Pigmented photoallergic contact dermatitis is a disease usually resulting from recurrent cutaneous exposure to cosmetic photoallergens which produce bizarre dark brown hyperpigmentation. Histologicnl examination of this condition reveals liquefaction of the basal cells of the epidmis and melanophages in the upper dermis. A 50-year-female developed dark brownish mottled hyperpigmented patches on her face after using a soap named O.E. and taking a nap every afternoon for 4 years. The histological fmding on the lesion site was consistent with pigmented photoallergic contact dermatitis. The cosmetic photopatch test with, O.E. soap, and the Scandinavian scries resulted in a positive reaction only on one side where 5 J/cm2 lights were applied by using Waldman 800UV machine. The other side howed a negative finding. We fmally diagnosed pigmented photoallergic contact dermatitis based on the patients histoty of using the soap containing musk ambrette, a histological examination of a biopsy and the results of photopatch tests. We report rare case of pigmented photoallergic contact dermatitis.
Biopsy ; Dermatitis, Photoallergic* ; Dermis ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Soaps

Anthrax toxin consists of three separate proteins, protective antigen (PA), edema factor (EF), and lethal factor (LF). PA binds to the receptor on mammalian cells and facilitates translocation of EF or LF into its cytosol. PA is the primary component of anthrax vaccines. In this study we purified PA from culture filtrates of Bacillus anthracis. The purification involved sequential chromatography through hydroxylapatite, DEAE-Sepharose CL-4B, followed by Mono-Q. The purified PA was judged to be homogeneous on SDS-PAGE, and consisted of a single polypeptide chain with a relative molecular weight of 85,000.
Anthrax ; Anthrax Vaccines ; Bacillus anthracis* ; Bacillus* ; Chromatography ; Cytosol ; Durapatite ; Edema ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Molecular Weight

Linear IgA bullous dermatoses(LABD) occurring in childhood is considered to be a childhood counterpart of LABD,rather than chronic bullous dermatosis of childhood. This disease characteristically involves the perioral area,lower trunk,pelvic region and the lower extremities. Immunopathologically,it is characterized by the linear deposits of IgA at the dermoepidermal junction of the perilesional skin. A 20-month-old female infant presented with multiple pruritic tense bullae on the face, lower trunk, both extremities and pelvic region of 2 weeks duration. She had no oral lesions or any specific signs or symptoms referable to the disease of the gastrointestinal tract. A skin biopsy revealed subepidermal blisters infiltrated with many neutrophils and a few eosinophils. Direct immunofluorescence demonstrated linear deposition of IgA at the dermoepidermal junction. An indirect immunofluorescence study using NaC1-split skin as the substrate revealed fluorescence for IgA in a linear pattern on the roof of the split at a titer of 1:40. The clinical diagnosis of LABD of childhood was confirmed and we started with a combined remedy of dapsone and corticosteroids; 10 weeks later almost all of the lesions had disappeared.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Biopsy ; Blister ; Dapsone ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophils ; Extremities ; Female ; Fluorescence ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Infant ; Linear IgA Bullous Dermatosis* ; Lower Extremity ; Neutrophils ; Pelvis ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

No abstract available.
Rhinitis*

Median nerve injury after elbow dislocation is uncommon. The diagnosis of median nerve entrapment is often delayed. Median nerve paralysis is caused by entrapment within the elbow joint. If median nerve paralysis occurs following elbow dislocation or if it occurs following closed reduction, entrapment should be suspected. Optimal management of this problem consists of early surgical exploration and decompression. We report a case of a child who had entrapment of the median nerve in the elbow joint after closed reduction of posterior dislocation with fracture of the medial epicondyle. The diagnosis was made ten weeks after injury at surgical exploration. This case showed a characteristic radiologic sign in the anteroposterior radiograph. We released the entrapped median nerve with a successful result.
Child ; Decompression ; Diagnosis ; Dislocations ; Elbow Joint ; Elbow ; Humans ; Median Nerve ; Paralysis

This study was conducted to study the changes of cell surface carbohydrates during transdifferentiation of retinal pigment epithelial(RPE)cells. RPE cells were cultured from adult pig eyes. Surface carbohydrates of RPE cells from 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th passages were assayed by lectin histochemistry and enzyme immunoassay. Changes in binding affinities to the lectins employed were demonsrated during trasdifferentiation of RPE cell. Whereas binding affinities of ConA, ECL, PNA, WGA, and UEA-I decreased graudally as the number of culture passage increased, binding properties to LCA, STL and DBA fluctuated depending on the number of passages. The results demonstrate changes of surface carbohydrates of RPE cell during trasdifferentiation. We suggest that changes of surface carbohydrates of RPE cell during trasdifferentiation may be close relations with the functional changes during transdifferentiation.
Adult ; Carbohydrates ; Epithelial Cells* ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Lectins ; Retinaldehyde*

