Two Cases of Patients with a Rash along the Intertriginous Area without Certain Drug History / 대한피부과학회지

We report a skin rash with a sharply demarcated erythema on the flexural area. The differential diagnoses included Baboon syndrome and symmetrical drug-related intertriginous and flexural exanthema. The diagnosis can be made based on the presence of previous cutaneous sensitization and causative agents. Our cases were consistent with a diagnosis of Baboon syndrome with no drug history.

A Case of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated with Photodynamic Therapy with Ablative Carbon Dioxide Fractional Laser

No abstract available.

Comparative Study of Clinical Characteristics according to Therapeutic Efficacy and Drug Survival of Cyclosporine or Methotrexate in Psoriasis Vulgaris

No abstract available.

Diabetes and Alzheimer's Disease: Mechanisms and Nutritional Aspects

Blood glucose homeostasis is well maintained by coordinated control of various hormones including insulin and glucagon as well as cytokines under normal conditions. However, chronic exposure to diabetic environment with high fat/high sugar diets and physical/mental stress can cause hyperglycemia, one of main characteristics of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes. Hyperglycemia impairs organogenesis and induces organ abnormalities such as cardiac defect in utero. It is a risk factor for the development of metabolic diseases in adults. Resulting glucotoxicity affects peripheral tissues and vessels, causing pathological complications including diabetic neuropathy, nephropathy, vessel damage, and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, chronic exposure to hyperglycemia can deteriorate cognitive function and other aspects of mental health. Recent reports have demonstrated that hyperglycemia is closely related to the development of cognitive impairment and dementia, suggesting that there may be a cause-effect relationship between hyperglycemia and dementia. With increasing interests in aging-related diseases and mental health, diabetes-related cognitive impairment is attracting great attention. It has been speculated that glucotoxicity can result in structural damage and functional impairment of brain cells and nerves, hemorrhage of cerebral blood vessel, and increased accumulation of amyloid beta. These are potential mechanisms underlying diabetes-related dementia. Nutrients and natural food components have been investigated as preventive and/or intervention strategy. Among candidate components, resveratrol, curcumin, and their analogues might be beneficial for the prevention of diabetes-related cognitive impairment. The purposes of this review are to discuss recent experimental evidence regarding diabetes and cognitive impairment and to suggest potential nutritional intervention strategies for the prevention and/or treatment of diabetes-related dementia.

Efficacy of Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant for Macular Edema Due to Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion According to Symptom Duration

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal dexamethasone implants for the treatment of macular edema (ME) due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) according to the duration of symptoms. METHODS: Thirty-one patients who received an intravitreal dexamethasone implant for ME due to BRVO were included in this retrospective study. The patients were divided into 2 groups. Group A included eyes with symptom duration less than 12 weeks and Group B included eyes with symptom duration of 12 weeks or longer. The main efficacy outcomes such as best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) were measured at baseline and every 4 weeks over 24 weeks. Retreatment criteria included an increased CMT of 150 microm or reduction of logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (log MAR) scores of at least 0.2. RESULTS: The CMT and BCVA improved significantly at each follow-up compared with the baseline (p 0.05). At 24 weeks, Group A showed less CMT and better BCVA compared with Group B (p = 0.043, p = 0.041, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The intravitreal dexamethasone implant significantly reduced the CMT and improved BCVA in patients with ME due to BRVO. Patients with shorter symptom duration showed better anatomical and functional outcomes over 24 weeks. Early treatment with the intravitreal dexamethasone implant could produce better clinical results.

Outer Retinal Tubulation in Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

PURPOSE: To evaluate outer retinal tubulation (ORT) found in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) using color fundus photography and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS: ORT identified in patients with chronic CSC was examined using color fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence image, fluorescein angiography, indocyanin green angiography, and SD-OCT. The images were analyzed for morphological features, location, and size of ORT in the retinal layers. RESULTS: ORT was detected in 3 of 342 (0.88%) chronic CSC patients. Color fundus photography revealed circular or ovoid shape with hollow lumen and deep yellowish border mainly appearing at the affected retinal pigment epithelium layer in the macular area. SD-OCT B-scan revealed hyperreflective material observed inside the hyporeflective internal space with hyperreflective border. ORT had circular or ovoid shape on the SD-OCT C-scan. ORT was primarily located on the outer nuclear layer in the retina, emanating to the inner nuclear layer and was not greater than 170 x 170 microm in size when measured with SD-OCT B-scan image. CONCLUSIONS: ORT was identified in patients with chronic CSC which was observed using color fundus photography and circular or ovoid structure was observed using a SD-OCT C-scan.

Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging of Unusual White Matter Lesion in a Patient with Menkes Disease

We report here on the diffusion-weighted imaging of unusual white matter lesions in a case of Menkes disease. On the initial MR imaging, the white matter lesions were localized in the deep periventricular white matter in the absence of diffuse cortical atrophy. The lesion showed diffuse high signal on the diffusion-weighted images and diffuse progression and persistent hyperintensity on the follow up imaging. Our case suggests that the white matter lesion may precede diffuse cortical atrophy in a patient with Menkes disease.

The changing Trends of the Incidence and Histopathology of the Female Genital Malignancies in Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center Between 1975 and 2000 / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the changing trends of the incidence and histopathology of female genital malignancies through the three time periods (1975-1984, 1985-1994 and 1995-2000). METHODS: A retrospective review was carried out of all the female genital malignancies with the exception of trophoblastic disease which reported to the Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center between 1975 and 2000. RESULTS: For 26 years (1975-2000), 5,846 cases of the genital malignancies were registered. In the period from 1995 to 2000, the average frequency of cervical cancer was 73.5%, ovarian cancer followed with 15.6%, uterine corpus with 8.7%, vaginal cancer with 1.0%, vulvar cancer with 0.9%, tubal cancer with 0.1%. Third time period (1995-2000) comparing to others (1975-1984, 1985-1994), the frequency of cervical cancer was decreased (93.4% in 1975-1984, 86.0% in 1985-1994) and the incidence of corpus (1.6% in 1975-1984, 3.6% in 1985-1994) and ovarian cancer (2.4% in 1975-1984, 6.3% in 1985-1994) were increased. The most frequent histologic type of cervical cancer was squamous cell carcinoma, and followed by adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinoma of the cervix showed a gradual increase in incidence (12.4% in 1995-2000, 5.0% in 1975-1984, 8.2% in 1985-1994). The peak age incidence of cervical cancer was noted between 40-49 years. Based on the FIGO staging system for cervical cancer, stage I was most frequent during last 6 years. According to invasiveness of the cervix, the frequency of cervical intraepithelial neoplasm was increased (62.8% in 1995-2000, 25.7% in 1975-1984, 38.4% in 1985-1994). Ovarian cancer was the second most common malignancy and gradually increased. The peak age was 50-59 years. According to histologic subtype, an epithelial ovarian tumor was most frequent. Corpus cancer was the third most common malignancy. The peak age was 50-59 years during the study period and endometrial cancer was most common. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the frequency of invasive cervical cancer was decreased whereas the incidence of endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer were increased. The frequency of cervical intraepithelial neoplasm was increased compared with invasive cervical cancer.