Alopecia areata(AA) is a common dermatologic disease, the origin of which is still unknown. At least, it has been associated with some genetic influences in the etiopathogenesis. We have now evaluated AA patients to study the actual association of the genetic role by fingerprint analysis. The incidences of six or more arches were determined in 74 female and 86 male patients excluding alopecia totalis and universalis, and in healthy 167 female controls, based on Selmanowitz's thesis (1974). The results of this study are follows: 1. The difference between the frequency in AA patients(7. 5%) and in controls (3.3%) reaches the statistical significance(p<0.05 by x2-test). 2. The association of genetic background in AA is strengthened in the group of female patients(p<0. 01), recurrent episode(p<0.01). and multiplex farm (p<0.01). 3. Twenty patients(12. 5%) have family history. The incidence in 3(15.0%) of these patients is considerably common but not statistically significant. A correlation of biologic relevance and family predisposition in AA is not precluded. 4. The frequency of arches in patients and in controls is increased on both second fingers and decreased on both fourth fingers. It is more common on both second and left third fingers in female patients. The incidence of arches averages about 6 67% in patients and 4. 58% in controls.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Dermatoglyphics* ; Female ; Fingers ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male

We experienced a case of granulation tissue occuring in lateral sulci of the right thumb, index, middle and left thumb, middle finger nails in 71-year-old psoriatic male patient taking 5pmg daily(0.6mg/kg/day) during 4th week of etretinate therapy. The excision of the granulation lesion and partial nail ablation was performed and his doses was lowered to 25mg daily (0. 3mg/kg/day). The condition were resolved with no recurrence 4 weeks later after the operation.
Acitretin* ; Aged ; Etretinate* ; Fingers ; Granulation Tissue* ; Humans ; Male ; Nails ; Recurrence ; Thumb

We report herein a case of polymorphic pemphigoid in a 65-year-old woman, who had one-year history of generlized polymorphic eruption with intensely pruritic excoriated vesicobiullous lesions and residual pigmentation. Face and oral mucosa were spared. The skin biopsy specimen showed a subepidermal blister containing many eosinophils. Linear deposition of 1gG and C3 along the basement membrane was noticed on direct irnmunofluorescerice. Polyclonal garnmopathy with a tendency of beta-gamma bridging and increased IgG, IgA and kappachain, was frund on serum protein electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoresis. Skin lesions were well coritrolled by a combined therapy of prednisolone(20 mg/d), dapsone(100 mg/d) and cyclophosphamide(100 mg/d) for 4 months. Direct immunofluorescence performed 11 rnonths after the cnmpletion of the therapy was negative.
Aged ; Basement Membrane ; Biopsy ; Blister ; Electrophoresis ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Humans ; Immunoelectrophoresis ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin G ; Mouth Mucosa ; Pemphigoid, Bullous* ; Pigmentation ; Skin

We report here-in a case of benign hemangioendothelioma occurring in a 2 day-old male neonate on central portion of lumbar area. The lesion was movable, and elevated firm nodule, measuring 1.5x2.0 cm in size. For the purpose of diagnosis and therapy, excisional biopsy was performed, which revealed typical histopathologic pictures in the deep dermis and subcutaneous area. The lesion showed no recurrence at follow-up check after 6 months.
Biopsy ; Dermis ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangioendothelioma* ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Recurrence

No abstract available.

