A 20-year-old Cambodian male living in Korea for 2 years as a foreign worker visited our gastroenterology outpatient clinic. He had a small farm in Cambodia. He complained of postprandial upper abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting for 2 years. Gastroduodenoscopy showed hyperemic mucosa near the major papilla in the duodenum and two small and slender reddish worms. These were removed with endoscopic biopsy forceps. Under microscopy, these were identified as Ancylostoma duodenale by the characteristic morphology of 2 pairs of cutting teeth in the buccal cavity and 3 lobes in the copulatory bursa. After removal of two worms, his symptom improved. Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) present a global health problem. In the Republic of Korea, STH, including hookworms, were highly prevalent until the 1970s. With mass fecal examination followed by selective mass chemotherapy with anthelmintics from 1969 to 1995, the prevalence of STH has rapidly decreased since the 1980s. Since 2004, no hookworms have been found in nationwide surveys on the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection. Therefore, we report a case of in vivo endoscopic removal of A. duodenale in a patient with abdominal pain.
Abdominal Pain ; Agriculture ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Ancylostoma ; Ancylostomatoidea ; Anthelmintics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biopsy ; Cambodia ; Drug Therapy ; Duodenum ; Endoscopy ; Gastroenterology ; Global Health ; Helminths ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Microscopy ; Mucous Membrane ; Nausea ; Parasitic Diseases ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea ; Surgical Instruments ; Tooth ; Vomiting ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Anisakiasis is frequent in Jeju Island because of the people's habit of ingesting raw fish. This study evaluated the clinical characteristics of patients with small bowel anisakiasis and compared them with those of patients with gastric anisakiasis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 109 patients diagnosed with anisakiasis between May 2003 and November 2011. RESULTS: Of the 109 patients diagnosed with anisakiasis, those with suspicious anisakiasis (n=38) or possible anisakiasis (n=12) were excluded. The age and gender distributions did not differ between patients with small bowel anisakiasis (n=30; age, 45+/-13 years) and those with gastric anisakiasis (n=29; age, 46+/-10 years). The mean duration of hospitalization was 5.4+/-4.3 days for patients with small bowel anisakiasis and 0.5+/-1.7 days for patients with gastric anisakiasis. Small bowel anisakiasis was accompanied by leukocytosis (76.7% vs 25.5%, p=0.003) and elevated C-reactive protein levels (3.4+/-3.2 mg/dL vs 0.5+/-0.3 mg/dL, p=0.009). Contrast-enhanced abdominopelvic computed tomography showed small bowel wall thickening with dilatation in 93.3% (28/30) of patients and a small amount of ascites in 80.0% (24/30) of patients with small bowel anisakiasis. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with gastric anisakiasis patients, small bowel anisakiasis patients had a longer hospitalization time, higher inflammatory marker levels, and small bowel wall thickening with ascites.
Anisakiasis ; Ascites ; C-Reactive Protein ; Dilatation ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Intestine, Small ; Leukocytosis ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach

Influenza vaccines are the primary method for controlling influenza and its complications. This study was conducted as a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, controlled, multi-center trial at seven university hospitals to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of an inactivated, split, trivalent influenza vaccine (GC501, Green Cross Corporation, Yongin, Korea), which was newly manufactured in Korea in 2008. Between September 21 and 26, a total of 329 healthy subjects were recruited for the immunogenicity analysis, while 976 subjects were enrolled for the safety analysis. The GC501 vaccine met both FDA and EMEA criteria with > or = 80% of subjects achieving post-vaccination titers > or = 40 for all three subtypes, even in the elderly. The vaccine was well tolerated with only mild systemic and local adverse events. In summary, GC501 showed excellent immunogenicity and a good safety profile in both young adults and the elderly. The licensure of GC501 might be an important basis in preparation for the future influenza pandemic.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Double-Blind Method ; Humans ; Influenza Vaccines/administration & dosage/*adverse effects/*immunology ; Influenza, Human/*prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Republic of Korea ; Vaccination ; Vaccines, Inactivated/administration & dosage/adverse effects/immunology ; Young Adult

Prurigo pigmentosa is a distinct type of inflammatory dermatosis characterized by recurrent pruritic erythematous papules that resolve, leaving a peculiar, reticulate hyperpigmentation. Although the cause of prurigo pigmentosa is unknown, exogenous factors, such as friction from clothing, have been suggested as possible triggers in some cases. In other cases, however, systemic conditions such as diabetes mellitus, pregnancy, fasting, and dieting were associated with prurigo pigmentosa, suggesting involvement of endogenous factors in the pathogenesis. There have been reported cases of prurigo pigmentosa associated with ketosis. Because ketosis is commonly observed in association with fasting, dieting, and insulin dependent diabetes melitus, it may be involved in the pathogenesis of prurigo pigmentosa. Here, we describe a patient with prurigo pigmentosa associated with diabetes mellitus and ketosis. In this case, the prurigo pigmentosa improved with the disappearance of the ketosis, but the blood sugar levels did not correlate with the improvement.
Blood Glucose ; Clothing ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diet ; Fasting ; Friction ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Insulin ; Ketosis* ; Pregnancy ; Prurigo* ; Skin Diseases

