BACKGROUND: Plant extracts have been widely used as important therapeutic drugs for many centuries all over the world. There have been many reports that natural products have various kinds of biological activities such as anti-allergy, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. Recently, the screening for the efficacy and safety of natural products has been extensively performed. OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to find a beneficial plant extract possessing excellent antioxidative and anti-melanogenic activities. We have found that the leaf of Robinia pseudo-acacia L. has active substances which are involved in those activities. METHODS: To confirm the antioxidative activity of the extract obtained from the leaves of Robinia pseudo-acacia L., scavenging ability of the extract on DPPH free radicals and its inhibitory effects on lipid autoxidation and peroxidation were investigated. In addition, inhibitory effects of the extract on mushroom tyrosinase as well as melanin biosynthesis in cultured B16 melanoma cells were evaluated. RESULTS: The acacia extract showed not only powerful antioxidative activity but also antimelanogenic acitivity as strong as that of arbutin which is a well known inhibitor of melanogenesis. CONCLUSION: These resulis suggest that the extract from the leaves of Robinia pseudo-acacia L. could be used as a 4ghtening and antioxidative agent for the skin.
Acacia ; Agaricales ; Arbutin ; Biological Products ; Free Radicals ; Mass Screening ; Melanins ; Melanoma, Experimental ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Plant Extracts ; Plants ; Robinia* ; Skin

Access to the craniofacial skeleton and skull base requires osteotomies. An adequate exposure of neoplasms occupying the skull base and the oral cavity and oropharynx, especially retromolar trigone, is very important for precise tumor ablation. The demonstration by Tessier of the capacity for large segments of bone to survive removal and replacement has enabled skull base tumor surgery to grow into a subspeciality. Through the refined craniofacial exposure osteotomies, the surgery is safer, the operation shorter, and the result better both oncologically and reconstructively. We experienced 24 cases of exposure osteotomies consisting of 12 cases transzygomatic approaches, 1 case tranglabellar osteotomy, 1 case lateral transmaxillary approach, 1 case Le Fort II & midline splitting, and 9 cases mandibulotomy. There was no significant complication except a local wound infection in transzygomatic approach and one case of minimal malocclusion after parasymphyseal mandibulotomy. The orthotopic bone graft and the rigid fixation enables the postoperative morbidity to decrease. It seems that the previously inaccessible craniofacial tumors can be treated through the various exposure osteotomies.
Malocclusion ; Mouth ; Oropharynx ; Osteotomy* ; Skeleton ; Skull Base ; Transplants ; Wound Infection

The autogenous fascia graft has been used for various surgical purposes because it has good durability, a gliding capacity, elasticity and a high survival rate. However, few studies have reported histological changes of the graft in various situations. This study attempted to determine histomorphologic changes after autogenous fascia graft in various surgical conditions. The results revealed were as follows: 1. The tension applied to grafts plays the key role in the survival rate of autogenous fascia grafts. 2. Rolling the fascia reduced the volume and weight after autogenous graft due to fibrosis and central fatty degeneration. 3. Autogenous fascia graft covering silicone blocks showed its fascial structure and reduction of the formation of fibrous capsule around the silicone.
Elasticity ; Fascia ; Fibrosis ; Silicones ; Survival Rate ; Transplants*

Botulium toxin A has been used therapeutically in humans for over 20 years for a variety of medical indications. Some wrinkle and unsightly facial expressions are due to hyperkinetic muscle. For the past year, the author has injected it for variant purpose, so we describe the our experience with the variant extended use of the toxin including correction for just dynamic wrinkle, used with subperiosteal face lifting or peeling, post-traumatic twitching, and facial paralysis and relevant anatomy are discussed. Also we have another concept about muscle anatomy which have superficial and deep portion. The superficial portion is for harmonious action with SMAS during facial expression, which is also related to fine wrinkle, and the deep portion play role gross movement. Botulium toxin is safe and effective in varient field without complication. Its use is associated with a high degree of patient and physician satisfaction.
Exotoxins* ; Facial Expression ; Facial Paralysis ; Humans ; Rhytidoplasty

