BACKGROUND: In recent studies, tacrolimus ointment has been shown to be effective for the treatment of atopic dermatitis with an excellent safety profile. OBJECTIVE: This study was done to assess the efficacy and side-effects of tacrolimus ointment for the facial atopic dermatitis(AD) in Korean. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Open-label, non-comparative study with 2 months' follow-up was done to assess the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus ointment (Protopic0ointment 0.1%, Fujisawa, Japan) in moderate to severe facial AD. Patients were instructed to apply it two times daily for 8 weeks. Facial lesions were evaluated at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks of treatment with in-tensity score by investigator. RESULTS: In comparing of intensity scores and each clinical score at baseline with those of 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, a significant decrease was noticed at all follow-up periods. Burning sense(54.5%) and pruritus(18.2%) were detected. CONCLUSION: Tacrolimus ointment is effective in treatment of severe facial AD and has tolerable mild adverse effects at the site of application in Korean.
Burns ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Research Personnel ; Tacrolimus*

The prevalence of rubber allergies has been on the increase along with the greater use of rubber products in daily life, medical, dental and occupational settings. Rubber allergy can be divided into two types, type I immediate allergy to rubber latex and type IV delayed allergic reaction to rubber chemical additives or rubber latex itself. A 43-year-old male admitted for lung cancer. He had complained of pruritic linear erythematous plaque at the contact site on the right forearm in the rubber portion of fluid extension tube after one day. The prick test and the usage test were negative. Patch test with Korean standard patch test, rubber additive series, 'as is' were performed. The results were positive for chemical additives for rubber; tetramethylthiuram disulfide, tetramethylthiuram monosulfide, tetraethylthiuram disulfide, dipentamethylenethiuram disulfide, N-cyclohexyl-4-phenyl-4-phenylenediamine, N-isopropyl-N-phenyl-4-phenylenediamine, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, N-cyclohexyl benzothiazyl sulphenamide, morpholinyl mercaptobenzothiazole and 'as is'. We report herein a case of allergic contact dermatitis due to rubber chemical additives contained in the rubber portion of the fluid extension tube.
Adult ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Disulfiram ; Forearm ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Latex ; Latex Hypersensitivity ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Patch Tests ; Prevalence ; Rubber* ; Thiram

BACKGROUND: Dermatomyositis (DM) is a rare inflammatory musculocutaneous disease of presumed autoimmune origin. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to analyze the clinical manifestations of DM, METHODS: A retrospective study of 18 patients with DM is analyzed. RESULTS: 1. The range of age was from 3 to 72 years, and the most frequent age group was 46-60 (38.9%). Male to female ratio was 1:8. 2. Among the 18 patients, 61.1% was classified as DM, 38.9% as amyopathic dermatomyositis (ADM), 3. Skin rash was noted 100%, itching 72.2%, proximal muscle weakness 61.1%, myalgia 38.2%, arthralgia 22.2%, hair loss 22.2%, Raynaud's phenomenon 22.2%. Arnong the skin rash, Gottron's sign was most frequent (83.3%), followed by heliotrope rash (72.2%), Gottron's papule (66.6%). 4. Serum CPK level was elevated in 38.9%, LDH 88.9%, SGOT 44.4%, SGPT 33.3%, and ESR 61.1%. 5. DM patients were treated with prednisolone 400mg/kg/day and hydroxychloroquine 400mg/day (childhood 5mg/kg/day) for 4~8 weeks. Four patients who had severe skin manifestations and pruritus added methotrexate. Four ADM patients were treated with hydroxychloroquine 5mg/kg/day only. Two ADM patients were added prednisolone 1mg/kg/day for 6 weeks.
Alanine Transaminase ; Arthralgia ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Dermatomyositis* ; Exanthema ; Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Hydroxychloroquine ; Male ; Methotrexate ; Muscle Weakness ; Myalgia ; Prednisolone ; Pruritus ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin Manifestations

BACKGROUND: The incidence and clinical characteristics of cutaneous premalignant lesions and malignant tumors in Korea varied according to different authors probably due to social and environmental influences, and the reported time. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to analyze the recent changes in cutaneous premalignant lesions and malignant tumors, and to compare them with other data previously reported. METHODS: Clinical data and histopathological reports of 93 cases of cutaneous premalignant lesions and 238 cases of cutaneous malignant tumors out of new outpatients that visited the Department of Dermatology at the Seoul National University Hospital during a 5 year period(1996~2000). RESULTS: 1.The average annual incidence of cutaneous premalignant lesions was 0.40% and that of cutaneous malignant tumors was 1.02%. 2.Among the premalignant lesions, actinic keratosis(67.7%) was the most common, and then Bowen's disease (31.2%). The incidence of Bowen's disease tended to increase compared to previous reports. 3.The most common malignant tumor was basal cell carcinoma(22.2%), followed by malignant melanoma(19.7%), lymphoma(18.1%), squamous cell carcinoma(12.6%), metastatic cancer(12.6%). The incidence of malignant melanoma was increased compared to previous reports. 4.Among the 53 cases of basal cell carcinoma, 49 cases(92.5%) were ulceronodular type. The most common predirection site was the nose(30.2%). 5.Among the 43 cases of lymphoma, 38 cases(88.4%) were peripheral T-cell and NK-cell lymphoma, 4 cases(9.3%) were B-cell lymphoma. Among the peripheral T-cell and NK-cell lymphoma, mycosis fungoides was the most common(30.2%).
Actins ; Bowen's Disease ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Dermatology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Melanoma ; Mycosis Fungoides ; Outpatients ; Seoul ; Statistics as Topic* ; T-Lymphocytes

Chondroid syringoma is a sweat gland tumor that is composed of a mixture of epithelial cells and mesenchymal tissue. It is most frequently located on the head and neck. Chondroid syringoma is a firm intradermal or subcutaneous nodule. Histologically, the epithelial component consists of tubulocystic structures and aggregates of epithelial cells as well as single scattered epithelial cells throughout the stroma. It rarely contains osteoid stroma, and there are only a few reports of cases associated with ossification. We describe here an unusual chondroid syringoma associated with marked ossification.
Adenoma, Pleomorphic* ; Epithelial Cells ; Head ; Neck ; Sweat Glands

Hobnail hemangioma, also known as "targetoid hemosiderotic hemangioma", represents a distinctive benign vascular tumor, characterized histologically by a biphasic growth pattern of dilated vascular structures lined by prominent hobnail endothelial cells in the superficial dermis, and collagen dissection by angulated vessels in deeper parts of the lesion. It is important to distinguish this tumor from patch stage Kaposi's sarcoma, retiform hemangioendothelioma and progressive lymphangioma. We report a 26-year-old man showing typical clinical and histological features of hobnail hemangioma.
Adult ; Collagen ; Dermis ; Endothelial Cells ; Hemangioendothelioma ; Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Lymphangioma ; Sarcoma, Kaposi