BACKGROUND: Recently Malassezia (M.) furfur fungemia has been increasingly recognized in premature infants and adults receiving parenteral nutrition. Accordingly, analysis of nucleic acids in M. furfur serovars and strain typing methods based on genetic differences and similarities are required for epidemiological studies. OBJECTIVE: This study was done to analyze nucleic acids in M. furfur serovars A, B and C and to adapt the method of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of DNA to differentiate the strains of M. furfur serovars for use in epidemiological studies. METHODS: Cellular nucleic acids were extracted from the strains of M. furfur serovars and electrophoresed, followed by digestion of DNA and electrophoresis of the resultant DNA fragmegments. RESULTS: Each of the six strains, grown both on solid medium and liquid medium, revealed a genomic DNA. Interestingly, unique extra bands of RNA were observed in four of the six strains which had grown on solid medium. These bands were also seen in three of them grown in broth. The size of these bands were from 0.5 to 5.0 kbp by comparison with a ‘1 kb DNA ladder’. The restriction patterns generated by EcoR I, Hae III, Hind III, and Hinf I were not unsuccessful. The DNA from serovar B was insensitive to the above restriction enzymes. CONCLUSIONS: Although DNA was extracted from the strains, the amounts were not thought to be enough for RFLP analysis and the DNA from the serovar B was insensitive to the above restriction enzymes. Thus, further development of an extraction method of DNA is required for obtaining enough DNA from M. furfur serovars, and other restriction enzymes would have to be investigated for their ability to differentiate strains of M. furfur in epidemiological studies. Also, further investigation of RNA bands might be able to adapt them for a typing method.
Adult ; Digestion ; DNA ; Electrophoresis ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Fungemia ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Malassezia* ; Methods ; Nucleic Acids* ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA ; Serogroup*

To identify the developmental characteristics of fetal skin, the expressions of cytokeratine (CK) and epidermal growth factor (EGFR) in fetal skin (12-24 weeks of gestation) were studied immunohistochemically, and the ultrastructure of epidermis was also observed. The Expressions of CK and EGFR were identified in labelled sterptoavidine biotin immunohistochemical method. Primary antibodies used monclonal mouse anti-human CK (DAKO-CK, MF116) and EGFR Ab-4 which is rabbit affinity-purified polyclonal antibody raised against the amino acid residues 1005-1016 (Onc Science). At 12 weeks of gestation the epidermis was composed basal layer and periderm and the cells of both layers were positively stained for CK and EGFR. At 16-18 weeks of gestation, epidermis was composed basal, intermediate, and periderm. The cells of basal layer and periderm were strongly positive for CK, but the cells of intermediate layer showed weak or negative reaction for CK. EGFR immunoreactivity was noted in cells of all three layers, though cells of basal layer were stained relatively weak. At 23-24 weeks of gestation, the epidermis thickened and appeared 6 or more cell layers. Epidermal cells except horny layer were stained positively for CK and EGFR. EGFR immunoreactivity in basal layer, however, was relatively weak compared to those in intermediate layers. Periderm always were reaction-positive for CK and EGFR. The hair follicles, mainly pre-germ stage, were negatively stained for CK and EGFR at 12 weeks of gestation. The hair follicles with various developing stages were positively stained at 16-18 weeks of gestation. At 24 weeks of gestation, inner sheath of hair shaft and sebaceous gland were strongly reacted for CK, but not reacted for EGFR. In electron microscopic study, epidermis was composed of two layers, basal layer and periderm at 12 weeks of gestation. The periderm was composed of basal, intermediate and periderm at 12 weeks of gestation. The periderm was composed of basal, intermediate and periderm layers at 16-18 weeks of gestation. Intermediate cells consisted of 2-3 layers of spinous cells. The granular cells appeared rarely in superficial cells of intermediate layers. At 23-24 weeks of gestation, epidermis consisted of basal, prickle, granular, and horny layers. Periderm cells were locally exfoliated from the hony layer. The results demonstrate the expression of CK and EGFR in skin of human fetus between 12 and 24 weeks of gestation, and suggest that full thickness of epidermis is formed by 24 weeks of gestation.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Biotin ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Epidermis* ; Fetus* ; Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Humans* ; Keratins ; Methods ; Mice ; Pregnancy ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Sebaceous Glands ; Skin

Persistent burning and derythema were present for 10 months cin he lower lip of a 55-year-old woman, who had extreme melalignment of the anterior maxillary teeth. Candida albicans was identified not only from the surface material of the lower lip but also from tl.e malaigned dental cleft, which was thought to be the source of the organisms. We feel that the impor.ance of malaligned theeth as a source of candida albicans miist be kept in mind when we face persis ent cheilitis in a patient whose teeth arrangement is bad.
Burns ; Candida albicans ; Candida* ; Cheilitis ; Female ; Humans ; Lip ; Middle Aged ; Tooth*

Hibernoma is a rare subcutaneous neoplasm resembling the brown fat of the hibernating animal. It is usually found in the interscapular, cervical or axillary regions. We report a case of this rare tumor which developed on the occeipital scalp of a 42-year-old woman.
Adipose Tissue, Brown ; Adult ; Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Lipoma* ; Scalp*

