Solitary morphea profunda is a rare form of scleroderma, characterized clinically by a solitary sclerotic plaque, and histologically by marked dermal and subcutaneous fibrosis with an inflammatory infiltrate. We describe another case of this entity presented with an ulcerative, indurated plaque on the left iliac crest, which histologically revealed a focal incidental acantholysis in the overlying epidermis and a marked eosinophilic infiltration through the dermis to the sub-cutaneous tissue.
Acantholysis* ; Dermis ; Eosinophils ; Epidermis ; Fibrosis ; Scleroderma, Localized* ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND: Monofunctional psoralens plus UVA radiation are not severely phototoxic and have less mutagenic activity than bifunctional psoralens plus UVA radiation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate pigment producing effect using various concentrations(0.02%, 0.1%, 0.5%) of monofunctional psoralens such as angelicin, khellin and comparing it's effect with TMP in topical photochemotherapy. METHOD: Ninty three C57BL mice were painted with either angelicin, khellin or TMP solution in concentrations of 0.02%, 0.1% and 0.5% each and were UVA irradiated. Skin biopsies were performed at 1,3,5 weeks after UVA irradiation. The pigment producing effects were measured by the number, area and perimeter of the melanocytes after topical PUVA. RESULTS: The comparison of melanocyte numbers between different psoralens after five weeks of photochemotherapy showed a significant difference in decreasing order of TMP, khellin and angelicin. The area and perimeter of melanocytes were larger in the TMP group after five weeks photochemotherapy than the other group. However in the khellin and angelicin group, the area and perimeter of melanocytes were not increased by increasing the frequency of the UVA irradiation. CONCLUSION: The number, area and perimeter of melanocytes after topical PUVA increased in the TMP group compared to angelicin or khellin group. We expect the clinical application of angelicin and khellin in vitiligo is possible considering the result of the study of pigment producing effect with a higher concentration and higher dose of UVA.
Animals ; Biopsy ; Ficusin* ; Furocoumarins ; Khellin ; Melanocytes* ; Methods ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Paint ; Photochemotherapy* ; Skin ; Thymidine Monophosphate ; Vitiligo

BACKGROUND: The photsensitizing effect of quinolones has been recognized since their introdulation as an antibacterial agents. Recently several new second eneration antibacterial agents of this pharmacological class have become available for therapy, and are gaining increasing impotance. OBJECTIVE: To reveal the phototoxic potentials of some new quinolones by photohemolysis test, estimation of fluorescenc spectra, and Candida albicans test. METHODS: Nalidixic acid and four second-generation quinolones(ciprofloxacin, enoxacini, norfloxacin, and ofloxacitid were examined by fluorescence spertra which measured t.he phototoxc potentials by photochemial instability, photohemolsis test for the phototoxic properties against cell membranes and Candida tlbicans test for phototoxic properties against DNA. RESULTS: All drugs showed a fluorescence spectra within 360 nm to 450 nm, and in the photohemolysis test, all studied drug except ofloxacin got above 5% hemolytic value, and all drugs showed clear zone. in Candida albicans test after 48hours. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that all tested drugs were photochemically unstable. According to the mechanisris of cellular phototoxicity, ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, and norfloxacin was phtototoxic to nucleus and cell membrane, whereas ofloxacin was phototoxic to nucleus only.
Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; Candida ; Candida albicans ; Cell Membrane ; Ciprofloxacin ; Dermatitis, Phototoxic ; DNA ; Enoxacin ; Fluorescence ; Nalidixic Acid ; Norfloxacin ; Ofloxacin ; Quinolones

We described a case of diffuse biphasic cutaneous amyloidosis, a unique form of localized cutaneous amyloidosis. A 41-year-old man has gradually developed a lichenoid papular and a grouped spotted pigmented macular eruption on the trunk and upper extremities over the past 15 years. Histopathologic examination revealed that amyloid deposits were present in the papillary dermis. It was confirmed by Congo red staining, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. There was no evidence of systemic amyloidosis.
Adult ; Amyloidosis* ; Congo Red ; Dermis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microscopy, Electron ; Plaque, Amyloid ; Upper Extremity

We report herein three cases of subcutaneous sarcoidosis without apparent internal lesion. The patients had multiple subcutaneous nodules on the extremities and abdomen. Hyper-gammaglobulinemia, a relative increase of T suppressor cells, and increased serum angiotensin converting enzyme level and skin anergy were observed. Histopathologic findings revealed sarcoidal granulomas involving the subcutaneous fat tissue. The lesions of two cases resolved spontaneously and the other one case required systemic corticosteroid therapy.
Abdomen ; Extremities ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Sarcoidosis* ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Fat

