Subepiderral calcified nodules is a special form of idiopathic calcinosis circumscripta with its distinct clinical and histopathologic features, which was originally described by Winer(1952) as solitary congenital no3ular czlcification of the skin. Although the lesions are usually solitary and congenital, subs aquent investigators reported multiple lesions and later onset. Clinically, th. leions are small hard. yellowish-white warty nodules developed. usually on the face and mostly in children and histopathologically are subepidermal calcified mass with s cvn4ry epidermal changes. Although the pathogenesis is still unexplained, it s seems that the disease is not associated with any systemic or cutaneous disease or any biochemial abnormalities. We present a first recorded case of subepidermal calcified no3ules developed on the left the a Korasn female, aged 23, which has been present for 7 years. Shave biopsy showed typical histopathologic and histochemical features of the subpidermal calcified nodules. Literature were reviewed.
Biopsy ; Calcinosis ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Research Personnel ; Skin

The present study was performed to evaluate clinical manifestations in 26 patients and histopathological findings in 19 patients with Behcets syndrome. 1. Clinical findings: A. Among the 26 patients, 9 were male and 17 were female (male to female ratio was 1: l.9). The age at onset of the disease varied from 10 to 62, with a mean of 26.9. B. The incidence of the major clinical manifestations: The oral ulcers were observed in all of the 26 patients, genital ulcers in 21 patients (81%), cutaneous manifestations in 25 patients (96%) and ocular lesions in 7 patients (27%). C. Saline intradermal test was positive in 62% and PPD intradermal test in 42% 2. Histopathological findings: Fourty-one specimens were taken frorn 19 patients with Behcets syndrome; Erythema nodosum like lesions (15), edematous papules (3), acneiform eruption (1), oral ulcers (4), genital ulcers (8), saline intradermal injection sites (5) and PPD intradermal test sites (5). As a control, 4 specirnens were taken from PPD test sites of the patients with erythem nodosum. The common histopathological findings were perivascular inflammatory cell infiltration, mainly composed of neutrophils and nuclear dusts, and vasculitis of varying degree. A. Cutaneous lesions; In erythema nodosum-like lesions main pathologic foci were in the deep dermis and/or the subcutis, and moderate to severe vasculitis were observed. In edematous papules, however, main foci were in the pa,pill- ary dermis and the upper dermis, papillary dermal edema was prorninent, and vasculitis was rather mild.
Acneiform Eruptions ; Behcet Syndrome* ; Dermis ; Dust ; Edema ; Erythema ; Erythema Nodosum ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Injections, Intradermal ; Intradermal Tests ; Male ; Neutrophils ; Oral Ulcer ; Ulcer ; Vasculitis

Roots of manually extracted scalp hairs among 86 healthy Koreans in different age groups were examined microscopically and the proportion of resting hairs to growing hairs were determined with the fol[owing results. 1. The proportion of resting hairs in all age groups was 10. 9% and there was no significant difference between male and female. 2. In each age group the proportion of resting hairs show's difference, being lowest (6. 8%) in below 9 years age group, increasing the rate by increasing the age group, highest (19. 7%) in over 60 years age group. 3. The proportion of resting hairs below the age of 29 years was below 10%, above 30 years to 49 years in between 10% to 15% and over 50 years in between 15% to 20%. 4. The normal range of the proportion of resting hairs among normal Koreans was below 20%.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Male ; Neutrophils* ; Reference Values ; Scalp

We reviewed the clinical features and the skin biopsy slides of 27 patients who were diagnosed as PLEVA clinically or histapathologically in order to evaluate the clinical characteristics and the specific histopathological findings of PLEVA. The results were as follows : l. 13 of these 27 cases(48%) were confirmed as PLEVA. 2. PLEVA was more frequent in males(85% ), most of whom were young adults. 3. In most cases of PLEVA, the predilection site was on the trunk and extremities, and mild pruritus was a characteristic complaint. 4. Most cases of PLEVA were treated with tetracycline or PUVA therapy with temporary remission, but this therapy did not decrease the rate of recurrence. 5. Some histopathological findings previously described as typical in PLEVA(eg, trapped RBC in the epidermis, exocytosis of lymphocyte, dermal hernorrhage and lymphocytic perivasculitis) seemed not to be specific and were often seen in a variety of other dermatoses. 6. The histopathological findings of linear parakeratosis(85%) and dyskeratotic cells in the middle and upper epidermis(92% ) seemed to be significant findings for PLEUA. 7. The above mentioned histopat,hological findings for PLEVA were frequently found from the vesicular lesions or necrotic hemorrhagic papules.
Biopsy ; Epidermis ; Exocytosis ; Extremities ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Pityriasis Lichenoides* ; Pityriasis* ; Pruritus ; PUVA Therapy ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Tetracycline ; Young Adult

