Cutaneous focal mucinosis is a rare disease which usually manifests itself as a single asymptomatic papule or nodule, but vesicular presentati:on has only rarely been reported. This condition is one of many mucinoses, including localized lichen myxedematosus, acral persistent papular mucinosis, alopecia mucinosa, follieular mucinosis, and myxoid cysts which present with localized cutaneous lesions. We report a rare vesicular form of cutaneous focal mucinosis in a 42-year-old caucasian male who showed a slowly growing, 0.5 cm-sized, asymptomatic vesicle of one-week duration on his right knee. A histopathological examination revealed a localized accumulation of amorphous basophilic material which was positive on colloidal iron staining at pH 2.5. However, it was negative at pH 0.4 in an alcian blue stain, and negative on colloidal iron staining after treatment with hyaluronidase. The amorphous material was judged to be hyaluronic acid from the results of the above special stains. Proliferation of fibroblasts was also observed. Electron microscopy showed well-develuped endoplasmic reticulum and secretory vesicles in the fibroblasts. The lesion could not be completely removed even after two succesive wide excisions.
Adult ; Alcian Blue ; Basophils ; Colloids ; Coloring Agents ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Fibroblasts ; Ganglion Cysts ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Hyaluronoglucosaminidase ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Iron ; Knee ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Mucinoses* ; Mucinosis, Follicular ; Rare Diseases ; Scleromyxedema ; Secretory Vesicles

We present a case of BLK developed in a 43-year-old Caucasian female. She had an asymptomatic, 4mm-sized, scaly erythematous papule on her left forearm. On histologic examination, this case showed a focal parakeratosis, hyperkeratosis, focal hypergranulosis and basal vacuolar degeneration in the epidermis, as well as band-like lymphohistiocytic infiltration with melanophages and solar elastosis in the dermis. The skin lesion was totally excised and no recurrence was noted.
Adult ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Female ; Forearm ; Humans ; Keratosis* ; Parakeratosis ; Recurrence ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is an acquired disorder which causes body disfiguring and may provoke emotional stress, functional impairment, and psychiatric symptoms. OBJECTIVE: (1) To assess whether the psychiatric symptoms are more frequent in vitiligo patients than control patients. (2) To investigate whether the vitiligo patients with more severe psychiatric symptoms use more negative and passive coping mechanisms than patients with less severe psychiatric symptoms. To carry out this study we evaluated psychiatric symptoms, problems in daily activities, and the relation-ship between coping mechanisms and psychiatric symptoms. METHODS: A clinical study was done on 150 vitiligo patients. Other dermatology patients were used as a control group. Both groups had visited the dermatology clinic of the Severance hospital. Questionaires regarding age, sex, severity of disease, duration of disease, SCL-90(symptom check list 90), the coping list of Weisman, and items for adaptability of daily activity were recorded. Results : Male vitiligo patients showed more psychological symptoms than female patients. Vitiligo patients had many more difficulties in daily activities than the control patients. The patients who had more severe psychiatric symptoms used more negative and passive coping mechanisms than less severe patients. Conclusion : Vitiligo provoked psychiatric symptoms and difficulties in daily activities. Psychiatrically more severe patients used negative and passive coping mechanisms. Comprehensive dermatologic and psychiatric treatment may be required in the treatment of vitiligo.
Dermatology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Stress, Psychological ; Vitiligo*

Paroxysmal itching is a rare symptom in multiple sclerosis and it was first reported in 1975 by Osterman and Westerberg. It has been suggested that paroxysmal itching may be due to the activation of axons in CNS via abnormal synapses between demyelinated axons. Carbamazepine, phenytoin, and ibuprofen are known to be effective in the treatment of paroxysmal itching. We report a case of paroxysmal itching of 4 months' duration in a 41-year-old female with multiple sclerosis who suffered from severe paroxysmal itching on the left side of her neck and chest. The itching did not respond to carbamazepine, but it was partially controlled with ibuprofen.
Adult ; Axons ; Carbamazepine ; Female ; Humans ; Ibuprofen ; Multiple Sclerosis* ; Neck ; Phenytoin ; Pruritus* ; Synapses ; Thorax

Verruciform xanthoma is a rare benign lesion characterized by verrucous epidermal hyperplasia with aggregates of foam cells in dermal papillae. The pathogenesis is still unknown. Although most verruciform xanthoma tend to occur as isolated lesions, several have been associated with other conditions including squamous cell carcinoma and epidermal atypia. We describe a case of verruciform xanthoma associated with epidermal atypia.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Foam Cells ; Hyperplasia ; Xanthomatosis*

We report a case of primary cutaneous adenoid cystic carcinoma in a 39-year-old male patient. It was a slightly erythematous hard nodule on left chin and composed of cribriform and tubular masses of basaloid cells. Lumina formed by neoplastic cells contained mucin and hyalin, and similar constituents were located between neoplastic cell masses and adjacent dermis. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells stained only focally with S-100 protein and negative with carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA). Therapy should employ wide surgical excision that extends well beyond the clinical confines of the neoplasm.
Adenoids* ; Adult ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic* ; Chin ; Dermis ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Male ; Mucins ; S100 Proteins

We report herein a case of acquired periungual fibrokeratoma occuring beneath the proximal nail fold. A 0.5 X 0.3 cm sized, firm nodule was found beneath the proximal nail fold and at its distal portion longitudinal ridging of nail plate was found. Histopathological finding showed marked hyperkeratosis and acanthosis in the epidermis and thick collagen bundles were predominantly oriented in the direction of longitudinal axis of the tumor.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Collagen ; Epidermis

Sebaceous hyperplasia is not a rare disorder and commonly develops on the face over the age of forty. The typical clinical manifestations are 2 ~ 3mm sized, single or multiple, soft protuberant yellowish nodules with central umbilication and histology shows a group of mature sebaceous lobules and central sebaceous ducts. We report an exceptionally "giant" size of sebaceous gland hyperplasia which lead us to such clinical impressions as an acrochordon, intradermal nevus, and verruca vulgaris. Histologically, the lesion showed a greatly enlarged sebaceous gland composed of numerous lobules grouped around a wide sebaceous duct. Besides the extraordinarily large size of the nodule, the benign proliferating pattern led us to a diagnosis of giant sebaceous hyperplasia.
Diagnosis ; Hyperplasia* ; Nevus, Intradermal ; Sebaceous Glands* ; Warts

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to develop rapid and sensitive method to detect M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae. In addition, we prospectively investigate the prevalence of M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae infections in community-acquried pneumonia. METHODS: The nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from July 1997 to April 2000. PCR or nested PCR techniques were used to detect causative agents. RFLP and nucleotide sequence analysis were performed to study molecular epidemiology. Furthermore, feasibility of one-step technique to detect two microorganisms was tested by use of multiplex PCR. RESULTS: Of 250 clinical specimens, 23 (9.2%) specimens were positive for M. pneumoniae and 33 (13.2%) for C. pneumoniae, including one dual-infected specimen. Most M. pneumoniae infection occurred during the colder months of the year. C. pneumoniae infection was predominently found between December to February. CONCLUSION: The result indicate that M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae infections are frequently found from patients with community-acquired pneumoniae.
Adult* ; Base Sequence ; Chlamydia* ; Chlamydophila pneumoniae* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies*

PURPOSE: Endothelial cells maintain the homeostasis of blood, which consists of plasma and cellular components, and regulate the interaction between blood and the surrounding tissues. They also have essential roles in vascular permeability, the circulation, coagulation, inflammation, wound healing, and tissue growth. The senescence of endothelial cells is closely related to the aging of the adjacent tissues and to age-related vascular disease. Recently, the expression of moesin was found to be decreased in elderly human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs), and an association between moesin and senescence has been suggested. This study examined the functional role of moesin in cellular senescence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To study the effects of decreased moesin expression on cellular senescence and metabolism, HDMECs were transfected with short hairpin-RNA (shRNA) lentivirus to silence moesin gene expression. In addition, specimens from young and old human skin were stained with anti-moesin and anti-p16 antibodies as an in vivo study. RESULTS: Using shRNAl-entivirus, moesin knock-down HDMECs developed characteristics associated with aging and expressed senescence associated-beta-galactosidase during early passages. They also showed increased p16 expression, decreased metabolic activity, and cell growth retardation. Human skin tissue from elderly persons showed decreased moesin expression and increased p16 expression. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that there is a functional association between moesin expression and cellular senescence. Further study of the functional mechanism of moesin in the cytoskeleton and cellular senescence is needed. In addition, this study provides a useful model for developing anti-aging treatments.
Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD31/metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Aging/genetics/*physiology ; Cell Line ; Child ; Endothelial Cells/*cytology/*metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microfilament Proteins/genetics/*physiology ; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast ; Microvessels/*cytology ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics/physiology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Skin/*blood supply