BACKGROUND: Melasma is a common acquired hyperpigmentation disorder that predominantly affects the face. It frequently occurs in women with darker skin types and severely impacts quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the clinicoepidemiological features and triggering or aggravating factors of melasma in Korean patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the dermatology clinics of five university hospitals in Korea. Between January 2011 and August 2012, 411 patients with melasma completed a questionnaire about the clinical and aggravating factors associated with their melasma. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 400 women and 11 men aged 22~73 years (mean age, 42.8±9.92 years). Triggering or aggravating factors were sun exposure (68.4%), pregnancy (27.0%), and emotional stress (24.8%). Interestingly, 61.1% of patients complained of sensitive/inflammatory features such as erythema, itching, and a stinging sensation. Dryness was the most common aggravating factor, followed by erythema/redness and itching/stinging. Concomitant pigmentary disorders included post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in 15.1% of patients, followed by pigmented contact dermatitis, and acquired bilateral nevus of Ota-like macules. CONCLUSION: It is well known that sun exposure and hormonal changes are the most common triggers of melasma; however, sensitive/inflammatory features may aggravate melasma in East Asian patients. Therefore, these individual and racial differences should be considered in the prevention and treatment of melasma.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bites and Stings ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Dermatology ; Erythema ; Female ; Hospitals, University* ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Korea ; Male ; Melanosis* ; Nevus ; Pregnancy ; Pruritus ; Quality of Life ; Sensation ; Skin ; Solar System ; Stress, Psychological

In order to investigate the status of intestinal helminthic infections in Cambodia, epidemiological surveys were carried out on a national scale, including 19 provinces. A total of 32,201 fecal samples were collected from schoolchildren and adults between 2006 and 2011 and examined once by the Kato-Katz thick smear technique. The overall egg positive rate of intestinal helminths was 26.2%. The prevalence of hookworms was the highest (9.6%), followed by that of Opisthorchis viverrini/minute intestinal flukes (Ov/MIF) (5.7%), Ascaris lumbricoides (4.6%), and Trichuris trichiura (4.1%). Other types of parasites detected were Enterobius vermicularis (1.1%), Taenia spp. (0.4%), and Hymenolepis spp. (0.2%). The northwestern regions such as the Siem Reap, Oddar Meanchey, and Banteay Meanchey Provinces showed higher prevalences (17.4-22.3%) of hookworms than the other localities. The southwestern areas, including Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk Provinces showed higher prevalences of A. lumbricoides (17.5-19.2%) and T. trichiura (6.1-21.0%). Meanwhile, the central and southern areas, in particular, Takeo and Kampong Cham Provinces, showed high prevalences of Ov/MIF (23.8-24.0%). The results indicate that a considerably high prevalence of intestinal helminths has been revealed in Cambodia, and thus sustained national parasite control projects are necessary to reduce morbidity due to parasitic infections in Cambodia.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Cambodia/epidemiology ; Child ; Feces/*parasitology ; Female ; Helminthiasis/*epidemiology ; Helminths/*classification/*isolation & purification ; Humans ; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/*epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Topography, Medical ; Young Adult

Fishborne trematode (FBT) metacercariae were investigated in fish from 3 Provinces of Lao PDR. Total 242 freshwater fish of 40 species were collected in local markets of Luang Prabang (59 fish of 16 species), Khammouane (81 fish of 19 species), and Saravane (97 fish of 14 species), and each of them was examined by artificial digestion method. Four species of metacercariae (Opisthorchis viverrini, Haplorchis taichui, Haplorchis yokogawai, and Centrocestus formosanus) were detected. O. viverrini was detected in 35 fish (14.5%), and their density was 252 per infected fish (Luang Prabang, 88 metacercariae in 5 fish; Khammouane, 187 in 6 fish; Saravane, 303 in 24 fish). H. taichui was found in 102 fish (42.1%), and their density was 485 per infected fish (Luang Prabang, 260 metacercariae in 38 fish; Khammouane, 1,084 in 23 fish; Saravane, 359 in 41 fish). H. yokogawai was detected in 92 fish (38.0%), and their density was 222 per infected fish (Luang Prabang, 362 metacercariae in 17 fish; Khammouane, 126 in 20 fish; Saravane, 214 in 55 fish). Metacercariae of C. formosanus were found in 8 fish (3.3%), and their density was 3 per infected fish. In the present study, it has been confirmed that FBT metacercariae, in particular, H. taichui, H. yokogawai, and O. viverrini, are highly prevalent in fish from Luang Prabang, Khammouane, and Saravane Province, Lao PDR.
Animals ; Fish Diseases/*parasitology ; Laos/epidemiology ; Metacercariae/classification/isolation & purification ; Parasite Load ; Prevalence ; Trematoda/*classification/*isolation & purification ; Trematode Infections/parasitology/*veterinary

Opisthorchis viverrini infection was found to be highly prevalent in 3 riverside villages (Ang Svay Chek A, B, and C) of the Prey Kabas District, Takeo Province. This area is located in the southern part of Cambodia, where the recovery of adult O. viverrini worms was recently reported. From May 2006 until May 2010, fecal examinations were performed on a total of 1,799 villagers using the Kato-Katz thick smear technique. In the 3 villages, the overall positive rate for helminth eggs ranged from 51.7 to 59.0% (av. 57.4%), and the percentage positive for O. viverrini was 46.4-50.6% (47.5%). Other helminths detected included hookworms (13.2%), echinostomes (2.9%), Trichuris trichiura (1.3%), Ascaris lumbricoides (0.6%), and Taenia spp. (0.06%). The prevalence of O. viverrini eggs appeared to reflect a lower infection in younger individuals (<20 years) than in the adult population (>20 years). Men (50.4%) revealed a significantly higher (P=0.02) prevalence than women (44.3%). The Ang Svay Chek villages of the Prey Kabas District, Takeo Province, Cambodia have been confirmed to be a highly endemic area for human O. viverrini infection.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Cambodia/epidemiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Coinfection/epidemiology ; Feces/parasitology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Opisthorchiasis/*epidemiology ; Opisthorchis/*isolation & purification ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; Young Adult

A 31-year-old man was referred for further management of a urethral stricture. He was a victim of a traffic accident and his urethral injury was associated with a pelvic bone fracture. He had previously undergone a suprapubic cystostomy only owing to his unstable general condition at another hospital. After 3 months of urethral injury, direct urethral anastomosis was attempted, but the surgery failed. An additional 4 failed internal urethrotomies were performed before the patient visited Chungbuk National University Hospital. Preoperative images revealed complete posterior urethral disruption, and the defect length was 4 cm. We performed a buccal mucosa tubal graft without anastomosis of the proximal urethra for a long segment posterior urethral defect. The Foley catheter was removed 3 weeks after the operation and the patient was able to void successfully. After 8 months, he had normal voiding function without urinary incontinence.
Accidents, Traffic ; Adult ; Catheters ; Cystostomy ; Humans ; Mouth Mucosa ; Pelvic Bones ; Transplants ; Urethra ; Urethral Stricture ; Urinary Incontinence

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of functioning endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity, and the standard treatment is extensive surgical excision. Cesarean scar endometriosis is a type of cutaneous endometriosis arising on or near a Cesarean section scar. A 44-year-old woman presented with a 9x6 cm sized dark-brown, stony-hard, irregular, lower abdominal mass of four years duration. The patient had a history of two Cesarean deliveries, 14 and 16 years ago. Suspecting endometriosis, we excised the tumor conservatively rather than extensively to prevent incisional hernia considering the benign nature of the tumor and the low possibility of recurrence because the patient's age was near menopause, along with simultaneous bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy that was performed in this case. On reconstruction, mini-abdominoplasty was adopted to avoid possible wound complications and cosmetic deformities. The patient was satisfied with the cosmetic results, and neither recurrence nor functional problems occurred during the 1-year follow-up period. Plastic surgeons should keep in mind the possibility of cutaneous endometriosis in an abdominal mass of a female of reproductive age with a previous history of pelvic or intra-abdominal surgery. An optimal result from oncological, functional, and cosmetic standpoints can be achieved with conservative excision followed by mini-abdominoplasty of extensive Cesarean scar endometriosis.
Abdominal Wound Closure Techniques ; Adult ; Cesarean Section ; Cicatrix ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Cosmetics ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hernia ; Humans ; Menopause ; Pregnancy ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: Nevus sebaceus is a congenital hamartomatous lesion, typically involving head and neck. Various benign and malignant neoplasms can develop in association with nevus sebaceus. We report a case of simultaneous occurrence of squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma in nevus sebaceus. METHODS: A 73-year-old man presented with erythematous to black verrucous nodules on the right subauricular area. The upper part was accompanied with inflammation and ulceration, and no specific findings suspicious for malignant degeneration were found in the lower part preoperatively. The mass was totally excised and the defect was directly closed. Lymph nodes were not involved on concomitant neck dissection. RESULTS: Histopathologic examination confirmed the presence of squamous cell carcinoma in the upper part and basal cell carcinoma in the lower part of a nevus sebaceus. Negative margins were achieved on resection. No clinical problems were found during the 3-month follow-up period. CONCLUSION: We experienced a rare case of simultaneous occurrence of squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma within the same nevus sebaceus. Because patients with nevus sebaceus have risk of malignant changes, surgical excision and work-up for recurrence and metastasis should be considered in suspicious cases. And even in a totally asymptomatic case, the possibility of occult secondary cancer should be informed before surgery in aged patients.
Aged ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lymph Nodes ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nevus ; Recurrence ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) has been used widely for treating critically ill patients with acute renal failure (ARF). We performed this study to identify predictors of mortality in critically ill ARF patients treated with CRRT. METHODS: We analyzed the data of 128 patients who were treated with continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) or continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) from May, 2002 to March, 2008. We compared the clinical data of survivors with non-survivors. RESULTS: On univariate analyses of prognostic factors of patients treated with CVVHDF, APACHE II scores (p=0.004), prothrombin time (INR) (p=0.033) and the number of inotropics used (p=0.005) were significantly lower in survivors than those of non-survivors. MAP (p=0.027), diastolic BP (p=0.015) and fibrinogen level (p=0.007) were significantly higher in survivors than those of non-survivors. Multivariate analysis revealed that APACHE II scores and fibrinogen level were the independent factors for the prediction of mortality. And on univariate analyses of prognostic factors of patients treated with CVVH, APACHE II scores (p=0.002) and the number of inotropics used (p=0.006) were significantly lower in survivors than in non-survivors. MAP (p=0.03), systolic BP (p=0.02) and diastolic BP (p=0.03) were significantly higher in survivors than in non-survivors. Multivariate analysis also revealed that APACHE II scores was the only independent factor for the prediction of mortality. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the independent prognostic factor for mortality in ARF patients treated with CRRT was the APACHE II score.
Acute Kidney Injury ; APACHE ; Critical Illness ; Fibrinogen ; Hemodiafiltration ; Hemofiltration ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Prothrombin Time ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Survivors

PURPOSE: We report the clinical and radiographic result of ligament reconstruction using plantaris and total ankle replacement in end-stage ankle arthritis with ankle instability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study is based on the 9 cases among total 48 patients of end-stage ankle arthritis that were treated with total ankle prosthesis and ligament reconstruction from 2007 to 2009 at least 12 months follow-up. We evaluated the VAS (Visual analogue scale) pain score, AOFAS (American orthopedic foot and ankle society) score and radiographic measurements. RESULTS: Average age was 59.4 years (53~67 years) old. VAS pain score improved from preoperative average 8.2+/-0.9 (range, 7~10) to 2.7+/-1.7 (range, 0~6) and the AOFAS score improved from 46.4+/-14.6 points (range, 23~69) to 80.1+/-9.3 points (range, 65~95) at final follow-up. Anterior draw test improved 15.2+/-3.4 mm (range, 12~23 mm) to 8.8+/-2.6 mm (range, 6~13mm),varus stress test improved from 13.9+/-4.6degrees (range,10-18degrees) to 6.2+/-4.7degrees (range,2-18degrees) at final follow up. CONCLUSION: Plantaris ligament reconstruction is good option as part of the management of ankle instability with end-stage ankle arthritis. We achieved good clinical and radiographic results.
Animals ; Ankle ; Arthritis ; Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Ankle ; Exercise Test ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Orthopedics ; Prostheses and Implants

Maxillary sinus lift and bone graft are used to reconstruct atrophic maxilla molar area for endosseous dental implants. Many different grafting materials and techniques can be used for maxillary sinus bone graft. Bio-Oss(R) has been proposed as bone substitute and successfully utilized as osteoconductive filler. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous material with many growth factors, such as PDGF, TGF-beta, IGF, VEGF, facilitating bone healing process. And Platelet poor plasma (PPP) is the by-product in procedure of producing PRP. Six rabbits were used as experimental animal. Both maxillary sinus were grafted with Bio-Oss(R) and PRP, and Bio-Oss(R) and PPP. Rabbits were sacrificed at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. The grafting sites were evaluated by histomorphometric analysis. As a result, using PRP showed excellent bone formation in the early stage, but no further significant effect after that. In late stage, the ability of bone formation of using PRP was even worse than using PPP. The further studies need to be considered in this case.
Animals ; Blood Platelets ; Bone Substitutes ; Dental Implants ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Maxilla ; Maxillary Sinus ; Molar ; Osteogenesis ; Plasma ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Rabbits ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transplants ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A