BACKGROUND: During the last few years, the in vivo study of the physiological parameters of the skin by non-invasive methods has been considerably developed. So far, there have been some reports on the skin characteristics only in parts, but there has not been any criteria to classify those of normal subjects. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the skin characteristics of healthy Korean subjects according to sex and sites using non-invasive methods. METHODS: To determine normal levels of sebum, skin hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin elasticity and skin color according to sex, 163 subjects (male; 124, female; 39) were used to investigate 5 different anatomical sites. 6 different instruments were used: The Sebummeter SM 410, Corneometer CM 820, Evaporimeter EP1, Cutometer SEM 474, Chromameter CR-121, and Mexameter MX 16, for evaluating sebum excretion rate, capacitance, TEWL, mechanical property and skin color respectively. RESULTS: Differences were noticed depending on the anatomical sites and sex. Most of the measuring parameters were significantly different according to sites and sex. The values of sebum levels, capacitance and TEWL were higher in the males on the cheek, forehead and crows foot, whereas in the females, higher values were observed on the dorsum of the hand. The skin elasticity varied considerably among the nine-parameters but, for the elastic ratio (R2, R5), the females showed significantly higher values than the males in all sites except the forehead. Skin lightness (L* value) was higher in the females, whereas the males showed lugher values in the category of redness (a* value) and yellowness (b* value). The values of the eqrthema index (EI) and melanin index (MI) were also higher in the males on all sites. Correlations between the skin parameters mentioned above were calculated. A negative, correlation between capacitance and TEWL was observed only on the cheek (male/female, r =-0.2/ r =-0.4, p<0.05). The L* value correlated negatively with MI. Mioreover the values between a* and El also showed sipificant correlations in the male (cheek and dorsum of hand, y =0.2, forehead and crows foot, r =0.3, p<0.05). There were considerably significant correlations between the visual pigmentation score and instrumental skin parameters in the males (visual pigmentation score vs. L* value measured by Chromameter ; cheek/crows foot, r = -0.3/y =-0.4, visual pigmentation score vs. MI by Mexameter ; cheek/crows foot, r =0.2/ r =0.4, viisual winkle score vs. sebum excretion rate measured by Sebumeter ; cheek, r=0.2, visual winkle score vs. elasticity parameters measured by Cutometer ; cheek, R2/R5/R7, r =-0.3/ r =-0.2/ r =-0.3, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Skin physiological parameters can be evaluated by non-invasive skin bioengineering methods which show quantitative modifications in physiological conditions in relation to sites and sex.
Bioengineering* ; Cheek ; Crows ; Elasticity ; Female ; Foot ; Forehead ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Melanins ; Pigmentation ; Sebum ; Skin*

This study was carried out to observe the ultrastructure of tongue mast cells in frog, Bombina orientalis. In the light microscopy, mast cells were round, oval, spindle-like and irregular shape and occasionally had one or more tail-like long cytoplasmic processes. Mast cells had many red granules stained with toluidine blue in the cytoplasm. In the electron microscopy, mast cells had membrane-bounded granules and poorly developed organelles. The granules were composed of two parts, low and dense electron density. In high magnification the dense part in the middle region of granule had honey comb-like crystalline structure.
Anura* ; Crystallins ; Cytoplasm ; Honey ; Mast Cells* ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron ; Organelles ; Tolonium Chloride ; Tongue*

Tacrolimus is a macrolide antibiotic that was isolated from soil microorganism. Its mechanism of action is based on calcineurin inhibition, which results in suppression of antigen-specific T-cell activation and inhibition of inflammatory cytokine release. Four patients with atopic dermatitis participated in this study of the efficacy of topical tacrolimus. Our cases showed significant improvement in the signs and symptoms of atopic dermatitis within a week of starting topical tacrolimus. We report 4 cases of atopic dermatitis treated with 0. 1% tacrolimus ointment.
Calcineurin ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; Soil ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tacrolimus*

No abstract available.
Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular* ; Kidney Failure, Chronic*

