No abstract available.
Retreatment* ; Treatment Failure*

No abstract availble.

BACKGROUND: Neurofibroma, the hallmark of neurofibromatosis, is a cutaneous or subcutaneous lesion, with a variable clinical presentation. Histologically, neurofibroma consists of proliferation of nerve derived cellular elements, together with an abundant, collagenous extracellular matrix. Specifically, neurofibroma has been shown to contain 30-50% collagen in its matrix. Objective 5. METHODS: We examined the expression of extracellular matrix genes (collagen, fibronectin, laminin), TGF-b mRNA and Ha-ras oncogene mRNA by using Northern and slot-blot hybridization and immunoperoxidase stains. Result: In Northern blot analysis, Ha-ras and TGF-b genes revealed respectively, 8.8kb and 2. 5kb sized mRNA transcripts in neurofibroma. These parameters were normal in the control. The expression of these genes were 1.9, 2.0 fold increased in neurofibroma. In slot-blot analysis, expression of type I collagen showed fibronectin genes to be 2,401+210, 540+43, respectively, in neurofibroma. So there were 3.7 fold, 2.1 fold, differences respectively, compared to the normal control. However, there were no significant changes of type IV collagen and laminin Bl mRNA levels between neurofibroma and normal skin tissues. Irnmunoperoxidase staining by rnonoclonal anti type IV collagen antibody in neurofibroma showed type IV collagen to be diffusely and weakly stained in tissue. On staining by monoclonal anti-laminin antibody, laminin was stained in a matrix and around vessels. CONCLUSION: The increased expression of extracellular matrix genes may suggest that there is a subpopulation of fibroic cells in neurofibroma which are stimulated by TGF-b. Ha-ras genes which might have accumulated with the differentiation of neural tissue may be related to the pathogenesis of neurofibroma tissue formation. Further studies are needed to determine whether the other factors are related to the pathogenesis of neurofibroma.
Blotting, Northern ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I ; Collagen Type IV ; Coloring Agents ; Extracellular Matrix* ; Fibronectins ; Genes, ras* ; Laminin ; Neurofibroma ; Neurofibromatoses* ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin

Lupus vulgaris is most prevalent on exposed parts, especially the face but can also develop on exetremities. Lupus vulgaris originates from tuberculosis elsewhere in the body by hematogenous, lymphatic, or contiguous spread. A 19-year-old male patient came to our department. The patient had had many recurrent oozing and verrucous plaques and crusts on the left foot for one year. A skin biopsy from the lesion on the left dorsum of the foot showed scattered well defined granulomas consisting of the epithelioid cell clusters with Langerhans and foreign body type giant cells in the mid dermis. Caseation necrosis was slight. There were no bacilli on AFB staining. The multi test CMI for tuberculin was highly positive. A chest X-ray did not show any abnormal findings. The presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA was demonstrated by polymerase chain reactions (PCR) for detection of mycobacterial DNA from a routinely prepared paraffin-embedded skin specimen. Herein we report a very atypical case of lupus vulgaris confirmed by PCR.
Biopsy ; Dermis ; DNA ; Epithelioid Cells ; Foot ; Giant Cells, Foreign-Body ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Lupus Vulgaris* ; Male ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Necrosis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Skin* ; Thorax ; Transplants* ; Tuberculin ; Tuberculosis ; Young Adult

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the changes of central corneal thickness and axial length after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery for myopia. 101 eyes of 53 patients who underwent laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) were included in this study.Routine examinations were done in all cases. Central corneal thickness, axial length, keratometry, and refractive error were measured preoperatively and on the 6 month post-operatively. Mean preoperative spherical equivalent was -5.52 D (SD, 1.98 D).Preoperative and postoperative mean central corneal thickness was 530.64 micrometer (SD, 27.62 micrometer)and 468.84 micrometer (SD, 33.32 micrometer).Preoperative and postoperative keratometry was 43.69 D (SD, 1.90 D)and 39.12 D (SD, 1.98 D).Preoperative and postoperative average axial length was 25.56 mm (SD, 1.05 mm)and 25.51 mm (SD, 1.08 mm).When postoperative measurements were compared with preoperative measurements, there was a significant decrease in central corneal thickness (t=25.68, p=0.000)and keratometry (t=23.61, p=0.000), but there was no significant difference in axial length (t=1.82, p=0.072). Refractive changes related to axial length measurements changes on the 6 month after LASIK are not important compared with the total refractive corrections of LASIK.
Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ* ; Myopia* ; Refractive Errors

BACKGROUND: A clinical study of rosacea has never been reported in Korea. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the clinical observations of rosncea. METHODS: During a 5-year-period from Jan. 1990 to Dec. 1994, 133 patients were evaluated with regard to age, sex, location of skin lesions, clinical type, duration, and precipitating factors. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. Of the 7,787 cases amongst outpatients, 133 cases(1.7% ) were dignosed with rosacea. Of there 46 were male patients and 87 females, giving a sex ratio of 1:1.9 in favor of females. 2. The most common type of rosacea was vascular rosacea(60.2%) 3. The average duration of rosacea was 3.4 years. 4. Rosacea afflict persons aged 40-49 most frequently. 5. The predilection sites of the rosacea were : cheek(42.9%), nose(23.3%), entire face(11.3%), cheek & nose(9%), zygomatic area(6.8%), extra-facial area(3.8%), forehead(2.9%). 6, The aggravating factors of rosacea were : unknown cause(32.3%), coffee & tea(18%), alcohol(13.5%), emotional stress(10.5%), sun exposure(9.8%), multi-factoral(7.5%), drugs(steroids)4.6%).
Cheek ; Coffee ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Outpatients ; Precipitating Factors ; Rosacea* ; Sex Ratio ; Skin ; Solar System

An 41-year-old woman with chronic active hepatitis developed multible asymptomatic erythematous papules, plaques and purpuras on the both lower leg, feet, forearms and hands. Some lesions progressed to ulcers with central black colored necrotic eschars. Biopsies and cultures demorrstrated a fungus, aspergillus fumigatus a the etilogic agent. No evicience of involvement of other organs by aspergillus fumigatus was found. Intravenous amphotericin B therapy was discontinued because of he immediate adverse effects. The patient received treatment with oral itaconazole(200mg/day) and intravenous fluconazole(400mg/day), but skin lesions have been recurring repeatedly.
Adult ; Amphotericin B ; Aspergillosis* ; Aspergillus fumigatus ; Biopsy ; Female ; Fluconazole ; Foot ; Forearm ; Fungi ; Hand ; Hepatitis* ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Leg ; Purpura ; Skin ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: To investigate the spontaneous cerebral microbleeding occurring at gradient-echo MRI, and its relationship with associated stroke lesions and risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between September 2001 and December, 2002, 32 patients (21 men and 11 women; mean age 63 years) in whom cerebral microbleeding occurred at gradient-echo MRI were retrospectively investigated. Using a 1.5 T MR imager, spin-echo T1-weighted, fast spin-echo T2-weighted, diffusion-weighted, and gradient-echo images were obtained. The number and location of microbleeds seen on gradient echo images, patient data, and associated stroke lesions such as intracerebral hemorrhage and lacunar and territorial infarction were assessed. RESULTS: Among the 32 patients, 563 microbleeds and between 1 and 66 (mean, 17.6) were noted at gradientecho imaging. Microbleeding occurred in the cortical/subcortical area (n=216), the basal ganglia (n=173), thalamus (n=92), cerebellum (n=41), brainstem (n=36) and corpus callosum (n=1), and in 20 patients was bilateral. Patients had a history of hypertension (n=26), hypertriglycemia (n=12), heart disease (n=4), and diabetes mellitus (n=3). Stroke lesions were seen in 27 patients, intracerebral hemorrhage in ten, lacunar infarction in 24, and territorial infarction in four. CONCLUSION: The incidence and number of microbleeds was greater in older patients and in those with hypertension, hypertriglycemia, and stroke lesions such as intracerebral hemorrhage or lacunar infarction. The detection of microbleeding at gradient-echo imaging is helpful, since it predicts the possibility of cerebral hemorrhage in these patients.
Basal Ganglia ; Brain Stem ; Cerebellum ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Corpus Callosum ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stroke* ; Stroke, Lacunar ; Thalamus

Polyarteritis nodosa is a systemic inflammatory disease resulting from necrotizing angitis of small to medium sized arteries. It involves various organs, including the gastrointestinal tract, which is involved in about 50% of all cases. Numerous complications-including abdominal pain, vomiting, and hematemesis-have been reported, but the CT findings have not been described. We report the CT findings in a case of gastric polyarteritis nodosa, and correlate these with the histopathologic findings.
Abdominal Pain ; Arteries ; Arteritis ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Polyarteritis Nodosa* ; Stomach* ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: Type VII collagen is a relatively low abundance extracellular matrix protein among the collagenous molecules. Among the minor collagens. type VII collagen has been demon strated by a immunolocalization studies to be component of anchoring fibrils and structures extending perpendicularly from the lamina densa to the upperpapillary dermis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of his study is to determine the expression of the type VII collagengene in a group of scleroderma patients as compared to normal skin. METHODS: We have examined the levels of type VII collagen mRNA using quantitative reverse transcription PCR and in sit gybridization in scleroderma skin fibroblasts. Immunofluorescent staining with anti-type VII collan antibody was performed in vitro and in vivo to evaluate the expression of type VII collagen at protein level. RESULTS: 1. the ratio of type VII collagen/GAPDH RT-PCR product were 63.3+/-15.3 in scleroderma and 21.7+7.6 in normal fibroblasts by RT-PCR. 2. The expression of type VII collagen mRNA was considerably lower than type I in scleroderma. A few positive signals by in situ hybridization with type VII collagen cDNA were shown in the dermis. 3. The staining was markedly enhanced in scleroderma fibroblasts and tissues compaired with normal subjects in imunofluorescent staining with anti-Type VII collagn antibody. CONCLUSION: RT-PCR and immunofluorescent staining with antibodies to type VII collagen shows enhanced gene expression in scleroderma skin fibroblasts These data suggest that type VII collagen may be the main soruce of the sclerotic change of skin in scleroderma.
Antibodies ; Collagen ; Collagen Type VII* ; Dermis ; DNA, Complementary ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblasts* ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger* ; Skin