We report a case of multiple agminated Spitz nevi in a 16-year-old boy who presented with multiple nodules on the right side of his face. His past history revealed that there had been erythematous and brown colored papules on the same site at the age of four. At that time one lesion was excised and histopathological findings showed fairly well circumscribed spindle and epithelioid cell nests consistent with a Spitz nevus. Twelve years later, he presented with multiple agminated brown to black colored nodules on the face. Microscopic evaluation revealed nevus cells diffusely distributed throughout the dermis showing no or little junctional activity. In addition, these cells were embedded in a strikingly desmoplastic stroma which consisted of acellular collagen fiber. Immunohistochemical staining for S-100 protein was positive. To our knowledge this is the first report of multiple agminated Spitz nevi in Korea.
Adolescent ; Collagen ; Dermis ; Epithelioid Cells ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Nevus* ; Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell ; S100 Proteins

No abstract available.
Cartilage* ; Rabbits* ; Ribs*

BACKGROUND: In sepsis, excessive generation of reactive oxygen species plays key roles in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury. The serum antioxidants such as catalase and MnSOD are elevated in sepsis and considered as predictors of acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS) and prognostic factors of sepsis. Peroxiredoxin(Prx) has recently been known as an unique and major intracellular antioxidant. In this study, we evaluated the expression of Prx I and Prx II in mouse monocyte-macrophage cells(RAW267.7) after treatment of oxidative stress and endotoxin and measured the amount of Prx I, Prx II and thioredoxin(Trx) in peritoneal and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of septic animal model. METHODS: Using immunoblot analysis with specific antibodies against Prx I, Prx II and Trx, we evaluated the distribution of Prx I and Prx II in human neutrophil, alveolar macrophage and red blood cell. We evaluated the expression of Prx I and Prx II in mouse monocyte-macrophage cells after treatment of 5 micro M menadione and 1 micro gram/ml lipopolysaccharide(LPS) and measured the amount of Prx I, Prx II and Trx in peritoneal lavage fluid of intraperitoneal septic animals(septic animal model induced with intraperitoneal 6 micro gram/kg LPS injection) and those in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of intraperitoneal septic animals and intravenous septic animals(septic animal model induced with intravenous 5 micro gram/kg LPS injection) and compared with the severity of lung inflammation. RESULTS: The distribution of Prx I and Prx II were so different among human neutrophil, alveolar macrophage and red blood cell. The expression of Prx I in mouse monocyte-macrophage cells was increased after treatment of 5 micro M menadione and 1 micro gram/ml lipopolysaccharide but that of Prx II was not increased. The amount of Prx I, Prx II and Trx are increased in peritoneal lavage fluid of intraperitoneal septic animals but were not increased in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of intraperitoneal and intravenous septic animals regardless of the severity of lung inflammation. CONCLUSION: As intracellular antioxidant, the expression of Prx I is increased in mouse monocyte-macrophage cells after treatment of oxidative stress and endotoxin. The amount of Prx I, Prx II and Trx are increased in local inflammatory site but not increased in injured lung of septic animal model.
Acute Lung Injury ; Animals* ; Antibodies ; Antioxidants ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Catalase ; Erythrocytes ; Humans ; Lung ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; Mice ; Models, Animal* ; Neutrophils ; Oxidative Stress ; Peritoneal Lavage ; Peroxiredoxins* ; Pneumonia ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Sepsis ; Thioredoxins* ; Vitamin K 3

