The purpose of this study was to evaluate the histologic difference that occured after trichloroacetic acid(TCA) chemical peel in an animal model that was pretreated with Tretinoin alone or Tretinoin-based combined pretreatment kit. Eight Hartley white guinea pigs were used in our study. The dorsal skin of the guinea pigs was divided into six equal squares(2x2 cm). Upper two areas of these six were not pretreated, middle two areas were pretreated for 4 weeks with Tretinoin alone and lower two areas were pretreated for 4 weeks with Tretinoin-based combined kit. Each guinea pig underwent chemical peel with 50% TCA. The wounded areas were biopsied at post-peeling 3 weeks and 6 weeks. The histology revealed that those animals pretreated with combined kit healed quicker than the animals pretreated with Tretinoin alone. This study implies that if patients are treated with Tretinoin-based-combined pretreatment kit before undergoing chemical peel, the pretreatment time will be shortened.
Animals ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Humans ; Models, Animal ; Skin ; Tretinoin* ; Wounds and Injuries

No abstract available.
Actins* ; Humans ; Keratosis, Actinic* ; Phototherapy*

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-4(IL-4) is a 20 kDa glycoprotein and is now known to possess fibrogenic activities. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of IL4 on the extracellular matrix gene expression. METHODS: Quantitation of collagenous protein synthesis, Northern and dot-blot hybridization, transfection experiments and CAT assay in normal human skin fibroblasts were done. RESULTS: Maximal elevation of collagen synthesis was presented at the concentration of IL-4 being S.Ong/ml. In Northern and dot-blot analysis, each level of type I collagens and fibronectin mRNA increased 3.0, and 2.8-fold, respectively in IL4 treated fibroblasts. In CAT to c assay, the percentage of acetylation was 8.3% in the untreated control group and 23.1% in 5.Ong/ml of the IL-4 treated group in normal fibroblasts. The promoter activity was in creased 2.8-fold in II.4(5.Ong/ml) treated fibroblasts compared to the control groups. CONCLUSION: IL4 might be a fibrogenic cytokine that could be important in promoting the biogenesis of collagen proteins. This could be due to increased transcription.
Acetylation ; Animals ; Cats ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I ; Extracellular Matrix* ; Fibroblasts* ; Fibronectins ; Gene Expression* ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Interleukin-4* ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin* ; Transfection

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mid-term results after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using a single four-strand semitendinosus tendon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 81 patients (84 cases) who had undergone ACL reconstruction using an autologous single four-strand semitendinosus tendon. The patients consisted of 77 men and 4 women with a mean age of 28.8 years (15-59 years) years. Most injuries were sports related, and the largest number of cases occurred during a soccer game (38 cases). Combined injuries were meniscus injuries in 43 cases, cartilage injuries in 6 cases and medial collateral ligament injuries in 8 cases. Femoral fixation device was PINN-ACL CrossPin in 44 cases and extracortical suspension device in 40 cases. Suture tie around a screw post and an additional bioabsorbable screw were used for tibial fixation. The mean time from injury to surgery was 9+/-16 months (7 days-10 years) and the mean follow-up period was 72.0+/-8.3 months (53-95 months). Clinical evaluation was performed using Lachman test, pivot-shift test, KT-2000 arthrometer, Lysholm score, Tegner activity score, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score and return to pre-injury sports activity. Radiologic evaluation was performed using plain radiographs to evaluate joint space narrowing. RESULTS: All patients showed normal range of motion at the final follow-up. The Lachman test was positive in 4 cases, and pivot-shift test was positive in 3 cases. Lysholm score improved from 76.7 to 92.2, Tegner activity score improved from 5.1 to 6, IKDC score improved from 72.0 to 86.5, and mean anterior translation by KT-2000 improved from 7.4 mm to 2.3 mm, and 80.2micro of patients returned to pre-injury sports activity. No significant differences in joint space narrowing were observed in plain radiographs. CONCLUSION: In this study, good results were obtained after ACL reconstructions using the autologous four-strand single semitendinosus tendon with maintaining the joint stability at mid-term follow-up.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction* ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Cartilage ; Collateral Ligaments ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Male ; Reference Values ; Soccer ; Sports ; Sutures ; Tendons*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of Tc-99m labeled antigranulocyte antibody immunoscintigrapy in the diagnosis of osteomyelitis and compare with the results of triphasic bone scan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population was 39 patients (22 male, 17 female) who had uncertain diagnoses of osteomyelitis. Fifteen patients had history of orthopedic surgery, and 5 had previous fracture. One milligram of monoclonal antibody against NCA-95 was labeled with 370 MBq of Tc-99m, injected intravenously, and 4 hour images were obtained. Triphasic bone scan images were obtained in 30 p;tients. The final diagnosis was confirmed by bacteriologic culture, biopsy or long term clinical follow up. RESULTS: Twenty one patients were confirmed to have osteomyelitis (1 acute, 20 chronic). Eighteen patients were without osteomyelitis. Antigranulocyte antibody immunoscintigraphy had a sensitivity of 71% (15/21), and a specificity of 89% (16/18), while the sensitivity and specificity of triphasic bone scan was 93% (13/14) and 38% (6/16), respectively. Antigranulocyte antibody scan showed higher specificity of 100% (11/11) in comparison with 33% (3/9) of triphasic bone scan in patients with history of orthopedic surgery or fracture. CONCLUSION: Antigranulocyte antibody immunoscintigraphy is more specific than that of triphasic bone scan and may be helpful in patients with history of surgery or fracture. However, sensitivity is lower than triphasic bone scan in the detection of chronic osteomyelitis.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Orthopedics ; Osteomyelitis ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Curschmann's spirals morphologically similar to those seen in sputum were found in cervico-vaginal smears of six patients ranged from 28 to 40 years of age, during 18 months from January. 1985 to June, 1986. The prevalence was 1 in 2147 smears in that period. All of them had gynecologic disorders without systemic effect such as chronic cervictis in three, leiomyoma in one, pelvic inflammatory disorder in one, and primary infertility in one. The Curshmann's spirals in the smear showed varying degrees of maturation from wavy incipient ones to highly coiled mature ones, admixed with thick mucinous back- ground, suggesting of their production in the uterine cervix itself. Also the recent history of undergone cryocautery, electrocautery or parturition suggest its production in the endocervical gland due to mechanical obstruction and/or change in biochemical composition of mucus.
Cervix Uteri ; Diabetes Insipidus* ; Electrocoagulation ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility ; Leiomyoma ; Mucins ; Mucus ; Parturition ; Pedigree* ; Pilomatrixoma ; Prevalence ; Receptors, Vasopressin* ; Sputum ; Vasopressins*

