BACKGROUND: The integrins comprise a family of transmembrane glycoproteins which mediate cell-cell and cell-matr ix intera ctions, and the bcl-2 oncogene is involved in tumorigenesis by blocking apoptosis. Typical acquired melanocytic nevi appear to follow a life cycle characterized by active growth, maturation, and progressive involution. In contrast, congenital rnelanocytic nevi have a different course and prcgnosis with potential for development of melanoma, and metastatic spread is very common in malignant melanoma. Objective . We investigated the expression of integrins (a2,a3,a) and bcl-2 in congenital and acquired rnelanocytic nevi, and malignant, melanomas by immunohistochemical technique. Methods . Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues from 7 compound nevi, 7 intradermal nevi, 5 congenital melanocytic nevi, and 5 malignant melanomas were immunolabeled with monoclonal antibodies directed against a2, a3,and a integrin, and bcl-2 protein. RESULTS: All acquired and congenital melanocytic nevi showed a uniform staining for a2, a3, a and bcl-2. In 3 compound nevi which the nevus cells lie mainly within the upper dermis, the nevus cells in the papillary dermis showed weak to negative a expression. Within neurotized are as of intradermal nevus, bcl-2 and a expression became weaker and totally absent. All 5 malig- nant melanomas exhibited strong a2, a3, a, and bcl-2 expression. However, the tumor cells in the lower advancing border failed to express a integrin in 3 of 5 malignant, melanomas. In most malignant melanomas, there was variable intensity of staining for bcl-2 in different areas of the tumor. Conclusion . These findings suggest that the integrins and bcl-2 may be involved in active growth, maturation, and progressive involution of the melanocytic nevi, and seem to be related to metastasis and tumorigenesis of the malignant melanoma.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Apoptosis ; Carcinogenesis ; Dermis ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Integrins* ; Life Cycle Stages ; Melanoma* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nevus ; Nevus, Intradermal ; Nevus, Pigmented* ; Oncogenes

Authors attempted to examine the development of keratinocyte in the human fetal epiderrnis in term of the appearance of principal product of differentiation, the keratins. Immunohistochemical study (ABC method) using anti-prekeratin antibodies and anti-keratin antibodies was carried out on sampled skin from 9 human fetuses ranging in estirnated gestational age from 12 weeks to 27 weeks. As early as 12 weeks of embryonic life, the epidermis contained cytokeratin. At this stage of development, the embryonic epidermis consists of three-cell layer .' basal layer, intermediate layer, and periderm, all of them staining for prekeratin and keratin. A thick cornified layer developed at 24 weeks but was not stained for prekeratin and keratin. Hair germ of 12 week-fetus was recognized as bulges of basal cells that were stained for prekeratin and keratin. At 18 weeks of estimated gestational age, development has advanced to the bulbous hair peg stage at which point the primordia of nearly all the final structural components of follicles were established. In the final structureal cornponents of the follicles, outer root sheath and sebaceous gland were stained for prekeratin and keratin, whereas cortical and cuticular elements and inner root sheath were negative. There was no difference between immunostaining results for prekeratin and keratin except for the staining intensity. The appearance of these proteins early in development suggests their potential value in utero in the recognition of keratinization disorders.
Antibodies ; Epidermis* ; Fetus* ; Gestational Age ; Hair Follicle* ; Hair* ; Humans* ; Keratinocytes ; Keratins ; Sebaceous Glands ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Hair casts(HGs) is a disorder of asymptomatic, firm yellowish white, freely movable accretions which encircles but is not attatched to the hairs. There are two types of HC:The first type, parakeratotic HC, is frequently associated with parakeratotic scalp disorders;the second type, the peripilar keratin casts, in an uncommon type not usually associated with diseases of the scalp and has only been reported in female children. The pathophysiology and origin of HC is poorly understood with only 37 cases reported in the literature. @ ES OBJECTIVE: our pupose was to establish the prevalence of hair cast in schoold children and to determine the predisposing factors of hair casts in Korea. METHODS: Five hundred and thirty-seven students of elementary schools(274male, 263female) were examined. Samples of plucked hair were stained with 4-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde and examined under light microscopes. RESULTS: There were 182 patients with HC;Peripilar keratin casts:174(CRSC 165, ERSC 7, IRSC 2); paakeratotic HC:8. In a total of 182 patients with HC, 181 were girls and the incidence of HC in female children was 68.8%(181/263). In girls who tie up or weave their hair, the incidence of peripilar keratin casts was as high as 81.8%(171/209). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the traction to the hair follicle may play a role in the generation of HC, and that peripilar keratin casts are not rare in Korea.
Causality ; Child* ; Female ; Hair Follicle ; Hair* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Prevalence ; Scalp ; Traction

In pili torti, the affected Eair shaft is flattened and twisted through 180 degrees on its own axis. The involved hairs are dry, thin, brittle, and break off easily. Congenital pili torti may occur as an isolated phenomenon or may occur in association with other abnormalities. Acquired pili torti is usually associated with some sort of scarring process in the scalp itself. We present a case of congnital pili torti without any other abnormalities in a 14 year-old female. The pedigree of her fariiily was consistent with the inheritance of congenital pili torti as an autosomal dominant trait.
Adolescent ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Cicatrix ; Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Pedigree ; Scalp ; Wills

We herein present two cases of angioleiomyoma with unusual location and number of cutaneous lesion. One was 58-year-old male who has two small peasized nodules on the left palm and volar aspect of the left fifth finger. The other was 63-year-old male with three small pea-sized nodules on the left palm, volar aspect of the left middle finger and the right sole. We confirmed these as angioleiomyoma by clinical and histopathological findings.
Angiomyoma* ; Fingers ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

This mycological and cultural investigation was made in 86 cases of onychomycosis diagnosed on positive KOH wet mount at Chosun University Hospital from October, 1989 to February, 1990. The results were as follows : l. The ratio of male to female was 1.2:1. According to Zaiass classificat.ion, distal subungual onychomycosis (DSO) was the most predominant type(79 cases) and others, in decreasing frequency, were superficial white onychomycosis (SWO) (Fcases), total dyst,rophic onychomycosis (TDO) (1 cases, and proximal subungual onychomycosis (PSO) was not. found. 2. In DSO, isolat,ed fungi were T. mentagrophyte(31 cases), "i'. rubrum(23 c
Female ; Fungi ; Humans ; Male ; Mycology* ; Onychomycosis*

No abstract available.
Biopsy* ; Child* ; Humans

We report a case of granular cell tumor in a 62-year- old female. She had a 1. 5 cm sized, asymptomatic, firm nodule with central depression on the lateral aspect cf the left orbit. Histologically, the dermis had many large, pale tumor cells arranged in clusters and strands. The cells had a distinct cellular membrane and a pale cytoplasm filled with faintly eosiinophilic,coarse granules. The characteristic faint granules within the tumor cells are PAS-positive and diastase-resistant. The overlying epidermiis showed pseudocarcinomatous hyperplasia. We treated it with total excision.
Cytoplasm ; Depression ; Dermis ; Female ; Granular Cell Tumor* ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Membranes ; Orbit

Atypical fibroxanthoma(AFX) occurs most on sun-exposed area of the head and neck of elderly person. It has an excellent prognosis after conservative, but complete, excision. However, because of its potential, albeit small, for metastasis, it is widely regarded as a low-grade sarcoma. We present herein two cases of atypical fibroxanthoma. The case 1 was a 86-year-old female who had a small egg-sized, dome shaped nodule with eroive surface on the left cheek. The other case was a 60-year-old male who had solitry bean-sized, nodulo-ulcerative lesion on the vertex. Immunohistochemical studies revealed positive reaction for vimntin and a-antichymo trypsin. These patients have received completely total surgical ecis on and remained free of recurrence for a period of about, 2 years follow up.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cheek ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma ; Skin* ; Trypsin

Using immunohistochemical methods, the authors investigated the distribution of tubulin in normal skin and 31 skin tumors, including 11 benign skin tumors and 20 malignant skin tumors, In normal skin, tubulin was strongly expressed in basal cells of the epidermis, sebaceus celis and dermal nerves. Myoepithelial cells, ductalI cells of sveat ducts and outer root sheath cells of hair follicles stained moderat,ely. Lermal fi broblasts showed no staining. In benign tumors including keratoacanthoma, trichoepithelioma, and nevocellular nevus the strornal fibroblast.s were entirely tubulin negative as well as the turnor cells. In basal cell carcinoma, the stromal fibroblasts were negative',whereas tumor cells were weakly positive. In squarnous cell carcinoma(SCC), tumor cells weri, tubulin positive weakly, the degree of tubulin expression of its stroma1 fibroblasts tencied to be in proportional to the grade of malignanr.u. Tumor cells of malignant melanoma and nevocellular nevus were tubulin positive moderately bist the stromal fibrobla.sts were strongly positive only in the cases of malignant melanoma. These results show that the degree of the tubulin; expression in adjacent, stromal cells of epidermal tumors is in proportiona.l to that of their malignancy, These suggest that the expression of tubulin in fibroblasts surrounding tumor cells of malignant melanoma and SCC reflects a stromal alt,eration that might contribute to tumor in vasion, and play a role for cellular motility.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Epidermis ; Fibroblasts ; Hair Follicle ; Keratoacanthoma ; Melanoma ; Nevus ; Skin* ; Stromal Cells ; Tubulin*