The Clinical Efficacy of Mometasone Furoate in Multi-Lamellar Emulsion for Eczema: A Double-blinded Crossover Study

BACKGROUND: Topical application of corticosteroids also has an influence on skin barrier impairment. Physiological lipid mixtures, such as multi-lamellar emulsion (MLE) containing a natural lipid component leads to effective recovery of the barrier function. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to conduct an evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy and skin barrier protection of topical mometasone furoate in MLE. METHODS: A multi-center randomized, double-blind, controlled study was performed to assess the efficacy and safety of mometasone furoate cream in MLE for Korean patients with eczema. The study group included 175 patients with eczema, who applied either mometasone furoate in MLE cream or methylprednisolone aceponate cream for 2 weeks. Treatment efficacy was evaluated using the physician's global assessment of clinical response (PGA), trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), and visual analogue scale (VAS) for pruritus. Patients were evaluated using these indices at days 4, 8, and 15. RESULTS: Comparison of PGA score, TEWL, and VAS score at baseline with those at days 4, 8, and 15 of treatment showed a significant improvement in both groups. Patients who applied mometasone furoate in MLE (74.8%) showed better results (p<0.05) than those who applied methylprednisolone aceponate (47.8%). The TEWL improvement ratio was higher in the mometasone furoate in MLE group than that in the methylprednisolone aceponate group, and VAS improvement was also better in the mometasone furoate in MLE group. CONCLUSION: Mometasone furoate in MLE has a better therapeutic efficacy as well as less skin barrier impairment than methylprednisolone aceponate.

Synthetic Chenodeoxycholic Acid Derivative HS-1200-induced Apoptosis of Human Melanoma Cells / 체질인류학회지

Bile acids and their synthetic derivatives induced apoptosis in various kinds of cancer cells and anticancer effects. It has been reported that the synthetic chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) derivatives showed apoptosis-inducing activity on various cancer cells in vitro. It wasn't discovered those materials have apoptosis-inducing effects on G361 human melanoma cells. The present study was done to examine the synthetic bile acid derivatives, HS-1199 and HS-1200, induced apoptosis on G361 cells and such these apoptosis events. The viability of G361 cells was assessed by the MTT assay. Induction of apoptosis was confirmed by DNA electrophoresis and Hoechst staining. Westen blot analysis and immunofluorescent staining were performed to study the alterations in expression level and translocation of apoptosis-related proteins. Proteasome activity and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) change were also assayed. Tested G361 cells showed several lines of apoptotic manifestation such as activation of caspase-3, DFF and PARP, DNA degradation (HS-1200 only), nuclear condensation, inhibition of proteasome activity, reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, and the release of cytochrome c and AIF to cytosol. Between two synthetic derivatives, HS-1200 showed stronger apoptosis-inducing effect than HS-1199 did. Taken collectively, we here demonstrated for the first time that synthetic CDCA dedrivatives induce apoptosis of human melanoma cells through the proteasome, mitochondria and caspase pathway. Therefore our data provide the possibility that HS-1200 could be considered as a novel therapeutic strategy for human melanoma cells from its powerful apoptosis-inducing activity.

A Case of Chronic Radiodermatitis with CML and Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Radiologist

Chronic radiodermatitis may develop after repetitive exposure to small doses of ionizing radiation over an extensive period of time. Therefore, it is most likely to occur in people who work with ionizing radiation. The clinical symptoms of chronic radiodermatitis include atrophy, telangiectasia, sclerosis, pigmentary changes of the skin, ulceration and the development of malignancy. Cases of chronic radiodermatitis have occasionally been reported in physicians performing interventional procedures. Herein, we report a case of chronic radiodermatitis involving the 4th finger web and 5th finger of a radiologist, who suffered from chronic myelogenous leukemia shortly afterwards. The lesion on the 5th finger eventually progressed into squamous cell carcinoma.

A Case of Digital Angioleiomyoma / 대한피부과학회지

Angioleiomyoma is a benign tumor arising from the muscle layer of the vein walls and mainly develops on the lower extremities of middle-aged women. We encountered a 31-year-old man who had a 3 year history of a painless but tender, 0.6 x 0.6 cm-sized nodule on the volar aspect of his left third finger. Histopathologically, a well-circumscribed nodular tumor was observed in the dermis, which comprised of numerous, various-sized, vessels and bundles of smooth muscle fibers. It is relatively rare for an angioleiomyoma to occur on the finger.

A Case of Eruptive Pseudoangiomatosis in a Middle-aged Woman / 대한피부과학회지

Eruptive pseudoangiomatosis is a rare, benign, self-limiting exanthem, which is known to occur primarily in children but rarely in adults. It is characterized by the sudden onset of a few to numerous bright red angioma-like papules, which are caused by dilatation of dermal blood vessels and are surrounded by a pale halo. A viral etiology and a possible association with insect bite and immunosuppression have been suggested. We report a case of eruptive pseudoangiomatosis in a middle-aged woman.

