BACKGROUND: It is a popular notion that cutaneous ageing includes two distinct phenomenon; true ageing, a universal presumably inevitable change attributable to the passage of time alone, and photoageing, changes attributable to chronic habitual sun exposure that are neither universal nor inevitable. Numerous investigations with experimental animals, in vitro skin models have been conducted, although, few histological studies to date have attempted to announce fundamental morphological changes with innate ageing. OBJECTIVE: We compared skin derived from the breast of old and young persons using light microscopy to discern structural changes in epidermal and dermal morphology with advancing age. METHODS: The histological, immunohistochemical studies were performed with normal skin sections of thirty donors who were diagnosed with breast cancer. They were classified into three age cohort groups; nine into group I (22 to 38), twelve into group II(40 to 52), and nine into group III(54 to 87). We chose the breast as an area that might closely resemble intrinsically aged skin. This region is relatively shielded from photoageing by its anatomical location. Analysis of data was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis and ANOVA test for dermal parameters based on a 5-point rating scale, and a simple regression test for a positive rate of immunoreactants. Results : 1. Light microscopic appearance of aged skin revealed a more flattened epidermis than young skin. There was no trend for an increase in epidermal melanin content per unit area on Fontana-Masson staining. There was an age-associated decrease in the Ki-67 positive rate(p<0.001), the density of Ki-67 positive cells declined approximately 1.16% per decade in photoprotected skin(p<0.001). The number of S-100 positive cells declined approximately 4.4/mm width along the dermo-epidermal juction per decade in photoprotected skin(p<0.001). The expression of differentiation markers(keratin 1, involucrin, filaggrin, loricrin) were not different among the three age cohort groups. 2. With advancing age, there was an attenuation in the number and diameter of elastic fibers in the papillary dermis and an increase in the number and straightness of the same fibers in the reticular dermis. The collagen fibers are arranged in sparse bundles in disarray, and/or aggregates of loosely woven, straight fibers in the aged skin. There was an apparent, age-related decrease in the stainability of ground substances in the papillary dermis on colloidal iron staining. Conclusions : Our data documents semi-quantitative differences among three groups in intrinsically aged breast skin and provide the framework for future research to evaluate the ageing process.
Animals ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cohort Studies ; Collagen ; Colloids ; Dermis ; Elastic Tissue ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Iron ; Melanins ; Microscopy ; Skin* ; Solar System ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: Histologic distinction between various fibrohistiocytic tumors of the skin may sometimes be difficult. Recently, several immunohistochemical markers of "histiocytes and "facultative fibroblasts" have been introduced and used for the study of some fibrohistiocytic tumors of the skin. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine whether immunostatining with MAC 387, antibodies to S-100 protein, factor Xllla(FXllla) and CD 34 allows distinction between various fibrohistiocytic tumors of the skin in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens. METHODS: Paraffin-embedded specimens of dermatofibroma, keloid, hypertrophic scar, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans(DFSP), neurofibroma, and juvenlie xanthogranuloma were investigated with MAC 387, antibodies to S-100 protein, CD 34 and FXllla using avidin-biotin -peroxidase complex method. RESULTS: In all fibrous dermatofibromas (n=26), 20-90% of constituent cells were positive for FXllla. Focal or diffuse CD 34 reactivity was present in DFSP (n=2). Weak reactivity for CD 34 and consistent labeling for S-100 protein were found in neurofibromas (n=5). Tumor cells showed negative for FXllla, CD 34 and S-100 protein in keloids (n=2), hypertrophic scars (n=6), and juvenile xanthogranulomas (n=5). MAC 387 did not label tumor cells of the fibrobistiocytic tumors we have studied. CONCLUSION: Immunostaining of paraffin-embedded specimens with antibodies to S-100 protein, FXllla and CD 34 may be useful in the differential diagnoses of fibrohistiocytic tumors of the skin.
Antibodies ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; Dermatofibrosarcoma ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous ; Keloid ; Methods ; Neurofibroma ; S100 Proteins ; Skin* ; Xanthogranuloma, Juvenile

