Neurofibromatosis is a systemic hereditary disorder with varied manifestations in bone, soft tissue, the nervous system, and skin. Neurofibromatosis is characterized by cafe au lait macules, neurofi- bromas, Lisch nodules, optic gliomas, bony dysplasia, intertriginous freckling, and autosomal inheritance. Juvenile xanthogranuloma(JXG) is a benign, self-healing disorder of infants, children, and occa- sionally adults, characterized by yellowish papulonodular lesions located in the skin and other organs and consisting of an infiltrate of histiocytes with a progressively greater degree of lipidation in the absence of metabolic disorders. In 1954 Normland reported the first case of a JXG in a child with numerous cafe au lait macules. Royer, in 1958, reported the triple association of JXG, neurofibromatosis, and leukemia. It is estimated that children with neurofibromatosis and JXG have a higher risk for leukemia than do patients with neurofibromatosis who do not have JXG. In patients with both JXG and neurofibromatosis, long-term follow-up is required because of the additional association with leukemia. We report a case of JXG associated with neurofibromatosis.
Adult ; Child ; Follow-Up Studies ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukemia ; Nervous System ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; Optic Nerve Glioma ; Skin ; Wills ; Xanthogranuloma, Juvenile*

No abstract available.
Antibodies* ; Chungcheongnam-do* ; Diagnosis* ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Immunoglobulin M* ; Orientia tsutsugamushi* ; Rickettsia* ; Scrub Typhus*

No abstract available.
Antibodies* ; Chungcheongnam-do* ; Diagnosis* ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Immunoglobulin M* ; Orientia tsutsugamushi* ; Rickettsia* ; Scrub Typhus*

BACKGROUND: Autologous epidermal grafting has been reported to be successfully used in the treatment of vitiligo by several authors and is in widespread use at present time. But, the incomplete repigmentation is common and remains stressful to the patients. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of autologous epidermal grafting in the treatment of vitiligo and investigate the patient satisfaction with the result. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The evaluation was conducted on 42 patients with vitiligo who had been treated by autologous epidermal grafting using suction blistered epidermis. We also investigated the patient satisfaction by interviewing with several questions. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of the repigmentation objectively evaluated by two dermatologists is high and favorable repigmentation (more than 80 percent) was shown in 76.2% of all the patients. But, the subjective satisfaction of the patients proved not very good, compared with the objective clinical improvement and 40.5% of the patients were unsatisfied with the results. We think the doctors should make the patients understand the expectable results from the epidermal grafting for the best patient satisfaction.
Blister ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Patient Satisfaction* ; Suction ; Transplants* ; Vitiligo*

The etiology of scleroderma remains uncertain, but several pathomechanisms have been suggested including vascular alterations with endothelial cell damage, disturbances in the control of collagen synthesis and autoimmune activity. The association with other autoimmune diseases such as thyroid disorder and vitiligo may favor the attribution of autoimmunity to its pathomechanism. But their association has been rarely reported. Psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) photochemotherapy is the most popular and effective therapeutic modality for vitiligo. And successful treatments of localized scleroderma with PUVA photochemotherapy have been reported, including topical, systemic, and bath PUVA. We report a case of successful treatment with low-dose systemic PUVA photochemotherapy for the patient, who has concurrently both the localized scleroderma and vitiligo.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Autoimmunity ; Baths ; Collagen ; Endothelial Cells ; Ficusin ; Humans ; Photochemotherapy* ; Scleroderma, Localized* ; Thyroid Gland ; Vitiligo*

A variety of cutaneous lesions have been described in Behcet's disease including erythema nodosum-like lesion, pseudofolliculitis, papulopustular eruption, subcutaneous thrombophlebitis, erythema multiforme-like lesion and pyoderma gangrenosum, etc. Pyoderma gangrenosum has rarely been reported in association with Behcet's disease. However, there is an extensive clinical and histological overlap between Behcet's disease and pyoderma gangrenosum. We report a case of Behcet's disease associated with pyoderma gangrenosuma.
Erythema ; Pyoderma Gangrenosum* ; Pyoderma* ; Thrombophlebitis

