Chromoblastomycosis in Taiwan: A report of 30 cases and a review of the literature.

Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is an implantation mycosis characterized by the presence of pigmented muriform cells in tissue. CBM is endemic in Taiwan, but only three formal cases have been reported to date because of underreporting. To describe and update its epidemiologic features, we report a series of 30 cases between 2003 and 2016 at a single medical center.

A mitovirus isolated from the phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria brassicicola.

Alternaria brassicicola is one of the causal agents of alternaria blackspot in rapeseed. In this study, a dsRNA segment was isolated and sequenced from the fungus. The complete nucleotide sequence of the dsRNA was 2506 bp in length and, using the fungal mitochondrial genetic code, was predicted to contain a single large open reading frame (ORF) in the positive strand.

Characterization of a novel single-stranded RNA virus, closely related to fusariviruses, infecting the plant pathogenic fungus Alternaria brassicicola.

The alternaria blackspot of rapeseed is one of the most prominent diseases of rapeseed. It is caused by three species of the genus Alternaria: Alternaria brassicicola, Alternaria brassicae, and Alternaria raphanin. Here we report a novel positive-sense RNA virus from an A.

Genome sequence of a novel endornavirus from the phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria brassicicola.

In an effort to discover new mycoviruses from phytopathogenic fungi, a dsRNA molecule of 10,290 nt, resembling those associated with the viruses belonging to the family Endornaviridae, was isolated from Alternaria brassicicola, one of the causal agents of rapeseed black spot disease. Genome analysis revealed the presence of a single open reading frame coding for a polyprotein of 3400 aa containing conserved viral methyltransferase (MTR), viral RNA helicase 1 (Hel-1), and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) domains. In addition, a cysteine-rich region (CRR) with conserved CXCC motifs, shared among several endornaviruses, was also identified between the MTR and Hel-1 domains.

The complete nucleotide sequence and genomic organization of a novel victorivirus with two non-overlapping ORFs, identified in the plant-pathogenic fungus Phomopsis vexans.

In this study, a novel virus designated Phomopsis vexans RNA virus 1 (PvRV1) was identified in a strain of Phomopsis vexans. The complete genomic nucleotide sequence was determined and analyzed. Sequence analysis indicated that PvRV1 is closely related to viruses in the genus Victorivirus of the family Totiviridae.

The nucleotide sequence and genome organization of two victoriviruses from the rice false smut fungus Ustilaginoidea virens.

Ustilaginoidea virens is the causal agent of false smut disease of rice. The dsRNA-Ls from a U. virens strain of Uv0901 containing three dsRNA bands were separated and sequenced.

Intravenous immunoglobulin-induced, non-eczematous, vesiculobullous eruptions in Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has emerged as a promising treatment that interrupts the progression of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS). Our patient experienced an uncommon adverse effect, non-eczematous, vesiculobullous eruptions, after treatment with IVIG. These new lesions developed rapidly on the palms while most previous SJS bullous lesions subsided.

Bullous pemphigoid in a renal transplant recipient: a case report and review of the literature.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune disease with chronic, recurrent bullous eruptions. BP has been reported to be associated with drugs, physical stimuli, malignancies, and immune abnormalities. Its association with renal transplant is rare and only four cases have been reported.

Cutaneous normolipemic plane xanthoma with supraglottic involvement in a patient with hand-Schüller-Christian Disease: a case report.

Normolipemic plane xanthoma (NPX) is a histiocytic disorder characterized by yellow-orange plaques in the periorbital areas, neck, upper trunk, and flexural folds. Association with systemic disease or paraproteinemia has been reported previously, but rarely with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). We report a case of Hand-Schüller-Christian disease (a type of LCH) in a patient who developed NPX with supraglottic involvement.

Bilateral sporotrichoid lymphocutaneous dermatosis in a drug abuser: case report and review of the literature.

