The efficacy of thymopentin in the treatment of atopic dermatitis / 천식및알레르기

BACKGROUND: Thymopentin(TP-5) is an immunomodulatory agent which may be a promising new drug in the treatment of patients with severe atopic dermatitis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of thymopentin for treatment of severe atopic dermatitis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fifteen patients with severe atopic dermatitis received subcutaneous injections of 50mg thymopentin three times per week for 6 weeks. Clinical extent and severity parameters were assessed at baseline, at regular intervals during therapy and 4 weeks posttherapy. Use of antihistamine and topical steroid were permitted. RESULT: Significant reduction in severity scores and body surface area involvement was observed and no significant side effects were noted(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Thymopentin may be considered to be an effective adjunctive therapeutic agent in the treatment of severe atopic dermatitis. Further studies will be needed to determine the action mechanism of thymopentin.

A Study of the Personality of Adult Patients with Atopic Dermatitis / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis will persist into adult life and chronic severe atopic dermatitis may cause significant interference in social interaction. Despite the controversy concerning the existence of specific personality exhibited by patients with atopic dermatitis, psychological and social factors have long been considered important factors that have influence on the course of the disease. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the charateristics of the personalities of adult patients with atopic dermatitis and their relationship to psychological factors and clinical characteristics. METHODS: Eysenck Personahty Questionnaire(EPQ) was carried out on 54 adult patients with atopic dermatitis. Using the EPQ scores, a cluster analysis was done to identify the subgroup of psychologically disabled patients. The psychological and social aspects of the identified patients were then investigated using a designed questionnaire. RESULTS: 1. A cluster analysis identified two patient subgroups. Psychoticism(P), extroversion-introversion(E), and neuroticism(N) scores were significantly different between the subgroups. The neuroticism scores were above the upper limit of the normal range in the higher EPQ scored subgroups. However, the total clinical severity score which was evaluated in 25 patients showed no significant difference between these subgroups. 2. The higher psychoticism, extroversion-introversion, and neuroticism scored patients tended to express severe disability due to atopic dermatitis and a high level of stress which was evaluated by the designed questionnaire. CONCLUSION: Eysenck personality questionnaire can be helpful in identifying a subgroup of patients who may need psychiatric intervention.

A Case of Syringoma limited to the Dorsum of the Hand / 대한피부과학회지

Although syringoma is a relatively common adnexal tumor, syringoma of the hand has not been reported previously in Korea. We report a case of acral syringoma that appeared as grouped yellow-brownish papules limited to the dorsum of the right hand in a 40 year-old woman. The histopathologic findings were typical of syringoma and were characterized by the presence of numerous solid strands of basophilic epithelial cells and small cystic ducts embedded in a fibrous connective tissue stroma in the dermis. The classical "tadpole" or "comma-like tail" structures were also observed. Our case of acral syringoma presented a distinctive clinical picture, and this condition should be considered in the differential diagnosis of papular lesions of the hands.

A Case of Syringoma limited to the Dorsum of the Hand / 대한피부과학회지

Although syringoma is a relatively common adnexal tumor, syringoma of the hand has not been reported previously in Korea. We report a case of acral syringoma that appeared as grouped yellow-brownish papules limited to the dorsum of the right hand in a 40 year-old woman. The histopathologic findings were typical of syringoma and were characterized by the presence of numerous solid strands of basophilic epithelial cells and small cystic ducts embedded in a fibrous connective tissue stroma in the dermis. The classical "tadpole" or "comma-like tail" structures were also observed. Our case of acral syringoma presented a distinctive clinical picture, and this condition should be considered in the differential diagnosis of papular lesions of the hands.

A Case of Cutaneous Angiomyolipoma

We describe a case of cutaneous angiomyolipoma found in the ear lobe, that is not associated with tuberous sclerosis. The lesion developed on the youngest patient yet reported in the literature.

Diagnosis of Xeroderma Pigmentosum by Measuring Unscheduled DNA Synthesis

No abstract available.

Clinical Study of Lichen Planus : An Analysis of 35 Cases / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Lichen planus is a papulosquarnous disease characterized by pruritic violaceous papules most commonly an the extremities of middle-aged adults. It may or may not be accompanied by oral and genital mucous membrane involvement. Its course is generally self-limited for a period of several months to years, but it may last indefinitely. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to find the clinical characteristics of lichen planus. METHODS: Thirty-five cases of lichen planus comfirrned clinically and histopathologically were analyzed. RESULTS: The incidenc of lichen planus was 0.073% of the total number of dermatologic patients. The age distribution was in the range of 14-63 years old being most prevalent in the 6th decade and there was ariequal sex ratio. The most common site of involvement was the mucous membrane, and the extremities were more common than the trunk. Pruitus or pain and discomfort developed in 28 pat,ients(80% ). In most cases, the treatment was topical corticosteroid and antihistamine. Sixteen cses improved within 1 month to 2 years. Five cases recurred in the improved cases. CONCLUSION: The clinical analysis of 35 patients with lichen planus was performed. The incidence of lichen planus was 0.073% of the total number of dermatologic patients. Males and females were equally affected Mucous membrane involvement was detected in 21 patients(60%).

