The Distribution of Malassezia Species on the Normal Human Skin According to Body Region / 대한의진균학회지

BACKGROUND: The seven species Malassezia yeasts are recognized in the genus Malassezia (M.). These species can be isolated from the normal skin of warm-blooded animals including humans and various dermatoses. In Korea, most surveys of Malassezia yeast distribution have been performed without classifying the genus Malassezia into the species. OBJECTIVE:The aim of this work was to study the qualitative distribution of the Malassezia species on the normal human skin to provide a basic data for a study of Malassezia species in patients with various dermatoses. METHODS: The Malassezia yeasts were cultured from clinically normal skin at four sites in 37 subjects. The isolated yeasts were identified into the species level using the cell types and physiological properties of the species. RESULTS: Six species of the genus Malassezia, M. furfur, M. sympodialis, M. globosa, M. Obtusa, M. restricta and M. slooffiae, were isolated. M. restricta was found to be predominant on the forehead and scalp. M. globosa was found to be predominant on the chest and back. The incidence of Malassezia yeasts was 78.4% on the scalp, 86.5% on the forehead, 100% on the chest and 97.3% on the back. CONCLUSION: The results showed a regional variation in the distribution of M, restricta and M, globosa. The information obtained from this study would be of great value in the evaluation of the role of Malassezia species in related diseases.

A Case of Chloracne Due to Exposure to Defoliating Agent During Vietnam war / 대한피부과학회지

Chloracne is a refractory acneiform eruption due to halogenated polyaromatic compound(eg. dioxin, dibenzofurans, polychlorinated biphenyls, etc.). 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, a kind of dioxin isomer, contained in the Agent Orange which was used for defoliating agent during Vietnam war. It is characterized by recalcitrant comedones and cyst predominantly in the malar and postauricular area. Lesions of the penis and scrotum are also relatively frequent. The key pathological feature is the non-inflammatory keratinization of pilosebaceous unit. The meibomian glands are typically affected. Xerosis, conjunctivitis, pigmentation, follicular hyperkeratosis, actinic elastosis are occasionally associated with chloracne. We report a case of typical chloracne due to exposure to defoliating agent during Vietnam war in a 54-year-old-man who shows typical clinical and histopathological features.

A Case of Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita (Cicatricial pemphigoid-like type) / 대한피부과학회지

Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is an uncommon autoimmune subepidermal blistering disorder and has four clinical subtypes. Among the four types of EBA, the cicatricial pemphigoid-like type is rarer than the other types and clinically the worst one. We experienced a case of cicatricial pemphigoid-like type of EBA in a 69-year-old woman, whose initial symptom was painful erosive lesions of oral mucous membrane before development of ocular and bullous cutaneous lesions. The clinical, histopathological findings and immunoblot assay were all typical of the disease. The course of her disease showed remissions by treatments including corticosteroid and intravenous immunoglobulin, but each time with exacerbations.

A Case of Acute FEbrile Neutrophilic Dermatosis Following Multiple Keratoacanthoma / 대한피부과학회지

Severe recurrent attacks of acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis shortly followed multiple keratoacanthoma in a 43-year-old man with myelodysplastic syndrome. Besides the typical clinicopathological findings of the syndrome(fever, leukocytosis and neutrophilic erythematous plaques of the skin), the patient showed orolingual and conjunctival ulceration and severe cutaneous pathergic reactions. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, multiple keratoacanthoma has not yet been reported with relation to the acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis.