The Effect of Structured Music Therapy Program on Emotional Function in the Dementia Patients

Objective@#The effectiveness of music therapy programs for the elderly with dementia has been verified through several studies, but there is a limitation in that most of them are compared with a single group, no treatment group or waiting group. In this study, to overcome this problem, the two groups that performed similar interventions were selected and compared retrospectively. @*Methods@#For 37 people who participated in the treatment programs for the elderly with dementia at Dongdaemun Center for De-mentia and its branch center, we retrospectively analyzed the changes in Korean version of Geriatric Depression Scale and GeriatricQuality of Life Scale-Dementia scores measured before and after treatment. @*Results@#Prior to treatment, there is no significant difference between the groups in the demographic variables and the depression and quality of life scores. The difference between pre- and post-scores was not significant in the group at the branch center without a music therapy, but depression was significantly reduced and quality of life had improved in the group at Dongdaemun center with the music therapy program. @*Conclusion@#It was confirmed that participation in the structured music therapy program had a positive effect on the improve-ment of depression and quality of life in the elderly with dementia compared to other similar interventions.

The Effect of Structured Music Therapy Program on Emotional Function in the Dementia Patients

Objective@#The effectiveness of music therapy programs for the elderly with dementia has been verified through several studies, but there is a limitation in that most of them are compared with a single group, no treatment group or waiting group. In this study, to overcome this problem, the two groups that performed similar interventions were selected and compared retrospectively. @*Methods@#For 37 people who participated in the treatment programs for the elderly with dementia at Dongdaemun Center for De-mentia and its branch center, we retrospectively analyzed the changes in Korean version of Geriatric Depression Scale and GeriatricQuality of Life Scale-Dementia scores measured before and after treatment. @*Results@#Prior to treatment, there is no significant difference between the groups in the demographic variables and the depression and quality of life scores. The difference between pre- and post-scores was not significant in the group at the branch center without a music therapy, but depression was significantly reduced and quality of life had improved in the group at Dongdaemun center with the music therapy program. @*Conclusion@#It was confirmed that participation in the structured music therapy program had a positive effect on the improve-ment of depression and quality of life in the elderly with dementia compared to other similar interventions.

Cutaneous Metastatic Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma from a Mediastinal Sarcoma

Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, known as malignant fibrous histiocytoma, is a malignant neoplasm that arises in both soft tissue and bones. In 2002, the World Health Organization declassified malignant fibrous histocytoma as a formal diagnostic entity and renamed it 'undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma not otherwise specified.' It most commonly occurs in the lower extremities and rarely metastasizes cutaneously. We report a case of cutaneous metastatic undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma of the buttocks occurring in a 73-year-old man diagnosed with mediastinal sarcoma 4 years previously. He first noticed the mass approximately 2 months previously. Histological findings with immunomarkers led to a final diagnosis of cutaneous metastatic sarcoma from mediastinal undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma.

Clinicopathologic Study of Angiokeratoma and Lesions Resembling Angiokeratoma / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Angiokeratomas are vascular malformations that usually appear as multiple or solitary cutaneous papules, nodules, or plaques. Several clinical variants of angiokeratoma exist. The differential diagnosis of angiokeratoma can be difficult and some cases that are clinically suggestive of angiokeratoma are found to be caused by other diseases following skin biopsy. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the diagnostic yield following analysis of clinically diagnosed angiokeratomas, which presented as multiple or solitary cutaneous papules, nodules, or plaques. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 36 patients who had visited the department of dermatology between January 2004 and December 2013, and who, following biopsy, had a clinical diagnosis of angiokeratoma or a differential diagnosis of angiokeratoma. We compared the clinical and histopathologic diagnoses, and analyzed the rate of concurrence and clinical features, including age, sex, location, and duration. RESULTS: The angiokeratoma patients accounted for 61.1% of all new patients and their mean age was 32.2 years. The most common subtype was solitary angiokeratoma (11 cases, 50%). Histopathologic analysis showed that 38.9% of patients had a different type of disease and their mean age was 31.4 years. The most common causes of disease for this latter group were pyogenic granuloma (21.4%) and hemangioma (21.4%), followed by calcinosis cutis, dermatofibroma, neurofibroma, pilomatricoma, verruca vulgaris, and herpes viral infection. CONCLUSION: Lesions suggestive of angiokeratoma need further examination and a biopsy is useful to determine the correct differential diagnosis between angiokeratoma and other diseases, to avoid erroneous management.

