Pyoderma gangrenosum is a painful, chronic, ulcerating skin disease associated with a wide variety of disorders, including Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and Behcet's disease. Etiology of pyoderma gangrenosum is unknown but the lesions frequently appear at points of trauma and it is related with pathergy. We report a case of post-traumatic pyoderma gangrenosum occurring in ulcerative colitis with a review of the literature.
Colitis, Ulcerative ; Crohn Disease ; Pyoderma ; Pyoderma Gangrenosum ; Skin Diseases ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster is a commom dermatologic disease characterized by acute unilateral neuritis, vesicular eruption and a persistent pain after the rash has healed- a complication known as postherpetic neuralgia. Recently, the incidence of herpes zoster seems to be increased due to various factors. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the change of the epidemiological and clinical characteristics, starting on the first day of antiviral therapy, and the incidence rate of postherpetic neuralgia. METHODS: During the 5 years from January 2002 to December 2006, 177 patients (Group A) with herpes zoster were assessed with age, sex, dermatomal distribution, starting day of antiviral therapy and postherpetic neuralgia. The data was compared with the historical control group of a previous study (1995~1999, Group B). RESULTS: There was no statistical difference between the two groups in clinical characteristics. Thoracic dermatome involvement was most common in both groups. But the incidence of trigeminal involvement was higher in group A than group B (p=0.040). Based on the starting day of antiviral therapy, the percentage of 3rd day group is higher than other groups. In group A, the percentage of 2nd, 3rd, 4th day group was increased and mean starting day was faster than group B (p=0.043). The prevalence of postherpetic neuralgia was decreased from group B to group A. In group A, incidence of postherpetic neuralgia according to age or delaying therapy increases (p=0.001). But, sex, underlying disease and dermatomal distribution were not predictor of postherpetic neuralgia. CONCLUSION: In group A, the starting day of antiviral therapy shows a tendency to be shortened, and the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia had decreased.
Exanthema ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Incidence ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Neuritis ; Prevalence

Incontinentia pigmenti (Bloch-Sulzberger's disease) is an X-linked dominantly inherited disorder which is usually lethal in hemizygous males, but rarely found in male infants. It can be explained by the presence of an extra X chromosome (Klinefelter's syndrome), hypomorphic mutations, and somatic mosaicism. We herein report a rare case of incontinentia pigmenti with typical course of skin manifestation in normal karyotype (46, XY) male infant.
Humans ; Incontinentia Pigmenti ; Infant ; Karyotype ; Male ; Mosaicism ; Skin Manifestations ; X Chromosome

Juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) is a fibrohistiocytic proliferative disorder predominant in infancy and childhood. It is a benign and transient skin lesion that usually appears in the cephalic area. Recently, the concurrent finding of neurofibromatosis (NF), juvenile chronic myelogenous leukemia (JCML), and JXG has been repeatedly reported. Especially, the family history of NF may represent a risk factor for the development of JCML in patients with NF and in patients with NF and JXG. So, a finding of JXG and NF in infants should alert the physician to a possible development of JCML. We report a case of JXG developed in a neurofibromatosis child with family history.
Child ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Juvenile ; Neurofibromatoses ; Risk Factors ; Skin ; Xanthogranuloma, Juvenile

Poroid hidradenoma is a benign soft-tissue neoplasm with eccrine differentiation. It is a recent variant of the eccrine poroma group. It is made up of poroid and cuticular cells and has both solid and cystic components contained entirely within the dermis. We report a case of poroid hidradenoma in a 55-year-old female who presented with a solitary, bluish nodule on the lateral aspect of her left shin.
Acrospiroma* ; Dermis ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Poroma

