BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that pityrosporurr yeasts, normal resident flora of skin, may be important in the pathogenesis of dandruff seborrheic dermatitis and confluent and reticulated papillomatosis. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the incidence and distribution of pityiosorum yeasts on clinically normal skin as a more reasonable method for providing the basic data or proving the relationship of pityrosporum and pathogenesi, of the diseases. MEHTODS: A total of 350 subjects were studied. Skin scrapings were stained with 20% Parker ink-KOH(P-KOH) solution. The numbers of pityrosporum spores and hyphe per high power field( x 400) were counted and designated according to a new grading method using bacterial index(BI) of lepra bacilli. RESULTS: The incidence rates of pityrosporum orbiculare(p. orbiculare) and pityrosporum ovale(p. ovale) were 60-70% and 20-50% of subjects respectively on seborrheic area., The incidence of p. orbicilare was highter than that of p. ovale on all examined sites except for the iterior scalp. And pityrosporal hyphae was present on anteriand posterior scalp and earwax in 24-25% of subjects respectively. The incidence of pityrosporum was higher in summer than other seasons The incidence rate of p. orbiculare and hyphae in the group aged below 9 (except neonates) and above 60, were lower than that of other age groups. The inciderice rates and distribution of grades of pityrosporum of neonates were lower than those of older subjects. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that the incidence and distribution of pityrosporum spores were similar to previoureports and hyphal forms were found 25% approximately on clinically normal skin of the scalp and carwax. The significance of the presenet of pityosporal hyphae and the relationship between normal skin and pityrosporal hyphae are to be firther elucidated.
Dandruff ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Incidence* ; Infant, Newborn ; Malassezia ; Papilloma ; Scalp ; Seasons ; Skin* ; Spores ; Yeasts

The prevalence of Behcet's disease is the highest in the East Asian and the Medi-terranean countries. Behcet's disease is also distributed in the Asian countries, but the nationwide survey has not been performed in Korea yet. The Korean Study Group for Behcet's Disease, founded in 1999, conducted a multicenter, retrospective survey on epidemiologic and clinical features of the patients with Behcet's disease from 20 hospitals around the nation from 1997 to 1999. Of 3,497 patients, 1,527 were classified into complete or incomplete type of Behcet's disease according to the revised Shimizu's classification. The sex ratio was 1:1.75 with the female predominance. Geographical distribution showed the highest frequency in Seoul (38.5%). Clinically, 98.8% had oral ulcers, 83.2% had genital ulcers, 84.3% had skin lesions and 50.9% had ocular lesions. As for the minor clinical manifestations, articular symptoms were the most frequent. The pathergy test showed positive in 15.4% of patients and revealed a higher positive rate in males (20.2%) than in females (12.7%). In conclusion, we performed the first multicenter study on Behcet's disease in Korea and revealed the female predominance, higher frequency of ocular lesions, and lower positivity of pathergy test in the patients.
Adolescence ; Adult ; Aged ; Behcet's Syndrome/complications/*epidemiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Human ; Infant ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Age ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Distribution

BACKGROUND: The relative frequency and clinicopathologic characteristics of lymphomas vary according to geography and race. Data on the features of cutaneous lymphoma in Korea are limited. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to document the relative occurrence, the clinical and histopathological features of cutaneous lymphomas in Korea. METHODS: The Korean Dermatopathology Research Group conducted a review of nationwide collection of 80 cutaneous lymphomas, diagnosed at 23 institutes over recent 3-year period. Clinical records and pathology slides of the patients were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Korea has a higher rate of T-cell lymphoma and NK/T cell lymphoma and a much lower rate of cutaneous B cell lymphoma. The relative frequency of the major diagnostic group according to WHO classification was as follows: mycosis fungoides/Sezary syndrome, 42.5%; anaplastic large cell lymphoma, 19%; nasal and nasal type NK/T cell lymphoma, 15%; subcutaneous panniculitis-like T cell lymphoma, 11%; peripheral T cell lymphoma, unspecified, 7.5%; follicular lymphoma, 3%; marginal zone lymphoma, 1%; angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy, 1%. Compared with Western countries, the rate of nasal and nasal-type NK/T cell lymphoma and subcutaneous panniculitis-like T cell lymphoma were much higher. Therefore, The EORTC classification is not effective in dealing with Korean cases of cutaneous lymphoma. We consider the principles of the WHO classification are applicable to the Korean cases of cutaneous lymphoma.