This study was undertaken to examine the effects of ultraviolet light (UVL) and rebamipide on the cutaneous blood flow and tissue survival on rabbit skin flap. In a random bipedicle flap, Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) was employed to measure the blood flow of flap (BFF). Wound Margin Strength (WMS) measured by force transducer and Light microscopy were used for evaluation of tissue viability. Single exposure to UVL increased the BFF gradually for more than 15 hours, and decreased the vasoconstrictor effect of intravenous phenylephrine. The UVL-induced increase in BFF regressed after 18 hours of irradiation, and this regression was tended to be enhanced by intradermal injection of L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, but the regression was significantly reversed by acetylcholine, an endothelial constitutive NOS (cNOS) activator and L-arginine, an NO precursor. Rebamipide, a novel antiulcer oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, but the regression was significantly reversed by acetylcholine, an endoagent known to scavenge the hydroxyl radical, abruptly reversed the spontaneous regression of the UVL-induced increase in BFF by the same manner as L-arginine. In ischemic skin flap, rebamipide increased the BFF abruptly by the same manner as sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an NO doner, while N-acetylcystein (NAC), a free radical scavenger, gradually increase the BFF. The rebamipide-induced increase in BFF was sustained at the level of the SNP-induced increase in BFF during the late period of experiment. Rebamipide increased the WMS of skin flaps and prevented the tissue necrosis in comparison with L-NAME. Based on these results, it is concluded that in rabbit skin, UVL irradiation increases the BFF by NO release, and rebamipide exerts a protective effect on the viability of ischemic skin flaps by either or both the increase in BFF by NO release and free radical scavenger effect.
Acetylcholine ; Arginine ; Hydroxyl Radical ; Injections, Intradermal ; Laser-Doppler Flowmetry ; Microscopy ; Necrosis ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitroprusside ; Phenylephrine ; Skin* ; Tissue Survival ; Transducers ; Ultraviolet Rays ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There is still uncertainty regarding the relative importance of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse pressure (PP) in predicting the risk of cardiovascular disease. The relative importance of the BP components, as markers of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and coronary artery disease (CAD), were examined in relation to age. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In 257 subjects receiving no antihypertensive medication, LVH was determined using the M-mode echocardiography when left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was >or =129 g/m2 in men or >or =118 g/m2 in women. In a further 265 subjects, CAD was determined using the coronary angiography when stenosis of the coronary arterial diameter was >or =70%. The most important BP component was determined using a logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: With respect to LVH, in the group <0 years of age, odds ratios (ORs) per 10 mmHg increment in BP were 2.47 (p<.01), 1.77 (p<.01), 1.30 (p>0.10) for DBP, SBP and PP respectively. In the group 50 to 59 years of age, ORs were 1.65, 1.35, 1.36 (all p<.05) for DBP, SBP and PP respectively. In the group >or =60 years of age, ORs were 1.56 (p<.05), 1.67, 2.17 (both p<.01) for DBP, SBP and PP respectively. With respect to CAD, in all age group, ORs were 0.93 (p>0.10), 1.07 (p>0.10), 1.21 (p<.05) for DBP, SBP and PP respectively. In the group >or =60 years of age, no BP component had a statistical significance. CONCLUSION: With increasing age, there was a gradual shift from DBP to SBP and then to PP as the marker with the greatest relation to LVH. In all age group, PP was the strongest marker of CAD.
Aging* ; Blood Pressure* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Disease* ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular* ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Uncertainty

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Smoking has been known to be an independent risk factor of the coronary morbidity induced by coronary artery endothelial dysfunction, but its detailed impact, including the duration and amount of smoking on coronary artery spasm, has not been clarified yet. We investigated the incidence of acetylcholine (Ach)-induced coronary artery spasm according to smoking and the smoking-related parameters. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study consisted of 306 patients (163 males, age: 56.1+/-11.2 years), without significant coronary artery disease underwent Ach provocation testing by injecting incremental doses of 20, 50 and 100 ug Ach into the left coronary artery. Significant coronary artery spasm was defined as focal or diffuse severe transient luminal narrowing (>75%) with/without chest pain or ST-T change of the EKG. The impact of conventional risk factors, including smoking and the smoking-related parameters, on coronary artery spasm was analyzed. RESULTS: The conventional risk factors of coronary atherosclerosis, including hypertension, DM and hyperlipidemia, were numerically higher in the provocation (+) group, but the differences were not statistically different between the two groups. Only smoking itself was significantly higher in the provocation (+) group whereas the smoking duration, amount and the duration of quitting smoking were not different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Smoking is known to be an independent risk factor of coronary artery spasm, but smoking-related parameters such as the smoking duration, the amount and the duration of quitting smoking were not associated with coronary artery spasm.
Acetylcholine ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels* ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Male ; Phenobarbital ; Risk Factors ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Spasm*

