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

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: 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 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

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

No abstract available.
Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C Antibodies* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Prevalence*

Acanthoma fissuratum is a localized thickening of the skin in response to pressure by an eyeglass frame and usually occurs on the retroauricular fold, superior auricular crease, or bridge of the nose. The definitive diagnosis can be confirmed by characteristic clinical and histopathological features in association with anamnestic data. Herein we report a case of acanthoma fissuratum developing on an unusual site-the mucosa of the upper lip and it was successfully treated with simple excision.
Acanthoma* ; Diagnosis ; Lip* ; Mucous Membrane* ; Nose ; Skin

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

Several observation suggest that the antimelanocyte autoantibodies could play a role in melanocyte destruction. Some experiments indicate that melanocyte antibodies from patients with vitiligo can kill melanocyte in vitro. In these experiments, we demonstrated that vitiligo patient's sera containing antimelanocyte antibodies can lyse cultured human melanocytes by complement activation. Melanocyte cytotoxicity was measured using the ethidium bromide/ acridine orange viability assay. Significant melanocyte cytotoxicity was seen in sera from patients with both active and inactive vitiligo(p<0.01). Melanocyte cytotoxicity measured with complement-mediated cytotoxicity decreased after systemic steroid treatment(p<0.05) ; however melanocyte cytotoxicity showed no significant change with systemic PUVA therapy.
Acridine Orange ; Antibodies ; Autoantibodies* ; Complement Activation ; Ethidium ; Humans ; Melanocytes ; PUVA Therapy ; Vitiligo*

BACKGROUND: Partial unilateral lentiginosis (PUL) is a rare pigmentary disorder characterized by grouped multiple lentigines on otherwise normal skin that histologically have the typical features of lentigo. This entity has been only rarely reported in the Korean population. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical and histopathologic characteristics, association with other disorders, and differential diagnosis of PUL. METHODS: We reviewed our experiences of thirteen cases of PUL which had been collected in our dermatology clinic during the 6-year period between 1993 and 1998. RESULTS: Twelve patients were female and one was male. In 3 patients the lesions appeared after the age of 20 years. Ten patients had the lesions on the upper part of the body, the neck being the most common location. No bias was shown in terms of the side of the body affected. Cafe-au-lait macules (one to three) were found in six patients, axillary freckles were observed in two. Histopathologic examination of biopsy specimens commonly showed hyperpigmentation of the basal layer, elongation of rete ridges, and an increased number of melanocytes. There ,was no evidence of associated disorders or family history. CONCLUSION: Based on this data, we confirmed that PUL is a benign, idiopathic lentiginosis with no commonly associated abnormalities. Furthermore, we believed that PUL is not uncommon in Korean people.
Bias (Epidemiology) ; Biopsy ; Dermatology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Lentigo ; Male ; Melanocytes ; Melanosis ; Neck ; Skin