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

In present study, the mechanism for oxygen-glucose deprivation -induced [3H]gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) from cerebral cortex slices of the rat was examined. Deprivation of oxygen and glucose(OGD) from Mg2+-free artificial cerebrospinal fluid, induced significant release of [3H]GABA (7.4+/-0.6% of total tissue content) from cerebral cortex slices. OGD-induced release of [3H]GABA was significantly attenuated by tetrodotoxin(TTX)(1 micrometer), Mg2+(1.2 mM), MK-801(10 micrometer), ketamine(10 micrometer), N-methyl-D-aspartate(NMDA) receptor antagonists, (DNQX)(30 micrometer), and 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione(CNQX)(30 micrometer), kainate/AMPA receptor antagonists, or 6-nitro-7-sulphamoyl-benzo[f]quinoxaline-2, 3-dione(NBQX)(10 micrometer), a selective AMPA receptor blocker. OGD-evoked [3H]GABA release was attenuated by (NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME) and 7-nitronidazole, nitric oxide synthase inhibitors, and methylene blue, potentiated by zaprinast, a cGMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor. OGD-induced release of [3H]GABA was inhibited by nipecotic acid, a selective neuronal GABA transporter blocker, and potentiated by DL-2.4-diamino-n-butyric acid(DABA), a neuronal and glial GABA transporter blocker. Dantrolene (30 micrometer) and 1,2-bis (2-aminophenoxy)-ethane-N, N, N', N'-tetraacetic acid tetrakis (acetoxymethyl) ester(BAPTA-AM)(30 micrometer), inhibitors of intracellular Ca2+ release, verapamil(5 micrometer), omega-conotoxinGVIA(100 nM) and omega-agatoxinIVA(100 nM), inhibitors of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, significantly attenuated the OGD-induced release of [3H]GABA. These results suggest that glutamate is involved in OGD-evoked [3H]GABA release, and this release is achieved by Ca2+-dependent exocytosis and reversal of transporters, and can be modulated by various neuronal mechanisms.
Animals ; Cerebral Cortex* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Dantrolene ; Exocytosis ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Glutamic Acid ; Methylene Blue ; Neurons ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Oxygen ; Rats* ; Receptors, AMPA

PURPOSE: We analyzed the clinical outcome of osteosarcoma developed in distal radius and the effect of delayed treatment on prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve patients with distal radius osteosarcoma were analysed. We categorized patients into two groups of standard treatment or non-standard treatment. The patients of standard treatment group are all stage IIB and non-standard treatment group includes five stage IIB and one stage III. RESULTS: Five-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates of standard treatment group were 100% and 83%. Five-year overall survival rate of non-standard treatment group was 44%. Between two group, there are differences in age, tumor size, surgery type, symptom duration. CONCLUSION: Distal radius osteosarcoma have good prognosis than other extremity osteosarcoma. Survival rate of non-standard treatment group were lower than standard treatment group. Although the prognosis of non standard treatment group is poorer, the duration till death was longer than that of other sites with similar condition. Further multi-institutional study should be needed.
Disease-Free Survival ; Extremities ; Humans ; Osteosarcoma ; Prognosis ; Radius ; Survival Rate

Without traumatic history, spontaneous hemarthrosis of the knee is a relatively rare condition, and there is no report of the diagnosis and treatments in Korea. In this case, magnetic resonance imaging and arthroscopic findings showed hemarthrosis and a lateral meniscus tear. Hemarthrosis of the patient remained after meniscus resection and coagulation; we then, found rupture of the lateral geniculate artery by computed tomography-angiography. We report on a case of successful treatment of spontaneous hemarthrosis with therapeutic embolization with a thorough review of the relevant literatures.
Aged* ; Arteries ; Diagnosis ; Embolization, Therapeutic* ; Hemarthrosis* ; Humans ; Knee* ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Menisci, Tibial ; Rupture

No abstract available.
Angiocardiography* ; Contrast Media* ; Electrolytes* ; Osmolar Concentration* ; Plasma* ; Renin*

No abstract available.
Diskectomy*

Ketotifen, a benzocycloheptathiophene, has an orally effective antiallergic as well as antihistaminic properties. In pervious studies, Ketotifen has shown encouraging results on patient with allergic rhinitis, either perennial or seasonal. 39 patients with allergic rhinitis had been treated with Ketotifen 1 mg twice daily for 8 weeks. And we obtained following results. 1) The efficacy rate in sneezing attack was 73.5%, in nasal discharge 71%, in nasal obstruction 58%. 2) Some improvements in at least one of three-major symptoms were noted within 1 week in 30.7%, within 2 weeks in 55.8%, within 3 weeks in 66.7%, within 8 weeks in 87.2%. 3) Physical findings such as colour, swelling of turbinate, character of rhinorrhea were not improved significantly. 4) Side effect was observed only in one patient with abdominal pain and diarrhea, which was subsided after interruption of administration. These results suggested that Ketotifen was effective in treatment of allergic rhinitis.
Abdominal Pain ; Diarrhea ; Humans ; Ketotifen* ; Nasal Obstruction ; Rhinitis, Allergic* ; Seasons ; Sneezing ; Turbinates

