ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by centrofacial erythema. Excess cathelicidin is suggested to be important to the pathophysiology of the disease. Recently, presence of a vitamin D response element was revealed in the cathelicidin gene promoter. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether vitamin D and cathelicidin are associated with rosacea, both serologically and histopathologically. METHODS: Subjects with rosacea and without chronic skin disorders were enrolled in the patient and control groups, respectively. Serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D and cathelicidin levels were measured. Tissue expression of cathelicidin and vitamin D receptor were measured with immunostaining-intensity-distribution index. RESULTS: The mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of patients with rosacea was 12.18±5.65 ng/ml, which is lower than that of the controls (17.41±6.75 ng/ml). Mean serum cathelicidin levels in patients with rosacea and the controls were 85.0±26.1 ng/ml and 55.0±23.3 ng/ml, respectively. Cathelicidin expression in rosacea tissue was significantly higher than that in control tissue (5.21 vs. 4.03). No significant difference was observed in vitamin D receptor expression. CONCLUSION: Higher cathelicidin expression in rosacea supports the hypothesis that an abnormal inflammatory response of the innate immune system is important in pathogenesis of rosacea, but the role of high cathelicidin serum levels is complicated. Serum vitamin D was lower in patients with rosacea, although serum cathelicidin was higher than that of the controls. This suggests that the role of vitamin D level in the pathogenesis of rosacea merits further investigation.
Subject(s)
Humans , Erythema , Immune System , Receptors, Calcitriol , Rosacea , Skin , Vitamin D Response Element , Vitamin D , VitaminsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. Surgical excision is commonly used as the therapeutic modality. However, there is insufficient data on the prognosis of Korean patients who have undergone surgical excision for basal cell carcinoma. OBJECTIVE: We therefore retrospectively analyzed the effectiveness of surgical excision in patients with basal cell carcinoma and compared it with previous studies. METHODS: From 2009 to 2015, we enrolled 138 patients with primary basal cell carcinoma who underwent surgical excision and analyzed the recurrence rate, clinical features, surgical procedures, and histopathological subtypes. RESULTS: The case series comprised 138 patients (M:F=1:1.51) with a mean age of 68.7 years. Recurrence after surgical excision was diagnosed in 0 of the 138 patients with a mean follow-up period of 47.5 months (12~93 months). The mean tumor diameter and surgical margin were 0.9 cm and 3.1 mm, respectively. Most tumors (85.5%) were of the nodular subtype. Primary closure was used most often to repair the surgical defects (44.9%). CONCLUSION: Surgical excision may be a satisfactory method for the treatment of primary basal cell carcinomas, especially in non-high-risk cases.
Subject(s)
Humans , Carcinoma, Basal Cell , Follow-Up Studies , Methods , Prognosis , Recurrence , Retrospective Studies , Skin NeoplasmsABSTRACT
A 76-year-old female presented with a 2-month history of skin lesions on both her buttocks. The skin lesions showed diffuse, erythematous scattered papules and macules with brown to black crusts. The patient believed that she had skin cancer and that the lesions had to be scrapped. She thus soaked her buttock in sikhye, a traditional Korean beverage, to treat the lesions. Based on patient history, she was diagnosed with dermatitis artefacta at the initial hospital visit. KOH examination was positive for hyphae and fungal cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. She was treated with oral and topical antifungal agents for 6 months. The skin lesions improved at that time; however, she continued to scratch her buttock, and the skin lesions aggravated. Repeat fungal culture of the lesions revealed Candida glabrata, which was confirmed by genetic polymerase chain reaction sequencing. Consequently, she was treated with antifungal agents for 6 months. S. cerevisiae is widely used in baking, brewing, wine making, and biotechnology. S. cerevisiae and C. glabrata are considered relatively non-pathogenic fungal organisms. Here, we report a rare case of dermatitis artefacta combined with superficial infection of non-pathogenic fungal organism.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Recently, the number of domestic pets has increased. As a consequence, sensitization to animal allergens, such as cat or dog allergens, has become a problem. OBJECTIVE: We studied the annual trends of sensitization to cats or dogs, and the characteristics of the patients. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 7,469 patients who visited a dermatology clinic and underwent an allergic profile test, from January 2011 to December 2015. Specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels to cat or dog antibody greater than 3.50 IU/ml were regarded as positive results. RESULTS: In all, 274 patients showed significant increase in levels of specific IgE antibody to dog, and 307 revealed increase in levels of of specific IgE antibody to cat. The prevalence of these specific IgEs increased from 2011 to 2015. Independent risks for sensitization to cat allergens were sensitization to dog, but not to house dust, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, and D. farinae. Independent risks for sensitization to dog allergens were sensitization to cat, but not to house dust, D. pteronyssinus, and D. farinae. Total IgE level was not related to specific IgE level against either cats or dogs. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the prevalence of sensitization to cat or dog has increased. Sensitization to cat or dog is related to each other, but is irrelevant to the total IgE level.
Subject(s)
Animals , Cats , Dogs , Humans , Allergens , Dermatitis, Atopic , Dermatology , Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus , Dust , Immunoglobulin E , Immunoglobulins , Korea , Medical Records , Prevalence , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
A 4-month-old infant presented with asymptomatic soft nodules on his right forearm, which had developed since birth. On the suspicion of nevus lipomatosus superficialis (NLS), biopsy was performed. Histopathologic findings showed monomorphic polygonal cells with abundant granular cytoplasm. Immunohistochemical stains for CD68 and vimentin were strongly positive, but were negative for S-100 protein. Based on the pathologic findings, the patient was diagnosed as non-neural granular cell tumor (NN-GCT). GCT can be divided into conventional and non-neural GCT by immunoreactivity for S-100 protein. NN-GCT is typically manifested as a well-circumscribed, papulo-nodular dermal mass, and is known to occur in a younger group than does in conventional GCT, but is rare among children. To our knowledge, there have been no case reports of NN-GCT which appeared at birth and presented as grouped nodules. Therefore, we report this interesting case of congenital NN-GCT clinically mimicking NLS.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Infant , Biopsy , Coloring Agents , Cytoplasm , Forearm , Granular Cell Tumor , Nevus , Parturition , S100 Proteins , VimentinABSTRACT
A 27-year-old male with underlying history of atopic dermatitis presented with skin lesion on the trunk and upper extremity, occurring a month ago. Scattered erythematous multiple tiny maculopapules and patches were noticed. The lesion was first diagnosed as aggravated atopic dermatitis with folliculitis based on the clinical manifestation, but had failed to improve with antibiotics and medications for atopic dermatitis. KOH examinations were performed on his upper arm's lesion, and with detection of hyphae and isolation of Trichophyton rubrum by fungus culture, he was successfully treated with oral itraconazole 200 mg/day and topical flutrimazole. Tinea incognito refers to dermatophyte infections with atypical clinical presentation caused by previous treatment with steroid. Nowadays, the cases of tinea incognito have been increasing due to the increased usage of steroid and other immunosuppressants. Therefore, it is essential to include fungal infection in the differential diagnosis when cutaneous lesions are noticed in patients taking steroid and other immunosuppressants. Herein, we present a tinea incognito that clinically mimicked folliculitis in atopic dermatitis patient.
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Male , Anti-Bacterial Agents , Arthrodermataceae , Dermatitis, Atopic , Diagnosis, Differential , Folliculitis , Fungi , Hyphae , Immunosuppressive Agents , Itraconazole , Skin , Tinea , Trichophyton , Upper ExtremityABSTRACT
No abstract available.
Subject(s)
Humans , Cyclosporine , Immunosuppressive Agents , Psoriasis , Sarcoma, KaposiABSTRACT
No abstract available.
Subject(s)
Humans , Cyclosporine , Immunosuppressive Agents , Psoriasis , Sarcoma, KaposiABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Acne has been found to be associated with psychosocial problems, and the influence of acne may vary according to the era. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare the present quality of life (QOL) of acne patients with that in the past 10 years. Additionally, financial values that patients attach to the treatment of their acne were evaluated. METHODS: We analyzed the influences of acne on QOL using self-reported validated questionnaires (WHOQOLBREF, Skindex-29, APSEA, CADI) between June 2014 and December 2015. RESULTS: 100 acne patients and 70 controls were enrolled in the study. Compared with that in the past 10 years, the quality of life of acne patients decreased in terms of psychological and social relationships, and the difference between males and females was reduced. Clinical characteristics associated with quality of life were identified as age, duration, education, and self-reported severity score, etc. Patient-based financial valuation of treatment costs was associated with the Skindex-29, WHOQOL-BREF, and CADI scores. CONCLUSION: The impact of acne on QOL, especially psychosocial aspects, is important, and early initiation of the appropriate treatment may help to address the diminished QOL and financial burden of acne patients.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Acne Vulgaris , Education , Health Care Costs , Quality of LifeABSTRACT
Syringoma is the most common type of benign intraepidermal eccrine sweat gland tumor in Korea, and is usually found in women in their forties. It presents mostly as a localized lesion, preferring the lower eyelid, cheek, or forehead, and rarely invades the vulval area, and in the case of children, vulvar invasion is even more rare. Tranilast is an antihistamine used for atopic dermatitis and asthma, and has recently been used for the treatment of keloid. A few previous studies have reported both localized and generalized forms of syringoma being effectively resolved with tranilast. Herein, we report a rare and interesting case of milium-like syringoma, which manifested on the vulval area of 10-year old girl that was successfully treated with tranilast.