Clinical Study of Urticaria Pigmentosa in Children

BACKGROUND: Urticaria pigmentosa(UP) is primarily a disease of children. There have been no clinical studies of UP in Korea. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to find the clinical characteristics of UP in Korean child-hood patients. METHOD: Twenty-nine cases of urticaria pigmentosa confirmed clinically and histopathologically were analyzed. RESULTS: The maculopapular type was the most common with the usual age of onset before the age of 6 months, and the lesions tended to be distributed in the central portion of the body. Darier sign was positive in 92% of the patients(24/26). No systemic involvements were detected in any of the patients with minimal associated symptoms. Seven patients of the maculopapular type and one patient of the multiple nodular type followed up for more than 2 years showed a tendency to improve or clear by the age of 6 years. CONCLUSION: Neonatal or infantile-onset patients of UP in Korean pediatric population were considered to have a benign clinical course and to require no aggressive therapy.

The Effectiveness and Remission Time of Modified Ingram Therapy for Psoriasis / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: The Ingram regimen has been advocated for t.he treatment of psoriasis. It is an effective therapeutic moiality, but its complexity and frequent side reactions have restricted its use for therapy. There are several modified Ingrarn regimen, change of vehicle, shortening of application time, low-strerigth anthralin, combination with emollient. Previously, we have reportved the effectiveness of mocified Ingram regimen for psoriasis, however, the remission time and relapse rate of psoriasis has not been reported in Korea. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of the modified Ingram region for the treatment of psoiasis and the remission time and relapse rate of psoriasis following moclified Ingram therapy. METHODS: Sixty patients with plaque-form psoriasis were treated with the modified Ingra,n therapeutic regimen. They were divided into two groups, a moderate group which included 39 patients, and 21 patients in a severe group. RESULTS: The follwing results were obtained from this study. 1. Among 60 patients, 52 patients(86.6%) were successfully healed and 8 patients(13.3%) showed failure in their t eatment. 2. In 52 patients, 44 patients(73.3%) showed a clearing of psoriasis, 8 patients(13.3%) showed some improvement. 3. In 44 cleared patients mean numbers and duration of therapy reaching grade 4 were 13.0 and 21.0 days for the trunk and 15.1 and 24.7 days for the extremities, the difference was not significant statistically(p>0.05). The difference between the total dose in trunk and extremitis was significant statistica,ly(p6 months) and 14(60.9%) with riorelapse(>12 months) in the moderate group and also observed 10 patients(70.0%) with early IP, lapse, 2(20.0%) with latrelapse and 1(10.0%) with no relapse in the severe group. 7. In 33 pat,ients who were followed up at least one year later, the mean time of remission was 31.4 months in the moderate group and 6.0 mont,hs in the severe group. There were signilicant differences in the two groups(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the modified Ingram regimen is one of the effective therapeutic mocialities for cases of moderate psoriasis.

Clinical Study of Vitiligo

BACKGROUND: The clinical behavior of vitiligo has not been clearly understood and hypothesis concerning the pathogenesis of the disease has been confusing and contradictory though autoimmune mechanisms have been considered important by many authors. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop a better understanding of the clinical features and pathogenesis of vitiligo. METHODS: We investigated clinical features of vitiligo in 1315 patients, and also compared the clinical course and features of non-segmental type(type A) and segmental type(type B) vitiligo patients to see whether the two types of vitiligo have a different pathogenic mechanism. RESULTS: Previously reported clinical patterns of the disease were reviewed and compared with our data, and the different clinical findings between the two types which supported the hypothesis of Koga et al. that type A and type B vitiligo had a different pathogenesis and autoimmune mechanisms played a role only in type A were shown. CONCLUSION: We investigated the clinical characteristics of vitiligo in Korea and showed that the type A vitiligo might have a different pathogenic mechanism with type B.

A Case of Pigmented Contact Dermatitis / 대한피부과학회지

Pigmented contact dermiatitis is a disease resulting from recirrent contact dermatitis due to hypersensitivity to cosmetic components, which produces secondery bizarre dark brown hyperpigmentation. Histological examinaition of this condition reveals liquefaction degeneration of the basal cells of the epidermis and melanopbages in the upper dermis. We report a case of pigmented contact dermatitis from musk tibeten, which was diagnosed by the histological examination, the patch and photopatch tests. Residul hisperpigmentation was seen on the region of the patch testing.