Endoscopic injection sclerotherapy(EIS) has been widely used in treating and eradicating acutely bleeding esophageal varies, but may be associated with some undesirable local and systemic complications. Endoscopic variceal ligation(EVL), which consists of mechanicai ligation and thrombosis of varices using elastic o-band, has been recently developed as a non operative alternative to EIS. We performed EVL in 65 patients who had bled from esophageal varices between November 1991 and September 1993. Total 274 sessions were performed and 774 o-bands were used. Six patients were actively bleeding and all of them were successfully controlled by emergency EVL. During the follow-up period, five patients who had combined hepatoma died. Varices were eradicated or reduced grade I in 43(71.6%) of the 60 survivals by 8-36 ligations(mean 15.6 ligation) in 2-13 EVL sessions(mean 5.6 sessions). During follow up period, five patients had recurred from grade 0 to grade 2 or 3 in 106-260 days(mean 182.6 days), and then eradicated by repeated EVL. During or after EVL, there were no complications, except mild substernal distress and mild dysphagia in 17 and 7 patients respectively. These results showed that EVL is a safe and effective method for eradication of bleeding esophageal varices.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Deglutition Disorders ; Emergencies ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ligation* ; Thrombosis ; Varicose Veins

Granulosa cell tumor of the testis is extremly rare in adult males and granulosa cell tumor occurring in the paratesticular area has not been reported. We report a paratesticular granulosa cell tumor in a 34-year-old man who presented with a 5.5 cm sized scrotal mass. The tumor was present in the paratesticular area near the head of epididymis. It was located in the tunica and completely separated from the testis by thick fibrous tissue. Microscopically, the tumor exhibited solid, microfollicular, and trabecular patterns. The tumor cells had ovoid to elongated nuclei with longitudinal intranuclear grooves and one or two nucleoli and scanty cytoplasm. Mitoses were relatively frequent with an average number of 9/10 HPFs. The tumor extended into the visceral tunica vaginalis and showed multiple lymphatic tumor emboli. Immunohisto chemical stains revealed diffuse strong positivity for inhibin, vimentin, and keratin and diffuse weak positivity for estrogen and progesteron receptor. Placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) were negative. On electron microscopic examination, tumor cells were polygonal and had large indented nuclei. The cytoplasm contained a moderate number of small round mitochondria, abundant rough and smooth endoplasmic reticula, and a few lipid droplets. Small aggregates of intermediate filaments and intercellular junctions were observed. The patient was alive and well 5 months after orchiectomy. This is the first case of adult granulosa cell tumor arising in the paratesticular area.
Adult ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Coloring Agents ; Cytoplasm ; Epididymis ; Estrogens ; Female ; Granulosa Cell Tumor* ; Granulosa Cells* ; Head ; Humans ; Inhibins ; Intercellular Junctions ; Intermediate Filaments ; Male ; Mitochondria ; Mitosis ; Mucin-1 ; Orchiectomy ; Testis ; Vimentin

No abstract available.
Urticaria*

This study was undertaken to investigate the recovery of epidermal Langerhans cells in relation to time after UVA irradiation through different amounts and ways of exposure in CH mice. We irradiated the ears of C2H mice with UVA 200J/cm2 and 400J/cm2 in a single dose at one time or 5 fractionated doses for 5 days and performed biopsies on the ears of the control and experimental groups after 2, 7, 14, 21days of irradiation and stained them with immunoperoxidase method. The results are summarized as follows, l. We observed a significant decrease in the number of the Ia-positive epidermal Langerhans cells in the single-dose-exposed group compared to the fractionated- dose-exposed group on 7th and 14th days irradiated with UVA 200J/cm. 2. There was no significant difference in the change in the number of the Ia- positive epidermal Langerhans cells until 21 days of exposure between the single- dose-exposed group and the fractionated-dose-exposed group irradiated with UVA 400 J/cm 3. In the group irradiated with UVA 2003/cm, the reduced number of the Ia-positive epidermal Langerhans cells returned to normal on the 14th day after irradiation in the fractionated-dose-exposed group and on the 21st day in the single- dose-exposed group. In the group irradiated with 400J/cm, the number returned to normal on the 21st day of irradition both in the fractionated-dose-exposed group and in the single-dose-exposed group.
Animals ; Biopsy ; Ear ; Langerhans Cells* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C3H*

No abstract available.
Leptospira interrogans* ; Leptospira*