We report a case of acral persistent papular mucinosis in a 5 year-old female with multiple papules on both dorsa of the hands, wrists and forearms. Examination of a biopsy specimen showed a domeshaped lesion in the dermis composed of spindle-shaped fibrobla,sts and widely spaced collagen fibers. These spaces were filled with mucinous material, as demonstrated by positive staining with aleian blue at pH 2.5 and pH 0.5.
Biopsy ; Child, Preschool ; Collagen ; Dermis ; Female ; Forearm ; Hand ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Mucinoses* ; Mucins ; Scleromyxedema ; Wrist

Among the patients visting Department of Dermatology, Chungman National University, 58 cases had various side effects due to the malpractice of skin disorders. We analysed these 58 cases and the results can be summerized as follows ; 1. 37 cases(64%) were in the second and third decades and 11 cases(19%) were under 19 years-old. 2. Drug medication from pharmacy was the most common(79%), and then local clinics(12%), herb clinics(9%) in decreasing orders. 3. In the route of administration, oral ingestion(38%) was the most common, and 47 cases (81%) were medicated with adrenocorticoids. 4. In motivation to the visit, 31 cases(53%)were by advice, 15 cases by advertizement and 12 cases (21%) by themselves. 5. Acne and psoriasis were about a half of pre-existing skin diseases. 6. Side effects due to malpractice may be divided into 5 items : systemic side effects due to adrenocorticoids (59%), aggravation of pre-existing skin diseases (22%), topical side effects due to adrenocorticoids (10%), chemical irritation and burn (7%), and mercury intoxication (2%) in decreasing orders.
Acne Vulgaris ; Administration, Oral ; Burns ; Dermatology ; Humans ; Malpractice* ; Motivation ; Pharmacy ; Psoriasis ; Skin Diseases* ; Skin* ; Young Adult

Exogenoue exposurea to pathogenic fungi have been suggested as causes of acute atta.eks of tinea pedis. Psthogenic fungi is rarely present on the skin aurfaces without cauaing definite and characteristic reactions. However, it was suspected by eome observers that pathogenic fungi might be more or liesa normal inhabitant of the human skin. Alterations in host susceptibility and loss, of local immunity are more to blame than new exposure to exogenous micro-ganisms. To determine this point, fungal culture was done from the fourth toe web of 824 high school students. The results of the study were summarized as follows,' l. Among 824 cases, 780 cases(94.7%) had grossly normal appearing toe web and 44 cases(5,3%) were suspected superficial fungal infection. 2. Positive rate of KOH examination was 4.6%(36,'780) in normal toe web and 45.4%(20/44) in dermatophytic lesion. 3, The positive rate of fungal culture from normal and infected toe web are 7.9 %(62/780) a.nd 40.9%(18/44), respectively. In the normal toe web, Trichophyton rubrum(66.1%), T, entagrophytea(include T. interdigitaLe) and Epidermophyton, floccosum(3.2%) were isolated. In the dermatophytic lesion, T. rubrurn(88.8%) and T. me ntagrophytes(11.2% ) w ere isolated. Although toe webs do not present clinical symptoms and signs, pathogenic fungi as a normal inhabitant can be isolated from clinically normal toe webs. Some of these cases, therefore, will develope to tinea pedis in time.
Epidermophyton ; Fungi ; Humans ; Skin ; Tinea Pedis ; Toes* ; Trichophyton

Since adult human skin can be grown in chernically defined medium without serum, the skin organ culture has gained a great interest as a method for studies concerning skin biology, pharmacology and toxicology. however, serum supplementation has extensively been used to improve the viahility of tissue culture. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of serum on the histologic changes ohserved during the organ culture of the normal human skin. The general architecture of the skin was well maintained for 6 days with or without seru. After then, fetal calf serum or autologous human serum was found to enhance the viability of the epidermis. A confluent layer of necrotic spinous ceils was ovserved earlier and more widespread without serum. The addition of serum had an impressive effect on epibolization. In the absenee of serum, the formation of the epibolus was not only minimal, but also, susceptible to degeneration, and no epibolus remained at 10 days rif incubation. No difference can be found between fetal calf serm and autologous human serum in the formation of the epibolus. There was no favorable effect of serum on the formation of new stratum corneum. The thickness of new straturn corneum increased in parallel with the number of parakeratatic cells, increasing most rapidly between 6 and 8 days of incubation. Parakeratosis was more prominent in the presence of serurn.
Adult ; Biology ; Epidermis ; Humans* ; Organ Culture Techniques* ; Parakeratosis ; Pharmacology ; Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators ; Skin* ; Toxicology

No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic*

No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic*

Benign symmetric lipomat,osis is a rare disease of undetermined cause characterized by symmetric deposits of adipose tissue o:n the neck, upper trunk and abdomen. We report three cases of kienign symmetric lipomatosis, one of which is associated with alcoholic liver disease and the patient complained of a diffieulties in neck motion, All of them are about sixty year old men with history of frequent alcohol consumption. In histopathologic findings, the reticular dermis was completcly replaced by mature fat cells and there was a slight increase in vascular and fibrous elements.
Abdomen ; Adipocytes ; Adipose Tissue ; Alcohol Drinking ; Dermis ; Humans ; Lipomatosis* ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic ; Male ; Neck ; Rare Diseases

