BACKGROUND: A definition of granuloma is a focal chronic inflammatory response to tissue injury evolved by a poorly soluble substwice characterized by the accumulation and proliferation of the mono-nuclear histiocytic cells. The accuracy with which rnononuclear cells may be identified in skir. is much improved by the use of both heteroantisera and monoclonal antibodies directed against selected cellular antigens, OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to examine the staining patterns of anti-lysozyme, anti-a-1-antitrypsin, anti-S-100 protein antibodies, and MAC-387 monoclonal anibody in granulomatous skin diseases. METHOD: We performed imminoperoxidase staining(the labelled str prvidin-biotin peroxidase complex method on the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue specimens of granulomatous skin diseases. RESULTS: S-100 protein positive dendritic cells were demonstrated in the granulomatous infiltrates as scattered pattern and MAC-387 positive cells were predominantly found in the center of granulomas, The staining pattern and percentage of positively stained cells of a--antitrypsin were similar to those of lysozyme. A1Pha-1-antitrypsin and lysozyme positive cells w re present in the center as well as lymphohistiocytic infiltrates of granulomas. CONCLUSION: These data sugget that histiocytes are composed of heter igeneous groups of cells such as the mononuclear-phagocyte system and dendritic cell system.
Antibodies ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Dendritic Cells ; Granuloma ; Histiocytes ; Muramidase ; Peroxidase ; S100 Proteins ; Skin Diseases ; Skin*

Thrombomodulin (TM) is thrombin receptor present on the luminal surface of endothelial cells. Because the thrombin-TM complex acts as an anticoagulant, the functional variants or deficiency of TM may lead to increment of thrombotic tendency. In this study, we screened the genetic variants of the TM gene in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and analyzed the genotype to elucidate the effects of genetic variations of TM gene on the development of the MI. We screened a promoter region and coding sequence of the TM gene using single strand conformation polymorphism-heteroduplex analysis and identified three common genetic variants: those were TM G-33A, TM Ala455Val, and TM C1922T. The genotype frequencies were investigated in the patients with MI (n=234) and control subjects (n=291) by the method of allele-specific oligomer hybridization. The frequencies of mutant genotypes (TM -33A, TM 455Val, and TM 1922T) were higher in patient group compared to the control subjects in males while there were no significant differences in females. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, TM 455Val and TM 1922T alleles were independent risk factors for MI (OR[95% CI: 1.799[1.125-2.878] p=0.014 and 5.624[1.019-31.025], p=0.048, respectively) in males. However, the genetic variations were not independent risk factors for MI in females. There were significant linkage disequilibriums among three genetic variants. These linkage disequilibriums explain the similar effects of three genetic variants on the development of MI. To investigate the effect of the TM G-33A mutation on TM promoter activity, the two TM promoter constructs (pTM-355 and pTM-125, bearing TM -33G or TM -33A) containing of firefly luciferase gene were transfected into HepG2, BAE, and CHO cells. The promoter activities were higher in the promoter constructs with TM -33G compared to the constructs with TM -33A in pTM-355. These results suggest the possibility of the positive predisposing effect of TM -33A allele on MI in males. The functional study for TM Ala455Val and TM C1922T should be followed to elucidate the genotype effects of these mutations on the development of MI. In this study, we identified three genetic variants of TM gene and showed the significant associations between genetic variants and MI in males. These results proposed that TM gene is an attractive candidate for genetic risk factor for MI in Koreans.
Alleles ; Animals ; CHO Cells ; Clinical Coding ; Cricetinae ; Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Fireflies ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Logistic Models ; Luciferases ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Phenobarbital ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Receptors, Thrombin ; Risk Factors* ; Thrombomodulin

