OBJECTIVE: Angiogenesis is a critical factor in the progression of solid tumors. The mechanisms responsible for angiogenesis in cervical neoplasia, however, are not well defined. Our study was aimed to determine the expression of VEGF(Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), its receptor(KDR), and TGF-beta1(Transforming Growth Factor-beta1) in cervical neoplasia, to determine the role of these angiogenic factors in preinvasive(dysplastic) process and the progression of cervical cancer and to investigate the progression of angiogenesis in the transition from normal cervix to invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. METHODS: The cervical lesions of 76 patients were punch biopsied and paraffin embedded. Among these, 5 were normal cervix, 36 were cervical intraepithelial lesion I-III, and the other 35 were invasive squamous cell carcinomas. The tissues were immunostained with antiVEGF, antiKDR, and antiTGF-beta1 polyclonal antibody. RESULTS: The expression of VEGF, KDR, and TGF-beta1 in CIN III was stronger than those of CIN I(p<0.01). Their expression were not significantly different among the each staged cervical cancers(p>0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that VEGF, KDR, and TGF-beta1 are important angiogenic factors in cervical neoplasia, especially in an early event to neoplastic transformation of cervical tissues, but these angiogenic factors are not associated with the progression of cervical cancer.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Humans ; Paraffin ; Phosphotransferases* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

Pimecrolimus cream 1% has shown to be effective in patients with a variety of inflammatory cutaneous disorders. And it might be a useful modality in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis. This prospective study was aimed at assessing the efficacy and tolerability of pimecrolimus cream 1% in the treatment of facial seborrheic dermatitis. Twenty patients were instructed to apply pimecrolimus cream 1% for 4 consecutive weeks. Assessment of the disease severity was performed at baseline and at week 1, 2, and 4. Clinical assessments of erythema, scaling, and pruritus were measured using a 4-point scale (0-3). Global assessments of the disease severity by patients and investigators were performed at each visit. Mean clinical scores of erythema, scaling, and pruritus significantly improved by 87.4%, 91.9%, and 91.5% respectively at week 4 (p<0.001). Improvements in the global assessment of disease severity determined by patients and investigators also showed excellent results. No specific adverse events other than transient burning and tingling sensations were noted. The relapse of facial seborrheic dermatitis was mostly observed between 3 to 8 weeks after the discontinuation of pimecrolimus. We suggest that the topical application of pimecrolimus cream 1% can be an effective and safe alternative for treatment of facial seborrheic dermatitis.
Adult ; Aged ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic/*drug therapy ; Erythema/drug therapy ; Face ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Severity of Illness Index ; Tacrolimus/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: TSH stimulates both the adenyl cyclase and phospholipase C (PLC) pathways by binding to a single cell surface receptor that is coupled to G protein, and we examined crosstalk between these two signaling pathways. METHODS: FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells were grown in 6H medium, then incubated with 5H medium before the stimulation. Then cells were incubated for 24 hours with 5H mix containing 1 mCi/L myo-(2-N-3H) inositol. After pretreatment of 100 microM Rp-cAMP, 100 microM forskolin, 50 nM staurosporine, or 100 nM PMA (phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate), TSH were added in different experiments. After 30 min at 37 degrees C, cells were disrupted and IP formation was determined. RESULTS: Stimulation with 100 microU/mL TSH resulted in a 1.65 fold increase in IP generation. In pursuing the possibility that the two post-receptor events might be linked in some way, we examined the effect of exogenously administrated Rp-cAMP, protein kinase A antagonist, and forskolin, a direct stimulant of protein kinase A, on IP generation achieved at a dose of 100 microU/mL TSH. The pretreatment of 100 M Rp-cAMP at a concentration sufficient to inhibit protein kinase A enhanced TSH-induced IP production. This effect of Rp-cAMP was dose-dependent. Forskolin attenuatedTSH-stimulated increases in phosphatidylinositide turnover. PMA, a protein kinase C (PKC) activator and staurosporine, a PKC inhibitor did not affect TSH-induced IP generation. CONCLUSION: These data suggested that activation of adenylate cyclase/cAMP post-receptor signalling casacde, which results in the protien kinase A activation, has an inhibitory effect on IP turnover activated by TSH.
Adenylyl Cyclases ; Animals ; Colforsin ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases ; GTP-Binding Proteins ; Inositol ; Phosphotransferases ; Protein Kinase C ; Rats ; Receptors, Thyrotropin* ; Signal Transduction* ; Staurosporine ; Thyroid Gland ; Type C Phospholipases

No abstract available.
Biopsy* ; Brain* ; Protons*

Eosinophilic, polymorphic, and pruritic eruption associated with radiotherapy (EPPER) is a disorder characterized by polymorphic papules, vesicles, and excoriations accompanied by a local or general itching sensation which can occur in cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. Histopathologic findings include a superficial and deep perivascular lymphohistiocytic infiltration with eosinophils. Most cases have occurred in patients with cervical cancer. To date, only one case of EPPER associated with breast cancer has been reported. We report a case of EPPER in a patient with breast cancer, who presented with eosinophilic, polymorphic, pruritic skin lesions in and around the irradiated left breast.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Pruritus ; Radiotherapy* ; Sensation ; Skin ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Familial multiple lipomatosis is a rare hereditary disorder with a proposed autosomal dominant inheritance. Clinically, multiple well-circumscribed, encapsulated lipomas occur on the extremities and trunk. Familial multiple lipomatosis is often confused with multiple symmetric lipomatosis, which is a condition involving a diffuse fatty infiltration around the neck and shoulders. We report two cases of familial multiple lipomatosis with typical clinical features and familial history. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first cases of familial multiple lipomatosis in Korea.
Extremities ; Korea ; Lipoma ; Lipomatosis* ; Lipomatosis, Multiple Symmetrical ; Neck ; Shoulder ; Wills

Granuloma annulare (GA) is a benign granulomatous disease. Although its etiology is not well understood, there are some reports about GA occurring after specific conditions such as sunburn, a tuberculin test, insect bites, viral diseases and trauma. Especially, in case of the auricular region which is vulnerable to trauma, it seems that GA has some relation with trauma. In 1992, Mills and Chetty proposed that repetitive minor trauma may be an important cause of auricular GA. Among the 5 cases of auricular GA that have been reported in the English literatures, 3 cases are assumed to be associated with repetitive minor trauma. Herein, we report on two cases of auricular GA that were thought to be associated with repetitive minor trauma.
Granuloma ; Granuloma Annulare ; Insect Bites and Stings ; Sunburn ; Tuberculin Test ; Virus Diseases

Mycobacterium chelonae is a rapidly growing atypical mycobacterium found in soil and water. In a healthy person, it causes cutaneous infection after an invasive procedure or surgery. Herein, we present a case of a 52-year-old man with multiple erythematous plaques and nodules on the back and left arm, and these occurred at the site of bee sting therapy by a herbal medical doctor. The histologic findings showed a granulomatous infiltration composed of numerous neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, histiocytes and multinucleated giant cells. Acid fast bacilli were detected by Ziehl-Neelsen stain and Mycobacterium chelonae infection was confirmed by an INNO-LiPA mycobacteria kit. The patient was treated with 1 g of clarithromycin and 200 mg of doxycycline for 6 months and his condition improved considerably.
Arm ; Bees ; Bites and Stings ; Clarithromycin ; Doxycycline ; Eosinophils ; Giant Cells ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium chelonae ; Neutrophils ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria ; Soil

BACKGROUND: Although the pathogenesis of chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) has not yet been fully elucidated, previous studies have identified functional, histamine-releasing autoantibodies against either alpha subunit of the high affinity IgE receptor (Fc epsilon RI alpha) or IgE in the serum of some patients with CIU. Therefore an autologous serum skin test (ASST) can be used as a predictive clinical test to determine the presence of circulating histamine-releasing factors in the serum of CIU patients, and there are some reports stating that patients with positive ASST tend to have more severe symptoms of urticaria than patients with a negative result. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine the incidence of positive ASST in CIU patients and examine whether there are significant differences in the clinical features and laboratory findings between groups of positive and negative responses to ASST. METHOD: We prospectively performed ASST and laboratory tests on 70 patients with CIU, and also checked clinical features. RESULTS: Intradermal injection of autologous serum or plasma induced a wheal and flare response in 44 out of 70 CIU patients (62.9%). However, no significant difference in the clinical features and laboratory findings, other than angioedema, was noted between ASST-positive and negative groups. CONCLUSION: According to our results, the incidence of positive ASST was high in CIU patients, but ASST is not helpful to predict the severity or clinical course of CIU.
Angioedema ; Autoantibodies ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Incidence ; Injections, Intradermal ; Plasma ; Prospective Studies ; Skin Tests* ; Skin* ; Urticaria*

BACKGROUND: Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) has a major impact on patients' quality of life. However the management of CIU has sometimes been challenging to physicians, with little response to conventional therapy like antihistamines. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to determine the effectiveness and safety of low-dose cyclosporine for the treatment of recalcitrant CIU with a positive autologous serum skin test (ASST). METHODS: Thirty CIU patients who were unresponsive to conventional antihistamine therapy were treated for 3 consecutive months with low-dose cyclosporine (2~3 mg/kg/day) and fexofenadine (180 mg/day). The clinical efficacy was measured at baseline, week 1, 2, and month 1, 2 and 3. CIU sign and symptom scores were assessed using 4-point scales for pruritus, number of hives, size of largest hive, interference with sleep, and interference with daily activities. Global assessment of the severity by patients and any side effects were also measured at every visit. RESULTS: Low-dose cyclosporine significantly improved the total CIU scores. In addition, the interference with sleep was reduced and the performance of daily activities improved in accordance with patient's global assessment of urticaria severity after 3 month of treatment. Moreover there were no significant side effects to suggest stopping cyclosporine administration. CONCLUSION: These results show that low-dose cyclosporine therapy might be a good therapeutic alternative in CIU patients who are unresponsive to conventional treatments.
Cyclosporine* ; Histamine Antagonists ; Humans ; Pruritus ; Quality of Life ; Skin Tests ; Urticaria* ; Weights and Measures