A case of protein contact dermatitis / 천식및알레르기

A 24-year-old woman complained of chronic eczematous lichenified skin lesions with itching on both hands. The lesions were distributed mainly on the lateral and dorsal sides of the fingers. She had a history of atopic dermatitis and noticed itching sensation followed by erythema within minutes of contact with salmon at the respective contact sites, and subsequent formation of papules. Additionally, the ingestion of salmon resulted in swelling on her lips and throat. She had been working as a cook for 2 years and her sister had suffered from allergy to metal. Patch test with Korean standards and bakery series yielded positive to nickel and cobalt without clinical relevance. In a standardized skin prick test, strongly positive reactions to raw salmon and red snapper were observed after 20 min, but a patch test with the same substances was negative. We report a case of protein contact dermatitis due to salmon and red snapper.

Mutations of the NF1 gene in Korean Neurofibromatosis type 1 patients

BACKGROUND: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is one of the most common inherited disorders and is characterized by abnormalities in multiple tissues derived from the neural crest. OBJECTIVES: We analyzed the presence of mutations of NF1 gene in unrelated 56 Korean NF-1 patients. METHODS: Mutations were detected by polymerase chain reaction, single strand conformational polymorphism analysis and direct DNA sequencing. RESULTS: We found five different kinds of mutations in the NF1 gene from 5 out of 56 unrelated Korean NF1 patients. Sequence analysis revealed a nucleotide substitution at codon 1276 of exon 22 (CGA to TGA, R1276X), 4 by insertion at codon 1270 of exon 22 (3809 ins TGGA), a base pair deletion at codon 1398 of exon 24 (4192 del G), 4 by deletion at codon 1638 of exon 28 (4914 del CTCT), and a base pair substitution at codon 1947 of exon 31 (CGA to TGA, R1947X). All of these mutations resulted in premature termination of the mutant alleles. CONCLUSION: Results showed that common consequences of NF1 mutations are introduction of a premature stop codon, and these mutant genes may encode truncated forms of neurofibromin.

A Case of Eosinophilic Pustular Folliculitis with Palmoplantar Lesions / 대한피부과학회지

Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis(EPF) is characterized by recurrent crops of pruritic follicular papules and pustules that occur mainly on the face. The histological feature is the infiltration of eosinophils into the follicular epidermis and adjacent dermis. Extrafollicular lesions with involvement of palms and soles are not uncommon. Herein, we report a case of EPF with palmoplantar lesions in a 40 year-old woman. Palmoplantar lesions started 2 years ago and the initial clinical impression was palmoplantar pustulosis. For 6 months prior to visit, she had suffered from recurrent skin lesions on the face. A skin biosy taken from the lesion on the face revealed a dense infiltration of eosinophils into the follicles and a skin biopsy obtained from the lesion on palm demonstrated an intraepidermal vesicles filled with red blood cells and eosinophils.

Attachment and Growth of Cultured Fibroblasts on Chitosan Sponge

Closure of large skin wounds with split-thickness skin graft requires extensive harvesting of autologous skin. The limitation of available donor areas has sought various kinds of skin equivalents for coverage of skin defects. Concept of living skin equivalent using fibroblast and keratinocyte is the most promising one. For seeking ideal artificial skin, we conducted a research of new dermal alternative using chitosan. Fibroblast scattered on chitosan and chitosan-collagen sponge polymers were cultured for 3 weeks and chitosan and chitosan-collagen sponge polymers were grafted on the back of 250 gm Sprague-Dawley rat. There was statistically significant difference in fibroblast attachment as well as fibroblast proliferation between chitosan and chitosan-collagen sponge. Four weeks after grafting, the grafted area was examined. In the area of chitosan sponge graft, there was no clinical sign of inflammation. However, mild inflammatory infiltration and a few multinucleated giant cells were observed. In contrast, chitosan-collagen sponge grafted area showed no foreign body reaction clinically and histologically. In conclusion, concomitant use of chitosan and collagen resulted in better fibroblast attachment and proliferation and minimal immunologic reaction than chitosan sponge.

Three Cases of Nail Matrix Nevus in Children / 대한피부과학회지

Melanonychia is a pigmented nail plate. It can be produced by so many agents and diseases that it is often impossible to differentiate from one another by history and clinical examination alone. So, a nail biopsy is often required especially to exclude subungual melanoma. Herein, we reported 3 children with melanonychia. Junctional nevus in nail matrix was the cause of their melanonychia, although their lesions were suggestive of subungual melanoma by showing Hutchinson's sign, discoloration of total nail plate and destruction of nail plate, respectively. Considering the rarity of subungual melanoma in childhood and the higher risk of permanent nail deformity after nail matrix biopsy in young children, regular observation is recommended even if the melanonychia mimic subungual melanoma clinically.

Identification of two novel frame shift mutations of the NF1 gene in Korean patients with neurofibromatosis type 1

Neurofibromatos is type 1 (NF1) is one of the most common inherited disorders and is characterized by abnormalities in multiple tissues derived from the neural crest. The NF-1 gene has been cloned and mapped to human chromosome 17q11.2. The NF-1 gene has an open reading frame that predicts a protein consisting of 2,818 amino acids, known as neurofibromin. Here, we report two kinds of novel frame shift mutations of the NF1 gene from 2 out of 56 unrelated Korean NF1 patients. These mutations were detected using polymerase chain reaction and single strand conformational polymorphism analysis. Sequencing analysis revealed four base pair insertion at codon 1270 of exon 22, and a base pair deletion at codon 1398 of exon 24. These mutations resulted in premature termination of the mutant alleles and may encode truncated forms of neurofibromin.

A Case of B-cell Lymphoma and Early Kaposi's Sarcoma in an AIDS Patient / 감염

B cell lymphoma and Kaposi's sarcoma are the most common tumors in AIDS patients. They show more aggressive behavior and poor prognosis in AIDS patients than in the general population. Lymphoma and Kaposi's sarcoma in AIDS patients are associated with Epstein-Barr virus and human herpesvirus 8, respectively. We reported herein a case of lymphoma and Kaposi's sarcoma in an AIDS patient. He presented with a mass on the tongue base and a red papule on the posterior wall of the oropharynx. On the basis of his- tologic findings, immunohistochemical study, and PCR, his illnesses were diagnosed as B cell lymphoma, combined with early Kaposi's sarcoma. Unfortunately, he did not receive any treatment and died of malnutrition 1 month later. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of coexisting lymphoma and Kaposi's sarcoma from an AIDS patient in Korea.