Although a loss of heterozygosity (LOH) is commonly observed using microsatellite markers in a cell-proliferating malignant disorder, controversial findings of psoriasis, a keratinocyte-outgrowth disease, remain to be explained. It was hypothesized that unstable natures of the microsatellite markers for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) might give a rise to either a false-positive or -negative LOH. Twentyone frozen skin tissues and 33 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded archives were obtained from patients with psoriatic plaques and colorectal cancers, respectively. In the frozen psoriatic skin, two of the 17 microsatellite markers selected from 11 chromosomal arms were associated with artifact LOHs that were not reproduced in repeated PCRs. The remaining 15 stable microsatellite markers with few PCR artifacts demonstrated a borderline-level LOH in cases with an ambiguous heterozygosity such as a juxtaposed allelic band. Infrequent LOHs (3 out of 242 heterozygous markers, 1.2%) were detected in psoriatic cases with two separate alleles. In colorectal cancers, a set of the 15 stable microsatellite markers identified a minimal borderline-level LOH at the cut-off point that was same with that of psoriasis. These results indicate that the selection of reproducible microsatellite sequences and the cautious criteria for informative heterozygosity are required to obtain the reliable LOH results from variable genomic DNAs, and that psoriatic lesions harbor few LOH.
Alleles ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*genetics ; DNA/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Neoplasm/genetics/isolation & purification ; Female ; Humans ; *Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; *Microsatellite Repeats ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Psoriasis/*genetics ; Reproducibility of Results

BACKGROUND: c-erbB-1 (epidermal growth factor receptor) and c-erbB-2 oncoprotein have common tyrosine kinase activities, and alteration in their expression has been defined in various visceral tumors. However, relatively little is known about their expression in skin tumors. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to evaluate the distribution and expression pattern of c-erbB-1 and c-erbB-2 in skin neoplasms. METHODS: We have undertaken an immunohistochemical survey of c-erbB-1 and c-erbB-2 in the tissue specimens of keratoacanthoma (KA), actinic keratosis (AK), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC). RESULTS: Membranous c-erbB-1 expression had a tendency to be down-regulated in some specimens of SCC and dysplastic portions of AK. In invasive lesions of SCC, we observed increased cytoplasmic accumulation of c-erbB-1. Most specimens of BCC showed rather decreased expression of c-erbB-1 compared with other skin tumors. c-erbB-2 oncoprotein showed strong cytoplasmic staining in SCC, especially in the invasive tumor mass, and in some deeply dysplastic or hyperplastic portions of AK, though the difference of intensity was not striking between tumors. BCC revealed relatively weaker expression of c-erbB-2 than other skin tumors, which was similar in pattern to c-erbB-1. CONCLUSION: The expression patterns of c-erbB-1 and c-erbB-2 are altered in various skin neoplasms, and seem to be related to the dysplastic status or differentiation level of tumor cells.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cytoplasm ; Keratoacanthoma ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Skin Neoplasms ; Skin* ; Strikes, Employee

BACKGROUND: It has been known that p16, p21, and TGF-β are related to cellular proliferation and malignant transformation but the results of the previous studies are controversial. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed in order to investigate the possible role of p16, p21, and TGF-β in relation to the cellular proliferation and malignant transformation in various skin tumors. METHODS: For immunohistochemical staining we examined sections (4um thick) of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from 11 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 13 cases of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), 7 cases of actinic keratosis, 5 cases of keratoacanthoma, and 4 cases of normal skin for control. Following conventional deparaffinization, the three step immunoperoxidase method was performed using the streptavidine-biotin complex and monoclonal antibodies. All sections were counterstained with hematoxylin. The expression of p16, p21, and TGF-β was evaluated and graded in relation to the intensity of cytoplasmic immunostaining of positive epidermal cells. RESULTS: p16, p21, and TGF-β were detected mainly in the cytoplasm. The p21 positive cells were localized exclusively in the upper squamous layer and were not visualized in the basal layer. The expression of p21 was higher in SCC than BCC (P value=0.03). The expression of p21 in normal control was higher than skin tumors, but there was no significant difference among these tumors. There was a significant loss in the expression of p16 and TGF-β in various skin tumors compared with normal control, but no difference in the expression of p16 and TGF-β among these skin tumors. CONCLUSION: 1. p21 is possibly related to the differentiation of epidermal cells, because p21 was observed not in basal cells but in squamous and granular cells of the normal epidermis and the higher expression of p21 was demonstrated in SCC compared to BCC. 2. It may imply that loss of expression of p16 may play a critical role in malignant trans-formation but not in tumor progression of human malignant skin tumors, because the significant loss of the expression of p 16 was found in SCC and BCC when normal skin and there was no difference in the expression of p16 among various skin tumors but the expression of p16 of SCC is higher than that of actinic keratosis (P value=0.04). 3. It may imply that the loss of the expression of TGF-β may play a critical role in malignant transformation, because the significant loss of expression of TGF-β was found in various skin tumors when compared to normal skin, but there was no difference in the expression of TGF-β among various skin tumors.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Proliferation ; Cytoplasm ; Epidermis ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Keratoacanthoma ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Skin

