BACKGROUND: Antimicrobials have been a mainstay of inflammatory acne treatment for more than 30 years. However, antibiotic-resistant propionibacteria had been isolated with increased frequency, and associated with failure to respond to antibiotic therapy. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy and tolerance of 1% nadifloxacin cream. METHODS: In the final analysis, 197 patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris were enrolled. The patients were instructed to apply 1% nadifloxacin cream twice daily to the affected skin after washing the face. Following 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, patients were observed for clinical response: number of the acne lesions, Korea acne grading system (KAGS), global improvement, and occurrence of adverse reactions. RESULTS: During 4 weeks of treatment, nadifloxacin caused significant reduction in the number of inflamed papulo-pustular lesions and open/closed comedones. In addition, significant reduction of KAGS was observed. About 96% of patients showed clinical improvement in the overall evaluation of the therapeutic effect by physicians. All reported adverse events were mild. CONCLUSION: This study shows that 1% nadifloxacin cream can be an effective and safe treatment for mild to moderate acne vulgaris.
Acne Vulgaris ; Fluoroquinolones ; Humans ; Korea ; Quinolizines ; Republic of Korea ; Skin

Nevus spilus, also known as speckled lentiginous nevus, is a relatively common cutaneous lesion that is characterized by multiple pigmented macules within a pigmented patch. It may be congenital or acquired, and it can show the histological features of congenital melanocytic nevus (CMN). The possible relationship between nevus spilus and CMN has been contentious. We report a case of a congenital nevus that followed the line of Blaschko and clinically manifested as nevus spilus, but showed the histological features of CMN.
Nevus ; Nevus, Pigmented

Osteoclasts are cells of hemopoietic origin that play an critical role in bone resorption and responsible for bone diseases, including osteoporosis, periodontal disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. In this study, we examined the effect of AG490, a Jak2-specific inhibitor on osteoclast differentiation. AG490 significantly inhibited receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL)-mediated osteoclast differentiation in a dose-dependent manner. RANKL stimulated the phosphorylation of p38, ERK, and JNK and promoted I-kappaB degradation. However, AG490 suppressed the phosphorylation of p38 induced by RANKL treatment. AG490 suppressed the mRNA expression of TRAP, c-Fos, NFATc1, and OSCAR in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) treated with RANKL. Also, AG490 significantly inhibited the protein expression of c-Fos and NFATc1 in response to RANKL. These results suggest that AG490 inhibited osteoclast differentiation by suppressing the expression of c-Fos and NFATc1.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Bone Diseases ; Bone Resorption ; Macrophages ; Osteoclasts ; Osteoporosis ; Periodontal Diseases ; Phosphorylation ; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B ; RNA, Messenger ; Tyrphostins

Liposarcoma is the second most common soft tissue sarcoma next to malignant fibrous histiocytoma and occurs almost exclusively in adults. It is thought to originate from primitive mesenchymal cells rather than from mature adipose tissue. Most liposarcomas usually occur in the deep soft tissue of the extremities and the retroperitoneum, and rarely occur in the cutaneous or subcutaneous tissue. We report a case of an atypical lipomatous tumor in a 63-year-old male, who presented with an asymptomatic, subcutaneous mass on his right axilla.
Adipose Tissue ; Adult ; Axilla ; Extremities ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous ; Humans ; Liposarcoma ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sarcoma ; Subcutaneous Tissue

Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) are malignant, round-cell sarcomas which exhibit primitive neuronal differentiation. They usually arise in deep soft tissues, but occasionally bones and visceral organs are affected. In general, PNET presents as rapidly-growing, deeply located masses measuring 5~10 cm at their greatest diameter. Superficially located cases do occur but are rare. The typical PNET is composed of sheets or lobules of small round cells containing darkly-staining, round or oval nuclei. The cytoplasm is indistinct except in areas where the cells are more mature and elongated hair-like cytoplasmic extensions coalesce to form rosettes. We herein report a case of PNET that arose from subcutaneous tissue of the buttock in a 31-year-old woman.
Adult ; Buttocks* ; Cytoplasm ; Female ; Humans ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive* ; Neurons ; Sarcoma ; Subcutaneous Tissue*

Many drugs have been known to induce lupus-like syndrome, composing approximately 10% of all SLE cases. Isoniazid-induced lupus erythematosus affects either sex equally and the most common presenting feature is arthralgia or arthritis with anemia. Fever and pleuritis occur in approximately half of the cases, and pericarditis in approximately 30% of cases. We discribe a 28-year-old woman receiving antituberculous medications including isoniazid for one month. She was hospitalized with fever, arthralgia and newly developed pleural effusion The analysis of pleural fluid and serum revealed an elevated level of antinuclear antibody. We suspected of drug induced lupus and stopped isoniazid medication. After discontinuation of isoniazid and short course of prednisolone treatment, her symptoms and pleural effusion disappeared. This case is to our knowledge, the fist report of isoniazid induced SLE in Korea.
Adult ; Anemia ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Arthralgia ; Arthritis ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Isoniazid* ; Korea ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Pericarditis ; Pleural Effusion ; Pleurisy ; Prednisolone

BACKGROUND: Persistent facial telangiectasia, erythema and flushing are the major cosmetic problems in patients with rosacea. However various therapeutic treatments for rosacea papules and pustules are not effective in reducing telangiectasia and flushing reactions. Matrix-centered theory that dermal matrix degradation can cause telangiectasis, erythema and flushing, is one of the various theories of rosacea pathogenesis. Shark cartilage extracts are collagenase inhibitors and can inhibit dermal matrix degradation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical effects of shark catilage extracts (Venatrix(R)) for erythematotelangiectatic rosacea patients. METHODS: Twenty three patients with erythematotelangiectatic rosacea applied shark cartilage extracts twice daily for up to 8 weeks. Efficacy was evaluated by erythema index using mexameter (MPA 5, CK, Germany) and clinical photography. RESULTS: Erythema index decreased from 525.7+/-114 to 413.9+/-101.7 (mean reduction: 21.3%) (p<0.1) after 8 weeks treatment. 16 patients (69%) showed excellent or good results by clinical photography. Transient stinging sensation was the most common adverse effect and these symptoms improved after the first few days. There were no other significant side effects. CONCLUSION: Shark cartilage extracts may be an effective treatment for mild erythematotelangiectatic rosacea.
Bites and Stings ; Cartilage* ; Erythema ; Flushing ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors ; Photography ; Rosacea* ; Sensation ; Sharks* ; Telangiectasis

Fibroelastolytic papulosis is proposed as the diagnostic term for cases previously identified as pseudoxanthoma elasticum-like papillary dermal elastolysis and white fibrous papulosis of the neck. Clinical presentation of fibroelastolytic papulosis is asymptomatic to mildly pruritic whitish-yellow papules that may coalesce into cobblestone- patterned plaques resembling pseudoxanthoma elasticum. Histology is characterized by normal, decreased, or absent elastic fibers in the papillary dermis sometimes accompanied by a thickening of collagen fibers. We report a 60-year-old woman with flesh to yellowish colored papules with cobblestone appearance, which were histologically consistent with fibroelastolytic papulosis.
Collagen ; Dermis ; Elastic Tissue ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum

BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is a systemic noncaseating granulomatous disorder of unknown origin, which can involve any organs including the skin. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics of sarcoidosis in patients in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. METHODS: A total of 62 patients with sarcoidosis, where sarcoidosis was confirmed by histopathologic examinations at seven university hospitals in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do from 2000 to 2006, were enrolled in this study. The clinical characteristics were analyzed by a thorough review of medical records, histopathologic and radiologic examinations. RESULTS: Man to woman ratio was 1 : 1.48 and 42% of the patients were in their fifth decade. The most frequent chief complaints were cutaneous symptoms (37%), followed by respiratory symptoms (31%). The most frequently involved organs were intrathoracic organs (84%), followed by the skin (37%), peripheral lymph nodes (13%), bones (11%), spleen (8%) and eyes (5%). The most common cutaneous lesion was subcutaneous nodule (74%), followed by papule (13%). Extremities (65%) were the most frequent sites of cutaneous lesions. Systemic organ involvements were observed in 70% of patients with cutaneous sarcoidosis. Among them, the most frequently involved organs were intrathoracic organs (81%), followed by bones (25%), eyes (19%), and peripheral lymph nodes (19%). CONCLUSION: The results were generally similar with the previous domestic reports. Compared with the foreign reports, cutaneous involvement was more frequent and ophthalmic involvement was less frequent. Subcutaneous nodule was the most frequent cutaneous lesion which seems to be a unique feature of this study.
Extremities ; Female ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Medical Records ; Sarcoidosis* ; Seoul ; Skin ; Spleen

BACKGROUND: Ramsay Hunt syndrome (herpes zoster oticus) is characterized by vesicles on the pinna, otalgia, facial nerve palsy and sensorineural hearing loss. It is not such a common dermatological disease like herpes zoster. However, reactivation of the latent varicella zoster virus causes facial palsy and therapeutic onset is one of the prognostic factors in Ramsay Hunt syndrome. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to elucidate the epidemiology, the clinical characteristics of Ramsay Hunt syndrome and prognosis according to therapeutic ways. METHODS: The 84 cases diagnosed as Ramsay Hunt syndrome from January 2000 to July 2007 were assessed in regard to age, sex, clinical characteristics, electromyography (EMG) results, onset of neurological recovery according to medication and onset of rehabilitation therapy by review of medical records. RESULTS: Ramsay Hunt syndrome consisted 4.7% (84 cases of 1787) of total herpes zoster patients. The ratio of male to female patients was 37:47. Frequency was slightly higher in female patients. The mean age was 62+/-14.7 and the age distribution was in the range of 26~87 years. The most common clinical appearance was vesicular eruptions and facical nerve palsy including change in nasolabial fold and location of the lip (73.8%), followed by vesicular eruptions and vestibulocochlear symptoms like tinnitus and vertigo (16.7%), facial nerve palsy and vestibulocochlear symptoms appearing together (9.5%). EMG showed abnormal results in 67.9%. More than one kind of abnormality was commonly observed. The most common abnormal EMG result was fibrillation potential (42.2%), followed by positive sharp wave (31.3%), polyphasia (10.8%), high frequency discharge (8.4%), increased insertional activity (4.8%) and fasciculation (2.5%). There was no significant difference in onset of neurological recovery between acyclovir injections and oral famciclovir or valaciclovir treatment. The patients who had received physical therapy a week after the symptoms had developed, had a faster onset of recovery (2.8 week Vs 4.1 week, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that antiviral agents of a different kind may not affect recovery onset and earlier rehabilitation therapy seems to be effective in neurological recovery in Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
Acyclovir ; Age Distribution ; Antiviral Agents ; Earache ; Electromyography ; Epidemiology ; Facial Nerve ; Facial Paralysis ; Fasciculation ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Herpes Zoster ; Herpes Zoster Oticus* ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Humans ; Lip ; Male ; Medical Records ; Nasolabial Fold ; Paralysis ; Prognosis ; Rehabilitation ; Tinnitus ; Vertigo