BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of confluent and reticulated papillomatosis(CRP) is still unknown, although many theories have been suggested. It is stressed that abnormal host response to colonization of pityrosporum orbiculare might play a role in the pathogenesis of CRP, but is not completely understood. Frequently, we have observed bacterial colonies in the stratum corneum and, especially, within the hair follicles from biopsy specimens of patients with CRP. In addition, successful treatment for CRP with minocycline, a derivative of tetracyclines, has been reported continuously. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to document the possible association of bacterial factors in the pathogenesis of CRP and to elucidate the effectiveness of minocycline. METHODS: We performed Brown and Brenn gram staining in 12 biopsy specimens, bacterial cultures, identification of microorganisms and antibiotics sensitivity testing including minocycline. We administered oral minocycline with an initial dose of 100mg per day for 1 to 3 months and a maintenance dose 50mg per day for I to 2 months, then evaluated the response of treatment. RESULTS: 1. On Brown and Brenn staining, the gram positive bacterial colonies that stained dark bluish or nearly black were observed within the infundibulum of hair follicles in 10 out of 12 biopsy specimens(83.3%) and on the keratotic invagination of stratum corneum in 11 out of 12 biopsy specimens(91.7%). 2. Histological features of regions where bacterial colonies were observed showed, hyperkeratosis and keratotic invagination on the stratum corneum in all cases. Hyperkeratosis(66.7%), parakeratosis(16.7%), inflammatory cell infiltration(25.0%), perifollicular fibrosis(33.3%), and abnormal keratin in sebaceous ducts(50.0%) were shown in hair follicles. 3. In anaerobic cultures, no bacteria was grown. In aerobic cultures, staphylococcus species were identified in 6 cases, streptococcus viridans in one case, sternotrophomonas maltophilia in one case. In the susceptibiliity test, minocycline was sensitive in 7 from 8 cases. 4. The therapeutic response to minocycline was observed within one month in all cases, and the time to clear the lesions was 1/2 month in 2 cases, 1 month in 4 cases, 2 months in 5 cases, 3 months in one case, respectively. CONCLUSION: Form these results, we suggest that bacterial factors may play an important role in the pathogenesis of CRP and that the action mechanism of minocycline in the treatment of CRP may be due to antibacterial effects.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria* ; Biopsy ; Colon ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Malassezia ; Minocycline ; Papilloma* ; Staphylococcus ; Tetracyclines ; Viridans Streptococci

Multiple endocrine neoplasi~a type 3 is a rare, heritable or sporadic, multiple neoplastic disorder that is charracterized by thyroid medullary careinoma, pheochromocytoma, multiple mucosal neuroma, and marfanoid habitus. The most important disorder of the syndrome is mucosal neuroma that is an early diagnostic sign of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 3. Early diagnosis of MEN type 3 determines prognosis of the disease. We present a case of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 3 of the sporadic pattern in a 27-year-old man who had typical medullary thyroid carcinoma, mucosal neuroma, marfanoid habitus, and megacolon.
Adult ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Megacolon ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia* ; Neuroma* ; Pheochromocytoma ; Prognosis ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Infectious bursal disease virus*

A 26-year-old Korean man had an erythematous scaly plaque on his right thigh for fifteen years. He was diagnosed with chronic eczema and treated with topical steroid, but no clinical improvement was obtained for 15 years. Laboratory studies including complete blood cell count, urinalysis, liver and renal function test, and peripheral blood smear were normal. A biopsy specimen showed hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, and mononuclear cellular infiltration in the epidermis. These cells had a perinuclear halo and showed a Pautrier's microabscess like configuration. In the dermis, there was a band like infiltration of inflammatory cells. Infiltrates of the epidermis were negative for leukocyte common antigen(CD45) and positive for Pan T cell(CD45RO). He was treated with topical PUVA twice a week for twelve weeks. Clinical and pathological improvements were obtained. We propose PUVA may be a useful therapeutic modality to treat Woringer Kolopp disease.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Blood Cell Count ; Dermis ; Eczema ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Liver ; Pagetoid Reticulosis* ; Thigh ; Urinalysis

We report the clinical evolution of two male patients with generalized granulama annulare(GGA) who were controlled with hydroxychloroquine. In the first case, a 3-year-old boy was treated with systemic steroid, and in the second case, a 68-year-old man was treated with prednisolone, niacin, and retinoic acid. But, remission and recurrence of the skin lesions were repeated. A good clinieal response was achieved in both cases after administration of hydroxychloroquine without side effects or any signs of recurrence. Hydroxychloroquine may be helpful to treat the GGA that have side effects to the systemic corticosteroid or resistence to other therapeutic modalities.
Aged ; Child, Preschool ; Granuloma Annulare* ; Granuloma* ; Humans ; Hydroxychloroquine* ; Male ; Niacin ; Prednisolone ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Tretinoin

PURPOSE: We designed the aft-multiple-slit (AMS) system to reduce scatter in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). As a preliminary study, we performed a Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport Code (MCNP) simulation to verify the effectiveness of this system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MCNPX code was used to build the AMS geometry. An AMS is an equi-angled arc to consider beam divergence. The scatter-reduced projection images were compared with the primary images only and the primary plus scatter radiation images with and without AMS to evaluate the effectiveness of scatter reduction. To obtain the full 2 dimensional (2D) projection image, the whole AMS system was moved to obtain closed septa of the AMS after the first image acquisition. RESULTS: The primary radiation with and without AMS is identical to all the slit widths, but the profiles of the primary plus scattered radiation varied according to the slit widths in the 2D projection image. The average scatter reduction factors were 29%, 15%, 9%, and 8% when the slit widths were 5 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: We have evaluated the scatter reduction effect of the AMS in CBCT imaging using the Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. A preliminary study based on the MCNP simulations showed a mount of scatter reduction with the proposed system.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography

Carbon monoxide (CO) is well-known as toxic gas and intrinsic signaling molecule such as neurotransmitter and blood vessel relaxant. Recently, it has been reported that low concentration of CO exerts therapeutic actions under various pathological conditions including liver failure, heart failure, gastric cancer, and cardiac arrest. However, little has been known about the effect of CO in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease (PD). To test whether CO could exert a beneficial action during oxidative cell death in PD, we examined the effects of CO on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced cell death in C6 glioma cells. Treatment of CO-releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2) significantly attenuated 6-OHDA-induced apoptotic cell death in a dose-dependent manner. CORM-2 treatment decreased Bax/Bcl2 ratio and caspase-3 activity, which had been increased by 6-OHDA. CORM-2 increased phosphorylation of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) which is a transcription factor regulating antioxidant proteins. Subsequently, CORM-2 also increased the expression of heme oxygenase-1 and superoxide dismutases (CuZnSOD and MnSOD), which were antioxidant enzymes regulated by Nrf2. These results suggest that CO released by CORM-2 treatment may have protective effects against oxidative cell death in PD through the potentiation of cellular adaptive survival responses via activation of Nrf2 and upregulation of heme oxygenase-1, leading to increasing antioxidant defense capacity.
Blood Vessels ; Carbon Monoxide* ; Carbon* ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Death* ; Glioma* ; Heart Arrest ; Heart Failure ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; Liver Failure ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neuroprotection ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; Oxidopamine ; Phosphorylation ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Superoxides ; Transcription Factors ; Up-Regulation

Mn (manganese) is known to induce Parkinsonian neurological disorder. Several lines of evidence suggest that apoptosis is involved not only in physiological cell death during normal development but also in neurodegenerative disease. The mechanism of Mn induced cell death remains poorly understood. In the present study, we evaluated the morphologic changes and apoptotic profile in basal ganglia using rat model of Mn toxicity. The rats were divided into three groups: the first group was a control; the second group was subdivided by administration dosage of Mn into group A (5, 10 mg MnC12/ kg) and group B (20, 40 mg MnC12/kg). The rats of each subgroup received a injection of Mn via tail vein every week for 4 weeks. The second group received 4 repeated injection of 10 mg MnC12/kg in the same manner and the rats were sacrificed at day 1, 3 & 7 in group I and at day 10, 21, 42, and 90 in group II after the last injection. A significant loss of neuron and gliosis were observed in the basal ganglia in the experimental groups (p<0.05), which were more pronounced in group II than in the control or group I. No significant difference in number of nerve cells or degree of gliosis was identified in the substantia nigra. Apoptotic cells were also increased in basal ganglia of experimental groups and appeared among neurons (10%), glial cells (10%), and endothelial cells (60%). Apoptotic figures were consistently noted through the entire experimental period after Mn injection in basal ganglia. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that Mn-induced cytopathic insult affects various cell types in basal ganglia and shows variable sensitivity in the different regions of brain, especially in the apoptotic cell death of the neuron. The overaccumulation of Mn in the brain might be attributed from the breakdown of blood-brain barrier due to the injury through the apoptosis.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Basal Ganglia* ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Brain ; Cell Death ; Endothelial Cells ; Gliosis ; Manganese* ; Models, Animal ; Nervous System Diseases ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neuroglia ; Neurons ; Rats* ; Substantia Nigra ; Veins

We report a case of pneumonia in 36 year-old male patient who presented acute respiratory failure and associated radiologic findings of bilateral ground-glass opacity with focal cystic changes, showing rapidly aggravating course and was diagnosed as concomitant Pneumocystis carinii and Cytomegalovirus pneumonia accompanied by acquired immunodeficiency syndrome through antemortem open lung biopsy.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Biopsy ; Cytomegalovirus ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Pneumocystis carinii ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory Insufficiency*