HLA-A, B, C and HLA-DR are very important in the regulation of immune response and of transplant success or failure, but there have been a few reports about F3I A expression in melanocyt.es, a minor population of cpidermal cells. In the treatment of stable or segmental vitiligo, allogeneic melanocytes graft could t)e potentially useful if rejection does not. occur. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of HI.A-A, B, C and HI.A-DR in cultured hurnan melanocytes with and without. stimulation by INF-r and suction blister fliid. All strains of cultured me- lanocytes expressed HLA-A, B, C regardless of stmulation, but HLA-DR was expressed only following stimulation of INI-r. HLA expression in me]anocytes appears to be similar to that in keratinocytes.
Blister* ; HLA-A Antigens ; HLA-DR Antigens* ; Humans* ; Keratinocytes ; Melanocytes* ; Suction* ; Transplants ; Vitiligo

No abstract available.
Drug Eruptions*

Two cases of pseudoxanthoma elasticum associated with angioid streaks in both eyes were presented and the literatures were reviewed. The affected sisters were 15 and 18 years female among the five siblings. They had pin head sized yellowish maculopapular eruptions on the sides of the neck and axillae, and also visual distubance of the both eyes. They seemed to be autosomal recessive inberitance in their family background. There were no other complications.
Angioid Streaks ; Axilla ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Neck ; Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum* ; Siblings

Suction is a useful tool for separation of epidermis from dermis in vivo. With appropriate suction pressures and durations applied, cellular damage of the separated epidermis can reduce, This study was performed to examine the appropriste suction pressures and durations in the lhsional and normal skin of four vitiligo patients who wanted to take epidermal autograft. The suction pressures and durations for making the blisters of similar morphology were different according to person. Microscopic changes in the blisters of similar morphology were not very different, and suction of 200 to 250 mmHg for 2 to 3 hours with a 2cm diametered suction cup was considered to be acceptable. Obvious damage to keratinocytes and diminish of melanacyte number were observed with much more powerful and longer suction such as suction of 350 to 400 mmHg for 3 to 4 hours. The level of dermo-epidermal separation was between basal cell membrane.
Autografts ; Blister ; Cell Membrane ; Dermis* ; Epidermis* ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Skin ; Suction* ; Vitiligo*

Lesional and normal skins in 10 patients of fixed drug eruption were studied. Number and vertical distance of rete ridges were measured in H & E stained specimens. Amount of free melanin and number of melanocytes were counted in dopa stained epidermal sheets. According to the number of recurrence, activity and number of melanocytes see med to be changed. The lesions of a few recurrence showed only active melano cytes, however, those of frequent recurrenoe increased number of melanocytes with marked elongation of rete ridges. It is supposed that the numerical increase of melanocytes were from the elongation of rete redges.
Dihydroxyphenylalanine ; Drug Eruptions* ; Humans ; Melanins ; Melanocytes* ; Recurrence ; Skin

PURPOSE: Most children who have been treated for craniopharyngioma eventually develop multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies as well as growth hormone deficiency(GHD). However, some of them may grow normally or even have accelerated growth velocity despite GHD postoperatively. This study was undertaken to evaluate several factors influencing change in growth velocity after surgery for craniopharyngioma in patients with GHD. METHODS: Fifteen patients operated on for craniopharyngioma had a pharmacological assessment of hypothalamic-pituitary function and at least two standard GH provocation tests. All patients had multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies including GHD after surgery. Patients were classified in two groups according to their growth rate during the first postoperative year. Group 1 consisted of 6 children with normal growth velocity or more than 2 standard deviation score(SDS) above the normal mean, and group 2 consisted of 9 children with decreased growth velocity more than 2 SDS below the normal mean. RESULTS: Height velocity was 8.3+/-.2 cm/year in group 1 and 2.8+/-.3 cm/year in group 2 during the first year. During the second year, height velocity was 4.4+/-.3 cm/year and 3.3+/-.4 cm/year, respectively. Body mass index(BMI) change between before and after surgery was 0.83+/-.4 kg/m2 in group 1 and 0.03+/-.3 kg/m2 in group 2 but there was no difference between both groups. However, BMI changes was correlated positively with height SDS change for 1 year following surgery in 15 patients(P<0.05, r=0.601). Prolactin levels before surgery were not significant difference between group 1 and group 2. However, there was a significant positive correlation between prolactin levels before surgery and height SDS change(P<0.01, r=0.671). Postoperative IGF-1 levels were low in all patients except one, who showed decreased growth rate. CONCLUSION: In this study, there were no significant differences in height velocity, BMI, prolactin, and IGF-1 levels between normal growth group and growth failure group after surgery. Further studies are needed to find out any other growth promoting factors related to growth without growth hormone.
Child* ; Craniopharyngioma* ; Growth Hormone* ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Obesity ; Prolactin

