BACKGROUND: Chronic exposure to ultraviolet radiation(UVE) nduces photoaging characterized by dry, deeply wrinkled, inelastic, leathery, and irregulaity pigmented skin. UVR also induces solar keratosis and carcinoma, and is a contributing factor in melanoma. Sunscreens are used to prevent solar damage to skin and, if used on a daily lass should significantly reduce the incidence of the chronie photodamaging events. OBJECTIVE: We tried to evaulate the photoaging effects of UVR in the skin and the photoprotective effect of sunscreens. METHOD: We examined the gross and microscopic changes skin of albino hairless Skh : HR-1 mice exposed chronically to ultraviolet B(UVB) and suncreen-treated mice. RESULTS: The skin of the UVB-irradiated mouse shows chear, cteristic signs of photoaging, such as deep wrinkles across the back, and thickened and a hery skin. Histologically, the photoaged skin shows increased epidermal thickness, numeross fibroblasts and inflammatory cell infiltration in the upper dermis, and many enlarged keratering cysts in the lower dermis. By the 20th week, seven of the total of 9 mice(78%) in UVB irradiated mice developed at least one tumor. Histologically, the tumor is a papilloma, but the he are many dyskeratotic cells and loss of polarity in epidermis. Octyl methoxycinnamate or TiO ZnO Talc-treated mic show a significantly decreased wrinkling score, mimmal epidermal hyperplasia, slightly increased dermal cellularity, and lack of proliferation of cysts. The octyl dimethyl PABA-treatd mice shows significantly increased wrinkling score and marked inflammatory infiltration dermis. By the 20th week, only one mouse had developed a tumor in the octyl methoxy irmamate-treated group and no evidence of tumor was seen in the TiO ZnO Talc-treated group. In the octyl dimethyl PABA-treated group, five of 7 mice(71%) developed at least one tumor. CONCLUSION: The skin which is chronically exposed to UVB is subject to photoaging and photocarcinogenesis and regular use of an adequate sunscreen would prevent these photodamaging effects of UVB.
Animals ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Fibroblasts ; Hyperplasia ; Incidence ; Keratosis ; Melanoma ; Mice ; Mice, Hairless ; Papilloma ; Skin* ; Sunscreening Agents*

The term pseudolymphoma is not specific, and a variety of infl; m atory reactions may simulate clinically and histopat,hologically a cutaneous malignant lymphomas udolymphoma induced by drug therapies, especially anticonvulsants, have been reportecl. These pseidayrnphornas most commonly appear as single lesions. Characteristically, few localized lesions disappear after discontinuing therapy with the offending drug. Multiple and generalized tumors are very rate. We report a case of generalized cutaneous pseudolymphoma assocated with phenytoin therapy in a 52-year old male patient.
Anticonvulsants ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phenytoin* ; Pseudolymphoma*

No abstract available.
Hemangioma* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

One adverse effect of PUVA therapy is the development of severe dermatitis. Only a few cases of photoallergy to psoralens during PUVA therapy have been reported. We describe herein a patient with photoallergic dermatitis induced by PUVA with 8-methoxypsoralen(8-MOP). A 38-year old woman with generalized vitiligo had acute pruritic exanthematous maculopapular lesions in the treated areas after PUVA therapy with 8-MOP. A patch test and photopatch test were performed with 8-MOP, 5-MOP, and 4,5,8-trimethylpsoralen(TMP). The patch test carried out with these psoralen derivatives were all negative, but the photopatch test showed a positive reaction to 8-MOP. The patient consequently had PUVA therapy with 5-MOP and she had no further experience of a photoallergic reaction.
Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Photoallergic* ; Female ; Ficusin ; Furocoumarins ; Humans ; Methoxsalen* ; Patch Tests ; PUVA Therapy ; Vitiligo

OBJECT: Accumulating evidence suggests a greater number of subcortical hyperintensities in the brain with bipolar disorder. We studied the Clinical correlates of subcortical hyperintensities on magnetic resonance imaging in patients with Bipolar Disorder. METHODS: Magnetic resonance images of the brain were obtained for 32 patients with bipolar disorder. The presence and location of hyperintensities were assessed. We compared clinical variables between with subcortical hyperintensities and patients without them. RESULTS: Seven Patients(21.8%) had subcortical hyperintensities, but among 8 patients who were or older, 5 patients(625) had them, Age and age of onset of patients with subcotical hyperintensities were significantly older than patients without them. Psychotic symptoms were more frequent in patients with hyperintensities. Patients without hyperintesities had more familial loading. CONCLUSION: Given the limitations of the study, our results should be seen as preliminary. This study, however, provides preliminary evidence supporting the notion that the onset, clinical feature and course of some bipolar disorders of late onset may be determined by underlying subcortical abnormalities, with such abnormalities being the consequence of factors related to aging or neurodegeneration(such as impaired cerebral circulation) rather than genetic factors which predispose to early-onset bipolar disorders.
Age of Onset ; Aging ; Bipolar Disorder* ; Brain ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to find helpful MR findings for predicting a naplastic oligodendrogl lomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 46 MR images and 37 CT scans was performed for 46 patients with pathologically-proven cerebral oligodendrogliomas. A neuropathologist graded the tumors as one of low-grade (n=16), intermediate-grade (n=l2), or anaplastic oligodendroglioma (n=18). MR imaging features were retrospectively analysed with respect to histologic grading of the tumors. RESULTS: Contrast enhancement was observed always in anaplastic group (17 /17), in a portion of intermediate-grade group (4/10) but not in low-grade group (0/14). Peritumoral edema was observed infrequently in anaplastic group (4/18) or intermediate-grade group (1/12). Cystic changes (25/46) or calcifications on CT Scans (14/37) were not related with histologic grading. Grossly identifiable hemorrhage was rare in this series (2/46). Among the various imaging features, only tumor enhancement and peritumoral edema were statistically significant for trend test (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: When considering the diagnosis of oligodendrogliomas, the presence of contrast enhancement or peritumoral edema is a helpful features suggesting anaplastic oligodendrogliomas.
Diagnosis ; Edema ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Loma ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Oligodendroglioma* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Serovars of 22 leptospiral field isolates from rats trapped in Korea were identified by cross-agglutinin absorption test (CAAT). Genomic characteristics of 7 selected isolates and 6 antigenically closely related reference serovars of lai, yeonchon, birkini, gem, mwogolo, and canicola were differentiated by arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR) and southern blot hybridization using 16S rRNA gene probe from Borrelia burgdorferi. Among the 22 isolates, 21 strains were identified as serovar lai by CAAT, while the serological reactivity of NR13 did not accord with that of serovar lai. Results of AP-PCR using primers RSP, KF and PB-1 were in general agreement with those obtained by serological identification, and all 7 isolates including NR13 showed the same profile with serovar lai or yeonchon. In the southern blot hybridization with 16S rRNA gene probe, the isolates were divided into two ribotype groups when HindIII and BamHI digests were employed: isolates NR4, NR13, and serovar lai showed the same profile, and isolates JR34, JR57, KR48, JR77, and JR82 were classified as the another ribotype group. Isolate NR13 and serovar yeonchon, which were isolated in Korea and showed serological differences with serovar lai, were indistinguishable from serovar lai in this DNA study using AP-PCR and ribotyping. These results demonstrate that Korean leptospiral isolates were closely related in DNA level, and ribotyping would be useful for subgrouping of field isolates.
Absorption ; Animals ; Blotting, Southern ; Borrelia burgdorferi ; DNA ; Genes, rRNA ; Korea ; Leptospira* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Rats ; Ribotyping*

Eccrine spiradenoma is a txnign, painful tumor of the skin, which probably originates in the coil of the eccrine sweat glands and presents a characteristic clinical and pa.hological picture. However recently, the weakness and inconsistency of the enzymes histochemican, actions and electron microscopic findings, and the presence of numerous undifferentiated and indetirn, inate cells suggest a rather low degree of differentiation. We present herein four cases of eccrine spiradenoma which show livrse histopat.hologic characteristics including typical rosette-like structure, ductal structure, vacuar structure and mixed type, respectively. This report may support the premise that eccrine spiridinoma is defived not only from the eccrine duct but also from pluripotential stem cells.
Skin ; Stem Cells ; Sweat Glands

A 54-year-old woman with severe bullous pemphigoid (BP) associated with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (DM), who showed unresponsiveness to conventional therapy with corticosteroids in combination of either cyclosporme or dapsone, was successfully treated with plasmapheresis followed each time by 3 successive days of pulse therapy of cyclophosphamide (500mg, intravenously). After six times of plasmapheresis, anti-basement membrane zone (BMZ) antibody titer decreased from 1:1280 to 1:40 and no new lesions developed at all. In severe refractory BP patients with uncontrolled DM, plasmapheresis is one of the valuable treatment modalities for a short period and the need for corticosteroids thus avoiding corticosteroid induced side effects. Herein we report a case of BP with uncontrolled DM who showed an excellent response to a low dose of corticosteroid and 150 mg oral azathioprine following plasmapheresis and cyclophosphamide pulse therapy.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Azathioprine ; Cyclophosphamide* ; Dapsone ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin ; Membranes ; Middle Aged ; Pemphigoid, Bullous* ; Plasmapheresis*

Lichen nitidus, characterized by its typical clinical and histopathologic findings, is an uncomrnon chronic dermatosis of unknowned etiology. The distribution of this disease is most often localized, but in some cases it may becorne generalized. Some authors suggested that lichen nitidus is a variant of lichen planus in terms of its coincidence, ultrastructural and immunophenot,ypic studies. We report herein a case of lichen nitidus which presents dark brown linear, grouped, or confluent papules on the face, cheat, and upper extremities, accompanying with the histopathologic findings of pigmentary incontirence in the portion of claw clutching a ball appearance. This report suggests that lichen nitidus shows hyperpigmentation clinically and could be one of the dermatoses which exhibit pigmentavy incontinence in a histopathologic study.
Animals ; Hoof and Claw ; Hyperpigmentation ; Lichen Nitidus ; Lichen Planus ; Skin Diseases ; Upper Extremity