Pigmentary dermarcation lines are boundaries between more deeply pigmented skin and areas of lighter pigmentation. We report 4 cases of pigmentary demarcation lines of pregnancy associated with erythema which developed in the third trimester of pregnancy and were symmetrically located in the buttock and posteromedial portion of the lower extremities. After delivery, the erythema disappeared within 3-7 days, followed by slow resolution of the brownish pigmentation.
Buttocks ; Erythema* ; Female ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Pigmentation ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnancy* ; Skin

The authers observed one case of typical poikilodermatomyositis who was 47 year old female. The poikiIodermatomyositis is a rare disease which is a variant of dermatomyositis and has never been reported in Korea. This patient complained of a weakness of left lower leg and tingling sensation of both fingers since one year ago, And she has a difficulty of both finger flexion since 20 days ago. The skin lesions revealed mottled dark brownish pigmentation, hardness, scattered atrophic patches and telangiectasia in the lesion on the left lower leg since one year ago. The same skin changes appeared on the thigh, lower abdomen and upper chest on 4 months ago. Histopathologically, a biopsy was performed from the skin of lower leg, the skin shows typical poikiloderma, i.e. the epidermis shows moderate atrophy of the stratum malpighii, flattened rete ridges and hydropic degeneration of the hasal cells. The dermis is edematous and a band like dense lymphocytic cellular infiltration. And the muscIe biopsy from gastrocnemius muscle shows dermatomyositis finding which the muscle bundles are edematous and degenerative. Many inflammatory cells present between muscle bundles but there is no suppurative change. Diagnosis was confirmed by clinical appearance, histopathologically and other laboratory studies. The patient was markedly improved by the prednisolone 80 mg and vasculat (vascular dilatator) 100 mg daily.
Abdomen ; Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Bryophyta ; Dermatomyositis ; Dermis ; Diagnosis ; Epidermis ; Female ; Fingers ; Hardness ; Humans ; Korea ; Leg ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Pigmentation ; Prednisolone ; Rare Diseases ; Sensation ; Skin ; Telangiectasis ; Thigh ; Thorax

The authers observed one case of typical poikilodermatomyositis who was 47 year old female. The poikiIodermatomyositis is a rare disease which is a variant of dermatomyositis and has never been reported in Korea. This patient complained of a weakness of left lower leg and tingling sensation of both fingers since one year ago, And she has a difficulty of both finger flexion since 20 days ago. The skin lesions revealed mottled dark brownish pigmentation, hardness, scattered atrophic patches and telangiectasia in the lesion on the left lower leg since one year ago. The same skin changes appeared on the thigh, lower abdomen and upper chest on 4 months ago. Histopathologically, a biopsy was performed from the skin of lower leg, the skin shows typical poikiloderma, i.e. the epidermis shows moderate atrophy of the stratum malpighii, flattened rete ridges and hydropic degeneration of the hasal cells. The dermis is edematous and a band like dense lymphocytic cellular infiltration. And the muscIe biopsy from gastrocnemius muscle shows dermatomyositis finding which the muscle bundles are edematous and degenerative. Many inflammatory cells present between muscle bundles but there is no suppurative change. Diagnosis was confirmed by clinical appearance, histopathologically and other laboratory studies. The patient was markedly improved by the prednisolone 80 mg and vasculat (vascular dilatator) 100 mg daily.
Abdomen ; Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Bryophyta ; Dermatomyositis ; Dermis ; Diagnosis ; Epidermis ; Female ; Fingers ; Hardness ; Humans ; Korea ; Leg ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Pigmentation ; Prednisolone ; Rare Diseases ; Sensation ; Skin ; Telangiectasis ; Thigh ; Thorax

One case of malignant acanthosis nigricans associated with internal malignancy has been presented and the suhject of malignant acanthosis nigricans has been revieived. The patient who was 50 year old man had been affected generalized hyperpigmentation with pnpillomatosis especially on forehead, neck, axilla, umbilical area, anogenital area, palm and soles and associated with highly malignant adenocarcinoma of stomach. Diagnosis was confirmed by characteristic clinical appearance, explorative laparatomy and histopathologically
Acanthosis Nigricans* ; Adenocarcinoma ; Axilla ; Diagnosis ; Forehead ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Stomach