BACKGROUND: The treatment of vitiligo requires several months of treatment and often results in disappointing outcomes. Recently, narrow band UVB phototherapy has been reported to be an effective and safe therapeutic option in patients with vitiligo. OBJECTIVE: We attempted to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of narrow band UVB phototherapy in vitiligo patients. METHODS: In an open trial, thirteen vitiligo patients were treated twice weekly with narrow band UVB phototherapy for at least six months. The degree of repigmentation was divided into 4 categories(below 25%, 26-50%, 51-75%, and above 75%). The disease activity by history was scored by means of the "vitiligo disease activity score (VIDA score)" before and 12 months after therapy. RESULTS: In the majority of the patients(85%), more than 25% repigmentation was observed. More than 75% repigmentation was seen in 7 patients(54%). The disease activity, as represented by VIDA scores, was significantly decreased after narrow band UVB therapy(P<0.05). Adverse effects were mild erythema and pruritus in 4 patients. CONCLUSION: According to our results, narrow band UVB phototherapy is an effective therapy which is convenient and safe in vitiligo patients.
Erythema ; Humans ; Phototherapy* ; Pruritus ; Vitiligo*

Melasma is an acquired symmetric hypermelanosis characterized by irregular lightto gray-brown macules and patches on sun-exposed areas. Many therapeutic agents are available but are unsatisfactory. Recently, it has been demonstrated that lincomycin (LM) and linoleic acid (LA) can inhibit melanogenesis in vitro. Our purpose was to investigate the clinical efficacy of topical application of LM and LA in combination with betamethasone valerate (BV) in melasma patients. Fortyseven Korean female adults with clinically diagnosed melasma were enrolled in a 6-week, double-blind, randomized clinical trial. Patients were treated with one application of the vehicle (group A), 2% LM mixed with 0.05% BV (group B), or 2% LM mixed with 0.05% BV and 2% LA (group C) on the face every night. Determination of efficacy was based on the Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) score and objective assessment (no effect, mild, moderate, or excellent) at intervals of 2 weeks until the end of the study at 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, in comparison with the pre-treatment MASI score, the average MASI score of group C decreased to 68.9%, compared with 98% in group A (p<0.05) and 85.4% in group B. There was no statistically significant difference between group A and group B. Seven patients (43.7%) in group C revealed more than moderate improvement in objective assessment, compared with none in group A and two patients (12.5%) in group B. There were no significant side effects. Topical application of linoleic acid is considered to be effective in the treatment of melasma patients.
Administration, Topical ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Betamethasone 17-Valerate/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug Combinations ; Female ; Glucocorticoids ; Humans ; Korea ; Lincomycin/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Linoleic Acid/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Male ; Melanosis/*drug therapy/pathology ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Structure ; Ointments

Background: Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks have been used for analgesia in various abdominal surgeries. However, a TAP block as the sole anesthetic method for surgery has rarely been reported.Case: A 33-year-old breastfeeding primipara woman was admitted to the hospital due to a rectus abdominis muscle hematoma. Because the patient refused other anesthetic methods, evacuation of the hematoma was performed under an ultrasound-guided bilateral TAP block. A 23-gauge needle was inserted in an in-plane method using a linear ultrasound probe. An injection of 10 ml of 2% lidocaine was made to the right lateral TAP and the left lateral TAP. After confirming the sensory blockade of the T10 to T12 dermatomes, surgery was performed successfully. The patient’s condition stabilized during the surgery. Breastfeeding was performed on the day of surgery. Conclusions The evacuation of an abdominal wall hematoma in a breastfeeding patient was successfully performed under a bilateral TAP block.

Placental extract is a reservoir of a large number of bioactive molecules. It has been used in skin care cosmetics and soap, it is expected to have skin whitening effect. But, the effect of placental extract on melanogenesis is not clarified yet and there are several conflicting reports. To study the effect of the placental extract on proliferation and melanogenesis of pigment cells, we examined the proliferation and change of melanin amounts and expressions of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1 and TRP-2 mRNA in SK30 melanoma cells, which were irradiated or not. The results were as follows: 1. The placental extract inhibited the melanogenesis of SK30 melanoma cells. 2. The placental extract showed no significant effect on the proliferation of SK30 melanoma cells. 3. The placental extract showed antimelanogenic effect by inhibiting the synthesis of tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2 mRNA. 4. The inhibitory effect of placental extract was more significant in UVB-irradiated SK30 melanoma cell lines. In conclusion, this study showed that the placental extract might be a good therapeutic regimens for UV-aggravated pigment disorders including melasma. Henceforth, further investigation is needed to identify and purify the active substance from the crude placental extract.
Cell Line ; Melanins ; Melanoma* ; Melanosis ; Monophenol Monooxygenase* ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin ; Skin Care ; Soaps