In an attempt to elucidate the morphologic changes of normal aging skin, the present study was undertaken in human facial and chest well skin of individuals aged from 4 months to 76 years old. Biopsied skin was studied with light microscope, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope, using both conventional and tannic acid staining. The morphologic changes in the skin were noted as follow: 1. Structurally, the aged epidermis gradually became somewhat thinner, with flattening of the dermoepidermal interface. The number of melanocytes also decreased. 2. Abnormalities of elastic fibers such as loss of oxytalan fibers were observed from age 30. It was the initial sign of the aging process of elastic fibers, followed by abnormal changes in elaunin and mature elastic fibers. The degree of facial skin abnormality was rather more severe than that of the chest wall skin. 3. In individuals more than 50 years old, the age related changes in mature elastic fibers were more severe. Transmission electron microscopically, the electron density in elastin was irregular. The elastic fibers also showed pores and irregular splitting with fragmentation. Fine granular materials were scattered near the elastin. 4. Scanning electron microscopically, the elastic fibers in young adult skin showd ribbon-like fibers aligned in the same direction. They were either cylindrical or elliptical, having smooth surface. In old skin, the elastic fibers ran in various directions, forming complicated networks. These were larger, more elliptical and more branched than those in young adult skin. In summary, histologic changes of aging are much more prominent in sun-exposed skin(facial skin) than in sun protected skin(chest wall skin). A completely different spectrum of elastic fiber abnormalities was found in individuals more than 30 years old. The result indicates that elastic fiber abnormalities are related to aging skin.
Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans

No abstract available.
Meningitis, Aseptic*

Background: The insulin-like growth factors, IGF-I and
Animals ; Calcimycin ; Calcium ; Egtazic Acid ; Extracellular Fluid ; Glucose ; Hepatocytes ; Insulin ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Liver ; Metabolism ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Perfusion ; Rats ; Somatomedins

No abstract available.
Graft vs Host Disease*

Bone grafts are used in the repair of segmental bone loss caused by severe trauma, bone tumors and infection, and to enhance bone healing in ununited fractures. Autograft is the most frequently used and the most effective method, but because of inadquate supply and additional operative morbidity, allograft or heterograft could be used. Heterograft has been shown to be poorly tolerated by the host and ineffective in providing an osteogenic system. The objective of this study is to observe healing process of a segmental defect of long bone following to heterograft, and to compare the difference of histologic process between autograft and hetero graft. Twenty-four white rabbits weighing 1,000 to 2,000 grams were used for the experiment. A segment measuring three times the diameter of the ulna shaft (1.5 to 2cm) of rabbit was resected with its periosteum. Twenty-four white rabbit were divided into three groups (control, autograft, heterograft group) according to graft methods, each group comprising of eight rabbits. The animals were sacrificed at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after the experimental procedures and were periodically evaluated by radiographs and histology. The obtained results were as follows: 1. The results of the radiological evaluation showed that no ungrafted ulnar defects (control group) healed. In the heterograft group, partial union was observed from 8 weeks and complete union was obtained on 12 weeks. In the autograft group, partial union was observed on 2 weeks and complete union was obtained on 4 weeks. 2. The results from histological examination showed that the ungrafted ulnae did not heal across the defect but some immature trabeculae were founded on the edges of the defect. In the heterograft group, immature trabeculae were appeared from 4 weeks and defects were substituted with mature trabeculae on 12 weeks. In autograft group, defects were substituted with immature trabeculae on 2 weeks and with mature trabeculae on 4 weeks. As seen in the results of the experiment, union could be obtained with the heterograft, but needed more long time than autograft. Though the autograft is the most effective graft method in bone defect or non-union, above results suggest the heterograft as the alternative method in the treatment of large bone defect, in a multioperated patient, or in the children or the elderly, combined with autograft or alone.
Aged ; Allografts ; Animals ; Autografts ; Child ; Fractures, Ununited ; Heterografts* ; Humans ; Periosteum ; Rabbits* ; Transplants ; Ulna

No abstract available.
Typhoid Fever*

No abstract available.
Fetal Macrosomia*

PURPOSE: We investigated the effectiveness and safety of DA-3030 for prophylatic use in patients receiving chemotherapy for malignant disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy cancer patients were randomized to receive chemotherapy alone (36 patients) or with DA-3030 administered (34 patients) after stratified block randomization according to chemotherapeutic regimen. DA-3030 was subcutaneously administered at the dose of 100 pg/m/day for 10 days from 24 hours after the completion of chemotherapy. RESULTS: Of the 70 enrolled patients, 62 patients were evaluable. The neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count [ANC] <1,000/mm) occurred in 9 of 32 (28.1%) of the DA-3030 group and 21 of 30 (90.0%) of the control group, giving relative risk for control group of 0.154 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.05 to 0.45; p-0.0001). Severe neutropenia (ANC 500/mm') occurred in 4 of 32 (12.5%) of the DA-3030 group and in 20 of 30 (66.7%) of the control group (relative risk for control group of 0.316 [95% CI, 0,18 to 0.55]; p=0.0001). The mean duration of neutropenic period (+/-standard error) was 1.13+/-0.34 days in the DA-3030 group and 6.73+/-0.69 days in the control group respectively, and was significantly shorter in the DA-3030 group (p<0.0001). And, there was higher nadir ANC in the OA-3030 group than that in the control group (p=0.0001); the mean nadir ANC was 2,547+/- 343/mm and 442+/-120/mm, respectively. The DA-3030 group had significantly higher incidence of myalgia in comparison to the control group (43.8% compared with 3.3%; p=0.001). However, it was tolerable and was easily managed by conservative therapy CONCLUSION: The use of DA-3030 was effective in preventing chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.
Drug Therapy* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myalgia ; Neutropenia* ; Neutrophils ; Random Allocation

Background: It has been reported that steroid and lidocaine reduce inflammatory responses to endotoxin. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of lidocaine with those of steroid on inflammatory responses to Escherichia coli endotoxemia in the rabbit lung. Methods: Twenty four animals were randomly assigned to one of four groups. Group I (endotoxemic group; control, n=6): They were received E. coli endotoxin (500 microg/kg) intravenously through the ear vein and followed by saline infusion at 20 ml/kg/hr for 4 hours. Group II (steroid treated group, n=6): They were treated with steroid (30 mg/kg) intravenously just after endotoxin injection and then saline was given at 20 ml/kg/hr for 4 hours. Group III (lidocaine treated group, n=6): They were received same as the endotoxemic group and lidocaine (3 mg/kg IV bolus, then continuous infusion at the rate of 2 mg/kg/hr) was administered with saline at 20 ml/kg/hr for 4 hours. Group IV (steroid & lidocaine treated group, n=6): They were received same as the endotoxemic group and after endotoxin infusion, steroid (30 mg/kg) and lidocaine (3 mg/kg IV bolus, then continuous infusion at the rate of 2 mg/kg/hr) was administered intravenously with saline. Numbers of neutrophils and monocytes in the samples of peripheral blood and lung tissue were counted and compared to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of drugs. Results: The group II, III, and IV showed significant attenuation of inflammatory responses compared to group I in the rabbit lung(P<0.05). But there were no significant differences among group II, III, and IV. There was no additive effect between steroid and lidocaine. Conclusion: These results suggest that lidocaine could be used as an alternative drug to steroid for its anti-inflammatory effects and cost-effectiveness.
Animals ; Ear ; Endotoxemia* ; Escherichia coli ; Lidocaine* ; Lung* ; Monocytes ; Neutrophils ; Veins

Vaginal clear cell adenocarcinoma is a very rare malignant disease and it has been known to be associated with in utero exposure to DES. We expreienced a case of clear cell adenocarcinoma of the cagina in 40 years ole woman, and present the case with a brief review of related literatures.
Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell* ; Female ; Humans ; Vagina*