No abstract available.
Graves Disease* ; Pregnancy*

Candidiasis is the most common fungal infection complicating the course of patients with hematologic malignant neoplasms. Although widespread organ involvement is characteristic of disseminated candidiasis, reports of skin are rare. Reports describing typical clinical and histopathological finding of cutaneous lesions are very important since it may enable a diagnosis of disseminated candidiasis to be made and thus antifungal therapy can be initiated earlier. A 50-year-old housewife was admitted with a 5-month history of fatigue and easy bruising. She was diagnosed as ha.ving acute myelocytic leukemia and treatment was begun with daunorubicin and cytosin, arabinoside. Eight days after the start of chemotherapy, she developed a fever and generalized tender well demacated erythematous to purplish papulonodular eruption. A biopsy specimen from the skin lesion showed perivascular mononuclear cell infiltration and spore and pseudohypae v,rere found within the dermis and subcutis in PAS stain. Cultures of one skin biopsy specimen and one of four blood sarnples grew Candida tropicalis. The patient was treated with intravenous amphotericin B for disseminated candidiasis. On the tenth day of antifun gal therapy, she developed cardiopulmonary arrest and died.
Amphotericin B ; Biopsy ; Candida tropicalis ; Candidiasis* ; Daunorubicin ; Dermis ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Fatigue ; Fever ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Middle Aged ; Skin Manifestations* ; Skin* ; Spores

BACKGROUND: In the skin, it is often difficult to differentiate lymphomas from reactive lymphoid lesions by light microscopic examination. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine whether immunologic data obtained from mutine-processed specimens could be used to further objective morphologic interpretations. METHODS: We conducted an immunohistochcmical staining in 44 cases of benign and malignant cutaneous lymphoproliferative lesions using nine antibodies, including anti-CD3, UCHL1, MT1, MT2, L26, MB2, BerH2, 123C3, and MIB1. RESULTS: 1. Immunophenotyping with anti-CD3, UCHL1, MT1, L26, and MB2 was useful for the diagnosis of T cell or B cell lymphoma. However, these antibodies showed a lack of specificity for neoplastic cells, 2. Antibody to CD56, 123C3 showed positivity in 4 cases of angiocentric lymphoma, but negativity in 8 cases showing angiocentric lymphoma-like pathology. 3. Antibody to CD30, BerH2 showed positivity in all 6 cases of CD30 positive large cell lymphoma, but negativity in 6 cases showing diffuse lymphoma-like pathology. 4. Antibody to Ki-67, MIB1 showed positivity in more than 30% of infiltrating cells in 6 cases of angiocentric lymphoma, 4 cases of diffuse B cell lymphoma, and in more than 60% of infiltrating cells in 6 cases of CD30 positive large cell lymphoma. CONCLUSION: These observations suggest that immunostaining may provide useful adjunctive information in distinguishing benign from malignant cutaneous lymphoproliferations in paraffin sections.
Antibodies ; Diagnosis ; Immunophenotyping ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Paraffin ; Pathology ; Pseudolymphoma* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin

BACKGROUND: A number of in vitro skin models have been developed for the purpose of the screening of cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and environmental chemicals. To mimic the skin in vivo, a model should resemble morphologically and biochemically the parent, tissue. OBJECTIVE: The purpos of this study is to study the differentiation and organization of the artificial epidermis in comparsion with epidermis in vivo based on the expression of epidermal protein antigens and basement membrane components. METHODS: Human keratinocytes were cultured on deepidermidized dermis (RE-DED) or on fibroblast-populated collag-,n matrix (LSE). After 10 days culture, the sections of RE-DED and LSE were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. An immunohistochemical study was also performed with the sections of RE-DED and LSE using antibodies recognizing proliferating cell nuclear antigens (PCNA), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), keratin 1, involucrin, filaggrin, loricrin, keratin 13, type IV collagen, and laminin. RESULTS: In both culture systems(RE-DED and LSE) a multilayered epidermis with a horny layer was observed. In the human epidermis reconstructed by both culture systems, differentiation markers appeared but with a topography slightly different from that of epidermis in vivo, and components of the basement membrane was also expressed. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest the epidermis obtained in both culture systems(RE-DED and LSE) resembled in vivo epidermis morphologically and biochemically, although it was not the same.
Antibodies ; Antigens, Differentiation ; Basement Membrane* ; Collagen Type IV ; Dermis ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Epidermis* ; Hematoxylin ; Humans* ; Keratin-1 ; Keratin-13 ; Keratinocytes ; Laminin ; Mass Screening ; Parents ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Skin

