ABSTRACT
Background@#Applying antibiotic ointment after skin surgery can decrease infection and improve scar. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is known to be able to promote the growth and movement of epidermal cells to stimulate wound healing. Recombinant human EGF (rhEGF) ointment can be used in wet closed dressing to promotes wound healing and prevent complications by maintaining a wet environment. @*Objective@#To compare the efficacy of rhEGF ointment and conventional antibiotic ointment after cutaneous resection. @*Methods@#Patients who had excision procedures in two or more sites were enrolled. Each wound was assigned to the rhEGF group or the antibiotic ointment group. Wounds were subjected to Physician Global Assessment (PhGA), Patient Global Assessment (PGA), and Patient satisfaction assessment (PSA). The length and area of wounds, and melanin and erythema index (MI and EI) were also assessed for these wounds. @*Results@#Among 11 patients with a total of 20 pairs of resection sites, PhGA, PGA, MI, and EI showed no significant difference between rhEGF and antibiotic ointment groups. However, changes in length and area of wounds showed significant differences between the two groups. @*Conclusion@#RhEGF ointment showed similar short-term cosmetic results with antibiotic ointment, and improved surgical results in regards of the wound size. Applying rhEGF could reduce the use of antibiotic ointments for cutaneous clean (class I) wound surgery.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Dermatofibroma is a common benign skin neoplasm that is usually easy to recognize; however, in some cases, it is difficult to differentiate it from atypical dermatofibroma. Atypical dermatofibroma is a rare variant of a more aggressive nature and requires complete excision due to its tendency to recur. @*Objective@#To describe the clinical and dermoscopic features of dermatofibromas with special emphasis on the characteristics of atypical subtypes and to differentiate them from typical subtypes on the basis of results. @*Methods@#We retrospectively searched the databases of patients of Korea University Ansan Hospital from January 2010 to December 2019 who underwent skin biopsies or excision surgeries and had pathological reports of dermatofibroma. Analyses of the clinical characteristics (age, sex, number of lesions, anatomical site) and dermoscopic patterns were performed. @*Results@#Dermoscopic patterns were analyzed in 148 cases of dermatofibroma; peripheral delicate pigment networks and central white scar-like patches were the most common patterns found in 45 cases (30.4%). In eight cases of atypical dermatofibroma, three cases (37.5%) showed peripheral homogenous areas and central white networks, followed by multiple white scar-like patches in 2 cases (25.0%), peripheral delicate pigment networks, and central white scar-like patches in 2 cases (25.0%). Dermoscopy revealed a statistically significant difference in the peripheral homogenous area and the central white network pattern between the two groups. @*Conclusion@#In this study, we analyzed the dermoscopic findings of 148 patients with dermatofibroma and found that the peripheral homogenous area and central white network patterns were significantly more in atypical dermatofibroma.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Pigmented purpuric dermatosis (PPD) is known as a chronic recurrent eruption which usually presents with petechiae and pigmented macules on the lower extremities.Dermoscopy is a noninvasive diagnostic tool in identifying pigmented and vascular lesions, which can also be beneficial in the evaluation of PPD. @*Objective@#We aimed to analyze the common dermoscopic characteristics of PPD, and correlate those findings with the histopathologic features. Additionally, dermoscopic and pathological findings in this study population were compared with other similar studies from the literature review. @*Methods@#A retrospective analysis was performed using data of 60 patients who were diagnosed as PPD by skin biopsy and had dermoscopic examination. The pathologic analysis was performed by categorizing the pattern into lichenoid, perivascular, interface, and spongiotic subtype, and the dermoscopic assessment was performed by the three authors independently. @*Results@#In dermoscopy, 96.7% of the patients showed red globules and dots, followed by brownish patch, coppery-red pigmentation, and annular comma-like vessels. The pathologic pattern analysis revealed statistically significant association of lichenoid pattern with coppery red pigmentation, perivascular pattern with annular/comma-like vessels, and spongiosis pattern with reticular pigmented network and linear vessels. The interrater similarity test showed total kappa value of 0.811which referred to “very good”. @*Conclusion@#In this study, the prevalence of dermoscopic features in Asian PPD patients was identified, which was similar with previous studies. The dermoscopic-pathologic correlation was found in four dermoscopic features. We suggest that dermoscopic examination is helpful in clinical diagnosis and pathological prediction of PPD.