With a view to investigating the distribution of keratinophilic fungi in soil according to latitudes in south Korea, soil samples were collected at 81 sites in 17 areas in different latitudes across the country and keratinophilic fungi were isolated by means of Vanbreusegherns technique. The results are summarized as follows : 105 strains of keratinophilic fungi were recovered from 56(69.2%) out of 81 samples. Isolated fungi were composed of 41 strains of Trichophyton ajelloi, 24 stains of Chrysosporium species, 20 strains of Microsporum gypseum, and 20 strains of M. cookei. Frequency of isolation of keratinophilic fungi tended to decrease from higher latitudes down to lower latitudes. In areas of higher latutudes, T. ajelloi and M. cookei were isolated more frequently than in lower latitudes. M. gypseem was most frequent in Cheju City, and Chrysosporium species showed an even distribution, Among three areas under different conditions of moisture and shadedness(i.e., shaded wet, shaded dry, and sunny dry areas), frequency of isolation was highest in shaded dry areas(72.2%). T. ajelloi was the most frequent species in all the three areas, especially in shaded wet areas(53.1%). No M. gypsetcm was found in shaded dry areas. As regards distribution at various sites, roadsides and streamsides exhibited the highest frequency of isolation, and hills the lowest. Except for roadsides, T. ajelloi was the most frequent species at all sites, especially in forests. M. gypseum was frequent at sites beside streams M. cookei at streamsides, fields, and hills and Chrysosporim species in gardens, forests, and streets.
Chrysosporium ; Coloring Agents ; Fungi* ; Jeju-do ; Korea* ; Microsporum ; Rivers ; Soil* ; Trichophyton

Ringworm infections have been extensiveIy studied in Korea since 1943. However, only two cases of ringworrn caused by Microsporum gypseum were reported until 1975. The authors experienced an increase of M. gypseum infection in recent years, suggesting a further increase in incidence in the future. Therefore, the authors studied the cIinical and mycological findings of 14 cases of M. gypseum infection encountered from 1976 to l978, along with the distribution of various dermatophytoses observed in recert years. To investigate possible sources of infection, mycological characteristics of M. gypseum strains isolated from human and soil were compared. (countinued...)
Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Microsporum* ; Soil ; Tinea

Clinical observations were made on 251 cases of pyodermas at the Department of Dermatology, Kyungpook University Hospital from 1968 to 1972. Especially noteworthy is the application of josamycin to 41 cases of pyodermas to observe its therapeutic effects. Since 1968, the frequency of pyodermas has shown an annual increase. The ratio between male and female was 1. 4: 1, gradually changing from 2. 3: 1 in 1968 to an almost balanced incidence in 1972. The age of onset. differed with types of disease, but 76. 2% of all cases occurred before the age of 15. The outbreaks of impetigo bullosa and impetigo vulgaris were found to be affected by season, the highest prevalence being in summer. Seasonal occurrence of all cases was found to be 45.5% in summer and 24. 3% in fall with no noticeable change ohserved in spring and winter. Predilection sites of the disease differed according to the type of the disease but all types showed a marked predilection for the exposed areas as against the covered areas (4 times). Sensitivity of causative organisms to antibiotics was found to be fairly high to cloxacillin, novobiocin and ampicillin, and relative to kanamycin, streptomycin and doxycycline but all tested cases showed resistance to tetracycline, chlortetracycline and oxytetracycline. Josamycin was effective in all types of pyodermas, and was dramtical]y so in impetigo bullosa of which pustules disappeared within 3 or 5 days of treatment. Two out of 41 cases complained of abdominal pain and weakness. The sensitivity of the causative organisms of all types of pyodermas to josamycin was 83. 3%.
Abdominal Pain ; Age of Onset ; Ampicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Chlortetracycline ; Cloxacillin ; Dermatology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Doxycycline ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Impetigo ; Incidence ; Josamycin ; Kanamycin ; Male ; Novobiocin ; Oxytetracycline ; Prevalence ; Pyoderma* ; Seasons ; Streptomycin ; Tetracycline

