Asteatotic dermatitis (AsD) is a common skin disease characterized by dry skin, itching, erythema, peeling and other skin lesions. It results from the damage in cutaneous barrier related to age, seasonal climate and bathing habits, and presents dysfunction of sebaceous, sweat glands and the increase of transepidermal water loss. The pathogenesis of AsD is not clear. Previous studies mainly focused on the relationship between skin barrier damage and bathing habits, age or gender. Recently, more studies focus on its relationship with other systematic diseases and drugs. This paper reviews etiology and pathogenesis of AsD to provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of AsD.
Dermatitis, Atopic ; etiology ; pathology ; Humans

Adult ; Asthma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Enteritis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Eosinophilia ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Gastritis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Male

A healthy 30-yr-old woman carrying an insect that had been caught in her living room visited the International Clinic at Severance Hospital, Seoul, in December 2007. The insect she brought was identified to be a nymph of a bedbug, Cimex lectularius, and her skin rashes looked typical bedbug's bites. Her apartment was investigated, and a dead body of a bedbug, cast skins, and hatched eggs were found in her rooms and neighbors' rooms in the same building. She was living in that apartment in Seoul for 9 months since she had moved from New Jersey, USA. We assume that the bedbugs were introduced from abroad, since there had been no report on bedbugs in Seoul for more than 2 decades at least. This is a report of a reemergence of the common bedbug, C. lectularius in Seoul, Korea.
Adult ; Animals ; *Bedbugs/anatomy & histology ; Dermatitis/*pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Insect Bites and Stings/*pathology ; Insecticides ; Korea/epidemiology

As one of the most serious types of psoriasis, pathogenesis of erythrodermic psoriasis (EP) is unclear so far. In this study, we aimed to detect the levels of Th1/Th2 cytokine-associated transcription factors and T-lymphocyte clone in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) derived from EP patients, and gene expression level of T-bet/GATA-3 in skin lesion. The potential role of Th1/Th2 reaction pattern played in the pathogenesis of EP was also discussed. Serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 were quantified by ELISA among 16 EP patients, 20 psoriasis vulgaris (PV) patients and 15 healthy controls. The expression levels of T-bet/GATA-3 in the skin lesion and PBMCs were examined by real-time qPCR. The ratio of Th1/Th2 was measured by flow cytometry. The levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 were higher in EP patients than in the healthy controls. The levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were 69.44±11.45 and 12.62±4.57 pg/mL, respectively, in EP patients, significantly higher than those in PV patients and healthy controls (P<0.05). Flow cytometry revealed the levels of both Th1 and Th2 in PBMCs from EP patients were higher than those in healthy controls, and the Th1/Th2 ratio was dramatically lower than in PV patients (P<0.01). The ratios of IFN-γ/IL-4 and T-bet/GATA-3 in EP patients were both less than 1.0, suggesting a reversal when compared with the other two groups. Our study indicated that the EP patients exerted a Th1/Th2 bidirectional response pattern, and the balance of Th cell subsets inclines to Th2, which might be one of the important mechanisms of EP pathogenesis.
Adult ; Cytokines ; immunology ; Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; immunology ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Psoriasis ; immunology ; pathology ; Skin ; immunology ; pathology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; pathology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; pathology

Adolescent ; Dermatitis Herpetiformis ; complications ; Esophageal Diseases ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; pathology

Hand dermatitis is commonly seen in primary care, although it is often underdiagnosed. Exogenous causes should always be considered and a detailed environmental and occupational history taken, especially in patients presenting in adulthood. Although not life-threatening, the condition may have significant impact on the patient's quality of life and employment. Refractory cases or those suspected to be due to exogenous workplace agents may need to be referred for further investigation. Hand dermatitis can be treated effectively using pharmacotherapy and prevented by minimising subsequent exposure to irritants and allergens. Occupational skin disorders, once diagnosed, should be notified to the relevant authorities, i.e. the Ministry of Manpower in Singapore.
Adult ; Dermatitis, Irritant ; diagnosis ; Dermatitis, Occupational ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Eczema ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Female ; Hand ; pathology ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Primary Health Care ; methods ; Singapore

OBJECTIVES: The nickel and cobalt present in many industrial working environments and consumer products. They are two of the leading causes of allergic contact dermatitis, which is a typical delayed(type IV) hypersensitivity reaction. However, the mechanism by which nickel and cobalt causes this pathology is not well known. The nickel and cobalt induced contact dermatitis is mediated primarily through macrophages. This mechanism is similar to the autotoxicity procedure for NO. Therefore, this study was designed to examine whether the metals could modulate NO production and how the metals may affect ATP production and cell viability. In summary, the purpose of this study was to elucidate the role of NO in the nickel and cobalt induced cytotoxicity. METHODS: This study is based on observations of cultures of RAW 264.7 cells which are originated from a tumor of Balb/c mouse that was induced by Abelson murine leukemia virus. RAW 264.7 cells were treated with either Ni, Co, Ni plus Co, or Nmonomethyl-L- arginine(NMLA) for 24-72 h. The cytotoxicity of the nickel and cobalt was measured by cell viability and NO2-, and mitochondrial function was evaluated by adenosine triphosphate(ATP) production in RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, the morphology of cells was observed using an inverted microsope. RESULTS: The NO2- synthesis of RAW 264.7 cells increased with increasing concentrations of Ni and Co up to 50 microM after 24 and 48 h of exposure to Ni and Co but then decreased if the concentration was greater than 50 microM and the time period was greater than 48 h. However, the viability of cells was decreased by Ni and Co exposure in a dose and time dependent manner. Therefore, 50 microM Ni or Co and 48 h of treatment were used in this study. A complete inhibition of NO2- synthesis by Ni or/and Co occurred when iNOS inhibitor, NMLA, were pretreated prior to addition of Ni or/and Co, whereas Ni or/and Co induced decrease of synthesis of ATP and viability completely recovered when NMLA were pretreated prior to addition of Ni or/and Co. Ni or/and Co(50 microM) induced the characteristic morphological features of cytotoxicity which is characterized by a shrinkage of cytoplasm and irregular shape of the cells, but the pretreatment of NMLA resulted in a recovered morphological change of the cells to their normal appearance. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that NO plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the cytotoxicity of nickel and cobalt, and nickel and cobalt may exert their toxicities by means of modulation of NO production. The results from this study may facilitate further understanding the role of NO on nickel and cobalt induced immune and inflammatory processes.
Abelson murine leukemia virus ; Adenosine ; Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Cell Survival ; Cobalt* ; Cytoplasm ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Hypersensitivity ; Macrophages ; Metals ; Mice ; Nickel* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Pathology

