BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster is a relatively common dermatological disease and there have been several reports on the epidemiological study of herpes zoster in Korea. However there has not been any report on the epidemiology of herpes zoster in Chuncheon and the Northern Kangwon Province. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the epidemiological characteristics of herpes zoster in Chuncheon and the Northern Kangwon Province. METHODS: The authors evaluated about 461 cases of herpes zoster with retrospective methods with regard to annual, monthly and seasonal incidences, age, sex ratio, associated conditions, anatomical distribution and complications at the department of dermatology in Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University during a 3-Year-Period from Jan. 1994 to Dec. 1996. RESULTS: The annual incidence of herpes zoster in new patients from our dermatology clinic ranged from 4.3% to 4.8%(mean 4.5%), and the ratio of male to female was 1:1.12. The peak incidence of monthly and seasonal analysis was in December and in the Fall. The majority of cases occurred most frequently over the 6th decade. The most common anatomical distribution of herpes zoster inpatients(211 cases) was thoracic dermatome(52.9%), followed by the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve(17.0%), cervical(13.6%), lumbar(6.3%), sacral(4.4%), maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve(3.9%) and two different dermatomes (2.8%). Associated conditions of herpes zoster inpatients(211 cases) were observed in 108 patients (51.2%); hypertension(31.9%), gastritis(15.1%), diabetes mellitus(11.8%), hepatitis(9.2%), malignancy (8.4%), tuberculosis(4.2%), and so on. The complications including postherpetic neuralgia were observed in 58 patients(27.5%) and were common after the age of 50 years. The rnost common complication of herpes zoster inpatients(211 cases) was postherpetic neuralgia(14.7%), followed by ophthalmologic complications(8.1%), secondary bacterial infections(1.4%), neurogenic bladder(1.4%), otologic complications(0.9%), and so on. CONCLUSION: Most of the other results of our study were similar in comparison with reports from other regions in Korea, except for a higher annual incidence and significant differences in the monthly incidence. These differences reflected the regional characteristics of medical service delivery systems in Chuncheon and the Northern Kangwon Province.
Dermatology ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Gangwon-do* ; Heart ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons ; Sex Ratio

No abstract available.
Pancreas*

No abstract available.
Albuterol* ; Asthma* ; Gases* ; Inhalation*

Thelazia callipaeda, parasitic in the eye of 24 years old Korean male, was extracted from the left eye of the patient in Seoul, Korea. We confirmed that as T. callipeada morphologically, based on the descriptions of Hsu and other literature. We presents the 7th human thelaziasis case in Korea with the historical review of the literature.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda ; Thelazia callipaeda ; thelaziasis ; case report

Lichen nitidus is an uncommon chronic dermatosis characterized by its typical clinical and histopathologic findings and has rarely been described in association with other diseases. We observed a patient with an association of lichen nitidus and molluscum contagiosum, which to the best of our knowledge has not been previously reported in the literature. It remains to be further studied about a possible pathogenesis of lichen nitidus secondary to some viral infections such as molluscum contagiosum, etc.
Humans ; Lichen Nitidus* ; Lichens* ; Molluscum Contagiosum* ; Skin Diseases

The multiple lentigines syndrome or LEOPARD syndrome is an autosomal dominantly inherited disorder with a variety of abnormalities and a familial occurrence. This syndrome is characterized by the presence of numerous dark brown macules on the skin but not the mucous surface, and by a marked increase in the number of lentigines from birth to puberty. The eponym LEOPARD stands for lentigines, EKG abnormalities, ocular hypertelorism, pulmonary stenosis, abnormalities of the genitalia, retardation of growth and deafness. We report a case of multiple lentigines syndrome in 7-year-old boy. He had numerous pinhead to pea sized, dark brownish macules scattered on the entire body and also had pulmonary stenosis, EKG abnormality, ocular hypertelorism and right exotropia. Interestingly, he also had a labial melanotic macule on the lower lip, which is usually spared in the multiple lentigines syndrome. Histologically, the biopsy specimen taken from the macule revealed an elongation of rete ridges, an increase of melanin pigments in the basal layer and mild inflammatory infiltrates intermingled with the melanophages in the upper dermis.
Adolescent ; Biopsy ; Child ; Deafness ; Dermis ; Electrocardiography ; Eponyms ; Exotropia ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Hypertelorism ; Lentigo ; LEOPARD Syndrome* ; Lip ; Male ; Melanins ; Panthera ; Parturition ; Peas ; Puberty ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis ; Skin

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bone age and hand anomaly in Down syndrome patients. We reviewed radiographs in 52 children and youths with Down syndrome, aged from 2 to 23 years. The characteristic findings of hand anomaly were observed in the middle phalanx of the fifth finger, with the following incidence; brachymesophalangia (44%), clinodactyly (48%), and dysmesophalangia (15%). Pseudoepiphysis (21%) was found typically at the distal end of the first metacarpal bone and proximal end of the second metacarpal bone. Up to 8.5 years of age, bone maturation was retarded and thereafter bone age accelarated in advance of chronologic age. These findings may provide valuable information relative to the diagnosis and treatment of hand anomaly in Down syndrome.
Adolescent ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Down Syndrome* ; Fingers ; Hand* ; Humans ; Incidence

To understand the mode of transmission in clonorchiasis, a survey was made in Kim-hae Goon, South Kyong-sang Do (=Province). The mathematical analysis of the age prevalence was done on the egg positive rates. And another analysis for the comparison was also made to the cited data from two areas, North Kyong-sang Do and Ko-yang Goon, Kyong-gi Do. Some catalytic models of H. Muench (1959) were applied to the observed age prevalence. Because the both parameters, such as force of infection(a) and loss of positivity(b) were considered to be constant for a long period in the surveyed area, the two stage catalytic model by Muench was chosen to the analysis. In the surveyed area, Kim-hae Goon where the egg positive rates were 56.2 percent and 61.2 percent (by Kim, 1974), the constant values of 'a' were found to be 0.051 and 0.089 respectively. In other words, the force of infection was 51, 89 per 1,000 susceptibles. The values of 'b' were found to be 0.006 and 0.005. This means that the rates of disappearance from egg positive cases to negative were 6 and 5 per annum per l,000 positive cases in above area. Therefore, the two catalytic curves were expressed by the following equations, y = 1.133 {e(-0.006t) - e(-0.051t)} and y = 1.047 {e(-0.005t) - e(-0.089t)} respectively. In the cases of North Kyong-sang Do and Ko-yang Goon, Kyong-gi Do where the egg positive rates of clonorchis shown as 27.7 percent and 15.2 percent by Shin (1964) and Kim (l974), the curves were expressed by y = 1.769 {e(-0.010t) - e(-0.034t)} and y = 2.857 {e(-0.020t) - e(-0.027t)} respectively. From the above mathematical analyses by age prevalence in clonorchiasis, it was considered that the mode of transmission of clonorchiasis in the surveyed area, Kim-hae Goon presented more rapid pattern than those of North Kyong-sang Do and Ko-yang Goon, Kyong-gi Do.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; clonorchiasis-Clnorchis sinensis ; epidemiology ; transmission

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the clinical charateristics, surgical treatment and outcome of carcinoid tumors of the rectum. METHODS: A retrospective review of the charts of all patients treated for rectal carcinoid tumors at Kangbuk Samsung Medical Center between Jan 1989 and April 1998. Thirteen patients with rectal carcinoids tumors were treated. Follow-up data, histopathological information and surgical procedures were obtained from case notes. RESULTS: There were 10 men and 3 women. The ages ranged from 28 to 60 years (mean 41.1 years for all, 43.8 years for men and 32 years for women). Eight patients (61.5%) had no symptoms. Of the five patients, four complained of rectal bleeding (30.8%), and one complained of defecational difficulty (7.7%). Size of rectal carcinoid tumor was less than 1 cm in 7 patients (53.8%), between 1 cm and 2 cm in 2 patients (15.4%), in four patients (30.8%) larger than 2 cm. Three patients were treated in Abdominoperineal resection. Two patients underwent stapled low anterior resection. The remaining 8 patients underwent conservative resection (3 colonoscopic polypectomy and electrocauterization, 2 colonoscopic snaring biopsy, 2 transanal resection and one Mason's operation). The depth of invasion was contained within sutmucosa in 3 patients. Liver metastasis was found in 2 patients. Average follow-up time was 35.6 months. Two patients died of mutiple mestastasis (liver, bone, peritoneum) 9 and 30months later. CONCLUSION: We concluded that tumors smaller than 1 cm could be managed by local treatment whereas larger than 2 cm should be managed by radical treatment.
Biopsy ; Carcinoid Tumor* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Liver ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Rectum ; Retrospective Studies ; SNARE Proteins

No abstract available.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Lymphoma*