BACKGROUND: The Q-switched ruby laser has recently shown that it can remove tattoos with-out scarring. Therefore the Q-switched ruby laser is expected to be effective in the treatment of nevus of Ota, which contains pigmented cells in the dermis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Q-switched ruby laser in the treatment of nevus of Ota. METHODS: Twenty-five patients (6 men, 19 women) with nevus of Ota on the face were treat-ed. The age of the patients ranged from 3 to 62 years. The energy fluence used varied from 6 to 8.5 J/cm². Treatment intervals ranged from 1 to 3 months, and the number of treatments ranged from 2 to 9. Photographs were taken of all patients before and on every return visit. The photographs were then compared with each other. After completion of treatment, we evaluated some parameters including the extent of pigment-free area within the skin lesions (score 0-4), degree of lightening in the remaining skin lesions (score 0-3), and patient's own or their parents' opinions on the result of treatment (score 0-3). The scores of the above three parameters were added and the resulting scores were designated as excellent (score 9-10), good (score 7-8), moderate (score 5-6) and poor (score 0-4). RESULTS: Excellent treatment response (score 9-10) was obtained in 6 of the 25 patients. In all patients disappearance of pigmentation on a 40 percent or larger area was seen. One month after completion of treatment, the remaining lesion size was less than 40 percent of the original lesion in 21 (84.0%) patients. The degree of lightening in the remaining lesion was marked (score 3) in 22 (88%) patients. No scarring was noted following treatment. Transient hyperpigmentation was noted in 7 patients, and transient hypopigmented areas were noted in one patient. CONCLUSION: Q-switched ruby laser appears to be an effective and safe modality for the treatment of nevus of Ota.
Cicatrix ; Dermis ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Lasers, Solid-State* ; Male ; Nevus of Ota* ; Nevus* ; Pigmentation ; Skin

This study was conducted to set up a common mechanism for varying phases of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis(FSGS) by comparing the morphological differences between human FSGS and changes in 5/6 renal ablation animal model, which has been accepted as experimental prototype for hyperfiltration theory as pathogenesis of FSGS. Both the human and the experimental rats showed very similar changes such as segmental glomerulosclerosis, vacuole formations or inclusion of small granules of podocytes, appearance of foamy cells in the capillary lumina, eosinophilic deposits along the mesangial area, and focal atrophy of tubules with associated interstitial fibrosis. The halo, frequently seen in human FSGS, is due to detachment of visceral epithelium from basement membrane, however, did not appear in the experimental rat specimen. On the other hand, the foamy cells and hyalinization were more frequently noted in the rat series and even involved the arterioles. The mesangial proliferation never appeared in the rat series occasionally found in human FSGS. In conclusion, the pathogenesis of FSGS cannot depend solely on the hyperfiltration theory of hemodynamic derangement, but has complex impairment of visceral epithelium and cells forming the constituents of basement membrane.
Animals ; Arterioles ; Atrophy ; Basement Membrane ; Biopsy ; Capillaries ; Eosinophils ; Epithelium ; Fibrosis ; Hand ; Hemodynamics ; Humans* ; Hyalin ; Models, Animal* ; Nephrectomy* ; Podocytes ; Rats* ; Vacuoles

This study was conducted to set up a common mechanism for varying phases of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis(FSGS) by comparing the morphological differences between human FSGS and changes in 5/6 renal ablation animal model, which has been accepted as experimental prototype for hyperfiltration theory as pathogenesis of FSGS. Both the human and the experimental rats showed very similar changes such as segmental glomerulosclerosis, vacuole formations or inclusion of small granules of podocytes, appearance of foamy cells in the capillary lumina, eosinophilic deposits along the mesangial area, and focal atrophy of tubules with associated interstitial fibrosis. The halo, frequently seen in human FSGS, is due to detachment of visceral epithelium from basement membrane, however, did not appear in the experimental rat specimen. On the other hand, the foamy cells and hyalinization were more frequently noted in the rat series and even involved the arterioles. The mesangial proliferation never appeared in the rat series occasionally found in human FSGS. In conclusion, the pathogenesis of FSGS cannot depend solely on the hyperfiltration theory of hemodynamic derangement, but has complex impairment of visceral epithelium and cells forming the constituents of basement membrane.
Animals ; Arterioles ; Atrophy ; Basement Membrane ; Biopsy ; Capillaries ; Eosinophils ; Epithelium ; Fibrosis ; Hand ; Hemodynamics ; Humans* ; Hyalin ; Models, Animal* ; Nephrectomy* ; Podocytes ; Rats* ; Vacuoles

No abstract available.
Coronary Artery Bypass* ; Coronary Vessels*

No abstract available.
Nose* ; Papilloma, Inverted* ; Paranasal Sinuses*

PURPOSE: We evaluated the correlation between the carcinogenesis of gallbladder and the expression of lysozyme, p53, c-erbB2 and CEA in gallbladder lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty cases of gallbladder lesions (containing 17 cases of GB carcinoma) were examined. We analyzed the clinicopathologic findings of the early (stage I & II) and advanced carcinoma (stage III, IV & V) and those of carcinoma with or without metaplasia in the tumor. We performed p53, c-erbB2 and CEA immunohistochemical staining and compared their findings with those of normal mucosa and preneoplastic lesions. We also performed lysozyme immunohistochemical staining and compared its finding with metaplastic and non-metaplastic lesions. RESULTS: There are two distinct genetic pathways in gallbladder cacinogenesis and metaplastic carcinoma was more frequent than non-metaplastic carcinoma. Metaplasia of gallbladder did not reveal any difference of the clinicopathologic findings and depth of invasion (Nevin stage). Lysozyme expression was found in all metaplastic lesions but non-expression did not indicate non-metaplastic lesions. p53 mutations and c-erbB2 alterations may have a role in the carcinogenesis of gallbladder carcinomas, especially, in a late event, and in an early and late events, respectively. The correlation of p53 and c-erbB2 expressions was found but which did not indicate that the co-expression was needed in the carcinogenesis. CEA immunohistochemical staining may be helpful in the differential diagnosis of benign lesions and precancerous and cancerous lesions of the gallbladder. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that p53 mutations and c-erbB2 alterations may have a role in the carcinogenesis of gallbladder carcinomas, especially, in a late event, and in an early and late events, respectively.
Carcinogenesis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gallbladder* ; Metaplasia* ; Mucous Membrane ; Muramidase

No abstract available.
Immobilization* ; Rib Fractures* ; Ribs*

Peripheral nerve injury is relatively common in post-trauma surgery. Although various microsurgical techniques and repair methods can recover the continuity of the injurcd nerve. But, functional recovery achive is difficult. The purpose of this study examines the effect of electrical stimulation on muscle strength or sensibility increase in hrachial plexus injury with clinical results. We have retrospectively analyzed 44 cases of brachial plexus injury. The group(20 cases) which received nerve surgery and electrical stimulation was compared with the group(24 cases) which received nerve surgery only. Electrical stimulation was performed to nerve for axonal regeneration-strength & sensibility(18 cases) and to muscle for strengh(2 cases). All cases had heen evaluated for motor power recovery by 24 months after nerve surgery. A significant difference(P<0.05) between the power of elhow flexion and shoulder abduction, hut not sensibility of forearm in the two groups suggests that electrical stimulation to nerve or muscle enhanced the progress of nerve regeneration or muscle strength respectively. The results suggest that electricai stimulation is promising supplementary method for functional recovery in brachial plexus injury.
Axons* ; Brachial Plexus* ; Electric Stimulation* ; Forearm ; Muscle Strength ; Nerve Regeneration ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Regeneration* ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Follow-Up Studies* ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung*