Induced Life-Threatening Electrolyte Imbalance in Sub-clinical Hyperthyroidism -A case report-

Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) is rare in white Caucasian but a few in Asian. A 36-year-old man presented with suddenly developed paraparesis was brought by ambulance. He got some medications and injection for the upper respiratory infection in the morning of admission day. On admission he revealed bilateral proximal muscle weakness without pain. He didn't have any specific medical history of himself and his family. The laboratory results on admission revealed severe hypokalemia (2.1 mM/l). Potassium replacement was immediately started and his symptom was gone. We found TSH was extremely decreased (<0.005 microIU/ml) but T3 and T4 were within normal level. We guess TPP was induced by some drugs to the patient with sub-clinical hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is not always clinically apparent and then may be easily missed. However just a single medication or injection that is usually prescribed can induce critical progressive hypokalemia.

Expression of extracellular martix genes in scleroderma fibroblast cultures / 대한피부과학회지

Scleroderma is a connective tissue disease characterized by excessive accumulation of collagen in skin and visceral organs due to increased collagen production by scleroderma fibroblasts. The basic etiology of this collagen accumulation is not known. We examined the expression of various extracellular matrix genes in cultured fibrolasts using Northern blot and slot-blot hybridization. The scleroderma fibroblasts exhibited characteristic mRNA size of extracellular matrix genes and prominanty increased type I and III procollagen mRNAs levels compared to control fibroblasts cultures from univolved skin. The ratios of type I /IE procollagen in scleroderma cell lines were not so much different to the controls. These results indicate that increases of collagen biosynthesis in scleroderma can be a accounted for, at least in part, by an increased content of transcriptable type I and type JE procollagen mRNAs, both.

Detection of Human Papillomavirus DNA by In Situ Hybridization Using Biotinylated DNA Probes in Codylomata Acuminata / 대한피부과학회지

Human Papillomaviruses(HPVs) are regarded as sexually transmitable and closely associated with precancerous lesions or invasive cancers of the vulva, vagina, and cer V1X. In situ hybridization, besides showing higher sensitivity, allowed the identification of specific viral types. We studied 12 cases of condylomata accuminata for HPV typing by in situ hybridization techenique. Ten cases(83.3 % ) showed positive for HPV type 6/11, and 2 cases(16.7% ) were positive for HPV type 16/18.

A Case of Basal Cell Epithelioma treated with Modified Mohs Surgery / 대한피부과학회지

Modified Mohs surgery is a procedure which eliminated chemical fixation step from Mohs chemosurgery. This technique is faster, less painful and more tissue conserving, allows for immediste repairs, yields higher quality histologic preparations and facilitates an interdisciplinary apporoach; it is the treatment of choice for recurrent or difficult skin cancers. A 58-year-old femele patient presented with a 2x 3cm sized dark brownish, ulcerated nodule on the left upper eyelid. Histopathologic findings revealed several small solid nest composed of basalioma cells in the dermis. We treated with modified Mohs surgery and obtained good result.

A Case of Trichorrhexis Nodosa / 대한피부과학회지

We report a case of trichorrhexis nodosa in a 27-year-old male. Scanning electron microscopic findings reveals those of typical trichorrhexis nodosa nodal swelling of affected hair showed longitudinal fissures and fractures in the cortex. A paintbrush effect was noted at the site of fracture. Simple avoidance of trauma gave some regrowth of hairs.

A Case of Bilateral Atrial Myxoma

As is well known, myxoma of the heart is very rare(incidence 0.03%), constituting nearly 50% of all primary cardiac tumors. It is important because it can be abolished by surgical removal but usually fatal if unrecognized or untreated. Recently a wider use of echocardiogram as the screening test of valve lesions can be expected to increase the number of myxomas found preoperatively. We have experienced a case of bilateral atrial myxoma which simulated mitral valvular disease clinically and had typical three cardinal manifestations such as obstructive, embolic and constitutional symptoms. The patients was 39 years old woman. The left atrial myxoma was diagnosed preoperatively by echocardiography and cardiac angiography and the remainder during open heart surgery under the E.C.C. Both of them were removed successfuly and confirmed as typical myxoma microscopically. This is the first case report of bilateral atrial myxoma in Korea to our knowledge.