The peripheral blood eosinophil and serum IgE level in 53 patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) were measured. The patients were divided into 2 groups by severity(mild and severe grous) and into 3 groups by the associated respiratory atopic deseases and/or their family history : respiratory group(patient, with both AD and respiratory atopy), family history group (patient with both AD and family history of respiratory atopy), and atopic group(patient with neither respiratory atopy nor family history of respiratorv atopy). We designed to study which factors are important in the elevation of serum IgE and peripheral blood eosinophil level in AD, and to know possible relationships between the serum eosinophil and IgE level and the several groups of AD. The results are as follows : 1. Peripheral eosinophil counts were higher in severe group(224.8/mm) than in mild group (180.0/mm)(p<0.05). 2. Peripheral eosinophil counts were 220.0/mm in atopic group, l65.0/mm in family history group, and 332.4/mm in respiratory group, but there was no stitistically significant difference among 3 groups. This suggests that concomitant respiatitiry atopy or a family history of respiratory atopy is not an important factor in the elvation of peripheral blood eosinophil counts in AD. 3. Serum IgE was higher in severe group(443.2IU/ml) than in mild group(231.5IU/ml)(p<0.05). 4. Serum IgE level in respiratory group(754.6IU/ml) were signifiiantlly higher than in atopic (286.6IU/ml) or family history group(342.0IU/ml)(p<0,01). But there was no significant. difference between family and atopic group. This result suggests that concomittent respiratory atopy is a potential factor in elevation of serurn Igi in AD. 5. Slightly high correlation between peripheral blood and IgE level appeared in all 53 patients (r=0.434) and severe group(r=0.480). But, respiratory group(r=0.060), family history group(r=0.111) and atopic group(r=0.202) showed poor relationships.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E*

We report an unusual case of sebaceous hyperplasia in an 18-year-old male manifestated clinically as yellowish, grouped papules with a linear distribution, present on the right side of forehead since birth. Histopathologically, a large sebaceous gland composed of numerous lobules grouped around a centrally dilated duct was seen. The sebaceous lobules distributed in the upper dermis showed direct connection to the skin surface, which suggested a transepidermal elimination of sebaceous lobules.
Adolescent ; Dermis ; Forehead ; Humans ; Hyperplasia* ; Male ; Parturition ; Sebaceous Glands ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Tufted angioma is an uncommon slowly progressive vascular tumor found typically in infants and young children with characteristic histologic findings, so called "cannonball" appearance. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was aimed to investigate the clinical and histopathological characteristics of tufted angioma and the response to intralesional steroid. METHODS: Clinical information of 10 patients with tufted angioma diagnosed in Severance hospital and Pundang CHA hospital from 1983 to 1999 was obtained from the medical records and clinical follow-ups. We re-evaluated 10 biopsy specimens obtained from them with routine H&E staining. RESULTS: Five male and five female patients were included. In 9 patients the lesion appeared before 2 months of age. Four had a lesion at birth. The thigh was the most common site. The clinical symptoms were diverse, but characteristically tenderness was present in most cases. In all the patients the lesions had a tendency to spread progressively. Microscopically, numerous, distinct, variably sized, tightly packed capillary and endothelial cellular lobules were scattered in the dermis. There were characteristic semilunar spaces adjacent to the capillary tufts. Six patients received intralesional triamcinolone. This treatment was found to be effective in 5 patients who experienced remarkable improvement. The improved cases had similar histologic findings which were composed of cellular mass more than lumen formation. We classified our specimens into two categories, one with more cellular mass and the other with more lumen formation in relative proportion. The former was different from the latter in that it had more solid appearance and more definite margin. And we realized that it was useful to divide into these two categories since its response to treatment could be different. CONCLUSIONS: Tufted angioma is a relatively uncommon disease with characteristic histopathologic findings. It seems not to regress spontaneously. So early treatment is required to pre-vent further spreading up to the extent. We treated 6 patients with intralesional injection of triamcinolone and 5 patients experienced marked improvement which had more cellular mass more than lumen formation histopathologically.
Biopsy ; Capillaries ; Child ; Dermis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Infant ; Injections, Intralesional ; Male ; Medical Records ; Parturition ; Thigh ; Triamcinolone

BACKGROUND: Cockroaches are important components of house dust allergens. In spite of significant subject reactivity to cockroach extracts, the specific source of the allergen remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to identify the important allergens in German cockroach whole body (GWBE), egg (GEE) and fecal (GFE) extracts in Korean atopy, and to compare the reactivity of GWBE and GEE by Western blot inhibition. METHODS: Sera from 11 subjects with Korean atopy were used for sodium dodecil sulfate polyacrylamide gel elctrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Allergenic fractions in German cockroach extracts were numerous and distributed throughout the wide range of molecular weights. The important allergens of GWBE, GFE and GEE were similar to each other by using SDS-PAGE and Western blot ysis. The aUergen bands at 55 kd showed the most significant reactivity; in GWBE, GFE and GEE 73%, 82%, 55%, respectively. Other bands exhibiting significant activity were the 67 kd band with 37%, 19% and 19%, the 64 kd band with 64%, 37% and 9% respectively. Furthermore, Western blot inhibition investigations revealed that either GWBE or GEE could almost completely inhibit the reactivity of the other extract. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that the 55 kd allergen can be considered as the major allergen in Korean atopy and demonstrated that the GWBE and GEE antigens have identical IgE-binding sites.
Allergens* ; Blattellidae* ; Blotting, Western* ; Cockroaches ; Dust ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Molecular Weight ; Ovum ; Sodium

No abstract available.

