Lichen nitidus is a comparatively rare, asymptomatic, chronic disease displaying small, sharpIy defined, fresh colored papules usually localized on the penis, arms and the abdomen. Waisman found immunoglobulin at the dermo-epidermaI junction in lichen planus, but not in lichen nitidus. This settled the argument whether lichen nitidus is a variant of lichen planus. A 11 year old healthy girI was brought to the clinic because of many flesh colored discrete papules on the cubital fossae and the anterior chest. The papules are skin colored. pinhead sized, round, and flat-topped The lesions appeared first at the age of 8 on the antecubital folds and in the following years, increased in number and extended slowly to the upper arms and the anteior chest.
Abdomen ; Arm ; Child ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Lichen Nitidus* ; Lichen Planus ; Lichens* ; Male ; Penis ; Skin ; Thorax

Fundamental pathologic cianges of secondary syphilid are said to be swelling and proliferation of endothelials and a predominantly parivascular infiltrates composed chiefly of lymphoid cells and plasma cells. But recentIy this theory has heen challenged. We present bistologic observation made on 10 patients who agreed to go through a biopsy, during 2 years period. from 1975 to l977. Male to female ratio was 9: 1 The age of patient ranged from 20 to 33, with a mean of 26. 8. The duration of lesion before the visit to the department ranged frorn 6 weeks to 20 weeks, with a mean of 11.9. The lesions in 2 were classified as macule, 3 as papule (1 as moist papule), and 5 as papulo-squamous lesions. The VDRL titer was higher in papular type. Dark fieId examination was performed on all patient and 6 showed positive result. The edidermal changes consist of hyperkeratosis (in 6 cases), parakeratosis (in 5), acanthosis (in 6), elongation of rete ridges (in 8) and exocytosis (in 3). The dermis showed mild to severe perivascular infiltration consist chiefly of lymphoid cells and histiocytic cells (in 10), plama cells (in 7), eosinophils (in 4), neutrophils (in 2), chromatophores (in 4), extra vasation of RBC (in 5), and dilated bload vessels endothelial swellings (in 8). Of particular interest was the finding that plasma cell infiltration is more pronounced at the lower portion of dermal infiltrate and in 3 cases plasma cell infiltration was totally absent. Vascular changes were seen in 8 cases.
Biopsy ; Chromatophores ; Dermis ; Eosinophils ; Exocytosis ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Neutrophils ; Parakeratosis ; Plasma Cells ; Syphilis, Cutaneous*

The gate control theory was proposed by Melzack & Wall in 1965. This theory implies that selective stimulation of cutaneous afferent fibers of large diameter inhibits pain. Transcutaneous electrical stimulation(TNS) is a practical employment of this concept. TNS was used on 14 herpes zoster patients to relieve associated pain. Good effeet was obtained in 13 patients. They experienced relief of their pain for 1-4 hours after 20 minutes of application. TNS has many advantages over analgesic drugs in the control of pain in herpes zoster.
Analgesics ; Employment ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: The Q-switched ruby laser has recently shown that it can remove tattoos with-out scarring. Therefore the Q-switched ruby laser is expected to be effective in the treatment of nevus of Ota, which contains pigmented cells in the dermis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Q-switched ruby laser in the treatment of nevus of Ota. METHODS: Twenty-five patients (6 men, 19 women) with nevus of Ota on the face were treat-ed. The age of the patients ranged from 3 to 62 years. The energy fluence used varied from 6 to 8.5 J/cm². Treatment intervals ranged from 1 to 3 months, and the number of treatments ranged from 2 to 9. Photographs were taken of all patients before and on every return visit. The photographs were then compared with each other. After completion of treatment, we evaluated some parameters including the extent of pigment-free area within the skin lesions (score 0-4), degree of lightening in the remaining skin lesions (score 0-3), and patient's own or their parents' opinions on the result of treatment (score 0-3). The scores of the above three parameters were added and the resulting scores were designated as excellent (score 9-10), good (score 7-8), moderate (score 5-6) and poor (score 0-4). RESULTS: Excellent treatment response (score 9-10) was obtained in 6 of the 25 patients. In all patients disappearance of pigmentation on a 40 percent or larger area was seen. One month after completion of treatment, the remaining lesion size was less than 40 percent of the original lesion in 21 (84.0%) patients. The degree of lightening in the remaining lesion was marked (score 3) in 22 (88%) patients. No scarring was noted following treatment. Transient hyperpigmentation was noted in 7 patients, and transient hypopigmented areas were noted in one patient. CONCLUSION: Q-switched ruby laser appears to be an effective and safe modality for the treatment of nevus of Ota.
Cicatrix ; Dermis ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Lasers, Solid-State* ; Male ; Nevus of Ota* ; Nevus* ; Pigmentation ; Skin

