The proliferating trichilemmal tumor (PTT) is a rare, usually benign, tumor arising from the outer root sheath of the hair follicle. The usual clinical presentation is in a form of subcutaneous nodule in the scalp of elderly woman. Histopathologically, characteristic proliferation of the outer root sheath epithelium such as trichilemmal keratinization and nodular organization is observed as well as cellular atypia which may lead to impression of malignancy. The author report a case of proliferating trichilemmal tumor arisen in the thigh of a 24-year-old male within duration of 3 months which is quite an unusual clinical presentation.
Aged ; Epithelium ; Female ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Male ; Scalp ; Thigh ; Young Adult

Nodular pseudosarcornatous fasciitis is a benign, fibrohlastic proliferative disease. This case report is one of a hard nodule which a 35-year-old male suddenly discovered on his right forearm 10 days prior to being aeen. The nodule showed characteristic histological findings of nodular pseudosarcomatous fasciitis.
Adult ; Fasciitis* ; Forearm ; Humans ; Male

This study was undertaken to investigate immunological mechanisms in Behçet's syndrome, a function considered important in the pathogenesis of the disease. The activity of interleukin-2 (IL-2), which is believed, to play a central role in the regulation of both cell-mediated and humoral T cell-dependent immune responses, measured in 46 patients with complete, in-complete or suspected Behçet's syndrome. The results were as follows: 1 . There was no significant difference between the average IL-2 activity of patients and control group. 2. For each clinical subtype of Behçet's syndrome, IL-2 activity was lower than the control value, but the difference was not statistically significant. 3. In mucocutaneous and ocular types, the greater the clinical symptoms, the lower the value of IL-2 activity. However, the decrease of IL-2 activity was not statistically significant. In conclusion, IL-2 activity of phytohemaggludnin (PHIS-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with Behçet's syndrome was not significantly decreased compared to control population.
Humans ; Interleukin-2* ; Lymphocytes

In our investigation, various immunologic aspects of 129 patients with complete and incomplete type of Behcet's syndrome were taken under consideration : quantitation of total T-cells by E-rosette method and B-cells by EAC-rosette method, helper/inducer T and suppressor/cytotoxic T-cells by monoclonal antibody technique(OKT4, OKT8), lymphocyte transformation test with PHA, quantitation of serum r-globulin by electro phoresis and quantitations of serum IgG, IgA, IgM, C3, C4 by immunodiffusion. From the results, the cell mediated immunity in Behcet's syndrome is not influenced by the number of patterns of four major symptoms or the activity of each major symptom at the time of test. However the humoral immunity is considered to be influenced by the above parameters.
B-Lymphocytes ; Behcet Syndrome* ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunodiffusion ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Immunoglobulins* ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocytes* ; T-Lymphocytes

BACKGROUND: Zinc which is widely used to treat Behcet's disease, is known to be an important modulator in various aspects of immunity including cell mediated immunity (CMI). CMI is suspected of playing a major role in the pathogenesis of Behçet's disease. OBJECTIVE: This study was done to clarify the relationship of CMI and zinc in Behçet's disease. METHODS: Serum zinc level, NK cell activity, and ADCC were measured in 83 patients with Behçet's diseade. The results were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: ADCC and serum zinc level were found to be two significant variables that affect NK cell activity positively and negatively, respectively. CONCLUSION: Serum zinc is presumed to exert inhibitory effect on NK cell activity but does not affect ADCC in Behçet's disease patients.
Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Zinc*

The clinical and pathological features of solitary fibrofolliculoma are presented. Solitary fibrofolliculoma is very rarely encountered and to our knowledge, only 7 cases have been reported in the Western literature and no cases have been published in Korea. We experienced a case of solitary fibrofolliculoma occurring in a 56-year-old female, who had a 1.0 cm-sized and slowly growing nodule on her chin. A brief review of the literature, was made especially in relation to the pathological findings and histogenesis of solitary fibrofolliculoma.
Female ; Humans

The eruptive collagenoma is a connective tissue nevus without family history. We report a case of eruptive collagenoma in a 5 year old boy, who had multiple, variable sized orange colored nodules on his back since birth. The histopathologic finding showed increased number and size of collagen fiber and increased dermal thickness.
Child, Preschool ; Citrus sinensis ; Collagen ; Connective Tissue ; Humans ; Male ; Nevus ; Parturition