In dermatologic practice, acute urticaria showing leukocytosis and fever suggesting syatemic bacterial infection is often observed. The clinician in dealing with such patients is tempted to use antibiotics in addition to corticosteroids and antihistamines before the patient can be sure that there is no bacterial infection. Authors observed the degree of the leukocytosis with its differential counts in 106 cases of acute urticaria to evaluate what percentages of acute urticaria patients are showing similar data with the changes seen in leukocyte counts of patients of erysipelas, and evaluated the effect of aqtibiotics-administered group with non-administered group of acute urticaria patients. The results were as follows: 1. In 106 acute urticaria patients, 42% showed higher total leukocyte count ( >12, 500/cu mm) than the mean total leukocytes of 20 erysipelas patients(12, 412/cu mm) and 29% showed greater neutrophilia(>70%) than the mean neutrophil differential count of the erysipelas (69.1%). In the cases showing both leukocytosis (>12,500/cu mm) and fever (>37. 5C) there was no difference in the course of treatment between the antibiotics-administered group and non-administered group. 3. The corticosteroid hormone reduced the total WBC count toward normal level generally within a week.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacterial Infections ; Erysipelas ; Fever ; Histamine Antagonists ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Leukocytes* ; Leukocytosis ; Neutrophils ; Urticaria*

BACKGROUND: The distribution of Malassezia yeasts on normal human skin was varied according to the age and race of the volunteers and the methodologies used. In Korea, most reports of Malassezia yeast distribution have relied on direct skin smears rather than culture methods. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work was to perform a comprehensive survey of the distribution of Malassezia yeasts on normal human skin to provide a base line for a companion study of Malassezia yeasts in patients with various dermatoses. METHODS: Malassezia yeasts were cultured using the swabbing technique from the scalp, forehead, chest, upper back, upper arm and upper thigh in 137 subjects, infancy to 80 years of age. RESULTS: Malassezia yeasts were present in the lowest incidence(0-30%) on six sites of infants and present in 60.0-66.7% on the sebum-rich sites (scalp, forehead, chest, upper back) of children aged 1-9. Malassezia yeasts were present in 80.0-86.7% on the sebum-rich sites of the elderly group(over 60 years of age), about the same frequency as in the middle-aged groups. The population density of these organisms was significantly higher on the upper back than on the forehead, chest, upper arm and upper thigh in all age groups except the infant group and the group aged 1 to 9 (p<0.05). There were no regular quantitative variations in the distribution of Malassezia yeasts on a given site between age groups. On Leeming and Notman media, besides three morphotypes of Malassezia yeasts reported by Cunningham et al(1990), one additional type was identified. CONCLUSION: The results showed regional variations in the distribution of Malassezia yeasts in all ages except infancy and no regular age variations on a given site. Additionally, four colony types of Malassezia yeasts were found. The findings of our study coold help to investigate the role of Malassezia yeasts in related disorders.
Aged ; Arm ; Child ; Continental Population Groups ; Forehead ; Friends ; Humans* ; Infant ; Korea ; Malassezia* ; Population Density ; Scalp ; Skin Diseases ; Skin* ; Thigh ; Thorax ; Volunteers ; Yeasts*

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous vasculitis associated with viral hepatitis seems to occur as a hypersensitivity reaction against the circulating viral antigens. Hepatitis B virus(HBV)-encoded X antigen(HBxAg) is known to participate in the carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) by the inactivation of p53. However, HBxAg has been found in chronic infiammatory lesions without the overexpression of p53. Accordingly, not only EBsAg and HBcAg but also HBxAg may be involved in HCC-associated cutaneous vasculitis, regardless of the alteration of p53. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to investigate the expression of HBV-encoded antigens in cutaneous vasculitis accompanied by HBV hepatopathy. Additionally, we have compared the expression of 3 HBV antigens and p53 between vasculitic patients with HCC and in others showing HCC-non-associated vasculitis. METHODS: Immunohistochemically, we examined the expression of HBsAg, HBcAg, and HBxAg in the tissue specimens taken from the vasculitic lesions of the 33 HBsAg-positive enrolled patients with cutaneous vasculitis proven by skin biopsy. RESULTS: 1. The immunohistochemical positivity rate to HBsAg in vasculitic patients with HBV hepatopathy was 66.7% overall. It was 90% in HCC-associated vasculitic subjects and 56.5% in the vasculitic subjects without HCC, respectively. 2. We found the expression of HBxAg in 80% of the vasculitic subjects showing HCC. The vasculitic patients without HCC showed 17,3% of the positivity rate to HBxAg. 3. We could not find the overexpression of p53 in the vasculitic tissue specimens of the HCC patients without the cutaneous metastasis from primary HCC. CONCLUSION: HBsAg, HBcAg and HBxAg may participate in the pathogenesis of cutaneous vasculitis with HBV hepatopathy, regardless of tumorigenesis.
Antigens, Viral ; Biopsy ; Carcinogenesis ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Humans* ; Hypersensitivity ; Malassezia* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Skin* ; Vasculitis ; Yeasts*

Solitary cutaneous reticulohistiocytoma is a type of reticulohistiocytosis. The cytoplasm of tumo cells characteristically shows abundant eosinophilic "ground-glass" appearance. We report a case of this rare cutaneous tumor in a 54-year-old woman. It was present as a single nodule on the right index finger of the patient for seven years.
Cytoplasm ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Fingers ; Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell* ; Humans ; Middle Aged

Two cases of folliculitis decalvans are reported. One case is a 51 year-old woman showing the lesion first on the left occipital scalp and then, 4 years later, on the left mandibular area. The other case, a 57 year-old woman. showed the lesion typically encircled with pustules and crusts for the 20 years on the vertex area.
Female ; Folliculitis* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Scalp

No abstract available.
Dermatomyositis*