BACKGROUND: Ota's nevus, characterized by the presence of melanocytes in the dermis, has been familiar among dermatologists, but the etiology, the pathophysiology, the clinical and histological classification are not entirely clear. To understand and elucidate them, more clinical studies and researches are necessary. OBJECT: The aim of this study was to document the clinical and histopathological features of Ota's nevus. METHODS: We examined 299 patients with Ota's nevus who visited the dermatology clinic in Korea from February 1993 to August 2003. Among them, 188 patients were biopsied. All the specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. We examined the age & sex distribution, age of onset, seasonal variation, associated skin diseases, aggravating factors and color. We clinically classified Ota's nevus into 4 types according to Tanino's classification and histologically into 5 types based on the pattern of pigmentation. RESULTS: 1. The ratio of male and female was 1: 3. 2. The peak age of onset was at birth (28.4%) and puberty (24.8%). 3. Seasonal variation was observed with distinct aggravation in the summer (60%). 4. The associated diseases were 9 cases of persistent mongolian spot, 6 cases of nevus flameus, 4 cases of blue nevus, 3 cases of vitiligo, 3 cases of nevus of Ito, 2 cases of atopic dermatitis, 2 cases of psoriasis, 2 cases of cafe au late macules and 2 cases of contact dermatitis. 5. The aggravating factors were sunlight (35.8%), emotional stress (21.0%), menstruation (12.6%), cold exposure (9.5%), pregnancy (9.5%), fatigue (9.5%) and chemical agents (2.1%). 6. The color of lesions were blue black (36.8%), brown (34.8%), dark brown (16.1%) and slate (11.0%). 7. All cases were classified according to Tanino's METHODS: type Ia (23.1%), type Ib (20.1%), type II (26.7%), type III (9.4%), type IV (20.7%). 8. The histological subtypes of Ota's nevus were classified as: the superficial type (35.6%); the middermis type (5.9%), the superficial-middermis type (18.6%); the mid-lower dermis type (2.7%); the diffuse type was composed of the superficial dominant type (19.7%), the middermis dominant type (4.8%), the dispersed (true diffuse) type (12.2%) and the deep dominant type (0.5%). 9. In the relation between histological types and the color of the lesion: the superficial type had 31 cases of brown color, 15 cases of blue black color, 11 cases of dark brown color and 9 cases of slate color; the middermis type had 6 cases of blue black color and 2 cases of dark brown color, query number of cases of slate color; the superficial-middermis type had 12 cases of blue black color, 10 cases of dark brown color, 7 cases of brown color and 6 cases of slate color: the mid-lower dermis type had 3 cases of blue black color; for the diffuse type, the superficial dominant type had 13 cases of brown color, query number of cases of blue black color and 7 cases of dark brown color; the mid-dermis dominant type had 4 cases of brown color, query number of cases of dark brown color, the dispersed type had 14 cases of blue black color and 5 cases of brown color; the deep dominant type had 1 case of blue black color. CONCLUSION: The histological reclassification of Ota's nevus may be very useful in making a therapeutic prognosis of the disease.
Adolescent ; Age of Onset ; Classification ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Dermatology ; Dermis ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Fatigue ; Female ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Melanocytes ; Menstruation ; Mongolian Spot ; Nevus ; Nevus of Ota* ; Nevus, Blue ; Parturition ; Pigmentation ; Pregnancy ; Prognosis ; Psoriasis ; Puberty ; Seasons ; Sex Distribution ; Skin Diseases ; Stress, Psychological ; Sunlight ; Vitiligo

BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis, especially toenail onychomycosis has become one of the common fungal infection and has historically been regarded as a cosmetic rather than medical problem by many patients, even by physicians. Recently, however, there are several reports that this is a refractory disease which may cause a deleterious effect on patients' quality of life (QOL). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of toenail onychomycosis on QOL in Korea and to assess the changes of QOL after treatment. METHODS: Total 1004 patients with toenail onychomycosis which was confirmed by clinical findings and KOH preparation were enrolled at 47 dermatologic centers in Korea, and interviewed with standardized QOL questionnaire before and after systemic antifungal treatment. Responses to the questionnaire were scored by f-point scale (0~4) and averaged, and were analyzed for 5 dimensions of emotional impact, social impact, symptom and functional impact, patients' views concerning treatment, and relationship with doctor. RESULTS: 1. Before and after treatment, the most serious impact was emotional dimension showing 1.90 and 1.30 in average score (AS), and social (AS: 1.14 and 0.83) and symptom and functional impact (AS: 1.05 and 0.92) was also affected. 2. In female rather than male, statistically more significant impact on patients' QOL was observed in all dimensions. 3. After treatment, 3 of 5 dimensions were improved significantly - emotional dimension (AS: from 1.90 to 1.30), social dimension (AS: from 1.14 to 0.83), patients' view concerning treatment(AS: from 1.34 to 1.02) 4. The degree of patients' satisfaction at the therapeutic effect was very high - 62.4% (immediately after. treatment) and 65.8% (9 months after initiation of treatment) of patients answered excellent or good. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that toenail onychomycosis has significant Impact on the overall QOL of patients. Also the effect of antifungal therapy on patients' QOL were satisfactory. Therefore, both doctor and patient should pay more attention to the treatment of onychomycosis.
Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Nails* ; Onychomycosis* ; Quality of Life* ; Social Change ; Surveys and Questionnaires