OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the prevalence of infections with human papillomavirus, Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, and Mycoplasma genitalium in the semen of Korean infertile couples and their associations with sperm quality. METHODS: Semen specimens were collected from 400 men who underwent a fertility evaluation. Infection with above five pathogens was assessed in each specimen. Sperm quality was compared in the pathogen-infected group and the non-infected group. RESULTS: The infection rates of human papillomavirus, C. trachomatis, U. urealyticum, M. hominis, and M. genitalium in the study subjects were 1.57%, 0.79%, 16.80%, 4.46%, and 1.31%, respectively. The rate of morphological normality in the U. urealyticum-infected group was significantly lower than in those not infected with U. urealyticum. In a subgroup analysis of normozoospermic samples, the semen volume and the total sperm count in the pathogen-infected group were significantly lower than in the non-infected group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that infection with U. urealyticum alone and any of the five sexually transmitted infections are likely to affect sperm morphology and semen volume, respectively.
Chlamydia trachomatis ; Family Characteristics ; Fertility ; Humans ; Male ; Mycoplasma genitalium ; Mycoplasma hominis ; Prevalence ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa* ; Ureaplasma urealyticum

S-methyl-(L)-methionine (SMM), also known as vitamin U, is commercially available as skin care cosmetic products for its wound healing and photoprotective effects. However, the low skin permeation expected of SMM due to its hydrophilic nature with a log P value of −3.3, has not been thoroughly addressed. The purpose of this study thus was to evaluate the effect of skin permeation enhancers on the skin permeation/deposition of SMM. Among the enhancers tested for the in vitro skin permeation and deposition of SMM, oleic acid showed the most significant enhancing effect. Moreover, the combination of oleic acid and ethanol further enhanced in vitro permeation and deposition of SMM through hairless mouse skin. Furthermore, the combination of oleic acid and ethanol significantly increased the in vivo deposition of SMM in the epidermis/dermis for 12 hr, which was high enough to exert a therapeutic effect. Therefore, based on the in vitro and in vivo studies, the combination of oleic acid and ethanol was shown to be effective in improving the topical skin delivery of SMM, which may be applied in the cosmetic production process for SMM.
Animals ; Ethanol ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Mice ; Mice, Hairless ; Oleic Acid ; Skin Care ; Skin* ; Vitamin U ; Wound Healing

Pneumococcus is the most frequently encountered causative pathogen in community-acquired pneumonia in elderly patients. The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) is widely used for preventing pneumococcal diseases in adults. PPV23 is relatively safe; however, some cutaneous adverse reactions, including localized mild inflammation associated with erythema, a sensation of heat, and tenderness, have been reported. Systemic reactions such as myalgia, arthralgia, and headache have also been reported, though severe adverse reactions are rare. In the Korean literature, a case of localized toxic reaction near the injection site after pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) administration was previously reported. However, there are no published reports of a generalized skin rash after PPV23. Herein, we report a case of PPV23-induced generalized skin rash on the face, neck, upper trunk, and both arms with a local adverse reaction at the injection site after vaccination.
Adult ; Aged ; Arm ; Arthralgia ; Drug Eruptions ; Erythema ; Exanthema ; Headache ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Myalgia ; Neck ; Pneumococcal Vaccines ; Pneumonia ; Sensation ; Skin* ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Vaccination*

No abstract available.
Lipomatosis* ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma*

No abstract available.
Histiocytosis ; Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell ; Stomach* ; Xanthomatosis*

BACKGROUND: An increasing number of patients visit the emergency department (ED) for dermatological complaints. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the skin conditions presenting to the ED. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the characteristics of skin complaints seen in the ED of a tertiary hospital in Korea. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 1,663 new dermatological emergency patients who visited the ED of our hospital from January 2010 to December 2012. All skin conditions were diagnosed by a dermatologist and not by an emergency medicine specialist. RESULTS: A total of 1,663 patients with skin problem were seen, corresponding to 1.5% of total ED visits. The mean age was 41.8 years and there was a slight female predominance (61.2%). The peak arrival time was between 9 pm and midnight. In terms of visit length, 68.9% of patients stayed less than 2 hours. Patients most commonly presented with urticaria/angioedema (53.8%) followed by herpes zoster (14.0%), contact dermatitis (7.2%), drug eruption (6.5%), and cellulitis/erysipelas (4.0%). Urticaria/angioedema patients were most commonly aged 21 to 40 years and herpes zoster patients were most commonly aged 51 to 70 years. Admissions occurred in 8.1% of cases, most frequently for herpes zoster. CONCLUSION: This retrospective study provides insight into the types of cases being evaluated by dermatologists in the ED of a tertiary hospital. An awareness of these characteristics may assist physicians working in the ED in evaluating patients who present to the ED with skin disease.
Dermatitis, Contact ; Dermatology* ; Drug Eruptions ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medicine ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Female ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Specialization ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Urticaria

Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (PCALCL) is a rare cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Most cases are composed of large anaplastic cells. However, it presents a wide spectrum of histologic patterns. In the small cell variant, a small-sized pleomorphic cell morphology can be seen. A 74-year-old woman presented with an 8-month history of asymptomatic ulcerative plaque and satellite nodule on the right calf. Her past medical history was not specific. The histologic findings on punch biopsy specimens showed a malignant small round cell tumor on both lesions. The tumor cells had large pleomorphic nuclei with multinucleation and some eosinophilic cytoplasm. We performed immunohistochemical staining to rule out neuroectodermal tumor, neuroendocrine tumor, melanoma, lymphoma, and so on. However, the staining results were negative for pancytokeratin, CD3, CD20, CD99, chromogranin A, synaptophysin, CD56, ALK, HMB45, desmin, kappa, lambda, myoglobin, and S-100 protein. CT, MRI, and PET-CT were negative for extracutaneous involvement. Total excision was done, and additional immunohistochemical staining was performed to confirm the origin of the tumor. Staining results for vimentin, LCA, CD4, and CD30 were positive. We concluded that these findings were consistent with the small cell variant CD30+ PCALCL, which occurs rarely.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Chromogranin A ; Cytoplasm ; Desmin ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic* ; Lymphoma, Primary Cutaneous Anaplastic Large Cell ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Melanoma ; Myoglobin ; Neuroectodermal Tumors ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; S100 Proteins ; Synaptophysin ; Ulcer ; Vimentin

Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (PCALCL) is a rare cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Most cases are composed of large anaplastic cells. However, it presents a wide spectrum of histologic patterns. In the small cell variant, a small-sized pleomorphic cell morphology can be seen. A 74-year-old woman presented with an 8-month history of asymptomatic ulcerative plaque and satellite nodule on the right calf. Her past medical history was not specific. The histologic findings on punch biopsy specimens showed a malignant small round cell tumor on both lesions. The tumor cells had large pleomorphic nuclei with multinucleation and some eosinophilic cytoplasm. We performed immunohistochemical staining to rule out neuroectodermal tumor, neuroendocrine tumor, melanoma, lymphoma, and so on. However, the staining results were negative for pancytokeratin, CD3, CD20, CD99, chromogranin A, synaptophysin, CD56, ALK, HMB45, desmin, kappa, lambda, myoglobin, and S-100 protein. CT, MRI, and PET-CT were negative for extracutaneous involvement. Total excision was done, and additional immunohistochemical staining was performed to confirm the origin of the tumor. Staining results for vimentin, LCA, CD4, and CD30 were positive. We concluded that these findings were consistent with the small cell variant CD30+ PCALCL, which occurs rarely.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Chromogranin A ; Cytoplasm ; Desmin ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic* ; Lymphoma, Primary Cutaneous Anaplastic Large Cell ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Melanoma ; Myoglobin ; Neuroectodermal Tumors ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; S100 Proteins ; Synaptophysin ; Ulcer ; Vimentin

BACKGROUND: Many patients seeking treatment for skin disorders have an underlying psychiatric problem that either causes or exacerbates a skin condition; thus, the demand for dermatologists' expert opinions on such cases is increasing. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze and quantify the pattern of dermatologic consultations referred by the department of neuropsychiatry in a tertiary hospital. METHODS: We retrospectively studied data from 337 inpatients referred by the department of neuropsychiatry for dermatologic consultation during an 8.5-year period in a tertiary hospital. RESULTS: The percentage of department of neuropsychiatry patients who were referred to the department of dermatology for consultation was 15.3%. The most prevalent age group for referrals was 30~39 years (26.4%), and the male-to-female ratio was 1:1.6. Bipolar disorder was the most common underlying neuropsychiatric problem (31.1%), and eczema (36.5%) was the most common dermatoses, followed by infectious disease (27.6%). The main reasons for dermatologic consultations were dermatologic disease (71.5%) and treatment-related dermatoses (10.1%). Thirty-five cases were discordant as to the reason for consultation between psychiatrists and dermatologists. Neuropsychiatric medication-related adverse reactions were reported in 9.8% of referred patients. CONCLUSION: This study revealed the distribution of skin disorders in patients referred by department of neuropsychiatry for dermatologic consultation. We believe its findings could be helpful as educational material to encourage cooperation between the specialties of dermatology and neuropsychiatry.
Bipolar Disorder ; Communicable Diseases ; Dermatology ; Eczema ; Expert Testimony ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Neuropsychiatry ; Psychiatry ; Referral and Consultation* ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Tertiary Care Centers

BACKGROUND: The plantar aspect of the foot is a difficult area for wound coverage and offers restricted/limited possibility for surgical repair. Due to the shearing and ground-reactive forces that the sole of the foot encounters and its unique organizational makeup of plantar skin and fat pad, reconstructive surgical techniques used on other parts of the body cannot be readily adapted to the plantar foot. OBJECTIVE: The authors present an overview of wound repair after excision of benign or malignant tumor on plantar area. METHODS: Retrospective review was done on 27 patients whose benign or malignant tumors on the plantar area were excised. From January 2007 to December 2012, we repaired defects on the plantar foot after simple excision of benign cutaneous tumors or wide excision of malignant melanomas. Patients were reviewed for results and complications. RESULTS: Simple elliptical closure was used for the defects of which the short diameter was below 1.5 cm in 13 patients. Transposition flap was used in 2 patients. The local flap was used when the length to width ratio was smaller than 3 to 1, and the laxity of the skin adjacent to the defect was available. Larger defects of other 12 cases needed to be reconstructed with full thickness skin graft (FTSG) or by secondary intention healing (SIH). The re-epithelialization was shown to be faster in the FTSG group, but the functional and cosmetic results were better in the SIH group. CONCLUSION: Many defects on the sole were difficult to repair because of the distinct anatomy. In order to treat such large wounds in weight bearing area, both FTSG and SIH are relatively good options.
Adipose Tissue ; Foot ; Humans ; Intention ; Melanoma ; Re-Epithelialization ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin* ; Transplants ; Weight-Bearing ; Wounds and Injuries