BACKGROUND: Factors that regulate hair matrix cell division within the hair follicles and control hair growth cycle have been poorly understood untill now. One of the main.causes seems to be lack of good in vitro models. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate the hair growth promoting potencies of several agents including individual components of keratinocyte growth media. METHODS: Several agents such as epidermal growth factor, insulin, bovine pituitary extract which were contained in keratinocyte growth media as well as minoxidil and transforming growth factor-α were added to the isolated anagen hair follicles. Measuring the length of hair follicle, thymidine and leucine uptake were used for hair growth parameter. RESULTS: Isolated anagen hair follicles in keratinocyte growth media showed a significant increase in length over 48 hours. [Methyl-³H] thymidine and [U-¹⁴Cl leucine uptake were sustained at basal state as well as over 48 hours and [methyl-³H] thymidine uptake increased in the matrix cells under autoradiography. Insulin with a concentration above 0.5µg/ml and transforming growth factor-α with a concentration above 10ng/ml showed a promoting effect on hair growth. However, other agents did not promote hair growth at all. CONCLUSION: Our in vitro model resembles the in vivo status of hair growth for a limited period of time and we think that normal human hair organ culture may be a useful model for developing hair growth promoting agents in vitro.
Autoradiography ; Cell Division ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Hair Follicle* ; Hair* ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Insulin ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins* ; Keratinocytes ; Leucine ; Minoxidil ; Organ Culture Techniques* ; Thymidine

This study was undertaken to investigate the optimal conditions for challenge testing with DNCB in 3 vehicles applied to guinea pigs in standardized amount/ area (pg/cm2) The results are sumrnarized as follows: 1) All test reactions were negative when tested in 10 unsensitized animals. 2) There were significant difference in positive rate between 0. 05%, DNCB in alcohol and 0.1% DNCB in alcohol, but there were no significant difference between 0. l%, DNCB in alcohol and 0, 2% DNCB in alcohol. Same results were obtaincd when DNCR was dissolved in acetone. 3) Acetone gives the significantly higher degree of positive reactions, indicating that alcohol may be the safer vehicle in eliciting a response than acetone. 4) With DNCB in olive oil, relatively few animals reacted compared to the results obtained with alcohol and acetone. Furthermore, olive oil is slippery and difficult to utilize when attempting to delineate surface area. 5) With alcohol, we obtained a good correlation between the amount applied and the resulting response, showing that this vehicle might be a superior vehicle in eliciting contact allergy.
Acetone ; Animals ; Dinitrochlorobenzene* ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Hypersensitivity* ; Olea ; Olive Oil

It is generally believed that the defense against mycobacterium leprae is largely mediated through cell-mediated immunity(CMI) and several investigators have reported a defective CMI in patients with leprosy. especially the lepromatous from. This study was undertaken to ennumerate the peripheral T-cell population in leprosy patients for evaluation of one aspect of its immune status. Fiftu-two patients with leprosy(26 tuberculoid, 17 active lepromatous, 9 inactive lepromatous) entered in this study. All the patients are under regular antileprosy chemotherapy for varing periods(10 months to 14 years). Peripheral blood T0lymphocytes were enumerated by the E-rosette technique and compared with normal healthy control. The results were as follows: The mean T-cell percentage in peripheral blood was 50.6% in 17 active lepromatous leprosy patients, 62.2% in 9 inactive lepromatous leprosy patients, 67.7% in 26 tuberculoid patients and 69.5% in 17 normal healthy controls, There was marked decrease in the peripheral T-cell ratio in active lepromatous group (p<0,005) and less marked decrease in inactive lepromatous group (0.01.
Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Leprosy* ; Leprosy, Lepromatous ; Mycobacterium leprae ; Research Personnel ; T-Lymphocytes

No abstract available.
Acantholysis* ; Captopril* ; Penicillamine* ; Rifampin* ; Skin*

Formaldehyde and its derivatives are used to improve the wet strength, waterresistance, shrink-resistance, grease-resistance and other characteristics of paper and. paper products. We have recently analyzed 78 different kinds of paper sources which are being used in Korea by the lutidine method. The forma.ldehyde concentrations of the most paper sources were under 50 ug/gm ranges except 4 copying paper sources which were in the 50 to 100 ug/gm ranges.
Formaldehyde* ; Korea

