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*

Signet ring cell carcinoma has been previously described in many organs, most frequently in the stomach, and rarely in the colon, rectum, gallbladder, pancreas, breast, nadsal cavity, prostate, urinary bladder and ureter. Signet ring cell carcinomas in the lung, especially, when examined by small biopsies, are generally believed to be metastatic. This case was diagnosed by bronchoscopic biopsy. We also examined various organs by noninvasive method, including UGI series, barium enema and abdomen CT scarf, but all studies were nomal. Patient received cisplatin and etoposide combination chemotherapy followed by local radiotherapy ai a primary non-small cell lung cancer. Patient died of his disease 6 months after diagnosis. Now we report a case of primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the lung.
Abdomen ; Barium ; Biopsy ; Breast ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell* ; Cisplatin ; Colon ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Enema ; Etoposide ; Gallbladder ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung* ; Pancreas ; Prostate ; Radiotherapy ; Rectum ; Stomach ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder

BACKGROUND: In 1987, the British Thoracic Society (BTS) subjected an extensive list of patient variables to statistical analysis in a prospective study of prognosis in 453 adults with communityacquired pneumonia and, subsequently published guidelines for management of severe community acquired pneumonia. It was hoped that those at risk of dying from community acquired pneumonia could be easily identified and treated appropriately, thereby reducing mortality. To date, severe community acquired pneumonia has not been well studied in Korea. Therefore, we studied retrospectively 10 patients dying of severe community acquired pneumonia in Dongsan Hospital to see clinical manifestations of .dying of severe community-acquired pneumonia. METHODS: Between July 1987 and july 1993, 498 patients were admitted to Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital with community acquired pneumonia, and 77 of them received intensive care. Of the 77 patients, 10 patients died. We reviewed medical records of these patients. RESULTS: 1) The mean age of the patients was 56.2 years(range, 25 to 75 years). There were 7 men and 3 women. Seven patients(70%) were older than 60years of age. 2) The clinical features on admission were as follows: tachypnea, hypoxemia, mental change, cyanosis, leukopenia, leukocytosis, azotemia, hypotension, hypoalbuminemia in order of frequency. Three patients had one abnormal physical finding, 3 patients had 2, 2 patients had 3, and 2 patients had none of these abnormal physical findings. All patients had at least one of the abnormal laboratory findings. 3) A potential bacterial pathogen was isolated in sputum culture from 2 patients. One was E.coli, the other Enterobacter species. Sputum stain were positive in eight cases (G(+)cocci in six, G(+)cocci and G(-)bacilli in two). 4) Features of respiratory failure were the main reasons for ICU transfer, but two patients were transferred only following a cardiac or respiratory arrest in the general ward. 5) The mean of 2.7 different antibiotics were given to the patients. The aminoglycoside and first generation cephalosporin were the most frequently prescribed antibiotics, followed by the third generation cephalosporin and vancomycin. The most frequently prescribed antibiotics combination was a 1st generation cephalosporin plus an aminoglycoside. 6) Save patients death(70%) occured after admission within the first five days, and a mean duration of hospitalization was 11.2 days. CONCLUSION: As the results show most death occured within the first days after admission and aged patients; consequently, an aggressive intensive treatment should be provided early to the patients with severe community acquired pneumonia, and we should pay more attention to the aged patients.
Adult ; Anoxia ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Azotemia ; Cyanosis ; Enterobacter ; Female ; Hope ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Hypotension ; Critical Care ; Korea ; Leukocytosis ; Leukopenia ; Male ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Patients' Rooms ; Pneumonia* ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Sputum ; Tachypnea ; Vancomycin

PURPOSE: We investigated the factors that predicted later transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) in a subgroup of patients with abnormal cytology and negative initial evaluations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2002 to June 2007, we retrospectively identified 58 patients. Cases were considered discordant if a work-up of urine cytology was abnormal although initial cystoscopy, upper tract evaluation, and biopsies resulted in a negative or benign diagnosis. Patients who could complete a urine cytology test after 6 to 8 weeks and who were followed up for at least 1 year were included in this study. According to later TCC demonstration, we compared risk factors for TCC between the later TCC group and the benign group and evaluated the independent factors that predicted later TCC by use of a Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS: Of the 58 patients, the mean follow-up was 12.7+/-17.3 months (range: 2-83 months), and 14 patients (23.7%) had a prior history of TCC. During follow-up, 9 patients (15.3%) had TCC and 1 patient had prostate cancer. In the later TCC group, the incidence of a prior history of TCC (p=0.03) and persistent abnormal cytology (p<0.001) were higher than in the benign group in univariate analysis. In the Cox proportional hazards regression model, persistent abnormal cytology (p=0.033, relative risk (RR): 17.380 [95% CI: 1.265-238.783]) was the only independent factor to predict later TCC. The mean follow-up duration of later TCC demonstration was 8.55 months (range: 2-32 months). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that in the setting of persistent abnormal urine cytology with a negative initial evaluation, 53.3% of patients will later develop TCC. Patients with persistent abnormal cytology need intensive follow-up within 1 year.
Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; Cystoscopy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Urinary Bladder

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