One of the primary functions for which bones have evolved is to act as a structural support. To achieve this, bones remodel throughout life so that their structure remains optimal for the prevailing mechanical environment. Bone remodeling consists of an initial phase of osteoclastic bone resorption followed by a bone formation period. Prostaglandins are potent regulators of bone formation and bone resorption that can have both stimulatory and inhibitory effects. Elevation of intracellular cAMP is an important intracellular signaling mechanism involved in the regulation of the expression of many proteins. In this study we examine whether PGE or DBcAMP affects osteoblastic activation or osteoclastic differentiation in mouse bone marrow cells and osteosarcoma ROS 17/2.8 cells. The effect of PGE and DBcAMP on the cell proliferation was measured by the incorporation of [3H]- thymidine into DNA. As a result, PGE2 (0.5-1 ug/ml) and DBcAMP (0.1-0.5 mM) inhibited the [3H]-thymidine incorporation into DNA in a dose dependent manner. The effect of PGE2 and DBcAMP on the induction of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was investigated in ROS 17/2.8 cells cultured in medium containing 0.4% fetal bovine serum. PGE and DBcAMP stimulated ALP activity in the cells in a dose- dependent manner. PGE2 also increased the intracellular cAMP content in a dose- dependent fashion with a maximal effect at 0.5 ug/ml. ROS 17/2.8 cells release nitric oxide upon stimulation of PGE2 or DBcAMP with interferon-r. PGE2 and DBcAMP increase the phosphorylation level of CREB (cAMP response element binding protein) without any change on the amount of CREB protein. Also, PGE (10-6 M) and DBcAMP (10-4 M) significantly increase the generation of osteoclasts in mouse bone marrow cell culture system. In conclusion, the results of this study suggested that cAMP appears to be an important regulatory molecule in the processes of bone formation and resorption.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Bone Remodeling ; Bone Resorption ; Bucladesine* ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; Dinoprostone* ; DNA ; Metabolism* ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; Osteoblasts ; Osteoclasts ; Osteogenesis ; Osteosarcoma ; Phosphorylation ; Prostaglandins ; Prostaglandins E ; Response Elements ; Thymidine

For comparison of clinical classification of leprosy to histopathologic classification, a detailed histopathologic study, using hematoxylin and eosin stain and Ziehl-Neelsen stain, was done on 72 fresh uncomplicated cases of leprosy. The clinical classification was done using the criteria of Ridley and Jopling (1966), and the microscopic features were classified according to Ridley's(1974) definition. Clinical classification revealed that 8 of total 72 patients had tuberculoid(TT), 9 had borderline tuberculoid (BT), 5 had borderline(BB), 10 had borderline lepromatous.(BL), and 31 had lepromatous leprosy(LL). Nine patients were claasified as indeterminate(I) group. Histopathologic classification showed that 3 cases presented tuberculoid(TT), 10 presented borderline tuberculoid(BT), 4 presented borderline(BB), 9 presented borderline lepromatous(BL), 20 presented subpolar leprornatous(LLs), and 10 presented polar lepromatous(LLp) histopathologic characteristics, Sixteen cases were classified as indeterminate(I) leprosy by histopathologic findings. On comparison of clinical classification to histopathologic classification, the two were in consonance with each other in 50 cases(69.4%) and the disparity between them was noticed in 22 cases(30.6%). Among the 22 cases which showed disparity, there was a shift of one step either towards the tuberculoid or lepromatous end of the spectrum in 15 cases, and ihe remaining 7 cases were classified as indeterminate group beaause of nonspecific histopathologic changes.
Classification* ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Leprosy* ; Leprosy, Paucibacillary

No abstract available.
Endometriosis* ; Female ; Leiomyoma* ; Ovary*

BACKGROUND: The Q-switched ruby laser has recently shown that it can remove tattoos with-out scarring. Therefore the Q-switched ruby laser is expected to be effective in the treatment of nevus of Ota, which contains pigmented cells in the dermis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Q-switched ruby laser in the treatment of nevus of Ota. METHODS: Twenty-five patients (6 men, 19 women) with nevus of Ota on the face were treat-ed. The age of the patients ranged from 3 to 62 years. The energy fluence used varied from 6 to 8.5 J/cm². Treatment intervals ranged from 1 to 3 months, and the number of treatments ranged from 2 to 9. Photographs were taken of all patients before and on every return visit. The photographs were then compared with each other. After completion of treatment, we evaluated some parameters including the extent of pigment-free area within the skin lesions (score 0-4), degree of lightening in the remaining skin lesions (score 0-3), and patient's own or their parents' opinions on the result of treatment (score 0-3). The scores of the above three parameters were added and the resulting scores were designated as excellent (score 9-10), good (score 7-8), moderate (score 5-6) and poor (score 0-4). RESULTS: Excellent treatment response (score 9-10) was obtained in 6 of the 25 patients. In all patients disappearance of pigmentation on a 40 percent or larger area was seen. One month after completion of treatment, the remaining lesion size was less than 40 percent of the original lesion in 21 (84.0%) patients. The degree of lightening in the remaining lesion was marked (score 3) in 22 (88%) patients. No scarring was noted following treatment. Transient hyperpigmentation was noted in 7 patients, and transient hypopigmented areas were noted in one patient. CONCLUSION: Q-switched ruby laser appears to be an effective and safe modality for the treatment of nevus of Ota.
Cicatrix ; Dermis ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Lasers, Solid-State* ; Male ; Nevus of Ota* ; Nevus* ; Pigmentation ; Skin

