The Distribution of Malassezia Yeasts on Normal Human Skin by Culture Study Using the Scrub-wash Techique / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous vasculitis associated with viral hepatitis seems to occur as a hypersensitivity reaction against the circulating viral antigens. Hepatitis B virus(HBV)-encoded X antigen(HBxAg) is known to participate in the carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) by the inactivation of p53. However, HBxAg has been found in chronic infiammatory lesions without the overexpression of p53. Accordingly, not only EBsAg and HBcAg but also HBxAg may be involved in HCC-associated cutaneous vasculitis, regardless of the alteration of p53. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to investigate the expression of HBV-encoded antigens in cutaneous vasculitis accompanied by HBV hepatopathy. Additionally, we have compared the expression of 3 HBV antigens and p53 between vasculitic patients with HCC and in others showing HCC-non-associated vasculitis. METHODS: Immunohistochemically, we examined the expression of HBsAg, HBcAg, and HBxAg in the tissue specimens taken from the vasculitic lesions of the 33 HBsAg-positive enrolled patients with cutaneous vasculitis proven by skin biopsy. RESULTS: 1. The immunohistochemical positivity rate to HBsAg in vasculitic patients with HBV hepatopathy was 66.7% overall. It was 90% in HCC-associated vasculitic subjects and 56.5% in the vasculitic subjects without HCC, respectively. 2. We found the expression of HBxAg in 80% of the vasculitic subjects showing HCC. The vasculitic patients without HCC showed 17,3% of the positivity rate to HBxAg. 3. We could not find the overexpression of p53 in the vasculitic tissue specimens of the HCC patients without the cutaneous metastasis from primary HCC. CONCLUSION: HBsAg, HBcAg and HBxAg may participate in the pathogenesis of cutaneous vasculitis with HBV hepatopathy, regardless of tumorigenesis.

The Distibution of Malassezia Yeasts on Normal Human Skin by Culture study Using the Swabbing Technique / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: The distribution of Malassezia yeasts on normal human skin was varied according to the age and race of the volunteers and the methodologies used. In Korea, most reports of Malassezia yeast distribution have relied on direct skin smears rather than culture methods. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work was to perform a comprehensive survey of the distribution of Malassezia yeasts on normal human skin to provide a base line for a companion study of Malassezia yeasts in patients with various dermatoses. METHODS: Malassezia yeasts were cultured using the swabbing technique from the scalp, forehead, chest, upper back, upper arm and upper thigh in 137 subjects, infancy to 80 years of age. RESULTS: Malassezia yeasts were present in the lowest incidence(0-30%) on six sites of infants and present in 60.0-66.7% on the sebum-rich sites (scalp, forehead, chest, upper back) of children aged 1-9. Malassezia yeasts were present in 80.0-86.7% on the sebum-rich sites of the elderly group(over 60 years of age), about the same frequency as in the middle-aged groups. The population density of these organisms was significantly higher on the upper back than on the forehead, chest, upper arm and upper thigh in all age groups except the infant group and the group aged 1 to 9 (p<0.05). There were no regular quantitative variations in the distribution of Malassezia yeasts on a given site between age groups. On Leeming and Notman media, besides three morphotypes of Malassezia yeasts reported by Cunningham et al(1990), one additional type was identified. CONCLUSION: The results showed regional variations in the distribution of Malassezia yeasts in all ages except infancy and no regular age variations on a given site. Additionally, four colony types of Malassezia yeasts were found. The findings of our study coold help to investigate the role of Malassezia yeasts in related disorders.

A Case of Proximal Subungual Onychomycosis in a Patient with Rheumatoid arthritis / 대한피부과학회지

Proximal subungual onychomycosis (PSO) is the rarest form of onychomycosis and most commonly due to Trichophyton rubrum, The fungus initially penetrates the horny layer of the proximal nail fold and subsequently invades the under-surface of the nail plate. PSO has been mainly reported in patients with AIDS and AIDS related complex and may serve as an early clue for the presence of imrnunodeficiency. We report a case of PSO in a 45-year-old woman with reumatoid arthritis who received oral steroid.

A Case of a Giant Acrochordon of the Labium Majus / 대한피부과학회지

Acrochordons are commonly found in middle aged rnan. They are mostly a few millimeters in size. The authors report an exceptionally large(10x5cm) one with a 3cm pedicle, which is thought to be the largest one in the Korean literature.

A Case of Solitary Cutaneous reticulohistiocytoma / 대한피부과학회지

Solitary cutaneous reticulohistiocytoma is a type of reticulohistiocytosis. The cytoplasm of tumo cells characteristically shows abundant eosinophilic "ground-glass" appearance. We report a case of this rare cutaneous tumor in a 54-year-old woman. It was present as a single nodule on the right index finger of the patient for seven years.

Treatment of Congenital Hemangiomata with Intralesional Corticosteroid / 대한피부과학회지

Sixteen cases of congenital hemangiomata were treated with intralesional corticosteroid injectinn and followed up for 3 to 48 months. They consisted of 9 cases of strawberry hemangiomata with soft consistency, 4 cases of strawbery hemangiomata with firm consistency and 3 cases of cavernous hemangiomata. The results were as follows : 1) All the soft strawberry hemangiomata showed excellent response with marked shrinkage by single treatment. 2) The firm strawberry hemangiomata showed poor response with visible shrinkage after five times treatment, in average. 3) Among three cases of cavernous hemangiomata, one case with large palpable blood vessels in the lesion showed poor response, and two cases without palpable blood vessels in the lesion showed good response. 4) Temporary atrophy and pallor of the skin color were noticed in about half of the cases. Considering the concern of the patients parents, course of the hemangiomata., and the simplicity and effects of the treatment, this therapeutic method is regarded useful in the management of congenital hemangiomata, especially in soft st r awberry hemangiomata.

Primary Tuberculous Complex at the Site of Intralesional Corticosteroid Injection

No abstract available.