The nevus spilus, also called speckled lentiginous nevus, presents itself as a patch of melanization dotted by smaller macules of darker color, frequently occuring on the trunk, and in some respect, resembeing the cafe au lait of von Recklinghausens disease and Albrights syndrome. We present clinical and histopathologic observation made on 14 patients, 13 male and 1 female, who agreed to go through a biopsy, during 5 years period from 1975 to 1980. The age at the visit ranged from 11 years to 61, with a mean of 22. 4. The location of lesions were shouIder (in 5 cases), neck (in 2), back (in 2), trunk (in 4),arm (in 1), and buttock (in 1). The epidermal changes consist of hypererkatosis (in 7), acanthosis (in 6), elongation of rete ridge and papillomatosis (in 9), basilar hypermelanosis (in 14), and nevus cell nests(in 3) The dermal changes consists of mild perivascular lymphoid and histiocytic cellular infiltrations (in 11), chromatophores (in 8) and dilated blood vessels (in 6). It is suggested that nevus spilus should be considered as a giant lentigo, a neoplasia of epictermal melanocytes, where junctional nevus is to develop.
Biopsy ; Blood Vessels ; Buttocks ; Chromatophores ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Lentigo ; Male ; Melanocytes ; Neck ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; Nevus* ; Papilloma

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is riot quite a rare diseasep; it has about 1% prevalence. The cause of vitiligo is not clear, however, in recent studies an autoimmune origin is freqluei itily mentioned. OBJECT: We tried to an lyze some clinical features of vitiligo and relate them with the presence of autoantibodies. MEHTODS: A total of 381 vitiligo patients was included for the analysis of clinical features. A laboratory study included rhumatoid factor, antinuclear antibocoly, antithyroglobulin antibody and antimicrosome antibody. Some 62 patients were examined for opl thmologic changes. RESULTS: One hundred and one(26.5%) of 381 patients exam ned showed at least one of the autoantibodies tested. Twenty nine pateints showed 2 different aitintibodies. The age at aonset of vitiligo in the autoantibody positive group was 6.6 years later than that of the autoantibody negative group. Autoimmune and/or endocrine diseases were more frequinty found among aut.oantibody positive patients. These diseas s included hyperthyroidism, diabetes me litus and alopecia areata. One patient revealed retinal hypoigmentation and showed no autoantibcidics. CONCLUSION: About 9% of vitiligo patients who were autoantiocyte positive had clinical evidence of diseases associated with the autoantibody. However, it is prudent. to xpect that more patients with t.he autoantibody may develop later systemic autoimmune diseases or endocrinopathies. A long term follow-up of these patients seem:, to be very important.
Alopecia Areata ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Autoantibodies* ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Endocrine System Diseases ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Prevalence ; Retinaldehyde ; Riots ; Vitiligo