BACKGROUND: A number of in vitro skin models have been developed for the purpose of the screening of cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and environmental chemicals. To mimic the skin in vivo, a model should resemble morphologically and biochemically the parent, tissue. OBJECTIVE: The purpos of this study is to study the differentiation and organization of the artificial epidermis in comparsion with epidermis in vivo based on the expression of epidermal protein antigens and basement membrane components. METHODS: Human keratinocytes were cultured on deepidermidized dermis (RE-DED) or on fibroblast-populated collag-,n matrix (LSE). After 10 days culture, the sections of RE-DED and LSE were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. An immunohistochemical study was also performed with the sections of RE-DED and LSE using antibodies recognizing proliferating cell nuclear antigens (PCNA), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), keratin 1, involucrin, filaggrin, loricrin, keratin 13, type IV collagen, and laminin. RESULTS: In both culture systems(RE-DED and LSE) a multilayered epidermis with a horny layer was observed. In the human epidermis reconstructed by both culture systems, differentiation markers appeared but with a topography slightly different from that of epidermis in vivo, and components of the basement membrane was also expressed. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest the epidermis obtained in both culture systems(RE-DED and LSE) resembled in vivo epidermis morphologically and biochemically, although it was not the same.
Antibodies ; Antigens, Differentiation ; Basement Membrane* ; Collagen Type IV ; Dermis ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Epidermis* ; Hematoxylin ; Humans* ; Keratin-1 ; Keratin-13 ; Keratinocytes ; Laminin ; Mass Screening ; Parents ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Neurofibiomat,osis type 1(NF-1) is a multisystemic disorder of genetic ori gin, affecting one in every 3000 to 4000 people. It is clinically important in the aspect of dermatology, pediatrics, orthopedic surgery, neurology, neurosurgery and ophthalmology. OBJECTIVE: The purpore of this study was to elucidate the clinical characteristics of NF-1 in Korean people. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective study on 112 patients which were compatible to the diagnostic criteria of Riccardi and Neurofibromatosis Conference Statement. The results were compared with other western studies. RESULTS: The age of onset, sex ratio, family history of neurofibromatosis, and clinica features of cafe-au-lait spot, neurofibroma, and axillary freckinings did not differed from western countries. However, some characterist,ics of NF 1(e.g. Lisch nodule) were not as sessed in the most of the cases and incomplete evaluations of the systemic diseases wen found. CONCLUSION: In this study t.he clinial features of NF-1 did not differ from western coun tries in many aspects. A more intensive evaluation of patient,s status is needed to manag; NF-1 patients appropritely.
Age of Onset ; Cafe-au-Lait Spots ; Dermatology ; Humans ; Neurofibroma ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Neurofibromatosis 1* ; Neurology ; Neurosurgery ; Ophthalmology ; Orthopedics ; Pediatrics ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Ratio

BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinoma(BCC) is the commonest type of skin malignacy, and its incidence is increasing. As a result, the number of cases requiring treatment by dermatologists may also be increasing. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to clarify the presentation pattern of BCC and to assessce the surgical treatment used in the dermatological surgery clinics in Seoul National University Hospital and Seoul City Boramae Hosptial between 1994 to 1998. METHOD: We reviewed the medical records and checked clinical aspects and surgical treatment methods. RESULTS: The Total number of patients was 33. There were 21 Females and 12 males. The Mean age was 63.1. The most common anatomical site was the face and scalp(30 cases, 91%). The mean size of the tumor was 12.2 by 9.6 mm. BCCs were removed by complete surgical excision with a normal skin margin of 2 to 4 mm. The local flap was most commonly used to repair surgical wounds (55%) and primary closure was used in 39% of patients. A Pedicle flap and full thickness skin graft were also used in surgical defect reconstruction. CONCLUSION: With increasing public awareness and earlier presentation there may be a reduction in tumor size at the time of diagnosis. As most BCCs are found on the head and neck and are usually more or less than 1cm in diameter, it is thought that appropriate education of surgical skills should be needed and offered.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell* ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Medical Records ; Neck ; Seoul ; Skin ; Transplants ; Wounds and Injuries*

DNA replicating cells were detected in the psoriatic epidermis by anti BrdU antibody after incubating tissue sections biopsied in acute and chronic areas with BrdU. The expression pattern of No. 1 keratin, involucrin. filaggrin, loricrin and transglutaminase E was studied in the paraffin embedded sections of psoriatic specimen which showed various histopathological findings. The results are as follows 1) The labeling index of BrdU in lesional psoriatic skin was significantly greater than that in normal skin. The labeling index was greater in the clinically active lesion of psoriasis than that of the chronic lesion, which suggest that psoriatic lesions are composed of distinct lesions differing in activity. 2) In the epidermis of the psoriatic plaques with extensive parakeratosis or microabscesses at the base of the stratum corneum and absent granular layers, the expression pattern of five epidermal proteins appeared as follows : No. 1 keratin which is found in normal epidermis immediately above the basal layer, appeared several layers higher. Involucrin was detected in most of the suprabasal layers. Fillaggrin, loricrin and transglutaminase E showed negative expression. The results obtained in the present study suggest that the increment of DNA replicating cells and aberrant, maturation pathway of epidermis appear in active psoriatic plaques.
Bromodeoxyuridine ; DNA ; Epidermis ; Paraffin ; Parakeratosis ; Psoriasis ; Skin*