To identify the developmental characteristics of fetal skin, the expressions of cytokeratine (CK) and epidermal growth factor (EGFR) in fetal skin (12-24 weeks of gestation) were studied immunohistochemically, and the ultrastructure of epidermis was also observed. The Expressions of CK and EGFR were identified in labelled sterptoavidine biotin immunohistochemical method. Primary antibodies used monclonal mouse anti-human CK (DAKO-CK, MF116) and EGFR Ab-4 which is rabbit affinity-purified polyclonal antibody raised against the amino acid residues 1005-1016 (Onc Science). At 12 weeks of gestation the epidermis was composed basal layer and periderm and the cells of both layers were positively stained for CK and EGFR. At 16-18 weeks of gestation, epidermis was composed basal, intermediate, and periderm. The cells of basal layer and periderm were strongly positive for CK, but the cells of intermediate layer showed weak or negative reaction for CK. EGFR immunoreactivity was noted in cells of all three layers, though cells of basal layer were stained relatively weak. At 23-24 weeks of gestation, the epidermis thickened and appeared 6 or more cell layers. Epidermal cells except horny layer were stained positively for CK and EGFR. EGFR immunoreactivity in basal layer, however, was relatively weak compared to those in intermediate layers. Periderm always were reaction-positive for CK and EGFR. The hair follicles, mainly pre-germ stage, were negatively stained for CK and EGFR at 12 weeks of gestation. The hair follicles with various developing stages were positively stained at 16-18 weeks of gestation. At 24 weeks of gestation, inner sheath of hair shaft and sebaceous gland were strongly reacted for CK, but not reacted for EGFR. In electron microscopic study, epidermis was composed of two layers, basal layer and periderm at 12 weeks of gestation. The periderm was composed of basal, intermediate and periderm at 12 weeks of gestation. The periderm was composed of basal, intermediate and periderm layers at 16-18 weeks of gestation. Intermediate cells consisted of 2-3 layers of spinous cells. The granular cells appeared rarely in superficial cells of intermediate layers. At 23-24 weeks of gestation, epidermis consisted of basal, prickle, granular, and horny layers. Periderm cells were locally exfoliated from the hony layer. The results demonstrate the expression of CK and EGFR in skin of human fetus between 12 and 24 weeks of gestation, and suggest that full thickness of epidermis is formed by 24 weeks of gestation.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Biotin ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Epidermis* ; Fetus* ; Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Humans* ; Keratins ; Methods ; Mice ; Pregnancy ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Sebaceous Glands ; Skin

Diastematomyelia, a form of spinal dysraphism, is characterized by a division of the spinal cord or canda equina resulting the form a bony or cartilaginous spur which transfixes the neural elements and dura. The presence of a structure of neural crest origin in the subarachnoid space connecting the spicules suggested that the anomaly resulted from delayed closure of the neural tube and its investments. The cinical finding are presumed due to its restriction, tethering of the normal apward migration of the spinal cord. Congenital anomalies of one or both lower extremities and spine are frequently found with this condition. The surgical removal is recommended as a prophylactic measure against further progressive neurological damage. The purpose of this paper is to presented becanse it was associated with clubfoot and adds to understanding of teratogenesis of diastematomyelia.
Clubfoot ; Investments ; Lower Extremity ; Neural Crest ; Neural Tube ; Neural Tube Defects ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Dysraphism ; Spine ; Subarachnoid Space ; Teratogenesis

No abstract available.
Zygapophyseal Joint*

We performed this study to observe the effects of chronic administration of leuprolide acetate(potent synthetic LHRH analog) to the testicular histopathology of prostatic cancer patient and to the spermatogenesis in cryptochism treatment. Ten out of fifty healthy male rats whose body weight ranged 250-300gm were selected as a control group and the other forty as a study group. Two hundred micro-gram of leuprolide acetate was injected daily into the peritoneal cavity of study group, and ten rats were sacrificed at each first, second, third and sixth week, respectively. Then the changes of testicular weight and histopathological readings under light microscope of both control and study group were recorded and analyzed. The results of experimental data can be summarized as follows : 1. The average testicular weight of control group increased progressively until sixth week to 1. 1.43gm from the initial value of 1.26gm, while the weight of study group decreased to 0.96gm which was 67.1 % of age-matched control group. 2. There were almost no remarkable changes between both groups in terms of number, size and cellularity of seminiferous tubules. We observed the degenerative and regenerative changes simultaneously in spermatogonia and spermatocytes. During the first three weeks, degenerative changes took place while the regenerative changes started from the second week and have fully recovered at the sixth week. And, the number of spermatids and spermatozoa slightly decreased at the first week, but have recovered to normal value from the second week. 3. There were noticeable changes neither in the interstitium of testes except the minimal edema nor in terms of size and number of Leydig cell. The results using rats showed the discordance with those of human study of prostatic cancer patient. This conflict can be attributed to the functional differences of leuprolide action between two species, age of sacrificed rats and insufficiency of dose and time of administration. However, we can draw another conclusion that the leuprolide acetate is expected to have no significant adverse effects to the spermatogenesis in cryptorchism treatment.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Cryptorchidism ; Edema ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Humans ; Leuprolide* ; Male* ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Rats* ; Reading ; Reference Values ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Spermatids ; Spermatocytes ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatogonia ; Spermatozoa ; Testis