Fibrofolliculoma is a benign follicular neoplasm which usually occurs in multiple and rarely solitarily. We have found only seven cases of previous reports of solitary fibrofolliculomas worldwide and only two in Korean literature. Herein we report on a 40-year-old female patient with a solitary flesh-colored bean sized mass on the scalp which histopathologically proved to be a fibrofolliculoma.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Scalp

Squamous cell carcinoma of prostate is extremely rare form of cancer which seems to differ from the common prostatic adenocarcinoma in its origin, its more aggressive behavior and poor prognosis. We report a case of prostatic squamous cell carcinoma in 79-year-old man who complained of acute urinary retention. Histological diagnosis revealed squamous cell carcinoma of prostate.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Prostate* ; Urinary Retention

No abstract available.
Nocardia Infections*

No abstract available.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of partial weight bearing (PWB) harness with comparison of traditional exercise program by gait analysis in non-ambulatory acute stroke patients. METHOD: Nine patients participated with PWB harness on the treadmill, and nine patients with traditional exercise. In harness group, the gait training with 30% weight reduction was offered on treadmill, they were treated daily and gait training was done for 20 minutes. In no-harness group, traditional gait training was done by physical therapists. Variables were gait parameters assessed by VICON 370 Gait Analyzer, other function tested by Motricity Index and Functional Ambulatory Category. RESULTS: In linear parameter, the harness group had faster gait speed, longer stride length, and more decreased double support time compared to the no-harness group. In kinematic parameters, the maximal flexion of knee was significantly increased in harness group, but no significant differences was in hip and ankle motion. In kinetic parameters, hip flexion moment of normal side was increased in harness group at heel strike phase, knee flexion moment of normal side was decreased in harness group at heel strike phase. CONCLUSION: The gait training with partial weight bearing harness was more effective in acute stroke patients than traditional therapy, and was influenced in gait pattern, functional ability.
Ankle ; Gait* ; Heel ; Hip ; Humans ; Knee ; Physical Therapists ; Strikes, Employee ; Stroke* ; Weight Loss ; Weight-Bearing*

PURPOSE: Our purpose was to deterrnine the efficacy of maternal corticosteroid therapy on the morbidity of premature infants between 26 and 31 weeks' gestation. METHOD: A total of 62 premature infants between 26 and 31 weeks gestation admitted to pediatric department of National Medical Center from Nov, 1990 to June 1996 were analyzed to evaluate the efficacy of prenatal corticosteroid therapy on the morbidity such as hyaline membrane disease, intreventricular hernorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, neonatal death, days on ventilation and hospital days. RESULT: Among 62 women who delivered premature infants between 26 and 31 weeks, 22 received betamethasone before delivery and 40 did not. 1) The rate of hyaline membrane disease was less in the betamethasone group (41% vs. 70%, P<0.05). 2) The rate of intracranial hemorrhage was less in the betamethasone group (0 vs. 20%, P<0.05). 3) The days of ventilator care was less in the betamethasone group among survival cases (27+/-3.2 vs. 5.2+/-4.6, P<05). 4) Arnong 14 women who delivered at 26 to 28 weeks, 4 received betamethasone before delivery and 10 did not. The rate of neonatal death was less in the betamethasone group (o% vs. 80%, P<0.05). 5) Among 48 women who delivered at 29 to 31 weeks, 18 received betamethasone before delivery and 30 did not. The rate of hyaline membrane disease was less in the betamethasone group (39% vs. 73%, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Betamethasone appears to reduce hyaline membrane disease, intraven- tricular hemorrhage, neonatal death and the morbidity significantly in premature infants between 26 and 31 weeks' gestation.
Betamethasone ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyaline Membrane Disease ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Pregnancy ; Sepsis ; Ventilation ; Ventilators, Mechanical