BACKGROUND: Cleanroom air is extremely dry, as it is maintained within 1 % of relative humidity. Few studies have assessed the dermatologic life quality of workers in ultralow-humidity environments. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the dermatologic life quality of cleanroom workers using the Skindex-29, compared to those of non-cleanroom workers. METHODS: Study participants were 501 cleanroom workers and 157 non-cleanroom workers from a secondary battery factory, who underwent an employee health examination at a single university hospital from September 2014 to September 2015. Results of the self-administered Skindex-29, and McMonnies questionnaire were analyzed. Other information and disease history were also collected during physician's medical examination. Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: The Skindex-29 score was significantly higher in cleanroom workers than in non-cleanroom workers for all domains, Symptom (16.0 ± 15.9 vs. 6.3 ± 10.2, p < 0.001), Emotion (11.3 ± 17.4 vs. 2.5 ± 7.4, p < 0.001), Function (5.2 ± 11.1 vs. 1.6 ± 4.0, p < 0.001), and Overall (10.8 ± 13.4 vs. 3.5 ± 6.2, p < 0.001). The Skindex-29 score of cleanroom workers was similar to that of patients with skin diseases such as psoriasis, other dermatitis, corns, alopecia etc. Among the cleanroom workers, 37 workers had one or more skin diseases. Among the risk factors, ‘working at cleanroom’, ‘possessing skin disease’ and ‘McMonnies score’ had significant strong correlations with Skindex-29 score, meanwhile age, sex, smoking, drinking and exercise had weak correlations with it.‘Working at cleanroom’ and ‘possessing skin disease’ had highest odds ratios with overall 14.0 (C.I.: 5.9–33.1) and 13.4 (C.I.: 4.5–29.2), and the lowest odds ratios with function domain 3.5(C.I.: 1.7–7.1) and 4.5(C.I.: 2.1–9.5), respectively. The McMonnies score had the highest odds ratio with overall, 6.9(C.I.: 4.5–10.8) and lowest odd ratio with emotion domain 4.2 (C.I.: 2.7–6.4). CONCLUSIONS: Dermatologic life quality among cleanroom workers in the secondary battery factory is shown to be lower than that among non-cleanroom workers in this study. The study suggests that the Skindex-29 may provide helpful information on the dermatologic life quality of cleanroom workers. Therefore, regarding evaluation of dermatologic life quality using Skindex-29, preventive care is necessary for cleanroom workers in ultralow humidity environment.
Alopecia ; Callosities ; Dermatitis ; Drinking ; Humans ; Humidity ; Logistic Models ; Occupational Health ; Odds Ratio ; Psoriasis ; Quality of Life* ; Risk Factors ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Zea mays

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical and radiographic results of symptomatic bunionette treated with a diaphyseal oblique osteotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 12 feet of nine patients diagnosed as symptomatic bunionette and treated with diaphyseal oblique osteotomy. All patients were female and the average age at the time of surgery was 48 years. We checked the foot standing anteroposterior, oblique, and lateral images pre- and post-operatively. We measured the fourth intermetatarsal angle and fifth metatarsophalangeal angle and evaluated the clinical results using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) lesser metatarsophalangeal-interphalangeal (MTP-IP) scale preoperatively and six months postoperatively. RESULTS: Of the nine patients, hallux valgus was combined with symptomatic bunionette in seven feet of five patients. In all of our cases, the average AOFAS lesser MTP-IP scale showed improvement after surgery. Painful callosity around the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint disappeared after surgery in all of our cases. The fourth intermetatarsal angle improved from 12.7degrees to 3.1degrees and the fifth metatarsophalangeal angle improved from 16.6degrees to 2.3degrees. CONCLUSION: Diaphyseal oblique osteotomy of the fifth metatarsal appears to be a safe and satisfactory surgical procedure for treatment of symptomatic bunionette.
Ankle ; Bunion, Tailor's* ; Callosities ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Female ; Foot ; Hallux Valgus ; Humans ; Metatarsal Bones ; Metatarsophalangeal Joint ; Osteotomy* ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Eccrine angiomatous hamartoma (EAH) is a rare benign nodular lesion characterized by the proliferation of eccrine and vascular structures, generally capillaries, in the middle and deep dermis. It may be congenital or appear later in childhood, but rarely arises in adulthood. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinicopathologic features of EAH in Korean patients. METHODS: Ten cases of EAH diagnosed at Ajou University Hospital and Gangnam Severance Hospital in Korea from 2007 to 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The age range of patients was between 5 and 66 years with an equal number of male and female patients. Apart from two congenital cases, the onset was late, ranging from 6 months to 65 years of age. All lesions were solitary and located on the distal extremities. Nine cases appeared as a yellow-brown nodule or plaque resembling a callus. Neither hyperhidrosis nor hypertrichosis was documented. Apart from the typical histological findings of EAH, prominent mucin deposition, fat component and nerve infiltration were observed. CONCLUSION: This is one of the largest single case series of EAH in the literature. Clinically, resemblance to callosities and the frequent occurrence in the adulthood were the unique features in our series.
Bony Callus ; Callosities ; Capillaries ; Dermis ; Eccrine Glands ; Extremities ; Female ; Hamartoma ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis ; Hypertrichosis ; Korea ; Male ; Mucins ; Retrospective Studies

The rapid rise in the incidence of obesity has emerged as one of the most pressing global public health issues in recent years. The underlying etiological causes of obesity, whether behavioral, environmental, genetic, or a combination of several of them, have not been completely elucidated. The obesity epidemic has been attributed to the ready availability, abundance, and overconsumption of high-energy content food. We determined here by Pearson's correlation the relationship between food type consumption and rising obesity using the loss-adjusted food availability data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Services (ERS) as well as the obesity prevalence data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Our analysis showed that total calorie intake and consumption of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) did not correlate with rising obesity trends. Intake of other major food types, including chicken, dairy fats, salad and cooking oils, and cheese also did not correlate with obesity trends. However, our results surprisingly revealed that consumption of corn products correlated with rising obesity and was independent of gender and race/ethnicity among population dynamics in the U.S. Therefore, we were able to demonstrate a novel link between the consumption of corn products and rising obesity trends that has not been previously attributed to the obesity epidemic. This correlation coincides with the introduction of bioengineered corns into the human food chain, thus raising a new hypothesis that should be tested in molecular and animal models of obesity.
Aluminum Hydroxide ; Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System ; Callosities ; Carbonates ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Cheese ; Chickens ; Cooking ; Fats ; Food Chain ; Fructose ; Humans ; Incidence ; Models, Animal ; Nutrition Surveys ; Obesity ; Oils ; Population Dynamics ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; United States Department of Agriculture ; Zea mays

BACKGROUND: Epidermal cysts seldom arise on the palm or sole because of the absence of pilosebaceous apparatus in palmoplantar skin. Palmoplantar epidermal cysts (PPECs) are not included in this location's tumor category, because they appear as slightly elevated, hardly movable dermal or subcutaneous nodules without a central punctum, unlike other epidermal cysts. As a result, PPECs often mimic corns, calluses, or verruca. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to review the clinical features of PPECs and to explore the usefulness of ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and ultrasonographic findings of 31 patients with PPECs among 341 patients with a confirmed epidermal cyst. Among them, 12 patients were evaluated preoperatively by ultrasonography. The data were compared between the ultrasonographic diagnosis and the final diagnosis. RESULTS: Unlike previous reports, PPECs were relatively common, and comprised 9.1% (31/341) of all epidermal cysts. They also appeared more on the sole than on the palm. In addition, PPECs were confused with corns, calluses, and other benign tumors at the first visit, because of their different clinical features from ordinary epidermal cysts. However, preoperative ultrasonography of 12 cases enabled us to make a correct diagnosis. After the operation, no recurrence was found at the last follow-up in any of the patients. CONCLUSION: PPECs have some different clinical features compared to typical epidermal cysts with a non- palmoplantar location. Therefore, it is often difficult to distinguish PPECs from other benign tumorous conditions. However, ultrasonography was useful for the preoperative diagnosis of PPECs because of its safety, low cost, non-invasiveness and, most importantly, its accuracy.
Bony Callus ; Callosities ; Epidermal Cyst ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydrazines ; Medical Records ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Warts ; Zea mays

PURPOSE: Painful plantar callosities under the second, third or fourth metatarsal head have been controverted about its treatment mordalities. We performed the vertical chevron osteotomy in patients with painful callosities on the second and third metatarsal head, and evaluated the outcome clinically. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen cases from 10 patients who had plantar keratosis were operated by vertical chevron osteotomy from March 2005 to October 2008. We used K-wire fixation for all cases. We evaluated the clinical results by the patients' satisfaction and disappearance of plantar lesion. RESULTS: The plantar keratosis was completely disappeared in 8 cases and partially in 5 cases. In 2 cases, patients expresses their pain caused by constant metatarsalgia that was suspected to be dorsal incisional pain and joint capsulitis. Transmetatarsalgia was not appeared. CONCLUSION: We consider vertical chevron osteotomy as a good surgical method for treatment of plantar keratosis.
Callosities ; Head ; Humans ; Joints ; Keratosis ; Metatarsal Bones ; Metatarsalgia ; Osteotomy

