Objective: To examine the effects of Tribulus terrestris L. (T. terrestris) extract on the modulation of calcium channels to evaluate its use in topical agents for treatment of atopic dermatitis. Methods: The 70% methanol extract of T. terrestris was prepared. Human HEK293T cells with over-expressed calcium release-activated calcium channel protein 1 (Orai1), transient receptor potential vanilloid 1, or transient receptor potential vanilloid 3 (TRPV3) were treated with T. terrestris extract. Modulation of ion channels was measured using a conventional whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Results: T. terrestris extract (100 mg/mL) significantly inhibited Orai1 activity in Orai1-stromal interaction molecule 1 co-overexpressed HEK293T cells. In addition, T. terrestris extract significantly increased the TRPV3 activity compared with 2-Aminoethyl diphe-nylborinate (100 mmol/L), which induces the full activation of TRPV3. Conclusions: Our results suggest that T. terrestris extract may have a therapeutic po-tential for recovery of abnormal skin barrier pathologies in atopic dermatitis through modulating the activities of calcium ion channels, Orai1 and TRPV3. This is the first study to report the modulatory effect of a medicinal plant on the function of ion channels in skin barrier.

OBJECTIVES: As one of the possible mechanisms of viral evasion in the HPV-infected cervical cancer cells, the role of amino acid sequence change in epitope region has not been reported yet. In this study, sequence variations of HPV 16 E6, E7 gene, especially focused on epitope region, were analysed, the status of immunomodulatory factors were documented, and finally the possible correlation between the sequence variations and the loss of HLA class I expression was examined. METHODS: The entire ORF(open reading frame)s of HPV 16 E6, E7 were sequenced by the fluorescent dideoxy termination method. In addition proteins and transcripts of HLA-ABC, beta2-microglobulin(beta2-m), TAP (transporter associated with antigen processing), and LMP(large multi-functional proteasome) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, respectively in 40 clinical specimens of primary cervical cancer and 6 cervical cancer cell-lines. Medical records including pathologic reports were reviewed. RESULTS: Among the 27 cases confirmed as harboring HPV 16 DNA, only one(3.7%) found as a prototype. Among 11 kind of variants identified in total, 4 variants(5 nucleotide sites) which were never reported before has been found, registered firstly to GenBank. The most frequently found one(16 cases, 59.3%) contains D25E, N29S in E6, E7 region, respectively and the most common variation in E6, E7 ORFs found concurrently(p<0.05). Down-regulation of HLA-ABC and beta2-m was identified in 32(86.5%) and 35 cases(89.7%), respectively and transcripts of TAP, LMP were identified in over 85% of cases. However, there was no significant difference in HPV 16 infection, D25E in E6 and so on between HLA-ABC, beta2-m positive and negative groups. The well-known clinicopathologic parameters did not correlate with sequence variations and immunomodulatory factors. Five sequence variations in HPV 16 E6, E7 ORFs that were not previously reported worldwide were found, registered firstly to GenBank. CONCLUSION: It seems that multiple mechanisms are operated in down-regulation of HLA class I molecules and the phenotypic profile of immunomodulatory factors seems to be unrelated in vivo to the naturally occurring HPV 16 E6, E7 variations in epitope region.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; DNA ; Down-Regulation ; Ecthyma, Contagious ; Female ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Medical Records ; Open Reading Frames ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

Secondary cutaneous cryptococcosis may occur earlier than other manifestations of disseminated cryptococcosis. A 68-year-old woman presented with multiple ulcerative lesions on the right calf of 2 weeks duration. She had been treated with antibiotics, but the lesions spread rapidly. The initial clinical impression was necrotizing fasciitis, but routine KOH mounting from the ulcerative lesions showed numerous budding yeast cells with peripheral clear zones and further investigations including a skin biopsy, tissue cultures and India ink preparations allowed a rapid and definitive diagnosis of cutaneous cryptococcosis. Studies for other evidence of infection elsewhere revealed an asymptomatic pulmonary lesion. We report a case of secondary cutaneous cryptococcosis clinically mimicking necrotizing fasciitis that occured before other manifestations of disseminated cryptococcosis.
Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Biopsy ; Cryptococcosis* ; Diagnosis ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing* ; Female ; Humans ; India ; Ink ; Saccharomycetales ; Skin ; Ulcer