The Brown-Sequard syndrome is commonly related with a traumatic injury to the spinal cord. Degenerative spine disease is not often reported as the cause of the Brown-Sequard syndrome, and most reports document cervical spondylosis. There are few citation, describing herniated cervical disc as the cause of a Brown-Sequard syndrome. We report a rare case of Brown-Sequard syndrome produced by herniated cervical disc.
Brown-Sequard Syndrome* ; Spinal Cord ; Spine ; Spondylosis

The Brown-Sequard syndrome is commonly related with a traumatic injury to the spinal cord. Degenerative spine disease is not often reported as the cause of the Brown-Sequard syndrome, and most reports document cervical spondylosis. There are few citation, describing herniated cervical disc as the cause of a Brown-Sequard syndrome. We report a rare case of Brown-Sequard syndrome produced by herniated cervical disc.
Brown-Sequard Syndrome* ; Spinal Cord ; Spine ; Spondylosis

A 41-year-old heterosexual African man was evaluated for persistent urethral discharge, pneumaturia and watery diarrhea. Radiographic and endoscopic procedures established the diagnosis of a rectourethral fistula. The differential diagnosis of an acquired rectourethral fistula and the significance of AIDS are discussed.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*complications ; Adult ; Case Report ; Diverticulum/*complications/diagnosis ; Human ; Male ; Rectal Fistula/*complications/diagnosis ; Urethral Diseases/*complications/diagnosis

BACKGROUND: The changes of cerebral hemodynamics during syncope have not been fully evaluated. We investigated the changes in the cerebral blood flow velocity during head-up tilt test (HUT) using transcranial Doppler ultrasonogra-phy (TCD) in patients with neurocardiogenic syncope or presyncope. METHODS: Thirty-three patients with a history of recurrent syncope or presyncope of unknown origin were evaluated using HUT for 30 minutes (baseline tilt test), fol-lowed by an infusion of intravenous isoproterenol if needed. Systolic (SV) and diastolic velocities (DV) of middle cere-bral artery were continuously monitored by TCD. Positive responses were defined as presyncope or syncope with hypotension, bradycardia, or both. RESULTS: Five patients had positive responses during baseline tilt and 14 patients dur-ing the isoproterenol infusion. During the baseline tilt test, there was a 86 +/- 23% drop in DV and a 41 +/- 34% drop in SV in patients with positive responses, and mean changes in those were less than 10% in patients with negative responses (p=.00, p=.00). During the HUT with an isoproterenol infusion, the TCD showed an 80 +/- 18% drop in diastolic velocity in patients with positive responses, and a 47 +/- 10% drop in patients with negative responses (p=.00), However, the change in systolic velocity did not differ. TCD showed three patterns during positive responses: loss of all flow, loss of end-diastolic flow, and a decrease in diastolic velocity. Loss of consciousness occurred in patients with loss of all flow or end-diastolic flow during positive responses. CONCLUSIONS: TCD shows different patterns of changes in cerebral hemody-namics during HUT. TCD can be used to investigate the pathophysiology of neurocardiogenic syncope.
Arteries ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Bradycardia ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Isoproterenol ; Syncope* ; Syncope, Vasovagal ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial ; Unconsciousness