Bilateral sporotrichoid mycobacterial cutaneous infection is unusual and has been reported in only three cases involving different species and with an unknown route of infection in the literature.We report a case of bilateral sporotrichoid dermatosis in an immunocompetent patient with a history of intravenous heroin injection before development of the skin lesions. Both special stain and culture of biopsy specimen were negative.

Clinical manifestations and characteristics of patients with acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis in Asia.

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis is a rare, sterile inflammation of the skin (and mucous membranes) characterized by acute onset of generalized pustule formation, fever and leukocytosis, and a rapid resolution. A computer-based search of the literature revealed only a limited series of reports, none of them based on Asian patients. We identified and retrospectively analysed 16 biopsy-proven and criteria-matched patients over a 15-year period in a single medical centre.

Metastasis of mediastinal epithelioid angiosarcoma to the finger.

Epithelioid angiosarcoma (EA) is a rare malignant, vascular tumor that is usually observed in middle-aged and elderly males. Cutaneous metastasis of EA is extremely rare. We report the case of a 41-year-old woman presenting with a painful bluish, bulla-like lesion on the distal extent of the left third finger.

Indigenous leishmaniasis in Taiwan: report of a case.

Taiwan is not considered an endemic area of leishmaniasis. Imported cases are encountered infrequently, and only two cases of indigenous cutaneous leishmaniasis have been reported.(1) We found one new case in the past 20 years.

A birthmark survey in 500 newborns: clinical observation in two northern Taiwan medical center nurseries.

Background: The prevalence of birthmarks in Taiwanese newborns has not been well studied. How gender and maturity of newborns affect presentation and prevalence of vascular birthmarks, in particular, has not been well documented. The aim of this survey was to catalog the above-mentioned problems.

Bullous amyloidosis in a hemodialysis patient is myeloma-associated rather than hemodialysis-associated amyloidosis.

We report a 78-year-old woman on hemodialysis who presented with refractory multiple pruritic vesicles and bullae on her trunk and extremities for 2 months. Histopathologic examination of skin biopsy specimen showed subepidermal bullae with many amyloid deposits in the papillary dermis. No evidence of systemic amyloidosis could be found on physical examination.

Urachal duct remnant-like umbilical clear cell acanthoma in an infant: an unusual presentation and pitfall in clinical practice.

Background: Although an umbilical nodule is common in neonates and young infants, an umbilical nodule of poor therapeutic response will increase the likelihood of other uncommon etiology. Clear cell acanthoma (CCA) has never been described as an oozing umbilical nodule on infants.

Methods: To present a case of CCA which occurred on an 8-month-old female infant presenting with one weeping nodule on the umbilicus since early neonate.

Treatment of a tufted angioma with intense pulsed light.

Tufted angioma is a rare cutaneous angiomatous proliferation named because of its characteristic histologic pattern of grouped dermal capillary tufts. Lesions usually begin in infancy or early childhood but rarely are congenital. Clinical manifestations are dull red coalescent papules and plaques, most commonly located on the neck, shoulders, and upper back, and can sometimes be tender.

Malignant cutaneous tumors of the scalp: a study of demographic characteristics and histologic distributions of 398 Taiwanese patients.

Background: The scalp is a unique anatomic region, in which pilosebaceous follicles are concentrated.

Objective: We sought to investigate demographic characteristics and histologic distributions of malignant scalp tumors.

Methods: Primary and metastatic scalp malignancies diagnosed histopathologically between 1983 and 2003 were reviewed.

Cellulitis-like cutaneous metastasis of uterine cervical carcinoma.

Metastasis to the skin from cervical carcinoma is relatively uncommon. Herein we present a 41-year-old woman with a history of cervical carcinoma with severe facial erythematous swelling and telangiectasia. She was initially treated for cellulitis without improvement.

Warm and neutral tumescent anesthetic solutions are essential factors for a less painful injection.

Background: Tumescent local anesthesia is widely used in dermatologic surgery. Minimizing pain associated with injections is crucial to successful surgical procedures.

Objective: This study investigates the pain associated with warm and room temperatures in neutralized or nonneutralized tumescent anesthetic solutions injection.