First rnany years there has been a great dea,l of disagreement about the classification and histology of recalcitrant pustular eruptions of the palms and soles and the rela.tion of this condition to psoriasis. It ia the purpose of this investigation to describe histological changes in fresh pustules from patients witb pustular eruptions of the palms and soles and compare these changes between patients with clinically preceding or co-existing psoriasis (4cases) and without clinically preceding or co-existing psoriasis (7cases). Nine biopsies of pustules were exarnined and the results were compared between two groups. Histopathological findings were otherwise uniform and typical intradermal well-delineated pustules. No significant differences were found bet.ween th two groups. In view of the uniforrn histology, the unknown etiology, and uncertain clinicaI classification, the authors prefer the clearly descreptive term pustulosis palrnaris et plantaris(PPP). Recent;ly the phagocytic ability of neutrophilic leukocytes was reported to be impaired in patients suffering from pustular eruptions of the palms and soles. In our study this ability was performed with the aid of the NBT. dye reduction test before and after administration of Descresept (aristolochic acid). The aim of the present study was to observe the effect of Descresept on NBT test in relation to the clinical acitivity of PPP. The results were as follows: l. In 6 of 11 patients, clinical improvement was accompanied with increasing NBT' scores. 2. In 2 of 11 patients, clinical aggravation was noted in spite of Descresept adrninistration. In these 2 cases, increase in dosage of Descresept made clinical improvement again with increasing NBT scores. 3. In 3 of the 11 patients, there was noted clinical improvement, but NBT scores were slightly decreased.
Biopsy ; Classification ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Neutrophils ; Psoriasis

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare the parent-child relationship of adolescents with depression and those without depression, by using Parent-Child Relationship Instrument (PCRI), Family Relationship Scale (FRS), and Parenting Attitude Test-Youth (PAT-Y). We also investigated the association between the parent-child relationship and depressive symptoms. METHODS: Twenty-five adolescents with depression (age 15.0+/-2.1 years, 8 boys) and 24 adolescents without depression (age 13.7+/-1.3 years, 16 boys) completed the Adolescent-General Behavior Inventory (A-GBI), Adolescent-Mood Disorder Questionnaire (A-MDQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), PCRI, and PAT-Y. The parents of subjects completed the Child Behavior Checklist, Parent-General Behavior Inventory 10-item Mania Scale (P-GBI-10M), Parent-Mood Disorder Questionnaire, and FRS. Independent t-tests, analysis of covariance, and partial correlation analysis were used. RESULTS: The Intimacy (p=.002) and Respect (p=.029) scores of the PCRI were significantly higher in adolescents without depression compared to those with depression. The Intimacy scores of the PCRI showed negative correlation with the BDI and P-GBI-10M and the Strictness scores of the PCRI showed positive correlation with the A-GBI, A-MDQ, and BDI. The Inconsistency, Punishment, and Excessive Expectation scores of the PAT-Y showed positive correlation with the A-GBI and BDI scores. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest a possible association of the parent-children relationship and parenting attitude with adolescents' depressive symptoms.
Adolescent* ; Bipolar Disorder ; Checklist ; Child ; Child Behavior ; Depression* ; Family Relations ; Humans ; Parent-Child Relations* ; Parenting ; Parents ; Punishment ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Nevus sebaceus is a common hamartoma that has a variety of appendage tumors. We report a case of nevus sebaceus with multiple appendage tumors on the scalp of a 43-year-old male. The exudative inflamed patches were admixed with darkly pigmented small nodules which had developed secondarily within a 4.0 × 1.5cm lesion 2 years previously. Histologically, on serial sectioning, there were various types of basal cell carcinoma, syringocystadenoma papilliferum, tubular apocrine adenoma and sebaceous adenoma. Some parts of a biopsy specimen, showed a tumor of the follicular infundibulum-like epidermal changes. There were also calcium depositions in the stroma and apocrine tumors, There was no relapse at 1-year follow-up after surgical treatment.
Adenoma ; Adult ; Biopsy ; Calcium ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hamartoma ; Humans ; Male ; Nevus* ; Recurrence ; Scalp

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is one of the treatment options used for patients with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), although its effectiveness is controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of ESWT in the treatment of MPS in terms of pain relief and functional improvements. METHODS: We assessed 93 patients with MPS who underwent ESWT from March 2009 to July 2014. After exclusion of 25 patients with shoulder diseases, 68 patients were enrolled in the study. The mean follow-up period was 7.5 months (± 4.2 weeks), and the average duration of symptoms was 5 months (range, 2-16 months). ESWT was applied to intramuscular taut bands and referred pain areas once a week for 3 weeks. Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores were obtained at an initial assessment and at the 6-week, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up assessments. RESULTS: VAS pain scores and ASES scores improved significantly after 3 sessions of ESWT (p<0.05). Both scores were improved, although not significantly, after 6 weeks (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: ESWT is an effective treatment option for patients with MPS.
Elbow ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes* ; Pain, Referred ; Shock* ; Shoulder ; Visual Analog Scale

In this study, we have conducted characterization of imaging performance for a flat panel digital X-ray detector using amorphous Selenium and a-Si TFT which was developed by the authors. The procedures for characterization were in concordance with internationally recommended standards such as IEC (international electrotechnical commission). The measures used for imaging performance characterization include response characteristic, modulation transfer function (MTF), detective quantum efficiency (DQE), noise power spectrum (NPS), and quantum limited performance. The measured DQEs at lowest and highest spatial frequencies were 40% and 25% respectively, which was superior to that of commercial products by overseas vendor. The MTF values were significantly superior to that of CR and indirect type DRs. The quantum limited performance showed the detector was limited by quantum noise at the entrance exposure level below 0.023 mR, which is sufficiently low for general X-ray examination.
Commerce ; Noise ; Selenium ; Silicon

OBJECTIVES: Breast cancer has been the most prevalent female cancer in South Korea since 2001. Early detection of this disease is the most effective strategy for reducing mortality. The objective of this study was to identify factors which could predict advanced stage at diagnosis of breast cancer. METHODS: Participants who were initially diagnosed with breast cancer and referred to the Stress Clinic of the Breast Cancer Center at Kyungpook National University Hospital were included. Through a semi-structured interview, the authors investigated psychosocial variables such as the extent of marital and family functioning and emotional-economic family burden as well as sociodemographic and health behavior-, health characteristic- and cancer-related variables. RESULTS: Data were collected from 219 participants. One hundred and twenty(54.8%) subjects were diagnosed with advanced-stage breast cancer. Variables that were significantly different between the advanced-stage and early-stage groups included : monthly breast self examination(p<0.000), annual mammographic screening(p< 0.000), mode of tumor detection(p<0.000), nature of the first symptoms(p<0.000), time to treatment after di-agnosis(p<0.000), overloaded economic and family burden(p=0.018), marital functioning(p<0.000) and family functioning(p<0.00). Logistic regression analysis indicated that irregular annual mammography screening(OR=7.431 ; 95% CI 2.407-22.944) or a lack of screening(OR=25.299 ; 95% CI 7.855-81.482) and a dysfunctional marital relationship(OR=4.772 ; 95% CI 2.244-10.145) were significantly associated with advanced stage at diagnosis of breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: We reconfirmed screening behavior to be a risk factor for delayed diagnosis of breast cancer. Our findings also emphasized the importance of psychosocial factors such as marital functioning in early detection of breast cancer. Psychiatric consultation in the area of martial functioning could be beneficial for increasing early detection in breast cancer.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Delayed Diagnosis* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Mammography ; Marriage* ; Mass Screening ; Mortality ; Psychology* ; Risk Factors ; Time-to-Treatment

Cutaneous metastasis from renal cell carcinoma is not unusual, occurring in 3 to 7%, although it may be overlooked. We report a case of metastatic renal cell carcinoma in a 74-year-old man who was presented with a 1.5 x 1.5 x 0.5 cm-sized nodule on the right zygoma for 3 months. A skin biopsy demonstrated the typical clear cell adenocarcinoma with PAS(+) granules in the cytoplasm and honeycombed or glandular configuration, compatible with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Kidney ultrasonogram and abdomina1 CT scanning showed a large cystic mass on the upper pole of the left kidney. Furthermore radiologic studies revealed multiple metastatic lesions in the lung, liver and brain. He died 4 months later.
Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Brain ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Cytoplasm ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Skin ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Zygoma*