Bart's syndrome was initially described as a genodermatosis characterized by congenital localized absence of the skin with blistering and nail deformities 1-3. However, it is considered as any type of epidermolysis bullosa(EB) with localized congenital absence of the skin on the extremities. A 33-day-old fbmale baby was presented with congenital absence of the skin over the left shin and dorsa of both feet which were covered with the thin, translucent, and brown-red glistening membranes. Blistering of the right calf and left great toe nail deformity were also noted. She was diagnosed as a recessive dystrophic EB by the histopathological, ultra- structural and immunomapping studies.
Blister ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Extremities ; Foot ; Membranes ; Skin ; Toes

Pseudocyst of the auricle is a disease of degenerative cartilage associated with asymptomatic swelling of the external ear caused by an intracartilaginous accumulation of serous fluid. Histological examination shows an intracartilaginous cavity without an epithelial lining. This disease is characterized by frequent relapses despite various therapeutic approaches. In this report we describe one patient with pseudocyst of the auricle who was successfully treated with intralesional injection of 1 mg/mL of minocycline hydrochloride.
Cartilage ; Ear, External ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional* ; Minocycline* ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND: Extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) is an uncommon but distinctive tumor. Definitive diagnosis requires biopsy of the lesion and immunohistochemical staining. Immunohistochemical study using anti-cytokeratin monoclonal antibodies may be helpful for differentiating EMPD from other similar skin lesions and primary EMPD from pagetoid spread of underlying regional internal malignancy (secondary EMPD). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify clinical findings, histopathologic features and immunohistochemical characteristics of EMPD. METHODS: The twelve cases diagnosed as EMPD at our institution over ten years were included. Clinical records and pathology slides of the patients were reviewed retrospectively. Immunohistochemical stains for CK7, CK20, CEA, EMA, PSA, GCDFP15 and mucin stains such as PAS, d-PAS, alcian blue (pH 2.5) were done using paraffin blocks. RESULTS: 1. In most cases, EMPD developed on the scrotum of senile male patients. 2. In the pathologic findings, Paget cells were observed from the epidermis only in 2 cases, from the epidermis and intradermal skin appendages in 7 cases and from the dermis in 3 cases. 3. In all cases except for the single case associated with a transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, there were histochemical findings of alcian blue-, PAS- and immunohistochemical findings of CK7+, CK20-, CEA+, EMA+. 4. In the single case associated with transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, there were histochemical findings of alcian blue-, PAS- and immunohistochemical findings of CK7+, CK20+, CEA-, EMA-. CONCLUSION: The combination of CK7 and CK20 demonstrates these to be useful markers in distinguising primary EMPD from a pagetoid spread of extracutaneous malignancies. Namely, immunophenotypes other than CK7+/CK20- in Paget cells suggest underlying regional internal malignancy.
Male ; Humans ; Biopsy

Transepidermal elimination (TE) is a spontaneously developed phenomenon in certain skin disorders in which altered connective tissue or foreign material is expelled via epidermis to the exterior. TE may occur either as a primary process such as elastosis perforans serpiginosa and reactive perforating collagenosis, or a secondary phenomenon, such as perforating granuloma annulare and pseudoxanthoma elasticum. We experienced a case of eccrine poroma on the scalp with keratinized tumor cells expelled through transpeidermal cannal microscopically.

Verrucous carcinoma is a low-grade squamous cell carcinoma first described in 1948 by Ackerman. It is a slowly growing, fungating and verrucous tumor that may penetrate deep into the tissue. There are many causative agents such as HPV infection, chronic irritation, radiation, and etc. We report a case of verrucous carcinoma developed at the wrist joint, a relatively unusual site.

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the usefulness, and significance, of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the diagnosis of chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS), analyzing Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium and Ureaplasma urealyticum as the main causative organisms of CPPS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We used a PCR assay designed to detect C. trachomatis, T. vaginalis, M. hominis, M. genitalium and U. urealyticum in expressed prostatic secretions (EPS), or third voided urine specimens (VB3), of 359 patients diagnosed with CPPS. RESULTS: Among 359 patients, 125 patients (34.8%) were category IIIa and 234 patients (65.2%) were category IIIb. With the use of PCR, Ttwenty-one (16.8%) of the 125 category IIIa, and nineteen (8.1%) of the 234 category IIIb, patients were found to have positive PCRs for the causative organisms of CPPS. In total 43 isolates, of presenting positive PCR, the common causative microorganisms were C. trachomatis in 15 cases (34.9%), U. urealyticum in 14 cases (32.6%), M. genitalium in 13 cases (30.2%) and M. hominis in 1 case (2.3%). CONCLUSIONS: With the invention of PCR, the inconvenience to patients in the process of extracting causative microorganisms is reduced, and it has become possible to get a result within 2-4 hours in a technically less difficult way. Moreover, PCR shows nearly 100% accuracy in terms of sensitivity and specificity. PCR is expected to play an important role in way of diagnosis, and treatment, for chronic pelvic pain syndrome in urology.
Chlamydia trachomatis ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Inventions ; Mycoplasma genitalium ; Mycoplasma hominis ; Pelvic Pain* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Prostatitis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Trichomonas vaginalis ; Ureaplasma urealyticum ; Urology

BACKGROUND: Delayed entry of blood culture bottles is inevitable when microbiological laboratories do not operate for 24 hr. There are few studies reported for prestorage of these bottles. The growth dynamics of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were investigated with respect to various preincubation conditions. METHODS: Fifteen or 150 colony-forming units (CFU) of bacteria were inoculated into standard aerobic or anaerobic blood culture bottles. Bottles were preincubated at 25degrees C or 37degrees C for 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, or 48 hr. The time to detection (TTD) then was monitored using the BacT/Alert 3D system (bioMerieux Inc., USA). RESULTS: Significant difference in TTD was observed following preincubation for 8 hr at 25degrees C vs. 4 hr at 37degrees C for S. aureus, 4 hr at 25degrees C vs. 4 hr at 37degrees C for E. coli, 12 hr at 25degrees C vs. 4 hr at 37degrees C for P. aeruginosa, compared to no preincubation (P<0.005). TTD values did not vary significantly with bacterial CFU or with aerobic or anaerobic bottle type. The BacT/Alert 3D system returned false negatives following preincubation of P. aeruginosa for 48 hr at 25degrees C or 24 hr at 37degrees C. CONCLUSIONS: TTD was mainly affected by preincubation temperature and duration rather than by input CFU quantity or bottle type for the 3 experimental bacteria.
Bacteriological Techniques/instrumentation/*methods ; Culture Media ; Escherichia coli/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Staphylococcus aureus/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Temperature ; Time Factors

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to define the prevalence of genital Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections and the status of sexual risk behavior among university students (18-25 years old) in the Capital region of Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants filled out a self-administered questionnaire related to sexuality. First-void urine was analyzed for chlamydial and gonococcal infection by strand displacement amplification (BDProbTec(TM) ET, BD Diagnostic Systems, MD USA). RESULTS: A total of 622 students from 15 colleges within 3 universities took part in the study. Their median age was 21, with 39.1% reporting having sexual intercourse at least once. The prevalence of C. trachomatis among sexually active men and women was 8.4% and 10.6%, respectively. Gonococcal infection was noted in one symptomatic male. Factors significantly associated with infection were number of sexual partners in past year and during a lifetime and condom use. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first community-based sexually transmitted infections (STI) screening in South Korea. Urine-based STI screening was both feasible and acceptable in university students in South Korea, and should be considered a routine part of national programs to control STI.
Chlamydia trachomatis ; Coitus ; Condoms ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Neisseria gonorrhoeae ; Prevalence* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk-Taking ; Sexual Behavior* ; Sexual Partners ; Sexuality

OBJECTIVES: Hyperhomocysteinemia is frequently observed in patients with chronic renal failure and represents an independent cardiovascular risk factor in these patients. Elevated homocysteine plasma levels can result from defective remethylation of homocysteine to methionine due to decreased activity of the enzyme MTHFR. A genetic aberration in the MTHFR gene (677 C to T substitution) has been shown to result in reduced MTHFR activity. We examined whether elevation of homocysteine plasma level in hemodialysis patients is influenced by the 677 C to T mutation of the MTHFR gene. METHOD: We examined MTHFR gene mutation, homocysteine, vitamin B12, folate levels of those 106 patients on maintenance hemodialysis treatment at dialysis unit of Soonchunhyang University Chunan Hospital. RESULTS: Of 106 patients, 17 (16.0 %) were homozygous for the mutation (VV), 63 (58.4 %) were heterozygous for the mutation (AV) and remaining 26 (24.5 %) were normal. The mean homocyteine level in (VV) genotypic patients was 39.58+/-10.6 mol/L, (AV) genotypic patients was 26.24+/-3.77 mol/L and in no mutation was 26.07+/-4.52 mol/L. There was no significant difference of homocysteine levels between polymorphisms of MTHFR gene. CONCLUSION: Our data shows that the frequency of MTHFR genotype in maintenance hemodialysis patients is similar to that of previous studies. But, there is no significant relationship between the MTHFR gene mutation and homocysteine level.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Dialysis ; Folic Acid ; Genotype ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Methionine ; Oxidoreductases* ; Plasma ; Renal Dialysis* ; Risk Factors ; Vitamin B 12

Rowell's syndrome is described as erythema multiforme(EM)-like lesions in the presence of lupus erythematosus(LE) associated with immunoserological characteristics of speckled antinuclear antibodies and positive tests for anti-Ro/La antibodies and rheumatoid factor. We report a case of Rowell's syndrome in a 28-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus for 13 years, who presented with targetoid eruptions on the right arm and with positive immunoserologic findings as above.
Adult ; Antibodies ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Arm ; Erythema ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Rheumatoid Factor