Y.J. Seo

Stromelysin‐3 expression in the differential diagnosis of dermatofibroma and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: comparison with factor XIIIa and CD34

Background The distinction between dermatofibroma (DF) and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a well‐known challenge for dermatopathologists. Immunohistochemical stains have been used to augment routine histological examination to aid in differentiating DF from DFSP. Stromelysin‐3 (ST3) is a member of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family, MMP‐11, which is expressed in the skin during wound healing and in the stroma of basal cell carcinoma. Recent studies demonstrated that DFs expressed ST3, whereas DFSPs were only rarely ST3 positive.

Analysis of genes responding to ultraviolet B irradiation of HaCaT keratinocytes using a cDNA microarray.

Background  Ultraviolet (UV) B irradiation causes many important biological changes in skin, which lead to pathophysiological alterations of the homeostatic environment.

Complete ophthalmoplegia after herpes zoster

Motor loss caused by herpes zoster is infrequent, and only a few studies have focused on ocular motor paralysis in ophthalmic herpes zoster. We report a case of complete ophthalmoplegia resulting from ophthalmic herpes zoster. A 69‐year‐old man presented with complete left‐side ptosis with total ophthalmoplegia 7 days after the onset of left ophthalmic herpes zoster. The patient was treated with aciclovir and prednisolone. Five months later, the ptosis had resolved and the extraocular motility had almost returned to normal.

Hypocalcaemia-induced pustular psoriasis-like skin eruption

cially in the buccal area and the corner of his mouth. HPV subtypes 6, 11 and 18 were detected. Topical therapy was initiated in July 2001 with self-application of 3% cidofovir solution once daily. After 10 days the patient presented again with severe erythema, erosions and dysaesthesia in the treated areas of the mucosa. Cidofovir application was thus discontinued. Three months later we initiated topical therapy with 1% cidofovir solution once daily. After 10 weeks all lesions had resolved without any side-effects. No recurrence was seen at the last follow-up examination 20 months later. Patient 3 was a 36-year-old homosexual man (CDC BII, CD4 + cell count 372 lL, HIV viral load 900 copies mL) who had a 1Æ5-year history of recurrent oral warts (HPV subtype 16) with extensive manifestations on his gingival mucosa. In January 2002 topical therapy was started with 1% cidofovir solution, and 7 weeks later the lesions had completely cleared without any side-effects (Figs 1a.b). No relapse was seen at his last follow-up examination 18 months later. To our knowledge, this is the first report on topical selfapplication of cidofovir solution for treating oral warts. Further studies are warranted in view of the good clinical results and easy mode of application. If 3% cidofovir solution proves to be too aggressive for mucosal application in some patients, lowering the concentration to 1% may still be effective and will probably be more acceptable.

Expression profiling of radiation‐induced genes in radiodermatitis of hairless mice

Background  Radiation induces many cellular events leading to radiodermatitis.

Effect of antihistamine as an adjuvant treatment of isotretinoin in acne: a randomized, controlled comparative study

Isotretinoin has been frequently used for acne therapy. However, it has limitation in acceptance because of its adverse effects. Although antihistamine recently revealed to decrease the lipogenesis, evidence is lacking regarding the clinical relevance of antihistamine in the treatment of acne.

High‐dose prednisolone and psoralen ultraviolet A combination therapy in 36 patients with vitiligo

It is well known that systemic corticosteroids arrest the progress of vitiligo and lead to repigmentation, but they may produce unacceptable side‐effects. The use of high‐dose prednisolone therapy to minimize the side‐effects of systemic steroids has been reported, but there have been no reports on the effectiveness of such treatment combined with phototherapy. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with intravenous prednisolone and psoralen ultraviolet A (PUVA). In 36 patients with vitiligo, intravenous methylprednisolone for 3 days was followed by PUVA twice weekly. After 6 months, vitiligo lesions on the face were reduced in size by 57.5%, on the upper extremities by 34.5%, on the trunk by 30.4% and on the lower extremities by 26.3%. Overall, improvement was seen in 13 patients (36.1%), with > 50% repigmentation. Side‐effects were mild and transient. We conclude that combination treatment of high‐dose prednisolone therapy and PUVA may represent a highly effective therapeutic option for generalized vitiligo.

Cutaneous lymphangiectasia associated with photoageing and topical corticosteroid application

We report the case of a 69‐year‐old man with a history of multiple erythematous bullae on both forearms, which had been present for about 1 month. The lesions appeared after several years of topical corticosteroid application and photoageing. A biopsy revealed lymphangiectasia with solar elastosis and increase in the ratio of elastic to collagen fibres in the dermis. We suggest that this patient’s lymphangiectasia resulted from abnormal structure and function of the dermis due to photoageing and steroid‐related atrophy.

Proton pump inhibitors as a possible cause of vitiligo: an in vivo and in vitro study.

Vitiligo is an acquired depigmentation disorder of melanocytes. Recently, some clinical reports have suggested that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may worsen vitiligo, but their effects on melanocytes have yet to be elucidated.

A case of unilateral scrotal calcinosis

Scrotal calcinosis usually occurs during adolescence, and appears as asymptomatic hard nodules on the scrotum, which can be single or multiple. The nodules usually occur bilaterally, and usually increase in number over time. Unilateral scrotal calcinosis has not been reported previously in the dermatological literature, to our knowledge. We report a peculiar case of scrotal calcinosis, in which 20 nodules were limited to the left scrotum. They ranged in size from 2 to 10 mm. Over 2 months, they decreased slightly in size and number, and no new nodules developed. In April 2006, an 18-year-old man was admitted to our department with multiple subcutaneous nodules on the left scrotum that had occurred 1 month earlier. He reported that the number and size of the nodules had increased and were causing discomfort. On physical examination, 20 nodules ranging in size from 2 to 10 mm were seen (Fig. 1a). Histological examination of a skin biopsy specimen found amorphous basophilic calcium nodules in the dermis with no epidermal change (Fig. 1b). No epithelial lining or inflammatory cells were seen. The patient was in good health and claimed to have no underlying disease. He refused to undergo blood, urine or radiological tests. He was followed up carefully for 2 months, during which time the subcutaneous nodules decreased slightly in size and number (Fig. 1c). Scrotal calcinosis was first reported by Lewinski in 1883. It usually occurs during adolescence, appearing as a single nodule or multiple asymptomatic hard nodules, which can reach 30 mm in size, on the scrotum. Scrotal calcinosis is typically bilateral, and the number of nodules increases over time, with reported cases involving up to 51 nodules. Histopathological observations of scrotal calcinosis include amorphous basophilic calcium nodules on haematoxylin and eosin staining. With von Kossa stain, the nodules stain black. Some nodules have an epithelial lining. In addition, multinucleated megakaryocytes and inflammatory cells may be seen around the calcium deposits. Destruction of the nodules may result in the efflux of a chalk-like substance. The aetiopathogenesis of the disease remains controversial. Although no reports in the English literature have (a)