Effect of Abdominal Skin Massage and Warming Therapy on the Pain and Anxiety in Breast Cancer Patients who Underwent Hormone Injections

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify effects of abdominal skin massage and warming therapy on the pain and anxiety to breast cancer patients who underwent hormone injections. METHODS: The subjects for the study were 60 breast cancer patients who underwent hormone injections (20 in the control group, 20 in the abdominal skin massage group, and 20 in the warming therapy group). Abdominal skin massage was conducted following KSMA's (Korea science massage association) advice and warming therapy was executed at 48 ℃ for 20 minutes. The results were checked using subjective and objective measurement tools. RESULTS: After abdominal skin massage and warming therapy, subjective (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS) and objective (facial expression and vocal change) pain scores were significantly decreased (p<.001) Also, Anxiety state was significantly decreased compared to the control group (p =.043). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that abdominal skin massage and warming therapy were highly effective in alleviating pain and anxiety in patients who underwent hormone injections.

Unusual Hypertrichosis Development on the Skin Involving Erythema Nodosum Migrans

No abstract available.

Two Cases of Eruptive Vellus Hair Cysts Developed on The Atypical Sites / 대한피부과학회지

Eruptive vellus hair cysts are characterized by asymptomatic, skin colored to bluish, or brownish, 1-4mm sized, follicular papules and nodules located on mainly anterior chest, axilla, groin, and thigh. Histopathologic examination reveals cysts containing multiple vellus hairs and the laminated keratinous materials at dermis. We reported 2 cases of eruptive vellus hair cysts developed on the unusual sites, forehead and buttock, respectively.

A Case of Cutaneous Prototheocsis / 대한의진균학회지

Protothecosis is an infection caused by achloric algae of the genus Prototheca. It is found ubiquitously in nature, particularly in the slime flux of trees and sewage. Only two species including Prototheca wickerhamii and Prototheca zopfii have been known to be pathogenic in humans. A 64-year-old man presented intermittent pruritic erythematous confluent grouped papules and nodules on the left upper arm. Histopathologic study revealed some sporangia of morula-like appearance and chronic granulomatous inflammation. The PAS stain demonstrated the characteristic spores showing multiple internal septations and some unicellular endospore. P. wickerhamii was isolated from culture and identified by the biochemical studies. Oral itraconazole 200 mg/day administration resulted in marked regression of the skin lesion after 8 weeks.

Standardization of Skin Irritation Reaction in Korean with Skin Bioengineering Measurement / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: It is believed that certain skin types of different age, ethnic group may be more susceptible to the effect of skin irritants than others. However, some previous studies found controversies among intra-, inter-individual variation along with the possibility of ethnic differences in irritation reaction. OBJECTIVE: Thus, it is mandatory to explore the characteristics of irritant skin reaction in young and old Koreans with objective, standardized instrumental measurement techniques. METHOD: We have investigated the patterns of skin irritation between adolescent group (19 persons, average age 21.3 +/- 2.3) and old group (18 persons, average age 61.0 +/- 3.6) after physicochemical stimuli by using tape strippings (15, 30 times) and 24 hours SLS (sodium rauryl sulfate, 1% 0.5%) patch application with skin bioengineering measurements for color change(erythema index), TEWL(transepidermal water loss), capacitance and dermal microcirculation (Laser Doppler Flowmetry flux). RESULTS: The intensity of irritation represented by skin bioengineering measurements showed 30 strippings > 1% SLS > 0.5% SLS > 15 strippings, respectively. The younger the less irritation response at different time-course. TEWL, erythema index and microvascular blood distribution (LDF flux) of old group reached the plateau faster and higher than adolescent group. Occlusive patch containing water induced a potential of irritation regardless of age group that might affect early interpretation of skin bioengineering results. CONCLUSION: Intensity of irritation reaction and its kinetic suggested the role of age-dependent change of skin. The standardization on skin bioengineering measurement techniques along with irritation methods is mandatory to explore further inter-individual differences of irritation reaction in Korean.

A Case of Subepidermal Calcified Nodule with Transepidermal Elimination / 대한피부과학회지

Subepidermal calcified nodule, a subset of calcinosis cutis, is usually presented as single small, raised, hard nodule. Histologically calcium deposition can be detected by von Kossa or periodic acid-Schiff stain. We report a 3-year-old boy who had erythematous hyperkeratotic plaques and papules on both inner thighs without any previous history of trauma, genetic or systemic illness. A biopsy specimen of plaque of the thigh showed the transepidermal elimination of basophilic granules which were dispersed in the upper dermis and von Kossa stain revealed scattered calcific deposition.

Clinical Analysis on 13 Korean Cases of Darier's Disease / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Darier's disease is an autosomal dominant disoder in keratinizing process. Clinically, patients present with warty to hyperkeratotic plaques with predilection of seborrheic area. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical findings of Darier's disease in Koreans with literature review. METHODS: Thirteen cases of Darier's disease were reviewed by retrospective study. We analyzed the patients in terms of their clinical features, such as age, sex, family background, location of present or initial lesions, severity, clinical types, and treatment or prognosis. RESULTS: Darier's disease in Koreans was predominant in male with a sex ratio between male : female of 10 : 3. Three patients had a family history of Darier's disease among siblings and ancestors. Young patients under 30 years old were 79% with average onset of 24 years old. Typical seborrheic type was found in 9 cases, and flexural and linear/nevoid types were 2 cases, respectively. Characteristic nail deformities were observed in 5 cases, all of them showed V-shaped nicking. Focal types responded well to retinoic acid treatment, while seborrheic type was poor to treatment. CONCLUSION: We reviewed clinical characteristics of Darier's disease in Koreans patients. Interestingly, male-dominance of Darier's disease in Korean suggests the possibility that genetic patterns vary among countries or races in Darier's disease.