Vitiligo Occurring after Halo Formation around Congenital Melanocytic Nevi

Abstract: We present two cases wherein vitiligo developed after the onset of halo formation involving congenital melanocytic nevi to emphasize the possibility of this finding as a potential albeit unusual presentation of vitiligo.     

Primary immature teratoma of the prostate with angiosarcoma component: Its unusual response to chemotherapy

Here, we present a case of immature teratoma of prostatic origin, which included an angiosarcoma component. This mass proved unresponsive against preoperative chemotherapy for immature teratoma. Angiosarcoma, although quite rare, should be included in the differential diagnosis as a component of prostatic teratoma, especially in cases in which the tumor proves unresponsive to well-known chemotherapeutic protocols. This is, to our knowledge, the first reported case of primary prostatic immature teratoma containing an angiosarcoma component.     

Eosinophilic cystitis causing spontaneous rupture of the urinary bladder in a child

We report a unique case of eosinophilic cystitis causing intraperitoneal bladder perforation in a child diagnosed by chance with no signs or history of trauma. To our knowledge, this is the first case of eosinophilic cystitis complicated by bladder rupture in children. The patient was successfully treated with primary repair. For children with non-traumatic bladder perforation, eosinophilic cystitis must be considered in the differential diagnosis.     

声调对鼻音功能亢进主观听感知的影响

目的了解声调对鼻音功能亢进主观听感知的影响,为编制符合汉语普通话特点的鼻音功能亢进主观听感知评估材料奠定基础。方法分析20 名普通儿童与20 名腭裂儿童朗读声调不同的评估材料时,鼻音功能亢进主观听感知上的等级差异与鼻化率差异。结果不同声调材料之间,鼻音功能亢进等级及鼻化率均无显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论设计汉语普通话鼻音功能亢进主观评估材料时,可以不考虑声调的影响。     

How useful is waist circumference for assessment of abdominal obesity in Korean pre-menopausal women during weight loss?

Asian women are known to have a larger amount of abdominal fat (AF) for the same level of BMI compared with Caucasian and African-American women. This study was aimed to determine whether waist circumference (WC) could be useful as an index of AF compared with AF measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) before and after a weight-loss program in Asian women. Thirty-eight healthy, pre-menopausal obese Korean women (body fat percent>30%) were enrolled and followed during a 6-week weight-loss program including herbal formula, calorie restriction, and exercise. Anthropometry and DXA measurements were performed before and after weight-loss. A specific region of interest (ROI, L2-iliac crest) by DXA was correlated with anthropometry at baseline: WC (gamma=0.91)>BMI (gamma=0.87)>Waist-Height ratio (WHtR, gamma=0.82)>WHR (gamma=0.46); and after weight loss: BMI (gamma=0.88)>WC (gamma=0.84)>WHtR (gamma=0.82), all p<0.01. The change in DXA ROI showed a reasonable correlation with change in anthropometry: BMI (gamma=0.63, p<0.01)>WC (gamma=0.39, p<0.05)>WHtR (gamma=0.37, p<0.05). A stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that 83% of the variance in DXA derived AF was explained by WC at baseline, WC and BMI at follow-up, respectively. This study suggests that WC could be a good predictor of AF for Korean pre-menopausal women.     

Complex Fractionated Electrograms and AF Nests in Vagally Mediated Atrial Fibrillation

Background: Catheter ablation targeting of complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs) is one of the techniques used for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. The ablation of sites showing a high‐frequency spectral component (HFC) during sinus rhythm, known as AF nests, has been introduced as an adjunct to conventional ablation. Known locations of some AF nests are similar to CFAE sites. However, it has not been systematically evaluated whether these two targets represent the same foci. The purpose of this study was to compare the anatomical locations of these sites using an animal model of vagally mediated AF. Methods: Five anesthetized open‐chest dogs were evaluated. Atrial electrograms were obtained epicardially. AF was induced by burst atrial pacing with 20 Hz during vagal stimulation. A total of 15 sites (eight sites in right atrium and seven sites in left atrium) were evaluated in each animal. The CFAE was determined during AF according to the electrogram patterns. After sinus conversion, real‐time spectrum analysis was used for AF nest assessment at the same location. Results: The CFAE was observed at the high and mid sulcus terminalis areas, pulmonary vein antrum, and mid portion of the coronary sinus. Among them, only 60% of the CFAE sites showed HFC during sinus rhythm. In addition, some of the non‐CFAE sites (22%) showed HFC during sinus rhythm. Conclusion: The CFAE sites were not the same as the AF nests in this animal model of vagally mediated AF. Therefore, these two types of ablation methods appear to target different substrates of AF. (PACE 2010; 33:1497–1503)     

Evaluating the nickel content in metal alloys and the threshold for nickel-induced allergic contact dermatitis

Many patients are currently suffering from nickel (Ni)-induced allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). There have been few Korean studies dealing with the threshold of Ni-induced ACD and quantifying the total amount of Ni in the metal alloys. The aim of this study is to evaluate the amount of Ni leached from metal alloys and Ni contents in metal alloys, and to estimate the threshold of Ni-induced ACD. All the earrings we examined leached below 0.5 microg/cm(2)/week, the upper limit of European Union (EU) regulation, but the other metal alloys leached a much higher amount of Ni than the limit. Likewise, all the earrings we examined contained less than 0.05% Ni (500 microg/g), the upper limit of EU regulation, but the other metal alloys exceeded this limit. Twenty Ni-sensitive subjects, who were patch-tested with various concentrations of Ni sulphate, showed positive reactions to 5% and 1% Ni sulphate, 10 subjects showed positive reactions to 0.01%, and the most sensitive subject showed reaction even to 0.0001%. The subjects in this study were more sensitive to Ni than those in the previous studies done in Europe. Taken together, strictly regulating the Ni-containing alloys that are made in Korea is needed to lower the occurrence of Ni-induced ACD.