Toxic epidermal necrolysis(T.E.N.) is a toxic erythema of the skin that undergoes epidermal necrolysis and peding so that it appears to have been scalded. There seem to be two basic form of T.E.N. In children, the deavage of the epidermis that results from an acantholytic-dyskeratotic cytolytic process is in the malpighian or granular layer and is usually induced by a staphylococci toxin. In adult, it is characterized by a full-thicknees cytolytic cleavage of skin above the basal layer and is usually precipitated by a drug. The authors observed a 17 year-old male with T.E.N. He began to notify the erythematous skin lesion with burning sensation on the whole body surface at 12 hours after oral administration of some drugs for common cold and developed the characteristic flaccid bullous and denuded lesions with tenderness within next 20 hours.
Administration, Oral ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns ; Child ; Common Cold ; Epidermis ; Erythema ; Humans ; Male ; Sensation ; Skin

The mechanism responsible for the formation of sunburn cells in mammalian skin is unknown. However it is suggested that the reactive free radicals and oxygen species generated by UV radiation are causing oxidative reactions in certain keratinocytes that are manifestated in the form of dyskeratotic cells and free radical scavengers such as a-tocopherol acetate or p-carotene were thought to be photoprotective against sunburn radiation. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of single and multiple applications of n-tocopherol acetate(a-TCA) and p-carotene on the formation of sunburn cells. We also determined the effect of these two antioxidants on the sunburn reartion by UVB irradiation. The results were as follows : 1. Both a-tocopheroJ acetate and p-carotene were photoprotective and prevented the formation of sunburn cells and sunburn reaction. 2. Topical p-carotene was less photoprotective than u-tocopherol acetate. 3. Topical use of a-tocopherol acetate and p-carotene in dose range exceeding 1,000 pgcm could provide photoprotective effect if the UVB exposure doses were less than 300 mJ/cm'( 3 MED)
Animals ; Antioxidants ; Carotenoids* ; Free Radical Scavengers ; Free Radicals ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Keratinocytes ; Oxygen ; Skin ; Sunburn ; Tocopherols*

We report a case of alopecia neoplastica-a rare form of cutaneous metastasis-in a 43-year-old Korean woman, who presented with multiple red, bald patches of 1 month's duration on her scalp. About 2 years previously, she received a modified left radical mastectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. Histopathological findings of the bald lesions revealed diffuse infiltration of hyperchmmatic tumor cells arranged singly and in strands and cords in the upper and lower dermis. We started chemotherapy with adriamycin, but she died 13 months later.
Adult ; Alopecia* ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Dermis ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Mastectomy, Radical ; Scalp

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a relatively recent procedure in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Bone cement embolism is a severe and potentially life-threatening complication of percutaneous vertebroplasty with cement. The risk for cement pulmonary embolism ranges between 3.5 and 23% for osteoporotic fractures. Bone cement leakage may be usually more frequent with vertebroplasty than with kyphoplasty. We experienced a 69-year-old female patient of an asymptomatic pulmonary embolus (length 8 cm) after kyphoplasty for an osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture
Aged ; Embolism ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Kyphoplasty ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Vertebroplasty

No abstract available.
Animals ; Evoked Potentials, Motor* ; Rats*

Peripheral nerve injury is relatively common in post-trauma surgery. Although various microsurgical techniques and repair methods can recover the continuity of the injurcd nerve. But, functional recovery achive is difficult. The purpose of this study examines the effect of electrical stimulation on muscle strength or sensibility increase in hrachial plexus injury with clinical results. We have retrospectively analyzed 44 cases of brachial plexus injury. The group(20 cases) which received nerve surgery and electrical stimulation was compared with the group(24 cases) which received nerve surgery only. Electrical stimulation was performed to nerve for axonal regeneration-strength & sensibility(18 cases) and to muscle for strengh(2 cases). All cases had heen evaluated for motor power recovery by 24 months after nerve surgery. A significant difference(P<0.05) between the power of elhow flexion and shoulder abduction, hut not sensibility of forearm in the two groups suggests that electrical stimulation to nerve or muscle enhanced the progress of nerve regeneration or muscle strength respectively. The results suggest that electricai stimulation is promising supplementary method for functional recovery in brachial plexus injury.
Axons* ; Brachial Plexus* ; Electric Stimulation* ; Forearm ; Muscle Strength ; Nerve Regeneration ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Regeneration* ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder