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 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

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

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

Lymphomatoid papulosis(LyP) is a chronic recurrent dermatosi characterized by involuting and recurring papules, plaques, and nodules showing histologic feaurs suggesting rnalignant lymphoma. On histologic ground, it is divided into two types. type A and type B. In type A, large atypical lymphocytes are the main cellular cornponent and most of these express CD 30(Ki-1) antigen, which has been p!reviously thought to be specific for Read Sternberg cells of Hodgkins disease. In type B, cerebriform mononuclear lymphocytes sirr la to those in mycosis fungoides predominates. We report two cases of lymphomatoid papulosis, type A and type B, respectively. The large atypical cells in type A LyP expressed Ki 1 antigen. Both case were treated with PUVA and the outcome of the treatment has been fair.
Antigens, CD30 ; Hodgkin Disease ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma ; Lymphomatoid Papulosis ; Mycosis Fungoides

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

A clinical observation of cutaneous complications was made on 200 patients receiving cancer chemotherapy at the Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University from January through May, 1986. The results were as follows: 1. Among the 200 patients, 191 case(95. 5%) showed cutaneous complications 2. The cutaneous complications included the following; hyperpigmentation(14l cases, 70. 5%), alopecia(138 cases, 69.4%), nail change(118 cases, 59.0%), mucositis(47 cases, 23.5%), dryness of the skin(40 cases, 20.0%), seborrheic dermatitis(24 cases, 12. 2%), increase of seborrheic keratosis(11 cases, 5.6%), folliculitis or acneiform eruptions(9 cases, 4,5%), melasma(6 cases, 3.0%), gynecomastia(3 cases, 1.5%), vessel hardening or dimpling(3 cases, 1.5%), radiation recall(2 cases, 1.0%), hyperhydrosis(2 cases), photosensitivity(1 case, 0.5%), tissue necrosis(1 case), facial flushing(1 case), purpura(1 case) and obesity(1 case), 3 Steps were taken to determine the chemotherapeutic agents causing these cutaneous complications, though in some cases it was difficult in determining exaetlr which chemotherapeutic agent was the cause of the observed cutaneous complication.
Drug Therapy* ; Folliculitis ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Seoul

The study comprises 127 inpatients with drug eruption, treated at the Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University Hospital, during a 10-year period. The results are summarized as follows: 1. Out of 1,434 dermatologic inpatients, 127(8. 9%) patients were diagnosed as drug eruption. 2. The cutaneous manifestations of drug eruptions in the order of frequency were as follows: exanthematous eruption, urticaria, erythema multiforme, Stevens Johnson syndrome, TEN, exfoliative dermatitis, fixed drug eruption and purpura. 3. Antibiotics and antimicrobials were the most common causative agents followed by antipyretics and analgesics, CNS depressant drugs and herb drugs. 4. The 5 most common drugs causing drug eruptions were ampicillin, acetyl salicylic acid, diphenylhydantoin, sulfonamide and phenacetin.
Ampicillin ; Analgesics ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antipyretics ; Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; Dermatology ; Drug Eruptions* ; Erythema Multiforme ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Phenacetin ; Phenytoin ; Purpura ; Salicylic Acid ; Seoul ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome ; Urticaria