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Biomedical subjects

K A Jang

Publications and source records attributed to K A Jang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Expression of cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen and TIA-1 by lymphocytes in pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta and lymphomatoid papulosis: immunohistochemical study.

BACKGROUND: Pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA) and lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) are benign self-healing cutaneous eruptions that may be clinically and histologically similar. The purposes of this study were to evaluate immunohistological characteristics of PLEVA and LyP and to investigate whether Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) may be present in PLEVA and LyP. METHODS: We performed an immunohistochemical staining in 12 cases of PLEVA and 8 cases of LyP using nine antibodies for CD3, CD4, CD8, CD30, CD45RO, CD56, CD79, cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA), and TIA-1. In situ hybridization was performed using fluorescein-conjugated oligonucleotide probes for EBV early regions (EBER). RESULTS: In PLEVA, immunohistochemical studies revealed that infiltrated lymphocytes consisted of mainly CD3-positive (5+), CD8-positive (4+ to 5+), CLA-positive (4+ to 5+) T cells and partly CD79 positive (+ to 2+) B cells. CD4-positive T cells were less than 25%. In LyP, immunohistochemical studies revealed that infiltrated lymphocytes consisted of partly CD3-positive (5+), CD8-positive (2+ to 3+), CLA-positive (3+ to 4+) T cells and partly CD79-positive (2+ to 3+) B cells. CD4-positive T cells were less than 10%. CD8 and CLA were more strongly expressed in PLEVA than in LyP. CD30 was strongly expressed in LyP but not expressed in PLEVA. CD79 was more expressed in LyP than in PLEVA. TIA-1 was not expressed in any cases. In situ hybridization using antisense EBER probe showed negative reaction in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Immunohistochemical stains for CD8, CD30, CD79 and CLA may be valuable tools in the differential diagnosis between PLEVA and LyP. TIA-1 was negative in LyP, which means cytotoxic cells may not be implicated in the pathogenesis of LyP. It was a contradictory result to the previous results. The absence of EBV in PLEVA and LyP suggests that this virus may not be operative in the pathogenesis of these diseases. These results suggest that LyP and PLEVA are separate disorders, thus accounting for their variable prognosis.

Antigens, CD↗

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for human herpesvirus 8 and heteroduplex PCR for clonality assessment in angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia and Kimura's disease.

BACKGROUND: Recently, human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) has been isolated from almost all cases of Kaposi's sarcoma. It has not been found in most cutaneous hemangioproliferative disorders other than Kaposi's sarcoma. Benign vascular lesions including Kimura's disease were not found to contain the HHV-8 DNA sequence. However, there has been contradictory data concerning the presence of HHV-8 in angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE). Clonality studies in ALHE and Kimura's disease were rare. METHODS: We performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based analysis to determine whether HHV-8 is present and heteroduplex analysis of rearranged T-cell receptor (TCR) gene for clonality assessment in paraffin-embedded skin biopsy samples of 7 ALHE and 2 Kimura's disease, taken from immunocompetent patients. RESULTS: HHV-8 could not be identified in all the cases of ALHE and Kimura's disease. Although 2 cases (2/7) of ALHE and 2 cases (2/2) of Kimura's disease showed positive result for PCR analysis of TCR, all the cases were negative for heteroduplex-PCR. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that HHV-8 may not involve in a pathogenetic role in ALHE and Kimura's disease and the failure to demonstrate clonality may be consistent with the reactive nature of these diseases and lack of malignant transformation. In addition, heteroduplex-PCR can be applied to confirm doubtful cases of lymphoma in that heteroduplex-PCR is more specific than PCR as seen in our study.

Adolescent↗

Idiopathic eruptive macular pigmentation: report of 10 cases.

Idiopathic eruptive macular pigmentation (IEMP) is a rare disease. IEMP is characterized by asymptomatic, pigmented macules involving the neck, trunk, and proximal extremities. This study describes 10 cases of idiopathic eruptive macular pigmentation seen during a 9-year period at the Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. We present these characteristic consecutive cases to provide more insight into the clinical picture and course of IEMP. Skin lesions of 8 patients were multiple brown macules involving the trunk, face, neck, and extremities. In 2 patients, multiple dark brown macules and patches were noted. The age of onset varied from 1 to 20 years. Tentative diagnoses were usually ashy dermatosis (erythema dyschromicum perstans), fixed drug eruption, or mastocytosis. The history of any erythema and drug medication was absent. Darier's sign was absent. Skin biopsy specimens showed increased pigmentation of the basal layer in an otherwise normal epidermis. Pigmentary incontinence, melanophages, and mild perivascular lymphohistiocytic infiltrate in the papillary dermis were also revealed. Mast cells could not be found. The lesions gradually disappeared during a period of several months to years. The alleged rarity of IEMP may be partially caused by medical unfamiliarity with this entity, despite its clinical and histopathologic characteristic picture. Treatment of IEMP is unnecessary because spontaneous resolution of the lesions can be expected within several months to a few years.

Adolescent↗

A case of guttate psoriasis following Kawasaki disease.

We report a case of guttate psoriasis following Kawasaki disease, in a patient with Staphylococcus aureus demonstrated in a throat swab. We suggest that preceding staphylococcal infection can play a key role in the pathogenesis of some cases of guttate psoriasis, possibly by the production of superantigens.

Disease Progression↗

Viral folliculitis on the face.

The common clinical presentations of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and molluscum contagiosum (MC) are well known to dermatologists. However, folliculitis due to these viruses is an infrequently reported entity and might be considered a sign of immunosuppression [such as infection with human immunodeficiency virus, (HIV)], especially in cases of folliculitis due to MC. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical and histopathological characteristics of viral folliculitis due to HSV and MC. We retrospectively collected all our cases with histologically proven folliculitis due to HSV and MC between 1994 and 1999. A total of seven patients aged 7-54 years was identified. Prior to establishment of the diagnosis of folliculitis due to HSV and MC, they were treated with topical antibiotics or topical steroids, without improvement. Tentative diagnoses were bacterial folliculitis, syringoma, perifollicular fibrosis, contact dermatitis or pseudolymphoma. Biopsy of the lesions revealed multiple molluscum bodies in the follicular epithelium with sparing of the epidermis in four patients, and ballooning degeneration and intranuclear viral inclusions in the follicular epithelium in the other three. Three patients had evidence of underlying immune suppression, such as pregnancy, chronic viral hepatitis B and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. One patient had suffered from epilepsy for 4 years. Testing for HIV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was negative in the four patients in whom this was performed, and T-cell subsets were normal in the three patients in whom these were quantified. In cases of molluscum folliculitis treated with simple curettage, the lesions cleared without scarring or recurrence. In cases of herpetic folliculitis, the lesions improved with antihistamines or acyclovir. MC or HSV should be considered in cases that present with folliculitis-like dermatoses but which are refractory to anti-infective and anti-inflammatory treatment.

Adolescent↗

Nasal and nasal type CD56+ natural killer cell/T-cell lymphoma: a case with rapid progression to bone marrow involvement.

We describe herein a case of CD56+ natural killer cell lymphoma (NKCL) that showed unusual clinical manifestations and a fulminant course of disease. A 70-year-old male patient presented with rapidly growing skin lesions and fever; a nasal lymphoma was subsequently detected and bone marrow involvement developed within a few weeks. Although the time relationship is not clear, bone marrow involvement could be dissemination from localized disease of nasal and nasal type NKCL. As seen in our case, the course can be excessively aggressive and fulminant even when it first appeared as a localized disease, and CD56 positivity, which is a specific characteristic of NKCL, may serve as a factor showing a poor prognosis for a malignant lymphoma.

Aged↗

Tinea pedis in Korean children.

BACKGROUND: Tinea pedis is an infrequent disease in children before the age of puberty. There are few epidemiologic and clinical data regarding cases of tinea pedis observed in children. Materials and methods We prospectively collected all cases of tinea pedis in children diagnosed during the years 1995-1997. Only those showing a positive result with potassium hydroxide preparation were included in the study. We performed fungal cultures in Sabouraud's agar in all cases to document the etiologic fungi. The clinical characteristics were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 21 children, aged 3 months to 14 years, were included. Fifteen patients were boys and six were girls. The mean age was 7.1 years. All the children were otherwise healthy. Prior to the establishment of the diagnosis of tinea pedis, 17 patients (80.9%) were treated for eczema without improvement. The intertriginous type was most common (53.3%). The first or second toe-webs were the sites of predilection (32.3%). Eighteen children (86%) had a family history of tinea pedis and more than half of cases (52.4%) showed occurrence in the summer. The results of fungal cultures were positive in 13 patients (57%). Trichophyton rubrum was the most commonly isolated pathogen (69.2%). The other associated dermatoses were onychomycosis (33.3%), atopic dermatitis (14%), plantar warts (10%), and chronic urticaria (5%). Tinea pedis and onychomycosis cleared after treatment with topical antifungals with or without systemic antifungals in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Tinea pedis in children can occur more frequently than suspected. Our study shows the strong association with a family history and the seasonal relationship with occurrence in summer in more than half of cases. We suggest that tinea pedis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of foot dermatitis in children.

Adolescent↗

Successful removal of freckles in Asian skin with a Q-switched alexandrite laser.

BACKGROUND: : Although freckles are light-brown macules most frequently observed in individuals with red or blond hair and blue or gray eyes, freckles are common to Asian people, including Koreans. Treatment may be requested on cosmetic grounds. OBJECTIVE: : The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the Q-switched alexandrite laser (wavelength 755 nm; pulse width 100 nsec) in treating the 197 cases of Asian skin with freckles and to observe any side effects such as pigmentary changes or scarring. METHODS: : One hundred ninety-seven patients with freckles were treated with the Q-switched alexandrite laser at 8-week intervals and clinically analyzed. RESULTS: : More than 76% removal of freckles required an average of 1.5 treatment sessions with 7.0 J/cm2. No scarring, long-standing pigmentary changes, or textural changes were seen in laser-irradiated skin. CONCLUSION: : The Q-switched alexandrite laser is a safe and highly effective modality for removing freckles without scarring or permanent pigmentary changes in Asian skin.

Adolescent↗

Lichenoid keratosis: a clinicopathologic study of 17 patients.

BACKGROUND: Lichenoid keratosis (LK) is a rather frequent skin lesion that has some histologic features similar to lichen planus (LP). The clinical and histopathologic characteristics of LK and differential tools from LP are not yet fully established. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical and histopathologic characteristics of LK. METHODS: A clinical survey was done with 17 patients diagnosed as having LK. We reevaluated biopsy materials of 17 patients diagnosed during the past 10 years at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. We performed an immunohistochemical staining in 17 cases of LK and 7 cases of LP using 5 antibodies for CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, and cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA). Standard streptavidin-biotin peroxidase method using the monoclonal antibodies with 3-amino-9-ethyl-carbazole was used. RESULTS: The male/female ratio was 1:1.1. The mean age at diagnosis was 54.9 years. The face was the most commonly affected site, followed by the arm and forearm, dorsum of hand, chest, trunk, abdomen, and leg. The lesions were predominantly solitary (76.5%); 1 patient had 4 lesions; 3 patients (17.6%) had numerous lesions. The lesions ranged in size from 0.4 to 2.0 cm. Histopathologically, all the cases showed characteristic lichenoid infiltrates of lymphocytes, occasional parakeratosis, and apoptotic bodies in the epidermis without nuclear atypia of keratinocytes. LK could be reclassified into 3 patterns by means of histopathologic findings: LP-like (11/17), seborrheic keratosis-like (3/17), and lupus erythematosus-like (3/17). Immunohistochemical studies revealed that infiltrated epidermal and dermal lymphocytes in LK consisted mainly of CD8(+) T cells and partly CD20(+) B cells. In LP, epidermal lymphocytes were mainly CD8(+) T cells and dermal lymphocytes were CD4(+) or CD8(+) T cells. Interestingly, CLA was strongly expressed in LP but not expressed in LK. CONCLUSION: We reclassified LK as follows: LP-like LK, seborrheic keratosis-like LK, and lupus erythematosus-like LK. Immunohistochemical stains for CLA as well as CD4 and CD8 may be valuable tools in the differential diagnosis between LK and LP.

Adult↗

Hypereosinophilic syndrome presenting as cutaneous necrotizing eosinophilic vasculitis and Raynaud's phenomenon complicated by digital gangrene.

Cutaneous necrotizing eosinophilic vasculitis is a recently identified type of vasculitis that is characterized by an eosinophil-predominant necrotizing vasculitis affecting small dermal vessels. Clinically, it presents with pruritic erythematous and purpuric papules and plaques, peripheral eosinophilia and a good response to systemic steroid therapy. This vasculitis can be idiopathic or associated with connective tissue diseases. Although the pathogenic roles of eosinophil-derived granule proteins and interleukins have been documented in diseases associated with eosinophilia, a role of CD40 (a glycoprotein of the tumour necrosis factor receptor superfamily) has rarely been described. We describe two patients with idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) presenting with multiple erythematous patches and plaques on the lower extremities and Raynaud's phenomenon. They satisfied the criteria for the diagnosis of HES by clinical and laboratory investigations. Histopathology of the cutaneous lesions revealed prominent eosinophilic infiltration with local fibrinoid change in vessel walls in the dermis and subcutis. Immunohistochemical detection of CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD40 was performed. Infiltrating eosinophils were strongly stained by anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody. One patient improved with prednisolone, pentoxifylline and nifedipine, without recurrence. The other patient initially improved with steroids, but after self-withdrawal of steroid developed digital ischaemia that evolved to severe necrosis and required amputation. Cutaneous necrotizing eosinophilic vasculitis, Raynaud's phenomenon and digital gangrene may develop as cutaneous manifestations of HES. CD40 may play a part in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic vasculitis in HES.

Adult↗

Primary CD56 + nasal-type T/natural killer-cell subcutaneous panniculitic lymphoma: presentation as haemophagocytic syndrome.

Natural killer (NK) cells are large granular lymphocytes that mediate cytotoxic reactions which are not restricted by the major histocompatibility complex. In recent years it has become apparent that a minor proportion of malignant lymphomas expresses an NK-cell phenotype defined by its reactivity with the CD56 antibody. Primary purely cutaneous CD56 + lymphomas have rarely been reported. They share a generally aggressive course and are highly associated with Epstein-Barr virus. We describe a patient with a primary cutaneous nasal-type T/NK-cell lymphoma that presented as a haemophagocytic syndrome and showed an aggressive clinical course.

Adult↗

Cutaneous extravascular necrotizing granuloma (Churg Strauss granuloma).

Churg Strauss granuloma (cutaneous extravascular necrotizing granuloma) is a distinct entity which is associated with systemic immunoreactive or autoimmune diseases in a majority of cases. Typically, Churg Strauss granuloma presents as symmetrical papules or nodules on the extremities. There are two histological patterns: the classic pattern reveals palisading granuloma with central degenerated collagen, interspersed polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and leukocytoclastic debris; the focal basophilic necrosis pattern does not show palisading granuloma. We report two cases of Churg Strauss granuloma with different histopathological patterns.

Adult↗

The hyperkeratotic variant of disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP).

A 78-year-old South Korean man was referred to us from the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) for an opinion. He was comatose and was on ventilatory care due to aspiration pneumonia. Multiple tiny papules had developed 10 years previously and since then the number and size had been increasing gradually. He had been diabetic for the past 4 years, and had Parkinson's disease diagnosed 1 year previously. Laboratory examinations revealed an elevated level of white blood cells (WBCs) (25,000/microL) and decreased hemoglobin (8.8 g/dL). Other laboratory results were negative or within normal limits. Skin examination showed multiple, discrete, crust-like, brownish papules over the erythematous base on the face, upper extremities, and lower extremities. With the clinical impressions of irritated verruca vulgaris, seborrheic keratosis, or cutaneous fungal infection, a skin biopsy was taken from a papule on the left shin, and histopathologic examination revealed several pronounced hyperkeratotic and parakeratotic columns, and characteristic cornoid lamellae in the stratum corneum. Beneath the cornoid lamellae, the granular layer was decreased. A number of round or oval, dyskeratotic, homogenized eosinophilic cells with pyknotic nuclei were scattered in the prickle cell layer below the cornoid lamellae. A mild lymphohistiocytic infiltrate was observed in the papillary dermis and around the blood vessels in the upper dermis. Also, actinic degeneration was present in the upper dermis.

Aged↗