We report a case of cutaneous focal mucinosis in a 60 year-old male, who had asymptomatic localized small flesh colored papule and nodule on the left side of the neck. The histopathologic finding revealed fibroblastic proliferatior in the dermis and an increased prodact on of hyaluronic acid by these fibroblasts. The lesions were treated by surgical excision.
Dermis ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucinoses* ; Neck

Mixed tumor can be defined as arising from the skin, often from sweat glands, and as being composed of epithelial elements intermingled with cartilage or myxoid tissue in such a way that epithelial cells appear to be continuous with these otber types of cells without separation by a basement membrane. RecentIy, we had opportunity to observe a patient, 34-year-old woman, who had typical mixed tumor of the skin in the central portion of the chin. The tumor developed as a solitary, firm, rice-sized subcutaneous nodule which had been present for 6 months with little increase in size and without any pain and tendemess. The covering skin was normal except mild erythema. Clinically, the lesion was simiIar to sebaceaus cyst, Under local anesthesia, tbe whole tumor mass was removed surgically for histologic study. The histopathologic finding reveals nests of cuboidal or polygonal cells, tubuloalveolar and ductal structures, and homogeneous, faintly bluish chondroid or foamy appearing matrix. (Photo. 1, 2, 3 & 4)
Adult ; Anesthesia, Local ; Basement Membrane ; Cartilage ; Chin ; Epithelial Cells ; Erythema ; Female ; Humans ; Skin ; Sweat Glands

Erythema elevatum diutinurum is a relatively rare disease of unknciwr etiology. It is charaterized by persistent erythematous plaque and nodule that are usually affected symmetrically over extensor surface of extremities. Our patient, a 16-year-old female was referred for evaluation of asy nptomatic papules and nodules on extensor aspects of the hands, legs and buttocks. She complained of arthralgia on the knees. The laboratory values were all within normal limits with the exception of slight elevation of white blood cell counts and erythrocyte sedimenation rate. A skin biopsy specimen we obtained from the nodular lesion of the leg that showed preclominantly perivascular neutrophilic influration with occasional lymphocytes and unclear dusts. She was treated with 75mg/day of dapsone. Shin lesions were much improved after ten days. Eight weeks later, the lesion had almost resolved. After the discontinuation of dapsone, new lesions developed on the legs. Retreatment with dapsone resulted it a dramatic response of her lesions after three weeks.
Adolescent ; Arthralgia ; Biopsy ; Buttocks ; Dapsone ; Dust ; Erythema* ; Erythrocytes ; Extremities ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Knee ; Leg ; Leukocyte Count ; Lymphocytes ; Neutrophils ; Rare Diseases ; Retreatment ; Skin

