BACKGROUND: Dermal papilla cells, which are mesenchymal components of the hair bulb are considered to play an important role in the regulation of hair growth by production of diffusible factors that stimulate follicular epithelial cells. Degenerative changes in the dermal papilla cells in the involved scalp of alopecia areata cases indicate that these cells are one of the important targets in this disease. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of serum from alopecia areata patients on the proliferation of dermal papilla cells. METHOD: Dermal papilla cells and fibroblasts from normal human scalp were cultured in DMEM media with 10% or 20% of normal and alopecia areata serum for 48hrs and 96hrs. Cell proliferation was measured by cell counts and [3H]-thymidine incorpoartion. RESULTS: Both 10% and 20% alopecia areata serum had no significant effects on the proliferation of dermal papilla cells and fibroblasts after 48hrs and 96hrs. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that there are no serum factors that inhibit the proliferation of dermal papilla cells.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Cell Count ; Cell Proliferation ; Epithelial Cells ; Fibroblasts ; Hair ; Humans ; Scalp

Carteolol hydrochloride was compared with Timolol in view of the hypotensive effect. Forty-five normal volunteers(90 eyes) of the third decade were evaluated. Forty volunteers of experimental group were devided into two groups, -Carteolol group and Timolol one-. Carteolol group was subdevided into 1% and 2% group and Timolol one was subgrouped into 0.25% and 0.5% group, respectively. The remaining five volunteers(10 eyes) were used as control group. Double masked single dose study was done by instilling each eye solution into the one eye selected randomly. The intraocular pressure, pupil size, visual acuity, blood pressure, and pulse rate were measured before the instillation of eye solution at first and 30 minutes, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 24 hours after instillation and the statistical significance was estimated using the paired t-test. The following results were obtained: 1. In both groups of 1% and 2% Carteolol, the IOP reduction was noted since 1 hour after instillation and each maximum reduction of IOP was noted at 4 hours after instillation (29.2 +/- 5.0%, 40.4 +/- 5.0%, respectively). Instillation of higher concentrations of Carteolol and Timolol resulted in more significant pressure reduction. 2. Statistically significant IOP reduction was also noted in the contralateral eyes in each group. 3. The pupil size, visual acuity, blood pressure, and pulse rate were not significantly changed after the instillation of Carteolol ophthalmic solution and no remarkable local complication were also noted.
Blood Pressure ; Carteolol* ; Healthy Volunteers* ; Heart Rate ; Intraocular Pressure ; Masks ; Pupil ; Timolol* ; Visual Acuity ; Volunteers

Gyrate atrophy of choroid and retina is a rare hereditary disorder, which is characterized by progressive decrease of visual acuity, nyctalopia, visual field constriction and posterior subcapsular cataract. The authors experienced a case of gyrate atrophy of choroid and retina in a 22 year-old male.
Cataract ; Constriction ; Gyrate Atrophy* ; Humans ; Male ; Night Blindness ; Visual Acuity ; Visual Fields ; Young Adult

Sweet’s syndrome was first described as a reactive dermatosis characterized by sudden onset of fever, leukocytosis, and erythematous plaques infiltrated with neutrophils.Therefore, Sweet’s syndrome is also known as acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis. However, subsequently, it became clear that fever and neutrophilia in Sweet’s syndrome vary depending on the case, and several other characteristics have been described. The lesions in Sweet’s syndrome are typically observed not only in the limbs but also in the face, neck, and upper trunk. A 28-year-old female without a specific medical history presented in a hospital following the complaint of painful erythematous patches and pustules on her palms and soles. She had no previous history of palmoplantar pustulosis and other infections or malignancies. A skin biopsy showed diffuse dermal infiltration of neutrophils.Laboratory tests showed increased neutrophil count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. After systemic corticosteroid administration was initiated, the lesions gradually disappeared. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with Sweet’s syndrome according to histology, clinical feature, and response to treatment. However, there have been few reports of Sweet’s syndrome confined to the individuals’ palms and soles. According to the literatures, although the dorsum of the hand is frequently affected, the palmoplantar involvement as in our case appears to be rare.

Sweet’s syndrome was first described as a reactive dermatosis characterized by sudden onset of fever, leukocytosis, and erythematous plaques infiltrated with neutrophils.Therefore, Sweet’s syndrome is also known as acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis. However, subsequently, it became clear that fever and neutrophilia in Sweet’s syndrome vary depending on the case, and several other characteristics have been described. The lesions in Sweet’s syndrome are typically observed not only in the limbs but also in the face, neck, and upper trunk. A 28-year-old female without a specific medical history presented in a hospital following the complaint of painful erythematous patches and pustules on her palms and soles. She had no previous history of palmoplantar pustulosis and other infections or malignancies. A skin biopsy showed diffuse dermal infiltration of neutrophils.Laboratory tests showed increased neutrophil count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. After systemic corticosteroid administration was initiated, the lesions gradually disappeared. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with Sweet’s syndrome according to histology, clinical feature, and response to treatment. However, there have been few reports of Sweet’s syndrome confined to the individuals’ palms and soles. According to the literatures, although the dorsum of the hand is frequently affected, the palmoplantar involvement as in our case appears to be rare.

BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata(AA) is believed to be an autoimmune disease in which a mononuclear cell infiltrate develops in and around anagen hair follicles. There is no clearly superior therapy in the treatment of AA, especially AA with atopic dermatitis and alopecia universalis. The theory of autoimmune pathogenesis of alopecia areata suggests a potential therapeutic effect of cyclosporin-A(CsA). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of CsA in the treatment of AA. METHOD: 12 patients with severe or refractory AA were treated with DPCP for at least 12 months. They showed resistance to treatment using DPCP. CsA was made up as a 0.01M, 0.005M solution in an ethanol preparation. 1cc of 0.01M CsA solution was applied on the Lt. side scalp and 1cc of 0.005M CsA solution was applied on the Rt. side scalp. The drug was applied once per week. Response to treatment was evaluated as follows: complete recovery, more than a 80% extent of hair regrowth; marked recovery, hair regrowth of 60% to 80%, moderate recovery, hair regrowth of 40% to 60%; slight recovery, hair regrowth of 20% to 40%; no response, hair regrowth of 0% to 20%. RESULT: The Six patients with focal type AA showed a moderate recovery. Of the six patients with alopecia totalis, 4 patients showed a moderate recovery, two patients showed no response. CONCLUSION: Topical CsA therapy is recommended in severe and refractory AA.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Ethanol ; Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Scalp

Actinic lichen planus is a particular subtype of lichen planus with a distinct photodistribution. This disease has been variously named lichen planus in subtropical countries, such as lichen planus subtropicus annularis, lichen planus tropicus, summertime actinic lichenoid eruption, and lichenoid melanodermatitis. It is a disorder seen most frequently in Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent, favoring Asians. This disease presents in the spring or summer and is frequently quiescent during the winter. A 61-year-old man with unusual lichenoid photosensitive eruption is presented. The lesions developed during the late spring, appearing on both dorsa of hands, wrists, and lower legs. We report a case of actinic lichen planus with a review of the literature.
Actins* ; Africa ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Hand ; Humans ; Leg ; Lichen Planus* ; Lichenoid Eruptions ; Lichens* ; Middle Aged ; Middle East ; Wrist

The intrauterine fetal death(IUFD) is the death of the fetus prior to complete expulsion or extraction from its mother when the fetus is over 20 weeks gestation or weights more than 500 gm. This is a clinical study of 262 cases of IUFD and 262 control cases among 18542 deli-veries at Chung Goo Sung Sim Hospital during 10 years from 1987 to 1996. The results obtain-ed were as follows: 1. The incidence of IUFD was 1.41%. 2. The risk of IUFD was high in women older. 3. The risk of IUFD was high in women with parity of three or more, there was a previous history of IUFD in 11.2% of the IUFD cases and in 6.3% of the control cases, but there was no difference between the two groups of women in history of spontaneous abortion. 4. The sex ratio of male versus female was 1.24:1 in the IUFD cases, 1.11:1 in the control cases. 5. The low birth weight and preterm infants were much more frequent in the IUFD cases. 6. The mode of delivery IUFD was induced labor(77.5%), laparotomy(12.2%), spontaneo- us delivery(10.3%). The indications for laparotomy were placental abruption, placenta previa, transverse lie, previous cesarean section status, cephalopelvic disproportion and uterine rupture. 7. The most common cause of IUFD was unexplained causes(45.1%). 8. There were 67 cases(25.6%) of maternal complication, and the most common complica- tion was fever(35.8%). 9. In the incidence of abnormal coagulation test, the low platelet count(<100,000/mm3) was 8.0%, the prolonged prothrombin time(>14 seconds) was 7.2%, the prolonged partial thr- omboplastin time was 1.0%, the hypofibrinogenemia(<150mg/dl) was 7.2% and the elevated fibrinogen degradation products(>40 ug/ml) was 8.4%. 10. The risk of IUFD was lowered as the number of antenatal care was increased.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Abruptio Placentae ; Blood Platelets ; Cephalopelvic Disproportion ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Fetal Death* ; Fetus ; Fibrinogen ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Laparotomy ; Male ; Mothers ; Parity ; Placenta Previa ; Pregnancy ; Prothrombin ; Sex Ratio ; Uterine Rupture ; Weights and Measures

Aureobasidium pullulans is classified among dematiaceous fungi, characterized by the production of melanin pigments. It is widely distributed throughout the environment. It has occasionally been infected on the skin and nails of humans. We report a case of onychomycosis due to Aureobasidium pullulans developed in an 49-year-old female after trauma.
Female ; Fungi ; Humans ; Melanins ; Middle Aged ; Onychomycosis* ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Ambulatory phlebectomy is a cosmetically elegant outpatient procedure for the removal of varicose veins. One of the keys to its success is the ability to perform the procedure under local anesthesia. Tumescent anesthesia is applied in dermatologic surgery and now being expanded for use in phlebectomy. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety as well as advantages of 0.1% tumescent anesthesia with epinephrine in ambulatory phlebectomy. METHODS: Twenty-two patients(twenty-seven legs) without reflux at the SFJ were treated with ambulatory phlebectomy using the tumescent(0.1%) technique. In all patients, we monitored blood pressure, heart rate, and O2 saturation before, during, and after procedure. All patients were asked to rate the pain, both intraoperatively and postoperatively. They visited in hospital to record complications at one day, one week, and various monthly intervals (1, 3, 6, 12 months) following the initial treatment. RESULTS: The volume of anesthetic fluid ranged from 90 to 650ml, with an average of 320.7ml of fluid. Blood pressure, heart rate, and O2 saturation measured did not significantly change before, during, or after procedure. The average reported intraoperative pain for all interviewees was from 0 to 2. For postoperative pain, patients reported pain rate less than one. During operation, significant surgical blood loss is eliminated. There were minimal hematoma, purpura, and hyperpigmentation after operation. CONCLUSION: 0.1% Tumescent anesthesia provides a very safe, comfortable technique of anesthetizing patients for ambulatory phlebectomy and may decrease the incidence of complications.
Anesthesia* ; Anesthesia, Local ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Blood Pressure ; Dermatologic Surgical Procedures ; Epinephrine ; Heart Rate ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Incidence ; Outpatients ; Pain, Postoperative ; Purpura ; Varicose Veins