Forty patients(9 male and 31 female) with tsutsugamushi disease were evaluated clinically. The diagnosis of tsutsugamushi disease was confirmed by indirect immunofluoresent test or isolation of causative agent. More than 77% of patients were over 40 years of age. After the incubation period(5 to 13 days, average 8 days) symptoms developed suddenly. The frequent symtoms were fever(100%), chill(100%), headache(100%), rnalaise(97%), and myalgia(95%). On physical exammination the rash, eschar, and lymphadenopathy were found in 97%, 82%, and 67% respectively. Eschar was observed in the trunk, especially axillary, abdominal and inguinal area. Serum transarninase(SGOT snd SGPT) was elevated(89 and 87%). Urinalysis revealed proteinuria in 35%(12/34) and hematuria in 19%(7/36). Chest roentgram and ECG demonstrated abnormalities in 39%(14/36) and 73%(26/36) respectively, The treatment with doxycycline was very effective in all cases.
Diagnosis ; Doxycycline ; Electrocardiography ; Exanthema ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Male ; Proteinuria ; Scrub Typhus* ; Thorax ; Urinalysis

BACKGROUND: Pilomatricoma(Benign calcifying epithelioma of Malherbe) is a uncommon benign tumor with differentiation toward hair cortex cells. It commonly manifests itself as a firm, deep seated nodule with normal Overlying skin, However, anetodermic cutaneous changes have also been described in the literature since 1943. Although the authors hypothesized this phenomenon as a chronic mechanical irritation or a step of transepidermal elimination of the tumoral mass, distinctive elucidation of pathomechanism of it remained. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to characterize the clinical and histopathologic features of 25 cases with pilomatricoma and to elucidate pathomechanism of the anetodermic cutaneous changes through the comparison of the anetodermic pattern of overlying skin with the changes of the tumoral mass or collagen and elastic fibers in the dermis. METHODS: Twenty-five cases with pilomatricoa have been collected at Chunganam National University Hospital and Kongju Medical Center during 15 years and 5 years, respectively, And we studied the clinical and histopathological characteristics of patients and tried to reveal the relationship between the cutaneous manifestations and the histologic changes through the test for independence. RESULTS: 1. In the age distribution, the patients lesser than 30 years old was 23 cases(92%). The mean age was 18.9 years old. The ratio of males to females was 1 : 2.6. 2. The duration of lesions was from 2 months to 7 years, with the mean duration of 11 months. The predilection sites were arm(40%), face(28%), neck(12%), shoulder(8%), scalp(4%) and back(4%) in order. All lesions were hard in consistency, and were from bean to walnut sized. Clinically, 10 cases (40%) showed reddish discoloration and/or anetodermic cutaneous changes. 3. Histopathologically, the typical patterns of pilomatricoma were commonly located at the dermis (23 cases) and consisted of the shadow cells predominantly(21 cases). Calcium deposits(21 cases, 84%) were noted within the shadow cells. Eight cases(32%) had the tumoral maese demarcated with fibrous capsules, and the foreign body reaction with giant cells and chronic mononuclear cell infiltrations around the shadow cells ruptured the fibrous capsules in 17 cases(68%). 4. When we compared the relationship between the inflammatory cell infiltrations around the tumoral mass and the changes of dermal collagen and elastic fibers, we observed that the changes of dermal fibers and foreign body reaction and mononuolear cell infiltrations were statistically co-related. When compared the cutaneous changes with the inflammatory cell infiltrations of the tumoral masses, we could also reveal that the anetodermic cutaneous changes of the overlying skin might be influenced by the foreign body reactions with chronic mononulcer cell. Based on the status of foreing body reaction, the average of onset was inversely proportional to the average of age. CONCLUSION: Pilomatricomas are slowly growing, firm, deep seated benign tumor which occurs commonly on the arm, face and neck. However, they often showed the anetodermic changes on the overlying skin. Anetodermic cutaneous changes or discoloration may be correlated with the degree of foreign body reactions without the evidences of transepidermal elimination histopathologically.
Adult ; Age Distribution ; Arm ; Calcium ; Capsules ; Carcinoma ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Collagen ; Dermis ; Elastic Tissue ; Female ; Foreign Bodies ; Foreign-Body Reaction ; Giant Cells ; Hair ; Humans ; Juglans ; Male ; Neck ; Pilomatrixoma* ; Skin

We describe a 8-year-old girl with erythrokeratodermia varibilis (EKV). This diagnosis was supported by erythematous, configurate patches over the entire body. Their size, shape and location varyed with enviromental factors and emotional state. In addition, well defined brownish, hyperkeratotic plaques were scattered over the trunk and extremities. Also, this patient had alopecia universalis, which is not typical of EKV. Etretinate therapy resulted in an almost complete clinical clearing of the plaques; however, her alopecia universalis and erythematous lesions were not affected.
Acitretin ; Alopecia* ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Erythrokeratodermia Variabilis* ; Etretinate ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans