The accuracy and sensitivity of both direct and indirect immunofluorescence microseopy in diagnosing chronic bullous dermatoses were evaluated and compared in 11 cases of six different disease entities(pemphigus vulgaris, pemphigus vegetans, bullous pemphigoid, linear IgA bullous dermatosis, familial benign chronic pemphigus), which had been diagnosed clinically and by routine histopa thological studies. And the results obtained were as follows: 1) In 4 cases of bullous pemphigod, the direct IF of perilesional skin showed linear deposition of IgG and C2 along basement membrane zone(BMZ), whereas the indirect IF revealed negetive findings. 2) In 2 cases of pemphigus vulgaris, the direct IF showed deposition of IgG and C2 in intercellular substance(ICS) of perilesional epidermal tissue, and the indirect IF revealed auto-antibody to ICS(1:320) in one case. 3) In 2 cases of linear IgA bullous dermatosis, which were diagnosed as dermatitis herpetiformis by clinical and routine hisopathological findings, the direct IF of perilesional and uninvolved skin manifested linear deposition of IgA, IgM, C3 and F along BMZ, However, no immunofluorescence was detected by the indirect IF. 4) In a case of chronic bullous dermatosis of childhood, the direct IF of perilesional skin showed linear deplosition of IgA and IgM along BMZ. 5) In a case of pemphigus vegetans, the direct IF revealed no specific findings, while the inderect IF disclosed auto antibody positive to ICS(1:40). 6) In a case of familial benign chronic permphigus, no immunofluorescence was found by direct IF. These results indicate that both direct and indirect immunofluorescence micros-copy are valuable in diagnosing chronic bullous dermatoses and in understanding their immune pathogenesis.
Basement Membrane ; Dermatitis Herpetiformis ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Linear IgA Bullous Dermatosis ; Pemphigoid, Bullous ; Pemphigus ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous*

OBJECTIVES: To explore the possible effect of an interaction between summertime heat waves and ozone on cardiopulmonary mortality during the 1994 heat wave in Korea. METHODS: The unusually hot summer of 1994 in Korea was defined as the heat wave in this study. We examined the associations of air pollutants with daily cardiopulmonary deaths between 1991-1995, considering the product term of the heat wave and each pollutant, weather and time trends. RESULTS: During the heat wave, while temperatures were uniformly higher than those of other summers, the within-heat-wave difference in mortality paralleled that in the regional ozone levels. In terms of the influence of the heat wave, the results of ozone were different to those of total suspended particles (TSP) and sulfur dioxide (SO2). The ozone association (relative risk (RR) =1.036; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.018-1.054) was observed only under heat wave conditions, while the TSP (RR =1.006, 95% CI = 0.999-1.012) and the SO2 (RR =1.018, 95% CI = 1.011-1.024) associations were found under normal weather conditions (per interquartile increase of each pollutant; results of three pollutants model). The ozone association under heat wave was attributable to the statistical interaction between the heat wave and ozone. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the possibility of a biological synergy between the heat wave and ozone, one that is not evident between the heat wave and other major pollutants like particles or SO2.
Air Pollutants ; Air Pollution ; Hot Temperature* ; Infrared Rays* ; Korea* ; Mortality* ; Ozone* ; Sulfur Dioxide ; Weather

This study was done with 5,980 cases of dermatomycosis of dermatological patients in Chnnnam University Hospital for 10 years(1976~1985). And the literatures concerning all fungal diseases reported in Korea were reviewed. The results were summarized as follows ; Among total dermatological patients, the average annual incidence of dermatomycosis was about 15+3%. Dermatophytosis was the most prevalent(77.34%), followed by candicliaais(14.38%), tinea versicolor(7.78%), sporotrichosis(0.45%). Of dermatophytosis, the decreasing orders of clinical localization by the incidence were T.pedis(42.2%), T.cruris(25.9%), T. manum(10.3% ), T. corporis(10.0%), T. ungium (6.2%), T.facialis(4.2%), and T. capitis(2.2%). The organisms identified from dermato phytoses were generally 9 species ; the decreasing orders of frequency were Trichophyton rubrum(59.4%), T. mentagrophyte(27.9%), Microsporum canis(8.5%), Epidermophyton floccosum(2.4%), T. ferrugineum(0.9%), and others(M. gypseum, T. schonleinii, T. violaceum, T. verrucosum). The most common causative organism was T. rubrum, but that of T. corporis and T. capitis was M. canis, which showed a continuous increase on the annual variation of dermatophytes. Of candidiasis, the most common clinical form was cutaneous candidiasis, which was prevalent under 10 years old. But vulvo-vaginitis and paronychia highly developed between 3rd and 5th decades. The occasion with precipitating faetors was 10.4% of total candidiasis, of which tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus were prevalent. Of T. versicolor patients, the peak age was 3rd decades but some cases were infant and child. Of sporotrichosis, the most common clinical location and form were hand and lym phatic respectively. The peak age was between 4th and 5th decades, and the most prevalent occupation was farmer. Of other deep mycosis, there were each case of cryptococcosis, systernic candidiasis, and Wangiella derm,atitidies infection.
Arthrodermataceae ; Candidiasis ; Candidiasis, Cutaneous ; Child ; Cryptococcosis ; Dermatomycoses* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Epidermophyton ; Exophiala ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Korea ; Microsporum ; Occupations ; Paronychia ; Sporotrichosis ; Tinea ; Trichophyton ; Tuberculosis

We experienced a 54-year-old female patient who had multiple vegetaing plaques and, peripherally, a few pustules in her both axillae. On the skin biopsy specimen of the vegetating plaque, it showed acanthosis, suprabasal acsntholysis, papillo-matosis, downward proliferation of the epidermis, and eosinophilic microroabscess in the epidermis. The indirect immunofluorescence study disclosed anto-antibody positive to intercellular substance of the lip of guinea pig, while direct. immuno-fluorescence of the perilesional skin reealed no specific findings. The skin lesion had improved with topical and systemic steroid therapy.
Animals ; Axilla ; Biopsy ; Eosinophils ; Epidermis ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Guinea Pigs ; Humans ; Lip ; Middle Aged ; Pemphigus* ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster(HZ), caused by reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus, is manifested by dermatomal distribution of skin rashes, acute pain and post-herpetic neuralgia by pathologic involvement of the sensory ganglia. Low-energy laser(LEL) deliver a small amount of energy without elevation of the tissue temperature. LEL is reported to have various biologic effects such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, regenerative, antiallergic, immunocorrective, and antibacterial effects. OBJECTIVE: We attempted to evaluate the therapeutic effect of LEL on an acute phase of HZ. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with acute HZ were enrolled in the study. The control group(30 patients) received medications including analgesics, antihistamine, and topical care without LEL irradiation. The experimental group(30 patients) were irradiated with LEL daily for 7 days in addition to the same kinds of medications for the control group. The efficacy of LEL irradiation for HZ was assessed by analyzing changes in skin rashes, pain scores, and postherpetic neuralgia.
Acute Pain ; Analgesics ; Exanthema ; Ganglia, Sensory ; Herpes Zoster* ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Humans ; Neuralgia ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic

Telangiectasia is characterized by permanently dilated small vessels usually arising from the suprapapillary plexus of venule capillaries, or arterioles. It may be etvlogically divided into the primary and secondary types. Rosacea, varicose vein, prolonged sun xvsure, radiation, and physical trauma may be the causes of secondary telangiectasia. We report herein a case of secondary telangiectasia associated which operation for a femur fracture.
Arterioles ; Capillaries ; Femur ; Rosacea ; Solar System ; Telangiectasis* ; Varicose Veins ; Venules

Allergic contact dermatitis from aroma oils has long been recognized and with increasing frequency. Contact dermatitis of the allergic type of fragrances used for aromatherapy has been reported rarely, and only in patients exposed due to their occupation. We report herein a case of allergic contact dermatitis to aroma oils in an aroma therapist. A 25-year-old woman, an aroma therapist, had been treated with topical steroids under the impression of contact dermatitis. She had had pruritic erythematous maculopapules on the arms extending to the hands for the previous 6 months. Patch tests showed strong reactions to aroma oils(3% fennel and 3% juniper). The skin lesions were cleared after she stopped her job. However, re-exposure to aroma oils caused eczematous lesions repeatedly at the sites previously involved. We predict that increasing popularity of aromatherapy will lead to increasing number of patients developing allergic contact dermatitis from aroma oils. This has to be taken into consideration when testing patients with suspected contact dermatitis.
Adult ; Arm ; Aromatherapy ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Female ; Foeniculum ; Hand ; Humans ; Oils ; Patch Tests ; Skin ; Steroids