BACKGROUND: Unilateral lung hyperinflation develops in lungs with asymmetric compliance, which can lead to vital instability. The aim of this study was to investigate the respiratory dynamics and the effect of airway diameter on the distribution of tidal volume during mechanical ventilation in a lung model with asymmetric compliance. METHODS: Three groups of lung models were designed to simulate lungs with a symmetric and asymmetric compliance. The lung model was composed of two test lungs, lung1 and lung2. The static compliance of lung1 in C15, C60, and C120 groups was manipulated to be 15, 60, and 120 ml/cmH₂O, respectively. Meanwhile, the static compliance of lung2 was fixed at 60 ml/cmH₂O. Respiratory variables were measured above (proximal measurement) and below (distal measurement) the model trachea. The lung model was mechanically ventilated, and the airway internal diameter (ID) was changed from 3 to 8 mm in 1-mm increments. RESULTS: The mean ± standard deviation ratio of volumes distributed to each lung (VL1/VL2) in airway ID 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 were in order, 0.10 ± 0.05, 0.11 ± 0.03, 0.12 ± 0.02, 0.12 ± 0.02, 0.12 ± 0.02, and 0.12 ± 0.02 in the C15 group; 1.05 ± 0.16, 1.01 ± 0.09, 1.00 ± 0.07, 0.97 ± 0.09, 0.96 ± 0.06, and 0.97 ± 0.08 in the C60 group; and 1.46 ± 0.18, 3.06 ± 0.41, 3.72 ± 0.37, 3.78 ± 0.47, 3.77 ± 0.45, and 3.78 ± 0.60 in the C120 group. The positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of lung1 was significantly increased at airway ID 3 mm (1.65 cmH₂O) in the C15 group; at ID 3, 4, and 5 mm (2.21, 1.06, and 0.95 cmH₂O) in the C60 group; and ID 3, 4, and 5 mm (2.92, 1.84, and 1.41 cmH₂O) in the C120 group, compared to ID 8 mm (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the C15 and C120 groups, the tidal volume was unevenly distributed to both lungs in a positive relationship with lung compliance. In the C120 group, the uneven distribution of tidal volume was improved when the airway ID was equal to or less than 4 mm, but a significant increase of PEEP was observed.
Airway Obstruction ; Compliance ; Lung Compliance* ; Lung* ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; Positive-Pressure Respiration, Intrinsic ; Respiration, Artificial ; Tidal Volume ; Trachea ; Ventilation

BACKGROUND: The etiology of Behçet's disease(BD) is not yet certain, and various hypotheses are suggested. In order to determine the role of dietary intake behavior in the pathogenesis of BD, we analyzed BD patients by questionnaire regarding their personal, social, and economic characteristics, and dietary intake behavior. METHODS: A series. of 79 patients who were registered at the Behçet's Disease Specialty Clinic at Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea were studied. The patients were classified and the data from the patients were analyzed according to the revised Japanese criteria. RESULTS: All patients except for suspected type patients took an average amount of nutrition close to the Korean Recommended Dietary Allowance(RDA). However, on the whole, the amount of consumption of Vitamin B2 and C was low and in the case of females, the consumption of Ca and Fe was makedly insufficient in accordance with the Korean RDA. In case of the level of dietary and serum zinc, there was no significant difference in patients or among groups. CONCLUSION: Since the consumption of some vitamins and minerals of patients were low, the behavior of dietary intake of BD patients which is considered to have a possible role in development of disease should be studied further.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Minerals ; Miners ; Riboflavin ; Seoul ; Vitamins ; Zinc

Behcet's disease (BD) involves multisystem vasculitis of unknown origin. Ocular manifestations of BD mostly include bilateral panuveitis and retinal vasculitis, which are very challenging to treat. Interferon alfa-2a (IFN) has been recently introduced for treating refractory Behcet uveitis, mainly in Germany and Turkey. Nonetheless, there is so far no consensus about the ideal treatment regimen of IFN for Behcet uveitis. We report our experience of IFN treatment in five Korean BD patients with refractory uveitis. All patients complained of oral ulcers; one patient had a positive pathergy test and 2 showed the presence of HLA-B51. Immunosuppressive agents used prior to IFN treatment included cyclosporine and methotrexate. The IFN treatment was commenced with a dose of 6-9 MIU/day for 7 days, adjusted according to individual ocular manifestations, tapered down to 3 MIU three times in a week, and then discontinued. All patients showed positive response to IFN treatment; 50% of them showed complete response without additional major ocular inflammation during the follow-up period. Other BD symptoms also improved after IFN treatment in most cases. After treatment, the relapse rate and the required dose of oral corticosteroid were decreased in most cases, showing a significant steroid-sparing effect. However, the visual acuity was not improved in most cases due to irreversible macular sequelae. Despite the small sample size of this study, we suggest that, in Korean patients, IFN is an effective treatment modality for BD uveitis as was observed in German and Turkish patients.
Adult ; Behcet Syndrome/complications/diagnosis/*drug therapy ; Chronic Disease ; Cyclosporine/therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents/administration & dosage ; Interferon-alpha/*therapeutic use ; Male ; Recombinant Proteins/therapeutic use ; Recurrence ; Remission Induction ; Treatment Outcome ; Turkey ; Uveitis/diagnosis/*drug therapy/etiology ; Visual Acuity