No abstract available.
Cushing Syndrome* ; Female ; Immunization, Passive* ; Pemphigoid Gestationis*

No abstract available.
Wegener Granulomatosis*

No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Tamoxifen*

BACKGROUND: c-Jun along with JunB, JunD, and the Fos group proteins comprise the core members of the activator protein 1 (AP1) family of transcription factors. Recently, many studies have demonstrated the key roles of AP1 in regulating a wide spectrum of biological processes, including tumorigenesis. We therefore hypothesized that c-Jun and JunB influence the differentiation and malignant change of various skin tumors. OBJECTIVE: We measured the expression levels of c-Jun and JunB in different skin tumors. METHODS: The expressions of c-Jun and JunB were examined by performing the immunohistochemical staining of 55 specimens of skin tumors, including 13 cases of seborrheic keratosis, 4 cases of keratoacanthoma, 9 cases of actinic keratosis, 4 cases of Bowen's disease, 4 cases of basal cell carcinoma, 16 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, and 5 cases of malignant melanoma. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical analysis of the skin tumor tissue samples revealed a significantly higher expression of c-Jun in malignant skin tumors (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma) than in benign (seborrheic keratosis, keratoacanthoma) or premalignant skin tumors (actinic keratosis, Bowen's disease). The expression of JunB, however, was significantly lower in malignant skin tumors than in benign skin tumors. CONCLUSION: These findings showed that c-Jun has a positive association with skin malignancies, while JunB has a negative association with skin malignancies. The role of AP1 as key regulators of cell proliferation and epidermal tumor progression is suggested.
Biological Processes ; Bowen's Disease ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Keratoacanthoma ; Keratosis ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Keratosis, Seborrheic ; Melanoma ; Skin* ; Transcription Factor AP-1 ; Transcription Factors

Myiasis is the infestation of any part of the body by Diptera larvae. It is the fourth most common travel-associated skin disease and cutaneous myiasis is the most frequently encountered clinical form. Furuncular lesions may result when the skin is affected. Cutaneous myiasis caused by Cordylobia anthropophaga has been endemic in the sub-Saharan African region for more than 135 years. There have been some reported cases from non-endemic regions, and yet C. anthropophaga infestations are rarely acquired outside of Africa. We report here a rare case of furuncular cutaneous myaisis by C. anthropophaga in a German patient who came to Korea after a three-week trip to Benin.
Africa ; Benin ; Diptera ; Humans ; Korea ; Larva ; Myiasis ; Porphyrins ; Skin ; Skin Diseases

No abstract available.

Amyloidosis is a group of disorders resulting from the extracellular deposition of amyloid fibrils in tissues and organs. Primary systemic amyloidosis may be myeloma-associated or idiopathic. It involves the kidney, heart, liver, peripheral nerves, autonomic nervous system and skin. We report a case of a 76 year-old woman with primary systemic amyloidosis who suffered from ecchymotic purpura on the periorbital, flexural area with hemorrhagic bulla, and macroglossia for two years. She showed typical symptoms of AL amyloidosis, and while primary systemic amyloidosis was suspected from electrophoresis results, no amyloid was found in the skin, tongue, and bone marrow. Upon her admission due to panperitonitis from diverticulitis, she was diagnosed with primary systemic amyloidosis after amyloid deposition was confirmed in the skin and colon biopsy. She had been treated with bortezomib, but she expired from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus septic shock.
Amyloid ; Amyloidosis ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Biopsy ; Blister ; Bone Marrow ; Boronic Acids ; Colon ; Diverticulitis ; Electrophoresis ; Female ; Heart ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Macroglossia ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Peripheral Nerves ; Plaque, Amyloid ; Purpura ; Pyrazines ; Shock, Septic ; Skin ; Tongue ; Bortezomib

OBJECTIVE: Lumbar lordotic curve on L4 to S1 level is important in maintaining spinal sagittal alignment. Although there has been no definite report in lordotic value, loss of lumbar lordotic curve may lead to pathologic change especially in degenerative lumbar disease. This study examines the changes of lumbar lordotic curve after posterior lumbar interbody fusion with wedge shape cage. METHODS: We studied 45patients who had undergone posterior lumbar interbody fusion with wedge shape cage and screw fixation due to degenerative lumbar disease. Preoperative and postoperative lateral radiographs were taken and one independent observer measured the change of lordotic curve and height of intervertebral space where cages were placed. Segmental lordotic curve angle was measured by Cobb method. Height of intervertebral space was measured by averaging the sum of anterior, posterior, and midpoint interbody distance. Clinical outcome was assessed on Prolo scale at 1month of postoperative period. RESULTS: Nineteen paired wedge shape cages were placed on L4-5 level and 6 paired same cages were inserted on L5-S1 level. Among them, 18patients showed increased segmental lordotic curve angle. Mean increased segmental lordotic curve angle after placing the wedge shape cages was 1.96? Mean increased disc height was 3.21mm. No cases showed retropulsion of cage. The clinical success rate on Prolo's scale was 92.0%. CONCLUSION: Posterior lumbar interbody fusion with wedge shape cage provides increased lordotic curve, increased height of intervertebral space, and satisfactory clinical outcome in a short-term period.
Postoperative Period

No abstract available.
Melanosis* ; Tranexamic Acid*

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical therapeutic efficacy of finasteride and dutasteride as 5-alpha reductase inhibitor (5-ARI) in the medical treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 2007 to July 2010, 354 benign prostatic hyperplasia patients with combination medication : alpha blocker plus 5-ARI were enrolled. These patients were classified into a finasteride medication group (F group) and dutasteride medication group (D group) retrospectively. We initially measured the total prostate volume (TPV), prostate specific antigen (PSA), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life score (QoL), maximal flow rate (Qmax), and post-void residual urine (PVR). After at least twelve months of medication, we rechecked these clinical parameters and during medication, side effects related to medication were also recorded. RESULTS: The F group (n=129) and D group (n=225) showed no differences in baseline characteristics for age, TPV, IPSS, QoL scores, or PSA. After medication, decreases in TPV were relatively higher in the D group than the F group (28.2% vs 20.5%). In addition, the decrease in PSA (43.6% vs 39.2%) and IPSS score (4.6 vs 3.5) were also higher in the D group. There were no significant differences in QoL score, Qmax, PVR change, or side effects between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Dutasteride showed greater efficacy in reduction of TPV and PSA and in symptomatic improvement by IPSS score than finasteride. More large scale studies about the differences on clinical efficacy of finasteride and dutasteride are needed.
5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors ; Azasteroids ; Finasteride ; Humans ; Oxidoreductases ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Dutasteride