A Study on CAG Repeat Polymorphisms of the Androgen Receptor in Korean Androgenetic Alopecia : Preliminary Report / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: The androgen receptor (AR) is a conserved member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. Differences in the AR gene sequence are characterized mostly by a highly polymorphic trinucleotide repeat (CAG) encoding a polyglutamine stretch in the N-terminal domain. The transactivational activity of the AR might be inversely associated with the numbers of this CAG repeat chain, and the smaller numbers of CAG repeats are believed to be associated with androgenetic alopecia? (AGA). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate a possible etiologic association between Korean AGA and CAG repeat numbers in the AR gene. METHODS: We compared CAG repeat numbers within the AR gene of 64 male Korean AGA patients with those of 40 normal male controls. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the number of CAG repeats between the Korean AGA patients and controls. There were no robust or significant correlations between (i) CAG repeat numbers and (ii) age of onset or severity of AGA in Korean AGA patients. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that AR receptor CAG polymorphisms in the Korean male population might not have a major role in susceptibility to AGA expression.

A Study on CAG Repeat Polymorphisms of the Androgen Receptor in Korean Androgenetic Alopecia : Preliminary Report / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: The androgen receptor (AR) is a conserved member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. Differences in the AR gene sequence are characterized mostly by a highly polymorphic trinucleotide repeat (CAG) encoding a polyglutamine stretch in the N-terminal domain. The transactivational activity of the AR might be inversely associated with the numbers of this CAG repeat chain, and the smaller numbers of CAG repeats are believed to be associated with androgenetic alopecia? (AGA). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate a possible etiologic association between Korean AGA and CAG repeat numbers in the AR gene. METHODS: We compared CAG repeat numbers within the AR gene of 64 male Korean AGA patients with those of 40 normal male controls. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the number of CAG repeats between the Korean AGA patients and controls. There were no robust or significant correlations between (i) CAG repeat numbers and (ii) age of onset or severity of AGA in Korean AGA patients. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that AR receptor CAG polymorphisms in the Korean male population might not have a major role in susceptibility to AGA expression.

A Case of White Fibrous Papulosis of the Neck / 대한피부과학회지

White fibrous papulosis of the neck is a rare disorder, characterized by asymptomatic white papules that appear around neck in elderly people. The histopathologic findings showed thickened collagen bundles in the papillary to mid dermis. We report a case of white fibrous papulosis of the neck in a 53-year-old man.

A Case of Taxane-induced Onycholysis and Subungual Abscesses

A 35-year-old woman with advanced lung cancer, treated with intravenous docetaxel and paclitaxel, developed subungual abscesses and secondary onycholysis involving all the finger nails. Bacterial culture demonstrated the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We report a case of onycholysis and subungual abscesses in a patient treated with docetaxel and paclitaxel.

A Case of Grouped Premature Sebaceous Hyperplasia / 대한피부과학회지

Sebaceous hyperplasia is not a rare disorder and commonly develops on the face over the age of forty. The typical clinical manifestation is 2~3 mm sized, single or multiple, soft, protuberant, yellowish nodules with central umbilication. Histological examination reveals a group of mature sebaceous lobules and central sebaceous ducts. We describe an unusual case of a 28-year old female patient with grouped premature sebaceous hyperplasia. The lesions presented clinically as grouped, yellowish, umbilicated papules on the left cheek, and had developed at 10 years of age.

A Case of Generalized Argyria Caused by Ingestion of Silver Solution / 대한피부과학회지

Argyria is a rare skin discoloration caused by silver deposition. We report a case of generalized argyria caused by ingestion of silver solution in a 63-year-old man. He had diffuse slate gray discoloration of sun-exposed skin, prominent face, neck and V of the chest. The histopathologic findings showed brown black granules deposited in the basement membrane zone of eccrine glands, pilosebaceous units, arteriolar wall and dermal elastic fibers.

A Case of Zosteriform Kaposi's Sarcoma / 대한피부과학회지

Kaposi's sarcoma is a neoplastic, vascular tumor involving the skin or internal organs. We report a case of a 72-year-old male who presented with multiple, grouped, purpuric papules, hemorrhagic bullae and nodules showing zosteriform distribution on the sole of his right foot. In our case, as in some of the cases from the literature, the patient was initially misdiagnosed clinically as having herpes zoster. Histopathologic findings revealed a diffuse infiltrate of small blood vessels and slit-like spaces extending through most of the dermis. Many of the spindle-shaped cells expressed factor VIII-related antigen, and human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in paraffin-embedded tissue.

