BACKGROUND: The influencion the environment on a culture is expressed via four routes. (1) the nature of the substrate or phase on or in which the cells grow (2) the physicochemical and physiological constitution of the medium, (3) the constitution of the gas phase, and (4) the incubation temperature. Melanization is closely related to the constitution and amounts of amino acids in the medium. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate whether there are some differences of proliferation and melanization in cultured B,F, mouse melanoma cells according to different culture media. METHODS: We examined the color of cell pellet, cell morphology, electron microscopic findings, cell counts and melanin conlensin BgF mouse melanoma cells cultured in Dulbeccos modified Eagles medium(DMEM), F-10, MCDB 153, Minimal essential medium(MEM), and RPMI 1640, respectively. RESULTS: 1. The color of cell pellet., ringed from dark gray to light brown. The order of the darkness was DMEM, MEM, RPMI 1640, MCDB 153, and F-10 medium. 2. Most Bg, mouse melanoma cells had an epithelioid morphology, but a few cells in MCDB 153 medium showed dendrites. On the 4th day after culture, the cells in F-10 medium were larger than those in the other media. 3. In the electron microscopic. findings, BF, mouse melanoma cells in DMEM and MEM con tained numerous stage IV nelanosomes, however, those in RPMI 1640 and MCDB 153 medium contained a few, and those in F-10 medium did few. 4. The number of BF, mouse melanoma cells were 1.42 + 0.06 x 10", 1.42 + 0.12 x 10", l. 17 + 0.08 x 10, 0.73 0.06 x 10, 0.32 0.01 x 10, in RPMI 1640, DMEM, MEM, F 10, and MCDB 153 medium, respectively. 5. In the MTT assay, the order of the optical density of B,F, mouse melanoma cells in various media was as followings, DMEM, RPMI 1640, MEM, F-10, and MCDB 153. 6. Compared with the melanin contents of B;F, mouse melanoma cells in DMEM, they were 77.97% in MEM, 67.91% in RPMI 1640 and MCDB 153 medium, and 55.94% in F-10 medium. CONCLUSION: The phenotypic changes of BF, mouse melanoma cells were induced by various culture rnedia and were reversilvle. Since the phenotypes of cells can be changed by the culture media, researchers should choose the appropriate culture medium for the cells.
Amino Acids ; Animals ; Cell Count ; Constitution and Bylaws ; Culture Media ; Darkness ; Dendrites ; Eagles ; Melanins ; Melanoma* ; Mice* ; Phenotype

No abstract available.
Esophageal Neoplasms*

In 1968, Hardy and Anderson first described the term hypereosinophilic syndrome. This syndrome is characterized by persistent and prolonged eosinothila, with primarily hematologic, cardiac, neurologic and derrnatologic abnormalities. Cutaneous mmestations occur in 27-57% of patients. Two types of skin lesions have been noted: (1) erythrritous pruritic papules and nodules or (2) urticaria and angioedema. We report a case of hypereosinophilic syndrome with a vesicle eruption which is a rare skin lesion in tbis syndrome, in a 17 year old man. Diagnosis of hyprcsinophilic syndrome was established by clinical findings, rearked blood eosinophilia without a Brown cause, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, liver scan and ultrasonography, and histopatholcgie findings of the skin.
Adolescent ; Angioedema ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophilia ; Humans ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome* ; Liver ; Skin ; Ultrasonography ; Urticaria

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Pneumothorax*

Boric acid(H BO) is a weak topical anti infective agent. It can cause acute borism due to the internal absorption. Although the frequency is very rare, boric acid can also induce contact dermat.itis after topical spplication. We present allergic contact dermatitis to boric acid. The patch test results showed a positive reaction to 2% boric acid solution.
Absorption ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Patch Tests

No abstract available.
Heart Valves* ; Heart*

No abstract available.
Korea* ; Thoracic Surgery*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the current status and new trends in gynelcological pelviscopy in Korea. METHODS: A survey was conducted and analyzed based on 20997 cases of operative pelviscopy hom May, 1985 to February, 1998 reported from twenty four university hospitals in Korea. RESULTS: The results obtained were ss followings; 1) 45.9 % of the total cases was 30 to 39 years old age group and it was the most dominant age group, 2) The previous operative history was found in 10.9% of the tota1 cases and included cesarean section(30.0%), ectopic pregnancy(20.3%), etc. 3) The operative indications were diagnostic(26.2%), myoma uteri(23.1%), ectopic pregnancy(21.4%), adnexal mass(18.4%), etc. In cases of diagnostic indication, the most common post-operative diagnosis of pelviscopic surgery was tubal pregnancy(30,6%). 4) The operative titles were salpingectomy(25.1%), hysterectomy(19.9%), salpinghorectomy(19.8%), etc. 5) The complications of operative pelviscopy were composed of subcutaneous emphysema(0.58%), preperitoneal bleeding(0.3%), bladder injury(0,3%), bowel injury(0.3%), etc. 6) lhe survey showed that 57.1% of the respondents desired more than 1 year of period for well peration between the operator and the assistant. 56.7% of respondents indicated that the surgical technique of the operator was the most important factor for a successful pelvisocopic surgery. 7) The most beneficial effect of the pelviscopy included the comfortableness of the patient(40.0%), cosmetic effect(22.8%), decrease of complications(14.2%), etc. CONCLUSION: The modem methods of operative pelviscopy have been successfully used in the treatment of gynecological disease. Today, pelviscopic surgery is being applied in almost all the cases of gynecological disease. Hence, the majority of pelviscopy techniques and pracedures being performed by surgeon must be taught in the controlled setting of a residency or a fellowship training program.
Adult ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Fellowships and Scholarships ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Internship and Residency ; Korea* ; Modems ; Myoma ; Urinary Bladder

The peculiar heterochromasia of scalp hair characterizes by the irregular segmentation of black hair into alternating dark brown (dark) and white-to-silver (light) bands. A 17-year-old girl visited to our department because of abnormal discoloration of scalp hair and diffuse hair loss of 2 years' duration. But, the growth and color of her eyebrows, eyelashes, and pubic and axillary hair were normal. No abnormalities were noted in her nails and teeth. The size of hair shaft was 70um in diameter. The length of dark and light bands ranged from 5 to 35 mm and 7 to 20 mm, respectively. Hematologic tests showed iron-deficiency anemia, The results of other tests were all normal. Patient took oral iron with ferruglycine sulfate for 5 months. The light bands of hairs disappeared and the diameter of hair was thickened after treatment. We suggest that hair changes in this case were caused by iron-deficiency anemia.
Adolescent ; Anemia* ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Eyebrows ; Eyelashes ; Female ; Hair* ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Iron* ; Scalp* ; Tooth