This study was undertaken to investigate the response of non-immunologic contact urticaria(NICU) test before and after ingestion of cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors such as naproxene, ibuprofen and mefenamic acid. Forty patients who showed positive reaction to 5% benzoic acid (BA) in petrolatum by 20 minutes closed patch test were chosen and divided into 3 groups. Group I was consisted of 13 patients who were taken naproxene 250mg bid, group II, 14 patients, taken ibuprofen 600mg bid, and group III, 13 patients, taken mefenamic acid 500mg bid. All the patients were tested with 5%, 2.5%, 1%, 0.5% and 0.1% BA in petrolatum using Finn chamber on Scanpor tape on the right arm before medication and next day on the left arm after medication of each day. Mefenamic acid did not show any significant differences before and after ingestion of drug. Naproxene reduced reaction about half of patients. Ibuprofen reduced reaction in almost all patients and blocked reaction completely in 9 of 13 patients. This results suggested that there was no correlation between blocking effect to BA induced contact urticaria and so called anti-inflammatory potencies of naproxene and ibuprofen, and that NICU by BA is partly mediated by prostaglandins(PG) or mediated by other mediators, which were potentiated by PG, except histamin.
Arm ; Benzoic Acid ; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors ; Eating ; Humans ; Ibuprofen ; Mefenamic Acid ; Naproxen ; Patch Tests ; Petrolatum ; Urticaria*

Our experience with 150 patients with congestive heart failure has been reviewed with particular reference to physical and laboratory findings on admission, precipitating factors and diagnostic clues. Congestive heart failure has been defined as that heart failure due to myocardial failure (primary or secondary). (1) Congestive heart failure was found in 3.65% of total medical admissions and in 24.0% of total cardiovascular patients. There was no difference between two sexes and incidence was peak in the 6th decade. (2) Rheumatic heart disease was the most common cause of congestive heart failure (41.0%). Hypertensive and/or atherosclerotic heart disease (36.5%), cor pulmonary (6.6%), postpartum heart failure (5.3%), pericardial disease (3.6%), thyrotoxic heart disease (2.0%) and congenital heart disease (0.6%) were the etiologies of the remainder. In male hypertensive and/or atherosclerotic heart disease was most common cause of congestive heart failure. (3) The precipitating factors of congestive heart failure were found in 31% and infection, pregnancy, discontinuation of digitalis and physical exertion were major causes. (4) Dyspnea, cervical vein distension, pulmonary rale, hepatomegaly and cardiac murmur were important symptoms and signs on admission. (5) Peripheral venous pressure was elevated in 883.2% and circulation time was prolonged in 90.9%. (6) Leucocytosis (39.8%) albuminuria (60.2%), elevated GOT (serum glntamin oxaloacetic transaminase) (12.0%) and azotemia (50%) were observed. (7) Chest X-ray on admission revealed increased vascularity including pulmonary edema (88.8%), cardiomegaly (83.3%) and hydrothorax (27.1%). (8) Electrocardiographic findings was abnormal in 99.4% and left ventricular hypertnophy (45.7%), atrial fibrillation (27.3%), Right ventricular hypertrophy and low voltage were frequently observed.
Albuminuria ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Azotemia ; Cardiomegaly ; Digitalis ; Dyspnea ; Electrocardiography ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure* ; Heart Murmurs ; Hepatomegaly ; Humans ; Hydrothorax ; Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular ; Incidence ; Male ; Physical Exertion ; Postpartum Period ; Precipitating Factors ; Pregnancy ; Pulmonary Edema ; Respiratory Sounds ; Rheumatic Heart Disease ; Thorax ; Veins ; Venous Pressure

The serum lipids level of healthy Koreans, including 306 normal adults, 15 overweight persons, 25 faculty members and 40 vegetarians (monks) were studied in 1973. The following results were obtained. 1. The mean serum liplids values of normal Korean adults were 188.7+/-33.7mg% for total cholesterol, 176.9+/-47.0mg% for phospholipid and 78.0+/-28.9mg% for triglyceride. 2. It was observed that the serum level of normal Koreans were influenced only by age and were not influenced statistically by sex, weight and socioeconomic state. 3. The mean serum lipids level of Korean vegetarians (monks) were 188.0+/-44.0mg% for total cholesterol, 158.5+/-35.6mg% for phospholipid and 64.8+/-21.4mg% for triglyceride and not influenced by sex and duration of altered eating habit. 4. The serum lipids level of Korean vegetarian (monks) were significantly low in phospholipid and triglyceride but not in cholesterol. 5. No significant difference in serum total cholesterol level between normal and vegetarian were observed all the role of diet of general population were discussed.
Adult* ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Eating ; Humans ; Overweight ; Triglycerides

Epiclerrnal growth factor(EGF), a low-molecular-weight polypeptide chain consisting of 53 amino acids, stimulates the growth and keratinization of epidermal cells. Recently, some authors reported that hair growth rate and follicular bulb growth were inhibited by EGF in neonatal mice. Since the hair and follicular cells are of epidermal origin, the effect of EGF would appear to be inconsistent with its role promoting the proliferation and differentiation of epidermal cells in vivo and in vitro. We have investigated the effects of EGF on the hair and epidermis in adult male mouse. The results are summarized as follows: l. 1'he hair length and maximum diameter were significantly reduced in EGF- treated regions compared with control group, and inhibition of hair growth was correlated with EGF dose. Thickness of the epidermis was significantly increased in EGF-treated regions compared with control group, and proliferation of the epidermis was correlated with EGF dose. 3 There were no significant differences in the hair length, maximum diameter, and egidermal thickness between untreated contralateral right mid-side regions of EGF-treated groups and control group.
Adult ; Amino Acids ; Animals ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Epidermis ; Hair* ; Humans ; Male ; Mice*

