Clinical Evaluation of Pressure Alopecia / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Pressure alopecia is the loss of hair following a prolonged immobilization, probably due to pressure-induced local ischemia. It is most commonly observed after surgical procedures under general anesthesia. Most of the studies or reports of pressure alopecia deal with postoperative cases. OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to investigate and understand the clinical manifestations, course and histopathological characteristics of pressure alopecia in various circumstances. METHOD: 27 patients with pressure alopecia, who had visited the Department of Dermatology at Busan Paik Hospital between 1998 and 2004, were examined clinically and histopathologically. RESULTS: The ratio of males to females was 4: 5, and the mean age of patients was 36+/-22 years. The cause of pressure alopecia were classified into 5 groups: open heart surgery, craniectomy, other surgeries, long-term bed rest, and the miscellaneous causes including wearing of hair prosthesis and group punishment. The most commonly involved site was the occipito-parietal area. Histopathological examination showed upper dermal edema and fibrosis, follicular fibrosis, melanin pigments, hair follicles in telogen and catagen stages, perifollicular lymphocytic infiltration and vascular change. The mean operation time was 8.1+/-7.2 hours in the patients with temporary alopecia and 17.8+/-7.6 hours in those with permanent alopecia. The mean operation time of the patients with temporary alopecia was shorter than those with permanent alopecia (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study revealed several causative factors of pressure alopecia including surgery, long-term bed rest, and miscellaneous causes. Therefore, close observation of the pressure site and changing the position of the patient's head at regular intervals are essential during the various surgical and nonsurgical treatments to prevent pressure alopecia.

Clinical Study of Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) on Drug Eruption Patients Over the last 10 years (1995-2004) / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), previously named drug `hypersensitivity syndrome', is a subset of severe drug eruption with quite distinct clinical presentations. Perhaps because of its relatively late onset and variable presentations, the diagnosis of DRESS may be delayed. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine the incidence and investigate the causative drugs and clinical characteristics of DRESS. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical features and laboratory findings of DRESS in 795 drug eruption patients who had visited Pusan National University Hospital over the last 10 years (1995-2004). RESULTS: 1. Of 795 drug eruption patients, 14 (1.76%) received a diagnosis of DRESS. 2. The average age of onset was 44.5 years and there was no significant difference according to sex. 3. The most common causative agent of DRESS was carbamazepine (50%), followed by allopurinol, captopril, phenytoin and antituberculous medications. 4. DRESS developed 2-10 weeks after administration of the causative agent, and the average latent period was 4.6 weeks.

Effects of HSP70 on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury after heat preconditioning in rats / 中国药理学通报

Aim To study the effects of HSP70 on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury after heat preconditioning in rats.Method To establish the models of the hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. 42 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, (each group had 7 rats): normal group(N); quercetin injection group(Q); ischemia-reperfusion group(I); heat preconditioning 16 hours before ischemia-reperfusion group(H+I); quercetin injection before heat preconditioning group(Q+H+I); quercetin injection before ischemia-reperfusion group(Q+I).We detected the activity of serum enzyme of ALT,AST and the pathological changes of the liver;The expressions of HSP70 of the rats were observed by Western blotting. Results The expressions of HSP70 from high to low were:group H+I,group I,group Q+H+I,group Q+I,group Q,group N; The serum levels of ALT and AST from high to low were: group Q+I,group I,group Q+H+I,group H+I,group Q,group N;All groups had visibly hepatic histological changes respectively.Conclusion The protection of heat stress pretreatment from ischemia reperfusion injury was possibly performed by inducing the expression of HSP70.