BACKGROUND: In vitro epidermal keratinocytes(EKs) culture systems are widely used in studying skin biology and differentiation. Recently a monolayer culture method of nail matrix cells(NMCs) has been developed. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to establish a method of culture of NMCs and compared its characteristics with those of EKs. METHODS: Human NMCs were isolated and cultured in a defined medium. Phase contrast microscopic examination, growth rate and ketatin expression were evaluated. RESULTS: In in vitro monolayer culture, NMCs had a similar growth pattern and morphological features as EKs. The synthesis of hard keratins was detected. CONCLUSION: These observations suggest that the NMCs culture model may be useful for the study of nail properties and the effects of drugs.
Biology ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Methods ; Skin

Nitric oxide (NO) induces apoptotic cell death in murine RAW 264.7 macrophages. To elucidate the roles of SEK1/MKK4, a upstream kinase for both c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) and p38 kinase, on NO-induced apoptosis, we generated clones of RAW 264.7 cells which stably overexpressd kinase inactive SEK1 (RAW/SEK1-Kl) or wild type SEK1 (RAW/SEK1-WT). Treatment of kinase inactive SEK1 transfected RAW 264.7 cells (RAW/SEK1-Kl) with sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO generating agent, significantly decreased the cell viability up to 20% of RAW control cells which were treated with the same amount of SNP. However, RAW/SEK1-WT cells were less susceptible to NO induced apoptosis. For a while, caspase-3 like activity in NO treated RAW/SEK1-Kl cells was significantly increased with parallell to apoptotic death rate. However, caspase1 like activity was not affected by NO in any transfectants. The NO induced apoptosis in RAW/SEK1-Kl cells was significantly prevented by the addition of caspase-3 like inhibitor (N-Ac- DEVD-CHO). In addition, the phosphotransferase activity of JNK1 in NO-treated RAW/SEK1-WT is significantly increased, but not in RAW/SEK1-Kl cells. These results suggest that SEK1 may play anti-apoptotic role in RAW cells from NO-induced apoptosis.
Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Clone Cells ; Macrophages ; Mortality ; Nitric Oxide* ; Nitroprusside ; Phosphotransferases ; Protein Kinases

It has been known that proliferative vitreoretinopathy(PVR) can be developed by various intraocular diseases. Among them, the intravitreal hemorrhage would be accounted one of the causative disorders of PVR. An experimental study of the rabbit retina following intravitreal injection of auto blood was performed in order to investigate of development processes and nature of cellular alterations in PVR. The results were as follows: 1. Macrophages containing several dense bodies appeared near the inner limiting membrane of the retina and many floating red blood cells were present in the vitreous cavity on 3 days after intravitreal injection of blood. 2. One week after intravitreal injection of blood, the Miiller cells extended to the vitreous penetrating the inner limiting membrane. Many macrophages were observed between the Miiller cell processes. 3. Preretinal proliferative tissue were differentiated to the multilayered Miiller cell processes with the cellular characteristics containing glycogen granules, SER and junctional complexes in 2 weeks after intravitreal injection of blood. In these states macrophages between the Miiller cell processes had were completely disappeared. 4. It was considered that Miiller cells extend to the vitreous penetrating the inner limiting membrane in order to phagocytose the red blood cells in the vitreous which lead to processes resulting in formation of PVR.
Erythrocytes ; Glycogen ; Hemorrhage* ; Intravitreal Injections ; Macrophages ; Membranes* ; Retina

Clear cell sarcoma of tendon and aponeurosis is a rare malignant tumor. It occurs chiefly in young adults, predominates in women and is most common in the regions of the foot and ankle. We report a case of clear cell sarcoma of tendon and aponeurosis in s 22-year-old man. he pstient had had a asymptomatic, normal skin colored, relativerly hard, dome shsped nodule on the anterior chest for 6 months. Histopsthologic findings revealed uniform pattern composed of compact nests of round or fusiform cells which had clear cytoplasm and were surrounded by delicate framework of fibrocollagenous tissue, and the individual tumor cell had a fairly regular appearance of possessing round to avoid vesicular nucleus with prominent basophilic nucleolus. One year after surgical excision and post operative radiotherapy, there was no recurrence.
Ankle ; Basophils ; Cytoplasm ; Female ; Foot ; Humans ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma, Clear Cell* ; Skin ; Tendons ; Thorax* ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Neurofibromatoses* ; Scoliosis*

The precise diagnosis of internal derangement of the knee is difficult, since the signs and symptoms are frequently obscure. For this reason, diagnostic aids have long been sought, and arthrogrphy has been widely used as a means to improve diagnostic accuracy. Recently, post-arthrographic high resolution computed tomogrphy has been added to the diagnostic techniques for the evaluation of the knee. Arthrography and post-arthrographic high resolution computed tomography were carried out in 97 cases of clinically suspicious meniscal tear from January 1986 to October 1987. Among them, 40 cases were confirmed by arthroscopic surgery and following results were obtained. l. Arthorgraphy resulted in a diagnostic accuracy of 92.5% and 72.5% for medial and lateral meniscal lesion. Post-arthrographic high resolution computed tomography resulted in that of 95.0% and 90.0% for each meniscal lesion. 2. 16 cases of them were discoid meniscus. 13 cases(92.5%) were detected by arthrography and 16 cases(100%) by post-arthrographic high resolution computed tomography. 3. The sensitivity of arthrography was proved to be 100% and 65.4% for medial and lateral meniscal lesion, and thst of post-arthrographic high resolution computed tomography to be 100% snd 88.5% for each meniscal lesion. The specificity of arthrography was 90.0 and 85.7% in each meniscal lesion and that of post-arthrographic high resolution computed tomography was 93.3% and 92.9% in each meniscal lesion. 4. Post-arthrogrsphic high resolution computed tomography was proved to show better diagnostic accuracy, and good visualization of the relationship and extent of torn meniscal lesions. The meniscal anatomy that was displayed by high resolution computed tomography more accurately depicted the anatomical findings that were seen at arthroscopy. With this additional information, arthroscopists could plan more appropriate surgical approach.
Arthrography ; Arthroscopy ; Diagnosis ; Knee ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tears

During January 1975 to December 1979, myelographic studies followed by operation was carried out on 150 cases of lumbar H.I.V.D. at Chung Nam National University Hospital. As to the myelographic findings, mode, level of indentation, and positive and negative finding were analyzed in comparison with operative findings. The followings results were obtained: 1. Plain radiography has a Iittle value In diagnosis of Iumbar H.I.V.D. about one third of 150 cases show significant sign in plain film study. 2. The major discrepancies between myelographic and operative findings were found in 11.3%, while the minor discrepancies were 4%, so giving an accuracy of 84.7%. 3. Positive myelographic finding(120 cases) consisted of smooth round defect in 83 cases (48.8%), unilateral wedge defect In 45 cases (26.4%), block defect In 18 cases (10.5%), bilateral wedge defect in 13 cases (7.6%), and hourglassdefect In 11 cases (6.4%), respectively. 4. Operative findings revealed the protruded disc: 74.5%, bulging: 11.1%, extruded: 22%, and mlgrated: 1.7%. 5. The myelographic finding of bulging type disc usually showed smooth round filling defect and those of protruded were smooth round filling defect, wedge shape and block filling defect, while the extruded type revealed smooth round filling defect In the most cases. 6. The myelography can be a valuable aid in the determination of the level and degree of H.I.V.D. and very helpful ln differential diagnosis.
Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Myelography ; Radiography

OBJECTIVES: This study was to evaluate the impacts of simultaneous exposure to noise and mixed solvents on workers'hearing threshold level (HTL) over five-year period. METHODS: The study was conducted by interview and annual audiometric test on workers in ship building industry from 1994 to 1998. The cases(workers who exposed to noise and mixed solvent simultaneously) were 43 male workers and controls (workers who exposed to nolle) were selected by matching method with regard to age, sex, carrier, and noise exposure level. To assess the impacts of solvent exposure on hearing threshold level, with considering other factors, general liner model was used. RESULTS: 1. The audiogram of all subjects showed typical sensorineural hearing loss pattern. The mean HTLe were increased at high frequency (4000HB and 8000Hz) for study period. 2. The HTLs of cases were more increased than those of controls at high frequencies (4000Hz and 8000Hz), but there was not statlstical significance. 3. The impact of age on the HTL was statistically significant at 250Hz and 500Hz (p(0.05), and the impact of noise on the HTL was statistically significant at 250Hz, 2000Hz and 4000Hz (p(0.05), but the impact solvent exposure on the HTL was not significant. 4. The changes in HTLs of cases were higher than those of controls at high frequency, there were not statistical significance at 4000Hz, but only at 8000Hz (p=0.087). 5. Statistical analysis of the general linear model implicated that the changes in HTL was impacted by noise exposure bevel significantly (p=0.031) and Impacted by solvent exposure weakly (p=0.087) at 8000Hz. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that workers who simultaneously exposed to noise and mixed solvent were at risk for more affected HTL than those exposed to noise exposure only, but we could not find definitive evidence. Further detailed studies must be made in large number of workers.
Construction Industry ; Hearing Loss* ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Hearing* ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Male ; Noise ; Ships ; Solvents

Patients with lumbar spinal stenosis may exhibit symptoms such as back pain, radiating pain, and neurogenic claudication. Although long-term outcome of treatments manifests similar results for both nonsurgical and surgical treatments, positive effects such as short-term improvement in symptoms and decreased fall risk may be expected with surgery. Surgical treatment is basically decompression, and a combination of treatments can be added depending on the degree of decompression and the accompanying instability. Recently, minimally invasive surgery has been found to result in excellent outcomes in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis. Therefore, better treatment effects can be anticipated with an approach aimed at understanding the overall pathophysiology and treatment methods of lumbar spinal stenosis.

PURPOSE: Sentinel lymph node (SLNB) is the first confronted lymph node from primary lesion of tumor through lymphatic drainage, which is important for determining early metastasis and setting guidelines for treatment. We reported significant of sentinel lymph node biopsy in malignant melanoma (MM) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of lower extremities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five cases of surgically treatment and being possible for follow up more than 1 year among the patients who were diagnosed as MM and SCC in this institution from Sep. 2005 to Jan. 2009, and 10 cases of them were performed SLNB. Average age was 64 years old, and 15 cases of male and 10 cases of female were in this group. RESULTS: 3 years overall survival rate was 100% and 3 years disease-free survival rate was 76%. Metastasis occurred in total 6 patients, 4 cases of inguinal lymph nodes, 1 case of soft tissue around knee, 1 case of left achilles tendon. In 15 cases of not performing SLNB, overall survival rate was 93.3% and disease-free survival rate was 73.3%. In 10 cases of performing SLNB, overall survival rate was 100% and disease-free survival rate was 90%. And only 1 case showed positive finding in the biopsy, and none of the 10 cases showed metastasis in follow-up. CONCLUSION: SLNB leads simpler and less complications compared to prior elective lymph node dissection, and shows high degree of accuracy. Throughout the SLNB, setting guidelines for treatment by accurate staging is thought to be helpful for increasing the survival rate in the patient with MM and SCC.
Achilles Tendon ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drainage ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Lower Extremity ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Melanoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nitriles ; Pyrethrins ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy ; Survival Rate