We observed clinical and microscopic features in 34 patients with dermatofibroma. Of these features, peculiar epidermal changes were observed in six (17.6%) cases. These were keratoacanthosis(1 case), acanthosis nigricans-like(2 cases), pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia.(1 case), hair follicle-like basal cell proliferation(1 case) and early basalioma-like(1 case) changes.
Hair ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Humans

Two cases of Weber-Christian disease are reported. This very rare disease, we had two another reports of case sincc last ten years in The Korean Journal of Dermatology. In our cases both patients are seventeen years old girls and have the histories of remissions and exacerbations for two to three years. The skin lesions of subcutaneous nodules are scattered on the trunk, extremities and even to the hand dorsurns, with the atrophic depressions. Histologic features are typical with faormy histiocytes in the subcutaneous fat tissue. On tne treatments these patients are given oral corticosteroid, antihistaminics and salicylate with some improvments.
Depression ; Dermatology ; Extremities ; Female ; Hand ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Panniculitis, Nodular Nonsuppurative* ; Rare Diseases ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Fat

No abstract available.

Benign lichenoid keratosis is an asyrnptomatic, isolated, plaque-like lesion frequently mistaken for basal cell carcinoma, Bowens disease, and actinic or seborrheic keratosis because of its variable clinical appearance. We present two cases of benign lichenoid keratosis. The first case was a 44-year-old female who had mild pruritic, ll x15rnrn sized, single, slightly elevated brownish plaque with fine scaling on the right zygornatic area of 5 years' duration. The second case was a 35-year-old female who had mild prutitic, single, pea- sized erythernatous patch on the left ala nasi of one month's duration. On histologic examination, these two cases showed same histologic findings, such as focal parakeratosis, moderate hyperkeratosis, irregular acanthosis and liquefaction degeneration of basal cells in the epidermis and band-like mononuclear infiltration and colloid bodies in the dermis.
Actins ; Adult ; Bowen's Disease ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Colloids ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Female ; Humans ; Keratosis* ; Keratosis, Seborrheic ; Parakeratosis

We studied the effect of retinoic acid, a potent differentiation inducer, on the proliferation and invasiveness of hormone resistant prostatic cancer cell lines, PC-3 and DU-145. Cellular growth measurement by MTY assay, flow cytometry for cell cycle analysis, Papanicolaou staining for examining the change of morphologic features and in vitro invasion assay using artificial basement membrane, matrigel, were performed under various concentration of all-trans-retinoic acid. Inhibition of cellular proliferation was retinoic acid dose dependent in both cell lines. Decreased S-phase and increased G-1 phase fraction were identified with time dependent manner in both cell lines. Less prominent chromatin and nucleotide, decreased nucleus/cytoplasm ratio were shown in Papanicolaou staining after 7 days culture with 10 uM of retinoic acid. In in vitro invasion assay, PC-3 cells showed decreased netlike formation and penetration though matrigel, and DU-145 cells showed decreased colony formation with 10 uM of retinoic acid. These findings suggest that the retinoic acid could ave the possibility of clinical application in hormone resistant prostatic cancer patients as a new therapeutic modality, differentiation therapy.
Basement Membrane ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line* ; Cell Proliferation ; Chromatin ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Tretinoin*

Assay of serum acid phosphatase activity have become a routine and standard examination for the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with prostatic carcinoma. However its value in these situation has become increasingly controversial. Herein we performed enzymatic assay and radioimmunoassay in 30 normal Korean males, 20 histologically diagnosed B. P. H patients and 15 patients with a histologic diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma. Bodansky method was used in enzymatic assay and its normal range was 0.1 U/dl. In radioimmunoassay the double-antibody method was used. The results of enzymatic assay in normal males were in within normal range. In radioimmunoassay the results were ranged 0.5-3.2ng/ml and the mean was 1. 65+/-0.62 ng/ml. The results of B. P. H. patients were in normal range by both methods. Three of 15 patients with prostatic carcinoma were in stage A or C and their values were within normal range by both methods. Among 12 patients with bony metastatic prostate carcinoma, the valus were elevated in 10 patients by enzymatic away, but were elevated in all patients by radioimmunoassay. There was no significant difference between two methods statistically (p >0.05). The elevated values were found in B. F. H. patients immediately following T. U. R. in 3 patients by radioimmunoassay In 4 patients with bony metastatic prostate carcinoma, the values were decreased following endocrine therapy. Assay of prostatic acid phosphatase are very important in differentiating the tumor stage and in follow-up. Considering a false-positive and false-negative rate, technical problem and cost-effectiveness, the radioimmunoassay is not better than enzymatic assay.
Acid Phosphatase* ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme Assays* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; Radioimmunoassay* ; Reference Values

Urothelial tumors of the renal pelvis and ureter are rare. Because of similar histologic appearance, symptomatology and epidemiology both tumors are considered as a single entity. We herein analyze retrospectively 55 patients with urothelial tumors of upper urinary tract who were admitted to Dept. of Urology, Seoul National University Hospital during 15 year period from June, 1970 to June. 1984. Most patients were in 6th and 7th decades. The predominant symptom was hematuria (83 %). The most common finding on I. V. P. was a filling defect (45%), as well as R. G. P.(78 %). The antegrade pyelography and CT scan were beneficial in differential diagnosis of nonopaque filling defect and in differentiating urothelial tumor from renal parenchymal tumor. Concomitant tumors were found in 25% of patients on initial presentation. Various surgical interventions were performed in 45 patients and palliative managements in 10 patients. Major proportion of patients were in stage A. or D. There was close correlation between cellular Grade and tumor Stage. Only 28 patients in 55 were followed properly. 17 patients in 28(61 %) survived more than 2 years. The bladder tumor recurred in 7 in 20 patients with stage A, B or C. Average survival of 8 patients with distant metastasis was 8.6 months. The incidence of bladder tumor in 2 year survived patients was 41%. The recurrence of Ureteral stump were found in 3 of 13 patients(23%).
Diagnosis, Differential ; Epidemiology ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney Pelvis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Tract* ; Urography ; Urology

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (oriental sore) is usually a self-limited infection of the skin caused by the protozoan Leishmania tropica. The disease is endemic to the Mediterranean, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. It has been seen in this country among many Korean technical experts and labourers working in the endemic areas of the disease. Our patient had acquired cutaneous leishmaniasis in Saudi Arabia and it had remained active for six months. He had been treated with antimony and metronidazole but failed because of severe side effects. And then we treated the patient witb cryosurgery and the skin lesions were followed by resolution with cosmetically acceptable scar in 4 months. The brief review of literature on the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis was undertaken.
Africa ; Antimony ; Asia ; Cicatrix ; Cryosurgery ; Eczema* ; Humans ; Leishmania tropica ; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous ; Metronidazole ; Middle East ; Saudi Arabia ; Skin

Pelvic sarcoma is rare disease. It is very difficult to detect and to treat such tumor in early stage due to the location. But modern anti-cancer therapeutic modalities improve the prognosis. Herein we analyze the experiences of 8 patients of pelvic sarcoma during a recent 10 year period. Six patients were male and 2 were female. Presentations were urinary obstruction in 3 patients, abdominal mass in 5. Various radiologic diagnostic examinations were performed and the results of compressing the adjacent organs rather invasion were founded. Distant metastasis was not recognized in all cases. Exploratory laparotomies were performed in all patients. In 5 patients, mass excision with or without adjacent organs was possible and fecal or urinary diversions were done. In 3 patients, the excision was impossible and fecal, urinary diversions and biopsy for pathologic diagnosis were done. Rhabdomyosarcoma was in one patient, leiomyosarcoma in 3, liposarcoma in 3 and extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma is one. In postoperative long term follow up, the 3 patients died within 6 months whose tumors were not resectable. The 3 patients survived more than 3 years whose tumor masses were excised and who received adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. In one patient, a local recurrence occurred and died of sepsis during postoprative chemotherapy, in one patient now in observation under radiotherapy. The treatment of sarcoma in pelvic cavity must include multiple anti-cancer therapeutic modalities.
Biopsy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Chondrosarcoma ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Leiomyosarcoma ; Liposarcoma ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Rare Diseases ; Recurrence ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; Sarcoma* ; Sepsis ; Urinary Diversion ; Urology*

An in vitro method using agarose gel which is chemically stable and easily soluble for growing various stones is developed. The optimal conditions for formation of stone crystals in agarose gel were defined as 0.75% of gel concentration, 7ml of gel volume and 24mm of diameter of test tube. We studied the formation and inhibition of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate crystals which comprises most urinary stones. Calcium containing stones formed under different conditions including pH in this media were identified by qualitative and quantitative analysis and light as well as scanning electron microscopic examination. Calcium oxalate monohydrate(whewellite) was formed in all pH condition, calcium hydro genphosphate dehydrate(brushite) in pH 5.5 and octacalcium phosphate in pH 7.5. The results obtained indicate that agarose gel system is a good model for an investigation of stone crystal formation because of its simplicity and reproducibility. The effects of known inhibitor, magnesium, citrate and pyrophosphate to the formation of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate crystals were explored in this system. The inhibitory activity of pyrophosphate was maximum, then citrate, magnesium in order, in both calcium oxalate monohydrate and octacalcium phosphate crystal formation and the activity was not influenced by a variation in pH. However the activity of these inhibitors was minimal in calcium hydrogenphosphate dehydrate. According to the findings that the appearance of the crystal was similar, but size of it was smaller in the formed crystals which was under influence of the inhibitors, the inhibitory activity appeared to exerted on the process of crystal aggregation.
Calcium Oxalate* ; Calcium* ; Citric Acid ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Magnesium ; Sepharose* ; Urinary Calculi ; Urolithiasis