Sensitization to Cenasert®, a broad spectrum antimicrobial for the treatment of leukorrhea, is rare. Perineal contact dermatitis due to vaginal suppositories has never been reported in the medical literature. We report a 31-year-old woman, who developed perineal skin eruptions following the treatment of leukorrhea with Cenasert® vaginal suppositories. Patch tests showed positive reactions to Cenasert® suppositories and to the three active ingredients of Cenasert®. Vaginal suppositories can sensitize not only the vagina but also the surrounding perineum due to leakage of the allergen from the vaginal vault.
Adult ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Female ; Humans ; Leukorrhea ; Patch Tests ; Perineum ; Skin ; Suppositories* ; Vagina

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical manifestation, etiology and prognosis of hypocalcemic infants who were admitted with seizure. METHODS: We reviewed medical records of 32 infants admitted at the Asan Medical Center with hypocalcemic seizure retrospectively. We classified patients into vitamin D deficiency group(n=7, 21.9%), transient hypoparathyroidism group(n=4, 12.5%), relative hypoparathyroidism with hyperphosphatemia group(n=16, 50%), and others(n=5, 15.6%) according to the laboratory results. RESULTS: Of the 32 patients, 29 patients were improved. There were no differences in gestational age and birth weight among the three groups. In the vitamin D deficiency group, age of onset was later than those of the transient hypoparathyroidism group and relative hypoparathyroidism with hyperphosphatemia group(51.6+/-2.7 vs 8.3+/-.5, 8.2+/-.6 days). In the age when all laboratory results were normalized, transient hypoparathyroidism group was younger than those of vitamin D deficiency group and relative hypoparathyroidism group(33.2+/-4.6 vs 93.6+/-8.5, 77.1+/-2.4 days). In the total treatment period, relative hypoparathyroidism with hyperphosphatemia group was longer than those of vitamin D deficiency group and transient hypoparathyroidism group(68.9+/-3.5 vs 42.0+/-5.0, 25.0+/-4.3 days). Others included two 22q11.2 deletion syndrome patients, a congenital hypoparathyroidism, a pseudohypoparathyroidism, and an early neonatal hypocalcemia. CONCLUSION: Transient hypoparathyroidism and hyperphosphatemia were major causes of neonatal hypocalcemia. And high calcitonin and peripheral organ resistance to parathyroid hormone act on hypocalcemia. In infants after one month, vitamin D deficiency was also an important cause of hypocalcemia. Most of the patients were improved within 1-2 months after proper management, but relative hypoparathyroidism with hyperphosphatemia group needed longer treatment. So, it is necessary to perform a systematic study for several complex causes that explain above fact.
Birth Weight ; Calcitonin ; Chungcheongnam-do ; DiGeorge Syndrome ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hyperphosphatemia ; Hypocalcemia ; Hypoparathyroidism ; Infant* ; Medical Records ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Prognosis ; Pseudohypoparathyroidism ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures ; Vitamin D Deficiency

Autograft using suction hlistered epidermis is one of the surgical therapeutic mod- alities of vitiligo, and has been successfully used by several authors. The maintenance of grafting pigment is belieued to be more important than repigmentation itself. To examine the maintenance of pigment, 22 vitiligo patients were treated by autograft using suction blistered epidermis and followed for 16.8 months. Repigmentation developed in 20 patients, Two patients were lost to follow up. Out of 20 patients, grafting pigment was maintained in 17 patients(85% ) and disappeared in three patients(15% ). By clinical subtype, the rates of maintenance were 100% in segmental type, 80% in localized type and 66% in generalized type. The best results were observed in a head and neck location and the worst rates and maintenance were in the hand. However, these differences were not statistically significant. likewise, age and sex were not factors in maintenance and repigrnentation. Based on this study, autograft using suction blistered epidermis appears to be a good therapeutic modality for stable vitiligo, particularly segmental vitiligo.
Autografts* ; Blister* ; Epidermis* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Hand ; Head ; Humans ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Neck ; Suction* ; Transplants ; Vitiligo

Aquagenic urticaria is a rare form of physical urticaria in which wheal is produced by contact with water. A 21-year-old woman was referred to our department because of itching wheal after contact with water for 1 month. Match-head-sized wheal surrounded by bean sized erythema was provoked with water on her face regardless of its tempera ture, osmolarity and quality. Passive transfer test was negative. Result of pro vocation test with normal saline and NaHCO solution, which was reported to be therapeutically effective, was similar to those with pure water.
Erythema ; Female ; Humans ; Intradermal Tests ; Occupations ; Osmolar Concentration ; Pruritus ; Urticaria* ; Water ; Young Adult