The retinoid Ro 1Q-9359 (Etretinate) is a synthetic derivative of vitamin A acid. It is potent and specific dermatotherapeutic drug used in various keratinizing disorders. Etretinate is today one of the best single oral treatment of severe psoriasis, particuhrly pustular psoriasis and psoriatic erythroderma. We present a case of generalized pustular psoriasis in 12-year-old male which was treated successfully with etretinate. The laboratory examinations revealed no aberrations which could be attributed to the therapy.
Acitretin ; Child* ; Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; Etretinate ; Humans ; Male ; Psoriasis* ; Tretinoin

The health-promoting qualities of ultraviolet light have been well recognized, but it also induces deleterious effects from sunburn to skin cancer, Since our enviroment exposes us to both ultraviolet and infrared rays at the same time, the latter is considered to influence to some extent the cutaneous effects of the former. In recent years, it has become increasingly apparent that the biologic effects of one type of radiation may be modified by wavelengths of different energies. Interactions of this kind are complex and occasionally result in true synergy or antagonism. Although there are several reports on these interactions, the results are not in accordance. This study was undertaken to investigate the influence of infrared radiation (IR) on ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-induced skin injury, especially minimal erythema dose (MED). Thirty-five healthy medical students participated in this study between May and June, 1983. One side of the back was exposed to IR with UVR while as a control the other side was exposed only to VVR. The results were summarized as follows : 1. In one experiment treated with IR before UVR, the mean MED-S.D. of the treated site was 17 7+5 3 (sec) and that of the control site was 18. 3-+6. 4 (sec)- The increase of the MED was statistically significant. (p<0. 01], paired t-test) Among the fifteen subjects, the MED was increased in 73% (11/15), and the same in 27% (4/15).
Erythema ; Humans ; Infrared Rays ; Skin Neoplasms ; Skin* ; Students, Medical ; Sunburn ; Ultraviolet Rays

BACKGROUND: The Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with human TSH receptor cDNA (hTSHR-CHO), expressing functional human TSH receptors, are known to be more sensitive in detection of thyroid stimulating antibodies than FRTL-5 cells. There has been no report on the usefulness of these cells to measure thyroid stimulation blocking antibody (TSBAb) activity which is frequently found in patients with primary myxedema, METHODS: We established the optimal assay condition of measurement of TSBAb using hTSHR-CHO cells, and simultaneously measured TSBAb activities with FRTL-5 cells and with hTSHR-CHO cells in 49 patients with primary myxedema, compared them with their thyrotropin binding inhibitor immunoglobulin (TBII) activities. RESULTS: 1) hTSHR-CHO cells specifically bound bTSH and were stimulated by bTSH in terms of cyclic AMP generation in a dose dependent manner. 2) Myxedema IgG suppressed TSH-stimulated cAMP production of hTSHR-CHO cells in a dose dependent manner reaching plateau at the concentration of I g/L. Normal pooled IgG has no suppressive action at the concentration of less than 1 g/L, but caused significant suppression at the concentration of greater than 1g/L. 3) TSBAb activities measured by hTSHR-CHO cells in 49 patients with primary myxedema were as follows: Four of 25 TBII-negative cases (16%) and 22 of 24 TBII-positive cases (92%) had TSBAb activities. Most of TSBAb positive patients (95%), especially in TBII positive cases, showed very high activities of more than 90%. 4) TSBAb activities measured by hTSHR-CHO cells and those by FRTL-5 cells were both positive in 24 patients (49%), both negative in 18 patients (37%), and were discrepant in 7 patients (14%). The TSBAb activities measured with hTSHR-CHO cells and those measured with FRTL-5 cells were significantly correlated (r=0.71, p< 0.01). 5) Forty five percent of patients with primary myxedema had all of 3 kinds of activities (TBII, hTSHR-CHO cell TSBAb, FRTL-5 cell TSBAb), 37% of them had none of 3 activities and 18% of them had 1 or 2 kinds of activities only. CONCLUSION: The usefulness of hTSHR-CHO cells in measurements of TSBAb activities were confirmed. The TSBAb activities of most patients with primary myxedema measured by hTSHR-CHO cells were concordant with those measured by FRTL-5 cells. However, a small subset of patients (18%) had discrepant results in assays of TSH receptor antibodies according to the differences in TSH receptors (rat, human and porcine) used in assay. Such discrepancy may be explained by heterogeneity in epitopes for blocking TSH receptor antibodies.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus* ; Cyclic AMP ; DNA, Complementary ; Epitopes ; Female ; Humans ; Humans* ; Hypothyroidism* ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins ; Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating ; Myxedema ; Ovary* ; Population Characteristics ; Receptors, Thyrotropin* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyrotropin

PURPOSE: To evaluate abnormal neurosonographic (NSG) findings of thalami and basal ganglia in full term babies with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and to correlate the findings with follow-up studies and prognosis. METHODS: We evaluated 13 full term babies with abnormal NSG findings of thalarni and basal ganglia. NSG was performed within 7 days after clinical abnormalities. Follow-up NSG was done in 11 cases; CT scan in 4 and MRI in 7. We classified NSG findings as diffuse, unilateral, and focal types according to increased echogenicity and evaluated prognosis based on follow-up studies and neurological sequelae. RESULTS: Nine cases of diffuse type had diffuse echogenic changes of bilateral thalami and basal ganglia, slit-like lateral ventricles suggesting cerebral edema, and increased parenchymal echogenicity. In diffuse type, follow-up studies showed more prominent echogencities and ventricular dilatations and cerebromalacia. One case of unilateral type caused by thromboembolism had unilateral echogenicity of right thalamus and basal ganglia with increased echogenicity of the ipsilateral cerebral hemisphere and compression of the lateral ventricle, suggesting cerebral infarction. Follow-up study showed unilateral cystic cerebromalacia. Three cases of focal type had a localized echogenic area in thalamus with lacunar infarction, which decreased in size during follow-up. Among nine cases of diffuse type, one died within 2 days, two were discharged against medical advice, and six had severe neurologic sequelae. One case of unilateral type had a moderate degree of neurologic sequelae. All 3 cases of focal type had normal development. CONCLUSION: Pattems of abnormal echogenicity in thalami and basal ganglia in fullterm infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy are correlated with the outcome and may be helpful for treatment planning.
Basal Ganglia* ; Brain ; Brain Edema ; Brain Ischemia* ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cerebrum ; Dilatation ; Encephalomalacia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; Infant* ; Lateral Ventricles ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prognosis* ; Stroke, Lacunar ; Thalamus* ; Thromboembolism ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

We report a case of digital mucous cyst with longitudinal groovings of the nail distal to the cyst which was treated by multiple puncture method described by other authors. The digital mucous cyst was cured without any sequelae and no recurrence has developed within 2 years. Also the nail groovings returned to normal.
Punctures* ; Recurrence

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 is an autosomal dominant disease caused by the MEN1 germline mutation. A 25-year-old male was admitted for loss of consciousness. Initial laboratory data showed hypoglycemia and hypercalcemia. The image study showed two insulinoma in the pancreas head and body. MIBI scan was positive in the left lower parathyroid gland. After diagnosis of insulinoma and hyperparathyroidism, MEN1 was suspected, but there was no family history of endocrine disease. Enucleation of the insulinoma in the pancreatic head and body was performed. After the operation, the blood sugar level was normalized and no hypoglycemic symptoms were observed. Testing of germline mutations of the MEN1 gene was performed by direct DNA sequence analysis after obtaining informed consent. In the genetic study, a frameshift mutation was found in exon 2 which deleted 16 nucleic acids (c.326_341del16) and resulted in a truncation at codon 113. This mutation was not reported previously. We found a novel and de novo mutation of the MEN1 gene. Genetic study is necessary in case of young-age, multiple endocrine tumors.
Adult ; Blood Glucose ; Codon ; Diagnosis ; Endocrine System Diseases ; Exons ; Frameshift Mutation ; Germ-Line Mutation* ; Head ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Hyperparathyroidism* ; Hypoglycemia ; Informed Consent ; Insulinoma* ; Male ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1* ; Nucleic Acids ; Pancreas ; Parathyroid Glands ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Unconsciousness

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

Ingested foreign bodies are common occurrences in the pediatric population. From October 2002 to April 2006, eight patients (6 male, mean age: 30.9+/-14.4 months, range: 7~45 months) who had ingested metallic foreign bodies, such as bar magnets, coin-type magnets, screws, metal beads, and disk batteries, were selected for foreign body removal using a magnetic device under floroscopic control. A 1-cm-long cylindrical magnet (6mm in diameter) was placed at the end of a 150-cm-long plastic tube from an IV set. The magnet was passed through the mouth into the stomach. Under fluoroscopic control, the magnet was maneuvered so that it attached to the metallic foreign bodies. The forgeign body was then easily removed by retracting the magnet with the metallic object attached. This procedure was successful in six patients of 8 patients. This procedure is a minimally-invasive and may avoid the use of anesthesics, endoscopy or surgery.
Endoscopy ; Fluoroscopy ; Foreign Bodies* ; Humans ; Male ; Mouth ; Plastics ; Stomach

We quantitatively analyzed the changes of the (retinal) threshold sensitivities between normal status and dilated emmetropic status, and between dilated emmetropic status and -1.0D induced myopic status. Three consecutive visual field examinations by Humphrey Field Analyzer C-30-2 threshold test and STATPAC program were performed in 36 eyes of 21 normal subjects who ranged in age from 23 to 40 years. The results were as follows: 1) There was a statistically significant decrease (0.87 +/- 0.91dB)in the mean threshold sensitivity within the central 30 degrees at the dilated emmetropic status (27.90dB) as compared with the normal status (28.77dB)(p = 0.0001). 2) There was a statistically significant decrease(0.99 +/- 0.61dB) at -1.0D induced myopic status(26.91dB) as compared with the dilated emmetropic status(27.90dB)(p = 0.0001). 3) After dilation, the mean threshold sensitivity between 20 and 30 degrees of field showed statistically significant decrease as compared with those within the central 20 degrees of visual field(p < 0.05). In case of -1.0D induced myopia, there were uniform decreases in the mean threshold sensitivities within the central 30 degrees of visual field (p > 0.05). Therefore, we emphasize the importance of consistent pupillary size and correct refractive state in performing the serial automated visual field tests.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Myopia/etiology/*physiopathology ; Pupil/drug effects ; Pupil Disorders/chemically induced/*physiopathology ; Retina/physiology ; Sensory Thresholds/*physiology ; Tropicamide/pharmacology ; Visual Field Tests ; Visual Fields/*physiology

Lymphomatoid papulosis is a disease; clinically benign, histologically malignant. Clinically, it may sirnulate pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta, but histologically it suggest malignant lympboma due to the presence of polymorphous lymphoid infiltrate consisting of sma11 lymphocytes intermingled with conspicuous large atypical cells. Recently, many autbors consider lymphornatoid papulcsis as a Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and malignancy has been reported to develop in some patients. We experienced a case of lyrnphomatoid papulosis in 26-year-old woman and treated with PUVA successfully. PUVA treatment may be proven useful in controlling this disease and it rnay also inhibit the development of malignancy.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous ; Lymphomatoid Papulosis* ; Pityriasis Lichenoides