No abstract available.

A 25-year-old man with familial benign chronic pemphigus presented with a one-year history of a localized pruritic recurrent eruption on his perianal area, Physical examination showed moist, macerated, fissured and scaly patches on erythematous base, A biopsy specimen showed extensive intraepidermal separation containing acantholytic cells. Electron microscopic observation showed widened intercellular space, detachment of the tonofilaments from the desmosomes, and subsequent concentration of the tono filaments around the nucleus. Microvilli were elorigated, thinned and branehed. 1)esmosomes were reduced in number. This case is unique in its clinical location, showing no family tendency.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Desmosomes ; Extracellular Space ; Humans ; Intermediate Filaments ; Microvilli ; Pemphigus, Benign Familial* ; Physical Examination

BACKGROUND: Retinoids exert a wide range of effects on cell growth and development and have important effects on keratinocytes differentiation in vvc and in vitro. Besides the effects on epithelial differeotiation, modulation of cellular and amoral responses of lymphocytes, changes in natural killer and T-killer cell activities and riodulation of antigen presenting properties were shown by retionds. OBJECTIVE: We studied to investigate the immunologic role of etinoids. METHODS: With foreskin. the effects of 13-cis retinoic acid and etretinate on interferony induced HLA-DR and ICAM-1 expression of kratinocytes were!ev luated. RESULTS: 1. When keratinocytes were grown in low calcium media, priliferation was inhibited only with 8 x 10 M of 13-cis retinoic acid. 8 x 10 , 8 x 10 M of 13-cis retinoic acid and 8 x 10 , 8 x 10, 8 x 10 M of etretinate had no effect on keratinocytes roiferation. When cultured in 0.15 mM calcium media or 1.0 mM calcium media, 13-cis retino acid and etretinate had no effection keratinocytes proliferation. 2. Keratinocytes HLA-DR expression was decreased with 8 x 10 , 8 x 10 M of 13-cis retinoic acid in 0.15 mM carcium media and 8 x 10 , 8 x 10 M of 13-cis retinoic acid in 1.0 mM calcium media. Etretinate had no effect on keratinocytes HLA-DR expression. 3. Keratinocytes ICAM- 1 expression was increased with 8 x 10 M of 13-cis retinoic acid in low calcium. media. When cultured on 0.15 mM carcium media, ICAM-1 expression was increased with 8 x 10 M of 13-cis retinoic acid and tetinate. When cultured in 1.0 mM calcium media, ICAM-1 expression was increased with 8 x 10, 8 x 10 , 8 x 10 M of 13-cis retinoic acid and 8 x 10, 8 x 10 , 8 x 10 M of etretinate. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that retiniods have an immunomodulating effect as well as effects on epithelial differentiation. Clarification of the mechanism of increased expression of ICAM-1 and decreased expression of HLA-DR remains to the proved.
Acitretin ; Calcium ; Etretinate ; Foreskin ; Growth and Development ; HLA-DR Antigens ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Interferons* ; Keratinocytes* ; Lymphocytes ; Retinoids* ; Tretinoin

No abstract available.
Cervix Uteri* ; Female

We report herein a case of pityriasis rubra pilaris in a 39-year-old male, who had erythematous scaly patches on the face, trunk and extremities for one year. The skin lesion showed well defined plaques on the elbow and knee joint areas, and exfoliative hyperkeratotic sheets with fissures on the palms and soles. He had no family and past history of such skin lesion. He was treated with etretinate lmg/kg/day for 1 week initially, and then tapered off 0.5mg/kg/day for 5 weeks with marked improvement. There was no exacerbation and recurrence of the skin lesion for about 1 year.
Acitretin* ; Adult ; Elbow ; Etretinate* ; Extremities ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Male ; Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris* ; Pityriasis* ; Recurrence ; Skin

Recently, many investigators demonstrate that immunologic mechanisms seem to play an important role in the pathogenesis of Behcet's disease. The present study was undertaken to see the possible roles of NK cell activity in the pathogenesis of Behcet's disease and relationship among NK cell and T-cell and T-subsets. Authors evaluated NK cell activities in 14 patients and T cell, t-subsets in 7 patients. The results were as follows ; 1. The mean value of NK cell activities showed no statistically significant difference between patients group(57.1+/-15.8) and normal healthy control group(56.1+/-16.2). 2. The mean value of T cell(T), T-subsets(T,T)in 7 patients group 74.4+/-9.8, 41. 6+/-8.0, 24.4+/-10.1 showed no statistically significance compared with the mean value of normal healthy control group 67.5+/-4.3, 39.7+/-5.6,26.3+/-6.0 respectively. 3. The mean value of NK cell activities showed no statistically significant difference between 7 complete type patients' group(49.6+13.1) and 7 incomplete type patients' group(64.4+15.6)
Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural* ; Research Personnel ; T-Lymphocytes

