Dermal Stability and In Vitro Skin Permeation of Collagen Pentapeptides (KTTKS and palmitoyl-KTTKS)

Collagen pentapeptide (Lys-Thr-Thr-Lys-Ser, KTTKS) and its palmitoylated derivative (pal-KTTKS) have received a great deal of attention as cosmeceutical ingredients for their anti-wrinkle effects. The objective of this study was to evaluate stability and permeability of KTTKS and pal-KTTKS in hairless mouse skin. In this study, a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method was developed for the quantification of pal-KTTKS, and used for stability and permeability studies. Stability studies were performed using skin extracts and homogenates. Both KTTKS and pal-KTTKS were rapidly degraded, but pal-KTTKS was more stable than KTTKS. When protease inhibitors were added, the stability of both compounds (KTTKS and pal-KTTKS) improved significantly. In the skin permeation study, neither KTTKS nor pal-KTTKS was detected in the receptor solution, which indicates that neither compound could permeate through the full-thickness hairless mouse skin in the experimental conditions of this study. While KTTKS was not detected in any of the skin layers (the stratum corneum, epidermis, and dermis), pal-KTTKS was observed in all skin layers: 4.2 +/- 0.7 microg/cm2 in the stratum corneum, 2.8 +/- 0.5 microg/cm2 in the epidermis, and 0.3 +/- 0.1 microg/cm2 in the dermis. In conclusion, this study indicated that pal-KTTKS had greater stability and permeability than that of un-modified KTTKS, and may be a useful anti-wrinkle and anti-aging cosmeceutical agent.

A Case of Nodular and Fibroepithelial Type Fibroepithelioma / 대한피부과학회지

Fibroepithelioma is a rare subtype of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) with a distinct growth pattern. We report a case of a 68 year-old man who presented with a 1.7x1.0x0.5 cm sized pedunculated mass on his left axilla. Histopathologic examination revealed two distinct patterns at the same time; a large nodular mass with a peripheral palisading pattern and a small locus of strands in a fenestrated fashion. In higher magnification, there were long, thin, branching, and anastomosing epithelial strands embedded in a fibrous stroma. Small buds were seen projecting from the epithelial strands, with many of the strands showing connections to the surface epidermis. The tumor was totally excised, and the patient has shown no evidence of recurrence for 4 months. This case shows an example of atypical fibroepithelioma with two distinct histopathologic types.

A Case of Tinea Incognito Induced by 1% Pimecrolimus (Elidel(R)) Cream / 대한피부과학회지

Tacrolimus and pimecrolimus represent a new class of topical non-steroidal medication currently used in the treatment of a variety of inflammatory skin lesions. We report a case of a patient in whom topical pimecrolimus therapy resulted in tinea incognito. Mycologic examination, including a KOH smear and fungal culture, was positive for hyphae and colonies of trichophyton mentagrophytes. The lesion was treated with oral griseofulvin and topical clotrimazole.

A Case of SAHA Syndrome / 대한피부과학회지

The SAHA syndrome is an acronym which stands for seborrhea, acne, hirsutism and androgenic alopecia. The SAHA syndrome generally occurs in young to middle-aged women and may be caused by elevated blood levels of androgens or increased androgen-driven peripheral response with normal circulating androgen levels. In SAHA syndrome, careful diagnostic and clinical evaluation is necessary in order to identify the cause of peripheral hyperandrogenism, and to exclude androgen-producing tumors. SAHA can be classified into 5 subtypes: familial, ovarian, adrenal, hyperprolactinemic SAHA and HAIRAN (hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance, acanthosis nigricans) syndrome. Among them, ovarian SAHA syndrome is associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome. We report a case of ovarian SAHA syndrome in 15-year-old girl who showed seborrea, acne, hirsutism and androgenic alopecia associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome.

A Survey of Awareness, Knowledge and Behavior Regarding Skin Cancer in Korea / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Sun exposure increases skin cancer risk. However, little is known about general awareness, knowledge and behavior of skin cancer among Korean people. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine and compare the awareness and knowledge of skin cancer and sun protection behavior among Koreans, foreigners, and doctors, excluding dermatologists. METHODS: A written questionnaire was distributed to 1,091 Koreans, 113 foreigners, and 99 doctors. RESULTS: Most people (68.9%) knew that the sun was dangerous for their skin and the majority of people (59.0%) were aware that sun exposure increased skin cancer risk. However, the general knowledge score of skin cancer for Koreans was limited to half that of foreigners. In other words, Korean people recognized skin cancer, but they had a limited knowledge of detail. The general behavior score of Korean people was about two thirds of that of foreigners. The non-dermatologic doctors' score was similar to that of foreigners. CONCLUSION: Although the majority of Koreans are aware that sun exposure increases skin cancer, they don't seem to have a detailed knowledge of skin cancer prevention or early detection. Therefore, a nation-wide skin cancer education and prevention program is strongly required and dermatologists should play a major role in this program.