S-100 protein is a mixture of three proteins, that is, S-100 ao(aa), S-100 a(ab) and, S- 100 b(bb). Twenty-two case, of sweat gland tumors were stained with immunoperoxidase technique (ABC method) for the presence of S-100a and b-subunit. Four syringomas, four eccrine poromas, two eccrine porocarcinomas, two ecerine spirdeiomas, one papillary eccrine adenoma, three clear cell hidradenomas, three mixed tumr rs of the skin, two papillary syringocystadenomas, and one cylindroma were included. All specimens were formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded. The results were as follows : 1) The staining patterns of anti-S-100a and b-protein antibodies we e simillar to those of anti-S-100 protein antibody except in eccrine poroma and porocare nomal. 2) In eccrine poroma and porocarcinoma, scattered S-100-positive dendritic cells within tumor cell nests were stained by S-100-protein antibody (3/6), but not by anti-S-100a protein antibody. S-100p is present in normal Langerhans cells. Therefore this finding suggests that these cells niay be Langerhans cells
Acrospiroma ; Adenoma ; Antibodies ; Antibodies, Monoclonal* ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; Dendritic Cells ; Eccrine Porocarcinoma ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Langerhans Cells ; Poroma ; S100 Proteins ; Skin ; Sweat Glands* ; Sweat* ; Syringoma

No abstract available.
Heel* ; Melanoma, Amelanotic* ; Ulcer*

PURPOSE: To report a case of bilateral congenital optic disc coloboma associated with the right seventh and eighth cranial nerve palsy. CASE SUMMARY: A female neonate with right facial palsy (seventh cranial nerve palsy) and right earlobe hypoplasia was referred for examination for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Bilateral optic disc coloboma and peripapillary choroidal defect was detected on the fundus examination and the anterior segment examination revealed no specific findings. On the otolaryngologic examination, laryngomalacia and floppy epiglottis were observed and left otitis media and mastoiditis were noted on the temporal bone computed tomography (CT). On the auditory brain stem response (ABR), right electro-potential was not detected and right cochlear nerve palsy (eighth cranial nerve palsy) was diagnosed. Further chromosomal analysis and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed no abnormal findings. However, on echocardiography, an atrial septal defect was detected and on upper gastrointestinal series, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was diagnosed. CONCLUSIONS: Congenital optic disc coloboma is frequently accompanied by other congenital deformities or abnormalities, and therefore, systemic examinations and tests to detect associated findings are required.
Brain ; Choroid ; Cochlear Nerve ; Coloboma ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Cranial Nerve Diseases ; Cranial Nerves ; Echocardiography ; Epiglottis ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Facial Paralysis ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Laryngomalacia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mastoid ; Mastoiditis ; Otitis Media ; Paralysis ; Retinopathy of Prematurity ; Temporal Bone ; Vestibulocochlear Nerve

No abstract available.
Leprosy, Multibacillary*

OBJECTIVE: Microsatellite alteration such as loss of heterozygosity (LOH) has been reported to be a novel mechanism for the inactivation of tumor suppressor gene and related to carcinogenesis in many malignant tumors. E-cadherin protein coded by gene on chromosome 16q22.1 may play a principal role for tumor suppression. However LOH of E-cadherin has been rarely studied in endometrial carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to investigate the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of E-cadherin in endometrial carcinoma and endometrial hyperplasia and to correlate their results with various clinicopathological factors. METHODS: LOH of E-cadherin on the chromosome 16q22.1 analysis was performed by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for three polymorphic microsatellite markers (D16S419, D16S3106, D16S498) and automatic laser fluorescent DNA sequencer in 30 cases of endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinomas and in 20 cases of endometrial hyperplasias. The relationship between LOH of E-cadherin and clinical profile was analyzed. RESULTS: Increased LOH of E-cadherin was found in endometrial carcinomas (50%) compared to endometrial hyperplasias (5%) (P=0.01, Fisher's exact test). The incidence of LOH of E-cadherin in endometrial carcinomas also showed significantly lower in stage below Ia. (P=0.034, Fisher's exact test) LOH of E-cadherin was not associated with histologic grade and lymph node metastasis. (P=0.42, P=0.5, Fisher's exact test) CONCLUSIONS: These results suggests that LOH of E-cadherin may contribute to the development of endometrial carcinoma, especially in above stage Ib.
Adenocarcinoma ; Cadherins ; DNA ; Endometrial Hyperplasia ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Female ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Incidence ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Lymph Nodes ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