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Pigmented purpuric dermatosis (PPD) is known as a chronic recurrent eruption which usually presents with petechiae and pigmented macules on the lower extremities.Dermoscopy is a noninvasive diagnostic tool in identifying pigmented and vascular lesions, which can also be beneficial in the evaluation of PPD. @*Objective@#We aimed to analyze the common dermoscopic characteristics of PPD, and correlate those findings with the histopathologic features. Additionally, dermoscopic and pathological findings in this study population were compared with other similar studies from the literature review. @*Methods@#A retrospective analysis was performed using data of 60 patients who were diagnosed as PPD by skin biopsy and had dermoscopic examination. The pathologic analysis was performed by categorizing the pattern into lichenoid, perivascular, interface, and spongiotic subtype, and the dermoscopic assessment was performed by the three authors independently. @*Results@#In dermoscopy, 96.7% of the patients showed red globules and dots, followed by brownish patch, coppery-red pigmentation, and annular comma-like vessels. The pathologic pattern analysis revealed statistically significant association of lichenoid pattern with coppery red pigmentation, perivascular pattern with annular/comma-like vessels, and spongiosis pattern with reticular pigmented network and linear vessels. The interrater similarity test showed total kappa value of 0.811which referred to “very good”. @*Conclusion@#In this study, the prevalence of dermoscopic features in Asian PPD patients was identified, which was similar with previous studies. The dermoscopic-pathologic correlation was found in four dermoscopic features. We suggest that dermoscopic examination is helpful in clinical diagnosis and pathological prediction of PPD.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Dermatofibroma is a common benign skin neoplasm that is usually easy to recognize; however, in some cases, it is difficult to differentiate it from atypical dermatofibroma. Atypical dermatofibroma is a rare variant of a more aggressive nature and requires complete excision due to its tendency to recur. @*Objective@#To describe the clinical and dermoscopic features of dermatofibromas with special emphasis on the characteristics of atypical subtypes and to differentiate them from typical subtypes on the basis of results. @*Methods@#We retrospectively searched the databases of patients of Korea University Ansan Hospital from January 2010 to December 2019 who underwent skin biopsies or excision surgeries and had pathological reports of dermatofibroma. Analyses of the clinical characteristics (age, sex, number of lesions, anatomical site) and dermoscopic patterns were performed. @*Results@#Dermoscopic patterns were analyzed in 148 cases of dermatofibroma; peripheral delicate pigment networks and central white scar-like patches were the most common patterns found in 45 cases (30.4%). In eight cases of atypical dermatofibroma, three cases (37.5%) showed peripheral homogenous areas and central white networks, followed by multiple white scar-like patches in 2 cases (25.0%), peripheral delicate pigment networks, and central white scar-like patches in 2 cases (25.0%). Dermoscopy revealed a statistically significant difference in the peripheral homogenous area and the central white network pattern between the two groups. @*Conclusion@#In this study, we analyzed the dermoscopic findings of 148 patients with dermatofibroma and found that the peripheral homogenous area and central white network patterns were significantly more in atypical dermatofibroma.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Pulsed dye laser treatment is a proven effective treatment for capillary malformation. Previous studies have shown different responses to pulsed dye laser depending on the anatomical location of the capillary malformation. @*Objective@#This retrospective study assessed the potential differences in treatment response depending on anatomical location and the factors affecting pulsed dye laser treatment response. @*Methods@#We retrospectively investigated 88 patients with capillary malformation (nevus flammeus or port-wine stain) in the head and neck area treated with pulsed dye laser between November 2005 and January 2019. Dermatologists evaluated the effect of treatment from photographs taken before and after treatment. The anatomical location in the head and neck, lesion size, number of treatments, and the presence of proliferative lesion were analyzed from medical records and photographs. @*Results@#The analyzed 88 patients included 121 lesions. The lesion size and the presence of proliferative lesions significantly affected the treatment effect; however, the location of the lesion in the head and neck did not. @*Conclusion@#Smaller lesion size and the absence of proliferative lesion showed better effects of pulsed dye laser treatment. Unlike previous studies, the lesion location did not significantly affect the treatment effect.
ABSTRACT
Basal cell carcinoma is a common cancer and has been reported to account for approximately 80% of non-melanoma skin cancers. Superficial basal cell carcinoma occurs mainly in the trunk or limbs and is characterized by clinical features of scaly erythema with or without epidermal atrophy. These clinical features require differentiation from those of other benign and malignant skin diseases. Recently, specific dermoscopic findings of basal cell carcinoma have been helpful for diagnosis. Common dermoscopic findings of superficial basal cell carcinoma include superficial telangiectasia and maple leaf-like areas. Herein, we report a case of superficial basal cell carcinoma that was not diagnosed by punch biopsy but by dermoscopy.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a serine/threonine protein kinase that plays a pivotal role in the balance of cellular energy metabolism. Recent studies have reported that AMPK has numerous roles in physiological conditions, and dysregulation of AMPK induces pathological processes and diseases. However, the role of AMPK and its activators have not yet been studied in the context of hair growth regulation. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of metformin on dermal papilla (DP) and outer root sheath (ORS) cells, as well as the role of the AMPK pathway in hair growth. METHODS: We evaluated whether metformin, a well-known AMPK activator, had any beneficial effects on hair growth. In addition, to evaluate the molecular and cellular mechanisms that were involved, protein levels of AMPK and β-catenin were analyzed. RESULTS: Metformin increased the cellular proliferation of human DP and ORS cells. Ki-67 expression was also significantly increased after metformin treatment in the ex vivo hair follicle organ culture. Furthermore, DP and ORS cells treated with metformin had a significant increase in AMPK phosphorylation, which in turn suppressed β-catenin degradation and enhanced its nuclear accumulation. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that metformin promoted hair growth via the AMPK/β-catenin signaling pathway in vitro with DP and ORS cells. The hair-promoting effects of AMPK activators may potentially be used for the treatment of alopecia, and further investigation will be needed in the future.
Subject(s)
Humans , Alopecia , AMP-Activated Protein Kinases , beta Catenin , Cell Proliferation , Energy Metabolism , Hair Follicle , Hair , In Vitro Techniques , Metformin , Organ Culture Techniques , Pathologic Processes , Phosphorylation , Protein KinasesABSTRACT
Fixed drug eruption is a pattern of a drug-induced cutaneous reaction. It is characterized by skin erythematous plaques that recur at the same site each time the drug is administered. Now, we report the case of a 26-year-old woman who presented with 2 ill-defined erythematous patches on her back with itching sensation. The patient had a history of ciprofloxacin medication. The patch test with suspected drugs showed negative reactions, but intradermal tests were positive reactions. The patient was diagnosed with fixed-drug eruption due to ciprofloxacin.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Ciprofloxacin , Drug Eruptions , Intradermal Tests , Patch Tests , Pruritus , Sensation , SkinABSTRACT
Melanonychia is a darkening of the nails and its importance is that it may indicate the presence of a subungual malignant melanoma. Because the incidence of malignant melanoma is quite small in children, clinicians have had difficulties as to whether or not to perform a nail matrix biopsy in the children with melanonychia. Herein, we report the case of a 6-year-old boy that presented with melanonychia, which was determined to be confirmed melanoma in situ.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Biopsy , Incidence , Melanoma , NailsABSTRACT
Panniculitis is a rare cutaneous finding in dermatomyositis (DM), presenting as tender subcutaneous nodules. Because panniculitis may precede other symptoms of DM, and its complications, including pain, lipoatrophy and carcinosis, might be severe and irreversible, early diagnosis and treatment of panniculitis is important. We herein describe a case of dermatomyositis first presenting as panniculitis in a 45-year old man.
Subject(s)
Dermatomyositis , Early Diagnosis , PanniculitisABSTRACT
Sequential lymphoma is defined as two different types of lymphoma that occur in the same patient at different anatomic sites and times. In most cases, the two distinct histologies belong to the same lineage (B- or T-cell lymphoma), though cases with both have been observed. A few cases of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphomas arising in patients with angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL) have been reported. Immune deficits inherent in AITL, combined with the immunosuppressive effects of the therapy, may have allowed unchecked EBV-induced proliferation of latently or newly EBV-infected B cells with eventual clonal selection and progression to aggressive B-cell lymphoma. Here, we report a case of AITL in which EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) arose 9 months after the initial diagnosis of AITL.