BACKGROUND: Ischemic preconditioning(IP) is known to be effective in the protection of myocardial necrosis, arrhythmia, and the restoration of the myocardial function in the ischemia-reperfusion state of the heart. However the exact mechanism is not clearly understood. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the trigger mechanism of IP on the restoration of the myocardial function after ischemia-reperfusion. MATERIAL AND METHOD: By connecting a Langendorff perfusion apparatus with an isolated heart of a rat, the normal temperature of the heart was maintained. The experiment was conducted in seven groups, which were divided according to the preconditioning stimuli and blockage methods: Group I(n=10) was a group without IP, Group II(n=10) a group of three-minute IP, Group III(n=10) a group of PEIP, Group IV(n=10) a group of clonidine IP, Group V(n=10) a group of IP after reserpine, Group VI(n=10) a group of PE & prazosin IP, and Group VII(n=10) a group of clonidine & yohimbine IP. Hemodynamic parameters of DP, LVEDP, +/-dP/dT and the changes of perfusion in the coronary artery were evaluated. RESULT: Developed pressure and +dP/dT changed per unit time. After 20 minutes of reperfusion, those of Group II and III were 63.1+/-3.7%, 64.8+/-4.6% and 64.5+/-4.6%, 63.8+/-4.4%, which improved more significantly than those of Group I(P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences between the Groups V and VI, and Group I. CONCLUSION: The Brief ischemic preconditioning and pharmacological preconditioning using alpha-receptor sympathomimetics have protecting effects on the restoration of myocardial function after reperfusion. And the protecting effect of preconditioning seems to be related to sympathetic neurotransmitters and to the selective action of the alpha1-adrenergic receptor.
Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Clonidine ; Coronary Vessels ; Heart ; Hemodynamics ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial* ; Necrosis ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Perfusion ; Prazosin ; Rats* ; Reperfusion ; Reserpine ; Sympathomimetics ; Yohimbine

Bleeding from anastomotic site in operation for aorta has been troublesome, because it has influence on postoperative morbidity and mortality. Therefore, hemostasis is very important. We describe a simple and effective method for achieving hemostasis of the anastomotic site in aortic surgery. By wrapping around anastomotic site with remnant artificial vascular graft, we have acquired good results.
Aorta ; Hemorrhage ; Hemostasis* ; Mortality ; Transplants*

OBJECTIVE: To determine if basal serom follicle stimulating harmone (FSH) level could be a prognostic factor of the clinical outcome in in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in the couples with male factor infertility. Materials and METHOD: From December 1995 to March 1998, total 118 patients with male factor infertility were included in this study. Patients were allocated to the low basal FSH group (>8.5 mIU/ml) and the high basal FSH group (>8.5 mlU/ml). The basal levels of FSH were measured in the 3rd day of menstrual cycle preceding ovarian stimulation cycle in total IVF cycles by immunoradiometric assay (IRMA). Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test, Fishers exact test, and x2 test as appropriate. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. RESULTS: The total dose of exogeneous gonadotropin required in the patients of the high basal FSH group was significantly higher than that of the patients with the low basal FSH poup (p < 0.05). The numbers of retrieved oocytes, oocytes with grade I, II, fertilized oocytes, cleaved oocytes, embryos with grade I, II, and transferred embryos were significantly higher in the low basal FSH group (p < 0.05), The clinical pregnancy rate per cycle in the low basal FSH gmup (15.7%) seemed to be higher than that in the high basal FSH poup (3.4%) (p 0.08), however, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that the basal FSH levels could be predictive of pregnancy outcome and the results of ovarian stimulation in IVF-ET using ICSL.
Embryo Transfer ; Embryonic Structures ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Immunoradiometric Assay ; Infertility ; Male ; Menstrual Cycle ; Oocytes ; Ovulation Induction ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic*

