BACKGROUND: Sun exposure and therapeutic irradiation have been shown to induce alterations in extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, including elastin, glycosaminoglycan and collagens. The integrity of the connective tissue mainly depends on balanced rates of matrix synthesis and degradation of the extracellular matrix. Therefore, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may be involved in ultraviolet irradiation (UVR)-induced alterations in ECM proteins. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of UVA as well as UVB irradiations on ST-1 gene expression in cultured human skin fibroblasts. METHODS: After exposure of different doses of UVA and UVB on cultured human skin fibroblasts, we examined the expression of ST-1 gene by Northern blot analysis, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) assay with CAT construct containing AP-1 binding site. Additionally, we carried out the gel mobility shift assay to investigate the effects of UVR on the DNA-binding activity of AP-1. RESULTS: After UVR on fibroblasts, the steady-state levels of ST-1 mRNA were in-creased in response to UVA and UVB by 2.5-fold and 4.2-fold, respectively, as compared with controls. Similar results were obtained by CAT assay showing that CAT activity increased as the UVA and UVB doses increased. Furthermore, gel mobility shift assay demonstrated that both UVA and UVB increased AP-1 DNA binding complexes. CONCLUSION: UVB as well as UVA up-regulated ST-1 gene expression at transcriptional levels in vitro. We speculate that modulation of MMPs, including ST-1, gene expression by UVR may contribute to the connective tissue damage related to photoaging and other photocutaneous disorders.
Animals ; Binding Sites ; Blotting, Northern ; Cats ; Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase ; Collagen ; Connective Tissue ; DNA ; Elastin ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblasts* ; Gene Expression ; Humans* ; In Vitro Techniques ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin ; Solar System ; Transcription Factor AP-1

We present a case of lymphangioma circumscriptum in a 17 year-old girl according to tihe clinical and histopathological findings. This case is unusual in that lesions developed on the vulva and thigh without preceding lymphedema. Our patient had a plaque of grouped vesicle-like papules resembling frog's apawn on The both labia majora of vulva and several scattered, skin tag like soft papules on the right upper thigh of theree years duration. Histopathologic findings showed variable sized, dilatated lymphatic channels lined by single layer of normal endothelial cells confined to the only upper dermis.
Adolescent ; Dermis ; Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphangioma* ; Lymphedema ; Skin ; Thigh ; Vulva*

The clinical and mycological investigation was made with 68 cases of tinea corporis who had visited the Dermatologic Clinic of N.M.C. from Nov. 1985 to Oct. 1988. The results were as follows : 1. The ratio of male to female was 1.1: 1, and tinea corporis was most preva lent in the twenties. 2. 25 cases (36.8%) had a history of contact with infected animals or soil. 3. 75% of cases had less than 2 lesions. The exposed area was more frequently affected, and the face being the most frequent site. 4, Concurrent infection of tinea corporis with other types of dermatophytosis were noted in 33 cases (48.8%), and the most common was tinea pedis. 5. From the 68 cases, 49 organisms composed of 4 species were isolated, which were T. rubrum (32 cases), M. Canis (11 cases), T. mentagrophytes (5 cases) and M. gypseem (1 case). 6. Of the clinical variants of tinea corporis, the annular type was most comm only noted. No species specificity was noted in annular type, but T. rubrum was the major causative organism of eczematous and plaque type, and M. canis was the only isolated organism in herpetiform type. 7. As compared with other dermatophytes, M. canis was more commonly isolated from the smaller lesion.
Animals ; Arthrodermataceae ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Soil ; Species Specificity ; Tinea Pedis ; Tinea*

In lepromatous leprosy, it is generally believed that there is not only defective CMl specific for M. leprae, but also generalized impairment of CMI and in erythema nodosum leprosum, an immune complex-mediated pathogenesis as well cell mediated immune pathogenesis have been proposed. Neopterin is a pyrazinopyrirnidine compound derived from GTP, its raised excretion has been related to activation of T-lymphocyte/macrophage axis. A study was performed to evaluate generalized CMI status in the LL and ENL and to investigate a relationship between levels of urinary neopterin and disease activity. Urinary neopterin was measured by high pressure liquid chromatography in 25 healthy subjects, in 25 patients with LL and in 25 patients with ENL. The results were as follaws 1. Urinary Neopterin levels of patients with LL was 188.9+147.3umol/mol creatinine, which was higher than that of control group(144.8+40.4umol/mol creatinine)(p<0.01). 2. Urinary Neopterin levels of patients with ENL was 884.1+970.5umol/mol creatinine, which was higher than of control group, and patients with LL(p<0.01, p<0.01). 3. Serial measurement of urinary neopterin from 1 week to 13 weeks after treatment of ENL in 4 cases of ENL showed good correlation between urinary neopterin levels and disease activity. In summary, it thus appears that measurement of urine neopterin in leprosy provides generalized CMI status and reliable index for activity of disease.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Creatinine ; Erythema Nodosum* ; Erythema* ; Guanosine Triphosphate ; Humans ; Leprosy ; Leprosy, Lepromatous* ; Neopterin*

Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy(SHML) is a benign, generally selflimited pseudolymphomatous disease that typically appears with cervical massive lymphaclenopathy. Extranodal involvement including skin occurs in the 28% of the cases. We report a case af SHML in 51 year-old male who had several, prominent firm masses ranging from 1-10cm in the cervical, axillary, inguinal areas and multiple, plum colored nodules and plaques in the face, trunk for about 10 years. The histopathological findings of cervical lymph node, facial nodule showed dense heavy infiltration of large histiocytes with abundant pale eosinophilic cytoplasm in the subcapsular and medullary sinuses of lymph node and dermis of skin. No atypical cells suggesting malignancy is seen in the infiltrates. The patient had been treated with combination of prednisolone and vinblasstine, but he expired 1 month later.
Cytoplasm ; Dermis ; Drug Therapy ; Eosinophils ; Histiocytes ; Histiocytosis, Sinus* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prednisolone ; Prunus domestica ; Skin

Mucasal melanoma is rare and it is one of the diseases of the worst prgnosis. We report a case of metastatic mucosal melanoma of the lip in 50-yearold male with a peanut sized, round, black colored macule on the lower lip, which was metaetasized to the brain and lung for 8 years. Histologically, typical findings of malignant melanoma showed. Chest P-A showing nodular high densities on the right upper and lower lobes and left lower lobe. Brain C,T. scan revealed round nodular densities on the right and left frontal and parietal lobes. In spite of chemical and radiation therapy, he was dead.
Brain* ; Humans ; Lip* ; Lung* ; Male ; Melanoma* ; Parietal Lobe ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Pulmonary Atelectasis*

No abstract available.
Paragonimiasis*

BACKGROUND: A clinical study of rosacea has never been reported in Korea. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the clinical observations of rosncea. METHODS: During a 5-year-period from Jan. 1990 to Dec. 1994, 133 patients were evaluated with regard to age, sex, location of skin lesions, clinical type, duration, and precipitating factors. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. Of the 7,787 cases amongst outpatients, 133 cases(1.7% ) were dignosed with rosacea. Of there 46 were male patients and 87 females, giving a sex ratio of 1:1.9 in favor of females. 2. The most common type of rosacea was vascular rosacea(60.2%) 3. The average duration of rosacea was 3.4 years. 4. Rosacea afflict persons aged 40-49 most frequently. 5. The predilection sites of the rosacea were : cheek(42.9%), nose(23.3%), entire face(11.3%), cheek & nose(9%), zygomatic area(6.8%), extra-facial area(3.8%), forehead(2.9%). 6, The aggravating factors of rosacea were : unknown cause(32.3%), coffee & tea(18%), alcohol(13.5%), emotional stress(10.5%), sun exposure(9.8%), multi-factoral(7.5%), drugs(steroids)4.6%).
Cheek ; Coffee ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Outpatients ; Precipitating Factors ; Rosacea* ; Sex Ratio ; Skin ; Solar System

We report, a 1-day-old male with congenital cutaneous candidiasis who had generalized erythematous papules and pustules on the whole body including palms and soles from birth. At 5th month of pregnancy, his mother had a history of vaginal candidiasis for a month KOH mount of pus from pustules of several different sites showed budding spores and pseudohrphae and fungus culture revealed the growth of Candida albicans We believe this to he the first documented case of congenital cutaneous candidiasis in Korean literature.
Candida albicans ; Candidiasis ; Candidiasis, Cutaneous* ; Fungi ; Humans ; Male ; Mothers ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Spores ; Suppuration