The onset of systemic scleroderma in the first. decade of lif occurs in less than 1.5% of instances. Systemic sclerodrma in childhood have been characterized by less severe visceral involvement and a benign course We report a boy, aged 7 years, with a history of Raynaid; phenomenon and dysphagia. He had a mask-like face, flexion contracture of hands and knee joints, digital pitting scars, ichthyosiform skin change on leg and hyperpigrnented induration on all extremities and trunk. Antinuclear antibodies were positive in nucleolar type and Scl-70 antiocy was also present. On radiologie study, the pattern of reflux esophagitis and resorption of the listal ends of all phalanges were nated. Histopathological findings were compatible with sclerodma. He was treated with Penicillamine-D and oral corticosteroic with good improvernent.
Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Cicatrix ; Contracture ; Deglutition Disorders ; Esophagitis, Peptic ; Extremities ; Hand ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Leg ; Male ; Scleroderma, Systemic* ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is primarily influenced by environmental factors including exposure to pollutants and indoor allergens (particularly, house dust mites). Al-though house dust mite antigens are the most prevalent components of indoor allergens in Korea, cockroaches also can be considered to act as an important allergen. OBJECT: This study was done to evaluate the differences in three different atopic patch test (APT) techniques, and the relationship between APT and skin prick test, total IgE, and specific serum IgE level using cockroach allergen. Methods: We performed patch test in 57 patients with AD and 30 normal controls on clinically lesional and normal appearing skin with German cockroach (GC) allergens (extract, as is) in three different techniques (standard, scratch, DMSO). Reactions were evaluated after 48hours, and compared with the results of skin prick test, total and specific IgE levels. Detailed atopy history and severity scoring were taken. RESULTS: In the GC (whole body) prick test positive group, there was 1263.02 IU/ml of total IgE, and this amount was significantly higher than GC (whole body) prick test negative group who had 549.46 IU/ml (P<0.05). The positive reaction rate to whole body of American cock-roach (AC) was significantly higher in the patient group than control group (p<0.05), but the positive rate to whole body of GC was high, but not significantly high in the patient group (p=0.053). There were significant differences in positive patch test reactions to either Ext or As is between patient group and control group (p<0.05). The positive rate to As is was significantly higher than to Ext in either lesional skin or non-lesional skin in patient group (p<0.05). But there were no considerable differences in positive reactions to either Ext or As is between 3 different methods (standard, scratch, DMSO mix) in both lesional and non-lesional areas (p>0.05). There was no significant relationship between the positive reactions to patch test and prick test to Ext and As is antigen. The APT results showed no significant concordances with skin prick test and RAST for cockroach antigens. CONCLUSIONS: APT seems to be a different dimension of atopic skin inflammation and may pro-vide further diagnostic information in addition to a patient's history, skin prick test, and RAST results.
Allergens ; Blattellidae ; Cockroaches* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; Dust ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Immunoglobulin E ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Patch Tests ; Pyroglyphidae ; Skin

We report 3 cases of traumatic nail dystrophy,, developed in 11 years old girl (Case 1), 10 years old(case 2) and 15 years old boys(case 3) Dystrophic nails show transverse ridging with longitudinal axis on the both thumb nails in case 1 R 3, and transverse ridging with transverse axis on the left thumb nail in case 2 Mothers overprotection(case 1, 3) and indifference(case 2) were considered to be of the most important causes of the nail biting and playing with nails in our cases.
Adolescent ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Mothers ; Nail Biting ; Thumb

Nethertons syndrome is characterized by a triad of ichthyosiform dermatosis, multiple hair-shaft defects(including trichorrhexis invaginata), and an atopic diathesis. Intermittent amminoaciduria, mental retardation, or recurrent infection have been observed in some cases. We have seen an 8-year-old girl presenting with polycyclic, erythematous patches bordered by distintive double-edged scales as a skin manifestation and ball-and-socket deformity as a hair defect.
Child ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Disease Susceptibility ; Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Skin Diseases ; Skin Manifestations ; Weights and Measures

Heat stroke is characterized by hyperthermia with an associated altered mental status. Most heat stroke patients experience a change in consciousness as the first symptom and show a variety of electrocardiography abnormalities. No prior case report has described heat stroke, in which the first symptom was cardiac arrest with ventricular fibrillation. A 67-year-old male presented to the emergency department with an altered mental status after a cardiac arrest. His electrocardiogram at the scene was ventricular fibrillation, and he recovered his spontaneous circulation after defibrillation. The heat stroke was treated with aggressive cooling. Emergency physicians should be aware that heat stroke can cause ventricular fibrillation and can be treated with defibrillation and aggressive cooling.
Aged ; Consciousness ; Electrocardiography ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Fever ; Heart Arrest ; Heat Stroke ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Male ; Ventricular Fibrillation