In the therapeutic or the nutritional aspects, Zn2+ has been used as a supplement in a variety of drugs. Most of divalent or trivalent cations affect ion channels in the cell membranes of various organs. In particular, Zn2+ has been regarded as a potassium (K+) channel blocker in the field of electrophysiology. ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channel, which is a kind of inward rectifier K+ channel, resides in the cell membrane of pancreatic beta cells and plays an important role in glucose-induced insulin secretion. The glucose increases intracellular ATP concentration, and this inhibits KATP channels. The inhibition of KATP channels activity depolarizes the cell, and subsequently, insulin is released by Ca2+ influx through the voltage- gated Ca2+ channels. Here, we demonstrate that KATP channels in the pancreatic beta cells are also the targets of extracellular Zn2+ blockade and its blockade is dependent on intracellular ATP concentration. This may be a compensatory mechanism preventing the oversecretion of insulin from the Pancreatic beta cells triggered by Zn2+ intake in a physiologically fasting condition.
Adenosine Triphosphate* ; Cations ; Cell Membrane ; Electrophysiology ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Insulin ; Insulin-Secreting Cells* ; Ion Channels ; KATP Channels* ; Potassium ; Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying

Pathophysiology of brain ischemia is characterixed by a complex cascade of hemodynamic, electrophysiological and biochemical processes. It has been generally accepted that glutamate mediates the ischemic brain damage, excitotoxicity, and induce neurotramsmitter release from various brain tissues in ischemic milieu. In presen study, the mechanism for ischemia-induced [3HT]5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) from cerebral cortex slices of the rat was examined. Ischemia, deprivation of oxygen and glucose from Mg2+-free artificl cerebrospinal fluid, induced significiant release of [3H]5-HT(7.2+0.6% of total tissue content) from the tissues. This ischemia-induced release of [3H]5-HT from the slices was significiantly attenuated by TTX(1 yM), Mg2+(102mM). MK-801(10yM), ketamine(10yM), NMDA receptor antagonists, DNQX(30yM), a kainate/AMPA receptor antagonist, or carbetapentane(31yM), an inhibitor of glutamate release. Fluoxetine, a selective blocker for 5-HT transporter, inhibited the ischemia-induced release of [3H]5-HT. Omission of Ca2+ from incubation media potentiated ischemia-evoked [3H]5-HT release and the inhibitory effect of blockers for transporter. Dantrolene (30yM) and ryanodine(100 nM) and -conotoxinGVIA(100 nM), inhibitors of N-type Ca2+ channels, sifnificiantly attenuated the ischemia-induced release of [3H]5-HT, but verapamil(5 yM), an inhibitor of L-type Ca2+ channels, did not. Fluoxetine(100 nM), a relatively selective 5-HT transporter blocker, significiantly inhibited the ischemia-induced release of [3H]5-HT. Theses results suggest that glutamate is involned in ischemia-evoked [3H]5-HT release, and this release is achieved by Ca2+=dependent exocytosis and reverdsal of transporters, and can be modulated by various neuronal mechanisms.
Animals ; Anoxia* ; Biochemical Processes ; Brain ; Brain Ischemia ; Cerebral Cortex* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Dantrolene ; Exocytosis ; Fluoxetine ; Glucose ; Glutamic Acid ; Hemodynamics ; Hypoglycemia* ; Ischemia ; N-Methylaspartate ; Neurons ; Oxygen ; Rats* ; Serotonin*

GABA (-aminobutyric acid) is one of the important neurotransmitters in the central nervous system of mammals and its action is variable according to the maturation phases of neurons. The neurons of early cultural days (less than 7 days) have been used for a developing neuronal model, while the neurons of later days (over 3 weeks) used for a mature model. This study was performed to investigate the electrophysiological property of GABAergic synapses in the hippocampal neurons cultured for 10 to 14 days which are considered to be transitional period between the developing and the mature phases. Membrane potential was depolarized and a inward transmembrane current was induced by 20 M GABA infusion. Frequency and amplitude of spontaneous postsynaptic currents (PSCs) were inhibited during the GABA infusion, but decay time constant was not affected significantly. In most hippocampal neurons, no GABAergic PSCs were observed during the administration of 0.5 M TTX, 50 M APV and 10 M CNQX. In the neurons counting 25% approximately, however, small persisted PSCs showed the existence of GABAergic synapses which were blocked by 10 M bicuculine. As the functional property of isolated GABAergic synapses, amplitude of GABAergic PSCs were diminished, and decay time constants and rising times were prolonged during the 20 M GABA infusion in all recorded neurons. In conclusion, approximately 25% of the hippocmpal neurons cultured 10 to 14 days used GABA as well as glutamate as a neurotransmitter. It seems that the GABAergic synapses composed of functionally homogenous GABAA receptors act as inhibitory modulator of the excitatory signal transmission.
6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione ; Animals ; Central Nervous System ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid* ; Glutamic Acid ; Mammals ; Membrane Potentials ; Neurons* ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Rats* ; Synapses ; Synaptic Potentials