Clinicopathological Analysis of Cutaneous Angiosarcoma / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous angiosarcoma (AS) is a rare malignant tumor of endothelial origin with a very poor prognosis, frequent recurrences, and high metastatic potential. Clinical suspicion is often raised too late, but histological findings and immunohistochemical assays have proved to be very helpful in the diagnostic process. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and histopathologic features of angiosarcoma. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 12 patients with angiosarcoma who had visited our department of dermatology in Gyeongsang National University Hospital between 1998 and 2013. The clinical features, evolution, treatment, and outcome were examined, and biopsy specimens were reviewed by a trained dermatologist, with subsequent immunohistochemical assessment. RESULTS: Cutaneous AS was clinically diagnosed in 3 of 12 patients. There were many clinical misdiagnoses including lupus erythematosus, metastatic cancer, and infectious granuloma. The male to female ratio was 1:0.71 and the mean age of the patients was 66.25 years. The most frequent site of angiosarcoma was the scalp, in 8 of 12 patients. Histopathologically, well-differentiated angiosarcoma was composed of vascular channels, lined by flattened atypical endothelial cells that could be distinguished from their benign counterparts. Variable differentiation may be observed even in the same tumor. Immunohistopathologic analysis showed that the tumor cells were positive for CD31, CD34, Ki 67, and Factor VIII-related antigen. CONCLUSION: This study provides useful data on the clinical and histopathologic characteristics of angiosarcoma in the Korean population.

A Clinical Analysis of Skin Disease among the Elderly in the Western Gyeongnam Province / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: With the advancement of socioeconomic and medical sciences, the number of elderly patients with skin diseases significantly increased. Therefore, the epidemiologic survey of dermatologic disease is in need for the elderly population. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dermatologic diseases in elderly patients and to compare the results with the previous reports in malignant and benign skin tumors. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 2,678 outpatients older than 65 years of age, who visited the Department of Dermatology from January 2010 to December 2013. We compared the clinical diagnoses and analyzed the distribution of dermatologic diseases and clinical features, including the factors of age and sex. Among them, 575 patients who received biopsy for skin tumors were pathologically analyzed, confirmed, and classified as malignant or benign tumor. RESULTS: The incidence of skin disease in the group of patients older than 65 years of age was 15.6% (2,678). The ratio of men to women was 1 : 1.13 (1,257 : 1,421). The types of skin diseases in the group were as follows: infectious skin disease (26.1%); eczema (23.2%); epidermal and adnexal nevi and tumors (17.5%); drug eruption, erythema, and urticaria (7.0%); pruritus, psychocutaneous disorder, and neurocutaneous dermatoses (6.6%); papulosquamous disease (3.3%); diseases of the skin appendages (3.2%); disorders of pigmentation (2.5%); diseases of the mucous membrane (2.3%); cutaneous vascular diseases (2.2%); and skin tumors (21.5%). The most common malignant tumors were as follows: squamous cell carcinoma (33.9%), basal cell carcinoma (31.2%), Bowen's disease (19.0%), keratoacanthoma (7.2%), malignant melanoma (5.0%), and lymphoma (1.8%). The most common benign tumors were as follows: actinic keratosis (48.0%), seborrheic keratosis (17.2%), epidermal cyst (12.7%), melanocytic nevus (6.2%), hemangioma (3.7%), milia (2.0%), and hypertrophic scar and keloid (2.0%). The incidence of malignant tumors in women was much higher than in men, with a ratio of 1 : 1.96. CONCLUSION: This study provides useful data on the incidence and the characteristics of elderly skin diseases. Compared to the previous studies, the frequency of malignant tumors was relatively higher and variable. We advise physicians to make the appropriate diagnosis and treatment for the early detection of skin tumor, especially the squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, which are caused by long-term exposure to the sun.