Nevus lipomatosus cutaneous superficialis is a very rare skin disease, which usually is present at birth. The lesion shows groups of asymptomatic soft papules or nodules, which have a smooth or folded surface and are skin colored or yellowish. The area of predilection is the pelvic girdle (especially the buttock and sacrococcygeal areas). Microscopically, nevus lipomatosus cutaneous superficialis reveals groups of etopic fat cell nests within the dermis. Only one case was reported in Korea(1969). The authors observed a case of typical nevus lipomatosus cutaneous superficialis. The patient was 19 year-old male, who ha,ve had asymptomatic soft papules and nodules on the buttock, lower back and scalp since 14 years of his age. Routine laboratory findings were within normal limit. Histopathological findings showed etopic fat cell nests within mid and lower dermis (Fig. 3) Diagnosis was confirmed by clinical and histopathological findings. Litercature was briefly reviewed for the discussion.
Adipocytes ; Buttocks ; Dermis ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Nevus* ; Parturition ; Scalp ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Lung carcinogenesis is a multistage process involving alterations in multiple genes and diverse pathway. Mutational activation of oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, and subsequent increased genetic instability are the major genetic events. The p53 gene and FHIT gene as tumor suppressor genes contribute to the pathogenesis of lung cancer, evidenced by mutation, microsatellite instability(MI) and loss of heterozygosity(LOH). METHODS: We analysed genetic mutations of p53 and FHIT gene in 29 surgical specimens of nonsmall cell lung cancer using PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism, DNA sequencing and RT-PCR. MI and LOH were analyzed in loci of D3S1285, D9S171, and TP53. RESULTS: In 2 cases, point mutation of p53 gene was observed on exon 5. MI of 3 times and LOH of 14 times were observed in at least one locus. In terms of the location on microsatellite, D3S1285 as a marker of FHIT was observed in 5 cases out of 26 specimens;D9S171 as a marker of p16 in 5 out of 17;and TP53 as a marker of p53 in 7 out of 27. In view of histologic type, squamous cell carcinoma presented higher frequency of microsatellite alteration, compared to others. Mutation of FHIT gene was observed in 11 cases and 6 cases of those were point mutation as a silent substitution on exon 8. FHIT mRNA expression exhibited deletion on exon 6 to 9 in 4 cases among 15 specimens, presenting beta-actin normally. CONCLUSION: Our results show comparable frequency of genetic alteration in nonsmall cell lung cancer to previous studies of Western countries. Microsatellite analysis might have a role as a tumor marker especially in squamous cell carcinoma. Understanding molecular abnormalities involved in the pathogenesis could potentially lead to prevention, earlier diagnosis and the development of novel investigational approaches to the treatment of lung cancer.
Actins ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Diagnosis ; Exons ; Genes, p53 ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor* ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Microsatellite Instability ; Microsatellite Repeats* ; Oncogenes ; Point Mutation ; RNA, Messenger ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

No abstract available.
Diaphragm* ; Ultrasonography*

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to analyze a changing picture of the delusional types and contents in Korean adolescent psychotic patients during the last three decades. METHODS: The subjects were Korean adolescent psychotic patients with definite delusion who had been admitted to Kyungpook University Hospital and classified into three groups:the first group consisting of 39 patients from January 1, 1977 to December 12, 1978;the second group consisting of 41 patients from January 1, 1987 to December 12, 1988;the third group consisting of 44 patients from January 1, 1997 to December 12, 1998. RESULTS: 1) There was no significant difference in sex, age, religion, and parent distributions in three groups. The ratio of college or university graduates was increased in third group. As to birth order, the ratio of the eldest in third group was higher than that in the first two groups. 2) With respect to delusional type, persecutory delusion was the most common in the three groups. With regard to delusional content, delusion with friend theme was the most common and the frequency of it had been increasing. 3) In case of males, frequencies of reference delusion and delusion with friend theme had been increasing, whereas frequency of delusion with superpower theme decreasing. In case of females, frequencies of grandiose delusion and delusion with superpower theme had been increasing. 4) In case of 18-21 agers, frequencies of persecutory delusion and delusion with friend theme had been increasing. The type and content of delusion became diverse as age increased in the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that recent shifts in adolescent culture in Korea have had influence on the content of delusion in adolescent psychotic patients.
Adolescent* ; Birth Order ; Delusions* ; Female ; Friends ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Parents

BACKGROUND: The present study was carried out in association with neutrophilic respiratory burst in the lung in order to clarify the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS) following acute severe hemorrhage. Because oxidative stress has been suggested as one of the principal factors causing tissue injury, the role of free radicals from neutrophils was assessed in acute hemorrhage-induced lung injury. METHOD: In Sprague-Dawley rats, hemorrhagic shock was induced by withdrawing blood(20 ml/kg of B.W) for 5 min and the hypotensive state was sustained for 60 min. To determine the mechanism and role of oxidative stress associated with phospholipase A2(PLA2) by neutrophils, the level of lung leakage, pulmonary myeloperoxidase(MPO), and the pulmonary PLA2 were measured. In addition, the production of free radicals was assessed in isolated neutrophils by cytochemical electron microscopy in the lung. RESULTS: In hypotensive shock-induced acute lung injury, the pulmonary MPO, the level of lung leakage and the production of free radicals were higher. The inhibition of PLA2 with mepacrine decreased the pulmonary MPO, level of lung leakage and the production of free radicals from neutrophils. CONCLUSION: A. neutrophilic respiratory burst is responsible for the oxidative stress causing acute lung injury followed by acute, severe hemorrhage. PLA2 activation is the principal cause of this oxidative stress.
Acute Lung Injury* ; Free Radicals ; Hemorrhage ; Lung ; Lung Injury ; Microscopy, Electron ; Neutrophils* ; Oxidative Stress ; Phospholipases A2* ; Phospholipases* ; Quinacrine ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiratory Burst* ; Shock, Hemorrhagic

