Rumex japonicus Houttuyn are ubiquitous plants, which are found in marshes or in wet areas. The root of Rumex japonicus Houttuyn has been used for the treatment of skin diseases including fungal infections of the skin since older times in Japan and China. This study was undertaken to investigate the antifungal activity of the alcoholbenzene extract of Rumex japonicus Houttuyn in vitro. During this experiment the extracts of Rumex japonicus Houttuyn were diluted seriaIly in the Sabouraud's dextrose agar and fungal mats or fungal suspensions of isolated strains of dermatophytes were inoculated into each medium containing different concentrations of test materials. Then their growth was observed for 2 weeks or 10 days at room temperature. (countinued...)
Agar ; Arthrodermataceae ; China ; Glucose ; Japan ; Rumex* ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Suspensions ; Wetlands

A histopathological observation of drug-induced morbilliform eruption and erythema multiforme was made on 32 patients with drug eruption, We found that many histopathologic features of drug-induced morbilliform eruption of basal cell layer with infiltration of derrnoepidermal junction and necrosis of epidermal keratinocyte were similar to those of drug induced erythema multiforme. Therefore, it seems possible to regard the histopathologic features of druginduced morbilliform eruption and erythema multiforrne as a cornmon tissuc reaction with spectral expression.
Drug Eruptions ; Erythema Multiforme* ; Erythema* ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Necrosis

A clinical study was made on 148 cases of cutaneous malignant tumors that visited the Department of Dermatology at Seoul National University Hospital during a 11-year period from 1973 to 1983. The results were summarized as follows: 1) The incidence of cutaneous malignant tumors in the total number of outpatients visiting the Department of Derrnatology was 0. 025g. 2) There were 90 cases of male (60. 8p,) and 58 cases of female (39. 2g). The ratio of male to female was l. 55: l. Among the 148 cases of cutaneous malignant tumors, the most frequently observed type was basal cell carcinoma, 58 cases (3j.2 p:). The next most frequent types were squamous cell carcinoma, 42 cases(28. 4g) and malignant melanoma, ]1 cases (7. 4g). We described the clinical characteristics of the patients with basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma that have been observed.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Dermatology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Melanoma ; Outpatients ; Seoul

BACKGROUND: Although palmoplantar epidermal cysts have long been associated with develop ment following implantation of an epidermal fragment as a result of a penetrating or blunt injury, the pathogenic mechanism is still not fully understood. Since 1987, many cases have been reported in which human papillomavirus(HPV) could be associated with palmoplantar epidermal cysts. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we evaluated the clinicopathological findings of palmoplantar epidermal cysts and investigated them for the presence of HPV in order to examine the role of HPV in the pathogenesis of this disorder in Korea. METHODS: The clinical, histological, immunohistochemical studies were performed on seven cases of plantar cysts, and two cases of palmar cysts. RESULTS: No previous trauma history was seen. Histopathologically, parakeratotic nuclei, or vacuolar strutures within the keratinous mass in the cyst cavity were found. However, we could not find intracytoplasirnic eosinophilic bodies in the wall, the cyst content, or the overlying epidermis. The dyskeratotic keratinocytes were observed in 3 cases. Papillomavirus common antigens were not detected by immunohissochemical staining. CONCLUSIONS: Palmoplantar epidermal cysts in Korea have some different histological features compared to those of HPV 60-associated cases in Japan and we could not detect the immunohistochemical evidence of HPV infection in our cases.
Eosinophils ; Epidermal Cyst* ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Japan ; Keratinocytes ; Korea ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating

Ex.traosseous osteogenic sarcoma is exceedingly rare although bone formation occurs commonly in different reactive processes or neoplasms. Most of this tumors occurred in the lower extremities of middle aged people. The overall prognosis is grave and local recurrence following simple local excision possibly contributes to the poor prognosis. An agressive surgical approach including major amputation is recommended as the primary form of treatment. We have experienced a case of extraosseous osteogenic sarcoma of left gluteal region at the site of therapeutic irradiation for cervical carcinoma 16 years previously.
Amputation ; Buttocks ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Middle Aged ; Osteogenesis ; Osteosarcoma ; Prognosis ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND: The immortalized human keratinocyte line, HaCaT cells have been widely used as substitutes for normal epidermal keratinocytes. Recently, reconstruction of a skin equivalent using HaCaT cells showed a multilayered epithelium,but somewhat different tissue architecture as compared with normal epidermis. OBJECTIVE: In this study, using HaCaT cells we tried to reconstruct an epidermis resembling more closely to normal epidermis than the previous results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HaCaT cells were cultured in air-liquid interface on a recently developed dermal substrated in our laboratory, de-epidermized dermis (DED) raised on fibroblast-populated collagen matrix and the result was compared with those on DED or fibroblast-populated collagen matrix alone. RESULTS: HaCaT cells on the new dermal substrate formed a multilayered epithelium with rete ridges, showing rather orderly cellular organization compared with those on fibroblast-populated collagen matrix. However, horny and granular layers were not observed contrary to normal epidermis. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that differentiation markers such as keratin 1, keratin 6 and involucrin showed the similar pattern to those in HaCaT cells cultured on fibroblast-populated collagen matrix. Markers of terminal differentiation, loricrin and filaggrin were not expressed contrary to normal epidermis. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that organotypic culture HaCaT cells on the dermal substrate combines DED with fivroblast-populated collagen matrix results in incomplete differentiation of HaCaT cells contrary to normal keratinocytes.
Antigens, Differentiation ; Collagen* ; Dermis* ; Epidermis ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Keratin-1 ; Keratin-6 ; Keratinocytes ; Skin

No abstract available.
Electrocardiography*

We report a case of morphea profunda in a 21-year-old male who had diffuse brown sclerotic plaques on his extremities. Laboratory findings showed peripheral eosinophilia and an increased titers for anti-DNA and anti-nuclear antibodies. Histopathologic findings showed diffuse fibrosis and a thickening of the lower dermis and subcutaneous tissue. He has been treated with hydroxychloroquine 400mg per day and the sclerosis of the skin improved.
Antibodies ; Dermis ; Eosinophilia ; Extremities ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Hydroxychloroquine ; Male ; Scleroderma, Localized* ; Sclerosis ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: The main function of melanocyte is known to proiect the skin from hazardous sun-light. But, some investigators have claimed lately that melanocytes are also related to the immunologic role in the epidermis becauase these cells produce IL-1 activity and IL-lb convertase activity, in vitro. OBJECTIVE: Our purposee were to investigate the effects of rIFN-b on the proliferation of melanocytes, melanin content, and the expression of HLA-DR aritign on melanocytes after a rIFN-y exposure. MEHTODS: The number of melanocytes, the melanin content, and the expression of HLA-DR antigen were evaluated on culturect human melanocytes according to a time sequence and various concentrations of rIFN-y. RESULTS: Antiproliferative activity on melanocytes was dependent on the exposure time and the concentration of rIFN-r. According to the exposure time and the concentration of rIFN-r, melanogenic activity was inhibited or stimulated, Normal melanocytes didnt express HLA-DR antigen, but when normal melanocytes were exposed to rIFN-r, the expression of HLA-DR antigen increased in a timeand concentration-dependent fashion. After the removal of rIFN-r fiom the culture media the expression of HLA-DR antigen on melanocytes also disappeared. CONCLUSION: In our study, melanocytes seem to be related to the irnmunologic role in the epidermis because these cells expressed HLA-DR antigen after rIFN-r exposue and we think that study could help to investigate between melanocytes and immunalogic mechanisms in various inflammatory skin diseases.
Culture Media ; Epidermis ; HLA-DR Antigens ; Humans* ; Interleukin-1 ; Melanins ; Melanocytes ; Research Personnel ; Skin ; Skin Diseases

Two typical cases of epithelioid sarcoma were examined by immunohistochemical stain using antibodies to epithelial membrane antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen, vimentin and cytokeratin. Both cases showed positive reactivity for the four kinds of antibodies. These results point to the fact that epithelioid sarcoma simultaneously expresses epithelial markers and characteristic mesenchymal phenotypes. Epithelioid sarcoma appears to be a tumor derived from a multipotential mesenchymal cell with multidirectional differentiation.
Antibodies ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Keratins ; Mucin-1 ; Phenotype ; Sarcoma* ; Vimentin