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 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

Fibrous histiocytomas are characterized by a variable combination of cells with fibroblastic and histiocytic features. They exhibit a distinctive but inconstant cellular arrangement referred to as a storiform or cartwheel pattern. Considerable corfusion has enveloped these tumors as a result of their various terminology-fibrous histiocytoma, dermatofibroma, sclerosing hemangioma, fibroxanthoma, subepidermal nodular fibrosis, xanthogranuloma, giant cell tumor of tendon sheath. A histologically benign but locally infiltrating, 15 * 20cm sized, fibrous histiocytoma was found in the posterior aspect of left thigh of a 17-year-old man. The tumor was incompletely excised due to adhesion of the tumor mass to sciatic nerve and then radiation therpy was combined, Histogenesis and prognostic aspects of the tumor are discussed.
Adolescent ; Fibroblasts ; Fibrosis ; Giant Cell Tumors ; Histiocytoma ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Humans ; Sciatic Nerve ; Tendons ; Thigh

This study was designed to investigate the effects of occlusive dressing with corticosteroid on the count, size and morphology of corneocytes of normal human skin. We select 16 male volunteers, aged 23 to 25 years, without skin lesions. They were divided to 2 groups according to duration of occlusive dressing, 3 days to group 1 and 6 days to group II. Specimens were obtained from 4 sites on the back, which were studied for the effect of occlusive dressings without any topicals, with 0.l% hydrocortisone-l7-butyrate cream, with 0.25% desoxymethasone ointment, and with base of desoxymethasone, before and every 3 to 5 days after occlusive dressings, up to a total 4 times in group I and 5 times in group II. (countinued..)
Adrenal Cortex Hormones* ; Desoximetasone ; Humans* ; Male ; Occlusive Dressings* ; Skin* ; Volunteers

No abstract available.
Kidney Pelvis* ; Metaplasia* ; Ureter*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Mothers*

We investigated the clinical aspect and immunologic parameters of childhood and adult vitiligo in our clinics and made a comparative study. The childhood vitiligo showed the following results : similar incidence of clinical patterns with adults except for the lower incidence of the acrofacial type than in adults ; less involvement in the extent of lesion of disease than in adults ; higher incidence of family history than with adults ; of the precipitating factors, trauma is the main one whereas emotional stress is for adults ; higher association with halo nevi than adults ; and lower incidence of serum autoantibodies than adults. We have ascertained that childhood vitiligo is a distinct subset of vitiligo, showing the above features which will be studied in more patients in a long term follow-up clinical study.
Adult ; Autoantibodies ; Clinical Study ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Nevus, Halo ; Precipitating Factors ; Stress, Psychological ; Vitiligo