BACKGROUND: Although there have been many studies on psoriasis, only a few studies have been conducted on pilosebaceous changes and even those results are controversial. While a few studies have been conducted on the morphological changes of the pilosebaceous unit in scalp psoriasis, comparative studies on the morphometric changes of pilosebaceous structures with a normal control group have not been conducted. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to elucidate the morphological change of the pilosebaecous unit in scalp psoriasis. METHODS: We conducted a comparative study an the morphometric changes of the pilosebaceous structure in 10 cases of scalp psoriasis with a normal control group. Results : The results of this study are summarized as follows : 1. Total hair counts, telogen hair counts, telogen hair counts, and the sizes of hairs and follicles in the lesional scalp showed no statistically significant increase than in the normal control. 2. The intrafollicular hyperkeratosis in infundibulum and sebaceous atrophy were more proininet in the lesional area than in the normal control area. These findings were also significantly prominent in the uninvolved normal-appearing area than in the normal control area. 3. Perifollicular inflammation, squamous metaplasia of the sebaceous gland and telangiectasia in the lesional and uninvolved areas were prominent, and these findings were not found in the normal control areas. Conclusion : The sebaceous atrophy and squamous metaplasia are very important findings of morphologic changes in psoriasis, and this paradoxical change may be an important clue to clarify the pathogenesis of psoriasis.
Atrophy ; Hair ; Inflammation ; Metaplasia ; Psoriasis ; Scalp* ; Sebaceous Glands ; Telangiectasis

Thirty cases of gastric adenocarcinoma were examined immunohistochemically for expression of transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-beta) in order to analyze significant correlation with clinical stage and pathologic grade of gastric adenocarcinoma. Specific immunostaining was clearly detected in the cytoplasm of the neoplastic cells. The TGF-,6 expression in the gastric adenocarcinoma is closely related to the depth of invasion, the degree of invasiveness and the presence of metastasis. Thus, we observed the stronger immunohistochemical. expression of TGF-beta in the deeper portion of invasion and in the invasive gastric adenocarcinomas with the lymph nodal metastasis than in the superficial portion of invasion and in those without the lymph nodal metastasis. There results suggest that the transforming growth factors expression in carcinoma cells may play an important role in the carcinomatous invasion resulting in metastasis.
Adenocarcinoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis

With the advent of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), the fertiliution and pregnancy have been reported even in complete asthenozoospermia. However, the results of ICSI in men with totally immotile sperm was still disappointing. The reasons for the total lack of sperm movement are not yet determined. The immotility of ejaculated spermatozoa is probably caused by sperm degeneration during epididymal transport, therefore higher viable spermatozoa can be obtained by testicular sperm recovery in some cases with low viability and total lack of movement of ejaculated spermatozoa. Recourse to testicular spermatozoa for ICSI is thus an alternative treatment possibility in this kind of pathology. This clinical study was performed to investigate the efficacy of ICSI employing testicular and ejaculated spermatozoa. From December 1995 to March 1998, 35 couples with totally immotile spermatozoa were included in the study. In 14 patients, the ejaculated spermatozoa were used whereas in 21 patients the spermatozoa were recovered from the testis. There were no significant differences in the fertilization and cleavage rates between the testicular sperm group with 62.6%, 52.7% and the ejaculated sperm group with 56.1%, 74.3%. Two pregnancies were achieved, one in the testicular spnm poup and the other in the ejaculated group. A healthy child was delivered at term in the ejaculated sperm group, but a clinical abortion occurred in a pregnancy in the testicular sperm group. In conclusion, it was suggested that ICSI using ejaculated sperm might be a primary treatment in cases with totally immotile spermatozoa and, if failed, testicular sperm could be used as an alternative mode of heatment.
Asthenozoospermia ; Child ; Family Characteristics ; Fertilization ; Humans ; Male ; Pathology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic* ; Spermatozoa* ; Testis

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the dental caries experience of children in Laos. Methods: Oral examinations were performed on a total of 1,540 students in 513 primary school students, 537 middle school students, and 490 high school students and the results analyzed. Results: The dft index (decayed-filled primary teeth index) of 6-year-old primary school children was 6.04. The DMFT index (decayed-filled-missing permanent teeth index) was 1.59 in 12-yearold middle school children and 2.04 in 15-year-old middle school children. Conclusions Caries experience in most of the age groups was on the high side. It is considered that in Laos, a treatment project to stop the progression of caries is necessary in parallel with a prevention project to lower the caries fatality rate.