Botulinum toxin a for aesthetic contouring of enlarged medial gastrocnemius muscle.

Background: Oversized, muscular calves can cause psychological stress in women. Botulinum toxin A has been used in the treatment of benign masseteric hypertrophy with correction of the squared facial appearance. It is believed that botulinum toxin might also be effective in reducing enlarged calf muscles.

Phakomatosis pigmentovascularis IIb with hypoplasia of the inferior vena cava and the right iliac and femoral veins causing recalcitrant stasis leg ulcers.

We present a patient with phakomatosis pigmentovascularis (PPV) type IIb accompanied with venous hypoplasia, from the inferior vena cava to the superficial femoral vein. Although it is not obvious whether this vascular anomaly, which is probably congenital, is coincidental or not, it is possible that the 2 diseases have some relationship each other, because PPV is thought to result from abnormal vasomotor activity during the embryonic period. In the diagnosis of type II PPV, careful examination and several studies are required to determine systemic involvement that may include large vessel changes.

Analysis of genetic polymorphisms of steroid 5alpha-reductase type 1 and 2 genes in Korean men with androgenetic alopecia.

Background: Genetic polymorphisms of steroid 5alpha-reductase have been studied in androgenetic alopecia in Caucasians, but the genes encoding the two isoenzymes were not associated with male pattern baldness. Genetic polymorphisms and ethnic variations have not been studied for Asians, although it is suggested that racial difference could exist and influence clinical phenotypes.

Objective: The purpose of our study is to investigate the genetic polymorphisms of steroid 5alpha-reductase type 1 and 2 (SRD5A1 and SRD5A2) genes in Korean population, and to study the association of these polymorphisms with the development, clinical types (female or male pattern) and therapeutic response of androgenetic alopecia.

Low frequency of beta-catenin gene mutations in pilomatricoma.

We investigated beta-catenin and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene abnormalities in human pilomatricoma, in which a high incidence of beta-catenin gene mutations has been reported. Nucleated tumour cells were microdissected from 20 paraffin-embedded pilomatricomas. Exon 3 of the beta-catenin gene was amplified using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing analysis was performed.

Perception of men with androgenetic alopecia by women and nonbalding men in Korea: how the nonbald regard the bald.

Background: Baldness has significant negative psychosocial effects. It has been asserted that the negative effects of baldness are often trivialized by the nonbald. Most studies concerning the perception of baldness have focused on the perceptions of the bald by themselves.

Hair counts from scalp biopsy specimens in Asians.

Background: Differences in hair density have been described according to the ethnic background in whites and blacks. Asians are known to have fewer hairs than whites.

Objective: We performed this study to assess the normal values of hair counts in scalp biopsy specimens from Koreans.