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of paucibacillary leprosy is difficult owing to lack of sensitive diagnostic tools. Recently, several investigators have studied the use of polymerase chain reaction(PCR) to detect Mycabacterium leprae. Using nested-PCR the sensitivity and specif city of DNA amplification is considerably improved. OBJECTIVE: The purpose on investigation is to assess the efficacy if nested-PCR which is applied to formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsies material of patients with 1 prosy. METHODS: Biopsy samples were taken from patients with lepremc tous(11 patients) and tuberculoid (10 patients) leprosy, fixed in formalin, and embedded in parafin. The DNA from samples was extracted and amplified through 25 cycles by using the outside pairs of primer(L and L). The second amplification was allowed thproceed through 15 cycles using insice gairs of primer(L and L4). RESULTS: All twenty one samples showed 347-base-pair products. To confirm that the 347-bp product did correspond to the expected portion of the M. leprae groE gene, the amplified product was digested with Pst I. Pst I dipestion yielded 254-and 93-bp fragmerts, as predicted from the sequence of the M. leprae gene. The senilivity was that a single organism was idntified by nested-PCR. CONCLUSION: The nested-PCR is sensitive, specific, and simple diagiostic tool for leprosy.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; DNA ; Formaldehyde ; Humans* ; Keratinocytes* ; Leprosy ; Leprosy, Paucibacillary ; Melanocytes* ; Panax* ; Research Personnel ; Saponins* ; Water*

The cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D in response to ultraviolet radiation exposure is the most important factor in maintaining vitamin D balance in Man. The skin is not only the site of vitamin D synthesis, but also a target organ for calcitriol(1, 25-dihydroxy-vitamin D) which is naturally occuriag, hormonally active form of vitamin E. It is now known that calcitriol inhibits the proliferation of epidermal cells and induces her differentiation. In this study, epidermal keratinocytes and melanocytes were isilated from the neonatal foreskin, and were culturod using a MCDB 153 and modified TIC media, respectively. And then various concentratioris of calcipotriol(MC 903), a synthetic aralogue of calcitriol, were added to each culture. The effects of calcipotriol on the growth of human keratinocytes and melanocytes were investigated. The results were as follows : 1. The addition of calopotriol to human keratinocyte and melalocyte cultures inhibited their proliferation in a dosdependent manner. 2. Calcipotriol had no effects on the melanization process of the melanocyte. 3. Calcipotriol was found to inhibit the proliferation, however it induced the terminal differentiation of cultured keratinocytes, as judged by morphologicai changes. The decreased density of kerationcytes, The formation of cornified cells, and the cellular destruction in a concentration of 10 M of calcipotriol were observed. 4. By using the light atid the electron microscope, we observed that the epidermal thickness was decreased and terminal differentiation was facilitateir. Living Skin Equivalent (LSE) according to the increasing concentration of calcipotriol. A]i)parent cytotoxic effects were observed in 10 M, 10 M of calcipotriol. In summary, the above results indicate that the addition of calcipotriol to the in vitro culture system of human keratinocyte and melanocyte induces the biologic process of terminal differentiation of keratinocytes and inhibits proliferation of keratinoytes and melanocytes in a dose-dependent manner.
Calcitriol ; Cholecalciferol* ; Foreskin ; Humans* ; Keratinocytes* ; Melanocytes* ; Skin ; Tics ; Vitamin D ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins*