Is Pediatric Otitis Media Correlated with an Increased Risk of Bronchial Asthma?: An II-Year Nationwide Population-Based Study / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pediatric otitis media is closely related to upper respiratory illness and is one of the most common causes of hospital visiting and antibiotic prescription. Although there are many studies of asthma with other upper respiratory tract infections, few studies have investigated the relationship between asthma and otitis media. This study estimated whether pediatric otitis media is associated with the risk of asthma using the Korean National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC 2002-2013) data. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: In using the NHIS-NSC 2002-2013 data, children diagnosed as otitis media or bronchial asthma in 2002 were excluded from children from 1 to 8 years old in 2003. The patients who were diagnosed and treated as otitis media (n=8506) and the comparison group (n=65886) were enrolled in 2003. During a 10-year follow-up period until December 2013, the incidence of asthma between two groups was analyzed and the result was adjusted for the impact of comorbidities such as atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis with multivariate linear regression analyses. RESULTS: In 2003, 20.88% of first-year-old children were treated with otitis media. The prevalence of otitis media was maintained at 15% until age 4 and decreased rapidly after 5 years of age. Asthma incidence was reported higher in patients with otitis media compared to the comparison group, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.196 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.127-1.269] followed by patients with atopic dermatitis [hazard ratio (HR) 1.261, 95% CI 1.196-1.33], allergic rhinitis (HR 1.473, 95% CI 1.409-1.54). CONCLUSION: Pediatric otitis media appeared to be associated with an increased risk of developing bronchial asthma after adjusting for other risk factors.

Determinants Analysis of Satisfaction with Supporting System for Hearing Aids / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hearing disability has a negative impact on the psychological condition and the quality of life of patients, as well as their daily lives. This study tries to identify the relationship between personal perception of the national supporting system for hearing aids and the satisfaction of the supporting system on the part of users, suppliers and specialists. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A total of seven questions were developed to identify factors that can affect the satisfaction of national supporting system for hearing aids. We surveyed hearing aids users, suppliers, and specialist; the final sample included 455 subjects. RESULTS: Determinants of satisfaction were adequacy of accepted durability of hearing aids, accessibility to relevant information, necessity of graded financial support by type of hearing aids, necessity of supporting repair cost and necessity of graded financial support by kind of disability rating. According to the results of multiple logistic regression analysis, subjects who answered that accepted durability of hearing aids [odd ratio (OR): 2.03, confidence interval (CI): 1.14-3.60] and accessibility to information (OR: 4.82, CI: 2.65-8.78) were proper showed tendency to be satisfied with support system for hearing aids. The subjects who answered that graded financial support by kind of hearing aids (OR: 1.98, CI: 1.10-3.59) and graded financial support by kind of disability rating (OR: 1.91 CI: 1.07-3.42) were necessary showed tendency to satisfy with support system for hearing aids. CONCLUSION: In order to enhance satisfaction in stakeholder perceptions of supporting system for hearing aids, the system needs provide users with better access to relevant information and help in the use and management of the hearing-aid device.

Evaluation of the Mutagenic Properties of Two Lignans from Acanthopanax koreanum Nakai

Acanthopanax koreanum Nakai, a well known traditional herb grown in Jeju Island, South of Korea, has been used as a tonic and sedative agent, as well as in the treatment of diabetes and immune diseases. Mutagenicity of two lignans, syringaresinol and tortoside A isolated from A. koreanum, was assessed using Salmonella/microsome (Ames) test. Tester strains used were Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535, and Escherichia coli WP2uvrA. The mutagenic activity was determined both in the absence or presence of S9 mixture. As a result, tortoside A did not cause any increase in the number of his+ revertants in S. typhimurium and E. coli WP2uvrA strains in the presence or absence of S9 mix, compared to the controls. Similarly, low concentrations of syringaresinol (750 and 1,500 microg/plate) did not show any mutagenic properties in all bacterial strains, in the presence or absence of S9 mixture. However, in the high concentration of syringaresinol (3,000 microg/plate), the number of revertants were increased in TA1535 strains, in the absence of S9 metabolic activation. Therefore, in vivo experiments such as comet assay are needed to further determine the genotoxic/carciogenic potential of syringaresinol isolated from A. koreanum.

Anti-inflammatory and Anti-oxidative Effects of Korean Red Ginseng Extract in Human Keratinocytes

BACKGROUND: In this study, we have investigated the effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG) extracts on the production of TNF-alpha and IL-8 in human keratinocytes. Also, to examine the antioxidative effect of red ginseng extracts, free radical scavenging activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in human dermal fibroblasts was measured. METHODS: To investigate the effect of KRG in atopic dermatitis, we measured the level of TNF-alpha and IL-8 secretion in LPS-stimulated human keratinocytes after the treatment of KRG extracts using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Anti-oxidative activity was investigated by measuring 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and SOD activity. RESULTS: The stimulation of human keratinocytes with KRG extracts shifted the LPS-induced cytokine secretion toward a more immunosuppressive response. KRG dose-dependently decreased TNF-alpha and IL-8 production in HaCaT cells and a significant inhibition of TNF-alpha was shown when cells were treated with 500 and 1,000 microg/ml of KRG extracts. Additionally, KRG extracts showed DPPH radical scavenging and SOD activity in a dose-dependent manner. Particularly, SOD activities of concentrations higher than 60 microg/ml of KRG extracts were significantly different in human dermal fibroblast cells. CONCLUSION: Based on this study, KRG extracts may be a useful immunosuppressive agent in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

Cytogenetic Studies of High Dose EGF Treated KUMA3 Cell Clone / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Epidermal growth factor (EGF), directly stimulates epidermal growth and differentiation. The combination of EGFR activation and genetic alternations may lead to neoplasia and metaplasia. To study the change of chromosomal number and the aberrations of chromosomal structure of KUMA3 cell line treated with high dose EGF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The high dose EGF treated cell clones were obtained from KUMA3 cell line which was established from squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip by culturing cells in medium containing high dose EGF for 6 months. The chromosomal analysis and subculture were performed at subsequent passage of 1 month interval. RESULTS: In high dose EGF treated cell clones, there was no apparent change in chromosomal number, but the ratio of the number of chromosome 7 to mode chromosome number was similar to normal value (0.043). The new chromosomal structural aberrations appeared first from 30 passage of IR-200 cell clone. The chromosomal aberrations were del(1)(q23-->qter) and del(4)t(1:4)(1qter-->1q23: : 4p16-->4qter). CONCLUSION: There was no change in chromosomal number, but the ratio of the number of chromosome 7 to mode chromosome number was similar to normal value (0.043), and the new chromosomal structural aberrations were appeared.

A Case of palisaded Encapsulated Neuroma / 대한피부과학회지

No abstract available.

A Case of Aplasia Cutis Congenita, Type V

Aplasia cutis congenita is a congenital localized or widespread absence of the skin. We report a case of aplasia cutis congenita, type V, in a 6-day-old male infant born with the stellate and linear skin lesions covered by granulation tissue and soft capsule with slightly elevated erythematous edges on the trunk and lower extremities without any associated family history. The patient had amniotic bands and were diagnosed as aplasia cutis, type V. The patient received conservative treatment such as antiseptic dressing and prophylactic systemic antibiotics with healing of the ulcer.

Multiple eccrine nevus with depressed patches

A 2-year-old girl had variably-sized, relatively well demarcated, depressed brownish patches on the left shoulder, back, and both legs from the age of 1 month. The biopsy specimen from the left shoulder showed an increase in the number of normal intradermal eccrine ducts and coils, which was compatible with pure eccrine nevus. The clinical manifestation of our case, including brownish depressed patches, was unique compared to other reported cases.

A Case of Impetigo Herpetiformis Terminating in Fetal Death / 대한피부과학회지

Impetigo herpetiformis is a form of pustular psoriasis that occurs during pregnancy and may be life-threatening. The pathogenesis and etiology of impetigo herpetiformis is not clear, but several reports have associated onset of this disorder with hypocalcemia, hypoparathyroidism, and the use of oral contraceptives. The typical lesions are erythematous patches that are studded with tiny superficial pustules particularly coalescing at their margins causing pain, and a burning sensation. Laboratory findings include an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, increased peripheral blood leukocyte counts, hypoalbuminemia, and in severe cases, hypocalcemia. The histopathology is the same as that of pustula psoriasis. Our patient, a 31 year-old female (Intra Uterine Pregnancy 28 weeks), was admitted to our hospital due to generalized skin eruption and severe constitutional symptoms. Her clinical features, laboratory and histopathologic findings were compatible with that of impetigo herpetiformis. In spite of our all efforts, intrauterine fetal death was noted at her 33rd week of pregnancy. We report a case of impetigo herpetiformis terminating in fetal death with the review of literature.

Clinicopathological Characteristics of Erythema Multiforma: A Comparison of Palmoplantar Erythema Multiforme with Erythema Multiforme Involving Other Siers / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Erythema multiforme is an inflammatory disorder of the skin which may be characterized by erythematous papules, plaques, vesicles, and 'target-like' annular lesions. Mucosal lesions may occur. Symmetric irivolvement of the extrernities, especially the dorsurn of the hands and feet, and face is the classic pattern of cutaneous distribution. Palmoplantar lesions of erythema multiforme are relatively uricornmon. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the clinical and histopathological characteristics of erythema multiforme involving the palm and sole. METHODS: Thirty one cases of erythema multiforme involving the palm and sole, and thirty cases involving other sites wer collected and analysed with particular reference to epidemiological data, type and distribution of the skin lesion and histopathological characteristics. RESULTS: 1. The median ages of both groups were the early thirties. There were no sexual predominances. 2. The clinical features of erythema multiforme involving the palm and sole were relatively mild and showed atypical skin lesions including macules and papules compared with erythema multiforme involving the other sites. 3. The histopathological changes of the palmoplantar group were also mild, especially the epidermal changes which included keratinocytes necrosis, subepidermal blisters, focal parakeratosis, extensive epidermal necrosis and xocytosis etc. 4. The most important and consistent histopathological finding of the palmoplantar erythema multiforme group was lymphocyte tagging along the basernent membrane, which was found consistently apart from one case. CONCLUSION: We investigated the clinical and histopathological features of erythema multiforme involving the palm and sole. They showed mild clinical features and atypical skin lesions cornpared with other group. The histopathological spectrum of this group was diverse, and reflected the early stage of pathomecha nisms of erythema multiforme. Among them, lyrnphocyte tagging was the most important and censistent finding in palmoplantar erythema multiforme.