No abstract available.

Ninety black C 57 BL mice were divided into control and photochemotherapy groups. Control group was subdivided into a UVA 1rradiation only subgroup and a khellin only administration subgroup, while the phototherapy group was subdivided into one TMP and two khellin administration subgroups with dosages of 1.5mg/kg, 5mg/kg and 20mg/kg, respectivly. UVA was administered three thimes a week in a dose of 4J/cm for 4 weeks. Skin biopsies were taken at 0, l, 2, 3 and 4 weeks and the split DOPA stain was employed to observe pigment production. The number, size and circumference of the melanocytes were assessed. In summary, our results inclicate that khellin, which is slightly less effective than TMP at the same effective dose, is quite effective for pigment production and the degree of the production is dose related.
Animals ; Biopsy ; Dihydroxyphenylalanine ; Khellin* ; Melanocytes* ; Mice ; Photochemotherapy* ; Phototherapy ; Skin ; Thymidine Monophosphate ; Trioxsalen*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Estrogens*

BACKGROUND: Transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-beta) has multiple regulatory effects on cells of the immune system, and it has been suggested that differentiation of lymphoid cells is influenced by low concentra tions of this cytokine. OBJECTIVES: The aim or this study was to investigate the role of TGF-beta in regulation of T cell growth and differentiation, and to compare this effect with that of other cell signals known to be important in T cell ontogeny. METHODS: We used the CTLL-2 cell line in the presence of IL-2. Surface phenotype expression was analysed to see whether these cells could be switched to the other subtype of cells. RESULT: Treatment of CTLL-2 cells with TGF-beta resulted in dose dependent growth inhibition and morphological changes. Curing routine passage, less than 5% of cells were CD8alpha positive, whereas 38% of cells expressed CD8alpha when treated with IL-2 plus TGF-beta. However, TPA plus calcium ionophore, IFN-gamma, or TNF-alpha caused no significant changes in the proportion of CD8 cells. CONCLUSION: Our results show that this experiment can be a useful model for investigating CD8 precursor potentials in populations of CD4-CD8-(double negative) cells, and such a model may offer a way to study the molecular regulation of CD8 gene expression.
Calcium ; Cell Line* ; Gene Expression ; Immune System ; Interleukin-2 ; Lymphocytes ; Phenotype ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

To determine the concentration and the physiologic role of metal components in blood plasma and seminal plasma in relation to male infertility, the concentrations of twelve metal components in blood plasma and seminal plasma including Na, Mg, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Cd and Pb were measured by atomic absorbance spectrophotometery or ion selective electrode analysis. Semen and blood samples were obtained from a total of 110 men including 70 male infertility patients, 20 vasectomized persons and 20 fertility proven volunteers visited to the Male Infertility Clinic of Pusan National University Hospital. The concentrations of Ca, Zn, Mg, Cr and Cd in control group were higher in seminal plasma than in blood plasma, and additionally Pb were higher in infertility group. The concentrations of all metal components revealed no significant difference according to patients' age, resident, occupation, sperm density, motility and hormone level in blood plasma, but some metal components including Ca, Mg, Cu, Mn, Cd and Pb revealed a significant difference according to each these parameters except patient's age in seminal plasma. The concentrations of Mn, Cd and Pb in the vasectomy persons were higher than in the infertility group III including testicular and epididymal factors, but not in blood plasma. We conclude that the quantitative changes of metal components in the seminal plasma may have effects on not only spermatogenesis and sperm function, but also contribute to diagnostic parameter according to organ specificity of the metal in the male reproduction.
Busan ; Electrodes ; Fertility ; Humans ; Infertility ; Infertility, Male ; Male* ; Occupations ; Organ Specificity ; Plasma ; Reproduction ; Semen* ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatozoa ; Vasectomy ; Volunteers

To estimate the cancer mortality rates among Koreans, a mortality survey was carried out in the province of Kyongsangnam-do. The study population are the beneficiaries of Korea Medical Insurance Corporation (KMIC), Kydngsangnam-do area, among which the 3,867 deaths occurred from January, 1989 to December, 1990, were reviewed to confirm the cancer deaths. These were based upon the death certificates and medical utilization records before dying which were available through the computerized databases on medical care utility of KMIC. The survey was conducted along three steps. At first, the death certificates were examined, as a second step medical utilization records were reviewed, and finally direct contacts to the family members of the deceased were done. As a result, 990 deaths were found due to cancer. Using them, age and sex specific cancer(all sites and several sites) mortality rates were estimated. Overall cancer mortality rate in the area was estimated 138.7 per 100,000 person-years in males, and 65.7 in females, respectively. And the orders of site-specific cancer mortality rates were the cancers of stomach, liver, lung, esophagus, and cancers of the hematopoietic system among males, In females, followed by gastric cancer, cancers of lung and liver are the 2nd and 3rd in rank, respectively and cancers of breast and uterine cervix are the 4th and the 5th in rank.
Breast ; Cervix Uteri ; Death Certificates ; Esophagus ; Female ; Gyeongsangnam-do* ; Hematopoietic System ; Humans ; Insurance ; Korea ; Liver ; Lung ; Male ; Mortality* ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms

We have experienced a case of neurofibromatosis with unusual giant pigmentation, which presents itself as a 28 cm x 40 cm sized, serrated bordered light brownish patch speckled with small dark hyperpigmented macules on his back. Histopathologic examinations of light brown patch and speckles showed only an increase in basal melanin pigmentation.
Melanins ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Pigmentation*

Keratoacanthoma is a benign neoplasm that develops as a protruding mass especially on the central part of face, We experienced a case of keratoacanthoma that developed on the nasal vestibule after the eradication of verruca vulgaris on the same site by surgical intervention 3 months before. We treated it with total excision and skin graft.
Keratoacanthoma* ; Skin ; Transplants ; Warts*

No abstract available.
Asthma*