OBJECTIVE: Peripartum emergency cesarean hysterectomy of 28 cases at our hospital for 10years were reviewed that the clinical indication, history, and annual incidence change. METHODS: A retrospective descriptive analysis from January, 1988 to December, 1997 was carried out. RESULTS: There were 28 cases of emergency cesarean hysterectomy identified during this period among total 24, 689 deliveries. The annual incidence of emergency cesarean hysterectomy was significantly declined statistically(p<0.005). Cesarean hysterectomy was performed in 20 of 6, 671 cesarean section(0.30%) and in 8 of 18, 018 vaginal deliveries(0.04%), so more frequently after cesarean section than vaginal delivery. The cesarean hysterectomy rate was more frequent in multiparous women(0, 22%) than in nulliparous women(0, 02%). The most common indication of cesarean hysterectomy was 13 cases of uterine atony(46%), followed by 5 cases uterine rupture(18%), 5 cases of placenta previa with placenta accreta(18%), 3 cases of placenta previa(11%), 2 cases of uterine myoma(7%). No significant difference in length of operating time, amount of blood loss and operative complications were found between total abdominal hysterectomy and subtotal hysterectomy. The all patient who had cesarean hysterectomy recieved from 1200ml to 15840ml of blood transfusion with a mean of 3673ml. In aspect of fetal outcome, 3 cases of FDIU(Fetal death in utero) in uterine rupture and 1 case of stillbirth in preterm were found. The maternal complications were wound disruption, DIC, wound hematoma, ureter injury, vaginal stump bleeding, UTI(Urinary tract infection) and retroperitoneal bleeding, CONCLUSION: We conclude that the incidence of emergency cesarean hysterectomy declined with prediction of antenatal risk factor, preparing of sufficient fresh blood, prophylactic antibiotics, vigorous uterotonics and close observation after delivery.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Blood Transfusion ; Cesarean Section ; Dacarbazine ; Emergencies* ; Female ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Incidence ; Peripartum Period* ; Placenta ; Placenta Previa ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stillbirth ; Ureter ; Uterine Rupture ; Wounds and Injuries

Fetal teratomas rarely complicate pregnancy,having an incidance of only 20,000:1 to 40,000:1 of live births. Overthere, cervical teratomas are rare and accounts for only 5.5% of all neonatal teratomas. We have experienced a large cervical immature teratoma and present this case with a brief review of literatures.
Live Birth ; Teratoma*

No abstract available.
Leukemia, Plasma Cell* ; Plasma Cells* ; Plasma*

The presence of epicanthal folds in Asian eyelids is one of their unique features, in combination with the lack of supratarsal folds. Western culture has influenced many people to prefer to eliminate the prominent epicanthal fold. A number of surgical techniques have been suggested for their correction. However, difficulty with design, excessive and prominent scarring of medial canthal and nasal area, recurrence, and rigidity of application are potential problems associated with many procedures. This paper describes a epicanthoplasty with three-dimensional Z-plasty. Through epicanthal fold incision, the medial canthal tecdon is medially advanced and sutured to the periosteum of nasal bone. After the transposition of the flaps, trimming of the flap is usually required. Three-dimensional Z-plasty crates the attactive eyes. From March, 1995 to March, 1997, the technique was applied to 37 patients with epicanthal fold and was performed with or without double-fold operation. There were 34 females and 3 males with ages ranging from 17 to 30 years. Through 2 years follow-up, this techniques has delivered esthetically good results with minimal postoperative scar and could made the reduction of ICD from 40 +/- 2.13mm to 34 +/- 1.98mm. The advantages of epicanthoplasty procedure using three-dimensional Z-plasty(Yoon's method) are as follows; 1) simple in design 2) minimal postoperative scar in the medial canthal area 3) versatile in its application 4) no recurrence 5) no hypertrophic scar 6) preserving ethnic identity.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cicatrix ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; Eyelids ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Nasal Bone ; Periosteum ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify validity the Korean version of resilience scale and identify performance status and resilience in patients with colorectal cancer. METHODS: A sample of 110 patients with colorectal cancer was recruited from a hospital in Seoul. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, factor analysis, MAP test and Parallel test and multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. RESULTS: The reliability, validity, and factor analytic structure of the scale were evaluated. The scale demonstrated good psychometric properties and factor analysis yielded two factors. The resilience for colorectal cancer patients showed a significant difference according to marital status and performance status. The two variables were the significant factors influencing resilience, which they explained 26.5% of the variance. CONCLUSION: The results of the study show the importance of performance status in explaining the resilience in patients with colorectal cancer. Therefore, This study suggests that intervention programs to increase the performance status among patients could improve the resilience of cancer patients.
Activities of Daily Living ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Marital Status ; Psychometrics ; Seoul

It has been known that the immunological functions against cancer cells were diminished, and these phenomena result from the inhibition of cell-mediated immunity by substance(s) secreted from cancer cells. It was also reported that the immunological functions decreased in patients with stomach cancer, which is the most frequent cnacer in Korean. However, the nature and function of the inhibitory factor(s) orignated from stomach cancer have not been identified. To elucidate effects of immuological inhibitory factor(s) secreted from cancer cells, SNU-1 (stomach cancer) and SW480 P109/R3P2 (colon cancer) were used in this study. Jurkat T cell line, an acute T cell leukemia, was pre-incubated with fractionated cancer cell culture supernatant for 3 days, then was stimulated with PMA, PWVanti-CD28 mAb or PMA/ionomycin for 8 hrs respectively. Fraction of SNU-1 (3 - 10 kDa) and above 10 kDa of SW480 P109/R3P2 inhibited the expression of IFN-r mRNA when Jurkat T cell was stimulated with PMA. However, there were no difference in IL-2 and IL-4 gene expression response to either PMA/anti-CD28 mAb or PMA/ionomycin. These results show that cancer cells secret some inhibitory factor(s) acting on the immune response, especially IFN-r gene expression of the Jurkat T cells response to PMA. Therefore, it suggests that the inhibitory factor(s) secreted from cancer cells influences on. the PKC-dependent pathway related to the signal transduction by PMA.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Line ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Leukemia, T-Cell ; RNA, Messenger ; Signal Transduction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; T-Lymphocytes