Comparison of Syphilis Treatment Drug Effects by VDRL Titer Monitoring / 대한피부과학회지

Background@#Despite the increasing number of syphilis cases, there has been a considerable lack of recent data comparing the efficacy and duration of benzathine penicillin G, ceftriaxone, and tetracycline in Korean patients. @*Objective@#To compare the efficacy and duration of benzathine penicillin, ceftriaxone, and tetracycline in Korean patients with syphilis. @*Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed 145 cases of syphilis from 2004 to 2019 and statistically analyzed the treatment efficacy and duration. @*Results@#Patients in the benzathine penicillin, ceftriaxone, and tetracycline treatment groups showed no significant statistical difference in terms of treatment rate (chi-square test, p=0.962). Similarly, treatment duration among groups was not statistically significant (one-way analysis of variance, p=0.792). Co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus resulted in reduced treatment rate (p=0.016) and increased treatment duration (p=0.007). @*Conclusion@#This retrospective study showed no significant difference between penicillin, ceftriaxone, and tetracycline in terms of treatment rate and duration. However, a difference in treatment rate and duration was evident between the non-infection and HIV co-infection groups.ng

Clinical characteristics of febrile young infants with serious bacterial infection in the emergency departments in Korea and validation of Philadelphia criteria and modified Philadelphia criteria: retrospective multicenter study

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the characteristics of febrile young infants with a serious bacterial infection (SBI) who visited emergency centers in Korea and validated the Philadelphia criteria and modified Philadelphia criteria to predict the risk of SBI. METHODS: This was a retrospective study conducted on 450 infants aged 31 days to 56 days who visited three emergency centers with fever from September 2014 to August 2017. The characteristics of the SBI patients were analyzed, and the validation of the Philadelphia and modified Philadelphia criteria sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy were checked. RESULTS: Of 450 patients, 165 patients (36.7%) had SBI, such as urinary tract infection (33.3%), bacteremia (4.0%), acute osteomyelitis (0.2%), and bacterial meningitis (BM) in two patients (0.4%). The most common pathogen of invasive bacterial infection was Escherichia coli. In the Philadelphia criteria, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy were 73.9%, 47.0%, 44.7%, 75.7%, and 56.9%, respectively. In the modified Philadelphia criteria that excluded lumbar puncture as a predictor, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy were 93.3%, 31.9%, 44.3%, 89.2%, and 54.4%, respectively. The most common failed low risk criteria was appearance (43.3%). Two patients with bacterial meningitis were excluded from low risk group by the modified Philadelphia criteria. Although one out of 2 patients met the failed low risk criteria due to their poor condition, this factor is not objective, so BM can be missed. CONCLUSION: Bacterial meningitis was too rare in this study. New criteria are needed to predict SBI. The Philadelphia and modified Philadelphia criteria were not useful for predicting SBI in this study. Other prediction models will be needed to predict SBI in the vaccination era.

Eruptive Keratoacanthoma en Plaque Confirmed by Complete Spontaneous Regression: A Case Report and Review of the Literature / 대한피부과학회지

Here we present a case of an unusual variant of keratoacanthoma, eruptive keratoacanthoma en plaque, occurring on the upper lip of a 58-year-old man. The lesion was a flesh-colored nodular plaque measuring 1.5×1.0 cm that rapidly grew within 2 months. After two biopsies, the cutaneous lesion grew more rapidly for 1 month, covering the entire cutaneous surface of the upper lip and measuring 6.0×2.0 cm. Thereafter, it disappeared without any treatment within 3 months, resulting in mild scarring with a cobblestone-like surface similar to the stereotypical involuting course of ordinary keratoacanthoma. In addition to the clinical features, the present case displayed essential diagnostic features of eruptive keratoacanthoma by showing typical spontaneous involution not reported in previous reports. Furthermore, it also revealed histopathology suggestive of squamous cell carcinoma, at least focally in addition to that of keratoacanthoma, which may evoke the potential for a misdiagnosis of malignancy.

Ecthyma gangrenosum and agranulocytosis in a previously healthy 12-month-old girl: Report of 1 case with a literature review

Ecthyma gangrenosum (EG) is a rare skin manifestation which starts with a maculopapular eruption and followed by a necrotic ulcer covered with black eschar. EG usually occurs in immunosuppressed patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis. We present a previously healthy 12-month-old girl with EG by P. aeruginosa and agranulocytosis due to influenza A and then rhinovirus infection, without bacteremia. It is important for allergists to culture wound and differentiate EG from other skin disorders including Tsutsugamushi disease and initiate appropriate empiric antipseudomonal antibiotic treatment, and to evaluate for possible immunodeficiency, even in a healthy child.

Two Cases of Neonatal Lupus and Literature Review

Neonatal lupus is a rare rheumatic disease. Clinical manifestations include characteristic annular or macular rashes, congenital heart block, cytopenias, and hepatitis. Neonatal lupus is caused by transmission of maternal immunoglobulin G autoantibodies such as anti-SSA/Ro antibody or anti-SSB/La antibody to the fetus through the placenta. We report two cases of neonatal lupus. The first case refers to an 18-day-old male with annular rashes on both cheeks, neutropenia, positive tests for antinuclear antibody, anti-SSA/Ro antibody, and anti-SSB/La antibody. His mother was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus characterized by positive tests for antinuclear antibody, anti-SSA/Ro antibody, and anti-SSB/La antibody. The second case represents a 32-day-old female with annular rash on both hands, soles, and the genital area, neutropenia, hepatitis, positive tests for antinuclear antibody, and anti-SSA/Ro antibody. Skin punch biopsy was conducted. Her mother did not have history of connective tissue diseases. We referred her mother to the division of rheumatology of the department of internal medicine. The mother was suspected with primary Sjögren's syndrome because of arthralgia and dry eye symptoms with positive tests for antinuclear antibody, anti-SSA/Ro antibody, anti-SSB/La antibody, and rheumatoid factor. It is necessary to suspect neonatal lupus in neonates or infants with characteristic annular rash with or without maternal history of connective tissue disorders.

A Case of Type 2 Leprosy Reaction in Borderline Lepromatous Leprosy Masquerading as Orbital Cellulitis in an Immigrant Worker / 나학회지

Hansen's disease(HD) is a chronic infectious disorder acquired by inoculation of Mycobacterium leprae. With the establishment of complex multidrug therapy, the incidence rate of leprosy patients has continually shown to decline by 90% compared to the incidence rate in the 1990s. However, the prevalence of the disease still remains high in southeast asian countries. Due to the rarity and diverse nature of cutaneous presentation, HD is often misdiagnosed with other dermatoses or infectious conditions. Especially, when a patient presents with unusual presentation with leprosy reaction with no classical feature such as sensory disorders and skin lesion, the diagnosis is further delayed with misguided treatments. Herein we present a 27-year-old Indonesian immigrant who displayed clinical features mimicking that of orbital cellulitis who was later diagnosed with borderline lepromatous leprosy through histologic and PCR confirmation, in light of alerting the probability of leprosy in immigrants with intractable skin presentations.

Pediatric anaphylaxis at a university hospital including the rate of prescribing epinephrine auto-injectors

PURPOSE: Anaphylaxis is an acute, life-threatening systemic reaction which should be treated by epinephrine, and patients should be prescribed epinephrine auto-injector after the event. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical features of pediatric anaphylaxis, including the rate of using epinephrine at hospital and prescribing epinephrine auto-injector. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 68 anaphylactic patients at in-hospital, out-hospital, and Emergency Department of Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Korea, who were under 15 years of age, from January 2013 through December 2014. We reviewed their clinical features, doctor's treatment methods, rate of follow-up and prescribing epinephrine auto-injectors. RESULTS: Causes of anaphylaxis were food (76.5%), drug (10.3%), and idiopathic (13.2%). The involved organs were the skin (86.8%), respiratory tract (80.9%), cardiovascular system (23.5%), and gastrointestinal tract (17.7%). Patients were treated with systemic steroids (91.2%), antihistamines (88.2%), and epinephrine (75.0%). Fifty-three patients (77.9%) revisited our pediatric allergy clinic and epinephrine auto-injectors were prescribed for 25 patients (36.8%). CONCLUSION: Physicians should make an effort to use epinephrine as an initial treatment of anaphylaxis, to prescribe epinephrine auto-injectors, and to give proper information about disease.

Discussion of Lumbar Puncture in Infants Aged Less than 3 Months Who Visited Emergency Department

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to confirm the necessity of lumbar puncture to identify the cause of fever in febrile infants aged less than 3 months who visited an emergency department. METHODS: This was a retrospective study conducted on 399 infants aged 31 days to 90 days who visited the emergency department with fever from March 2014 to February 2016. RESULTS: Of the 399 patients, 49 patients had serious bacterial infections (SBI), and were finally diagnosed with urinary tract infection (UTI), sepsis, and bacterial meningitis. Of these, only one case was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, and this patient was accompanied by sepsis. UTIs were present in 47 patients, and only 1 case was diagnosed with sepsis without bacterial meningitis or UTI. The Boston criteria and Philadelphia criteria included the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) results for predicting SBI. In this study, the modified Philadelphia criteria was used, which does not include the CSF results, and there was no factor that showed a significant correlation as a result of statistical analysis. Rather, a C-reactive protein ≥50 mg/L, procalcitonin ≥2 ng/mL, and fever over 39℃C showed statistical significance with SBI. In this study, the 1 patient diagnosed with bacterial meningitis also met all three factors (C-reactive protein, 106 mg/L; procalcitonin, 40.25 ng/mL; peak body temperature, >39℃). CONCLUSION: Because the incidence of bacterial meningitis has decreased recently, when an infant under 3 months of age visits the emergency room with fever, lumbar puncture should be performed selectively to identify the cause.

Antibiotic therapy decision and clinical outcome comparison based on serum procalcitonin in children with pneumonia

PURPOSE: It is difficult to differentiate between viral and bacterial pneumonia in children and to decide antibiotic therapy. Study was conducted to investigate the clinical usefulness of antibiotic therapy based on procalcitonin (PCT) in children diagnosed with viral pneumonia. METHODS: This study included 108 patients diagnosed with viral pneumonia. Patient's age, fever duration, hospital stay, and treatment progress were noted, and laboratory study including PCT levels were tested. In addition, Polymerase chain reaction was done to test for viruses. Patients were divided into PCT and non-PCT groups according to PCT level. And their clinical patterns, treatment outcome, antibiotic use, severity of complications were compared. RESULTS: The number of patients with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was 35 and 50, rhinovirus was 5 and 10 in PCT and non-PCT groups, respectively. Fever duration was longer by 2.5 days in PCT group than in the non-PCT group (P<0.001), but there was no difference in the duration of hospital stay (P=0.191). White blood cell and absolute neutrophil count levels were higher in the PCT group (P=0.013 and P<0.001, respectively). Use of antibiotic therapy was performed in group was on 22% and 90% of patients in the PCT and non-PCT groups, respectively showing a significant reduction in the frequency of antibiotic therapy in PCT group, without a significant difference in treatment outcome, despite more severe clinical signs (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Antibiotic therapy based on serum PCT levels in children admitted for pneumonia can reduce the frequency of antibiotic therapy in viral pneumonia, without causing significantly different treatment outcome or complications.

Multicenter questionnaires on the current management of atopic dermatitis in Korea

PURPOSE: The effective management of atopic dermatitis (AD) adjusted to individual clinical courses and demands can be challenging to both patients and physicians. Understanding of actual situations, experienced and perceived by patients with AD and their caregivers, is essential to improve clinical outcomes and satisfaction in real practice. METHODS: This multicenter survey was conducted in patients with AD or their caregivers from 9 centers with questionnaires on diagnosis and management of AD. RESULTS: A total of 324 patients and caregivers participated in the study. Most of the AD cases were initially diagnosed by physicians (80.6%), followed by self-diagnosis. Patients and caregivers thought that allergic substances, such as house dust mites, food, and pollutants, are responsible for AD development; moisturization, environmental control, and improvement of the body constitution are important for AD management. Allergy tests were performed in 194 patients (59.9%), but allergen avoidance strategy was instructed in only 81 subjects (41.8%). Major topical medications were steroids (81.8%) and topical immunomodulators (34.3%), while systemic medications were steroids (42.6%), antihistamines (36.4%), and cyclosporins (2.8%). One hundred eighty-one subjects (55.9%) had received complementary alternative medicine, including Oriental medicine. Many subjects desired to receive individualized management, use of specialized institutions for AD as well as evidence-based, effective, sustainable treatment. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that there may still be an unmet need for patients with AD in real practice. Personalized, evidencebased, and multidisciplinary approaches, including patient education, should be implemented for good outcomes.

