Effects of Emollient Containing Bee Venom on Atopic Dermatitis: A Double-Blinded, Randomized, Base-Controlled, Multicenter Study of 136 Patients

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common, complex disease that follows a chronic relapsing course and significantly affects the quality of life of patients. Skin barrier dysfunction and inflammatory processes induce and aggravate this skin condition. Proper use of an emollient for hydration is a keystone of AD treatment. Bee venom is known to have anti-inflammatory effects and has been widely used in traditional medicine to treat various inflammatory disorders. OBJECTIVE: To find out the beneficial effect of an emollient containing bee venom in the treatment of patients with AD. METHODS: This study included 136 patients with AD who were randomized to receive either an emollient containing bee venom and silk-protein or a vehicle that was identical except for the bee venom for 4 weeks. The patients were instructed to apply the emollient twice daily on their entire body and not to use other medications, including topicals, during the course of the study. The eczema area and severity index (EASI) score, transepidermal water loss, and visual analogue scale (VAS) score of itching were evaluated at the first visit and after 2 and 4 weeks. The investigator global assessment was evaluated at 2 and 4 weeks after the application of emollient containing bee venom or vehicle. RESULTS: Patients applying emollient containing bee venom showed significantly lower EASI score and VAS value compared to patients applying emollient without bee venom. CONCLUSION: Emollient containing bee venom is a safe and effective option for patients with AD.

A Case of Linear Epidermal Nevus Associated with Multiple Trichilemmal Cysts / 대한피부과학회지

Epidermal nevi are harmatormas that are the result of developmental malformations of the epidermis, and these lesions present with a variety of clinical and histological characteristics. Some tumors can arise in epidermal nevi because epidermal nevi develop from multipotent germinative cells. We report here on a 57-year-old woman who had epidermal nevi arranged in a linear pattern since childhood. Her epidermal nevi were located in her left chest, arm and shoulder, upon which multiple trichillemal cysts seemed to develop after several years. We think that this patient with linear epidermal nevi associated with multiple trichilemmal cysts is a rare and distinctive case.

A Case of Pseudoangiomatous Spindle Cell Lipoma on the Abdomen / 대한피부과학회지

Spindle cell lipoma is a benign, subcutaneous neoplasm typically located on the neck, back and shoulder of men. Pseudoangiomatous spindle cell lipoma is a rare variant of spindle cell lipoma that is characterized by non-vascular branching spaces. A 64-year old man presented with 2 masses on the abdomen. Although 1 tumor had a very low fat component, it could be histologically diagnosed as pseudoangiomatous spindle cell lipoma due to CD 34 positive spindle cells, ropey collagen and blood vessels. We report a case of pseudoangiomatous spindle cell lipoma on the abdomen, which was diagnostically difficult due to a scanty fat component.

Ocular Abduction Palsy in a Patient with Herpes ZosterOphthalmicus and This was Improved by Short-term Use of Steroid / 대한피부과학회지

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus involving the first division of the fifth cranial nerve produces various clinical manifestations. Among them, external ocular motor palsy is a rare and uncomfortable complication, but it is generally transient and self-limited. This palsy can have a neural, vascular ormuscle origin. We report here on a case of ocular abduction palsy in a patient with herpes zoster ophthalmicus, and this palsy cleared up after treatment with systemic steroid for two weeks.

Keratoacanthoma in Co-existence with Nevus Sebaceus

Nevus sebaceus of Jadassohn has been referred to as a organoid nevus that classically evolves through three stages and may be associated with a range of skin tumors, and of these, syringocystadenoma papilliferum and basal cell carcinoma have been commonly reported to occur. The occurrence of keratoacanthoma is a very rare event in nevus sebaceus. Herein we report on a 23-year-old man with nevus sebaceus of the cheek. He represents a keratoacanthoma arising within nevus sebaceus.

Intralesional Recombinant Alpha-2a Interferon for the Treatment of Patients With Verruca

BACKGROUND: Interferon alpha-2a has already been shown to be effective in clinical use of virus-originated diseases such as hairy cell leukemia, condyloma acuminatum, and AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma. The use of recombinant alpha-interferon may allow common warts to be treated relatively atraumatically and with less incidence of recurrence. OBJECTIVE: We tried to determine the safety and effectiveness of intralesional injections of recombinant alpha-2a interferon in the treatment of patients with common warts. METHODS: A single wart on each patient was weekly injected with 0.75 to 1.5×10(5) IU/25mm2 of interferon for 8 weeks, and the response to treatment was followed up-to 6 months. RESULTS: Clearing of the treated wart at the end of treatment occurred in 5(71%) out of 7 patients and the rest showed no improvement. With evaluation for relapses up-to 6 months after treatment, warts relapsed in 2(40%) out of 5 patients. Therefore, 3(43%) out of 7 patients were completely free of warts 6 months after treatment. CONCLUSION: Intralesional recombinant interferon alpha-2a has a limited therapeutic effect, but may be considered as a therapeutic modality of recalcitrant verruca or when it can be anticipated that destructive techniques or blistering agents will not be tolerated.