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to understand the characteristics of medication adherence interventions for older adults with chronic illnesses, and to investigate the average effect size by combining the individual effects of these interventions. Data from studies meeting the inclusion criteria were systematically collected in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. The results showed that the average effect size (Hedges’ g) of the finally selected medication adherence interventions for older adults with chronic illnesses calculated using a random-effects model was 0.500 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.342−0.659). Of the medication adherence interventions, an implementation intention intervention (using face-to-face meetings and telephone monitoring with personalized behavioral strategies) and a health belief model–based educational program were found to be highly effective. Face-to-face counseling was a significantly effective method of implementing medication adherence interventions for older adults with chronic illnesses (Hedges’ g= 0.531, 95% CI, 0.186−0.877), while medication adherence interventions through education and telehealth counseling were not effective. This study verified the effectiveness of personalized behavioral change strategies and cognitive behavioral therapy based on the health belief model, as well as face-to-face meetings, as medication adherence interventions for older adults with chronic illnesses.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the mediating effect of social phobia between social interaction anxiety and endemic blue among university students who experienced the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: This study employed a descriptive correlational design. The participants were 196 university students from 10 universities located in four major regions across the Republic of Korea. Data were collected from July 12 to 31, 2022, through an online self-reported questionnaire and were then analyzed using an independent t-test, one-way ANOVA with Scheffé test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and multiple regression. The mediating effect was analyzed using PROCESS macro model 4 with a bootstrapping method using IBM SPSS 27.0. Results: There were significant positive correlations among social interaction anxiety, social phobia, and endemic blue. Social interaction anxiety had significant effects on social phobia (β=0.77, p<.001) and social interaction anxiety (β=0.33, p<.001) and social phobia had a significant effect on endemic blue (β=0.29, p=.001). Concerning the influence of social interaction anxiety on endemic blue, a significant indirect mediating effect of social phobia was confirmed, and the size of the indirect effect was 0.14 (0.04~0.24). Conclusion In order to manage the social and psychological health of university students who experienced the COVID-19 pandemic period, it is necessary to develop strategies to overcome endemic blue that reduce social interaction anxiety and take into account the mediating effect of social phobia.

No abstract available.
Liver* ; Osteosarcoma*

The most common symptom of buckwheat allergy was asthmatic attack and less common were nasal symptoms, eye symptoms, urticaria, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The pathomechanism of this allergy is type I, IgE-mediated immediate type reaction. Three cases showed respiratory discomforts after exposure to buckwheat and revealed positive reactions to buckwheat in the skin prick test. We report typical three cases of buckwheat allergy.
Fagopyrum* ; Hypersensitivity* ; Skin ; Urticaria

No abstract available.
Cesarean Section* ; Fascia* ; Female ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to understand biomechanical characteristics during the process of initiation of gait (IOG) from the standing position in hemiplegic patients. METHOD: We recorded the ratio of the vertical forces of both limbs to body weight and the movement of net center of pressure (COP) on two force platforms during the process of initiation of gait (IOG) from standing in 10 normal control and 10 hemiplegic patients and processed these data using ELITE DMA acquisition program. All data were collected with uninvolved limb and involved limb and compared each other by independent samples t-test. RESULTS: 1) In 10 hemiplegic patients, nine patients began taking a step with an uninvolved limb in the first, followed by an involved limb. 2) The period of IOG of the swing limb was 0.80 sec when patients walked with an uninvolved side and those of the stance limb was 1.60 sec with involved side. When the control group walked, the period of IOG of the swing limb was 0.70 sec and those of stance limb was 1.50 sec. The period of IOG of the swing limb in uninvolved side and those of the stance limb in involved side showed significant longer than control group. 3) The latency of IOG of swing and stance limb was significantly more prolonged than control groups. 4) Anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) distance of net COP from release to unloading with uninvolved limb showed significant longer than control groups. 5) The velocity of net COP displacement from start to release with involved limb was significantly slower than control groups. CONCLUSION: This pattern of IOG could be used as one of the tools to evaluate postural control during gait training in the hemiplegic patients with gait disabilities, and it can be used as a basis for specific therapeutic intervention, and it allows evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment.
Body Weight ; Extremities ; Gait* ; Humans ; Stroke*