Pigmented Extramammary Paget's Disease Occurred in Inguinal Area / 대한피부과학회지

No abstract available.

Induction of Melanogenesis by Rapamycin in Human MNT-1 Melanoma Cells

BACKGROUND: Melanogenesis is one of the characteristic parameters of differentiation in melanocytes and melanoma cells. Specific inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), such as wortmannin and LY294002, stimulate melanin production in mouse and in human melanoma cells, suggesting that PI3K and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) might be involved in the regulation of melanogenesis. OBJECTIVE: The involvement of the mTOR pathway in regulating melanogenesis was examined using human MNT-1 melanoma cells, and the effects of the potent inhibitor of mTOR, rapamycin, in the presence or absence of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) were evaluated. METHODS: In cells treated with rapamycin, cell viability, melanin content, and tyrosinase (TYR) activity were measured and compared with untreated controls. Protein levels of TYR, tyrosinase-related protein (TYRP)-1, TYRP-2, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) were also analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS: In rapamycin-treated cells, the melanin content increased concomitantly with an elevation in TYR activity, which plays a major role in melanogenesis. There was also an up-regulation of TYR, TYRP-1, and MITF proteins. Combined treatment with rapamycin or wortmannin and alpha-MSH increased melanogenesis more strongly than alpha-MSH alone. CONCLUSION: Rapamycin-induced melanin formation may be mediated through the up-regulation of TYR protein and activity. Furthermore, rapamycin and wortmannin, inhibitors of mTOR and PI3K, respectively, have co-stimulatory effects with alpha-MSH in enhancing melanogenesis in melanocyte cells.

Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Not Associated with Neurofibromatosis / 대한피부과학회지

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is a rare entity of all soft tissue sarcomas. It has four different types of glandular, melanocytic, rhabdomyoblastic, and epithelioid. Epithelioid MPNST is composed of predominantly epithelioid cells. In contrast, typical MPNST is consisted of spindle cells, which is arranged in a fascicular or whirling pattern. A 33-old man showed two skin-color to reddish brown protruding nodules on the left thigh. Microscopically, one nodule was made up of epithelioid cell, primarily. In addition, the other nodule was composed of epithelioid cells and spindle cells, which also showed Antoni A and B. Immunohistochemical study showed the cells being positive for S-100 protein (weak and focal) and neuron-specific enolase, and negative for HMB-45, smooth muscle actin. Herein, we report a case of two different forms of malignant nerve sheath tumor on the left thigh, which was not associated with neurofibromatosis-1.

Immunochemical Characterization of Brain and Pineal Tryptophan Hydroxylase

Recombinant mouse tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) was expressed in Escheri-chia coli, using a bacterial expression vector and has been purified to homogeneity by sonication followed by Sepharose 4B column chromatography and native slab gel electrophoresis. This purified enzymatically active TPH protein was used for production of a specific antiserum. This antiserum identified the predicted TPH band (molecular weight, 54 kDa) on Western blot of crude extracts from the rat and mouse dorsal raphe, and the rat pineal gland. However, this antiserum recognized an additional protein band of lower molecular weight (48 kDa) in pineal extract. It is not clear whether the 48 kDa TPH band represents an isozyme or a protease cleavage product of TPH. Since the pineal gland contains higher TPH mRNA and lower TPH activity when it is compared with dorsal raphe nucleus enzyme, this lower molecular weight TPH may participate in the reduced TPH specific activity. In addition, there are no specific TPH inhibitors in the pineal gland and this lower molecular weight TPH is inactive or has a very low specific activity. This antiserum specifically immunostained serotonergic cell bodies in the dorsal raphe nuclei, some large caliber serotonergic processes in the dorsal raphe area as well as terminals in the olfactory bulb. It also immunolabeled the pineal gland and immunoprecipitated equally well TPH protein from the dorsal raphe nucleus and the pineal gland in a concentration-dependent manner.