Infections of Intestinal Helminth at Two Species of Field Mice, Apodemus agrarius and A. Peninsulae, in Gangwondo and Chungcheongnam-do, Korea

Rodents are important reservoirs of diseases affecting people and livestock, and are major sources of parasite contamination of agricultural products. We surveyed the infection status of intestinal helminths in 2 species of field mice, Apodemus agrarius and A. peninsulae, captured in the agricultural fields of Gangwon-do and Chungcheongnam-do, Korea. Total 83 mice (57 A. agrarius and 26 A. peninsulae) were collected in 2 surveyed areas, and the intestines of each mouse were opened with scissors, and then intestinal contents were examined with microscope. Total 6 species of intestinal helminth were detected in 61 (73.5%) out of 83 mice examined. Four species of nematode, i.e., Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Aspiculuris tetraptera, Heterakis spp. and ascarid, were found in 40 (48.2%), 14 (16.9%), 11 (13.3%) and 13 (15.7%) mice respectively. One species of cestode, Hymenolepis diminuta and 1 unidentified egg were also detected in the intestines of 14 (16.9%) and 1 (1.2%) mice, respectively. Conclusively, this study identified 5 helminth species in the gastrointestinal tracts of wild rodents captured in some areas in central and northern Korea, and N. brasiliensis was the most prevalent (dominant) species rather than zoonotic ones.

A Clinical and Mycological Study of Dermatophytoses in Chungcheongnam-do Province (2008~2012) / 대한의진균학회지

BACKGROUND: The causative organisms and clinical characteristics of dermatophytoses are altered by various factors such as social environmental change and geographic distribution. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research is to investigate the changes and recent clinical and mycological features of dermatophytoses in the Chungcheongnam-do province. METHODS: We performed clinical and mycological studies on 387 cases of dermatophytoses among outpatients of Dermatologic clinic of Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital for 5 years, from January 2008 to December 2012. RESULTS: 1. The age distribution showed patients in their 50s to be the most common. The ratio of male to female was 1.07:1. 2. The seasonal prevalence of dermatophytoses was highest in the summer, but the incidence of tinea capitis was highest in the winter season. 3. The positive rate of KOH examination was 95.1% and that of culture was 58.9%. 4. Trichophyton(T.) rubrum was most prevalent dermatophyte (71.1%), followed by Microsporum(M.) canis (9.2%), T. mentagrophytes (7.9%). CONCLUSION: Compared with previous study, the incidence of T. rubrum infection is rising and in recent years the prevalence of M. canis infection has markedly increased. The rest of causative organisms' proportion is increasing and diversification is observed.

A Seroepidemiological Survey of Toxocariasis among Eosinophilia Patients in Chungcheongnam-do

There have been several reports on the relationship between toxocariasis and eosinophilia, but all have been limited to the areas of Seoul or Gangwon-do. In the present study, we investigated the seroprevalence of toxocariasis among eosinophilia patients in Chungcheongnam-do, the central district of Korea. Among the 101 patients tested, 51 (50.5%) were identified as positive by Toxocara ELISA, and 46 (45.5%) were confidently diagnosed with toxocariasis because of absence of any other cause of eosinophilia. Whereas 22 of 42 seropositive patients (52.3%) had a recent history of consuming raw livers, especially the cow liver, only 1 of 25 seronegative patients (4%) had done so (P<0.01). From these results, we could confirm that toxocariasis is related to eosinophilia, and infer that ingestion of raw cow liver plays a vital role in the transmission of toxocariasis in Chungcheongnam-do.

Clinical Features of Systemic Contact Dermatitis Due to the Ingestion of Lacquer in the Province of Chungcheongnam-do

BACKGROUND: Lacquer contains an allergen, which can cause severe contact dermatitis. Systemic dermatitis resulting from the ingestion of lacquer is quite common in Korea, until now. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to elucidate the clinical features and laboratory findings of systemic contact dermatitis (SCD), due to the ingestion of lacquer in Chungcheongnam-do. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 33 patients with SCD, after ingestion of lacquer from Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Cheonan, over a 6-month period. RESULTS: In this study, 33.3% of patients ate lacquer, as a health food, and some (15.2%) by encouragement of friends or spouse. The most common way of ingestion was the lacquer-boiled chicken (48.5%), but many also ate lacquer tree sprouts (42.4%). The skin lesions developed as erythematous maculopapular eruptions, erythema multiforme, erythroderma, purpura, wheals and vesicles. On laboratory findings, 13 patients (52%) exhibited leukocytosis and 11 patients had elevated eosinophil counts. CONCLUSION: The general public is becoming more aware of the toxic effects of lacquer ingestion, but still does not fully understand the dangers of lacquer tree sprouts, and this ignorance is frequently causing SCD in Chungcheongnam-do.