Ureteroscopic removal of stone is now an established technique for the management of ureteral stones and can be done under direct vision using flexible grasping forceps or stone baskets with increased safety and efficacy. A clinical study of our 35 cases of ureteroscopic removal of ureteral calculi was performed. Only one among 4 cases of mid and upper ureteral calculi and 27 among 31 cases of lower ureteral calculi were removed successfully. Therefore the overall success rate was 80 %(28 among 35 cases). Complications occurred in 6 cases : a case of ureteral avulsion, a case of ureteral separation, 2 cases of uncomplicated urinary tract infection and 2 cases of ureteral perforations. We conclude that ureteroscopic removal of ureteral stone under direct vision can be done safely and be the first choice of management for the lower ureteral surgical calculi, but the antegrade removal of stone through percutaneous nephrostomy tract may be preferable for the upper and mid ureteral calculi.
Calculi ; Hand Strength ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous ; Surgical Instruments ; Ureter* ; Ureteral Calculi ; Urinary Tract Infections

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) that histologically resembles nasopharyngeal lymphoepithelioma has been reported in various sites including the stomach, salivary gland, lung, skin, thymus, tonsil and uterine cervix. LELC of the stomach was rarely reported after the first report by Burke et al. in 1990. More than 60% of them were associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Most commonly affecting elderly Asians with slight male predominance (M/F ; 1.2/1), it usually is located in the proximal portion of the stomach and distinguished from lymphoid-rich adenocarcinoma by the absence of definitive glandular differentiation in the LELC. We recently experienced 4 cases of LELC of the stomach associated with EBV. Patients consisted of two Korean females and two Korean males with one in 3rd decade, one in 5th decade and two in 6th decade. The tumors of all cases were located in the proximal portion of the stomach. Gross types were 1 Borrman type I, 2 Borrman type II and 1 early gastric carcinoma type IIc. The size of the tumors varied from 0.8 cm to 7 cm. Microscopic findings were similar in all 4 tumors.; The tumors were composed of syncytial nests of undifferentiated cells having vesicular nuclei with prominent nucleoli, admixed with abundant lymphoplasma cell infiltration in the stroma. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the tumor cells were reactive for cytokeratin and the stromal lymphocytes were mostly T cells. There were dark hybridization signals in the nuclei of most of the tumor cells but no signals in the stromal lymphocytes in three cases on in situ PCR hybridization and on all cases PCR amplification for EBNA-1. It is concluded that LELCs of the stomach have distinctive histologic characteristics and the usual association with EBV. Further accumulation of these cases will define the prognosis.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Herpesvirus 4, Human* ; Humans ; Keratins ; Lung ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Palatine Tonsil ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis ; Salivary Glands ; Skin ; Stomach* ; T-Lymphocytes ; Thymus Gland

Congenital diverticulum of the left ventricle is a very rare disease. Ventricular diverticulum is usually associated with other anomalies including intracardiac and midline thoracoabdominal defect. We describe a case with congenital left ventricular diverticulum presenting as an isolated lesion. A 37-year-old man presented with 4-year history of chest pain. Diverticulum was diagnosed by echocardiography and left ventriculogram.
Adult* ; Chest Pain ; Diverticulum* ; Echocardiography ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Rare Diseases

No abstract available.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Tuberculosis, Spinal*

Severely comminuted tibial condylar fracture is a major threat to the structures and function of the knee joint. Recently, anterior approach with Z-tenotomy of the patellar tendon was introduced for these complicated fractures. It provides wide exposure of the tibial articular surface for maximum joint reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to describe the operative technique and to evaluate the clinical results of this method. We had performed operative treatment in 13 cases (12 patients) of severely comminuted Schatzkers type II, V, and VI tibial condylar fractures through anterior approach from December 1993 to April 1996. Twelve cases out of 13 (92%) showed acceptable results according to Blokkers criteria. There was no superficial or deep infection. On the basis of these results, we suggest that the anterior approach is a valuable aid in the operative treatment of severely comminuted tibial condylar fractures.
Joints ; Knee Joint ; Patella* ; Patellar Ligament* ; Tenotomy* ; Tibia

The anterior fusion became the popular measure in the treatment of the tuberculosis of the spine. We analysed the 208 cases of the tuberculosis of the spine (174 anterior fusion) who were treated at our department during the period of 1966 to 1973 and compared these results with that obtained during the period of 1957 to 1966. Following has been observed from this comparison. 1. Spine was the most common site in bone and joint tuberculosis (51.7%) but with decreasing tendency. And it was followed by hip, knee, ankle and sacroiliac joints of order. 2. Common age incidence was below 30 years (72.7%) and most common in below 5 years (20.7%). 3. Average duration of disease was 2 years and 2 months. This value was 6 months lower than in previous study. 4. The most common site was changed from lumbar to thoracic vertebrae. 5. The incidence of sinus, cold abscess formation decreased but paraplegia increased in incedence due to high prevalence in thoracic vertebrae. 6. Anterior fusion was performed in 86.1% of the cases. 7. Postoperative complications was found in 17.2%. Adequate rnanagement of chest tube in thoracic areas and blood vessels in lumbosacral areas may be necessary.
Abscess ; Ankle ; Blood Vessels ; Chest Tubes ; Hip ; Incidence ; Knee ; Paraplegia ; Postoperative Complications ; Prevalence ; Sacroiliac Joint ; Spine ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular