BACKGROUND: CO laser emiis energy in the mid portion of the infrared spectrum at a wavelengt,h of 10,600nm. The CO laser is the workhorse laser in the treatment of cuianeous disease. With water as the chromophore(light-absorbing compound), CO laser light is highy absorbed in biologic tissue. Human body tissue comprises between 75% to 90% of water. The CO laser is superficially absorbed by tissue water, with little scatter, limiting penetration into the skin to less than 0.1 mm. The beam can be delivered with a large spot size and low power density(defocus mode) or focused tightly with great power density(focused mode). AS A RESULT: the CO laser may be used both to vaporize and to cut tissue while coagulating blood vessels, providing a relatively bloodless su gical field. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutie effect of the CO laser on benign cutaneous tumors. MEHTODS: 114 cases of benign cutaneous tumors treated with the CO laser between October 1987 and September 1992 were subjected to detailed analysis, The CO later is Pizer Laser system(U.S.A., Ca) Model 20-C CO. The laser produces power output that ranges from 0 to 25 W of continuous wave. Spot size is variable, between 0.3mm and 2mm. RESULTS: 1. Angiofibromas and seborcheic keratoses showed very good response(95.3%, 92.8% ). 2. Syringomas showed a good esponse(82.8%). 3. Epidermal nevus and trichovpitheliomas showed a fair response(58.5%, 60%). 4. There were hypertrophic scars(10.5%) and transient hypopigmentation. CONCLUSION: The Co laser was a very effective modality for the treatment of benign cutaneous tumors such as angiofibromas, seborrheic keratosis and syringomas.
Angiofibroma ; Blood Vessels ; Carbon Dioxide* ; Carbon* ; Human Body ; Hypopigmentation ; Keratosis ; Keratosis, Seborrheic ; Lasers, Gas* ; Nevus ; Skin ; Syringoma ; Water

Allergic contact dermatitis to topical agents mostly results from vehicles and preservatives and rarely from the active ingredients. Ribavirin, an active ingredient of Viramid® cream, is a synthetic nucleoside derivative with broad spectrum activity against a wide variety of DNA and RNA viruses. We report an 18-year-old woman, who had a perioral edematous patch with exudative crusts after topical application of Viramid® cream (nsung pharmaceutical Co., Korea) for the treatment of herpes labiahs. A patch test showed that the sensitizer was ribavirin, the active ingredient of the antiviral agent, Viramid® cream.
Adolescent ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; DNA ; Female ; Humans ; Patch Tests ; Ribavirin* ; RNA Viruses

Allergic contact dermatitis to topical agents mostly results from vehicles and preservatives and rarely from the active ingredients. Ribavirin, an active ingredient of Viramid® cream, is a synthetic nucleoside derivative with broad spectrum activity against a wide variety of DNA and RNA viruses. We report an 18-year-old woman, who had a perioral edematous patch with exudative crusts after topical application of Viramid® cream (nsung pharmaceutical Co., Korea) for the treatment of herpes labiahs. A patch test showed that the sensitizer was ribavirin, the active ingredient of the antiviral agent, Viramid® cream.
Adolescent ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; DNA ; Female ; Humans ; Patch Tests ; Ribavirin* ; RNA Viruses

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyse clinical manifestations and laboratory findings in childhood patients with polyarticularonset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). METHODS: Eleven cases of polyarticular JRA who were diagnosed and treated in the Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children's Hospital from June 1988 to May 1995 were investigated for clinical manifestations and laboratory findings. RESULTS: 1) There were 6 males and 5 females and their ages of onset were 4 years to 15.1 years(mean 10.9 years). 2) Systemic manifestations were not observed, but low-grade fever was noted in 5 patients. 3) The involvement of joints was symmetric in 9 patients and asymmetric in 2 patients. 4) The most commonly affected joints were knees and ankles, followed by proximal interphalangeal joints of hand, shoulder, elbow, temporomandibular joint, and other joints. 5) Roentgenographic changes of joints were detected in 6 patients and bone scan in 7 patients showed increased uptake in the involved joints. 6) The main laboratory findings observed were microcytic and hypochromic anemia (64%), thrombocytosis (82%), elevated eryhtrocyte sedimentation rate (100%), positive or increased C-reactive protein(100%), positive rheumatoid factor(RF) (18%), positive antinuclear antibody(ANA) (27%). RF was positive in 2 girls with later age of onset and the pattern of immunofluorescent ANA were all homogeneous. 7) Nonsteroid antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were used most frequently and steroid with or without sulfasalazine was tried in 4 patients unresponsive to NSAIDs. 8) At last follow-up, 6 cases(55%) were classified as functional class I, 4 cases(36%) as class II, and 1 case(9%) as class III. CONCLUSION: These data showed the clinical manifestations and laboratory findings of polyarticularonset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in Korean children.
Age of Onset ; Anemia, Hypochromic ; Ankle ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Arthritis, Juvenile* ; Child ; Elbow ; Female ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Male ; Pediatrics ; Seoul ; Shoulder ; Sulfasalazine ; Temporomandibular Joint ; Thrombocytosis