The serum value of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in 47 cases of atopic dermatitis and 43 cases of urticaria were determined by Phadebas PRIST(R) method in department of dermatology at National Medical Center, from Jan., 1982 to Sep., 1982. The results were as follow; 1. The mea,n IgE value in atopic dermatitis was significantly higher (408+/-l43 u/ml) than that of normal subjects (p>0.01). 2. The mean value of IgE in urticaria (310+/-299 u/ml) was not significantly higher than tha,t of normal subjects (p>0.05). 3. The rnean value of IgE in severely expanded atopic dermatitis (664+/-404 u/ml) was significantly increased than that of normal subjects (p>0.01) 4. The mean value of IgE in 7 cases of atopic dermatitis with allergic respiratory diseases (817+/-233 u/ml) was significantly elevated (p>0.01). 5. No close correlation was seen between IgE value and eosinophilia. 6. IgE in 2 cases of the urticaria infested with PW, CS were extended over 1000u/ml.
Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatology ; Eosinophilia ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Immunoglobulins ; Skin Diseases* ; Urticaria

Accidental vaccinia may occur either in a recently vaccinated person through autoinoculation by veticular fluid or in a person who is in close personal contact with a recently vaccinated person. Accidental vaccinia occurs most co@mmonly on the eyelid, lips, nose or vulva. An outbreak of similar lesions in a family is unusual. We presented a case of accidental vaccinia in a 29-year old married woman. She has been relatively well until 5 days prior to visit, when she began developed painful grouped papules with central umbilication around both mammary areolas and nipples and marked painful swelling of both axillary lymphnodes. Family history revealed that her baby has also suffered from vesicopustuIar eruptions on upper lip 10 days before her onset and her nephew had similar skin eruption on left index finger for the last 1 week. Contact tracing revealed her neighboring child who was smallpox vaccinated inoculated her baby and then she was contracted from her baby, so-called, third hand vaccinia. Physical examination was not remarkable and laboratory findings were within normal limit. The biopsy finding showed findings consistent with viral infection. After symptomatic treatment and daily dressing, the akin lesion has completly healed in about 2 weeks.
Adult ; Bandages ; Biopsy ; Child ; Contact Tracing ; Eyelids ; Female ; Fingers ; Hand ; Humans ; Lip ; Nipples ; Nose ; Physical Examination ; Skin ; Smallpox ; Vaccinia* ; Vulva

BACKGROUND: According to the areas and people that are examined, there are many differences in the prevalence of syphilis in Korea. However, the reactive rate of the serologi test for syphilis showed an increase in the 1960s, and it has deerea@sed from the beginning of the 1970s. OBJECTIVE: Comparing the results of tke serologic test for syphilis which lotad been performed for the 5 years(1987-1991) on the physical examines and pregnant women who were considered as healthy, with the results with normal people, who were considered as healthy, which had been already reported, we tried to observe the change of reactive rate of serologic test for syphili. METHODS: The serologic test for syphilis, including serum VDRL test and serum TPHA test, were carried out on 25,254 healthy adults(20,405 were physical examineea eamined at National Medical Center and 4,849 were pregnant women delivered at National Medical Cer ter). RESULTS: The reaetive rate of serum VDRL test was 0.8% in 25,25 the althy adults(physical examinees 0.8%, pregnant women 0.7%). There were no stistically differerces between the annual incidences. 85.5% of VDRL-reactive subjects showed low VDRL titers(below 1:4) by the quantitative serum VDRL test, The biologic false positive reaction of serum VDRL test was 29(19.5%) in 149 VDRL-reactive subjects, using serum TPHA test as a standard. CONCLUSION: This study suggested thai, there was a decrease in the prevslence of syphilis in Korea.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; False Positive Reactions ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Pregnant Women ; Prevalence* ; Serologic Tests ; Syphilis*

No Abstract Available.

The clinical triad of relapsing iritis, ulcers of the mouth and genitalia was first described in 1937 by Halusi Behcet. This entity, originally confined to the above triad of symptoms, appears to be a systemic disease manifested by skin lesions, thrombophlebitis, neurologic or visceral syptoms. The exact etiology of this syndrome has not been established. However, in recent years, many investigators suggested that the autoimmune mechanism could be the cause of this disease, and imrnunotherapeutic agents have been shown to have beneficial effects in controlling recurrent episodes of major manifestations. (countiuned..)
Behcet Syndrome* ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Iritis ; Mouth ; Research Personnel ; Skin ; Thrombophlebitis ; Ulcer

The serodiagnostic test of syphilis employed with the greatest freguency in this country is the VDRL procedure which is one of the flocculation test utilizing cardiolipin-lecithin as an antigen. As well known, the immunologically nonspecific nature of this test relegates it only to screening test, so that all the sera displaying weakly reactive or reactive VDRL in the absence of definite evidence of present or past syphilis should be confirmed by using the specific treponemal antigen tests. However, there are only lirnited numbers of institutions at which the specific treponemal antigen tests are carried out, because the tests usually need quite coaiplicatnl technology and specifically trained personnel. The Treponema. pallidum hema.gglutination assay (TPHA) which was first described by Rathlev in 1965 and established as more improved and standardized procedure in serodia,gnosis of syphilis by Tornizaxva and Kasamatsu (1966) has been found to h as sensitive and specific as the technically more complicated Fluorescent treponemaI antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) or Treponema pallidum immobilization (TPI) po cedure by rnany investigators from different parts of the world during these 10 years. The TPHA has also been found to have definite advantage over the other tests because it is easy to perform and economic. The present authors felt. that the TPHA meight be the most reasonable method to be used in this country and decided to evaluate it in the serodiagnosis of problem cases. Sera from 516 presumed normal persons, 686 pregnant women ancl 1345 patients with various diseases other than syphilis were screened with the standard VDRL procedure as described and recommanded by USPHS. Out of these, 475 of t.he presumed normal persons, 646 of the pregnant women and 1243 of the patient group wit;h various diseases other than syphilis v;ere serologically nonreactive and 10, 12 and Rl sera from each of the above groups, respectively, were found to be true syphilitc with definite evidence of clinical signs or history of syphilis. Thirty-one out of the presumed normal persons, 28 out of the pregnant women and 71 out of the patient group with various diseases other than syphilis showed either weakly reactive or reactive VDRI, in undiluted sera without definite evidence of syphilis and these 130 sera from 130 persons were the subject of the present study. The TPHA was carried out on these 130 sera. according to the ma.nual MEA-TP instructed by National Institute of Health, Japan. The reagents used in this study rvere rnanufactured and supplied hy the Fujizoki Pharmaceutical Co. Ten (32.3%) out of the R1 sera from preaumed normal persons, 11 (39.4%) out of the 28 sera from pregna.nt women a.nd 28 (69.4%) out of the patient group with various disea ses other then syphilis showed reactive TPHA. Eighty-seven of the total 130 sera showed weakly reactive VDRL so called rough result and 19 (21.8%) Of these 87 sera showed reactive TPHA, while 30(69.8%) of the 43 sera which showed reactive VDRL were found to be TPHA reactive. These results arc in general agreement with those of other investigators confirmed by the more complicated FTA-ABS or TPI. The overall incidence of syphilis was 3.87%, 3.35% and 4.38% in presumed normal persons, in pregnant women and in patient group with various diseases other than syphilis respectively. Considering the relative lack of study concerning to the false positive reactions in this country, these results may be helpful to the clinician to rnake a cert.ain diagnostic decision when they meet such a patient whose VDRL is weakly reactive or reactive in the absence of definite evidence of syphilis. The authors concluded that: the MHA-TP technique is easy in performance, economic and highly specific in serodiagnosis and that this technique is highly recommanded in this country. * The authors thank Fujizoki Pharrnaceutical Company, Tokyo, Japan which provided the TPHA reagents used in this study.
Absorption ; Bezafibrate ; False Positive Reactions ; Female ; Flocculation Tests ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Incidence ; Indicators and Reagents ; Japan ; Mass Screening ; Pregnant Women ; Research Personnel ; Serologic Tests* ; Syphilis* ; Treponema ; Treponema pallidum ; United States Public Health Service