Contact Dermatitis due to cosmetics is also common in Korea. as in other developed countries. However. detection of the causative antigens is in a difficult situation due to many reasons. We have routinely patch tested with Japanese cosmetic series patch test allergens, Types 17 and 18 in addition to Hollister standard battery and patients own cosmetics to 4Q cases of suspected cosmetic contact dermatitis who have visited our Environmental and Occupational Clinic during the past one year. The study result was as follows. Total 55% ositive reaction related to cosmetics was observed in 4p patch tested patients. 2 The most frequently observed antigens were hydroxycitronellal, benzyl saliylate and cinnamic alcohol.
Allergens ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Developed Countries ; Humans ; Korea ; Patch Tests*

The ability of nicotinic acid and its substitutes to increase cutaneous blood flow has been measured by laser Doppler flowmeter in 30 healthy human volunteers. We applied nicotinarnide, nicotinic acid ethyl ester, nicotinic acid methyl ester, hexyl nicozinate each in an acqeous solution at a concentration of 10 mM/liter for 10 minutes occlusion on the forearm. The change of blood flow was serially checked at 5 to 10 minutes intervals for one hour. The study results were as follows : l. The relative maximum cutaneous blood flow response was in following order nicotinic acid methyl ester(100%), nicotinic acid ethyl ester(98%), hexyl nicotinate (84%) and nicotinic acid(63%). However, there was no statistically significant difference(p>0.05) between each drug. There was statististically significant difference between nicotinamide and all other nicotinic acid substitutes(p<0.05). 2. The time required to reach maximum blood flow response was 6.7 minutes for hexyl nicotinste, 10 minutes for nicotinic acid ethyl ester, 12.5 minutes for nicotinic acid methyl ester and 20 minutes for nicotinic acid. However, there was statistically significant difference between hexyl nicotinate and nicotinic acid only(p<0.05). 3. Significant decrease of cutaneous blood flow was observed one hour after the removal of the patches in all drugs.
Flowmeters ; Forearm ; Healthy Volunteers ; Niacin* ; Niacinamide

54-year-old male patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia was consulted to our department. He had had a few painful erythematous necrotic plaques on the chest, which suggested initslly vasculitis or pyoderma. On histological examination, characterisitic histological findings of non-septated large hyphae were observed in the dermis and subcutaneoustissue, Although organism was not isolated on Sabouraud agar media containing cycloheximide, the diagnosis of cutaneous mucormycosis was made by the characteristic histological nattlre. He died after 2 weeks with amphotericin B intravenous injections so that additional fungus culture was not performed.
Agar ; Amphotericin B ; Cycloheximide ; Dermis ; Diagnosis ; Fungi ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucormycosis* ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Pyoderma ; Thorax ; Vasculitis

This study was undertaken to elucidate extracutaneous hyperpigmentation of nevus of Ota by analyzing the 70 patients who visited Cryosurgery Clinic in Seoul National University Hospital between January 1984 and March 1985 This results were as follows: 1. The age of onset showed two peaks: the first one was at birth or soon after birth; 27 cases(38. 6%) and the second une was between 11 and 17 years; 37 cases (45. 7%). 2 Seventy cases were classified by Taninos method: 15.7% was type I a, 27. l% type I b, 28. 6% type Il, 20. O% type g and 8. 6% type IV 3.Fifty two out of 70 cases who were examined at the department of ophtha1rnology: pigrnentation of sclera was observed in 29 cases(55. 8%.), of conjunctiva in 18 cases(34.6%), of uveal tract in 14 cases(26. 9A), of fundus in 14 cases (26. 9%) and of optic papilla in 2 cases(3. 8%). 4 Fifty two out of 70 cases who were examined at the department of Otorhinolaryngology. pigmentation of tympanum was observed in ]0 cases(23, 8%,), of nasal mucosa in 6 cases(14. 3p,), of oral mucosa in 5 cases(11, 9%), of external auditory canal in 4 cases(9 5%) and of pharynx in 1 case(2.4%,)
Age of Onset ; Conjunctiva ; Cryosurgery ; Ear Canal ; Ear, Middle ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation* ; Mouth Mucosa ; Nasal Mucosa ; Nevus of Ota* ; Nevus* ; Optic Disk ; Otolaryngology ; Parturition ; Pharynx ; Pigmentation ; Sclera ; Seoul ; United Nations