We report two cases of type V hyperlipoproteinemia and eruptive xanthomas associated with diabetes mellitus in a 44-year-old woman and a 25-year-old woman. They had asymptomatic, diffuse, erythematous yellowish papules on the extremities and buttocks. The laboratory studies showed increased serum blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, increasing pre-β and chylomicron bands on electrophoresis of lipoprotein. Histopathologic findings of erythematous yellowish papules on the thigh and buttock revealed aggregation of foam cells in the dermis. They have been treated with diet control, hypoglycemic agent (gliclazide) and hypolipidemic drug (gemfibrozil), and are under continued supervision.
Adult ; Blood Glucose ; Buttocks ; Cholesterol ; Dermis ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diet ; Electrophoresis ; Extremities ; Female ; Foam Cells ; Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type V* ; Lipoproteins ; Organization and Administration ; Thigh ; Triglycerides ; Xanthomatosis*

Generalized perforating granuloma annulare is a rare variety of granuloma annulare presenting a distinct clinical pattern. We, herein, report a case of generalized perforating granuloma annulare with diabetes mellitus, which developed on a 73 year-old-female who had pruritic generalized small papular lesions with central umbilication, especially on the back and lower extremities for 1 month. Histopathologic examination showed an epidermal perforation and transepidermal elimination of necrobiotic material. The epidermal perforation was communicated with areas of necrobiotic collagen surrounded by palisading granuloma in the dermis.
Collagen ; Dermis ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Granuloma Annulare* ; Granuloma* ; Lower Extremity

Aplasia cutis congenita(ACC) is a rare skin condition in which localized or widespread areas of skin are absent at birth. Clinically, lesions usually appear circular or oval, sharply outlined ulcer, resulting in healing with scarring. The most common site of this condition is scalp, especially on the vertex although other areas of the body may also be involved. Other congenital malformations have been associated with aplasia cutis congenita. Herein we report a 6-year-old male infant with round, well-marginated, smooth surfaced, brownish scar about 2 cm diameter on the vertex of scalp. The lesion was erythematous, crusted ulcer at the time of birth. Histopathologic finding of the lesion showed flattening and thinning of epidermis, fibrosis in the dermis and the absence of adnexal structures except single immature hair follicle.
Child ; Cicatrix ; Dermis ; Ectodermal Dysplasia* ; Epidermis ; Fibrosis ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Parturition ; Scalp ; Skin ; Ulcer

Fibrofolliculoma is a rare benign follicular neoplasm histopathologically characterized by central dilated follicular infundibulum surrounded by well-circumscribed, thick mantle of fibrotic tissue, with anastomosing strands of follicular epithelium extending into the stroma. This condition usually occurs in multiple and rarely solitarily. Herein we report on a 34-year-old man with a solitary, skin colored, bean sized nodule on his chin which histopathologically shows a typical fibrofolliculoma.
Adult ; Chin ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Skin

Cutaneous focal mucinosis is a condition with an asymptomatic, small, dermal, white to flesh-colored papule with a predilection for the face, neck, trunk, and extremities. This is usually presented as solitary lesion but rarely as multiple papules or nodules. Histologically, a localized area of the collagen in the upper dermis is largely replaced by homogenous mucinous material in which spindle-shaped fibroblasts are scattered. We report a case of cutaneous focal mucinosis which was presented as multiple lesions covering widespread skin lesion throught the face, chest and back.
Collagen ; Dermis ; Extremities ; Fibroblasts ; Mucinoses* ; Mucins ; Neck ; Skin* ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: It is not yet clear whether the abnormal cytokine production in relation to serum IgE levels in atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with the amount of mRNA of cytokine gene. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to delineate the effect of reciprocal correlation in the level of mRNA between interleukin-4 (I") and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in severe AD. METHODS: We examined 15 cases including 5 AD patients with high serum IgE (>2,000 kU/liter), 5 AD patients with low serum IgE (<100 kU/liter), and 5 healthy controls. Using semi quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, IL-4 and IFN-γ gene expressions in peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) were examined. RESULTS: 1) IL-4 gene expression in spontaneous PBMC was higher in AD patient groups than in control group, significantly higher only in AD patient group with high serum IgE level (p < 0.05). 2) IFN-γ gene expression in spontaneous PBMC showed increased tendency in AD patient groups than in control group without statistical significance. 3) IL-4 and IFN-γ gene expressions in stimulated PBMC were not different among all three groups. CONCLUSION: In light of our results, high and low IgE subgroups in AD can exist and AD may not be R characterized by the shift in the reciprocal relationship between IL-4 and IFN-γ when T cells are stimulated under antigen presenting cell-independent conditions.
Dermatitis, Atopic ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Interferon-gamma* ; Interleukin-4* ; RNA, Messenger ; T-Lymphocytes

Congenital onychodysplasia of the index fingers(COIF) is characterized by hypoplasia or dysplasia of the nails peculiarly restricted to the index fingers. The cause is unknown, but clinical study suggested that ischemia of the finger at a certain period of fetal life might play an important role in its pathogenesis. Major characteristics of this condition are anonychia, micronychia, and polyonychia restricted to the index fingers. We report two cases of COIF, one of which was presented with anonychia of the left index finger, micronychia of the right index finger, and ventricular septal defect of the heart in a 2-week-old male baby, and the other which was presented with polyonychia of the right index finger in a 1-month-old male baby.
Fingers* ; Heart ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Ischemia ; Male