Lentigo maligna (LM) is a subtype of melanoma in situ that may become lentigo maligna melanoma. LM is a pigmented lesion that most commonly occurs on sun-exposed skin inthe elderly. Intense exposure to ultraviolet light also accounts for nonmelanotic skin tumors, and particularly basal cell carcinoma (BCC). We herein report on a case of LM and BCC on the right face of a 76-year-old woman. She presented with a longstanding irregular-shaped brown to black pigmented patch on the right infra-orbital area, and a pigmented dome-shaped papule on the right nasolabial fold. The histopathologic findings were consistent with LM and BCC. We performed surgical excisions and there has been no recurrence for 10 months.
Aged ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Female ; Humans ; Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle ; Lentigo ; Melanoma ; Nasolabial Fold ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Ultraviolet Rays

Fibroma of the tendon sheath is a benign soft tissue tumor and this mostly occurs in the distal portion of an extremity. The tumor usually appears as a slow-growing, firm, painless, small nodule in association with tendons and tendon sheaths. Histopathologically, it shows a well-demarcated nodule that consists of haphazardly-arranged, fibroblast-like spindle cells that are embedded in a dense collagenous matrix. A 52-year-old woman presented with a tender, solitary, 2.5x2.0 cm-sized, subcutaneous nodule on the right elbow. The skin biopsy specimen showed that the well-circumscribed tumor contained densely-arranged collagen areas with spindle cells and slit-like vascular channels. We herein report on a rare case of fibroma of a tendon sheath on the right elbow.
Biopsy ; Collagen ; Elbow ; Extremities ; Female ; Fibroma ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Skin ; Tendons

Esophageal and duodenal tuberculosis are rare form of gastrointestinal tuberculosis. The common complications due to esophageal and duodenal tuberculosis are fistulous communications with the adjacent structures, perforation, obstruction, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Massive bleeding in esophageal and duodenal tuberculosis is quite rare. We encountered a case of a 55-year-old male who presented with hematemesis and melena. Esophageal and Duodenal tuberculosis with a duodenal fistula was diagnosed by an endoscopic and radiology examination. He improved after treatment with anti-tuberculosis medication over a 9 month period. We report this case of esophageal and duodenal tuberculosis associated with pulmonary tuberculosis with a review of the relevant literature.
Duodenum* ; Esophagus* ; Fistula ; Hematemesis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Melena ; Middle Aged ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to examine whether conventional primary closure of the bile duct without routinely inserting a T-tube could be performed after all the surgeries used to treat choldocholithiasis. METHODS: From April 2002 to July 2005, we retrospectively analyzed 125 bile duct stone disease patients who underwent primary closure of the bile duct. RESULTS: Wound infection was the most frequent surgical complications, and it showed a higher trend in the patients who had a history of previous biliary operation, and it showed a trend to be slightly higher in the recurrent biliary stone cases than that in the de novo cases. However, these findings were not statistically significant. In addition, surgical complications developed in 16 of 100 patients who were older that 60 years, whereas there was only 1 of 25 patients who developed complications for the patients younger than 60 years. The development of complications has a tendency to be higher for the older patients, yet the level was not statistically significant. In regard to postsurgical hyperamylasemia, although a statistically significant difference could not be detected, this malady developed in 3 of 12 cases in whom endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) tubes were inserted. This showed a trend to be higher than that for 13 cases of 113 patients for whom endoscopic nasobiliary drainage tubes were not inserted. Concerning the postsurgical hospitalization period, it was significantly longer in the cases who developed complications (p=0.018), and there was a tendency for a prolonged hospitalization period for the patients who were older than 60 years, for women, recurrent cases and the cases with a history of the bile duct surgery. Yet these had no statistical significance CONCLUSION: It appears that the primary closure of bile duct is a technique that could be performed safely for all choledocolithotomy patients , and this is regardless of the size of bile duct diameter, history of surgery on the bile duct system, gender, emergency operation, age, recurrent biliary stones, the presence of presurgical nasobiliary drainage tube and the presence of concomitant diseases.
Bile Ducts* ; Bile* ; Choledocholithiasis ; Drainage ; Emergencies ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hyperamylasemia ; Length of Stay ; Retrospective Studies ; Wound Infection

Acinetobacter baumannii is the most abundunt species of the Acinetobacter genus. The incidence of bacteremia caused by Acinetobacter baumannii among bloodstream infection has been increasing since 1986, when the taxonomy of the genus was first described. The mortality rate of bacteremia due to Acinetobacter baumannii is high, with reported ranging from 17 to 52%. We report a case of septic shock due to Acinetobacter baumannii in a 54-year-old man who underwent subtotal gastrectomy, with Billroth II reconstruction, for stomach cancer.
Acinetobacter baumannii* ; Acinetobacter* ; Bacteremia ; Classification ; Gastrectomy ; Gastroenterostomy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Shock, Septic* ; Stomach Neoplasms

A case of simultaneous bilateral tubal pregnancy following in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer is presented. On the 22 days after ET, the patient complained of low abdominal pain and vaginal spotting for one day and was suspected of left tubal pregnancy by transvaginal ultrasonography. However, laparoscopy revealed the bilateral tubal pregnancy and laparoscopic bilateral salpingectomy was performed. This unusual type of ectopic pregnancy must be kept in mind when evaluating a patient suspected of a possible early abnormal gestation after assisted reproductive technologies. It is critical to perform a close inspection of the abdomen, pelvis, and contralateral tube during surgery.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Pain ; Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Fertilization* ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Metrorrhagia ; Pelvis ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Pregnancy, Tubal* ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Salpingectomy ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Punch biopsy has been used frequently as a diagnostic method in dermatologic field. However dermatologist administrated antibiotics is routine for the prevention of wound infection. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics in punch biopsy. METHODS: Four hundred and one patients undergoing punch biopsy were studied prospectively. Patients were randomly split in to two groups: group I received prophylactic antibiotics after punch biopsy (197 patients), group II didn't receive any antibiotic after punch biopsy (204 patients). Wound infection was defined as a condition of erythema, edema, and pain or purulent discharge. RESULTS: Patients demographics and skin disease were similar between two groups. Biopsy site were infected in 3 patients of group I and 5 patients of groups II. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bacteroides fragilis were isolated from the infected biopsy site. There was no significant difference of infection rate between two groups. CONCLUSION: This result suggests that the routine use of prophylactic antibiotics after skin punch biopsy is unnecessary.
Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; Bacteroides fragilis ; Biopsy* ; Demography ; Edema ; Erythema ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Staphylococcus epidermidis ; Wound Infection

Acrodermatitis enteropathica is a rare autosomal recessive disorder affecting early infancy. This syndrome is characterized by acral and periorificial dermatitis, alopecia and intractable diarrhea. Whereas hereditary acrodermatitis enteropathica is caused by mutation affecting intestinal zinc absorption, transient acrodermatitis enteropathica is caused by inadequate supply or malabsorption of zinc in the premature infant. We report a case of transient acrodermatitis enteropathica in a 5-month-old, breast-fed premature infant.
Absorption ; Acrodermatitis* ; Alopecia ; Dermatitis ; Diarrhea ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Zinc