BACKGROUND: At least 30 per cent of diabetics, which is said to comprise over 3% of general population in Korea, have one or more cutaneous complications during the course of the disease. These skin changes may be the consequences of microangiopathy, arteriosclerosis, direct metabolic disturbances and/or the sequelae of chronic therapy. OBJECTIVE: We tried to observe certain cutaneous and nail changes in diabetics and to relate them with systemic complications, blood sugar level and duration of diabetes. METHODS: During the period of 12 months from March, 1992 to February, 1993, a total of 1858 outpatients diagnosed as diabetes mellitus at Eulji General Hospital were examined. RESULTS: The cutaneous manifestations are observed in 79.5% of diabetics examined and cutaneous infections are the most prevalent(52.3%). Pruritus(p<0.01), anogenital pruritus(p<0.01), peripheral dedema(p<0.05) are more common in females and infections, shin spots, finger pebbles(p<0.01) are more common in males. Systemic complications are observed in 50.7% and the cutaneous manifestations are observed more frequently in patients with systemic complications(p<0.05). Shin spots, diabetic foot, peripneral edema diabetic bullosis are observed frequently associated with systemic microangiopathic complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy(p<0.01). There is a significant correlation between blood sugar level and fungal infections and anogenital pruritus(p<0.01). The frequencies of shin spots, diabetic foot and diabetic bullosis increase with the length of time diabetes has been present. Nail changes are observed in 39.6% of diabetics and onychomycosis is the most frequent(34.5%). CONCLUSION: It is suggested that cutaneous shgns especially fungal infections in diabetics are on the increase in Korea. A variety of skin conditions are encountered with diabetes mellitus and the dermatologist may be able to make a significant contribution in the control of diabetes mellitus by identifying skin signs and conditions as diabetic complications.
Arteriosclerosis ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Complications ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diabetic Foot ; Edema ; Female ; Fingers ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Onychomycosis ; Outpatients ; Skin

Because of increasing resistance of circulating N. gonorrhoeae and frequent failures in the treatment of gonorrhoea, intensive work on gonorrhoea has become of paramount importance. During January 1980-April 1984, at the Choong-Ku VD Clinic in Seoul, 3,340 male patients with uncomplicated gonococcal urethritis were treated with various treatment regimens. Diagnosis of gonorrhoea and declaration of a treatment failure were made on the basis of positive urethral culture. In 1984, the prevalence of Penicillinase Producing N. gonorrhoeae (PPNG) was about 30%, The pretreatment minimun inhibitory concentration of various antibiotics were quite high. Even for non-PPNG urethritis standard penicillin regimens gave unsatisfactory results. For PPNG urethritis, only spectinomycin, cefoperazone and cefotaxim-probenecid regimens gave satisfactory results. No spectmomycin resistant strain of N. gonorrhoeae has been found since 1982 at the Choong-Ku VD Clinic. As an agent of single drug therapy, spectinomycin seems to be one of the most cost effective drugs in the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhoea in men.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cefoperazone ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Penicillinase ; Penicillins ; Prevalence ; Seoul ; Spectinomycin ; Treatment Failure ; Urethritis

Between December 18, 1985 and May 31, 1986 at the VD Clinic, Choong-ku Public Health Center, in Seoul, 274 male patients with uncomplicated gonococcal infection, including 124 penicillinase producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae(PPNG) infection, were entered into the study. They were divided randomly into the group A and the group B. In the group A, treated with kanamycin 2g, im regimen, 126 of 137 patients were followed and 86 patients(68.3%) were cured. In the group B, treated with gentamicin 240mg, im regimen, 125 of 137 patients were followed and 78 patients(62.4%) were cured. The cure rates in PPNG urethritis were 63.9%(39/61) in the group A and 50.9%(29/57) in the group B. The cure rates in non PPNG urethritis were 72.3%(47/65) in the group A and 72.1% (49/68) in the group B. No significant difference was observed in cure rates between two groups. It is suggested that. both kanamycin 2g, im regimen and gentamicin 240mg, im regimen is not suitable for a first line treatment for uncomplicated gonococcal urethritis.
Gentamicins* ; Humans ; Kanamycin* ; Male* ; Neisseria ; Penicillinase ; Public Health ; Seoul ; Urethritis*

From November 18 to December 31, 1986, seventy-five male patients with unconplicated gonococcal urethritis at the Venereal Disease Clinic of Choong-ku Public Health Center in Seoul were allocated randomly into one of two treatment regimens, and seventy patients were followed. All thirty-five patients including PPNG infections, treated with single oral dose of norfloxacin 600mg, were recovered(100%). One of thirty-five patients treated with a single oral dose of norfloxacin 800mg, failed. This failed case was one of eighteen nonPPNG infections (failure rate of 5.6%). Susceptibility test with disks containing norfloxacin 10ug showed the inhibition zone greater than 30mm. It is suggested that a single oral dose of 600mg or 800mg norfloxacin has good effect in the treatment of gonococcal urethritis with minimal side effects. Because of high prevalence of PPNG, it can be recommended as the first line treatment for gonorrhoea in Korea.
Humans ; Korea ; Male* ; Norfloxacin* ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; Seoul ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Urethritis*