Academies and Institutes ; Classification ; Continental Population Groups ; Geography ; Humans ; Immunoblastic Lymphadenopathy ; Korea* ; Lymphoma* ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Lymphoma, Follicular ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral ; Pathology ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Malignant melanoma in Korea has been increasing as in other countries, but there is no nationwide survey of malignant melanoma in Korea. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to document the clinical and histopathological features of cutaneous melanoma in Korea. METHODS: The Dermatopathology Research Group conducted a review of nationwide collection of 109 primary cutaneous melanomas, diagnosed at 23 institutes over a recent 3-year period. Clinical records and pathology slides of the patients were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The peak age was the 7th decade with the mean age of 58.1 years. Korea has a higher rate of acral melanoma and much lower rate of lentigo maligna melanoma. .Major component tumor cell was spindle cell type. Clark level of tumor was III or more and Breslow depth was 2mm or more at the time of the first diagnosis in many cases (62%). Pre-existing melanocytic nevus was present in a few cases (3 cases). All these features suggest that the racial difference between the Korean and the Caucasian is evident. We also suggest that an early detection program is very important to cure this malignant tumor.
Academies and Institutes ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle ; Korea* ; Melanoma* ; Nevus, Pigmented ; Pathology ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis, especially toenail onychomycosis has become one of the common fungal infection and has historically been regarded as a cosmetic rather than medical problem by many patients, even by physicians. Recently, however, there are several reports that this is a refractory disease which may cause a deleterious effect on patients' quality of life (QOL). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of toenail onychomycosis on QOL in Korea and to assess the changes of QOL after treatment. METHODS: Total 1004 patients with toenail onychomycosis which was confirmed by clinical findings and KOH preparation were enrolled at 47 dermatologic centers in Korea, and interviewed with standardized QOL questionnaire before and after systemic antifungal treatment. Responses to the questionnaire were scored by f-point scale (0~4) and averaged, and were analyzed for 5 dimensions of emotional impact, social impact, symptom and functional impact, patients' views concerning treatment, and relationship with doctor. RESULTS: 1. Before and after treatment, the most serious impact was emotional dimension showing 1.90 and 1.30 in average score (AS), and social (AS: 1.14 and 0.83) and symptom and functional impact (AS: 1.05 and 0.92) was also affected. 2. In female rather than male, statistically more significant impact on patients' QOL was observed in all dimensions. 3. After treatment, 3 of 5 dimensions were improved significantly - emotional dimension (AS: from 1.90 to 1.30), social dimension (AS: from 1.14 to 0.83), patients' view concerning treatment(AS: from 1.34 to 1.02) 4. The degree of patients' satisfaction at the therapeutic effect was very high - 62.4% (immediately after. treatment) and 65.8% (9 months after initiation of treatment) of patients answered excellent or good. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that toenail onychomycosis has significant Impact on the overall QOL of patients. Also the effect of antifungal therapy on patients' QOL were satisfactory. Therefore, both doctor and patient should pay more attention to the treatment of onychomycosis.
Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Nails* ; Onychomycosis* ; Quality of Life* ; Social Change ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Since the bioavailability of itraconazole capsule is influenced by patients gastric acidity, it results in treatment failure due to its low dissolution and subsequent low absorption when administered in fasting. Itraconazole Melt-Extrusion tablet has been lately developed in order to improve its dissolution profile. It is the first clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of itraconazole Melt-Extrusion tablet in Korea. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of itraconazole melt-extrusion tablet 400mg daily for 1 week(pulse therapy) for hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and manus. METHODS: A clinical and mycological investigation was made of 812 outpatients with hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea manus who had visited at 52 general hospitals under the lead of the Korean Dermatological Association from June to December, 1998. Patients confirmed by clinically and microscopically as hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea manus were administered 2 tablets twice a day for one week and followed up for 8 weeks from the start of the medication. RESULTS: The results were summarized as follows; 1. Clinical symptoms of hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea mauns were significantly improved at the end of study, week 8(p<0.001). 2. Clinical response rate, defined as more than 50% decrease of the sum of the clinical symptom scores, was 79.3%(512/646). 3. Mycological cure rate, dafined as both culture and KOH negative at week 8, was 78.2%(244 /312). 4. 40(5.5%) patients, of the 727 patients evaluable for drug safety evaluation, were reported to have adverse event. CONCLUSION: Itraconazole Melt-Extrusion tablet 400mg/day for 1 week (pulse therapy) is effective and safe in the treatment of hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea manus.
Absorption ; Biological Availability ; Fasting ; Gastric Acid ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Itraconazole* ; Korea ; Outpatients ; Tablets ; Tinea Pedis* ; Tinea* ; Treatment Failure