The most frequently used serodiagnostic test for syphilis in Korea is VDRL test, which is one of several flocculation tests utilizing cardiolipin-lecithin as antigen. This test remains popular because it is easily performed, inexpensive, is standard for screening purposes, and is useful for following the serologic response to treatment. A common problem is weakly reactive (or 'rough' result) VDRL test or reactive VDRL in the absence of definite evidence of present or past syphilis; the diagnosis of syphilis in these cases should be confirmed by using the specific treponemal antigen tests. The Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody-Absorption (FTA-ARS) test is the result of continued attempts to improve the original FTA procedures. This test uses virulent T. pallidum (Nichols strain) as antigen and uses fluorescein-tagged antihuman globulin as reaction indicator. The FTA-ABS test is very sensitive in all stage of syphilis, especially in early syphilis. The FTA-ABS test was carried out on 448 persons with reactive and weakly reactive VDRL tests and divided the groups of routine physical check and out patients. (countinued..)
Diagnosis ; Flocculation Tests ; Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody-Absorption Test ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Outpatients ; Syphilis*

The Dowling-Meara type of epidermolysis bullosa simplex(EBS) is genetic disease that is transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait and is charscterized clinically by pherpetiform clustering of blisters and palmo-plantar keratoderma. The disease usually presents at with or in early infancy. Although serious and hemorrhagic Wers may occur on any part of the body, the lesions heal without scaning in general. The disease shows a tendency to improve by progressian of age and it usually follows a relatively benign course. Microecopically, there are intraepidermal bli.ter s forming as a result of cytolysis of basal cells. In addition, the is a highly characteristic clumping of tonofilaments of keratinocytes in the lower epidermis, which is not seen in any other form of EBS. We report a case of Dowling-Meara type of EBS that is first destribed in Korean medical literatures.
Blister ; Epidermis ; Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex* ; Epidermolysis Bullosa* ; Intermediate Filaments ; Keratinocytes

No abstract available.
Dental Porcelain* ; Resin Cements*

Various dermatological complications have been reported following the BCG vaccination although this vaccination has been recommended to all healthy infants in our country. A 4-months-old boy, who had a BCG vaccination three weeks after birth, developed erythematous papules and pustules on the whole body, especially on the face and upper extremities. Two erythematous subcutaneous soft nodules were also noted on the left side of the neck. A biopsy specimen from the right forearm revealed caseous necrosis surrounded by a granulomatous inflammation consisting of epithelioid cells and lymphocytes. It was centered along the axis of the damaged pilosebaceous follicle. No acid-fast bacilli could be demonstrated by AFB stain. A marked improvement of his skin eruptions was observed after anti-tuberculosis medication. However, nod-ules in the cervical area perforated spontaneously and healed leaving scars several months after the cutaneous eruptions subsided. The clinical and histologic findings and a good response to anti-tuberculous therapy support the diagnosis of papular tuberculid and suppurative lymphadenitis after BCG vaccination.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Biopsy ; Cicatrix ; Diagnosis ; Epithelioid Cells ; Forearm ; Humans ; Infant ; Inflammation ; Lymphadenitis* ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Mycobacterium bovis ; Neck ; Necrosis ; Parturition ; Skin ; Tuberculosis, Cutaneous* ; Upper Extremity ; Vaccination*

Apocrine hidrocystoma is an uncommon benign tumor derived from the secretory segment of apocrine sweat glands and another name for it is apocrine cystadenoma. A 48-year-old female patient had a solitary, translucent red-brownish cystic nodule, 10 × 6 × 7mm in size, on the periorbital area of her left eye. The lesion had enlarged very slowly for 25 years. We excised the lesion and identified it as apocrine hidrocystoma. This is a case of apocrine hidrocystoma with typical clinical and histopathological findings.
Cystadenoma ; Female ; Hidrocystoma* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Sweat Glands