A Clinical and Histopathologic Study on Actinic Keratosis in the Province of Chungcheongnam-do / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Actinic keratoses (AK) have been recognized as precancerous lesions, they have been recently considered to be an early in situ squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, there have been few studies to determine the clinical and histopathological characteristics of AK, and especially in the Province of Chungcheongnam-do. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics of 80 cases of AK in the province of Chungcheongnam-do. METHODS: The authors evaluated the clinical and histopathological features of 80 patients with AK at Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Cheonan from January 1998 to December 2008. RESULTS: The ratio of male to female patients was 1:4.7. The age distribution ranged from 42 to 93 years old. Single lesions are more common than multiple lesions. The duration of lesions was variable with a mean duration of 25.1 months. The most commonly involved sites were the face and especially the cheek. The color was erythematous in 63.3% of the cases, brownish in 24.5%, dark-brownish in 9.5% and gray in 2.7%. Crust and scale were noted in 37.4% and 22.4% of the cases, respectively. SCC was associated with AK in 6.3% of the cases, basal cell carcinoma was associated with AK in 1.3%, and keratoacanthoma in 1.3%. The most common histopathological types of AK were atrophic types in 20.6%, and this was followed by the hypertrophic types in 18.6% of the cases and the hypertrophic and atrophic types in 14.7% of the cases. CONCLUSION: Our results are similar to those of the previous reports. In addition, we observed a consistently higher incidence in females than males in the Korean reports and a more frequent incidence of single lesions than multiple lesions in the Asian reports. We found that AK is not easily distinguishable from SCC both clinically and cytologically. Thus, we suggest that biopsies and active treatments should be performed on AK lesions.

A Clinical and Histopathologic Study on Actinic Keratosis in the Province of Chungcheongnam-do / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Actinic keratoses (AK) have been recognized as precancerous lesions, they have been recently considered to be an early in situ squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, there have been few studies to determine the clinical and histopathological characteristics of AK, and especially in the Province of Chungcheongnam-do. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics of 80 cases of AK in the province of Chungcheongnam-do. METHODS: The authors evaluated the clinical and histopathological features of 80 patients with AK at Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Cheonan from January 1998 to December 2008. RESULTS: The ratio of male to female patients was 1:4.7. The age distribution ranged from 42 to 93 years old. Single lesions are more common than multiple lesions. The duration of lesions was variable with a mean duration of 25.1 months. The most commonly involved sites were the face and especially the cheek. The color was erythematous in 63.3% of the cases, brownish in 24.5%, dark-brownish in 9.5% and gray in 2.7%. Crust and scale were noted in 37.4% and 22.4% of the cases, respectively. SCC was associated with AK in 6.3% of the cases, basal cell carcinoma was associated with AK in 1.3%, and keratoacanthoma in 1.3%. The most common histopathological types of AK were atrophic types in 20.6%, and this was followed by the hypertrophic types in 18.6% of the cases and the hypertrophic and atrophic types in 14.7% of the cases. CONCLUSION: Our results are similar to those of the previous reports. In addition, we observed a consistently higher incidence in females than males in the Korean reports and a more frequent incidence of single lesions than multiple lesions in the Asian reports. We found that AK is not easily distinguishable from SCC both clinically and cytologically. Thus, we suggest that biopsies and active treatments should be performed on AK lesions.

A Clinical and Histopathological Study of Epidermal Cysts in the Province of Chungcheongnam-do / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Epidermal cysts are the most common type of epithelial cysts of the skin. There have been a few studies to determine the clinical and histopathological characteristics of epidermal cysts. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics of 243 cases of epidermal cysts in the province of Chungcheongnam-do. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical and histopathological features of 243 cases of epidermal cysts at Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Cheonan from January 1998 to December 2008. RESULTS: The ratio of male to female patients was 1.7:1. The age distribution of subjects at the first visit ranged from 11 months to 83 years. The most common site of occurrence was the face. The most common histopathological change of the cystic wall was atrophy. Cystic contents such as calcifications, parakeratotic cells, red blood cells as well as keratinous material were observed. We found stromal changes such as foreign body reactions, fibrosis and granulation tissue. Forty-seven cases were clinically misdiagnosed as other diseases, but subsequent histopathological findings demonstrated the presence of epidermal cysts. No particular relationship was found among duration, size, atrophy of the cyst wall and calcification of keratin material. CONCLUSION: We reaffirmed contiguity with previous reports. In addition, we found some cases could have been clinically misdiagnosed as other diseases. In addition, there was a poor relationship between the duration of the lesion and other variables such as the size of the lesion, the degree of atrophy of the cyst wall and calcification of keratin material.