A Case of Zosteriform Kaposi's Sarcoma / 대한피부과학회지

Kaposi's sarcoma is a neoplastic, vascular tumor involving the skin or internal organs. We report a case of a 72-year-old male who presented with multiple, grouped, purpuric papules, hemorrhagic bullae and nodules showing zosteriform distribution on the sole of his right foot. In our case, as in some of the cases from the literature, the patient was initially misdiagnosed clinically as having herpes zoster. Histopathologic findings revealed a diffuse infiltrate of small blood vessels and slit-like spaces extending through most of the dermis. Many of the spindle-shaped cells expressed factor VIII-related antigen, and human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in paraffin-embedded tissue.

Comparison of Androgenetic Alopecia Prevalence in Paternal and Maternal Male Family Members of Male Androgenetic Alopecia Patients / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common type of hair loss and is believed to be influenced by family history and genetic factors. However, the exact mode of inheritance has not been well characterized. Although there are some reports on the AGA prevalence in the male family members of paternal side, those of maternal side are rare. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the familial influences in AGA. METHODS: We investigated the AGA prevalence in paternal and maternal male family members (grandfathers and uncles) of 421 Korean male adults with AGA (patients group) and 412 without AGA (control group). Hair loss and family history were assessed by an independent investigator according to Hamilton's classification. RESULTS: The AGA prevalence in male family members of the patients group (30.3%) was higher than those of control groups (8.5%) (p<0.05), and AGA prevalence of paternal side was higher than those of maternal side. However, no difference was found between paternal and maternal AGA prevalence, analysed according to the age of onset and severity of AGA. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the AGA expression is influenced by familial AGA prevalence and, particularly, paternal AGA prevalence has more effect on AGA expression than maternal AGA prevalence.

A Case of Porokeratosis of Mibelli in the Glans Penis / 대한피부과학회지

We report a case of a 44 year-old man with porokeratosis of Mibelli, who presented with a 10 year history of a 1 cm diameter, well-circumscribed, erythematous, scaly patch with an elevated border on his glans penis. Histologic examination revealed a typical cornoid lamella and absence of an underlying granular layer. The localized type of porokeratosis of Mibelli is most commonly found on the limbs: however, the face, lips, mucosal surfaces, or genital area may instead be involved. We report a case of porokeratosis of Mibelli confined to the glans penis, a very rare site.

A Case of Eccrine Poroma on the Paranasal Area

A 59-year old man presented with a 0.5 x 0.3 cm-sized area of, pink-colored, dome-shaped papules on the paranasal area. There was no previous history of trauma to the area. Histopathologic diagnosis was consistent with eccrine poroma. We reported a case of eccrine poroma arising on the paranasal area, an unusual location for this condition.

A Case of Photosensitivity Induced by the Hormonal Replacement Agents Containing Estrogen and Progesterone / 대한피부과학회지

Estrogen and progesterone are widely used in oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapies and are rarely known to cause a photosensitive reaction. We report a case of photosensitivity induced by the hormonal replacement agents containing estrogen and progesterone. A 36-year-old woman reported a 3-year history of erythematous papules and diffuse erythema on sun-exposed areas. She had taken the hormonal agents for 5 years, following a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for cervical cancer. A phototest showed a marked decrease in the minimal erythema dose (MED) of UVA (3J/cm2) and UVB (30mJ/cm2). After the cessation of the hormonal agents, the skin lesions subsided with the disappearance of photosensitivity, and the MED was raised to 5J/cm2(UVA) and 90mJ/cm2 (UVB).

A Case of a Pigmented Epidermal Cyst Associated with Transepidermal Elimination / 대한피부과학회지

Transepidermal elimination is a spontaneously-developed phenomenon in certain skin disorders, in which altered connective tissue or foreign material is expelled via the epidermis to the exterior. We report a case of a 60-year-old man with a 1x1 cm sized, black-colored nodule, showing transepidermal elimination, on the right shin. Histological examination revealed a pigmented, epidermal cyst, containing deposition of pigment in its wall and cavity. To the best of our knowledge, no pigmented epidermal cysts have been reported in korea to date.