ABSTRACT
Nocardia species are aerobic, gram-positive, filamentous, partially acid-fast actinomycetes which are found worldwide in soil and decaying organic plant matter. When they infect human beings, they generally enter through the respiratory tract and then disseminate systemically. Rarely has a primary infection occurred as the result of direct inoculation. Isolation of Nocardia from clinical specimens and identification of species are difficult. But, with the introduction of new genetic technologies, reports of novel species of Nocardia have increased. We describe a case of cutaneous nocardiosis caused by Nocardia takedensis in an 87-year-old woman who was diagnosed by bacterial culture and 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. N. takedensis has been described as a new species. This report describes the first clinical isolate of N. takedensis from a skin specimen in Korea.
Subject(s)
Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Actinobacteria , Korea , Nocardia Infections , Nocardia , Plants , Respiratory System , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S , Skin , SoilABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There is growing interest in the role of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in treating patients with acne owing to an inadequate treatment response or adverse effects associated with use of conventional modalities to treat this skin condition. However, there is no literature available or reports of studies performed in Korea describing use of CAM in treatment of acne. OBJECTIVE: To assess the usage and awareness regarding the role of CAM in the treatment of acne, among acne patients. METHODS: A questionnaire was used to interview 159 patients with acne regarding their use of CAM for the treatment of acne. This survey was conducted in 1 tertiary medical center, 1 general hospital, and 2 dermatology clinics. RESULTS: We found that 139 of 159 (87.4%) acne patients reported previous or current use of CAM. Among the 139 CAM users, acne-related cosmetics (71.2%) was the most frequently used category of products, followed by dietary therapy (58.3%), cleansing techniques, and a bath regimen (55.4%). Reportedly, the ‘Internet’ (62.6%) was the most common medium used as a source of information regarding use of CAM. The most common reason for using CAM was reported as the ‘desire to try everything’ (40.3%). Adverse effects related to the use of CAM were reported in 27 (19.4%) patients. The most common type of adverse effect reported was ‘aggravation of acne’. A majority of patients were not favorable for subjective therapeutic effect and satisfaction with CAM (60.0% and 84.2%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that a majority of acne patients use CAM with or without conventional treatment. Nonetheless, there is no study or evidence to prove the effectiveness of CAM in acne patients. Therefore, it is important for dermatologists to be aware of the risks and adverse effects associated with use of CAM for effective management of patients who consult them for treatment of acne.
Subject(s)
Humans , Acne Vulgaris , Baths , Complementary Therapies , Dermatology , Hospitals, General , Korea , SkinABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Growth factors play important roles in wound healing. However, the evidence for the effects of growth factors on post-thyroidectomy scars is limited. OBJECTIVE: We performed a prospective study to assess the preventive and therapeutic effect of a multi-growth factor (MGF)-containing cream on post-thyroidectomy scars. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with thyroidectomy scars applied MGF cream twice a day. We assessed the changes in erythema, pigmentation, skin elasticity, and skin hydration status using the erythema index, melanin index, cutometer, and corneometer, respectively. In addition, Vancouver scar scale (VSS) and patient satisfaction were assessed at 10 days after surgery (baseline), 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks after baseline. RESULTS: The mean total VSS scores were significantly lower at 6 weeks (3.24±1.51 vs. 1.91±1.38) and 12 weeks (3.24±1.51 vs. 1.71±1.59) compared to the baseline. The degree of pigmentation was significantly lower at 12 weeks compared to the baseline, and the skin elasticity, and the skin hydration status were significantly higher at 12 weeks compared to the baseline. Over 85% of the patients were satisfied with the use of MGF cream without any adverse effect. CONCLUSION: MGF cream might have additive or supportive effect for scar formation after thyroidectomy.