Exogenous factors, including environmental substances and drugs, are known to induce scleroderma-like reactions. Various scleroderma-like reactions induced by anti-cancer drugs have recently been reported. This is the first report that doxifluridine (Didox), an oral prodrug of the antineoplastic agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), induced a localized sclerderma-like reaction. A 51-year-old woman was referred to our clinic with multiple pearly, shiny patches on both her breasts, her pelvis and her back. After surgical excision and radiation therapy due to her right breast cancer, she took Didox for 7 months. A skin biopsy specimen revealed that the dermal collagen thickening extended even to the subcutaneous tissue. The routine laboratory tests were within the normal ranges and the tests for antinuclear antibody (ANA), anti SS-A antibody, anti SS-B antibody and anti U1-RNP antibody were all negative. After discontinuation of Didox, the lesions gradually improved. Based on these finding, we diagnosed this case as a localized scleroderma-like reaction induced by doxifluridine and we should pay attention to detect this adverse effect of the long term use of doxifluridine.
Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Biopsy ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Collagen ; Female ; Floxuridine ; Fluorouracil ; Humans ; Hydroxamic Acids ; Middle Aged ; Pelvis ; Reference Values ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Tissue

BACKGROUND: c-Jun along with JunB, JunD, and the Fos group proteins comprise the core members of the activator protein 1 (AP1) family of transcription factors. Recently, many studies have demonstrated the key roles of AP1 in regulating a wide spectrum of biological processes, including tumorigenesis. We therefore hypothesized that c-Jun and JunB influence the differentiation and malignant change of various skin tumors. OBJECTIVE: We measured the expression levels of c-Jun and JunB in different skin tumors. METHODS: The expressions of c-Jun and JunB were examined by performing the immunohistochemical staining of 55 specimens of skin tumors, including 13 cases of seborrheic keratosis, 4 cases of keratoacanthoma, 9 cases of actinic keratosis, 4 cases of Bowen's disease, 4 cases of basal cell carcinoma, 16 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, and 5 cases of malignant melanoma. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical analysis of the skin tumor tissue samples revealed a significantly higher expression of c-Jun in malignant skin tumors (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma) than in benign (seborrheic keratosis, keratoacanthoma) or premalignant skin tumors (actinic keratosis, Bowen's disease). The expression of JunB, however, was significantly lower in malignant skin tumors than in benign skin tumors. CONCLUSION: These findings showed that c-Jun has a positive association with skin malignancies, while JunB has a negative association with skin malignancies. The role of AP1 as key regulators of cell proliferation and epidermal tumor progression is suggested.
Biological Processes ; Bowen's Disease ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Keratoacanthoma ; Keratosis ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Keratosis, Seborrheic ; Melanoma ; Skin* ; Transcription Factor AP-1 ; Transcription Factors

BACKGROUND: Cosmetic cleansers are most widely used to remove makeup and sometimes cause allergic or irritation contact dermatitis. We can patch test soaps or shampoos as 2% concentration, but cleansers have been not determined for the concentration by patch test yet. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to determine the concentration of cosmetic cleansers for patch test. METHODS: The skin responses to patch testing with variable cleansers in different concentrations were measured by visual scoring, spectrometer, evaporimeter and corneometer. RESULTS: The results of the studies were summarized as follows; 1. The cream type and lotion type cleansers showed no skin responses. 2. The skin response of foam type cleansers showed that the one had statistical significance between 2% and 5%, and the other had 5% and 10% concentration. 3. The skin response of gel type cleansers showed statistical significance between 5% and 10% concentration. 4. Through correlation analysis, we found that the evaluation of the evaporimeter or corneometer were not related to the visual measurement. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that cosmetic cleansers of water, lotion and cream type can be tested as is(100%), and foam type cleansers with 2%, and gel type should be tested with 5% concentration.
Dermatitis, Contact ; Patch Tests* ; Skin ; Soaps

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of proximal femoral nail in the treatment of intertrochanteric fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors investigated the classificaton of fracture, operation time, the amount of intraoperative and postoperative bleeding, the amount of transfusion, postoperative ambulation status, bone union time and the complication among 45 cases who were treated with proximal femoral nail from Jan. 2001 to June 2002. RESULTS: The mean operation time was 116 minutes, and the amount of bleeding was 524 ml in average. The amount of intraoperative transfusion was 1.4 pints and that of postoperative transfusion was 1.1 pints. The complications were the intraoperative penetration of antirotational screw through the femoral neck in 2 cases, separation of the fracture fragment while inserting the nail in 4 cases, irritation of skin by retropulsion of antirotation screw in 2 cases, and penetration of antirotation screw through femoral head in 1 case. CONCLUSION: Proximal femoral nail was effective for the treatment of intertrochanteric fracture, however the surgeon should be carful about collision of the insertion handle against pelvis when the fracture line coincides with the insertion point of nail, especially in obese patients.
Femur ; Femur Neck ; Head ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Pelvis ; Skin ; Walking