A 21-year-old Korean male was referred to our department in June, 1999 for the evaluation of extensive reddish patches and gray-bluish pigmentation since birth. Physical examination revealed two kinds of patches over the various parts of the body. Reddish patches suggesting nevus flammeus were located on the left side of face, chest, and both upper and lower extremities. Gray-bluish pigmented patches suggesting nevus of Ota were found on both the periorbital areas. A 0.5×0.6 cm erythematous papule was found on the right anterior chest. The results of its histopathologic examination were compatible with pyogenic granuloma. We made the diagnosis of phakomatosis pigmentovascularis associated with pyogenic granuloma as well as Sturge-Weber syndrome and Klippel-Trenanunay syndrome.
Diagnosis ; Granuloma, Pyogenic* ; Humans ; Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber Syndrome* ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Neurocutaneous Syndromes* ; Nevus of Ota ; Parturition ; Physical Examination ; Pigmentation ; Port-Wine Stain ; Sturge-Weber Syndrome* ; Thorax ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Animals ; Embryonic Development* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Mice* ; Pregnancy

No abstract available.
Eating ; Functional Food ; Hypertrichosis ; Minoxidil

No abstract available.
Hepatitis E virus* ; Hepatitis E* ; Hepatitis* ; Korea*

In humans, the major stimulus for cutaneous pigmentation is ultraviolet radiation. Little is known about the mechanism underlying this response, in part, because of the complexity of the interactions involving the whole epidermis. The present stucy was undertake to evaluate the effects of a single exposure of UVB on cultured normal melanocytes. Melanocytes were exposed to UVB from 5.1 mJ/cm to 203 mJ/cm. The results were as follows : 1. The main morphologic changes in UVB-exposed groups w re larger sized cells, more blunted dendrites, and shorter dendrites than in the control group. These cells increased sized according to the increased doses of VVB, but above 101.5 mJ/cm, the melanocytes shrunk and were destroyed. 2. From 20.3 mJ/cm of UVB, the proliferation of melanocyte was decreased, Especially, there was statistical!y significant difference above 50.8 mJ/cm (p<0.05, p<0.01). 3. The antiproliferativo effect increased with the passage of tirie after UVB exposure. So, cell count could not be done in 101.5 mJ/cm and 203 mJ/cm on the third day, and in 50.8 mJ/cm, 101.5 m J/cm and 203 mJ/cm on the seventh day. 4. Statistically the melanin content per well was significantl dicreased to 11-28% of each control group with dose above 50.8 mJ/cm (p<0.05, p<0.01). The melanin content per cell was increased to 107-128% of each control group when doses were below 20.3 mJ/cm and decreased to 49-79% of each control group when above 0.8 mJ/cm on the third day, but there was no statistically significant difference. In summary, when melarocytes were exposed to UVB, morphclogic changes progressed to cell differentiation. The results also suggested that a low or dose of UVB has an antiproliferative arid mild melanogenic effect, and a higher dose of UVB has a direct cytotoxic effect.
Cell Count ; Cell Differentiation ; Dendrites ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Melanins ; Melanocytes* ; Pigmentation

Squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) is a recognized late complication of chronic discoid lupus erythematosus(CDLE). There are many case reports of SCC in white patients with chronic DLE. However, it is uncommon in blacks and Asians. The etiology of squamous cell carcinoma is multifactorial. The predisposing factors for the development of SCC in these patients include actinic keratosis, Bowen's disease, burn scars, arsenic keratosis, and chronic discoid lupus erythematosus. Of these causes, SCC developing in the lesions of CDLE is very rare. We report a patient who has been evaluated for ten years with a diagnosis of discoid lupus erythematosus and has squamous cell carcinoma.
African Continental Ancestry Group ; Arsenic ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bowen's Disease ; Burns ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Causality ; Cicatrix ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Keratosis ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid*

The author evaluated the optimal concentration of 3 compositions of TIC medium which has used as the melanacytes culture medium. The concentrations of placental extract and bovine pituitary extract, which have the ability to promote proliferation of melanocytes, were evaluated also. Modified TIC medium with above 5 components of evaluated concentration was very effective in melanocytes culture. The results were as follows : l. 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) showed effective melanocytes proliferating activity at the concentration of 30ngml (p(0.05) 2. Isobutylmet:hyl xanthine (IBMX) showed effective melanocytes proliferating activity at the concentration of 0.3mM (p(0.05) 3. Cholera toxin (CT) showed effective melanocytes proliferating activity at the concentration of )OnM (p(0.05) 4. Two percentages of placental extract in culture medium showed effective melanocytes proliferating activity. S. Two percentages of bovine pituitary extract in culture medium showed effective melanocytes proliferating activity. 6. Placental extract and isobutylmethyl xanthine proved to have high melanocytes proliferating activity. 7. Melanocytes proliferated rapidly on modified TIC medium (Proliferation doubling time . about 43 hours) 8. The peak time of melanocytes proliferation (7.2 X 10/cm) was observed on the seventh day of culture, From this data, this culture system can be recommended as a new melanocytes culture.
Cholera Toxin ; Humans* ; Melanocytes* ; Tics ; Xanthine

BACKGROUND: In the skin, the major stimulus for cutaneous pigmentation is ultraviolet radiation. The most important physiologic role of melanin is protection against harmful UV radiation to skin. It is known there are some differences in melanization between a single and multiple exposures of UVB, in vivo. Little if known about the functions of the melanocyte alone in cutaneous pigmentation after ultraviolet exposure, because of the complexity of interactions in the whole epidermis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of multiple exposures at various dosages of UVB, and to compare the effect of UVB in multiple divided exposures with a single exposure at the same total dosage of UVB on proliferation and melanization in cultured human melanocyte. METHODS: Melanocytes were cultured by modified TIC medium. The melanoctes were exposed daily for three consecutive days to UVB at 2, 4, 8 and 16 mJ/cm2and a single exposure at 24 mJ/cm2. The morphologic changes were examined by phase contrast microscopy. The melanocytes were counted by hemocytometer and melanin contents were assayed by spectrophotometer. RESULTS: 1. The effects of multiple UVB exposures: 1) The morphologic changes were as follows: With three time exposures at a dosage of 8 mJ/cm2, themelanocytes enlarged in size, and elongated their dendrites slightly; with three time exposures at a dosage of 16 mJ/cm2, enlargement in sized and elongation of dendrited were more significant. 2) With three time exposures at dosages of 2 nd 4 mJ/cm2, the proliferation of melanocytes was stiumlated significantly(p<0.05). However, with three time exposures at dosages of 8 and 16 mJ/cm2the proliferation was inhibited(p<0.05). 3) With three time exposures at dosages of 2 and 4 mJ/cm2, the melanin contents were decreased. However, with three tiem exposures at a dosage of 16 mJ/cm2, the melanin contents were highly increased(p<0.01). 2. The comparison between multiple divided exposures and a single exposure at the same toal dosage of UVB: 1) There were no morphologic differences of dendrities between with three time exposures at a dosage of 8 mJ/cm2 and with a single exposure at a dosage of 24 mJ/cm2. However enlarged melanocytes were more numerous with a single exposure. 2) The proliferation of melanocytes was more inhibited with a single exposure than with multiple divided exposures(p<0.05). 3) The melanin contents were more increased with a single exposure than with multiple divided exposures(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: With multiple exposures at lower dosages of UVB, the proliferation of melanocytes was stimulated, and melanization was decreased. However, with multiple exposures at higher dosages of UVB, the proliferation was inhibited, and melanization was increased. At the same total dosage of UVB, the proliferation was more inhibited, and the melanization was more increased with a single exposure than with multiple divided exposures.
Dendrites ; Dermatitis, Irritant ; Epidermis ; Humans* ; Melanins ; Melanocytes* ; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast ; Pigmentation ; Skin ; Tics

Human epidermal cells were obtained from suction blisters of 14 healthy individuals, and were cultured for 24-96 hours st a concentration of 1x 10(7)/ml, 5 x 10(6)/ml, 1 x 10(6)/ml, 5 x 10(5)/ml. Cells were also cultured with or without stimulants such as phorbol myristic acetate(PMA), muramyl dipeptide(MDP), and endotoxin. Then, cell-free supernatants of cultured epidermal cells were tested for ETAF by a thymocyte prolifera.tiom assay. The results were as follows : 1, The highest activity of ETAF was produced by fresh epidermal cells(EC) at a concentration of 1 x10(7)ml. Its highest 3H-TdR was 4928+/-2480cpm. The highest activity of ETAF was produced by cultured EC at a concentration of 5 x10(6)/ml. Its highest 3H-TdR was 13983+/-8045 cpm. 2. The highest activity of ETAF was produced by fresh EC with n culture time of 24 hours. Its highest 3H-TdR was 5357+/-3760cpm. The highest activity of ETAF was produced by cultured EC with a culture time of 72 hours. Its highest 3H-TdR was 11905+/-5327cpm. 3. The highest activity of ETAF was produced by both fresh and cultured EC at a titer of 1: 8 dilution of cell-free supernatants. 1ts highest 3H-TdR was 4928 +/-2480cpm in the fresh EC, and 11905+/-5327cpm in the cultured EC. 4. Alhen fresh EC was stimulated with PMA, MDP and endotoxin, higher activity of ETAF was found in the group stimulated with PMA or MDP compared with its control group. But lower activity of ETAF was found in the group stimulated with endotoxin compared with its control group. The 3H-TdR was 6000+/-1936 cpm in the group stimulated with PMA, 6945+/-3182 cpm in the group stimulated with MDP, and 36943+/-36861cpm in the group stimulated with endotoxin.
Blister ; Humans* ; Suction ; Thymocytes

BACKGROUND: The main function of melanocyte is known to protect the skin from hazardous sunlight. But, some investigators have claimed lately that melanocytes are also related to the immunologic role in the epidermis because these cells produce IL-1 activity and IL-1beta convertase activity, in vitro. OBJECTIVE: Our purposes were to investigate the effects of rIFN-gammaon the proliferation of melanocytes, melanin content, and the expression of HLA-DR antigen on melanocytes after a rIFN-gammaexposure. MEHTODS: The number of melanocytes, the melanin content, and the expression of HLA-DR antigen were evaluated on cultured human melanocytes according to a time sequence and various concentrations of rIFN-gamma. RESULTS: Antiproliferative activity on melanocytes was dependent on the exposure time and the concentration of rIFN-gamma. According to the exposure time and the concentration of rIFN-gamma, melanogenic acivity was inhibitd or stimulated. Normal melanocytes didn't express HLA-DR antigen, but when normal melanocytes were exposed to rIFN-gamma, the expression of HLA-DR antigen increased in a time-and concentration-dependent fashion. After the removal of rIFN - gammafrom the culture media, the expression of HLA-DR antigen on melanocytes also disappeared. CONCLUSION: In our study, melanocytes seem to be related to the immunologic role in the epidermis because these cells expressed HLA-DR antigen after rIFN-gammaexposure and we think that study could help to investigate between melanocytes and immunologic mechanisms in various inflammatory skin diseases.
Culture Media ; Epidermis ; HLA-DR Antigens* ; Humans* ; Interleukin-1 ; Melanins ; Melanocytes ; Research Personnel ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Sunlight