No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: The changes in lipid composition during epidermal differentiation has been reported in human and animal models. Because of the difficulties in getting adeguate specimens from human subjects, the authors used easily obtainable circumcised prepuce for lipid analysis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes in lipid composition duriig cornification of the epidermis, the lipid compositions of whole epidermis and stratum corneum were analyzed by thin layer chromatography(TLC). METHODS: From circumcied prepuce whole epidermis and stratum orneum were separated by 10mM EDTA(ethylene diamine tatraacetate) in PBS(phosphate-buffered saline) or heat(60C), and 0.5% trypsin in PBS respectively. Lipids were extracted with methanolctloroform-HO mixture(4:2:1.6, v/ v, Bligh-Dyer solvent), TLC was performed and lipid composition was quantitated by photodensitometer. RESULTS: In the composition of stratum corneum lipids, sphingoliids were the highest(33.3+2.9%) followed by cholesterol, free fatty acids and cholesterol esters in cleceasing order, there were small percentages of triglycerides, cholesterol sulfate and squalene. CONCLUSION: In this study the lipid composition of epidermis was similar to that of stratum corneum rather than those of previous reports on epidermal lipids, which may indicate the regional characteristics of epidermal/stratum orneum lipids in hyperkeratotic prepuie.
Cholesterol ; Cholesterol Esters ; Epidermis* ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; Humans ; Models, Animal ; Squalene ; Triglycerides ; Trypsin

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome is a rare disease of cutaneous hemangioma of a variant of the carvenous type which is clinically characterized by multiple, protuberant, dark blue, generally soft, rubbery, and compressible cutaneous masses usually associated with similar lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. Most cases are sporadic, although autosomal dominant inheritance has been described. We report herein a cases of blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome in a 49-year-old, who had multiple, dark blue, slightly tender, easily compressible vascular tumors on the face, right postauricular area, tongue, neck, and right had and foot, measuring from 0.5 to 1.0 cm in diameter. Endoscopic examination also revealed several similar lesions on the upper third of the esophagus. Biopsy specimen from the lesion of the neck showed irregularly dilated vessels containing red blood cells and fibrinous material. The vascular space was lined by a single layer of flattened endothelial cells.
Biopsy ; Blister* ; Endothelial Cells ; Erythrocytes ; Esophagus ; Fibrin ; Foot ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Nevus* ; Rare Diseases ; Rubber* ; Tongue ; Wills

We report a case of infantile acute hemorrhagic edema in a 15-month-old boy. The patient showed multiple, bean to walnut-sized, red to purple-colored, indurated purpura with a cockade pattern on the face, earlobes, and extremities. Edema of the hands, feet, and earlobes was also observed. Laboratory examinations showed thrombocytosis, decreased serum CH50, and ketone in the urine. A skin biopsy taken from indurated purpura on the lower leg exhibited findings of acute leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Direct immunofluorescence examination showed deposition of IgM along the dermo-epidermal junction and C3 in the dermal vessel walls. With-out specific management except for fluid therapy to correct dehydration, the skin lesions cleared completely in 2 weeks, and recurrence has not observed.
Biopsy ; Dehydration ; Edema* ; Extremities ; Fluid Therapy ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Infant ; Leg ; Male ; Purpura ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Thrombocytosis ; Vasculitis

This is a case of synovial chondromatosis involving the left knee joint of a forty one year old man. Chief complaints were gradual development of pain and limitation of knee joint motion of about 10 years duration. K-ray study revealed a single radio-opaque loose body filling the joint cavity. This body, measuring about 3×2×2cm, was removed surgically and found to have a pedicle from the synovial membrane, consisting of fat and fibrous tissue. The diagnosis of synovial chondromatosis was confirmed by pathological study. The postoperative course was uneventful and three months after the operation, the range of motion of the affected knee joint was good.
Chondromatosis, Synovial ; Diagnosis ; Joints ; Knee Joint ; Knee ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Synovial Membrane

Over 60 different types of human papillomavirus (HPV) have been identified, and they are classified into high and low risk groups based on the risk for malignant progression of HPV associated lesions. HPVs belonging to a high risk group have been shown to express two major transforming proteins, E6 and E7. With respect to the transforming activity of these proteins, many investigators have reported the location of these proteins in the cell, but their results are still controversial. In the present study, HPV type 16 E6 or E7 open reading frame (ORF) proteins were expressed and localized in human epidermal keratinocytes (RHEK-1) using the vaccinia virus as an expression vector. Immunofluorescence detection using monoclonal antibodies against E6 or E7 ORF proteins revealed that E6 or E7 proteins of HPV type 16 were located in the cytoplasm of RHEK-1 cells. These results suggest that E6 and E7 proteins bind to the tumor suppressor counterparts, thereby preventing transport of these proteins into the nucleus. These antioncogene products that fail to be rapidly transported out of the cytosol may be degraded by certain proteases such as the ubiquitin dependent system. In this way, the precise function of antioncogene products in the regulation of cell growth could be destroyed, and abnormal cell growth could occur.
Animal ; Base Sequence ; Cell Line ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Haplorhini ; Human ; Keratinocytes/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral/*biosynthesis ; Open Reading Frames/*physiology ; Papillomavirus, Human/*chemistry ; Plaque Assay ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Vaccinia virus/genetics

No abstract available.
Empty Sella Syndrome ; Hypoglycemia ; Insulin ; Receptor, Insulin

BACKGROUND: Anemia in chronic renal failure plays an important rolr in increasing morbidity of dialysis patients. The causes of the anemia are multifactorial. With using of erythropoietin(EPO), most of uremia-induced anemia can be overcome. However, about 10% of renal failure patients shows EPO-resistant anemia. Hyporesponsiveness to EPO has been realted to many factors: iron deficiency, aluminum intoxication, inflammations, malignancies and secondary hyperparathyroidism. So I evailuated the improvement of EPO responsiveness after correction of above several factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-two patients on hemodialysis over 6 months were treated with intravenous ascorbic acid(IVAA, 300 mg t.i.w. for 12 weeks). After administration of IVAA for 12 weeks,patients were classified into several groups according to iron status, serum aluminum levels and i-PTH levels. Indivisualized treatments were performed; increased iron supplement for absolute iron deficiency, active vitamin D3 for secondary hyperparathyroidism and desferrioxamine(DFO, 5 mg/kg t.i.w.) for aluminum intoxication or hyperferritinemia. RESULTS: 1) Results of IVAA therapy for 12 weeks on all patients(n=72) Hemoglobin levels at 2,4,6 week were significantly elevated compared to baseline. but those of hemoglobin at 8, 10, 12 week were not significantly different. 2) Result of IVAA therapy for 20 weeks on patients with 100 microgram/1< or =ferritin<500 microgram/1 and transferrin saturation(Tsat) below 30%(n=30) After treatment of IVAA for 12 weeks, patients were evaluated the response of therapy according to iron status. Patient with 100 microgram/1< or =ferritin?500 microgram/1 and Tsat below 30% showed the most effective response. These patients were treated further for 8 weeks. Hemoglobin levels at 2, 4 week were significantly increased compared to baseline with significantly reduced doses of EPO at 2, 4, 10, 12, 16, 20 week. Concomitantly significantly improvement of Tsat at 2, 6, 16, 20 week compared to baseline were identified. 3) Result of IVAA therapy for 12 weeks followed by DFO therapy for 8 weeks on patients with serume aluminum above 4 microgram/1(n=12) Hemoglobin levels were not significantly increased during IVAA therapy for 12 weeks but dosages of EPO were significantly decreased at 2, 4, 6, 8 week during DFO therapy compared to pre-treatment status. CONCLUSION: IVAA can be helpful for the treatment of the anemia caused by functional iron deficiency and can reduce the dosage of EPO for anemia correction. And administration of low dose DFO, in cases of increased serum aluminum level, can reduce the requirment of EPO.
Aluminum ; Anemia ; Ascorbic Acid ; Cholecalciferol ; Deferoxamine ; Dialysis ; Erythropoietin* ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary ; Inflammation ; Iron ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Renal Dialysis* ; Renal Insufficiency ; Transferrin

The 5'- and 3'-side half of liver type glucose transporter (GLUT2) cDNA was amplified from total RNA or mRNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The amplified 5'-side fragment of GLUT2 cDNA was inserted into pGEM4Z and named pGLGT1, and the 3'-side fragment of GLUT2 cDNA was inserted into the HindIII site of pGLGT1 to construct pGLGT2 which contains an entire open reading frame of GLUT2 cDNA. The GLUT2 cDNA in pGLGT2 was transferred to an eukaryotic expression vector (pMAM) to construct pMLGT, which was expressed in the insulin-sensitive Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Western blot analysis showed that the GLUT2 gene in pMLGT was expressed in the transfected CHO cells successfully. The GLUT2 content in the plasma membrane fraction of insulin-treated CHO cells expressing GLUT2 increased 3.8-fold compared to that of the control group. This result suggests that GLUT2, which is not subjected to translocation by insulin in the cells of its major distribution, can be translocated if it is expressed in the suitable cells sensitive to insulin action.
Animal ; Base Sequence ; CHO Cells ; *Cloning, Molecular ; Hamsters ; Insulin/*pharmacology ; Liver/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Monosaccharide Transport Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Probes/genetics ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; *Translocation (Genetics)

OBJECTIVE: Proteinuria is a major clinical manifestation as well as hypertension and generalized edema in pregnancy-induced hypertension(PIH) and it should be considered an important marker of perinatal outcome. We studied the impact of proteinuria on maternal and perinatal outcome according to the degree of urine protein in PIH. METHODS: Maternal urine protein and serum albumin levels were studied in 64 cases of PIH who were admitted to Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pil-Dong Hospital, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University for the period of 10 years from January 1, 1989 to December 31, 1998. RESULTS: Serum albumin level was 2.9+/-0.7g/dL in mild preeclampsia group and 2.7+/-0.7g/dL in severe peeclampsia group and there was a significant difference between them. Birth weight of infant was 3001+/-659g in mild preeclampsia group and 2446+/-878g in severe peeclampsia group, and there was a significant difference between them. 1 minute Apgar score was 8.4+/-2.4 and 7.6+/-3.4, respectively and there was a significant difference between them. 5 minute Apgar score was 9.5+/-1.8 and 8.4+/-2.9, respectively and there was a significant difference between them. There were several maternal complications above 2(+) urine protein and no maternal complications below 1(+) urine protein. Small for gestational age infant was more common above 2(+) urine protein than below 1(+) urine protein and fetal death was more common in 3(+) urine protein. CONCLUSIONS: There was a decreasing trend in gestational weeks at delivery as proteinuria become more severe and also in birth weight, 1 minute Apgar score and 5 minute Apgar score. Maternal and fetal complications were more common as proteinuria become more severe.
Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; Edema ; Female ; Fetal Death ; Gestational Age ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced* ; Infant ; Obstetrics ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Proteinuria* ; Serum Albumin