Inhibitory Effects of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. Bark on Scopolamine-Induced Learning and Memory Deficits in Mice

Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. Bark (EUE) is commonly used for the treatment of hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, lumbago, and ischialgia as well as to promote longevity. In this study, we tested the effects of EUE aqueous extract in graded doses to protect and enhance cognition in scopolamine-induced learning and memory impairments in mice. EUE significantly improved the impairment of short-term or working memory induced by scopolamine in the Y-maze and significantly reversed learning and memory deficits in mice as measured by the passive avoidance and Morris water maze tests. One day after the last trial session of the Morris water maze test (probe trial session), EUE dramatically increased the latency time in the target quadrant in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, EUE significantly inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) activities in the hippocampus and frontal cortex in a dose-dependent manner. EUE also markedly increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and phosphorylation of cAMP element binding protein (CREB) in the hippocampus of scopolamine-induced mice. Based on these findings, we suggest that EUE may be useful for the treatment of cognitive deficits, and that the beneficial effects of EUE are mediated, in part, by cholinergic signaling enhancement and/or protection.

A Case of Acantholytic Dyskeratotic Epidermal Nevus / 대한피부과학회지

Acantholytic dyskeratosis is seen in Darier's disease, transient acantholytic dermatosis and warty dyskeratoma. It is also occasionally observed incidental histological finding in pityriasis rosea, pityriasis rubra pilaris and is occasionally found in linear epidermal nevus. A 10-month-old boy presented linear hyperkeratotic plaques on the right sole and the left hand along with erythematous scaly papules on the posterior neck, the left axilla and the face. Histological findings showed acantholytic dyskeratosis with common histopathological findings of epidermal nevus. Acantholytic dyskeratosis is an occasional finding in linear epidermal nevus, but has been rarely reported in an infant(5 cases reported in 20 years). We report a case of linear epidermal nevus with acantholytic dyskeratosis in an infant.

A Case of Ulcerative Trichilemmal Carcinoma / 대한피부과학회지

We report a case of trichilemmal carcinoma in a 82-year-old man who presented an ulcerative tumor. Initially, a crusted mass was observed on the scalp and with subsequent removal of the crust, purulent and ulcerative lesion was seen. After treatment with sensitive antibiotics for 8 days, purulent discharge was markedly decreased in the lesion. Histopathologic findings showed clear cells tumor with trichilemmal keratinization. The tumor cells stained positive to PAS, sensitive to diastase and showed negative findings to CEA, EMA and S-100.

The Frequency of Serum Autoantibodies to the Epidermal Antigens among Normal Elderly People / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: One of the age-associated changes in immunity is the increase of autoantibodies due to dysregulation of the immune function. Anti-basement membrane zone antibodies were also reported to be found in the sera taken from normal elderly people. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to examine the frequency of autoantibodies to the epidermal antigens in the sera among normal elderly people. METHODS:Indirect immunofluorescence using salt-split human skin and immunoblotting with extracts from epidermoid carcinoma cell line(A431) were performed using sera from forty elderly persons without any systemic disease. RESULTS: Among 40 elderly individuals, 3 cases(7.5%) were positive for anti-basement membrane zone IgG antibodies in indirect immunofluorescence, and the titers were 1:10 to 1:40 dilution factor. In immunoblottings, 4 cases(10%) were positive with epidermal antigens; 2 were positive against the 180kD protein with IgG and IgA autoantibodies, 1 showed positive bands at 230kD and 180kD antigens with IgG, and remaining one showed positive at 130kD antigen who had negative result in indirect immunofluorescence. CONCLUSION: Autoantibodies against epidermal antigens(bullous pemphigoid angigen[230/180kD] or pemphigus vulgaris antigen[130kD]) can be detected without any bullous cutaneous diseases among elderly people; possibly as an epiphenomenon of immunosenescence.

The Frequency of Serum Autoantibodies to the Epidermal Antigens among Normal Elderly People / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: One of the age-associated changes in immunity is the increase of autoantibodies due to dysregulation of the immune function. Anti-basement membrane zone antibodies were also reported to be found in the sera taken from normal elderly people. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to examine the frequency of autoantibodies to the epidermal antigens in the sera among normal elderly people. METHODS:Indirect immunofluorescence using salt-split human skin and immunoblotting with extracts from epidermoid carcinoma cell line(A431) were performed using sera from forty elderly persons without any systemic disease. RESULTS: Among 40 elderly individuals, 3 cases(7.5%) were positive for anti-basement membrane zone IgG antibodies in indirect immunofluorescence, and the titers were 1:10 to 1:40 dilution factor. In immunoblottings, 4 cases(10%) were positive with epidermal antigens; 2 were positive against the 180kD protein with IgG and IgA autoantibodies, 1 showed positive bands at 230kD and 180kD antigens with IgG, and remaining one showed positive at 130kD antigen who had negative result in indirect immunofluorescence. CONCLUSION: Autoantibodies against epidermal antigens(bullous pemphigoid angigen[230/180kD] or pemphigus vulgaris antigen[130kD]) can be detected without any bullous cutaneous diseases among elderly people; possibly as an epiphenomenon of immunosenescence.

A Case of Hyperkeratotic Vascular Stains / 대한피부과학회지

The term, hyperkeratotic vascular stains is a peculiar form of capillary malformations commonly called as angiokeratoma or verrucous hemangioma. Hyperkeratotic vascular stains present at birth and consist of vascular dilatation and epidermal proliferation manifested as hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, and papillomatosis. Some authors insisted that angiokeratoma and verrucous hemangioma are not proper terms because they are not true tumors but malformations due to their lack of endothelial proliferation. Wide and deep excisions have been preferred as a curative therapy. The patient was a 9-year-old girl with multiple, linear, bluish black colored, hyperkeratotic plaques on her left lower leg. The red patches at birth had slowly enlarged and had become verrucous. Some satellite lesions had also developed. Histopathologic examination showed dilated capillaries filled with red blood cells in the papillary dermis and subcutaneous fat layer. The carbon dioxide laser was used to remove hyperkeratotic plaques. The flash-lamp pumped-pulsed dye laser and intense noncoherent pulsed light were used to remove satellite lesions and vascular lesions for a year. One of the lesions resistant to laser therapy was completely excised. Because multiple hyperkeratotic vascular stains are often impossible to be excised completely, laser therapy may be tried as the first choice.