A Case of Borderline Lepromatous Leprosy Masquerading as Chronic Eczema / 나학회지

Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous disease affecting the skin and peripheral nervous system. Because of its variable manifestations, leprosy can be misdiagnosed as syphilis, sarcoidosis, psoriasis and eczema. A 73 year-old man showed erythematous papules on his arms and legs. He had been erroneously treated as eczema before the correct clinicopathological diagnosis of borderline lepromatous leprosy was made. We report this case to suggest that dermatologists should pay careful attention while diagnosing new cases of leprosy.

A Case of Tattooing Following the Acupuncture in Oriental Medical Clinic and Other Place / 대한피부과학회지

No abstract available.

Study for the Sensitization Rate of Garlic and Onion Using Multiple Allergen Simultaneous Test-Immunoblot Assay

OBJECTIVE: Onion and garlic are a commonly consumed food in the Korean population. But these food materials have rarely been studied for their allergenic potentials. We analyzed the sensitization rate of garlic and onion using multiple allergen simultaneous test (MAST)-immunoblot assay. METHODS: From January 2009 to December 2013, we analyzed the results of the MAST immunoblot assay performed in 2,691 allergy patients at Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, retrospectively. RESULTS: Among 2,691 patients, 1,063 were under 18 years old, and 1,628 were over 18 years old. In the all age groups, 29 patients (1.08%) were positive to garlic, 54 patients (2.01%) were positive to onion and one patient was positive to garlic and onion and others. A total of 84 patients (3.12%) were positive to garlic or onions. In infants under the age of 2 years, garlic was the seventh and onion was the nineteenth common food allergen, and onion was more common than rice. While getting older, the sensitization rate of garlic decreased (P<0.001), but onion increased (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Using one of the semi-quantitative methods, MAST immunoblot assay, we realized that the sensitization rate of garlic was higher than rice or wheat in infants. We presume further studies on the role of garlic and onion in food allergy are needed.

Clinical Manifestation of Necrotizing Pneumonia in Healthy Children

OBJECTIVE: Necrotizing pneumonia (NP) is a severe complication of lobar pneumonia caused by various pathogens. The immunopathogenesis and clinical characteristics of NP in children are not clearly understood. We wanted to evaluate the clinical characteristics and suggest in part the immunopathogenesis of NP. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively the medical charts and radiographic materials of eight patients with NP, who were diagnosed by chest radiography and chest computed tomography at the Department of Pediatrics, Soonchunhyang University Hospitals at Cheonan and Bucheon from January 2002 to December 2011. RESULTS: They were previously healthy, 2.1 to 4.6 years of ages (mean, 2.8+/-1.0 years) and three boys and five girls. All of them had pleural effusion. Five patients had pneumonic consolidations in right upper lung field. Three patients had pneumatocele. They developed leukocytosis (mean, 19,400+/-6,400/mm3), higher C-reactive protein level (mean, 25.1+/-8.0 mg/dL). The etiologic agents were revealed in two patients; Streptococcus pneumonia (S. pneumonia) was revealed in one patient and S. pneumonia and Mycoplasma pneumonia in the other patient. Three patients were treated with additional intravenous immunoglobulin. Clinical improvement was prolonged: fever lasted 10 to 23 days, and length of hospitalization was 15 to 36 days. NP or pneumatocele were completely resolved on the follow-up radiographic studies in all of the patients. CONCLUSION: Although the previously healthy young children with NP had protracted clinical course, they recovered without any problematic sequelae. Our results suggest that the immunopathogenesis of NP in children may be associated with the exaggerated immune reaction of the host to insults from initial bacterial infections, rather than the pathogen-induced cytopathies.

