BACKGROUND: The astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) was cloned as a novel HIV-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced transcript from primary human fetal astrocytes. It has been reported that the AEG-1 expression is elevated in subsets of breast cancer, glioblastoma multiforme and melanoma cells, and AEG-1 cooperates with Ha-ras to promote the transformation of immortalized melanocytes. AEG-1 is thought to play a role in promoting cancer development and/or its maintenance. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine whether AEG-1 is related to the pathogenesis of melanoma and other melanocytic lesions. METHODS: The nine biopsy specimens each of melanoma, dysplastic nevus, Spitz nevus and compound nevus were studied using immunohistochemical staining. The expressions of AEG-1 were evaluated using an immunostaining-intensity-distribution index. RESULTS: The expression of AEG-1 was significantly higher in the melanoma and dysplastic nevus than in the compound nevus. The expression was also significantly higher in the melanoma than in the Spitz nevus. CONCLUSION: AEG-1 may be related to the pathogenesis of both dysplastic nevus and melanoma, but it may not be related to Spitz nevus.
Astrocytes ; Biopsy ; Breast Neoplasms ; Clone Cells ; Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome ; Glioblastoma ; HIV-1 ; Humans ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma ; Necrosis ; Nevus ; Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell

BACKGROUND: The astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) was cloned as a novel HIV-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced transcript from primary human fetal astrocytes. It has been reported that the AEG-1 expression is elevated in subsets of breast cancer, glioblastoma multiforme and melanoma cells, and AEG-1 cooperates with Ha-ras to promote the transformation of immortalized melanocytes. AEG-1 is thought to play a role in promoting cancer development and/or its maintenance. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine whether AEG-1 is related to the pathogenesis of melanoma and other melanocytic lesions. METHODS: The nine biopsy specimens each of melanoma, dysplastic nevus, Spitz nevus and compound nevus were studied using immunohistochemical staining. The expressions of AEG-1 were evaluated using an immunostaining-intensity-distribution index. RESULTS: The expression of AEG-1 was significantly higher in the melanoma and dysplastic nevus than in the compound nevus. The expression was also significantly higher in the melanoma than in the Spitz nevus. CONCLUSION: AEG-1 may be related to the pathogenesis of both dysplastic nevus and melanoma, but it may not be related to Spitz nevus.
Astrocytes ; Biopsy ; Breast Neoplasms ; Clone Cells ; Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome ; Glioblastoma ; HIV-1 ; Humans ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma ; Necrosis ; Nevus ; Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell

Benign cephalic histiocytosis (BCH) is a rare non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis of unknown etiology. Clinically, lesions are characterized by small, red-to-yellow papules distributed mainly on the head, face, neck, and shoulders of infants and children. Histopathological specimens show massive histiocytic infiltration of the superficial dermis. Immunohistochemically, they are positive for CD68, but negative for CD1a and S-100. Two cases have been reported so far in the relevant work published in Korean literature. Herein, we report on an additional case of BCH.
Child ; Dermis ; Head ; Histiocytosis ; Humans ; Infant ; Neck ; Shoulder

Impetigo herpetiformis is a rare, severe dermatologic disorder that is similar to a type of pustular psoriasis that predominantly occurs during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. This condition usually resolves after delivery and it rarely continues until the postpartum period. Systemic corticosteroids have proven to be the drug of choice for the management of impetigo herpetiformis. In the postpartum period, oral retinoids such as isotretinoin, etretinate and acitretin can be used to control impetigo herpetiformis, but their side effect such as teratogenicity is a big issue to women of child-bearing age. We report here on a case of impetigo herpetiformis in a 28-year-old woman who did not respond to oral corticosteroids, but she was treated successfully with cyclosporine. To the best of our knowledge this is the first case of impetigo herpetiformis treated with cyclosporine in the Korean medical literature.
Acitretin ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Adult ; Cyclosporine ; Etretinate ; Female ; Humans ; Impetigo ; Isotretinoin ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Psoriasis ; Retinoids

A nevus with cyst is defined as a single lesion of a melanocytic nevus, and this is commonly associated with an epidermal cyst. For the previously reported cases of a nevus with cyst, most of the melanocytic nevi were of the intradermal or compound type. There have been rare reported cases of dysplastic nevus, blue nevus, Spitz nevus, congenital melanocytic nevus and so forth. We report here on a rare case of congenital melanocytic nevus combined with an epidermal cyst in a 21-year-old woman.
Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome ; Epidermal Cyst ; Female ; Humans ; Nevus ; Nevus, Blue ; Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell ; Nevus, Pigmented ; Young Adult

Delayed pressure urticria is a type of physical urticaria, characterized by the appearance of painful swelling for a few hours after physical stimulus. A 27-year-old woman suffered from pressure urticaria for eight months. The patient was unresponsive to conventional antihistamine, glucocorticoid, cyclosporine and azathioprine. Since the patient was treated with 10 mg/day montelukast and 1 mg/day ketotifen for 10 months, erythema and wheals have not developed. We report a case of pressure urticaria treated with a leukotriene inhibitor.
Acetates ; Adult ; Azathioprine ; Cyclosporine ; Erythema ; Female ; Humans ; Ketotifen ; Quinolines ; Urticaria

Milia en plaque (MEP) is an unusual and rare variant of milia characterized by tiny papules overlying an erythematous plaque. The majority of cases have been described as occurring around the ears. The histopathologic finding is consistent with milia. Despite its benign nature and lack of symptoms, MEP raises cosmetic concerns. We report a case of MEP occurring on the left 3rd finger, an unusual location, in a 2-year-old girl.
Cosmetics ; Ear ; Fingers ; Preschool Child

Pilar sheath acanthoma is a rare, benign follicular hamartoma commonly affecting middle-aged and elderly individuals. It is characterized by a small, solitary, skin-colored papule situated on the head and neck, particularly around the upper lip. The lesion shares some features with trichofolliculoma and dilated pore of Winer, so it should be differentiated from these. Cytokeratin (CK) is a useful marker for studying the origin of epithelial tumors. We report a case of pilar sheath acanthoma which originated from outer root sheath using CK.
Acanthoma ; Aged ; Follicular Cyst ; Hamartoma ; Head ; Humans ; Keratins ; Lip ; Neck ; Neoplasms, Basal Cell ; Skin Neoplasms

A patient with long-standing urticaria pigmentosa presented with a pea-sized reddish to purplish papule on the posterior part of the right ear. Histopathologic examination revealed numerous dilated vascular structures in the upper dermis and mast cell infiltrations throughout the whole dermis, consistent with combined mastocytoma-hemangioma. The mast cells were strongly positive with Giemsa stain.
Azure Stains ; Dermis ; Ear ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Mast Cells ; Mastocytoma ; Urticaria ; Urticaria Pigmentosa

Clear cell sarcoma is a rare malignant tumor representing about 1% of soft tissue tumors. It usually presents in the distal extremities of young adults, frequently attached to tendons or aponeuroses. This slowly progressive tumor tends to recur and results in eventual development of metastatic growth. Early recognition of the disease and prompt wide excision of tumor are essential to get a favorable outcome. We report a rare case of clear cell sarcoma in a 57 year-old female who presented with an erythematous hard nodule on her abdomen.
Abdomen ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Sarcoma, Clear Cell ; Tendons ; Young Adult