Aquagenic urticaria is a rare form of physical urticaria in which wheal is produced by contact with water. A 21-year-old woman was referred to our department because of itching wheal after contact with water for 1 month. Match-head-sized wheal surrounded by bean sized erythema was provoked with water on her face regardless of its tempera ture, osmolarity and quality. Passive transfer test was negative. Result of pro vocation test with normal saline and NaHCO solution, which was reported to be therapeutically effective, was similar to those with pure water.
Erythema ; Female ; Humans ; Intradermal Tests ; Occupations ; Osmolar Concentration ; Pruritus ; Urticaria* ; Water ; Young Adult

A 25-year-old woman developed generalized urticaria and an anaphylactic syndrome of sudden onset while she was being treated for her decubitus ulcer with chlorhexidine antiseptic solution. Prick test with 0.5% chlorhexidine produced a wheal in a few minutes. A passive intradermal transfer test (PK test) to her mother was positive. These enabled us diagnose her as having an immunologic contact urticaria to chlorhexidine.
Adult ; Chlorhexidine* ; Female ; Humans ; Mothers ; Pressure Ulcer ; Urticaria*

We herein presented a case of persistent variant of Grovers disease in a 83-year old male. He had a rather extensive eruption of erythematous scaly papules, which had been profusely grouped but discretely distributed over 2 years or more. The histopathologic findings of two lesions in the same patient revealed mixture of various histologic patterns, patterns resembling Dariers disease, pemphigus vulgaris, Hailey-Hailey disease and spongiosis. The ultrastructural findings of Darier pattern should be essentially similar to those of Dariers disease and also be common to those observed in the early stages of other causes of focal acantholytic dyskeratosis. The patient had been treated with topical and intralesional steroid and oral 13-cis-isotretinoin, however, the lesions had been persisted only with partial improvement of clinical appearance and reduction of pruritus.
Aged, 80 and over ; Darier Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Pemphigus ; Pemphigus, Benign Familial ; Pruritus

The fibrofolliculoma is characterized by abnormal hair follicles with epithelial strands extending out from the infundibulum of the hair follicle into a hyperplastic mantle of specialized fibrous tissue. We have seen a peculiar case of a 1 year and 2 months old male who had a solitary papule on the left side of his face which histologically showed a typical fibrofolliculoma pattern.
Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

BACKGROUND: In vitro epidermal keratinocytes(EKs) culture systems are widely used in studying skin biology and differentiation. Recently a monolayer culture method of nail matrix cells(NMCs) has been developed. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to establish a method of culture of NMCs and compared its characteristics with those of EKs. METHODS: Human NMCs were isolated and cultured in a defined medium. Phase contrast microscopic examination, growth rate and ketatin expression were evaluated. RESULTS: In in vitro monolayer culture, NMCs had a similar growth pattern and morphological features as EKs. The synthesis of hard keratins was detected. CONCLUSION: These observations suggest that the NMCs culture model may be useful for the study of nail properties and the effects of drugs.
Biology ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Methods ; Skin

PURPOSE:Varying clinical phenotypes are associated with the chromosome 22q11.2 microdeletion syndrome. The endocrine manifestation are latent or overt hypoparathyroidism, thyroid dysfunction and short stature. This study was undertaken to investigate frequencies of endocrine abnormalities and short stature in patients with the chromosome 22q11.2 microdeletion syndrome. METHODS:Forty three unrelated patients were diagnosed having chromosome 22q11.2 microdeletion syndrome. Chromosomal microdeletion was confirmed by fluorescent in situ hybridation (FISH) with DNA probe (22q11.2 LSI TUPLE1 from Vysis). Serum total calcium and intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) were measured in all patients. Thyroid function tests including free thyroxine(T4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid autoantibodies were performed in all patients. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was measured in 10 patients. Height, weight and body mass index were compared with chronological age in all patients. RESULTS:Seven patients (16%) had an overt hypoparathyroidism, presenting with hypocalcemic tetany. Thirteen patients (31%) showing hypocalcemia with normal PTH were regarded as having latent hypoparathyroidism since their PTH secretion response was blunted. Out of 2 patients with thyroid diseases, one patient had Graves disease and the other had Hashimoto thyroiditis. Five patients (12%) were below the 3rd percentile in height at evaluation. The BMI was below the 5th percentile in 23% of patients. CONCLUSION: Twenty patients (47%) presented with overt and latent hypoparathyroidism. Interestingly, autoimmune thyroid diseases such as Graves disease and Hashimoto thyroiditis were associated in patients with chromosome 22q11.2 microdeletion, indicating predisposition to autoimmune disorders. Therefore, a careful endocrine and growth evaluation is needed in these patients.
Autoantibodies ; Body Mass Index ; Calcium ; DNA ; Graves Disease ; Hashimoto Disease ; Humans ; Hypocalcemia ; Hypoparathyroidism ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Phenotype ; Tetany ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyrotropin