Malignant melanoma is an uncommon tumor in Korea. To the best of our knowledge, we could not find malignant melanoma with multiple myeloma in Korean literature. A 57-year-old male patient had a 4×5 cm sized, irregular bordered, dark brownish plaque on the left sole, which has extended gradually since about 1 year ago and showed an occasional bleeding tendency. Laboratory examinations revealed a low hemoglobin level, rouleaux formation on peripheral blood, monoclonal gammopathy of IgG-kappa type and Bence-Jones proteinuria. Bone marrow aspiration findings showed markedly increased immature plasma cells suggesting multiple myeloma. Histopathologic findings of the skin biopsy from the left sole revealed proliferation of atypical melanocytes. We performed a surgical excision with a skin graft for malignant melanoma and chemotherapy (melphalan, vincristine and prednisolone) for multiple myeloma.
Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Drug Therapy ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma* ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma* ; Paraproteinemias ; Plasma Cells ; Proteinuria ; Skin ; Transplants ; Vincristine

No abstract available.
Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis*

No abstract available.
Estrogens* ; Humans ; Receptors, Estrogen* ; Thyroid Diseases* ; Thyroid Gland*

BACKGROUND: The association of androgenetic alopecia and coronary artery disease has not been well documented although many studies have tried to reveal this association. This relationship is still a controversial issue. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between the androgenetic alopecia and lipid parameters for risk factors of coronary artery disease. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 102 patients with androgenetic alopecia who had visited the Department of Dermatology, Pil-dong Hospital, College of medicine, Chung-Ang University during 2 years (from January 2000 to December 2001). The subjects of control group were 40 male individuals who had no androgenetic alopecia, no risk factor of coronary artery disease and no coronary artery disease. RESULTS: 1. There were significant differences in the serum total lipid, phospholipid, triglyceride between the patients and the control group. But there were no significant differences in serum LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and total cholesterol between the two groups. 2. There were significant differences in the serum total lipid, phospholipid, triglyceride between frontal baldness patients and the control group (p<0.05). But there were no significant differences in the serum LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and total cholesterol between the two groups. 3. There were significant differences in the serum total lipid, phospholipid, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, and total cholesterol between vertex baldness patients and the control group (p<0.05). But there were no significant differences in serum HDL-cholesterol between two groups. 4. There were no significant differences in the serum total lipid, phospholipid, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol between androgenetic alopecia patients who were increased serum testosterone and the control group. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that androgenetic alopecia involving the vertex scalp is associated with significantly increased total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol for risk factors of coronary artery disease. We recommend that dermatologists should investigate the lipid parameters, especially total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in vertex baldness patients.
Alopecia* ; Cholesterol ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Dermatology ; Humans ; Male ; Risk Factors* ; Scalp ; Testosterone ; Triglycerides

Dermatophytes usually do not invade beyond the epidermis. However mechanical breakage of the skin resulting from scratching or trauma and immunocompromised state may allow penetration of the fungi into reticular dermis. We report a patient with an unusual manifestation of Trichophyton rubrum infection. A 39-year-old male presented with 3.5x5 cm sized, erythematous, ulcerated lesion on the left heel for about 1 month. Histologic findings of the skin lesion showed granulomatous change and numerous hyphae in the dermis. Trichophyton rubrum was isolated on the fungus culture. The patient was treated with terbinafine (250 mg/day) for 10 weeks, resulting in the clearing of the skin lesion.
Adult ; Arthrodermataceae ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Fungi ; Granuloma* ; Heel ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Male ; Skin ; Trichophyton* ; Ulcer

Dermatophytes usually do not invade beyond the epidermis. However mechanical breakage of the skin resulting from scratching or trauma and immunocompromised state may allow penetration of the fungi into reticular dermis. We report a patient with an unusual manifestation of Trichophyton rubrum infection. A 39-year-old male presented with 3.5x5 cm sized, erythematous, ulcerated lesion on the left heel for about 1 month. Histologic findings of the skin lesion showed granulomatous change and numerous hyphae in the dermis. Trichophyton rubrum was isolated on the fungus culture. The patient was treated with terbinafine (250 mg/day) for 10 weeks, resulting in the clearing of the skin lesion.
Adult ; Arthrodermataceae ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Fungi ; Granuloma* ; Heel ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Male ; Skin ; Trichophyton* ; Ulcer

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: Brain abscess is a life-threatening condition that occurs due to complications during a neurosurgical procedure, direct cranial trauma, or the presence of local or distal infection. Infection in the oral cavity can also be considered a source of brain abscess.CASE PRESENTATION: A 45-year-old male patient was transported with brain abscess in the subcortical white matter. Navigation-guided abscess aspiration and drainage was performed in the right mid-frontal lobe, but the symptoms continued to worsen after the procedure. A panoramic radiograph showed alveolar bone resorption around the maxillary molars. The compromised maxillary molars were extracted under local anesthesia, and antibiotics were applied based on findings from bacterial culture. A brain MRI confirmed that the three brain abscesses in the frontal lobe were reduced in size, and the patient's symptoms began to improve after the extractions. CONCLUSION This is a rare case report about multiple uncontrolled brain abscesses treated by removal of infection through the extraction of maxillary molars with odontogenic infection. Untreated odontogenic infection can also be considered a cause of brain abscess. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize the possibility that untreated odontogenic infection can lead to serious systemic inflammatory diseases such as brain abscess. Through a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment, physicians should be encouraged to consider odontogenic infections as a potential cause of brain abscesses.