A Case of Cutaneous Leiomyoma Presenting as a Large Nipple / 대한피부과학회지

Cutaneous leiomyoma is a rare, benign tumor of smooth-muscle fibers. Five types of cutaneous leiomyoma include multiple piloleiomyomas, solitary piloleiomyoma, solitary genital leiomyoma, solitary angioleiomyoma and leiomyoma with additional mesenchymal elements. Genital leiomyoma is uncommon, and leiomyomas of the nipple is a rare type of genital leiomyoma. We report a case of cutaneous leiomyoma presenting as a large nipple in a middle-aged woman.

Induction of Apoptosis in Human Oral Squamous Carcinoma Cells by Extracellular Products from Pseudomonas aeruginosa / 대한해부학회지

It was reported that cancer in humans and animals infected with microbial pathogens was regressed about 100 years ago. Bacteria are able to trigger apoptosis by a variety of mechanisms including the secretion of protein synthesis inhibitors, pore forming proteins, molecules activating the endogenous death machinery in the infected cell. This study was conducted in order to investigate whether extracellular products of Psuedomonas aeruginosa (EPPA) induce apoptosis in human oral carcinoma cells (OSC9). The EPPA showed cytotoxic effect on OSC9 cells in dose and time-dependent manner. The cell death was demonstrated to be due to apoptosis characterized by chromatin condensation and nuclear fragment. EPPA treatment induced cleavage of caspase-3 and caspase-6. The caspase substrates, PARP, DFF45 and lamin A were cleaved during EPPA-induced apoptosis. Taken together, EPPA induces apoptosis on human oral squamous carcinoma cells in caspase-dependent manner. Our data therefore provide that EPPA contains a novel antitumor agent for human oral squamous carcinoma.

Characteristics of Occupational Skin Diseases Compensated with the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance from 1999 to 2003 / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Of occupational diseases, although skin is a commonly affected site, skin diseases are rarely reported and have been poorly compensated in the past due to their relatively low morbidity rate. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics of occupational skin diseases compensated by the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance which is managed by the Korea Labor Welfare Corporation (KLWC). METHOD: Using the KLWC database, we selected 216 cases of occupational skin diseases which had been compensated between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2003. We analyzed the characteristics (sex, age, type of occupational disease, exposure material, type of industry and occupation, etc.) of occupational diseases, using data from the KLWC records and from cases that had been investigated by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA). RESULTS: 216 cases were compensated by the KLWC, with men accounting for 76.4% (165 cases) of the cases. The most common age group was 50-59 years of age (n=73, 33.8%). The majority of diseases were contact dermatitis (116 cases, 53.7%), cellulitis (36 cases, 16.7%), leukoderma (11 cases, 5.7%), urticaria (9 cases, 4.2%) and scabies (7 cases, 3.2%). The causal hazardous agents of 147 cases were plants (72 cases, 49.0%), chemicals (32 cases, 21.8%), drugs (7 cases, 4.8%) and oils and greases (5 cases, 3.4%). The major types of industry were public administration and defence (91 cases, 42.1%), manufacturing (57 cases, 27.1%), other community, repair and personal service activities (13 cases, 6.0%), construction (12 cases, 5.6%) and business activities (11 cases, 5.1%). The type of occupation included elementary occupations (115 cases, 53.2%), craft and related trades workers (30 cases, 13.9%), plant and machine operators and assemblers (20 cases, 9.3%) and service workers (18 cases, 8.3%). CONCLUSION: From this study, we were able to elucidate the kind of occupational skin diseases and the characteristics of workers. Many of the compensated cases belonged to daily-paid workers in the public service, especially forestry care workers. The most commonly occurring disease was allergic contact dermatitis. This suggests that a management policy must be established to prevent occupational skin diseases occurring among workers in the above types of industry. Also, this study suggests that more research needs to be conducted to elucidate the relationship between exposure to hazardous agents and occupational skin diseases such as occupational skin cancers, leukoderma and trichloroethylene induced Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

Clinical Study of Onychomycosis: Factors Contributing to the Prognosis and Reponse Rate According to Each Factor and Summation of Factors / 대한의진균학회지

BACKGROUND: The treatment of onychomycosis has improved recently. However, for 25% of patients, persistent disease remains a problem. Predisposing factors that contribute to a poor treatment response include a thick nail, extensive nail involvement, lateral nail involvement, dermatophytoma, onycholysis and yellow spikes. OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to study the clinical characteristics of onychomycosis contributing to the prognosis. METHODS: On the basis of the charts, photographs and telephone-visiting of the patients who visited St. Mary's hospital from January 2000 to May 2004, we investigated the number and percentage of good-responders according to each prognostic factor and the number of factors. RESULTS: 1. KOH smear, fungus culture and KONCPA test showed positivity rates of 61.0% (347/569), 17.4% (101/581) and 75.1% (284/378), respectively. 2. Triple tests showed positivity rate of 86.9% (271/312) by one or more of the triple tests. 3. The number and percentage of good-responders as a whole was 63.0% (400/635). The 5 prognostic factors contributed to statistically significant outcomes (p 0.05) and the number and percentage of good-responders showing no statistical significance were 60.4% (58/96) in the onycholysis group, 63.5% (342/539) in the non-onycholysis; and 62.9% (44/70) in the lateral-involvement group, 63.0% (356/565) in the non-lateral-involvement. 5. The number and percentage of good-responders according to the number of prognostic factors were 92.6% (162/175) in 0-factor group, 62.3% (157/252) in 1-factor, 52.0% (64/123) in 2-factor and 30.9% (17/55) in 3-factor. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical outcomes of onychomycosis depend on what kind of prognostic factor or how many factors the patient has. Therefore, the clinical prognostic factors should be considered before starting the treatment for predicting prognosis and planning therapeutic modalities.

A Case of Delayed Type Skin Reaction Induced by Bee Venom Acupuncture / 대한피부과학회지

Honeybee sting is an important problem because of their high incidence and ability to produce fatal anaphylactic reactions. They can also produce erythema and edema at the site of a sting in non-allergic individuals and extensive local reactions in allergic patients. Bee venom acupuncture has been widely used in Oriental medicine as pain control, however, its side effects are not well known. Only a few cases of anaphylaxis by bee venom acupuncture have been reported, but there is no case report of its delayed type skin reaction. We report a case of persistent delayed type skin reaction due to bee venom acupuncture.

Clinical Study of Dermatologic Disorders in Patients with Breast Cancer / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: In Korea, breast cancer is the most common cancer in female and its incidence is increasing recently. Moreover, breast cancer is the most common cutaneous metastasis in female. However, dermatologic disorders manifested in patients with breast cancer have not been investigated yet. OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to study the clinical characteristics of dermatologic disorders in patients with breast cancer. METHODS: A clinical observation and review of medical records were made by analyzing 359 cases of breast cancer who visited Our Lady of Mercy hospital from 1994 to 2003. Among them, 91 cases of the patients with breast cancer showed dermatologic disorders. Their photographs of cutaneous findings and histologic specimens were reviewed by more than 2 dermatologists. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS: 1. The mean age at the diagnosis of breast cancer was 48.74+/-11.28 years old. 2. The stages of patients with breast cancer were as follows: stage 0 (4 cases), stage 1 (48 cases), stage 2 (196 cases), stage 3 (94 cases), stage 4 (2 cases), and others (15 cases). 3. The treatments of patients with breast cancer were as follows: surgery (358 cases), radiation therapy (115 cases), chemotherapy (256 cases), combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy (82 cases), and others (9 cases). 4. The numbers of patients developing cutaneous infections among the patients with breast cancer were as follows: bacterial infection (18 cases), fungal infection (18 cases), and viral infection (14 cases). 5. The numbers of patients developing pruritus and eczema among the patients with breast cancer were as follows: contact dermatitis (7 cases), seborrheic dermatitis (3 cases), neurodermatitis (2 cases), and others (9 cases). 6. The numbers of patients developing treatment-associated dermatologic disorders among the patients with breast cancer were as follows: urticaria (11 cases), radiodermatitis (8 cases), drug eruption (6 cases), and lymphedema (1 case). 7. The number of patients developing skin metastasis among the patients with breast cancer was 10 cases. 8. The numbers of patients developing other dermatologic disorders among the patients with breast cancer were as follows: psoriasis (4 cases), erythema multiforme (2 cases), and others (16 cases). 9. The numbers of patients developing postoperative dermatologic complications were as follows: seroma (28 cases), arm swelling and lymphedema (9 cases), wound infection (6 cases), and others (5 cases).

A Case of Acquired Multiple Arteriovenous Malformations on the Scalp in the Patient of Liver Cirrhosis / 대한피부과학회지

Arteriovenous malformation is an abnormal connection between artery and vein. The connection may be single or multiple, composed of channels and spaces forming a complex vascular structure. While cases of congenital arteriovenous malformations are relatively common, cases of acquired multiple arteriovenous malformations are quite rare. Acquired arteriovenous malformation is frequently caused by injury, which induces direct arteriovenous shunting, but develops spontaneously rarely. Authors experienced a case of acquired multiple arteriovenous malformations developed on the scalp in the patient of liver cirrhosis.

The effects of antibiotics on phagocytosis and bacterial morphology

No abstract available.