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis is one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases in children, affecting 5% to 15% of children. Its prevalence has increased gradually over the last three decades. Although a genetic predisposition to the disease has been implicated, environmental factors play a crucial role in the disease expression. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed in order to elucidate the environment and lifestyles of atopic dermatitis by questionnare. METHODS: Investigation of this study was carried out among 70 atopic dermatitis patients and 70 normal control subjects. We asked them to fill up all the questionnaires in relation to the environment and lifestyles of atopic dermatitis patients. RESULTS: 1) Maternal educational status of atopic dermatitis patients was higher than that of normal control group(p<0.05). 2) Fifty-one(72.9%) of 70 patients with atopic dermatitis dwelt in apartment and only two patients with atopic dermatitis had pets. 3) There were no statistical differences in type and duration of milk feeding and preference of foods. 4) Fourty-seven(67.1%) of 70 patients with atopic dermatitis took a bath only one or two times in a week. CONCLUSION: The results of this study could be some help to the doctors who examine atopic dermatitis patients.
Baths ; Child ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Educational Status ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Life Style* ; Milk ; Prevalence ; Skin Diseases ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The object of this study is to evaluate the effects of repeat,ed PUVA applications on epidermal melanocytes. The changes in the number of melanocyes is compared to the frequency of PUVA applications. 26 adult male C57BL mice were used. About an hour after appliction of 0.1% solution of 8-methoxypsoralen, UVA was delivered two or four times a weels on both ears of mice with blacklight fluorescent tube l,'Waldmann UV-800). Weekly examinations of melanocytes were made for 4 weeks on split epidermal sheets treated with DOPA solution. The results were as follows. 1. Repeated PUVA applications revealed a significant increase in the number of melanocytes. With PUVA, two times a week, the number of me anocytes was increased from 83.2+/-7.2/mm2 (unir radiated ear) to 250.6+/-34.7/mm2 after ore week and 525.5+/-66.7/mm2 after 4 weeks. With PUVA, four times a week, the number of melanocytes was increased from 83.2+/-7.. 2/mm2 (unirradiated ear) to 437.0+/-74.0/mm2 after one week and 686.3+/-27.8/mm2 after 4 weeks. 2. PUVA, four times a wcek, elicited higher melanocyte density than PUVA, two times a week, under the same period of treatment. 3. After two weeks, the same amount of irradiation increased the number of melanocytes more in PUVA, four times a week than in PUVA, t,wo times a week.
Adult ; Animals ; Dihydroxyphenylalanine ; Ear ; Humans ; Male ; Melanocytes* ; Methoxsalen ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL*

We have observed the dark effect of 8-methoxypsoralen(8-M(P) on the viability and DNA synthesis in human lymphocyte cultures after stimulaticn with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in the absence of ultraviolet A radiation. The concentratioiis of 8-MOP was 0.5-32 ug/ml. We have also measured the LDH activity in supernatant. of lymphocyte cultures treated with 8-MOP. The results were as follows: 1. There was no 8-MOP dose-dependent decrease in the viability of lymphocytes up to 8- MOP 32pg/ml. 2. There was a 8-MOP dose-dependent decrease in PHA-induced DNA synthesis of lymphocytes from the concentration of 8-MOP 2 ug/ml. 3. There was a time-dependent decrease in PHA-induced DNA synthesis of lymphocytes at the concentration of 8-MOP 32 ug/ml. 4. There was no LDH release in supernatant of lymphocyte ciltu es after incubation with 8-MOP up to 8-MOP 32ug/ml.
Animals ; DNA ; Ear* ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Methoxsalen ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL* ; Photochemotherapy* ; Skin*

We have observed the dark effect of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) on the viability and DNA synthesis in human lymphocyte cultures after stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in the absence of ultraviolet A radiation. The concentrations of 8-MOP was 0.5-3.2 microgram/ml. We have also measured the LDH activity in supernatants of lymphocyte cultures treated with 8-MOP. The results were as follows: 1. There was no 8-MOP dose-dependent decrease in the viability of lymphocytes up to 8MOP 32microgram/ml. 2. There was 8-MOP dose-dependent decrease in PHA-induced DNA synthesis of lymphocytes from the concentration of 8-MOP 2microgram/ml. 3. There was a time-dependent decrease in PHA-induced DNA synthesis of lymphocytes at the conscentration of 8-MOP 32microgram/ml. 4. There was no LDH release in supernatant of lymphocyte cultures after incubation with 8-MOP up to 8-MOP 32microgram/ml.
DNA* ; Humans* ; Lymphocytes* ; Methoxsalen*

We performed a clinicopathological study of nineteen patients with chronic inflammatory nodose lesions of the legs which responded to the treatment with isolniazid. The results were summarized as follows: 1. Seven patients had a personal or family history of tuberculcsis and all patients showed a high tuberculin sensitivity. But, no one showed the evidence of active pulmonary tuberculosis. 2. The inflammatory nodules and swelling of the legs were resolved within 12 months in all cases. Resolution of the nodules was more rapid than that of leg swelling. 3. The clinical characteristics of the patients with chronic inflanimatory nodules were the same as those of the cases with erythema nodosum or erytiema induratum reported previously in Korea. The basic histopathologic process of inflarr matory nodules seemed to be vasculitis.
Erythema Nodosum ; Humans ; Isoniazid* ; Korea ; Leg* ; Tuberculin ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; Vasculitis

In the study of 142 psoriatic patients who visited psoriasis clinic in Seoul Nstional University Hospital during recent five years, psoriasis was classified according to the severity based on the activity. The guideline of activity was as follows : 1. Mild: skin lesions stationary for the last one month. 2. Moderate : peripherally spreading plaque lesions with only occasionally small papules. 3. Severe : rapidly developing new lesions from the periphery of plaques or normal skin, or newly developing pustules. This study was done to evaluate the distribution and clinical features of psoriasis according to the activity. Among 142 patients of psoriasis, 84(59.2%) patients had mild psoriasis, 39(27. 4%) patients had moderate psoriasis, and 19(13.4%) patients were presented as severe psoriasis.
Classification* ; Humans ; Psoriasis* ; Seoul ; Skin