This study was done to investigate some selected epidemiological characteristics of accidents occured in the closed-ward of a psychiatric hospital in Seoul during one year period from Jan. 1, 1993 toDec. 31, 1993. For this study, 1,570 accidents(702 patients) reported from 1,833 discharged patients were analysed. Major findings obtained from this study were as follows; 1. Prevalence rate of the accidents were 38 persons per 100 discharged pateints and 86 accident spells per 100 discharged patients. 2. The highest risk of accident was noticed in the group of male, 20-29 age, middle school graduate, and divorced. 3. By diagnostic category, accident rates per 100 discharged patients were 339 spells in seizure disor-der, 102 in substance abuse, 93 in schizophrenia, 69 in alcoholism, and 61 in mood disorder. 4. By the period, the accident rate was higher within I month after admission, and the rate was higher in April and November, Wednesday, the day of family visiting, and during day time. 5. Accident types were violent behavior(53%), alcohol drinking(12%), emergency for physical episode(9%), elopement(7%), property damage (5%), self-inflicted injury and suicidal attempt (4%). Severity of damage was usually minimal, and the persons who were commonly involved in the accidents were the petients rather than him self and therapist.
Alcoholism ; Divorce ; Emergencies ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Hospitals, Psychiatric* ; Humans ; Male ; Mood Disorders ; Prevalence ; Schizophrenia ; Seizures ; Seoul ; Substance-Related Disorders

Plant dermatitis can be classified as primary irritant dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, phytophotodermatitis and pseudophytophotodermatitis. Among these, allergic contact dermatitis is seen most freguently. It is generally known that dermatitis causing plants have various characteristics depending on the habitat af different plants. Until now we have had great difficulty in finding the causative factors in plant dermatitis in Korea. This is due to the fact that we do not have anr comprehensive reports regarding domestic or imported timbers concerned in contact dermatiti. The purpose of this thesis is to gather the basic materials necessary to discover the cauae of plant contact dermatitis. All kinds of trees, flowers, and grasses in Korea and imported timbers concerned with contact dermatitis were considered in this study. We strove to ascertain whether the species in our country are the same as found in foreign countries or other different speceies are in our country under the sarne genus found in foreign countries. The basis for our study is several Korean plant books as well as interviews with several native botanists. Vie also discussed major families af plants causing or possible causing plant dermatitis in Korea.
Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Dermatitis, Irritant ; Ecosystem ; Flowers ; Humans ; Korea ; Plants ; Poaceae ; Trees

A case of Cleido-Cranial-Dysostosis, which characterized by deficient formation of the clavicle with delayed and imperfect ossification of the cranium, associated with other anatomical errors, was experienced at The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of Kyung Hee University Hospital in January 73. We report this rare and interest case with reference review.
Clavicle ; Skull

Cosmetic dermatitis of the eyelids may be caused not only by eye make-up but also by cosmetics used elsewhere and conveyed by the fingers to the eyelids. The thin skin of the eyelid is highly susceptible to contact dermatitis, particularly from cosrnetics. A 28 year old female was reported to have contact dermatitis caused by stearic acid in eye cosmetics. The skin lesiens of this patient showed erythematous, edematous, vesicular ruptions on both the upper and lower eyelids. The patch test results were positive for both cornmercial eyeliner and fluid mascara on the second and fourth day. Many of all the ingredients in the eyeliner and fluid mascara, only stearic acid gave positive result on patch tests.
Adult ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Eyelids ; Female ; Fingers ; Humans ; Patch Tests ; Skin

Demacre', a new topical steroid cream containing 0.025% beclomethasone dipropionate, was used in several kinds of dermatoses. Total 35 patients including ll cases of contact dermatitis, 5 of atopic dermatitis, 3 of hand eczema, 3 of seborrheic dermatitis, 2 of neurodermatitis, 2 of nummular eczema, 2 of autosensitization dermatitis, 1 of chronic eczema, 3 of psoriasis, 1 of insect bite, 1 of miliaria rubra, and 1 of intertrigo were treated by Demacre'. Among these patients, we observed excellent effects in 4 patients (11%), good effects in 22 patients (63%), and fair effects in 3 patients (9%). Namely, among these 35 patients, 26 patients (74%) revealed excellent to good therapeutic effects on their skin conditions with Demacre'. No untoward side effects were noted in all subjects treated with Demacre.
Beclomethasone ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic ; Eczema ; Hand ; Humans ; Insect Bites and Stings ; Intertrigo ; Miliaria ; Neurodermatitis ; Psoriasis ; Skin ; Skin Diseases*