In the present study, tap water iontophoresis as a method of treatment of palmoplantar hyperhidrosis was evaluated. Eighteen patients, twelve males and six females, with singnificant palmoplantar hyperhidrosis were treated on every weekday for 2 weeks. The hand and foot of the same side were randomly selected for the treatment by tap water iontophoresis according to the the method described by Levit. The selected hand and foot were immersed in a pair of pans containing tap water and exposed to 30V and 3 to 14mA of direct current for 20 minutes. The results obtained were as follows . Among 18 patients treated, 14(77.8%) accomplishei3 sufficient control of hyperhidrosis after 6 12(average 9.1) treatments. Two patients showed a moderate response and one weak response. One patient showed no response. Several patients experienced untoward effects such as mild itching, erythema, tingling sensation, exfoliation, compensatory hyperhidrosis, but the discomfort was not so severe as to stop the treatment
Erythema ; Female ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis* ; Iontophoresis* ; Male ; Pruritus ; Sensation ; Water

A case of familial cold urticaria is reported in a 29-year-old male who showed generalized erythematous macules and papules, finally an urticarial eruption shortly after cold exposure, particularly in cold windy weather with damp. Coincidentally, systemic symptoms such as headache, fever and chills, arthralgia, and conjunctival injection were acompanied. Autosomal dominant inheritance was found on examination of his pedigree in which 11 of 18 rnembers showed similar clinical manifestations. Routme laboratory findings were within normal limits except mild leukocytosis and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Biopsy specimen from a cold-evoked lesion revealed mild ederna and mild perivascular infiltrations composed of neutrophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes in the derms, Treatments included several widely-used antihistaminics, but turned out to be unsatisfactory.
Adult ; Arthralgia ; Biopsy ; Blood Sedimentation ; Chills ; Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes* ; Eosinophils ; Fever ; Headache ; Humans ; Leukocytosis ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Neutrophils ; Pedigree ; Weather ; Wills

This study was conducted to observe immunological abnormalities, vscular changes and abnormal maturation, pathway of keratinocyte in the psoriasis, by comparing drposits of IgG, fibrinogen(FG) and fibronectin(FN) in the invnlved and uninvolved skin of 19 psoriaics before treatment, the involved skin of 12 among the above patients after treatment, and the skin of 8 normal controls. The study was carried out by using direct immunofluorescence technique with anti-IpG, anti-FG, anti-FN antibodies. The results are summarized as follows: 1. In the uninvolved skin of 19 psoriatics before treatment, no depasition of IgG was observed while deposition of FG was present at the dermo-epidermal junction in 5.3% of the patients and dermis(10.5 %). Deposition of FN was found at the dermo-epidermal junction(52%), papillary dermis(57.9%) and dermal blood vessels(52.6%). 2. In the involved skin of 19 psoriatics before treatment, deposition of IgG was observed in the horny layer in 84.2% of the patients, upper epidermis(15.8%) and depositicin of FG was present in the horny layer(52.6%), upper epidermi(63.1%), dermo-epidermal junction(15.8%), upper dermis(15.8%) and dermal blood vessels(5.3%). Leposition of FN was found in the horny ayer(26.3%), upper epidermis (36.8%), dermo-epidermal junction(78.9%), upper dermis(89.5%) and ermal blood vessels(68.4%). 3. In the involved skin of 12 psoriatics after treatment, IgG was wealily deposited in the horny layer in 16.7% of the patients and deposition of FG was observed in the horny layer(8.3%), upper epidermis (16.7%), dermo-epidermal junction(8.3%) and dermis(8.3%). Deposition of FN was found in the upper epiderrnis(8.3%), dermo-epiderrnal junction(58.3%), dermis(66.%) and dermal blood vessels (33.3%) 4. In the normal skin of 8 control subjects, no deposition of IgG and, FG was observed while deposition of FN was found at the inummo-epidermal junction in 37.5% of the persons, upper dermis(25%) and dermal blood vessels(12.5%)
Antibodies ; Blood Vessels ; Epidermis ; Fibrinogen ; Fibronectins* ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins ; Keratinocytes ; Psoriasis ; Skin

Changes of histopathological findings with time were studied after scratching the skin of 37 patients with dermographism. Biopsies were also done in 13 normal healthy controls for comparison with unstroked skin of the patients. 1. Biopsies of unscratched skin of the patients showed no histologic difference from those of the skin from controls. 2. Neutrophils increased in number with time after scratching and maximum neutrophil count (mean 16.08+/-24.17/HPF) was observed at 90 minutes after scratching 3. Eosinophilic infiltration was also similar to that of neutrophils. Maximum eosinophil count (mean 324+/-4.76/HPF) was found at 60 minutes after scratching. 4. L ymphohistiocytic infiltration showed a similar tendency to that of neutrophils, but the degree of change was not so prorninent. 5. Before scratching, mast cell count in patients with dermographism showed no difference in number when compared with norrnal controls. In patients with dermographism, mast; cell count inclined to decrease after scratching. 6. Edema and lymphatic dilatation in the upper dermis were most prominent at 5 minutes after scratching and disappeared slowly thereafter.
Biopsy ; Cell Count ; Dermis ; Dilatation ; Edema ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Mast Cells ; Neutrophils ; Skin

Clinical observations were made on 63 cases on nevus sebaceus of Jadasshon. 52 of 63 cases were diagnosed on the basis of clinical and histopathologic findings during a period of 19 years from January 1969 to July 1987 at the Department of Dermatology, Kyungpook National University Hospital, with the remaining 11 cases diagnosed at other skin clinics in Taegu. Histopathologic examinations were made on 51 selected cases of the 63. The results were as follows : Clinical observations 1) The percentage of patients with nevus sebaceus of Jadasshon of total new outpatients was 0.12%. Of the 63 cases, males numbered 38 and females, 25, with a sex r atio of 1.5: 1. 2) Patients when first seen were most commonly in the age group of 10~19. 3) The most favorate sites were the scalp(83.3%) and face(13.3%). 4) The average size of the lesions was 2.23cm * 3.24cm with no difference among the age groups. Histopathological observations 1) The apparent proliferation of sebaceous glands was observed in 32 of 51 cases(62.7%). The degree of proliferation markedly increased in the age group of l0~19 and slightly decreased beyond this age group. Apocrine glands were present. in 17(33.3%), with a higher number of glands seen in the age group of 10~19. Immature hair follicles were found in 38(74.5%), with no changes according to aging. 2) The epidermal changes such as acanthosis(86.3%), papillomatosis(70.6%), hyperkeratosis(78.2%) and hypergranulosis(78.2%) predominated in the age group of 10-19, and severe but more gradual changes were noted 20 years of age on. 3) Inflammatory cell infiltration of moderate to marked degree was noticeable in 27(53%). The older the patients were, the more pronounced dermal infiltration was. 4) Six of 51 cases were complicated with basal cell carcinoma(3) and syringocystadenoma papilliferum(4). The tumors, which occurred beyond 30 years of age, showed a marked inflammatory cell infiltration.
Aging ; Apocrine Glands ; Daegu ; Dermatology ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Male ; Nevus* ; Outpatients ; Sebaceous Glands ; Skin

The authors studied the plasma cholesterol levels in 39 rats (Sprague-Dawley) after 4 weeks administration of etretinate and/or fish oil. The study groups were as follows.'13 rats recieved etretinate only;13, fish oil only;13, both ertetinate and fish oil. Cholesterol levels were determined by standard enzymatic methodology. The results were as follows. Tot,al-cholesterol levels in rats following administration of ertetinate only were increased(p<0.05), but the levels in rats receiving fish oil only and both etretinate and fish oil were markedly decreased(p<0.01). HDL-cholesterol levels in rats following administration of fish oil and both etretinate and fish oil were decreased(p<0.01). The ratio of HDL-cholesterol to total-cholesterol in rats receiving fish oil only and both etretinate and fish oil were increased(p<0.05) because of markedly decreased total-cholesterol levels.
Acitretin* ; Animals ; Cholesterol* ; Etretinate* ; Plasma* ; Rats*

Angiosarcoma is rare disease not only in Korea but throughout the world; it is all the more so on the skin. We made an observation on a case of angiosarcoma on the scalp of a 57 year-old man. Noteworthy in this case are: (1) the patient was suffered from a head trauma 6 years prior to onset of the disease, (2) the progress of the disease showed an extreme rapidity accompanied by severe headache intolerable by any medication, (3) no effect was resulted from X-ray irradiation, and (4) the patient survived for 7 months with the disease.
Craniocerebral Trauma ; Headache ; Hemangiosarcoma* ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Rare Diseases ; Scalp ; Skin