OBJECTIVES: Nickel (Ni) is present in many industrial working environments and consumer products, and is one of the leading cause of allergic contact dermatitis, which is a typical delayed (type IV) hypersensitivity reaction. However, the mechanism by which nickel causes this pathology is not well known. The contact dermatitis induced by nickel is mediated, primarily, through macrophages. This property was similar to autotoxicity related nitric oxide (NO) production. NO mediated cytotoxicity was dependent on both H2O2 and peroxynitrite (OONO-). The purpose of this study was to elucidate the role of NO/H2O2 in the cytotoxicity induced by nickel. Therefore, this study was designed to examine whether nickel could modulate NO/H2O2 production and how the Ni may affect ATP production, intracellular GSH level, and cell viability. METHODS: This study was based on the observations of cultures of RAW 264.7 cells, which originated from a tumor in a Balb/c mouse that had been induced by the Abelson murine leukemia virus. RAW 264.7 cells were treated with either Ni, N- onomethyl-L- arginine (NMLA), catalase, and DTT for 24-72 h. The cytotoxicity of the nickel was measured via the cell viability and NO2-, H2O2, GSH, and the mitochondrial function was evaluated by the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production in the RAW 264.7 cells. RESULTS: The NO2- synthesis of RAW 264.7 cells increased with the increase in concentrations of Ni up to 50-micrometer, after 24 and 48 h of exposure, but then decreased at concentrations greater than 50-micrometer, and with time periods exceeding 48 h. In contrast, viability of cells and intracellular GSH level decreased in the presence of Ni in a dose and time dependent manner. However, the H2O2 synthesis of RAW 264.7 cells was not changed in the all experimental conditions. The NO2- synthesis of the cells was higher than control, whereas ATP, GSH and viability were lower than control in addition of Ni and the pretreatment of catalase or DTT prior to addition of Ni. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that NO plays an important role in the cytotoxicity of Ni. Cytotoxicity of Ni may exert through modulation of NO production and associate with a decrease in intracellular GSH levels.
Abelson murine leukemia virus ; Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Arginine ; Catalase ; Cell Survival ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Hydrogen Peroxide* ; Hydrogen* ; Hypersensitivity ; Macrophages ; Mice ; Nickel* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Pathology ; Peroxynitrous Acid

The Korean list of occupational skin diseases was amended in July 2013. The past list was constructed according to the causative agent and the target organ, and the items of that list had not been reviewed for a long period. The revised list was reconstructed to include diseases classified by the International Classification of Diseases (10th version). Therefore, the items of compensable occupational skin diseases in the amended list in Korea comprise contact dermatitis; chemical burns; Stevens-Johnson syndrome; tar-related skin diseases; infectious skin diseases; skin injury-induced cellulitis; and skin conditions resulting from physical factors such as heat, cold, sun exposure, and ionized radiation. This list will be more practical and convenient for physicians and workers because it follows a disease-based approach. The revised list is in accordance with the International Labor Organization list and is refined according to Korean worker's compensation and the actual occurrence of occupational skin diseases. However, this revised list does not perfectly reflect the actual status of skin diseases because of the few cases of occupational skin diseases, incomplete statistics of skin diseases, and insufficient scientific evidence. Thus, the list of occupational diseases should be modified periodically on the basis of recent evidence and statistics.
Burns, Chemical/pathology ; Dermatitis, Contact/pathology ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases/*economics ; Occupational Exposure ; Republic of Korea ; Skin/*pathology ; Skin Diseases/*economics/*pathology ; Skin Diseases, Infectious/pathology ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/pathology ; Vitiligo/pathology ; Workers' Compensation/*economics

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EG) is characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the bowel wall and variable gastrointestinal manifestations. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for EG when faced with gastrointestinal symptoms and peripheral eosinophilia to avoid incorrect diagnosis and inappropriate treatments. A 24-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of acute right lower quadrant abdominal pain and a laparoscopic appendectomy performed for a presumed diagnosis of an acute appendicitis. However, the procedure revealed bowel edema and a moderate amount of ascites without evidence of a suppurative appendicitis. Postoperatively, she showed persistent and progressive eosinophilia, exudative eosinophilic ascites, eosinophilic infiltration of the resected appendix wall, and eosinophilic infiltration of gastroduodenal mucosa. A punch biopsy of the abdominal skin also revealed inflammation with marked eosinophilic infiltration of the skin. She recovered after the treatment with a low dose of steroid for the EG with eosinophilic dermatitis. EG with eosinophilic dermatitis has not been reported yet and is considered fortuitous in this case.
Adult ; Dermatitis/*diagnosis/drug therapy/pathology ; Eosinophilia/*diagnosis/drug therapy/pathology ; Female ; Gastroenteritis/*diagnosis/drug therapy/pathology ; Humans ; Steroids/therapeutic use ; Young Adult