BACKGROUND: We aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the Alere Triage Cardio3 Tropinin I (TnI) assay (Alere, Inc., USA) and the PathFast cTnI-II (Mitsubishi Chemical Medience Corporation, Japan) against the central laboratory assay Singulex Erenna TnI assay (Singulex, USA). METHODS: Using the Markers in the Diagnosis of Acute Coronary Syndromes (MIDAS) study population, we evaluated the ability of three different assays to identify patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The MIDAS dataset, described elsewhere, is a prospective multicenter dataset of emergency department (ED) patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and a planned objective myocardial perfusion evaluation. Myocardial infarction (MI) was diagnosed by central adjudication. RESULTS: The C-statistic with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for diagnosing MI by using a common population (n=241) was 0.95 (0.91-0.99), 0.95 (0.91-0.99), and 0.93 (0.89-0.97) for the Triage, Singulex, and PathFast assays, respectively. Of samples with detectable troponin, the absolute values had high Pearson (R(P)) and Spearman (R(S)) correlations and were R(P)=0.94 and R(S)=0.94 for Triage vs Singulex, R(P)=0.93 and R(S)=0.85 for Triage vs PathFast, and R(P)=0.89 and R(S)=0.73 for PathFast vs Singulex. CONCLUSIONS: In a single comparative population of ED patients with suspected ACS, the Triage Cardio3 TnI, PathFast, and Singulex TnI assays provided similar diagnostic performance for MI.
Acute Coronary Syndrome/*diagnosis ; Biomarkers/analysis ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Laboratories/standards ; Myocardial Infarction/diagnosis ; *Point-of-Care Systems ; Prospective Studies ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Troponin I/*analysis

No abstract available.
Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis* ; Parvovirus*

No abstract available.
Bowen's Disease ; Fingers

We investigated the major trends in health aid financing in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) by identifying the primary donor organizations and examining several data sources to track overall health aid trends. We collected gross disbursements from bilateral donor countries and international organizations toward the DPRK according to specific health sectors by using the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development creditor reporting system database and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs financial tracking service database. We analyzed sources of health aid to the DPRK from the Republic of Korea (ROK) using the official records from the ROK's Ministry of Unification. We identified the ROK, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) as the major donor entities not only according to their level of health aid expenditures but also their growing roles within the health sector of the DPRK. We found that health aid from the ROK is comprised of funding from the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund, private organizations, local governments, and South Korean branches of international organizations such as WHO and UNICEF. We also distinguished medical equipment aid from developmental aid to show that the majority of health aid from the ROK was developmental aid. This study highlights the valuable role of the ROK in the flow of health aid to the DPRK, especially in light of the DPRK's precarious international status. Although global health aid from many international organizations has decreased, organizations such as GFATM and UNFPA continue to maintain their focus on reproductive health and infectious diseases.
Databases, Factual ; Democratic People's Republic of Korea ; Electrical Equipment and Supplies/economics/statistics & numerical data ; Financial Management/*economics/trends ; Health Expenditures/statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; United Nations ; World Health Organization

Congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) are benign pigmented lesions that are defined as a tissue malformation of the neuroectoderm. Giant melanocytic nevi with multifocal involvement show significantly greater risk of developing malignant melanomas and neurocutaneous melanocytosis, particularly those in a posterior axial location. Neurocutaneous melanosis is a rare, congenital, non-inherited disorder characterized by the presence of large, multiple congenital melanocytic nevi with proliferation of melanocytes in the central nervous system. Asymptomatic neurocutaneous melanosis can be detectable only by MRI. The patients who have clinical manifestations have an extremely poor prognosis. We present a patient with giant congenital melanocytic nevi involving a major portion of the back with multiple satellite nevi scattered over the whole body associated with asymptomatic neurocutaneous melanosis. We emphasize the importance of imaging study for detection of early neurological symptoms or melanomas. To our knowledge, this is the first case of giant congenital melanocytic nevi associated with asymptomatic neurocutaneous melanosis in Korean dermatologic literatures.
Central Nervous System ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma ; Melanosis ; Neural Plate ; Neurocutaneous Syndromes ; Nevus ; Nevus, Pigmented ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVES: Despite increasing availability of global positioning system (GPS), no research has been conducted to analyze GPS data for exposure opportunities associated with time at indoor and outdoor microenvironments. We developed location-based and time-weighted spatial measures that incorporate indoor and outdoor time-location data collected by GPS. METHODS: Time-location data were drawn from 38 female subjects in California who wore a GPS device for seven days. Ambient standard deviational ellipse was determined based on outdoor locations and time duration, while indoor time weighted standard deviational ellipse (SDE) was developed to incorporate indoor and outdoor times and locations data into the ellipse measure. RESULTS: Our findings indicated that there was considerable difference in the sizes of exposure potential measures when indoor time was taken into consideration, and that they were associated with day type (weekday/weekend) and employment status. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that time-location weighted measure may provide better accuracy in assessing exposure opportunities at different microenvironments. The use of GPS likely improves the geographical details and accuracy of time-location data, and further development of such location-time weighted spatial measure is encouraged.
California ; Employment ; Female ; Geographic Information Systems* ; Humans

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a multicentric proliferative vascular tumor involving the skin and other organs. Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) has been detected in KS lesions and is considered the putative causative agent of KS. The relationship between chronic renal failure, HHV-8, and KS is not clear. KS appears to develop in association with renal transplantation, but is unlikely with dialysis, and there have been few reports on this. Here, we report the case of a 51-year-old man, who underwent peritoneal dialysis to treat chronic renal failure, and presented with multiple brownish plaques on his soles. On histopathological examination, abnormally proliferated vessels, vascular slits, and spindle-shaped cells were seen in the dermis. Immunohistochemical staining for HHV-8 was positive. This case is another example in which factors other than immunosuppression contributed to the development of KS, due to activation of HHV-8.
Dermis ; Dialysis* ; Herpesvirus 8, Human ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Kidney Transplantation ; Middle Aged ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Sarcoma, Kaposi* ; Skin

Piloleiomyoma is a benign neoplasm arising from the erector pili muscle in the skin. It occurs as linear or dermatomal arrangements of firm, red to brown intradermal nodules, which are fixed to the skin but not to the deeper tissues. Although various treatments have been attempted, they have shown limited success and several complications remain. A 21-year-old male presented with 3-year history of multiple, erythematous, firm 4 mm to 3 cm sized nodules on the chest. The histopathological examination was compatible with piloleiomyoma. The lesions were removed using the dermal shaving method with a suction-assisted cartilage shaver. Each lesion were markedly flattened. This treatment was quicker and caused less subjective pain to the patient compared with those of classic surgical excision. No signs of adverse events or recurrence have been observed.
Cartilage ; Humans ; Male ; Muscles ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Thorax ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Nadifloxacin is a synthetic fluoroquinolone with a broad spectrum. It has been suggested to not only have antibacterial, but also anti-inflammatory actions. In addition, it is effective against antibiotic-resistant Propionibacterium acne. Upon review of the literature, however, no studies have been performed concerning the efficacy and safety in terms of irritation potential and skin barrier changes after applying nadifloxacin. OBJECTIVE: This study intended to evaluate the skin irritation and changes of the skin barrier function associated with the administration of nadifloxacin 1% cream for the treatment of acne vulgaris. Furthermore, the efficacy and safety of nadifloxacin 1% cream were also assessed. METHODS: The changes in the lesion counts, Korean Acne Grading System (KAGS) and adverse events were recorded. The biophysical profiles of the skin, including transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin surface hydration and redness were measured by Tewameter(R), Corneometer(R) and Mexameter(R) for 3 weeks. RESULTS: At the end of the therapy, 69% of inflammatory lesions (p<0.0001) and 27% of noninflammatory lesions (p=0.26) resulting from acne were decreased from the baseline. Adverse events were reported in two patients, but they were transient and tolerable. The skin barrier function showed no changes during the treatment periods. CONCLUSION: Nadifloxacin 1% cream is effective for the treatment of acne vulgaris without the changes of skin barrier function.
Acne Vulgaris ; Fluoroquinolones ; Humans ; Propionibacterium ; Quinolizines ; Skin

Acute localized exanthematous pustulosis (ALEP) is a localized variant of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, which is characterized by the eruption of multiple scattered pustules following drug administration. A 26-year-old woman presented with multiple erythematous pustules on her face, which had appeared three days after taking antibiotics. Histopathological findings showed subcorneal pustules and mixed inflammatory cell infiltration in the dermis. The pustules were resolved within 2 weeks after the patient discontinued the antibiotics. Herein, we present a case of a woman with a cutaneous drug reaction consistent with ALEP that occurred subsequent to administration of antibiotics.
Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Dermis ; Female ; Humans