The histogenesis and differentiation of sweat gland tumors are controversial. Twenty-two cases of sweat gland tumors were stained by immunoperoxidase technique (ABC method) for the presence of S-100 protein, CEA, and two kinds of keratin. Four syringomas, 4 eccrine poromas, 2 eccrine porocarcinomas, 2 eccrine spiradenomas, 1 papillary eccrine adenoma, 3 clear cell hidradenomas, 3 mixed tumors of skin, 2 papillary syringocystadenomas, and 1 cylindroma were included. All samples were formalin-fixed and paraffin-erribedded. Two monoclonal cytokeratin ant.ibodies, MA-902 (specific for cytokeratin No. 8) and MA-903 (specific for cytokeratins No.1,5,10,11) were used. In normal eccrine and apocrine glands, MA-902 stains cells of the intradermal duct and secretory portion. While MA-903 stains cells of the intraepidermal and intradermal duct and myoepithelial cells of eccine and apocrine glands, S-100 protein is found in the secretory cells of the intradermalduct and secretory portion, while CEA stains the secretory and ductal cells of eccrine and apocrine glands. All sweat gland tumors we studied stained by 4 antibodies in variable positive rates, Based on these findings, we discuss the histogenesis of various sweat gland tumors.
Acrospiroma ; Adenoma ; Antibodies ; Apocrine Glands ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; Coloring Agents ; Eccrine Porocarcinoma ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Keratins ; Poroma ; S100 Proteins ; Skin ; Sweat Glands* ; Sweat* ; Syringoma

BACKGROUND: Molluscum contagiosum is a commom benign viral disease of the skin characterized by discrete, 2-5 mm, flesh colored, slightly umbilicated, dome-shaped papules with frequent grouping. But atypical presentation of site, number and size is recently not rare, it may give rise to difficulty in diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical and histopathological characteristics of various atypical molluscum contagiosa. METHODS: We reviewed medical records, clinical photographs, and histopathologic findings in biopsy specimens of 17 patients with molluscum contagiosa diagnosed at Korea Veterans Hospital from January 1990 to June 2001. The ratio of male to female patients was 3:1, and the mean age at diagnosis was 30 years(range: 3-67). RESULTS: 1. Most commonly involved sites were trunk(80%), extremities(30%), and perianal(12%). 2. The duration of the lesion is 15 days to 3 years. 3. The size of lesion is 2 mm to 50 mm. 4. The number of lesions is one to over a hundred. 5. The clinical features were multiple papules without umbilication(9 cases, 53%) and giant tumor(2 case), pyogenic granuloma-like lesion(2 cases), solitary papule with flat surface(2 cases). 6. The combined disease are atopic dermatitis(1 case), epidermal cyst(1 case), and liver cirrhosis(1 case), diabetes mellitus(1 cases). CONCLUSION: This study shows various atypical molluscum contagiosa in immunocompetent patients. Histopathological examination in atypical molluscum contagiosa is necessary for the proper diagnosis and treatment.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hospitals, Veterans ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver ; Male ; Medical Records ; Molluscum Contagiosum ; Skin ; Virus Diseases

Imiquimod is a new immunomodulating agent with antitumor and antiviral properties that has been shown to be clinically effective in various kinds of skin diseases, including precancerous dermatoses. Erythroplasia of Queyrat is a carcinoma in situ that mainly occurs on the glans penis. There are several non-invasive treatment options for erythroplasia of Queyrat such as photodynamic therapy, cryosurgery and applying various kinds of topical agents. We now report a case of typical erythroplasia of Queyrat on glans penis associated with human papillomavirus type 16 infection that was treated by imiquimod 5% cream and the subsequent excision of an imiquimod-resistant penile lesion.
Aminoquinolines ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Cryosurgery ; Erythroplasia ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; Photochemotherapy ; Skin Diseases