Parry-Romberg syndrome is an extremely rare connective tissue disorder. It might be a form of linear scleroderma, and it manifests as progressive hemifacial atrophy, epilepsy, exophthalmos or alopecia. Herein we report a case of Parry-Romberg syndrome. A 68-year-old woman had left hemifacial atrophy, shortening and deformity of the left leg, and deformities to her side fingers that occurred from her 1st decade to 2nd decade. Sclerotic change had stopped spontaneously when she was 20 years old. Histopathologically, there were a few signs of skin appendages, but no sclerotic change. On autoimmune antibody test, no positivity was shown. X-ray showed shrinkage of the lung field, elevation of the left diaphragm, shortening of length and reduction of bone mass in the left femur, tibia, and fibula. And there were multiple melorheostasis. Neck CT showed left facial sclerotic change, bone mass loss, and multiple melorheostasis. Because the progression of sclerosis had stopped the patient did not receive any treatment.
Aged ; Alopecia ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Connective Tissue ; Diaphragm ; Epilepsy ; Exophthalmos ; Facial Hemiatrophy ; Female ; Femur ; Fibula ; Fingers ; Humans ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Lung ; Neck ; Scleroderma, Localized ; Sclerosis ; Skin ; Tibia

A 32-year-old woman had a brownish hard plaque with localized hypertrichosis. She had fallen down some stairs 1 year previously, and the injury had left a scar on her right shin. Even though pain and the scar had gone, the brown patch had remained. During that time hair had been grown on the site. Histologic examination showed lobular panniculitis, fat necrosis, fibrotic change and lipomembranous change. We diagnosed the patient as a traumatic panniculitis with localized hypertrichosis, based on the trauma history, skin lesion and histologic findings. We report a case of traumatic panniculitis with localized hypertrichosis.
Adult ; Cicatrix ; Fat Necrosis ; Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Hypertrichosis ; Panniculitis ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Exposure to Rhus (Japanese lacquer) can cause many adverse effects such as contact dermatitis, pruritus, rash and even hepatitis in human, and these effects can be caused by contact or ingestion of Japanese lacquer. Many Koreans currently eat Japanese lacquer boiled with chicken although it has many side effects. Koreans believe that Rhus will improve their health. However, they don't known its adverse effects, and there is no experimental report on this topic. OBJECTIVE: The principle objective of this study was to gather evidence on the toxicity and negative effects of Japanese lacquer through an experimental study with rats. METHODS: A total of 60 Sprague-Dawley rats were included in the study; 30 rats (experimental group) were given 0.1 ml of Japanese lacquer sap extract, water and food, and 30 rats (control group) were given only food and water. The WBC, the Hgb, ALT, AST, BUN and creatinine levels, the presence of pruritis and skin eruption, the skin biopsy findings and the liver biopsy findings were all checked at 5, 10, and 15 days. RESULTS: The rats that were given Japanese lacquer sap showed a higher WBC and higher ALT and AST levels and only these rats demonstrated erythroderma (5th day: 30%, 10th day: 40%, 15th day: 70%). In addition, they exhibited frequently scratching behavior. On histological examination of the skin of the rats given Rhus, dermal edema and mild inflammatory cell infiltration were found. On histological examination of the liver of the rats given Rhus, there was no significant change as compared with the rats that weren't given lacquer. CONCLUSION: In this experimental study, it was proven that Rhus could induce pruritis, erythroderma, skin inflammation and hepatotoxicity.
Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biopsy ; Chickens ; Creatinine ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; Eating ; Edema ; Exanthema ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lacquer ; Liver ; Pruritus ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhus ; Skin ; Water

BACKGROUND: Metronidazole has been known as the most effective drug for treatment of Trichomonas vaginalis-related diseases. However, it has been reported that metronidazole has adverse effects and incidence of metronidazole-resistant T. vaginalis (CDC085) has increased. Development of new drug, which is effective against metronidazole-resistant T. vaginalis and showing no adverse effects, has been required. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of various extracts from herbs such as Quisqualis indica, Gleditsia sinensis, Prunus armeniaca, Morus alba, Platycodon grandiflorum, Ailanthus altissima, Stemona japonica, Biota orientalis, Dryobalanops aromatica, and Cimicifuga heracleifolia on metronidazole resistant strain of T. vaginalis in vitro (CDC085). RESULTS: Anti-Trichomonas activities were observed in T. vaginalis treated with G. sinensis, P. armeniaca, and P. grandiflorum on the growth and fine structure of metronidazole resistant strain of T. vaginalis. Of the three standard extracts that showed the most effective anti-trichomonas activity, G. sinensis was the most effective. The inhibitory effects of fraction extracts of this drug were shown on the growth of T. vaginalis. The fine structure of the cytoplasm was changed after application of G. sinensis extract. The number of polyribosome and hydrogenosome decreased whereas the number of food vacuole and vacuole in the cytoplasm increased, compared with that of untreated control group. CONCLUSION: The results of our study indicate that G. sinensis may induce the inhibition of cell multiplication as well as impairment of protein synthesis of metronidazole resistant strain of T. vaginalis in vitro.
Ailanthus ; Cell Proliferation ; Cimicifuga ; Cytoplasm ; Dipterocarpaceae ; Gleditsia ; Incidence ; Metronidazole* ; Morus ; Platycodon ; Polyribosomes ; Prunus armeniaca ; Stemonaceae ; Thuja ; Trichomonas vaginalis* ; Trichomonas* ; Vacuoles

BACKGROUND: Metronidazole has been known as the most effective drug for treatment of Trichomonas vaginalis-related diseases. However, it has been reported that metronidazole has adverse effects and incidence of metronidazole-resistant T. vaginalis (CDC085) has increased. Development of new drug, which is effective against metronidazole-resistant T. vaginalis and showing no adverse effects, has been required. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of various extracts from herbs such as Quisqualis indica, Gleditsia sinensis, Prunus armeniaca, Morus alba, Platycodon grandiflorum, Ailanthus altissima, Stemona japonica, Biota orientalis, Dryobalanops aromatica, and Cimicifuga heracleifolia on metronidazole resistant strain of T. vaginalis in vitro (CDC085). RESULTS: Anti-Trichomonas activities were observed in T. vaginalis treated with G. sinensis, P. armeniaca, and P. grandiflorum on the growth and fine structure of metronidazole resistant strain of T. vaginalis. Of the three standard extracts that showed the most effective anti-trichomonas activity, G. sinensis was the most effective. The inhibitory effects of fraction extracts of this drug were shown on the growth of T. vaginalis. The fine structure of the cytoplasm was changed after application of G. sinensis extract. The number of polyribosome and hydrogenosome decreased whereas the number of food vacuole and vacuole in the cytoplasm increased, compared with that of untreated control group. CONCLUSION: The results of our study indicate that G. sinensis may induce the inhibition of cell multiplication as well as impairment of protein synthesis of metronidazole resistant strain of T. vaginalis in vitro.
Ailanthus ; Cell Proliferation ; Cimicifuga ; Cytoplasm ; Dipterocarpaceae ; Gleditsia ; Incidence ; Metronidazole* ; Morus ; Platycodon ; Polyribosomes ; Prunus armeniaca ; Stemonaceae ; Thuja ; Trichomonas vaginalis* ; Trichomonas* ; Vacuoles

BACKGROUND: Several different kinds of drugs have been used to treat chronic oral lichen planus (OLP). During the last decade, there have been several reports demonstrating success with levamisole and low dose prednisolone therapy for treating OLP. However, some OLP patients who have underlying diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and malignancy are unable to take steroids. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate levamisole monotherapy for treating OLP. METHODS: Eleven patients who had OLP were treated with levamisole between 2005 and 2007. The levamisole was administered at a dose 50 mg thrice daily for three consecutive days, but then it was not administered on the following four days. RESULTS: After 2 weeks of treatment, 8 patients reported a partial response, 3 patients reported no response and no patients reported clearance of lesion. After 4 weeks of treatment, 6 patients reported a partial response, 3 patients reported no response and 2 patients reported clearance of lesion. Furthermore, after 3 months of treatment, 3 patients reported a partial response, 3 patients reported no response and 5 patients reported complete clearance of lesion. Clinical improvement was shown in 2 weeks, whilst the mean duration to achieve clearance of lesion was 6.2 weeks. Although 1 patient had mild itching, there were no significant adverse effects. CONCLUSION: Levamisole monotherapy could be a successful and safe treatment option for patients with chronic OLP and who cannot take steroids.
Humans ; Hypertension ; Levamisole ; Lichen Planus, Oral ; Prednisolone ; Pruritus ; Steroids