OBJECTIVE: The cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions are critical to the embryogenesis, morphogenesis, maintenance of tissue integrity, and function of cells. This interactions are mediated by membrane glycoproteins called adhesion molecules. fil-integrins are heteredimeric transmembrane glycoproteins which play critical roles in the ability of cells to elaborate and maintain extracellular matrix. ICAM-1 is a sialylated glycoprotein and mediates various cell-cell interactions in immunity and inflammation. Articular cartilage consists of chondrocytes embedded in an extensive extracellular matirx. In normal tissue, the chondrocytes actively effect the stable equili-brium between the synthesis and degradation of matrix components, so that a constant concentration of these components is maintained. In osteoarthritis, the stable equilibrium is disrupted and the rate of loss of proteoglycan exceeds the rate of depositon of newly synthesized moleclues. This equilibrium is influenced by cytok{nes and growth factors such as IL-1, TNF-alpha, IGF-1 and TGF-beta. Integrins and their ligands may mediate some of the interactions of chondrocytes and cellular matrix, and the cytokines and local growth factors may affect the expression of integrins on chondrocytes. ICAM-1 may mediate interactions with other cells in osteoarthritic joint, and also may be modulated by cytokines and growth factors. The effect of IL-1, TNF-alpha, IGF-1 and TGF-beta in the expression of fil-integrin(CD29) and ICAM-l(CD54) on chondrocytes was investigated. METHODS: Cultured chondrocytes(3rd passages) from 2 osteoarthritc patient were used. Cells were incubated for 24hours with and without IL-lfi 25U/ml, IL-l 50U/ml, TNF-alpha lng/ml, TNF-alpha 10ng/ml, IFN-gamma 100U/ml, IGF-1 10ng/ml, IGF-1 50ng/ml, IGF-1 100ng/ml, TGF-beta 10ng/ml, and TGF-beta 30ng/ml. Chondrocytes were stained with monoclonal antibodies against beta1-integrin(CD29) and ICAM-1 (CD54), and positve cells were counted under the light microscpe. RESULTS: 1) Cultured chondrocytes readily expressed fi1-integrin(82. 9%). 2) filintegrin was down-regulated by IL-1beta(75.4%), TNF-alpha(61.2%), and TGF-beta (77.0%), and was slightly up-regulated by IFN-gamma(85.0%) and IGF-1 (88.9%). 3) ICAM-1 was presented in only 18.0% of cells. 4) Expression of ICAM-1 was readily up-regulated by IL-1beta(84.0%) and TNF-alpha(80.3%), and mildly up-regulated by IFN-gamma(33.0%), IGF-1 (35.0%), and TGF-beta(29.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of fil-integrin and ICAM-1 on chondrocytes and the modulation of their expression by cytokines and local growth factors suggest that they have important roles in the interaction of chondrocytes with cartilage matrix and with other cells of osteoarthritic joints. Their roles should be elucidated by further researches.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular ; Chondrocytes* ; Cytokines* ; Embryonic Development ; Extracellular Matrix ; Female ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Integrins ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1* ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins* ; Interleukin-1 ; Joints ; Ligands ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Morphogenesis ; Osteoarthritis ; Pregnancy ; Proteoglycans ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Renal oncocytoma is a uncommon benign tumor originating from the intercalated cells of the collecting duct, which occurs with an overall incidence of 3% to 7% among all renal tumors. Bilateral, multicentric renal oncocytoma is rare, especially in chronic renal failure. We report a case of 59-year-old woman with bilateral oncocytoma with renal failure. She presented nausea and vomiting for one month, and had no previous past medical history. Abdominal sonography and computed tomography revealed variable sized homogenous mass on both kidneys. Microscopic examination showed large polygonal cells with abundant eosinophilic and granular cytoplasm. Surrounding renal parenchyma revealed marked atrophy and sclerosis with a few intact glomeruli and tubules. We could exclude renal cell carcinoma because tumor cells were negative for CK7, CK20, vimentin, and Hale's colloidal iron staining, and did not show perinuclear halo and mitosis.
Adenoma, Oxyphilic ; Atrophy ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Colloids ; Cytoplasm ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Iron ; Kidney ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Middle Aged ; Mitosis ; Nausea ; Renal Insufficiency ; Sclerosis ; Vimentin ; Vomiting