No abstract available.
Colon* ; Humans* ; Morphine* ; Naloxone* ; Perfusion*

BACKGROUND: The development of androgenetic alopecia is thought to be caused by increased androgen action on the hair follicles in the genetically predisposed person. Although most reports about dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate(DHEA-S) and total testosterone in female androgenetic patients are within normal limits, there are some controversies about comparing the mean values of the patients with those of the normal control group. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the mean value of plasma DHEA-S and total testosterone of the patients with those of normal controls according to their ages, and evaluate relations between hormone levels and clinical type and hyperandrogenic symptoms(HAS). METHOD: We examined 60 female patients with androgenetic alopecia for clinical types, symptoms, family histories, and other systemic diseases. The mean value of the patients were compared with those of 42 normal controls according to ages, clinical types, and HAS. RESULTS: 1. Forty two cases(70.0%) were Ludwig type I, 16 cases(26.7%) were type II, 2 cases(3.3%) were type III. 26 cases(43.3%) were between 20-29 years, 19 cases(31.7%) were between 30-39 years. 2. Common age of onset was between 20-29years(23 cases, 38.3%) and below 19 years old(21 cases, 35.0%). 3. There were 32 cases(53.3%) who showed HAS and seborrhea was the most common symptom (20 cases). 4. There were 33 cases(55.0%) who showed a family history and the father was the most common relative(19 cases). Family history of first degree relative was 31 cases(51.7%). 5. Plasma DHEA-S levels of both patients and control group were all within normal limits, and there were no significant differences in the mean values between the patients ( 1633.03+/-736.31 ng/ml) and normal controls(1764.72+/-690.94 ng/ml). There were also no difference between the patients and controls according to their ages. 6. In total testosterone, 7 out of 60 patients and 3 out of 42 normal controls were beyond the normal limit and there were no significant differences in the mean values between the patients(0.548+/-0.386 ng/ml) and normal controls(0.563+/-0.501 ng/ml). There were also no differences between the patients and controls according to their ages. 7. There was no significant difference in the mean value of DHEA-S and total testosterone among type I, types II & III, and normal controls. 8. There was no significant difference in the mean value of DHEA-S and total testosterone among patients with HAS, without HAS, and normal controls. CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in the mean values of plasma DHEA-S and total testosterone between the patients and normal controls and no significant differences in the mean values of hormone levels according to clinical type and HAS.
Age of Onset ; Alopecia* ; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate* ; Dehydroepiandrosterone* ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic ; Fathers ; Female* ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Plasma ; Testosterone*

BACKGROUND: Sensitive skin has been described as a skin type showing higher reactivity than normal skin and developing exaggerated reactions when exposed to internal stimulants and external irritants. The lactic acid sting test is widely accepted as a marker of skin sensitivity and employed for the selection of subjects experiencing invisible sensory irritation. OBJECTIVE: To carry out an epidemiological study to assess the prevalence and possible related factors of sensitive skin in a regional population, and to examine the relationship between sensitive skin and subjective irritation using the lactic acid sting test. METHODS: A total of 514 people responded to self-assessment questionnaires composed of questions about the self-perception, related factors, symptoms and signs of sensitive skin. We assessed subjective irritation using the lactic acid sting test in 54 volunteers. RESULTS: The results are summarized as follows: 1. The incidences of self-reported sensitive skin were 55.7% for women, 38.9% for men and 51.0% for all responders. 2. The family history and seasonal variation of sensitive skin were significantly more common in sensitive skin group. 3. The face especially the cheek area was the most sensitive portion of body, cosmetics were common irritants. 4. The lactic acid stinging scores were significantly higher in the sensitive skin group. CONCLUSION: Our survey indicated that sensitive skin is a common problem for people and a complex problem with genetic, individual, environmental implications and the lactic acid sting test is a valuable method to define skin sensitivity.
Bites and Stings* ; Cheek ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Irritants ; Lactic Acid* ; Male ; Patient Selection ; Prevalence ; Seasons ; Self Concept ; Self-Assessment ; Skin* ; Volunteers ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Kaposi's varricelliform eruption is a characteristic syndrome of disseminated vesiculopustules superimposed on variable pre-existing dermatoses. Among these, atopic dermatitis is most common disease. We report two cases of Kaposi's varicelliform eruption associated with atopic dermatitis in a pair of identical twins. Diagnosis was made by the history, clinical feature, histologic examination and serologic test. These patients' condition was much improved by the treatment with antiviral agent and antibiotics.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Kaposi Varicelliform Eruption* ; Serologic Tests ; Skin Diseases ; Twins, Monozygotic*