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the incidence of obesity increased in Koreans. The main cause suggested is the diet style of Korean changed to that of Western. It has been proved that obesity is a risk factor or an aggravating factor of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, etc. Primary physician has been interested in the correlation of blood pressure with relative body weight and aging. The purpose of this study was to focus on the influence of age and relative body weight on blood pressure. METHODS: Subjects were collected from 2,068 adults who had received Adult Health Examination. That subjects were divided according to age, relative body weight and then the relation of blood pressure with age according to relative body weight and relation with relative body weight according to age were investigated. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure increased significantly according to age in all male and female three weight groups and then increased significantly according to relative body weight in all male and female three age groups except male seventh decade group. Diastolic blood pressure increased significantly according to age in all male and female three weight groups except male obesity group and then increased significantly according to the relative body weight in all male and female three age groups except male and female seventh decade groups. Systolic blood pressure has higher correlation with age than relative body weight and diastolic blood pressure has higher correlation with relative body weight in male. In female, systolic and diastolic blood pressure have higher correlations with age. CONCLUSIONS: It can be suggested that blood pressure increase significantly according to aging process and relative body weight. These two factors have a little different effects to systolic and diastolic blood pressure according to sex. Relative body weight has more effect to diastolic blood pressure than systolic blood pressure in male.
Adult ; Aging ; Blood Pressure* ; Body Weight ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Male ; Obesity* ; Risk Factors

Cutaneous leiomyoma is a benign tnmor originating from smooth muscle fibers which are derived from arrector pili muscle, media of blood vessels and dartoic muscle of scrotum, vulvar, or nipple. It is classified into 3 types according to the site of origin, namely pilar leiomyoma, angioleiomyoma and genital leiomyoma. Leiomyoma of the nipple is the less kquent type of cutaneous leiomyoma. We report a case of cutaneous leiomyoma on the nipple in a 53-year-old man.
Angiomyoma ; Blood Vessels ; Humans ; Leiomyoma* ; Male* ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Smooth ; Nipples* ; Scrotum

We herein report a case of occupational contact urticaria syndrome induced by cefotiam di-hydrochloride in a nurse. She had generalized pruritic wheals accompanied by palpitations and tachypnea during the preparation of cefotiam solution. A scratch patch test with cefotiam di-hydrochloride, a major component of cefotiam ingredient showed multiple erythema and wheals within 5 minutes, accompanied by palpitations and tachypnea. No delayed type reaction was observed. Based on her clinical history and scratch test result, we diagnosed her condition as contact urticaria syndrome caused by cefotiam.
Cefotiam* ; Erythema ; Patch Tests ; Tachypnea ; Urticaria*

Astrovirus is frequently associated with diarrhea in children. It can not be readily isolated by cell culture, and an electronmicroscope is usually used for detection of this agent. Recently in 1995 a combined method of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was designed for easier detection of astrovirus, which is based on the conserved sequence in 3'-end of genomes of the 7 known serotypes of human astrovirus. As of yet there has not been any report of astrovirus data in Korea using the RT-PCR methods. The purpose of this study was to detect astrovirus incidence, severity of symptoms, seasonal variation and coinfection rate with rotavirus in Korean children inpatients with diarrhea. Fecal specimens from 61 young children hospitalized with gasteroenteritis Korea from Jan. 1996 through Mar. 1997. They were examined for astroviurs infection by RT-PCR method. Results are as follows: 1. Astrovirus was detected at 9.8% (6/61) from fecal specimens of children with severe diarrhea by EIA using monoclonal antibody coated plates. 2. Astorvirus was detected at 29.5% (18/61) from fecal specimens of children with severe diarrhea by RT-PCR. 3. The age of the 18 children affected by astrovirus ranged from 2 monthes to 7 years with mean of 3.0 years. 4. Mean hospital stay of the 1S children was 6.1 days. 5. Five (27.8%) astrovirus RT-PCR positive strains were confirmed in November and in December, respectively out of 18 specimens in total. 6. Astrovirus coinfection with rotavirus type G1 was confirmed in 15/16 specimens (93.8%), and with type G2 was in 1/16 specimens (6.3%).
Cell Culture Techniques ; Child* ; Coinfection ; Conserved Sequence ; Diarrhea ; Feces* ; Genome ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inpatients ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Mamastrovirus ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Reverse Transcription* ; Rotavirus ; Seasons

Two strains of vancomycin-resistant Leuconostoc species were isolated from blood cultures in two compromised patients. The isolates produced gas from Lactobacillus MRS booth, hydrolysed esculin, and produced no ammonia from arginine, thus fulfilling the major criteria as Leucorostoc spp. We recommend that clinical laboratories should perform susceptibility test to vancomycin for clinical isolates (especially from cerebrospinal fluid and blood) which resemble streptococci so as not to confuse Leuconostoc spp. with more commonly isolated pathogens such as streptococci.
Ammonia ; Arginine ; Bacteremia* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Esculin ; Humans ; Lactobacillus ; Leuconostoc* ; Vancomycin

No abstract available.
Accidents, Traffic*