BACKGROUND: Hair casts(HGs) is a disorder of asymptomatic, firm yellowish white, freely movable accretions which encircles but is not attatched to the hairs. There are two types of HC:The first type, parakeratotic HC, is frequently associated with parakeratotic scalp disorders;the second type, the peripilar keratin casts, in an uncommon type not usually associated with diseases of the scalp and has only been reported in female children. The pathophysiology and origin of HC is poorly understood with only 37 cases reported in the literature. @ ES OBJECTIVE: our pupose was to establish the prevalence of hair cast in schoold children and to determine the predisposing factors of hair casts in Korea. METHODS: Five hundred and thirty-seven students of elementary schools(274male, 263female) were examined. Samples of plucked hair were stained with 4-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde and examined under light microscopes. RESULTS: There were 182 patients with HC;Peripilar keratin casts:174(CRSC 165, ERSC 7, IRSC 2); paakeratotic HC:8. In a total of 182 patients with HC, 181 were girls and the incidence of HC in female children was 68.8%(181/263). In girls who tie up or weave their hair, the incidence of peripilar keratin casts was as high as 81.8%(171/209). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the traction to the hair follicle may play a role in the generation of HC, and that peripilar keratin casts are not rare in Korea.
Causality ; Child* ; Female ; Hair Follicle ; Hair* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Prevalence ; Scalp ; Traction

The Dowling-Meara type of epidermolysis bullosa simplex(EBS) is genetic disease that is transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait and is charscterized clinically by pherpetiform clustering of blisters and palmo-plantar keratoderma. The disease usually presents at with or in early infancy. Although serious and hemorrhagic Wers may occur on any part of the body, the lesions heal without scaning in general. The disease shows a tendency to improve by progressian of age and it usually follows a relatively benign course. Microecopically, there are intraepidermal bli.ter s forming as a result of cytolysis of basal cells. In addition, the is a highly characteristic clumping of tonofilaments of keratinocytes in the lower epidermis, which is not seen in any other form of EBS. We report a case of Dowling-Meara type of EBS that is first destribed in Korean medical literatures.
Blister ; Epidermis ; Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex* ; Epidermolysis Bullosa* ; Intermediate Filaments ; Keratinocytes

Kaposi's sarcorna is a tumor-like condition which characterized by a mixed proliferation of fibroblastic components and vascular structures. The authors report a case of nodular type of Kaposis sarcoma in 54 year-old male who had an eroded hemorrhagic nodule and few papular lesions. These lesions involved only both hands and feet without systemic involvement.
Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Fibroblasts ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sarcoma* ; Sarcoma, Kaposi

During the course of infectious mononucleosis, intake of ampicillin and its analogues such as amoxicillin may cause hypersensitivity skin rashes. We report herein a case of ampicillin induced skin rash in a 41-year-old female patient with infectious mononucleosis. Infectious mononucleosis was confirrned by datetion of IgM antibody against Epstein-Barr(EB) viral capsid antigen(VCA) in her serum. During the icuteillness, she taked ampicillin for 3 days, and 1 week after the intake of ampicillin, a genertliz:d erythernatous and purpuric maculopapualr eruption developed. Physicians should be careful not to use ampicillin and its analogue if batients are suspected to be infected with EB virus as ampicillin induces severe skin rashes in patients with infectious mononucleosis.
Adult ; Amoxicillin ; Ampicillin* ; Capsid ; Exanthema* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin M ; Infectious Mononucleosis* ; Skin*

Various dermatological complications have been reported following the BCG vaccination although this vaccination has been recommended to all healthy infants in our country. A 4-months-old boy, who had a BCG vaccination three weeks after birth, developed erythematous papules and pustules on the whole body, especially on the face and upper extremities. Two erythematous subcutaneous soft nodules were also noted on the left side of the neck. A biopsy specimen from the right forearm revealed caseous necrosis surrounded by a granulomatous inflammation consisting of epithelioid cells and lymphocytes. It was centered along the axis of the damaged pilosebaceous follicle. No acid-fast bacilli could be demonstrated by AFB stain. A marked improvement of his skin eruptions was observed after anti-tuberculosis medication. However, nod-ules in the cervical area perforated spontaneously and healed leaving scars several months after the cutaneous eruptions subsided. The clinical and histologic findings and a good response to anti-tuberculous therapy support the diagnosis of papular tuberculid and suppurative lymphadenitis after BCG vaccination.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Biopsy ; Cicatrix ; Diagnosis ; Epithelioid Cells ; Forearm ; Humans ; Infant ; Inflammation ; Lymphadenitis* ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Mycobacterium bovis ; Neck ; Necrosis ; Parturition ; Skin ; Tuberculosis, Cutaneous* ; Upper Extremity ; Vaccination*

Liquid crystal thermography is a new diagnostic imaging method detecting the temperature change by the physiologic disturbance as compared with the radilogic method detecting the anatomical distortion. We have used liquid crystal thermography in 54 patients with complaining low back pain during the period form 2nd. March 1989 to 30th. April 1989. Of these 54 patients, 35 had myelography and C-T scan, 23 had EMG, and 13 were operated upon. 1. There were 35 clinically positive patients on whom concomitant myelography and C-T scan was performed; 32 patients(91%) had a positive myelography and C-T scan, and 30 patients (86%) had a positive thermography. Of these 35 patients, 23 had EMG concomitantly; 17 patients(74%) had a positive EMG and 18 patients(78%) had a positive thermography. 2. Liquid crystal thermography correlated with myelography and C-T scan in 31 patients(89%), EMG in 18 patients(78%). 3. Concomitant thermography, myelography and C-T scan, and surgery were performed on 13 patients among them EMG was added on 5 patients; Myelography and C-T scan had 100% accuracy, thermography had 92% accuracy, and EMG had 80 % accuracy. 4. Liquid crystal thermography is non-invasive method, dose not involve the use of ionizing radiation, and correlates well with clinical and surgical findings and other diagnostic methods, and costs relatively low. So, liquid crystal thermography is useful and reliable diagnostic method in patients with low back pain.
Diagnostic Imaging ; Humans ; Liquid Crystals ; Low Back Pain ; Methods ; Myelography ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Thermography

The pathogeoesis of papulonecrotic tuberculid had been thought to be the result of hernatogenous dissemination from primary tuberculous focus of other organs. But, today, the existence of papulonecrotic tuberculid as a rare cutaneous reaction to the Mycobacterium bacillus is questioned. Papulonecrotic tuberculid is, however, a real entity in underdeveloped countries where tuberculosis is more common. We report a case having papulonecrotie tuberculid associated with cervical lymph node tuberculosis confirmed by typical histopathology and by clinical response to antituberculous chemotherapy. This case supports Iden et al's view (1) that skepticism regarding the existence of papulonecrotic tuberculid is probably the result of the current decreased prevalence of untreated tuberculosis and consequently increased rarity of this entity.
Bacillus ; Drug Therapy ; Mycobacterium ; Prevalence ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Cutaneous* ; Tuberculosis, Lymph Node

Malignant angioendothelioma is an uncommon malignant vascular tumor featuring endothelial cell, and it occurs most frequently in sixth and seventh decade. Most lesions occur over the face and scalp, and may be solitary or multiple, The lesion usally appears as a localized dark red to purplish nodules or plapue with small satellite nodules. Histopatholgic finding shows a nodule eomposed of irregular vascular spaces lined by plump endothelial cells stroma. We present a case of malignant angioendo thelioma on a 42 year-old woman. The patient had purplish nodule with satellite lesions on the right cheek. This case was confirmed by clinical picture, histologic findings and electron microscopic examination.
Adult ; Cheek ; Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Humans ; Scalp

The brief report of Zeisler (1922) of a pregnant woman with scattered telangiectasia in a unilateral distribution is perhaps the first recorded case of this syndrome. The syndrome has been described in association with pregnancy, puberty, alcoholisrn and cirrhosis, hormonal therapy and congenital status. The authors observed in a 17-year-old male unilateral telangiectatic lesions over the left C, C, C, Tl and T, dermatomal regions. The lesions developed at first at his puberty on the anterior part of the chest as speckled bright red discoloration. Thereafter, the lesion has been progressed to involve the left upper extremity, sholder, upper middle part of the chest, eventually. Family history was negative and physical, lahoratory and X-ray examination were all negative or within normal limit. No mucous membrane involvement was observed. On histopathologic examination of the skin lesion, thin walled ectatic vessels lined with single layer of endothelial cells were observed in the upper dermis. The lesions were partly dermabrased with favorable result.
Adolescent ; Dermis ; Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Puberty ; Skin ; Telangiectasis* ; Thorax ; Upper Extremity

Nickel is widely known throughout the world as a common source of contact dermatitis. Korea is one of the rapidly developing countries where the use of nickel and nickel by-products is on the rise. Lacking in ore, Korea imports most of its nickel. In the last ten years, in relation to rapid industrial development, the amount of nickel imported has increased over 1, 000 times. Nickel dermatitis is becoming an increasing problem in the patch test clinic. With regards to this, we have tried the dimethylglyoxime spot test to all materials mentioned in the textbooks which are regarded as nickel sources in other industrialized societies, so as to make an up-to-date list of nickel sources applicable to Korea. In addition, we have also included traditional nickel sources such as acupuncture needles, fire pot, old and new coins and chest of drawers etc. We also have analyzed data concerning nickel imports to Korea during the past 10 years.
Acupuncture ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Developing Countries ; Fires ; Korea* ; Needles ; Nickel* ; Numismatics ; Patch Tests ; Thorax