PURPOSE: Painful plantar callosities under the second, third or fourth metatarsal head have been controverted about its treatment mordalities. We performed the vertical chevron osteotomy in patients with painful callosities on the second and third metatarsal head, and evaluated the outcome clinically. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen cases from 10 patients who had plantar keratosis were operated by vertical chevron osteotomy from March 2005 to October 2008. We used K-wire fixation for all cases. We evaluated the clinical results by the patients' satisfaction and disappearance of plantar lesion. RESULTS: The plantar keratosis was completely disappeared in 8 cases and partially in 5 cases. In 2 cases, patients expresses their pain caused by constant metatarsalgia that was suspected to be dorsal incisional pain and joint capsulitis. Transmetatarsalgia was not appeared. CONCLUSION: We consider vertical chevron osteotomy as a good surgical method for treatment of plantar keratosis.
Callosities ; Head ; Humans ; Joints ; Keratosis ; Metatarsal Bones ; Metatarsalgia ; Osteotomy

In general, the operative treatment of the brachymetatarsia is the lengthening of the affected metatarsal bone due to the cosmetic problem rather than the functional one. We experienced 22 year-old female bilateral congenital foot deformities such as hallux varus and 1,4th brachymetatarsia treated with reverse Scarf osteotomy on the hallux varus and massive axial metatarsal shortening Weil osteotomy on the 2,3,5th metatarsals which could reconstruct the normal metatarsal parabola.
Callosities ; Cosmetics ; Female ; Foot Deformities, Congenital ; Hallux ; Hallux Varus ; Humans ; Metatarsal Bones ; Osteotomy

PURPOSE: The authors intended to evaluate the results of symptomatic bunionette treated with a diaphyseal oblique osteotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine patients were followed for more than 1 year after diaphyseal oblique osteotomy for a bunionette deformity with plantar callosity. The mean age was 43 years (23-69 years), and the mean follow-up period was 27 months (12-70 months). As a combined disorder, 7 patients had hallux valgus, for which 3 distal metatarsal oteotomies, 3 proximal osteotomies, and 1 double osteotomy were performed. Clinically, preoperative and postoperative AOFAS MP-IP scale, patient's satisfaction, postoperative complications were analyzed. Radiologically, the 4th intermetatarsal angle and the 5th metatarso-phalangeal angle were analyzed. RESULTS: Clinically, AOFAS MP-IP scale was increased from 59 points preoperatively to 93 points postoperatively, and all patients were satisfied with the results. The plantar callosity had all disappeared at the final follow up. The 4th intermetatarsal angle was decreased from 12.6degrees preoperatively to 4.3degrees postoperatively, and the 5th metatarso- phalangeal angle was decreased from 21.9degrees preoperatively to 2.4degrees postoperatively. There were no significant postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: Diaphyseal oblique osteotomy of the 5th metatarsal appears to be safe and satisfactory procedure for the treatment of a symptomatic bunionette with plantar callosity.
Bunion, Tailor's ; Callosities ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hallux Valgus ; Humans ; Metatarsal Bones ; Osteotomy ; Postoperative Complications

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical results of acquired claw toe deformities that had been treated with proximal lengthening of the long toe flexor tendons. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen patients with a claw toe deformity due to contracture of the long flexor tendons were treated with proximal lengthening of the long toe flexor tendons from January 1993 to January 2003 and were followed up for at least 1 year. The average age at the time of the operation was 42 years and the average follow-up period was 34 months. Achilles tendon lengthening was also performed in 14 cases with an equinus deformity. At the final follow-up, a residual toe deformity, toe pain during walking, patient's satisfaction, and limitation of the shoe-wear were assessed. RESULTS: At the final follow up, all cases showed a complete correction of a claw toe deformity, and did not have callosity at the toe tip or dorsal aspect of the toes. Toe pain during walking was found in 1 case, and a limitation of the shoe-wear was noted in 6 cases. At the final evaluation, 10 cases were graded as excellent, 6 good, and 1 fair. There was no recurrence of the claw toe deformity or limitation of the toe motion. CONCLUSION: Proximal lengthening of the long toe flexor tendons is recommended for treating flexible claw toe deformities. The procedure produced excellent results regarding the deformity correction and pain relief.
Achilles Tendon ; Animals ; Callosities ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Contracture ; Equinus Deformity ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hammer Toe Syndrome* ; Hoof and Claw* ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Tendons* ; Toes ; Walking