BACKGROUND: It is well established that UV-induced DNA damage is involved in the mutation of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, and the subsequent development of skin cancers. Langerhans cells (LC) are thought to play an important role in the presentation of tumor antigens for the induction of anti-tumor immunity. Cytokines may have a key role in the UV-induced modulation of the skin's immune system. OBJECTIVE: To clarify the role of Langerhans cells, cytokines in UV-irradiated Melanocytic Nevi vs non-irradiated melanocytic nevi. METHODS: Skin biopsies from 10 melanocytic nevi, taken from partially covered melanocytic navi and irradiated part with a defined UV dose, were examined. Immunohistochemical staining was used for the quantitative distribution of LC and the expression of cytokines which are related to LC migration and maturation (TNF-alpha and GM-CSF), Th1 response (IL-12), and Th2 response (IL-10). RESULTS: LC number increased in non-irradiated neoplastic epithelium compared to control skin. In UV-exposed nevi, LC density decreased significantly but a constant number was still maintained. TNF-alpha and GM-CSF were predominently expressed in lesional epithelium and some nevus cells, 2 days after irradiation. GM-CSF expression in nevus cells was maintained up to 7 days after exposure. IL-10 was expressed in epidermis 2 days after exposure. While IL-12 was weakly positive and maintained up to 7 days in unexposed lesional epidermis, it was not detected after 2 days but reappeared in an exposed lesion after 7 days. CONCLUSION: Langerhans cells (LC) modulated by cytokines in UV-exposed skin may have a functional role in UV-induced carcinogenesis.
Antigens, Neoplasm ; Biopsy ; Carcinogenesis ; Cytokines* ; DNA Damage ; Epidermis ; Epithelium ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Immune System ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-12 ; Langerhans Cells* ; Nevus ; Nevus, Pigmented* ; Oncogenes ; Skin ; Skin Neoplasms ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Palisaded encapsulated neuroma (PEN) is a clinically-distinctive, benign, cutaneous nerve sheath tumor. It usually occurs as a solitary, asymptomatic, skin-colored papule, and commonly affects the face of middle-aged adults. We report a case of PEN which developed on the lower lip of a 44-year-old Korean man. It was a 5mm-sized skin colored papule. Histopathologically, it consisted of uniform, broad, interlacing fascicles of spindle cells and was surrounded by a complete capsule in the dermis. On immunohistochemical staining, the tumor cells of the nodule were positive for S-100 protein and neural filaments, whil the capsule of the nodule was positive for epithelial antigen.
Adult ; Dermis ; Humans ; Lip* ; Neuroma* ; S100 Proteins ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Amniotic membrane contains basement membrane components and several growth factor proteins. Therefore, transplantation of amniotic membrane might help epithelialization. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare efficacies of amniotic membrane patches (amniotic group), polyurethane film (TegadermTM, 3M, USA: wet group), and nonadherent dressing (dry group) in wound healing. METHOD: Six rabbits were included in this study. We made wound defects on the back of each rabbit. Amniotic membrane patches (amniotic group) was applied to each wound defect in the first group, polyurethane film (TegadermTM, 3M, USA: wet group) to the second group, and nonadherent dressings (dry group) to the third group. We compared the time taken for each wound defect to heal, and the gross and histopathologic change of the wound defect from baseline, over time. RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1. In the early phase, the amniotic membrane patch (amniotic group) resulted in a faster healing time than either the polyurethane film (TegadermTM, 3M, USA: wet group) or the nonadherent dressing (dry group). 2. On day 10, all groups achieved histological epithelialization. 3. In the late phase, the amniotic membrane patch (amniotic group) might inhibit collagen fiber arrangement and development of skin appendages. CONCLUSION: The amniotic membrane patch is effective in the treatment of rabbit wound defects. It can serve as a biological dressing in the early phase of wound defects.
Amnion* ; Bandages ; Basement Membrane ; Biological Dressings ; Collagen ; Polyurethanes ; Rabbits ; Skin* ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

Spindle cell lipoma is an unusual and benign neoplasm, which normally occurs in middle age to older individuals oh the posterior neck, shoulders, and upper part of the back in the form of a solitary, slowly growing, painless, and subcutaneous nodule. We report a case of spindle cell lipoma on the right forearm of a 49-year-old female. Histopathologic examination revealed that the subcutaneous tumor was composed of mature fat cells and uniform spindle cells within a mucinous matrix. In some areas, the spindle cell proliferation was dominant due to variation in the ratio of spindle cells to mature fat cells. Vascularity was prominent in many parts of the tumor, and there were numerous mast cells scattered throughout the tumor. Immunohistochemically, the spindle cells were positive for vimentin and CD34, while S-100 protein and actin were not expressed.
Actins ; Adipocytes ; Cell Proliferation ; Female ; Forearm ; Humans ; Lipoma* ; Mast Cells ; Middle Aged ; Mucins ; Neck ; S100 Proteins ; Shoulder ; Vimentin

BACKGROUND: In contrast to the relationship between UV exposure and nonmelanoma skin cancers, molecular evidence for the involvement of UV radiation in melanocytic tumorigenesis is quite limited. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is an important molecule in transducing extracellular signals from the cell surface to the nucleus. The MAPK family includes ERK (extracellular signal- regulated protein kinase), JNK (stress-activated c-Jun N-terminal kinase), and p38 kinases. Various growth factors and cytokines, as well as other signals such as UV light are able to activate MAPK, resulting in a variety of cellular responses including proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to investigate the effect of UV irradiation on the expression of MAPK in melanocytic nevi. METHOD: Melanocytic nevi from ten healthy volunteers were partially covered, irradiated with a defined UV dose, and excised after 1 week. healthy The irradiated and non-irradiated area were examined separateted by immunohistochemistry using p-ERK, p-JNK, and p-p38 monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS: In the non-irradiated area of melanocytic nevus, p-ERK, p-JNK, and p-p38 were undetectable in nevus cells. After irradiation, p-ERK expression was observed in nevus cells in 7 cases, and p-p38 was stained diffusely in the cytoplasm of nevus cells in 6 cases, but there was no immunoreactivity of p-JNK. CONCLUSION: We suggest that a single UV irradiation of melanocytic nevi can stimulate both p-ERK and cytoplasmic p-p38 expression, but not p-JNK.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Apoptosis ; Carcinogenesis ; Cytokines ; Cytoplasm ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Nevus ; Nevus, Pigmented* ; Phosphotransferases ; Protein Kinases ; Skin Neoplasms ; Ultraviolet Rays