A clinical review of 31 cases of multiple myeloma which were diagnosed by criteria of the SWOG between May 1983 and February 1990 at Yeungnam University Hospital was done. The results were as followings: 1. The peak incidence was in 7th decade and male to female ratio was 1.8:1. 2. The most common presenting symptom at first diagnosis was bone pain (58%), but fever, dyspnea, dizziness and palpable mass were also noted. 3. The distribution of laboratory findings as following diagnostic criteria of Southwest oncology group (SWOG): Plasmacytoma on tissue biopsy was noted 6 cases, bone marrow plasmacytosis with more than 10% plasma cells was 22 cases, monoclonal globulin spike on serum electrophoresis was 24 cases, lytic bone lesions was observed 22 cases. 4. Initial clinical stages were classified as 2 cases in stage I, 3 cases in stage II, 26 cases in stage III (84%). 5. Immunoelectrophoresis revealed the distribution of IgG 64%, light chain 22%, IgA 10%, Kappa to Lambda ratio of 1.1:1. 6. Hematologic & biochemical findings revealed anemia with <8.5% of hemoglobin in 42%, hypercalcemia with <10.6 mg% of serum calcium in 22%, azotemia >2.0 mg% of serum creatinine in 19%. 7. The multiple punched out lesion of bone x-ray examination were noticed skull (65%), rib (42%), L-spine (35%), pelvis (23%), T-spine (19%). The initial skeletal roentgenographic findings showed osteoporosis, osteolytic lesion and fracture in 55%, only osteolytic lesion in 23%, only osteoporosis in 10%. 8. Complications of multiple myeloma, such as 10 cases of renal impairment, 8 cases of infection, 16 cases of compression fracture of spine were observed.
Anemia ; Azotemia ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Calcium ; Clinical Study* ; Creatinine ; Diagnosis ; Dizziness ; Dyspnea ; Electrophoresis ; Female ; Fever ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Immunoelectrophoresis ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin G ; Incidence ; Male ; Multiple Myeloma* ; Osteoporosis ; Pelvis ; Plasma Cells ; Plasmacytoma ; Ribs ; Skull ; Spine

We presents a case of metastatic squarnous cell carcinoma(SCC) with multiple Bowen's disease. A 34--year-old rnale patient visited our OPD due to a bady-fist sized hard palpable mass on the left inguinal area and multiple, scattered, brownish, variable sized, verrucous papules on the whole body. About 6 months later, he cornplained dyspnea and collapsed left lower lobe was seen in the chest PA. Histopathologically, metastatic SCC and Bowen's disease were seen in the sections frorn left inguinal mass, lung lesion and verruous papule respectively. We suspected that left inguinal mass and lung lesion is metastasized from right palm lesion.
Bowen's Disease* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Thorax

Common environmental allergens play an important role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermstitis and urticaria via type I hypersensitivity reaction. The present study was undertaken to observe the prick test reactivity to common environmental allergens and peripheral blood eosinophil and total serum IgE levels in 20 patients of atopic dermatitis, 26 patients of chronic urticaria and 27 patients of artificial urticaria The results were as follows : 1, The psitive reactivities of allergens in patients with atopic dermatitis, chronie urticaria and artificial urticaria were 75.0%, 84.6% and 66.7%, respectively. 2. The positive reactivities of the inhalant allergens were more common than those of the food allergens, but statistically significant difference was found only in patients with chronic urticaria. 3. The most frequent allergen in prick test reactivity was D. farinae. 4. In patients with atopir, dermatitis, chrcnic urticaria and artificial urticaria, peripheral blood eosinophilias were encountered in 31.3%, 30.4%, and 25.0%, respectively. And statisticnlly significant elevations of eosinqphils in the prick test positive groups were observed in patients with atopic dermatitis. 5. ln patients with atopic dermatitis, chronic urticaria and artificial urticaria, elevati
Allergens ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Urticaria*

We report a case of classic Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in a 67-year-old man, who had multiple cutaneous lesions of the feet and left hand as well as an internal involvement of the stomach. The histopathologic findings showed typical features of KS as a mid-dermal tumor composed of vascular proliferations, vascular slits, spindle cells, extravasated erythrocytes and deposits of hemosiderin. Analysis of T-cell subpopulations showed decreased T4 lymphocytes and in-creased T8 lymphocytes; the ratio of T4M lymphocytes was decreased. Natural killer cell activity was also decreased. These findings suggest a possible relationship between immunological abnormalities and the pathogenesis of this disease. The patient's serum was negative for antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (HM). This report describes a case of classic KS with immunological abnormalities and internal involvement and possible pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed.
Aged ; Antibodies ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; Erythrocytes ; Foot ; Hand ; Hemosiderin ; HIV ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Lymphocytes ; Sarcoma, Kaposi* ; Stomach ; T-Lymphocytes