A Case of Acneiform Eruption Occurring after Injection of Cetuximab (Erbitux(R), IMC-C225) / 대한피부과학회지

We report a case of acneiform skin eruption induced by cetuximab in a 58-year-old man. Cetuximab is a new anticancer agent, which acts as a selective epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody. Our patient had taken cetuximab for the treatment of metastatic rectal cancer and visited our clinic with multiple erythematous papules and pustules on the face, postauricular area and anterior chest. A skin biopsy from his forehead revealed destruction of the follicular structure and perifollicular inflammatory cellular infiltrations composed of neutrophils and lymphocytes.

A Case of Cutaneous Scedosporium apiospermum Infection / 대한피부과학회지

Scedosporium (S.) apiospermum is the asexual stage of Pseudallescheria (P.) boydi. The organism is ubiquitous in nature, and has a world-wide distribution. It has been isolated from soil, plant debris, polluted water and sewage. It is an opportunistic organism with low virulence. Infection may occur via direct inoculation and usually affects the extremities. We report a case of cutaneous S. apiospermum infection which occurred in a 58-year-old male during immunosuppressive therapy, 3 months after a kidney transplantation. He presented with an one-month history of cutaneous nodules on the dorsum of the right foot. Cultural isolation showed S. apiospermum and we treated him daily with itraconazole and drainage.

A Study on the Effects of 595nm Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment on Scars and Keloids / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGOUND: Pulsed dye laser (PDL) is recommended as a good treatment for scars and keloids. However, there has been no absolute indications and standard laser parameters. Some proposed that only hypertrophic and atrophic/flat scars were effectively treated, but others reported that all scars and even keloids responded well to PDL treatment. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether 595nm PDL treatment is effective for scars and keloids, and if so, which group responds better to treatment between the atrophic/flat scars group and hypertropic scars/keloids group. METHOD: Twenty-two patients (skin types III-V) with scars and keloids were treated with 595nm PDL (0.45 or 1.5 msec, 4-8J/cm(2), 7mm spot size). Eleven patients had hypertrophic scars/keloids (6 had hypertropic scars, 5 had keloids), and eleven patients had atrophic/flat scars. After several treatments of each lesion, the results were evaluated by extent of the patient's satisfaction and comparision of pre-and post-laser photography and divided into the four categories: excellent, good, fair and poor. RESULTS: The clinical improvement and patient's satisfaction were better in the atrophic/flat scars group than the hypertrophic scars/keloid group. With keloid potients, the result of treatment were found to be particularly poor. CONCLUSION: From our results, only atrophic/flat scars respond well to 595nm PDL treatment, and hypertrophic scars and keloids should be excluded from this treatments method.

Cutaneous Adverse Effects Associated with Iressa(R)(Gefitinib) Medication / 대한피부과학회지

We report cutaneous adverse effects developed in three patients and are probably related to Iressa(R)(Gefitinib, ZD1839) medication. Iressa(R) is a new anti-cancer agent which acts by inhibiting epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor signal transduction. The three patients had all taken Iressa(R) for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and came to our clinic with cutaneous adverse effects. All three patients had acneiform eruptions, and one of the patients also had periungal granulation lesions. Histopathologically, periadnexal inflammatory cellular infiltrations were seen in the acneiform lesions of the three patients and granulation-like tissue proliferations in periungal granulation lesions of the one patient.

A Case of Skin Infection Caused by Mycobacterium abscessus / 대한피부과학회지

We report a case of cutaneous Mycobacterium (M.) abscessus infection in a 57-year-old healthy woman who presented with an erythematous plaque on her cheek. No previous trauma history was reported. A skin biopsy specimen revealed an abscess and granuloma as well as some acid-fast bacilli in the dermis. The microorganism was identified as M. abscessus by culture and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The patient was treated with clarithromycin and ciprofloxacin. After 6 months, the skin lesion had been resolved.