Febrile ulceronecrotic pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA) is a very rare cutaneous disorder clinically characterized by the acute onset of erythematous papules, vesicles and large coalescent ulceronecrotic lesions on the whole body accompanied by high fever and severe constitutional symptoms. In general, ulceronecrotic lesion is preceded by a typical rash of PLEVA. Histopathologically, it shows widespread epidermal necrosis and fibrinoid necrosis of blood vessel walls in addition to the superficial and deep perivascular lymphocytic infiltrations. Several regimens including systemic corticosteroid, antibiotics, methotrexate or ultraviolet therapy have been challenged in this disorder . We report a typical case of febrile ulceronecrotic PLEVA in a 10-year-old child who showed a dramatic response to methotrexate.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Blood Vessels ; Child* ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Humans ; Methotrexate ; Necrosis ; Pityriasis Lichenoides* ; Pityriasis* ; Ultraviolet Therapy

Blue nevus may rarely appear in a plaque form. Because of its rarity and unusual appearance, this nevus may present a diagnostic problem and gives no definite prognosis. We report a case of plaque -type blue nevus in a 25-year-old man. He presented an irregularly demarcated plaque, measuring 1.5 x 3 cm, composed of multiple grouped slate gray to blue papules of varying size with intervening faint gray-blue discoloration on the back, which had existed for 10 years. Histopathological examination showed clumps of numerous heavily melanin-laden dendritic melanocytes in the reticular dermis with intervening stromal fibrosis. Numerous melanophages were intermingled with the melanocytes. There were no islands of pale cells seen in the cellular blue nevus and no malignant changes such as nuclear and cytoplasmic pleomorphism, mitotic figures and so on. The diagnosis of plaque-type blue nevus was made and its histopathological features were consistent with a common blue nevus.
Adult ; Cytoplasm ; Dermis ; Diagnosis ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Islands ; Melanocytes ; Nevus ; Nevus, Blue* ; Prognosis

No abstract available.
Biomarkers* ; Propionibacterium acnes* ; Propionibacterium* ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

No abstract available.
Biomarkers* ; Propionibacterium acnes* ; Propionibacterium* ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, visible light, or infrared light therapy for the treatment of acne is the subject of ongoing scientific debate. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to investigate changes in sebum production and the expression of inflammatory cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), following exposure of cultured human sebocytes to UVA radiation and light at wavelengths of 650 nm and 830 nm. METHODS: Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays were performed to measure the gene expression levels of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha), MMPs (MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-9), and AMPs (psoriasin, hBD-2, hBD-3, and LL-37) in cultured sebocytes after exposure to UVA radiation (2 J/cm2, 3 J/cm2, and 5 J/cm2) and light at wavelengths of 650 nm (14 J/cm2, 29 J/cm2, and 87 J/cm2) and 830 nm (5 J/cm2, 10 J/cm2, and 30 J/cm2). Expression of inflammatory cytokine proteins and sebum production were measured using enzyme-linked immunoassays and a lipid analysis kit, respectively. RESULTS: Exposure of cultured sebocytes to UVA radiation and light at wavelengths of 650 nm and 830 nm did not show a significant increase in the expression of inflammatory cytokines, MMPs, or AMPs. Sebum production was not significantly decreased after exposure to UVA radiation and light at both wavelengths. CONCLUSION: We propose that UVA radiation, visible light, and infrared light can be used to target Propionibacterium acnes for the treatment of acne, without an increase in the expression of inflammatory biomarkers and sebum production.
Acne Vulgaris ; Biomarkers ; Cytokines ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8 ; Light ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Necrosis ; Peptides ; Phototherapy ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Propionibacterium acnes ; Reverse Transcription ; Sebum*

BACKGROUND: It is generally accepted that the most spontaneously-arising epidermal cysts might be related to follicular infundibulum and palmoplantar epidermal cyst (PPEC) has been suggested to be caused from traumatic implantation of epidermal fragments. In addition there were several recent reports of human papillomavirus (HPV) implicating in formation of PPEC and also similar reports in Korean dermatologic literature. But the latter failed to reveal the presence of HPV in PPEC or a specific type of HPV by molecular biologic methods. OBJECTIVE: We tried to identify the presence of HPV and its subtype in PPEC. METHODS: After reviewing routine histopathologic findings recalling HPV infection in 8 PPECS, we undertook immunohistochemistry using polyclonal HPV antibody and polymerase chain reactions with 3 sets of HPV primers. To confirm the actual location of HPV in cyst in situ hybridization with HPV 60 probe was also done. RESULTS: All cases showed more than one feature of HPV infection. The positive reactions were 3 out of 8 on immunohistochemistry and 5 out of 8 on polymerase chain reaction. All cases (4 of 4) were positive on in situ hybridization and they were found in the horny layer and/or wall of cysts. CONCLUSION: PPEC in Korea may show similar typical histopathologic features with those reported in Japan. The HPV were detected in almost PPEC by molecular methods and their subtype was all HPV 60.
Epidermal Cyst* ; Gammapapillomavirus* ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Japan ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction