A Case of Multinucleate Cell Angiohistiocytoma / 대한피부과학회지

Multinucleate cell angiohistiocytoma is a rare benign fibrohistiocytic vascular condition with distinctive histologic features. It tends to occur more frequently in middle-aged women, to favor the extremities, and to appear as grouped reddish-brown papules. We describe a case of solitary multinucleate cell angiohistiocytoma that appeared as a papule on the upper lip of a 24-year-old man.

Localized Paroxysmal Pruritus in Multiple Sclerosis / 대한피부과학회지

Paroxysmal itching is a rare symptom in multiple sclerosis and it was first reported in 1975 by Osterman and Westerberg. It has been suggested that paroxysmal itching may be due to the activation of axons in CNS via abnormal synapses between demyelinated axons. Carbamazepine, phenytoin, and ibuprofen are known to be effective in the treatment of paroxysmal itching. We report a case of paroxysmal itching of 4 months' duration in a 41-year-old female with multiple sclerosis who suffered from severe paroxysmal itching on the left side of her neck and chest. The itching did not respond to carbamazepine, but it was partially controlled with ibuprofen.

Regulation of type I collagen and interstitial collagenase mRNA expression in human dermal fibroblasts by colchicine and D-penicillamine

Sclerosis is a disease process in which idiopathic hardening occurs in the skin and/or internal organs as a result of the accumulation of type I collagen, induced mainly by transforming growth factor-beta. Colchicine and D-penicillamine are widely used for its treatment. Their effects are known to be due to post-translational down-regulation of type I collagen synthesis, with colchicine also up-regulating interstitial collagenase. To determine whether or not they have any pre-translational effect on type I collagen and MMP-1, and also to observe their effects on the action of TGF-beta, cultured neonatal foreskin fibroblasts were treated with colchicine and D-penicillamine, singly and together. The amount of type I collagen and MMP-1 mRNA were quantitated by Northern blot hybridization. Colchicine suppresses the basal level of type I collagen mRNA but minimally stimulates the mRNA expression of MMP-1, whereas D-penicillamine does not have any significant effects on either. Colchicine was also able to significantly suppress the TGF-beta-induced up-regulation of type I collagen mRNA expression.