A 34-year-old man visited our hospital with alopecia areata on the occipital scalp, which began to develop two months prior to his visit. He was sensitized with 0.2% diphenylcyclopropenone(DPCP) in acetone that was applied to the inner side of his right arm. Two weeks after sensitization, we applied DPCP on his bald lesion once weekly for skin challenge. Following the third application of DPCP, polycyclic erythematous target-like lesions developed around the sensitized area. A clinical diagnosis of erythema multiforme was made. Histologically, the target-like lesion showed few eosinophilic dyskeratosis, exocytosis, and hydropic de-generation of basal layer in the epidermis, and mononuclear infiltration around superficial blood vessels in the dermis. We report herein a rare case of erythema multiforme following topical application of DPCP in the treatment of alopecia areata. This complication must be noted because of the wide-spread and frequent use of DPCP in dermatotherapeutic fields.
Acetone ; Adult ; Alopecia Areata ; Arm ; Blood Vessels ; Dermis ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophils ; Epidermis ; Erythema Multiforme* ; Erythema* ; Exocytosis ; Humans ; Scalp ; Skin

A 33-year-old man with alopecia totalis presented with facial erythema and flares, conjunctival injection, and dyspnea developed within several minutes following the ninth application of dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). A scratch skin test produced positive reactions in concentrations of 0.01, 0.05, 0.1% DNCB showing flares and wheals, whereas concentrations of 0.001, 0.01, 0.05% diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) showed negative results. Contact urticaria due to DNCB is very rare, but this complication must be fully noted because of the widespread and frequent use of DNCB in dermatotherapeutic fields. We report herein a rare case of contact urticaria following topieal application of DNCB in the treatment of alopecia totalis.
Adult ; Alopecia ; Dinitrochlorobenzene* ; Dyspnea ; Erythema ; Humans ; Skin Tests ; Urticaria*

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) is an increasingly common cause of nosocomial infections worldwide. Epidemiologic investigation of MRSA outbreaks and identification of pathways of nosocomial MRSA spread require the ability to distinguish individual MRSA strains. We applied molecular tap ing of the methicillin-resistant determinant (mec) and coagulase typing in the investigation of a nosocomial MRSA infections. METHODS: We randomly selected 79 strains of mecA positive MRSA isolated from patients who visited Dong-A university Hospital from Dec. 1995 to Oct. 1996. Molecular typing of MRSA was performed by comparing the size of the mac-associated hypervariable region amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Coagulase typing with type I-VIII antisera was also used for classification of MRSA based on its phenotype. Each isolates were classified by the combination of molecular analyses and coagulase type. RESULTS: The 79 MRSA isolates were grouped Into sin hypervariable legion (HVR) genotypes on the basis of the size of the PGR products. In coagulase typing, the most predominant type was II(46.8%) and type V was not found. Nine strains were not typable. The combination of HVR genotypes and coagulase types showed 23 different types in 79 MRSA Isolates. The strains which were repeatedly isolated from the same patients showed the same HYR genotypes and coagulate types. CONCLUSION: The combination of HVR genotypes and coagulase types is thought to be useful in epidemiolgical Investigation of nosocomial infections caused by MRSA ,because of its simplicity and reproducibility.
Classification ; Coagulase* ; Cross Infection* ; Disease Outbreaks ; Genotype ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus* ; Molecular Typing* ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Staphylococcus

Some of the proteins of mycobacteria are preferentially associated with the cell wall and are powerful immunogens, and humoral antibody responses to these mycobacterial antigens may occur in patients with tuberculosis. In this study, Triton X-100 solubilized protein (TSP) antigen was isolated from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv by overnight shaking with 1% Triton X- 100/PMSF and 10-90% ammonium sulfate precipitation. IgG and IgM antibody levels against TSP, crude protein from the unheated cultrue filtrate (CF#) and 30 kDa antigens were determined in the sera of 80 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 99 healthy controls with PPD (+) and (-). High IgG reactivity to TSP and CF antigen was observed in tuberculosis patients. Mean IgG antibody titers against all of three mycobacterial antigens were differed significantly (P<0.01) between patients and controls but IgM showed no difference. By the cut-off value adding 2 standard deviation to the mean absorbance of controls, the sensitivity and specificity of the IgG antibody to TSP antigen were 93.9% and 77.5%. The specificity to TSP antigen was a litttle higher than those obtained by CF and 30 kDa antigen. From the above results, the TSP antigen may be useful for the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis.
Ammonium Sulfate ; Antibody Formation ; Cell Wall ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Neptune* ; Octoxynol* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serologic Tests ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

No abstract available.
Methylprednisolone* ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic*

Plummer-Vinson syndrome is a clinical entity characterized by dysphagia, iron deficiency anemia, cheilosis, glossitis, and cervical esophageal web, especially in middle aged women. Recently, the authors experienced a case of Plummer-Vinson syndrome. A 53-year-old female was admitted due to intermittent solid food dysphagia for 18 months. She had a 2 years history of iron deficiency anemia. On admission glossitis, fissures at the angle of the mouth, spoon nails, and iron deficiency anemia were noted. Esophagogram and esophagoscopic examination revealed thin walled concentric web at upper esophagus. Esophageal web was succefully teared by endoscopic balloon dilatation with subseguant improvement of dysphagia. Skin manifestations as well as anemia were markedly improved after oral iron replacement therapy.
Anemia ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Deglutition Disorders ; Dilatation ; Esophagus ; Female ; Glossitis ; Humans ; Iron ; Middle Aged ; Mouth ; Plummer-Vinson Syndrome* ; Skin Manifestations ; Tears

No abstract available.
Psoriasis

BACKGROUND: Recent DNA polymorphism analysis using numerous DNA markers has been used to determine the parental origin of the extra chromosome 21 in Down syndrome. In this study we used seven dinucleotide repeat polymorphisms on chromosome 21 to characterize a case of rea(21q21q) and to know whether it is consistent with an isochromosome or a true Robertsonian translocation. METHODS: Cytogenetic investigation was done by conventional G banding DNA was extracted from whole blood of a proband and her parents and was amplified by PCR using seven sets of (GT)n repeat dinucleotide markers located on the long arm of chromosome 21 After electrophoresis of the PCR product in polyacrylamide gel and silver staining the parental origin and number of DNA copy were determined by visual comparison of the band intensities within and between individuals. RESULTS: Conventional cytogenetics showed that the proband had a 46.XX.re(21q21q) chromosome pattern. Parental chromosome studies were normal, therefore, the rearrangement was a de novo event. All seven DNA markers showed one or two alleles, demonstrating rea(21q21q) to be an isochromosome. For D21S215 and D21S156 markers both parents were heterozygous and the proband inherited one copy of paternal allele and two copies of maternal allele which both parents did not share. This finding was consistent with a maternally derided isochromosome. CONCLUSION: Use of dinucleotide repeat DNA polymorphisms after PCR amplification will be very useful to detect the parental origin of additional chromosome 21 or rearrangement of chromosome 21 in Down syndrome. Besides employing siltier staining of a PCR product we will be able to avoid using of radioisotopes and apply to clinical laboratory diagnosis.
Alleles ; Arm ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Cytogenetics ; Dinucleotide Repeats* ; DNA ; Down Syndrome ; Electrophoresis ; Genetic Markers ; Humans ; Isochromosomes ; Parents ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Radioisotopes ; Silver Staining