, study design, exposure assessment and health outcomes assessment were examined in each study. The potential data sources for the study subjects, study design, exposure assessment and health outcomes assessment in Korea were investigated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In earlier Korean studies, research subjects for studying the effects of Agent Orange were identified from the patients or persons who claimed to have Agent Orange-related diseases due to the difficulties in identifying the entire population of Vietnam veterans in Korea. In this study, an attempt was made to identify the total number of Vietnam veterans in Korea. As a result, the addresses of 20,000 Vietnam veterans were obtained. It is proposed that a retrospective cohort design on a sample of the total number of Vietnam veterans is a feasible and appropriate study design. Self report questionnaires and military records were proposed to assess the exposure level. It is believed that measuring the plasma or tissue TCDD should be used only for a validation study assessing the level of exposure. For the health outcomes assessment, it is possible to obtain the mortality, cancer frequency, physical examination, screening and medical insurance record data.
Citrus sinensis* ; Cohort Studies ; Data Collection ; Defoliants, Chemical ; Dioxins ; Epidemiologic Methods ; Herbicides ; Humans ; Insurance ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Military Personnel ; Mortality ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Pesticides ; Physical Examination ; Plasma ; Questionnaires ; Research Subjects ; Retrospective Studies ; Self Report ; Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin ; Veterans* ; Vietnam*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Lichen Planus* ; Lichens*

No abstract available.
Gynecology*