Expression of Involucrin and Filaggrin in Various Skin Disorders: Immunohistochemical Study / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: The cornified cell envelope (CE) is a unique structure found in the terminal differentiation of the skin. The precursor proteins of the CE are composed of many candidate structural proteins, among which invalucrin and filaggrin are important ones to participate in the complicated process of forming, the complex structure. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of expression of involucrin and filaggrin as markers of terminal differentiation in various skin disorders including tumors. METHODS: Immunohistochemical studies were performed in the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded skin samples of non-tumors (41 cases) and tumors (43 cases).

Two Cases of Cellulitis on the Saphenous Venectomy Scar after a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft / 대한피부과학회지

We report two cases of cellulitis on the saphenous venectomy scar which developed after a coronary artery bypass graft(CABG). A 68-year-old male and a 62-year-old female developed acute cellulitis in the saphenous vein donor extremity after CABG. The repeated bacterial cultures were negative in both cases. However, onychomycosis was confirmed in one patient. The intervals between CABG and the initial bout of cellulitis in the male and female patient were 10 and 22 months, respectively. Although the exact pathogenesis remains obscure, factors such as direct bacterial infection, hypersensitivity to streptococcal exotoxins, a local compromise of lymphatic and venous drainage, and fungal infection might have contributed to the development of cellulitis in these patients.

A Clinical Observation of Cutaneous Malignant Tumors over 10 Years ( 1987-1996, Chonnam Province ) / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: The incidence of Cutaneous malignant tumors has increased recently and they have varied in their developing patterns according to social and environmental influences. However, we have little clinical data about the cutaneous malignant tumors in the Chonnam provinee. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to analyze the clinical characteristics of cutaneous malignant tumors observed in the Chonnam province and to compare them with the data previously reported in Korea. METHOD: We clinically analyzed 427 cases of cutaneous malignant tumors during a 10 year period betwecn January 1987 and Oetober 1996, at the Department of Dermatology, Chonnam Univemity Hospital in Kwangju. RESULTS: 1. The average armual incidence of cutaneous malignant tumors among the total number of outpatients was 1.00+/- 0.25%. The incidence tended to increase with time from 0.90+/-0.29% in the first 5 year-period to 1.15+/-0.09% in the late 5 year-period. The increasing rate was most pronmient in basal cell carcinoma. 2. The most common tumor in the 427 patients with malignant tumor was basal cell carcinoma (52.5%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (19.9%), malignant melanoma (13.3%), metastatic carcinoma (3.7%), malignant lymphoma (2.3%). 3. The mean age of onset was 60.7+/-16.0 years old (male; 59.6+/-15.0, female; 61.9+/-17.1) in the in the group as a whole; 63.9 in BCC, 63.3 in SCC and 55.8 in malignant melanoma. The ratio of men to women was 1.14:l. 4. The most common site of a11 malignant tumors was the head and neck (64.6%), where 89.3% of BCC, 58.8% of SCC, and 15.8% of malignant melanoma developed. The next common site was the lower exlremities and feet (15.7%) followed by the trunk (7,7%), and upper extremities and hands (7.3%).

Unusual Cutaneous Neutrophilic Infiltration in Myelodysplasia Syndrome : A Nuclear Segmentation Anomaly

We report a case of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with unique histopathological findings in which numerous infiltrated neutrophils exhibited nuclear segmentation anomalies. In comparison with well-described neutrophilic dermatoses of myelodysplastic syndrome such as Sweets syndrome and pyoderma gangrenosum, this case took a rapid and aggressive clinical course. We suggest that a nuclear segmentation anomaly, pseudo Pelger-Hiiet anomaly, is likely to reflect acute transformation of MDS and can be a poor prognostic marker.

Immunohistochemical Studies of bc1-2 Protein in a Skin Tumor of Neuroectodermal Origin / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Protooncogene, bcl-2 is known to inhibit, apoptosis induced by various stimuli. Its expression has been reported in various fetal and adult tissues, and also in tumors of neural origin. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of bcl-2 in a skin tumor of neuroectodermal origin and to estimate whether this expression was useful in the different,ial diagnosis of tumors of neural origin or not. METHOD: Immunohistochemical stains by the LSAB(labelled streptavidin biotin) method for bcl-2 protein were performed in normal special nerve end-organs and a skin tumor of neural origin. RESULTS: The immunohistochemical findings revealed strong positive results in Meissners corpuscles, but weak week positive results in Vater-Pacini corpuscles. There were also strong positive results in neurilernmomas which were mostly composed of Schwann cells, but results were mostly negative in neurofibromas and neurofibrosarcomas which were composed primarily of endoneurial fibroblasts of mesodermal origin except a few cells of Schwann cell origin. Benign granular cell tumors arising from Schwann cells, and Merkel cell carcinoma known to arise from the Merkel cells of neural crest origin showed strong positive reactions. CONCLUSION: The strong expression of bcl-2 protein exclusively in the tumor of neuroectodermal origin suggests a useful indicator for the differential diagnosis of skin tumors of neural origin.