Multiple Subcutaneous Abscesses Complicating Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia associated with BCG Vaccination

We report a case of 42-day-old girl with multiple abscesses in soft tissue sites and osteomyelitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus after an intradermal Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination. This may be an unusual complication of intradermal BCG vaccination.

A Case of Clear Cell Squamous Cell Carcinoma / 대한피부과학회지

Clear cell SCC is a rare variant of SCC initially reported by Kuo in 1980. A lot of cases of clear cell SCC show intracytoplasmic glycogen deposition and thus need to be distinguished from trichilemmal carcinoma. Although some authors studied the histological features of clear cell SCC, with its limited case reports and the variety of its content, the histopathologic findings of clear cell SCC are still imperfectly known. Herein, we report a case of clear cell SCC with review of literatures for histopathologic findings of clear cell SCC.

Effects of an Education Program on Knowledge about Environmental Health and Allergy Symptoms among Elementary School Students / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of a health education program to improve knowledge about environmental health and allergy symptoms among elementary school students. METHODS: This study has nonequivalent control group pre-post test design. Participants of this study were 60 elementary students (30 experimental and 30 control) who agreed to participate in the study. The education program consisted of information on environmental health and allergies, the atmosphere, indoor environments, food and allergies, and activities with parents. The program was carried out one time (50 minutes) per week during 6 weeks. Knowledge and symptoms of allergies were recorded before and after the program among both groups. The collected data were analyzed by ANCOVA and t-test using SAS program. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in knowledge about allergies in the experimental group compared to the control group, but allergic symptoms were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that environmental health education programs are effective in the area of school health nursing for increasing knowledge about environmental health and allergies. Further research is needed to develop programs for reducing allergic symptoms as an environment health problem among children.

Immunoassay of Pertussis According to Ages / 소아감염

PURPOSE: We conducted the immunoassay of pertussis according to ages, in order to evaluate protective immunity against pertussis in Korean populations. METHODS: Healthy subjects were enrolled at four university hospitals in Korea. The subjects were grouped as seven age groups (every 10 years). Antibodies against pertussis toxin (PT) in sera were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Geometric mean concentrations (GMC) of antibodies and the ratios of the subjects with seroprotective antibody levels were determined. The subjects with antibody titers > or =24.0 EU/mL were considered to seroprotective as the manufacturer's protocol. RESULTS: Total 1,605 subjects (age: 2 months-65 years) participated in this study, and their GMC was 56.16+/-50.54 EU/mL. Among seven age groups, age group or =11 year) showed lower levels of antibody against pertussis and lower ratio of the subjects with seroprotective antibody titers than children (age group <11 year).

Immunoassay of Diphtheria and Tetanus according to Ages / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate protective immunity against diphtheria and tetanus in the Korean population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Healthy subjects were enrolled at four university hospitals in Korea. Subjects were assigned to seven age groups (every 10 years). Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used for measurement of diphtheria or tetanus anti-toxoid antibodies in sera, and geometric mean concentrations (GMC) of antibodies were determined. Subjects with antibody titers or =11 yr (600 subjects), 363 (60.5%) would require a diphtheria booster, and 422 (70.4%) would require a tetanus booster. CONCLUSIONS: GMC of antibodies against diphtheria and tetanus of adolescents and adults were relatively low, while those of children in Korea were satisfactory. Approximately two-thirds of Korean adolescent and adult subjects in this study would require a booster vaccination in order to maintain long-term protective immunity against diphtheria and tetanus.

Generalized Hypertrichosis with Developmental Delay / 대한피부과학회지

Hypertrichosis is a condition of excessive hair growing in areas of the body where androgen is not predominantly dependent. It has been classified into localized and generalized based on the extent of distribution. Generalized hypertrichosis may occur as part of a syndrome or a metabolic disorder. A 55-month-old girl visited our department with accentuation of thick hairs on her mid-back and face since birth. She was diagnosed as developmental retardation at the age of 10 months. None of her family members had hypertrichosis. No abnormal findings were shown on chromosomal and laboratory studies. Therefore, we diagnosed her as generalized hypertrichosis with developmental delay.