BACKGROUND: Laser resurfacing has beneficial effects for the treatment of several skin conditions. Recently, the pulsed erbium:YAG laser has been shown to be a highly effective treatment for several kinds of pitted facial scars. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of pulsed erbium:YAG laser skin resurfacing at the setting of low or high energy for pitted acne scars. METHODS: 65 patients with pitted acne scars were included in this study. All patients had skin types III or IV. All patients were instructed to use tretinoin cream 0.05% nightly for 2-4 weeks prior to the laser treatment. The pulsed erbium:YAG laser with a 2 mm handpiece at the setting of 500 mJ/pulse, 3.5-5 W in 45 patients and 1,000 mJ/pulse, 7-10 W in 20 patients was used. Two weeks after laser treatment, topical application of hydroquinone 4%, tretinoin 0.05%, and hydrocortisone 1% cream was recommended for 2-4 weeks. Facial photographs were obtained at baseline and 2 week intervals postoperatively. The results of treatment were evaluated for the changes of skin texture and color at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. RESULTS: In 45 cases treated with 500 mJ/pulse energy, pitted acne scars were improved about 46.7 % on average and no erythema and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation was observed after 6 months. In 20 cases treated with 1,000 mJ/pulse energy, pitted acne scars were improved about 64% on average and erythema in two patients and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation in one patient were observed after 6 months. CONCLUSION: The results of laser treatment for pitted facial acne scars at the setting of high energy are better than those of laser treatment at the setting of low energy.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Cicatrix* ; Erbium* ; Erythema ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hyperpigmentation ; Lasers, Solid-State* ; Skin ; Tretinoin

Dysregulation of TGF-beta that is a modulator of cell growth and differentiation can result in uncontrolled growth and tumor formation. Monitoring these pattern of genes and protein expression during tumor development will provide a basis for understanding normal growth and distortion of osteochondrogenesis. Our comparative studies on the experssion of TGF-beta protein indicate that TGF-beta may primarily be a regulator of epithelial differentiation during tooth development (between 4 weeks and 40 gestational weeks) and tumorigenesis of odontogenic neoplasm (ameloblastoma). In early human tooth germ (cap/early bell stage) TGF-beta protein was found in the epithelial dentallamina and enamel orgen. TGF-beta experessions were seen in inner and outer dental epithelium during bell stage. During enamel and cementum appositional stage, TGF-beta expression shifted from the ameloblast to the odontoblast. In eruption stage, TGF-beta expressions look like moderate positive pattern in odontoblast and rare pattern in enamel, dentin and cementum. TGF-beta expressions of follicular and plexiform amelobalstoma are moderate positive reaction in ectodermal tumor components and mild positive in vessels of stroma tissue. In acanthomatous type, TGF-beta expression was shown severely positive finding in stellate reticulum cell. TGF-beta expressions were noted moderate reaction in margin of tumor epithelium and stellate reticulum cell of granular ameloblastoma. In unicystic ameloblastoma, TGF-beta expression was rare feature in cystic luminal epithelium. With these result, I should be suggested that TGF-beta may play an important role in epithelial-mesenchymal interactions in human tooth morphogenesis and development of odontogenic epithelial tumors.
Ameloblastoma* ; Ameloblasts ; Carcinogenesis ; Dental Cementum ; Dental Enamel ; Dentin ; Ectoderm ; Embryonic Structures* ; Epithelium ; Fetus* ; Humans* ; Morphogenesis ; Odontoblasts ; Phenobarbital ; Reticulum ; Tooth Germ* ; Tooth* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta*

No abstract available.
Dermatomycoses* ; Humans

Telangiectasia is characterized by permanently dilated small vessels usually arising from the suprapapillary plexus of venule capillaries, or arterioles. It may be etvlogically divided into the primary and secondary types. Rosacea, varicose vein, prolonged sun xvsure, radiation, and physical trauma may be the causes of secondary telangiectasia. We report herein a case of secondary telangiectasia associated which operation for a femur fracture.
Arterioles ; Capillaries ; Femur ; Rosacea ; Solar System ; Telangiectasis* ; Varicose Veins ; Venules

During the course of infectious mononucleosis, intake of ampicillin and its analogues such as amoxicillin may cause hypersensitivity skin rashes. We report herein a case of ampicillin induced skin rash in a 41-year-old female patient with infectious mononucleosis. Infectious mononucleosis was confirrned by datetion of IgM antibody against Epstein-Barr(EB) viral capsid antigen(VCA) in her serum. During the icuteillness, she taked ampicillin for 3 days, and 1 week after the intake of ampicillin, a genertliz:d erythernatous and purpuric maculopapualr eruption developed. Physicians should be careful not to use ampicillin and its analogue if batients are suspected to be infected with EB virus as ampicillin induces severe skin rashes in patients with infectious mononucleosis.
Adult ; Amoxicillin ; Ampicillin* ; Capsid ; Exanthema* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin M ; Infectious Mononucleosis* ; Skin*