The pinch graft is one type of skin graft and is indicated in small, chronic stubborn wounds or ulcers where cosmetic results are not paramount. It is a common procedure for the rapid healing of leg ulcers in countries where these are very common, such as in western society. However, it is an unfamiliar procedure to dermatologists in Korea where leg ulcers are quite rare. We treated a case of leg ulcer in systemic sclerosis using pinch grafts with satisfactory results. The pinch graft may be a useful treatment method for skin ulcers in dermatologic surgery under adverse conditions.
Dermatologic Surgical Procedures ; Korea ; Leg Ulcer* ; Leg* ; Scleroderma, Systemic* ; Skin ; Skin Ulcer ; Transplants* ; Ulcer ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND: It is well known that neuronal degeneration can occur after a brief deprivation of energy source. To investigate whether glial astrocyte can induce a phenomenon of delayed cell death after transient energy loss and to see how different are the effects of nifedipine, lidocaine, carnosine and hypothermia on delayed toxicity in astrocyte. METHODS: Human astrocytoma cells (U1242MG) were used in this study. To assess the astrocyte survival during post-ischemic period after transient histotoxic hypoxia, 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl]-2,5, diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test was used. Compared to MTT test, tryphan blue test was also used to demonstrate membrane damage of affected cells. Studies on intracellular calcium dynamics during ischemic and post-ischemic period were carried out with fluo-3 and flow cytometry system. RESULTS: The percentage survival of astrocyte during post-ischemic period was decreasing with time. Calcium channel blocker nifedipine, sodium and calcium channel blocker lidocaine and free radical scavenger carnosine could not prevent post-ischemic cell damage. But, hypothermia was only an effective method in ameliorating post-ischemic cell death. Intracellular calcium increase during ischemia and post-ischemia was dependent on extracellular calcium influx. CONCLUSIONS: Only hypothermia was effective in reducing astrocyte death during post-ischemia after transient energy depletion. Intracellular calcium alterations during post-ischemia was from extracellular space.
Anoxia* ; Astrocytes* ; Astrocytoma ; Calcium ; Calcium Channels ; Carnosine ; Cell Death ; Extracellular Space ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Hypothermia* ; Ischemia ; Lidocaine ; Membranes ; Neurons ; Nifedipine ; Sodium

Nickel is widely known as a common source of contact dermatitis and nickel sensitivity amounts to nearly 10 percent of allergic contact dermatitis patients. Common sources of nickel dermatitis are well known as necklaces, watches, rings, hooks, earrings and spectacle frames. Recently, we have seen five cases of nickel dermatitis the suspected sources of which were metal spectacle frames. The interim patch test result in our occupational and environmental clinic suggests that the metal spectacle frame is one of the most common sources of nickel dermatitis. Out of 84 medical students 27 wore metal spectacle frames. We have done a dimethylglyoxime spot test to the metal spectacle frames and got a positive result in 12 out of 27(44.4%). We conclude that metal spectacle frame seems to be one of the dominant causes of nickel dermatitis and it will be an increasing problem in our society.
Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Ear ; Humans ; Nickel ; Patch Tests ; Students, Medical

This study was undertaken to observe the difference of patch test and prick test positive reactions in three groups, 20 atopic dermatitis patients, 20 chronic urticaria patients, and 20 normal controls, Twenty commercial antigens (ToriiCo.) and twenty three frozen and boiled antigens of fishes and shellfishes were used as test materials. The results were as follows: 1. No positive reaction was observed in all sixty subjects in patch test. 2 In prick test, difference in reactivity was observed among atopic dermatitis (14. 7%), chronic urticaria (8.7%), and normal control(1. 5%) 3. There was significant difference in reactivity between Torii and frozen antigens in atopic dermatitis group, but no significance in chronic urticaria and control groups. 4. Boiling altered the reactivity in tested materials in all three groups of subjects singificantly. 5. Patients with past or family history of allergic diseases showed double fold higher reactivity tban patients without any history.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Fishes ; Humans ; Patch Tests ; Shellfish* ; Urticaria*

Alopecia areata is a relatively common disorded but the exact psthogenesis is still unknown and there is no satisfactory treatment. Recently contact immunotherapy has been studied with dinitrochlorogenzene(DNCB) which is known to have in vitro mutagenecity limiting its clinieal application. In contrast, diphencyprone (DPCP) is a potent contact sensitizing agent which is not known to be mutagenic. We treated 40 patients with alopecia areata who were refraetory to standard treatment.DPCP was dissolved in acetone in concentrations of 0.0001 2%. After sensitization, DPCP was topically applied to the right side of the scalp with left side sewing as control. After obvious hair growt,h, DPCP was applied on both sides of the scalp. A positive respanse was defined as growth of terminal hairs on the scalp. The response rate was estimated by determing the percentage of hair covered areas com- pared to the total area of the scalp. The results were as follows. 1) Of 20 patients who were followed over 3months, 9 patients(45% ) showed positive response, and 6 patients(30%) showed almost complete regrowth of terminal hairs (above 90% of scalp area). 2) The response time varied from 4 weeks to 33 weeks, with average duration of 10.6 weeks. 3) Nine out of forty patients developed side effects such as severe contact eczema, cervical lymph node swelling and vitiligo. Three out of 40 patients had to discontinue therapy due to side effects. 4) Patients with mild alopecia areata ganerslly showed a higher response rate(50%) than those with alopecis totalis(33%) and alopecia universalis(43%), but the differences were not statistically signifieant(p>0.05). 5) No correlation was found between reaponse rates and clinical factors such as age, sex and duration ot the disease. In conclusion, treatment with DPCP was thought to be effective in patients with alopecis areata who were refractory to standard treatment. Further long-term studies may be neees- sary to find out clinical course of the disease after trestment, and long-term safety of this treatment.
Acetone ; Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Hair ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Lymph Nodes ; Reaction Time ; Scalp ; Vitiligo

Pigmented contact dermatitis, firstly reported by Dr. Osmudsen in 1970, is a disease result from recurrent contact dermatitis due to hypersensitivity to cosmetic companents, which produces secondary bizarre dark brown hyperpigmentation. Histological examination of this condition reveals liquefaction degeneration of the basal cells of the epidermis and melanophages in the upper dermis. However, this entity has not been reported in the Korean literature until now. We report three cases of pigmented contact dermatitis which were diagnosed by the histological examinations and the patch tests.
Dermatitis, Contact* ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Hyperpigmentation ; Hypersensitivity ; Patch Tests