BACKGROUND: The skin of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) exhibits a striking susceptibility to colonization with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Superantigens produced by S. aureus and their specific IgE antibodies are thought to be important precipitating factors of AD, but there are few reports evaluating these 2 factors at the same time, particularly in adult AD patients. OBJECTS: Our purpose was to investigate the differences in the culture degree of S. aureus from the lesion, non-lesion, and control group of child and adult AD patients, to research the correlation between the exotoxin production, total IgE, anti-SEA IgE and the disease severity by SCORAD index, to ascertain the differences between child and adult AD patients. METHODS: The clinical severity of 30 child (2 to 15 years of age) and 30 adult patients (16 to 40 years of age) with AD was evaluated by using SCORAD index. S. aureus was isolated from lesional and non-lesional skin of AD patients, and from healthy controls. Staphylococcal exotoxins were detected by using reversed passive latex agglutination toxin detection kits. Anti-SEA IgE antibody was determined by using AlaSTATt assay RESULTS: S. aureus colonizations were found in 11 (36.7%) of the lesional skin, in 5 (16.7%) of the non-lesional skin of 30 child AD patients, and in 26 (86.7%), in 20 (66.7%) of 30 adult AD patients, respectively. The colonization rates of S. aureus in child patients were much lower than those in adult patients, both form lesional skin and non-lesional skin. Staphylococcal exotoxins were detected in 5 (45.5%) of the 11 colonizations from lesional skin, in 2 (40%) of the 5 colonizations from non-lesional skin of children, and in 10 (38.5%) of the 26 colonizations, in 9 (45%) of the 20 colonizations of adults, respectively. Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) was most frequently detected in both groups. S. aureus colonization was correlated with the severity of AD in childhood, but not in adulthood. However, there were no statistical significances between severity of AD and others such as exotoxin production, and the level of total IgE and anti-SEA IgE in both groups. CONCLUSION: The colonization of S. aureus was more common in adult AD patients than child AD patients. Anti-SEA IgE level was much higher in adult AD patients than in child AD patients. It is tempting to speculate that the colonization of S. aureus and exotoxin production might be related to the disease. duration rather than clinical severity of AD.
Adult ; Agglutination ; Antibodies ; Child ; Colon ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Enterotoxins* ; Exotoxins* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Latex ; Precipitating Factors ; Skin ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Strikes, Employee ; Superantigens

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Meningitis*

In order to study the clinical efficacy of the metallic stent of the treatment of iliac arterial stenosis, the clinical and arteriographic findings of the 8 patients were retrospectively reviewed. All 8 patients were males with an age of 51 to 79. The Fontaine class for the functional status of lower extremities was II in 4 patients, III in 3 patients and IV in 1 patients. Self expandable Gianturco stent was inserted in 7 iliac arteries and balloon expandable Palmaz stent was inserted in 2 iliac arteries in the 8 patients. The indications for the metallic stent application were localized dissection with significant residual stenosis in 6sites, recoiling due to calcification in one case and eccentricity of the stenotic lesion in 2 sites. The deployment of the metallic stent was successful in all the cases to maintain the patency of iliac arteries with residual stenosis less than 30%. The Fontaine class was improved to I in 6 patients, II a in 1 patients IIb in another one. During the follow-up period of 3 to 14 months, none except one developed recurrence of the symptom. On the basis of our experience, we believe that metallic stent is safe and effective for the treatment of iliac arterial stenosis. However, we think that it is a complementary measure to the percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. The comparative study between different types of metallic stent and the long-term effect should be investigated further.
Angioplasty ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents* ; Treatment Outcome

In order to study the clinical efficacy of the metallic stent of the treatment of iliac arterial stenosis, the clinical and arteriographic findings of the 8 patients were retrospectively reviewed. All 8 patients were males with an age of 51 to 79. The Fontaine class for the functional status of lower extremities was II in 4 patients, III in 3 patients and IV in 1 patients. Self expandable Gianturco stent was inserted in 7 iliac arteries and balloon expandable Palmaz stent was inserted in 2 iliac arteries in the 8 patients. The indications for the metallic stent application were localized dissection with significant residual stenosis in 6sites, recoiling due to calcification in one case and eccentricity of the stenotic lesion in 2 sites. The deployment of the metallic stent was successful in all the cases to maintain the patency of iliac arteries with residual stenosis less than 30%. The Fontaine class was improved to I in 6 patients, II a in 1 patients IIb in another one. During the follow-up period of 3 to 14 months, none except one developed recurrence of the symptom. On the basis of our experience, we believe that metallic stent is safe and effective for the treatment of iliac arterial stenosis. However, we think that it is a complementary measure to the percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. The comparative study between different types of metallic stent and the long-term effect should be investigated further.
Angioplasty ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents* ; Treatment Outcome

Infantile digital fibromatosis is a rare benign tumor on the fingers and toes of infants and childhood which is characterized by fibroblastic proliferation. Usually the lesions occur singly or severally on the dorsal or lateral aspects of the distal phalanges of the toes and fingers. The thumb and great toe are usually spared. These asymptomatic, firm, red, smooth nodules, some lcm diameter, occur during the first year of life. Forty-seven percent occur in the first month of life. This disease can occur after trauma. The lesions do not metastasize. Occasionally, spontaneous regression has been reported. After excision, recurrence can be possible. A 2 years old female infant had three large bean sized erythematous masses on the left 2,3,4th fingers. The erythematous aacule was developed at 6 months old and grew slowly. We could find inclusion body stained bright red with Massons trichrome and purple with PTAH in cytoplasm of fibroblast. The patient was treated with a simple excision followed by a skin graft. During 5 rnonths after operation, recurrence was not occurred.
Child, Preschool ; Cytoplasm ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; Fibroma* ; Fingers ; Humans ; Inclusion Bodies ; Infant ; Recurrence ; Skin* ; Thumb ; Toes ; Transplants*

PURPOSE: The most common cause of death in massive burn patients is burn wound sepsis. Therefore we have been using allograft skin for preventing burn wound sepsis. METHODS: Included in this study were 71 subjects who had sustained extensive burns from December 2003 through February 2006. 1. Early selective Escharectomy was performed for full thickness burn areas. 2. Allograft skins were grafted on excision area. 3. An autograft was performed for areas with a formation of granulation tissue after the allograft skin had come away. 4. A modified sandwich grafting technique (1 : 4 ~ 6 meshed autograft with Cultured Epithelial Autografts) was performed in large sized burns. 5. Acellular dermal substitute was concurrently used to prevent burn scar contraction on joint areas. RESULTS: Seventy one subjects were included (Fresh allograft: 9 cases, Cryo-preserved allograft: 42 cases, Glycerol preserved allograft: 20 cases). The average burn area was 41.8 (20 ~ 92) %TBSA (Total Body Surface Area). The mean area of the allograft skin used was 26.9 (8 ~ 70) %TBSA. The grafted allograft skins usually came away 3 weeks later. Four cases of initial take failure were occurred. All of these cases were pediatric patients using cadaver skin. Nine patients were dead from heart failure, severe inhalation, respiratory failure, pneumonia in old age, renal failure etc. There was no definite wound sepsis. Cultured Epithelial Autografts (CEAs) were used in fourteen cases. In twenty- five cases, acellular dermal substitute was simultaneously used. CONCLUSION: Early selective escharectomy, allograft skin coverage, acellular dermal substitutes and wide meshed autograft with CEA application would be immensely helpful techniques in patients with extensive burns.
Allografts* ; Autografts ; Burns* ; Cadaver ; Cause of Death ; Cicatrix ; Glycerol ; Granulation Tissue ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Joints ; Pneumonia ; Renal Insufficiency ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Sepsis ; Skin* ; Transplants ; Wound Infection ; Wounds and Injuries

PURPOSE: Human lipoaspirate cells are relatively easy to obtain in large quantities without cell culture. The aim of this in vitro pilot study is to identify the effects of cell therapy using uncultured lipoaspirate cells on cell proliferation and collagen synthesis of diabetic fibroblasts, which are the major contributing factors in wound healing. METHODS: In order to get diabetic fibroblasts, dermis tissues were obtained from foot skin of diabetic patients who underwent debridements or toe amputations (n = 4). In order to isolate lipoaspirate cells, the same diabetic patients' abdominal adipose tissues were obtained by liposuction. The diabetic fibroblasts were co-cultured with or without autogenous lipoaspirate cells using porous culture plate insert. Initial numbers of the lipoaspirate cells and diabetic fibroblasts seeded were 15,000 cells/well, respectively. For cell proliferation assay, two treatment groups were included. In group I, diabetic fibroblasts were cultured with the insert having no cells, which serves as a control. In group II, the lipoaspirate cells were added in the culture plate insert. For collagen synthesis assay, one additional group (group III) was included for a reference, in which diabetic fibroblasts were not seeded in the well and only lipoaspirate cells inside the insert were incubated without diabetic fibroblasts. RESULTS: One hundred to one hundred sixty thousand lipoaspirate cells were isolated per ml of aspirated adipose tissue. After 3-day incubation, the mean cell numbers in group I and II were 17,294/well and 22,163/well. The mean collagen level in group I, II, and III were 29, 41, and 2 ng/mL, respectively. These results imply that both cell proliferation and collagen synthesis in the lipoaspirate cell treatment group were 28 and 44 percents higher than in the control group, respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Uncultured lipoaspirate cell autografts may stimulate the wound healing activity of diabetic fibroblasts.
Adipose Tissue ; Amputation ; Cell Count ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Proliferation ; Collagen ; Debridement ; Dermis ; Fibroblasts ; Foot ; Humans ; Lipectomy ; Pilot Projects ; Seeds ; Skin ; Tissue Therapy ; Toes ; Wound Healing

We report a case of cutaneous B cell lymphoma in a 65-year-old male who had several bizarre shaped erythematous to brownish plaques on the both shins for 2 months. An abdominal CT scan revealed gastrohepatic ligament, retroperitoneal, mesenteric and bilateral external iliac lymphadenopathies. Histologic examinations revealed diffuse dense infiltration of the large atypical cells with vesicular nucleus and prominent nucleoli in the entire dermis. They showed a positive reaction to the LCA, CD20 and kappa light chain in the immunohistochemical study, suggesting that these neoplastic lymphoid cells are B cell lineage. We treated him with COPBLAM-V regimen. In the course of treatment, new skin lesions developed on both upper arms and herpes zoster on the left thigh. So we changed the regimen into IMVP-16. No relapses have been found up to the present date for 9 months.
Aged ; Arm ; B-Lymphocytes* ; Cell Lineage ; Dermis ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma, B-Cell* ; Male ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Thigh ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Angiokeratoma* ; Fabry Disease*

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Pregnancy* ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic* ; Spermatozoa*