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Background. Spitz naevi have not been widely studied in Asians. Aim. To compare the epidemiology and clinicopathological features of Spitz naevi in Koreans with lesions in western countries. Methods. In total, 80 Spitz naevi in 77 patients diagnosed over 10 years at 17 university hospitals in Korea were analysed. Results. The relative incidence of Spitz naevus vs. MM was 1 vs. 10.9. In most patients (75%) the Spitz naevi had been present for > 6 months. The size of the lesion was relatively large. Histologically, most of the lesions (54%) were the dermal type and pigmentation was common (49% of lesions). Immunohistochemical study found that all of the 34 lesions were positive for S-100 protein but only 14 (47%) were positive for HMB-45. Conclusion. Spitz naevus is rare in Korea. The lesions were more commonly larger, pigmented, and of the dermal type than reported in western countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vesicle budding and fusion underlies many essential biochemical deliveries in eukaryotic cells, and its core fusion machinery is thought to be built on one protein family named soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE). Recent technical advances based on site-directed fluorescence labelling and nano-scale detection down to the single-molecule level rapidly unveiled the protein and the lipid intermediates along the fusion pathway as well as the molecular actions of fusion effectors. Here we summarize these new exciting findings in context with a new mechanistic model that reconciles two existing fusion models: the proteinaceous pore model and the hemifusion model. Further, we attempt to locate the points of action for the fusion effectors along the fusion pathway and to delineate the energetic interplay between the SNARE complexes and the fusion effectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. Objectives  To assess the expression of ST3 in DF and DFSP and to ascertain whether ST3 is superior to factor XIIIa or CD34 in differentiating DF from DFSP, by comparison with factor XIIIa and CD34 expression. Methods  Immunohistochemical staining was performed on 23 cases of DF and 17 cases of DFSP, using antibodies to ST3, factor XIIIa and CD34. Results  ST3 was expressed in all cases of DF (23 of 23) but only one case showed weakly positive staining in DFSP (one of 17). The mean ± SD ST3 immunohistochemistry (IHC) score in DF was 4·52 ± 0·67. The sensitivity of ST3 was 100% and the specificity was 94%. Factor XIIIa was expressed in all cases of DF (23 of 23) and in five of the 17 DFSPs. The mean ± SD factor XIIIa IHC score in the DFs was 4·43 ± 0·73. The sensitivity of factor XIIIa was 100% and the specificity was 71%. CD34 was expressed in four of the 23 DFs and 16 of the 17 DFSPs. The mean ± SD CD34 IHC score in the DFSPs was 4·41 ± 1·37. The sensitivity of CD34 was 94% and the specificity was 83%. Conclusions  Immunohistochemical staining with a commercial anti-ST3 antibody can be successfully carried out in routine dermatopathology. We confirmed that ST3 is a positive marker for DF and that ST3 staining might be more reliable than factor XIIIa staining in differential diagnosis of DF and DFSP. As the present study showed that ST3 was not absolutely negative in all cases of DFSP, the combination with CD34 immunostaining could make the distinction more reliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many reports of patients with a severe hydroa vacciniforme (HV)-like eruption in which cutaneous lesions occur in both sun-exposed and non-exposed areas, unlike in true HV. Several patients have died from a malignant haematological neoplasm. In most cases, a latent Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection has been detected in the skin lesions. To describe the clinical and laboratory features of six additional patients with an EBV-associated HV-like eruption. The clinical, histological and immunohistochemical features were reviewed. T-cell receptor γ gene rearrangements were studied using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and heteroduplex analysis. In-situ hybridization was performed to detect mRNA for EBV in skin biopsy specimens. PCR was performed to screen for EBV infection in the skin lesions of three patients and blood of two patients. Photoprovocation with repeated ultraviolet (UV) A exposure was performed in three patients. The severity of the skin lesions and the clinical course varied among the patients. Skin lesions were induced by repeated UVA exposure in three patients and a latent EBV infection was demonstrated in the photoprovoked lesions. Three different clinical courses were found in six patients with an HV-like eruption associated with chronic EBV infection: (i) spontaneous remission; (ii) clearing after photoprotection; and (iii) continuous recurrence irrespective of sun exposure. It is possible that there are two patterns of HV-like eruption associated with chronic EBV infection. One is characterized by recurrent necrotic papulovesicles of the face and the other by nodules and facial swelling. It was demonstrated that the skin lesions could be triggered by repeated UVA exposure in the patients showing recurrent necrotic papulovesicles of the face. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor that discusses the occurrence of aquagenic syringeal acrokeratoderma on the dorsal aspect of fingers is presented.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Successful treatment of Darier disease with topical 5-fluorouracil."

Presents a letter to the editor about nodal marginal zone lymphoma.

A letter to the editor related to a case study on hypertrophy is presented.

The article presents a study on the association between education and occupational class with mortality in South Korea. The study shows that manual workers and those having less education showed higher mortality compared to non-manual workers. It reveals that female manual workers have high mortality for metabolic, nutritional and endocrinal diseases, digestive diseases and mental disorders.