Background: Research into the Baumann skin type (BST) has recently expanded, with growing interest in the development of an efficient and effective skin type classification system for better understanding of this skin condition. Objective: We aimed to identify male-specific skin type characteristics with investigation into the distribution of BST by age and region in the Korean male population and to determine the intrinsic and extrinsic factors related to skin type. Methods: A questionnaire was administered to collect information about age, region, working behavior, drinking behavior, smoking behavior, usual habit of sun protection, medical history, and the BST which consisted of four parameters; oily (O) or dry (D), sensitive (S) or resistant (R), pigmented (P) or non-pigmented (N), and wrinkled (W) or tight (T). Results: We surveyed 1,000 Korean males aged between 20 and 60 years who were divided equally by age and region. Of the total respondents, OSNW type accounted for the largest percentage and ORPW type the lowest. In terms of Baumann parameters, O type was 53.5%, S type was 56.1%, N type was 84.4% and W type was 57.5%. Several behavioral factors were found to have various relationships with the skin type. Conclusion: The predominant skin type in the Korean male respondents was OSNW type, and the distribution of skin types with regards to age and region was reported to be distinct. Therefore, skin care should be customized based on detailed skin types considering the various environmental factors.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of Barodon, an anionic alkali mineral complex, on growth, feed utilization, humoral innate immunity and disease resistance of olive flounder. A basal experimental diet was used as a control and supplemented with 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, or 0.5% Barodon. Triplicate groups of fish (26.4 +/- 0.2 g) were fed one of the diets to apparent satiation twice daily for 10 wk. The growth performance was enhanced (P<0.05) linearly and quadratically in fish fed diets containing Barodon compared with that in fish fed the control. Feed utilization was significantly improved by Barodon supplementation. Serum lysozyme and antiprotease activities were increased quadratically in Barodon fed groups. Also, significantly higher superoxide dismutase activity was found in Barodon-fed fish. Dietary supplementation of 0.1-0.3% Barodon resulted in significant enhancement of fish disease resistance against Streptococcus iniae. The findings in this study indicate that dietary supplementation of Barodon can enhance growth, feed utilization, innate immunity, and disease resistance of olive flounder and that the optimum level seems to be 0.1% in diets.

A 15-wk feeding trial was conducted to examine the supplemental effects of Barodon on growth performance, gastrointestinal histology, feed digestibility and innate immunity in olive founder. A basal commercial diet was used as a control and two other diets were prepared by spraying 0.1% or 0.2% of Barodon. Triplicate groups of fish (BW, 145 g) were fed one of the test diets to apparent satiation twice daily. At the end of the feeding trial, fish growth performance was not significantly affected by dietary treatments; however, feed utilization was significantly improved (linear and quadratic, p<0.05) by Barodon supplementation. Significantly higher (p<0.05) survival rates were obtained in fish fed Barodon containing diets. Hepatosomatic index increased significantly in Barodon treated groups. Also, the use of Barodon resulted in significant increase (linear and quadratic, p<0.05) of intestine length and number of goblet cells. Significantly higher (Quadratic, p<0.05) apparent digestibility coefficient of DM was obtained by supplementation of Barodon. Lysozyme and myeloperoxidase activities increased quadratically and linearly, respectively, in Barodon treated fish. Also, significantly higher (linear and quadratic, p<0.05) superoxide dismutase activity was found in Barodon fed fish. The findings in this study show that inclusion of Barodon in diets for olive flounder improves feed utilization and digestibility, and positively affects digestive tract histology and innate immunity.

Membranous lipodystrophy represents a peculiar type of fat necrosis that is present in patients with various types of skin disease. It is characterized by the presence of microcysts and macrocysts and is lined by amorphous eosinophilic material with a crenelated arabesque appearance. These findings have been associated with lupus erythematosus, diabetes mellitus, erythema nodosum, trauma, etc. We report a case of a 43-year-old woman who had a red to purple asymptomatic indurated plaque, approximately seven cm in diameter and on the left arm. She was a chronic hepatitis B antigen carrier and had hypertension for four years. Histopathology of the biopsied lesion showed transepidermal elimination of altered collagen and elastic fibers, as well as membranous lipodystrophy changes. There were hypertensive vascular changes including lymphohistiocytic infiltration around the vascular wall, swelling of endothelial cells, increased thickness of the vascular walls, and narrowing of the lumen. We report a case showing transepidermal elimination with membranous lipodystrophy. We carefully suggest that the secondary phenomenon of transepidermal elimination was associated with membranous lipodystrophy and degenerate connective tissues.

Human papilloma virus (HPV), an established causative organism of viral warts, has recently been isolated from several mucocutaneous tumors with different clinical features. HPV could also be found in epidermoid cysts and inverted plantar warts. We report two cases of inverted wart developed on the back and neck. The inverted wart in this report may represent a variant of viral warts in human.

Background : Capsaicin induces the release of substance P(SP), and depletes and prevents reaccumulation of SP and C type nerve fibers. Trophic role of SP and the neural mechanisms of hair growth control remain obscure. Minoxidil is widely used as a topical agent for hair loss. Objective : The effects of coapplication of capsaicin and minoxidil on hair growth and cycle, compared with application of capsaicin or minoxidil alone, was evaluated. Methods : After depilation of the back skin of mice, we divided mice into four groups, i.e., control, capsaicin, minoxidil and coapplied group. We examined hair regrowth after depilation in terms of macroscopic examination, image analysis using phototrichograms, measurement of hair regrowth length, microscopic examination and measurement of mast cell count, and [methyl-H] thymidine uptake. Results : The results are summarized as follows 1. Hair growth of capsaicin group and minoxidil group began faster than that of coapplied group and control. Thereafter, hair growth of capsaicin group was observed as the fastest, followed by minoxidil group, coapplied group, and control. 2. The percentage of the area of hair regrowth in coapplied group was lower than capsaicin group, similar to minoxidil group, and higher than control at the 15th day after depilation. At the 30th day after depilation, there was no significant difference between coapplied group and capsaicin group. 3. Hair of coapplied group grew steadily up to the 30th day after depilation, growing taller than any other group. 4. On microscopic examination, capsaicin was able to make the hair cycle faster and shorter than control, but minoxidil group and coapplied group prolonged the anagen phase of hair cycle. 5.Though mast cell count decreased in all four groups after depilation, capsaicin group decreased significantly more than the other group. 6.[Methyl-H] thymidine uptake increased in all four groups until the 5th day after depilation, and then decreased. The uptake of coapplied group was similar to that of minoxidil group. Conclusion: These results suggest that capsaicin can not only induce the anagen phase quickly, but also sustain constant effect on hair growth. Minoxidil can also induce the anagen phase fast, and prolong the duration of anagen phase. Therefore, it is concluded that coapplication of capsaicin and minoxidil can grow hair quickly and steadily.

Introduction Hair fibers are comprised of non-nucleated keratinocytes and are biologically dead. Clinical damage to the hair shaft occurs with the application of hair dye. Whether this damage can be repaired and the time frame involved is of interest and may help to determine the optimal interval between repeat applications.Aims and methods Ultrastructural changes of hair shafts after application of permanent hair dye were observed sequentially in a 26-year-old woman, The dye contained p-phenylenediamine, m-aminophenol, resorcin and hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizer. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy was performed immediately before application of the hair dye and again 30 min, 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 8 weeks.Results The hair showed cuticular swelling with focal degeneration. In some places there was exposure of the hair cortex due to extensive cuticular detachment. There were many holes of various size in the endocuticle, small focal lacunae along the intercellular space and an ill-defined A-layer especially beneath the area of cuticular detachment. The exocuticle appeared normal. The findings were most dramatic in the 6 h and 1 day specimens and tended to improve gradually thereafter. The 8 week specimen showed near complete restoration of the hair cuticle and return to the precoloring state.Conclusion Hair returns to its precoloring state and this requires 8 weeks.

Three cases of a solitary neurofibroma showing focal fatty changes are reported. Fatty changes in a neurofibroma are rarely observed and have not been reported, and also, the pathogenesis of neurofibroma has not been clarified. We postulate that the fatty changes in a neurofibroma may be the result of so-called senescent change or chronic injury. The origin of adipose cells may be attributable to fatty infiltration from abutting tissues or to a metaplasia of tumor cells or resident fibroblasts.

In our previous study, we concluded that an epidural blockade combined with intravenous acyclovir is very effective in treating the acute pain in herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia. We evaluated the efficacy of oral famciclovir and epidural blockade on the pain of herpes zoster, compared to acyclovir administered intravenously and epidural blockade. For this purpose, we examined a new group treated with famciclovir and epidural blockade to compare with the group treated with acyclovir and epidural blockade in our previously study. The changes in the intensity of pain, the number of days required for relief of pain, and the total duration of pain were checked. We compared the days required for relief of pain (DRP) and the total duration of pain (TDP) of this group with those of the previous studied group treated with acyclovir and epidural blockade. DRP was significantly less, but TDP was similar. DRP and TDP were significantly lower, if the patients were treated within 7 days of symptom onset. The patients had a shorter DRP regardless of pain type than the previously studied group treated with acycolvir and epidural blockade. For the severe and moderate pain grades, there was a shorter DRP from 100 to 10. TDP was not significantly different for the groups regardless of pain type or grade. We believe that famciclovir and epidural blockade are very effective in treating the pain of herpes zoster, with a view to shortening the period of acute pain, providing similar effects on the prevention of postherpetic neuralgia, and being convenient to administer, compared to intravenous acyclovir and epidural blockade in our previous study.