BACKGROUND: Systemic contact dermatitis (SCD) due to the ingestion of Japanese lacquer tree (Rhus verniciflua) is pretty common in Korea, and it is on a trend of increment. It is thought that the increase in ingestion of chickens boiled with the lacquer tree has been caused by the regard of the lacquer tree as a health food or herbal medicine for gastrointestinal disease. OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical findings and laboratory findings, and to make people aware of the harmful effects of the lacquer tree. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 147 patients who had SCD due to chicken boiled with lacquer tree, 98 patients in Wonkwang University Hospital over the last 20 years (1998`2007) and 49 patients in Areumdaun Dermatology Clinic over the past 5 months (August~December, 2007). RESULTS: The sex ratio of patients (male to female) was 1.3:1 and the average age was 44.0 years old (range: 11~76). They ate chicken boiled with lacquer tree as a health food (42.9%) and for the treatment of gastrointestinal disease (22.4%). The mean incubation period was 47.7 hours (range: 30 min~16 days). The first symptoms they had were erythematous maculopapules (42.9%), itching without rash (33.7%), and edematous change (16.3%). The skin lesions developed as maculopapules (50.6%), erythroderma (40.9%), and erythema multiforme-like lesion (8.4%), vesicles, wheals, purpura, and pustules. On laboratory findings, some people had leukocytosis (61.2%), increment of Ig E (26.4%), abnormalities of liver function test (ALT: 16.3%, AST: 4.1%). Sixty percent of patients had a history of contact dermititous contracted via chicken boiled with rhus lacquer ingestion (36.7%) or contact with the lacquer tree. Clinical symptoms were developed by 29.5% who ate chicken boiled with lacquer. Mainly they had been treated with corticosteroids, antihistamines. The mean period needed for treatment was 8+/-2.4 days. CONCLUSION: Systemic contact dermatitis due to ingestion of the lacquer tree was developed in either sensitized or non-sensitized persons. It is suggested that SCD is caused by the highly allergic and toxic effects of lacquer. Physicians need to make people aware of the harmful effects of the lacquer tree and educate people not to ingest it.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Chickens ; Contracts ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; Dermatology ; Eating ; Erythema ; Exanthema ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Food, Organic ; Herbal Medicine ; Histamine Antagonists ; Humans ; Korea ; Lacquer ; Leukocytosis ; Liver Function Tests ; Medical Records ; Pruritus ; Purpura ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhus ; Sex Ratio ; Skin ; Trees

In the 1960s, Sir John Charnley introduced to clinical practice his concept of low-friction total hip arthroplasty (THA). Although early designs were plagued by poor performance and even failure, there have been steady advances in implant designs, biomaterials, surgical techniques and an understanding of the biomechanical restoration of the hip; these advances have contributed to improvements in implant survival and clinical outcomes of THA in the past three decades. With improved wear resistance and mechanical reliability, a potential to last for at least 25 to 30 years are now available for THA. In this review, we focus on the evolution of THA and review current controversies and future directions of this procedure based on a single surgeon's 29-year of experience at a single institution.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Biocompatible Materials ; Hip

Skin metastasis from internal malignancy is relatively rare. Skin metastasis from biliary tract cancer is known to be extremely uncommon (around 0.4~0.7%). In most cases, biliary tract cancer metastasizes into neighboring organs or other internal organs, but rarely into the skin. The authors have experienced a case of skin metastasis into a finger of a patient with carcinoma of Ampulla of Vater. This is thought to be the first case reported in Korea.
Ampulla of Vater* ; Biliary Tract Neoplasms ; Fingers* ; Humans ; Korea ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Skin

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a rare disease that usually occurs in the salivary gland. In extremely rare cases, it can originate from the skin. These cases are more aggressive than the usual mucoepidermoid carcinoma, so they have high mortality and high recurrence rates. Herein we report a case of primary cutaneous mucoepidermoid carcinoma on the cheek. A 34-year-old man had a 1.0x1.0 cm sized cystic lesion. This lesion displayed central erosion and oily discharge. He had been operated on 4 times at a private hospital, but the lesion had recurred. Histopathologically, there were many tumor islands that consisted of mucoid cells, epidermoid cells, intermediate cells and clear cells. The tumor islets showed mild positivity for Alcian blue (pH 2.5), PAS, and d-PAS stain. There was no parotid tumor on the neck-CT scan, nor on positron emission tomography. We therefore diagnosed this cheek lesion as primary cutaneous mucoepidermoid carcinoma, and it was removed completely.
Adult ; Alcian Blue ; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid ; Cheek ; Hospitals, Private ; Humans ; Islands ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Rare Diseases ; Recurrence ; Salivary Glands ; Skin