BACKGROUND: Nettles, of the plant family Urticae, cause nonimmunologic contact urticaria by stinging hairs. Light application of the leaf or stem to the skin results in the rapid development of a short-lived stinging sensation accompanied by wheal formation and itching. The types of chemical mediators causing the stinging sensation and wheal have not yet been clarified. OBJECTIVE: To investigate stinging and urticating substances causing contact urticaria when the skin is in contact with nettle(Urtica thunbergiana). METHODS: Twenty two volunteers were used for the clinical portion of this investigation. The time to wheal development and the evanescent time of pain and wheal were measured after pricking the forearm skin with nettle trichomes, following the administration of antihistamine, antiserotonin or corticosteroid, respectively or a combination of two, either with or without the application of substance P antagonist(capsaicin cream, 0.025%). Nettle extracts were prepared from dry stems and leaves of Urtica thunbergiana. Histamine, serotonin and substance P(SP) contents of nettle extracts were measured by gas chromatographic mass spectroscopy. RESULTS: After puncture of the skin by trichome of nettle, a stinging sensation developed within a few seconds but disappeared faster at the site where capsaicin cream had been applied than at the nonapplied skin site(p<0.05). The development and evanescent time of wheal were not significantly correlated with the application of capsaicin cream. The evanescent time of pain after pricking the skin with trichome following the administration of antiserotonin was significantly shortened at the nonapplied skin site. Pain disappeared more rapidly at the capsaicin applied site following the administration of antihistamine or antiserotonin than at the nonapplied sites(p<0.05), but not following prednisolone administration. Wheal development was delayed significantly at both the capsaicin applied and nonapplied sites after antihistamine administration(p<0.05). Histamine was detected only in the nettle extract. SP and serotonin were not detected because of their insolubility in solvents. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that wheal-and-flare reaction to nettle stings is due primarily to the histamine and partly to the serotonin and SP introduced by the nettle. SP may be mainly involved and partially involved by serotonin in stinging pain.
Bites and Stings ; Capsaicin ; Forearm ; Hair ; Histamine ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry ; Plants ; Prednisolone ; Pruritus ; Punctures ; Sensation ; Serotonin ; Skin ; Solvents ; Substance P ; Trichomes ; Urticaria* ; Volunteers

BACKGROUND: Vibrio(V.) vulnificus is a halophilic, gram-negative bacillus that causes a fatal sepsis in patients with underlying chronic disease such as liver cirrhosis and alcoholic abuse. Because V. vulnificus infection has a fulminant course and high mortality rate, early recognition and rapid diagnosis with prompt therapy are necessary to improve survival rate. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop a new selective medium for rapid identification of V. vulnificus through color change of medium according to pH from patients suspected of having V. vulnificus sepsis. METHODS: Rapid isolation and identification of V. vulnificus can be possible by modifying the component of PNC(5% peptone, 1% NaCl, and 0.08% cellobiose [pH 8.0]) broth medium. From this PNC broth, a basal broth(5% peptone+1% NaCl+cellobiose) was prepared and used to evaluate additional medium supplements(cellobiose concentration [0.08, 0.2, 0.1%], pH [6.8, 7.5, 8.0] and pH indicator dye [bromthymol blue, thymol blue, phenol red, bromcresol purple, crystal violet, cresol red, and neutral red]). To examine the rapid identification and selectivity of this basal medium according to various conditions, V. vulnificus was tested by using saline and normal human blood containing these bacteria(1, 000 bacteria/ml), respectively at 37degrees C. A positive reaction(V. vulnificus growth) appeared as color change. The selectivity and identification capacity of this new broth was tested by using other 6 Vibrio species and 14 strains of other bacteria. RESULTS: Color change appeared only in the medium including bromthymol blue and thymol blue as a pH indicator dye. It was called the basal medium containing blue dyes as PNCB(peptone, NaCl, cellobiose and blue dye) medium. It took an average time of 4.8hr for becoming aware of yellow color change in PNCB broth after cultivating with saline mixed with V. vulnificus and 6hr in PNCB broth after cultivating with blood mixed with V. vulnificus. One Vibrio species and another 3 bacteria produced color change. So we confirmed that the final composition and pH of PNCB broth medium was 5% peptone, 1% NaCl, 0.2% cellobiose, 0.0004% bromthymol blue and 0.0004% thymol blue [pH 7.5] CONCLUSIONS: PNCB broth could be used as a selective and differential medium for rapid isolation and identification of V. vulnificus in patients with V. vulnificus sepsis.
Alcoholics ; Bacillus ; Bacteria ; Bromcresol Purple ; Bromthymol Blue ; Cellobiose ; Chronic Disease ; Coloring Agents ; Diagnosis ; Gentian Violet ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Mortality ; Peptones ; Phenolsulfonphthalein ; Sepsis* ; Survival Rate ; Thymol ; Vibrio vulnificus* ; Vibrio*