Subject(s)
Humans , Cicatrix , Elasticity , Erythema , Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins , Melanins , Patient Satisfaction , Pigmentation , Prospective Studies , Skin , Skin Pigmentation , Thyroidectomy , Wound HealingABSTRACT
Self-healing juvenile cutaneous mucinosis (SHJCM) is a rare disorder of unknown origin that affects healthy children. It is characterized by multiplication of transient papules and nodules on the head and periarticular area. Histopathologically, lesions show mucin deposition in the dermis or subcutis. A 9-year-old male patient presented with multiple skin-colored papules and nodules on the face and both hands. These papules and nodules had appeared over the preceding months and had been increasing in number. He was otherwise healthy and had no underlying systemic disorders. Skin biopsy in the right thenar nodule revealed deposition of amorphous material stained positively with Alcian blue (pH 2.5) within the dermis and subcutis. Spontaneous resolution occurred over several months without sequelae.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Male , Alcian Blue , Biopsy , Dermis , Hand , Head , Mucinoses , Mucins , SkinABSTRACT
Atypical lymphocytic lobular panniculitis (ALLP) is a recently described entity characterized by self-limiting plaques that manifest a waxing and waning course. Although ALLP is known as a benign condition, it needs adequate follow-up to determine the risk of progression to subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) because ALLP has morphologic and biologic similarities with SPTCL. We report a case of ALLP in a 13-year-old girl who presented with an unusual tumor-like erythematous mass on the left thigh but without systemic symptoms or laboratory abnormalities. The histopathologic findings showed a dense and diffuse infiltration of the fat lobules by small-to-medium-sized atypical lymphocytes including focal atypical mitosis. Some cells showed characteristic peripheral rimming of individual adipocytes. However, prominent lymphoid atypia, fat necrosis, vasculitis, vascular thrombosis, erythrophagocytosis, mucin deposition, and the striking dominance of CD8+ lymphocytes seen in SPTCL were not detected. The lesion resolved spontaneously in 6 months and there was no recurrence over a 24-month follow-up period.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Female , Humans , Adipocytes , Fat Necrosis , Follow-Up Studies , Lymphocytes , Lymphoma, T-Cell , Mitosis , Mucins , Panniculitis , Recurrence , Strikes, Employee , Thigh , Thrombosis , VasculitisABSTRACT
Cutaneous and systemic plasmacytosis (CSP) is a rare disorder of unknown etiology characterized by cutaneous polyclonal plasma cell infiltrates associated with various extracutaneous involvement and polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia. Here, we report on a 54-year-old male patient with chronic renal insufficiency who presented with disseminated reddish-brown macules and plaques on the face and trunk. In our evaluation, he was found to have lymphadenopathy, polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia; benign plasma cell infiltration involving the skin, bone marrow, and retroperitoneal area; and renal amyloidosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of CSP associated with renal amyloidosis.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Amyloidosis , Bone Marrow , Hypergammaglobulinemia , Lymphatic Diseases , Plasma Cells , Renal Insufficiency, Chronic , SkinABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The removal of epidermal cysts from the head and neck can sometimes be challenging for dermatologists, due to the associated cosmetic effects. Punch incision is an alternative method to the traditional elliptical excision for the removal of epidermal cysts. It is simple to perform with commonly available instruments, and easy to learn. However, there is currently no randomized study directly comparing the long-term results of these two methods in Korea. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of punch incision as compared to elliptical excision for the removal of epidermal cysts, and to identify the characteristics of the lesions most suitable for punch incision. METHODS: We conducted a prospective randomized study. A total of 109 patients with non-infected epidermal cysts on the head and neck were randomly assigned to treatment with either punch incision or elliptical excision, between January 2012 and January 2013. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the differences between the two procedures with respect to the demographic data of the patients; size and location of the lesions; operative time; complications; recurrence; cosmetic results; and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: The mean operative time for the punch incision group was significantly shorter than for the elliptical excision group (p0.05). CONCLUSION: Punch incision requires less time than elliptical excision, and is associated with superior cosmetic results. Regardless of different demographic characteristics, duration, location, and size, any epidermal cyst on the head and neck can be effectively treated with punch incision. Thus, we suggest that punch incision may be a useful method for removing epidermal cysts of the head and neck.
Subject(s)
Humans , Epidermal Cyst , Head , Korea , Neck , Operative Time , Patient Satisfaction , Prevalence , Prospective Studies , RecurrenceABSTRACT
Necrobiosis lipoidica (NL) is a chronic granulomatous skin disease of unknown etiology, which can be seen in patients with diabetes mellitus. Typical lesions of NL appear on the pretibial skin as painful yellow-brown inflammatory plaques with raised borders and atrophic centers. Ulceration occurs in approximately 35% of cases, leading to increased risk of secondary bacterial infection and scarring. Although there have been many proposed therapies for ulcerative NL, the response to treatment is often met with limited success. Here, we report a case of a 19-year-old girl with ulcerative NL, which showed improvements with oral hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial agent.
Subject(s)
Humans , Young Adult , Bacterial Infections , Cicatrix , Diabetes Mellitus , Hydroxychloroquine , Necrobiosis Lipoidica , Necrobiotic Disorders , Skin , Skin Diseases , UlcerABSTRACT
Gynecomastia is the most common condition affecting the male breast due to enlargement of both ductal and stromal tissue. Growth of the male breast can be manifested at any age, but 40% of cases present in adolescent boys. The condition depends mainly on the balance between serum estrogens and androgens. Gynecomastia represents a source of embarrassment, and optimal correction is difficult to achieve. Numerous methods of gynecomastia repair are available. Our method is a combination of liposuction and the pull-through technique. The purpose of this treatment is to resect excess tissue and restore the normal chest contour with minimal scarring. We report a case of gynecomastia treated with a combination of tumescent liposuction and the pull-through technique.