BACKGROUND: The action of ultraviolet rays on DNA causes the main photobiologic response of cells to ultraviolet rays. To study this effect, tritiated thymidine autoradiography was used. Recently 5-bromo-2deoxyuridine(BrdU), an analogue of thymidine, immunohistochemistry has been developed and is used in the detection of synthetic phase cells. Compared to autoradiography, there are several advantages of BrdU immunohistochemistry; a shorter processing time, no requirement of specific facilites. PUVA, the combination method of UVA and Psoralen has lots of photobiologic effects. OBJECTIVE: Using Brdu immunohistochemistry, the effect of PUVA on the DNA synthesis of tape stripped mouse epdermis was studied. METHOD: Mice stripped by adhesive tape for enhancing DNA synthesis were injected intraperitoneally with 50mg/kg of BrdU immediately after stripping and at 6, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 48 hours after tape stripping for decision of the time for PUVA. The skin diopsies were taken and the specimens were stained by BrdU immunohistochemistry. Single systemic PUVA exposure was performed on the stripped epidermis in peak synthetic time after tape stripping. The irradiation dose of UVA was 5J/cm(2). 8-MOP was administered at 90 minutes before UVA irradiation via a feeding tube with the dose of 16mg/kg. Mice were injected intraperitoneally with 50mg/kg of BrdU immediately after PUVA and at 12, 24, 48, 72 hours, and 7 days after PUVA. The skin biopsies were taken and the specimens were stained by BrdU immunohistochemistry. Positively labeled cells were counted per 5mm epidermis. RESULT: The results can be summerized as follows : 1. The mean numbers of BrdU labeled cells of each groups according to time after tape stripping were 11.0+/-4.4 at immediate, 24.0+/-9.7 at 6 hours 31.4+/-18.1 at 12 hours, 55.0+/-16.1 at 14 hors, 25.8+/-9.7 at 16 hors, 44.2+/-15.7 at 18 hors, 47.6+/-15.6 at 20 hors, 33.4+/-12.3 at 22 hors, 38.0+/-16.3 at 24 hors, and 22.0+/-8.2 at 48 hors group. The mean number of BrdU labeled cells was observed at 14 hors after tape stripping (p<0.05). So by tape stripping DNA synthesis was enhanced maximally at 14 hours after tape stripping. 2. The man numbers of BrdU labeled cells of each groups according to time after PUVA were 11.0+/-7.5 at immediate, 32.2+/-13.2 at immediate, 32.2+/-13.2 at 6hors, 26.4+/-13.4 at 24 hours, 18.0+/-3.4 at 48 hours, 40.3+/-8.3 at 72 hours, and 27.8+/-11.0 at 7 days group. The lowest number of BrdU labeled cells was observed immediately after PUVA(p<0.05). The decreasein the number of BrdU labeled cells significantly persisted 48 hours after PUVA(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The inhibitory effect on DNA synthesis of PUVA might be sustained 48 hours after PUVA. DNA synthesis was recovered at 72 hours after PUVA and sustained for 7 days.
Adhesives ; Animals ; Autoradiography ; Biopsy ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; DNA* ; Epidermis ; Ficusin ; Immunohistochemistry* ; Methoxsalen ; Mice ; Skin ; Thymidine ; Ultraviolet Rays

We report a case of anosacral cutaneous amyloidosis in a 74 year-old-man. The skin finding is a patch of the size of a childs palm on the sacral area, consisting of brownish macular lines that radiate frorn the anus. Histopathology revealed defiosits of homogenous eosinophilic mateial s in the papillary dermis. Congo red staining and dylon staining was positive. Immuohistochemical staining using anti SAP antibodies and anti-keratin antibodies showed positive reactions.
Amyloidosis* ; Anal Canal ; Antibodies ; Child ; Congo Red ; Dermis ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Skin

index (%) in unirradiated mouse skin was 11.0+/-4.3. LI was significantly increased by tape stripping to 22.1+/-4.6. 2. The number of SBC in 1cm epidermis after 50mJ/cm UVB exposure was 28.2+/-4.1. The number of SBC was increased by tape stripping to 57.4+Cell proliferation, by evaluating sunburn cell (SBC) formation, was studied in mouse skin following tape stripping and ultraviolet light B (UVB) exposun.. 1-radiation was achieved using high pressure mercury are UVB. The results are summarized as follows. 1. Labeling 19.2. These results suggest that proliferating cells are more sensitive to UVB exposure.
Animals ; Cell Proliferation* ; Epidermis ; Mice ; Skin ; Sunburn* ; Ultraviolet Rays

BACKGROUND: Pruritus, which is a frequent accompanying symptom of dermatological diseases, is also common during pregnancy, either localized or generalized. It may be related to specific dermatoses of pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: A clinical study was performed to know the exact nature of pruritus in pregnancy. METHODS: Subjects with systemic diseases, or laboratory abnormalities were excluded. People who have had pruritic dermatologic diseases before pregnancy were also excluded. One hundred and fifty five pregnant women were interviewed with physical examinations and followed up to the date of delivery. Pruritus was graded. RESULTS: Pruritus was present in 31.6%. Most affected subjects had mild or moderate severity. The abdomen was the most common site. There was a tendency for the duration of itching to increase with the duration of pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Conclusion: These findings may provide basic and useful data on pruritus during pregnancy.
Abdomen ; Clinical Study* ; Female ; Humans ; Physical Examination ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Pruritus* ; Skin Diseases

No abstract available.
Blood Pressure* ; Child* ; Humans ; Seoul*

Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic drug used in the treatement of edema and hypertension. We report a case of hydrochlorothiazide induced photosensitivity in a 54 year old woman who had taken hydrochlorothiazide for 3 years for hypertension. She complained of itching and burning sensation with erythematous papules and lichenified plaques on light-exposed areas. Fhototest showed marked decrease of the minimal erythema dose(MED) for UVA. The symptoms subsided after the use of topical steroid and the substitution atenolol for hydrochlorothiazide.
Atenolol ; Burns ; Edema ; Erythema ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrochlorothiazide* ; Hypertension ; Middle Aged ; Pruritus ; Sensation

We carried out the mouse tail technique and the Candida albicans test for the study of the phototoxic reaction to amiodarone. The mouse tail technique is based on the inflammatory response of mouse tails after systemic administration of the drug and UVA irradiation and the Candida albicans test is based on growth inhibition of Candida albicana In the mouse tail technique, following the administration of amiodarone and UVA irradia tion for 5 consecutive days, there was a significant increase(14% ) in the relative water content as compared to other control groups. In the Candida albicans test, UVA irradiation after pretreatment with amiodarone resulted in a clear Candida-free zone around the disc. The results showed that amiodarone had a phototoxic potential and that both of the methods were a good screening test for demonstrat.ing the phototoxicity of a certain drug.
Amiodarone ; Animals ; Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Dermatitis, Phototoxic ; Mass Screening ; Mice* ; Tail* ; Water

Etretinate, an effective retinoid in the treatment of pustular, erythrodermic and chronic plaque type psoriasis, has the disadvantage of a long terminal elimination half-life. On the other hand, acitretin, the active metabolite of etretinate, has much shorter terminal elimination half-life and is being reported as an agent with good antipsoriatic activity by several authors. To evaluate the clinical efficacy of acitret.in in comparison with etretinate, we treated 10 patients wit,h acitretin at a dose of 30mg per day and 11 patients with etretinate at a same dose for 12 weeks. The PASI score at 12 week was significantly reduced in each group as compared with baseline PASI score. In the acitretin treated group the initial PASI score of 14.5 reduced to 3.9, while the etretinate group PASI score reduced from 12.0 to 3.1. The PASI score differ ences between the acitretin and etretinate groups at each time during therapy and the end of therapy were not statistically significant. The severity of adverse reactions with acitretin was similar to those with etretinate but their incidence was higher. The change in laboratory parameters in the acitretin group was simlar to that of the etretinate group. In view of these results and the known pharmacokinetic advantage of acitretin, that is the short terminal elimination half-life, it is conceivable that acitretin may be a useful alternative to etretinate in the treatment of psoriasis.
Acitretin* ; Etretinate* ; Half-Life ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Psoriasis*

BACKGROUND: While the effect of the flashlamp pumped dye laser in the treatment of telangiectasia and other vascular disease has been reported by many authors, there have been a few reports on the therapeutic effect of the copper vapor laser(CVL) on telangiectasia and other vascular lesions. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to assess the clinical results in Korean patients who had cutaneous vascular disorders that were treated with the CVL at 578 nm. METHODS: A total of 23 patients with vascular lesions such as telangiectasia were involved. The effect of the laser treatment was evaluated 3 months after the last treatment. RESULTS: Of the 15 patients with telangiectasia, 12 patients showed good or excellent responses. 2 out of 3 patients with strawberry hemangioma showed good results. As for the other lesions, 2 out of the remaining patients 5 showed excellent results. CONCLUSION: The CVL has a beneficial effect and is a good alternative treatment modality for vascular lesions.
Copper* ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; Humans ; Lasers, Dye ; Lasers, Gas* ; Telangiectasis ; Vascular Diseases

BACKGROUND: Chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus(CCLE) is a well-known disease entity. But there has been no data about its clinical behavior and histopathologic features in Korea. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to elucidate the clinical, laboratory, and histopathologic features of CCLE, and the relationship between CCLE and SLE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated 48 cases of CCLE that visited the department of dermatology at the Seoul National University Hospital from January 1990 to June 1997. Medical records and biopsy slides were reviewed.
Biopsy ; Dermatology ; Korea ; Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous* ; Medical Records ; Seoul