BACKGROUND: Epidermis is directly exposed to various external stimuli and protects internal structures. Most studies about skin tension focused on the dermis, and epidermal tension has not been able to attract interest because dermis much thicker than epidermis and dermal collagen fibers play a predominant role in the skin tension. However, circumstances which involve only the epidermis are often shown, and thus it is necessary to study the mechanical property of the epidermis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to quantify the role of the epidermis as a mechanical barrier. METHODS: Human epidermal sheets were obtained from suction blisters in 14 patients with vitiligo during epidermal grafting. Maximal tension, that is the power required to break the epidermal sheets, was measured by tensiometer. RESULTS: The maximal tension of the epidermis ranged from 40.0 g/cm² to 84.5g/cm² with a mean values of 56.1g/cm² and did not differ significantly according to the age or anatomical sites. CONCLUSION: The barrier function of epidermis is important and the results are expected to be used as the basic information for other studies about the mechanical property of the epidermis. In addition, this will be important data in developing an artificial skin whose mechanical property is similar to that of the human skin.
Blister* ; Collagen ; Dermis ; Epidermis* ; Humans* ; Skin ; Skin, Artificial ; Suction* ; Transplants ; Vitiligo

BACKGROUND: Ultraviolet light induces sunburn, aging of the skin, disorders of pigment and even promotes skin cancers. Melanin is known to have a protecting role in the skin by blocking ultraviolet light. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate UVA blocking effect of epidermal melanin and to compare UVA blocking effect among different anatomical sites. METHODS: From 20 vitiligo patients who had undergone an epidermal graft, we obtained epidermis of normal and vitiliginous skin and measured transmitted UVA energy density. RESULTS: The vitiliginous epidermis, devoid of melanin, blocked lower amount of UVA energy than the normal epidermis. 11.6% of irradiated UVA energy was blocked by epidermal melanin. No significant differences were observed in UVA blocking effect among different anatomical sites in normal and vitiliginous epidermis. CONCLUSION: Epidermal melanin has some UVA blocking effect. No significant differences were found in UVA blocking effect among different anatomical sites despite the differences in the density of melanin pigment among different sites of the body.
Aging ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Melanins* ; Skin ; Skin Neoplasms ; Sunburn ; Transplants ; Ultraviolet Rays ; Vitiligo*

Successful middle ear surgery requires the availability of al safe, effective bonding material. Side effect caused by synthetic materials have led to the use of biologic adhesive, However, they carry the risk of transmission of infectious diseases if they are prepared from pooled human blood. The adhesive strength of ammonium sulfate fibrin adhesive produce an adhesive strength that is half that of the homologous commercial product. It is, however, good enough for use in several otolaryngological operations, tympanoplasty, facial nerve repair, reconstruction of ossicles. Reconstruction of posterior wall of ear canal and obliteration of frontal sinus and mastoid antrum using bone dust.
Adhesives ; Ammonium Compounds* ; Ammonium Sulfate* ; Communicable Diseases ; Dust ; Ear Canal ; Ear, Middle ; Facial Nerve ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive* ; Fibrin* ; Frontal Sinus ; Humans ; Mastoid ; Tympanoplasty

Present trial was carried out to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of oxantel/pyrantel tablets against intestinal nematode infections, and to determine the efficacy of oxantel tablels against Trichuris infection. A total of 34 subjects with the mixed infections were treated with oxantel/pyrantel tablets (100 mg/tablet each) in a single dose of 15 mg/kg body weight, and another group of 22 Trichuris infected cases received oxantel pamoate tablets (125 mg/tablet) in a single dose of 15 mg/kg. All stool examinations were done before the treatment and 3 weeks after the treatment. The cellophane thick smear (Kato's technique) and Stoll's dilution egg counting method were employed. The results of the trial were summarized as follows: The cure rates (egg negative conversion rates) and egg reduction rates for oxantel/pyrantel tablets were 85.3 percent and 97 percent in trichuriasis, 100 percent each in ascariasis and ancylostomiasis. The oxantel tablet treated group demonstrated a cure rate of 90.9 percent and an egg reduction rate of 96.3 percent in the treatment of Trichuris. There were no detectable objective and subjective side effects in this trial. Both oxantel/pyrantel and oxantel pamoate tablets were readily accepted and well tolerated.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda ; Enterobius vermicularis ; Ancylostoma duodenale ; Trichuris trichiura ; chemotherapy-oxantel/pyrante ; oxantel pamoate

The present study was undertaken to observe the quality and quantity of lipids in the adult worms of Chinese liverfluke, Clonorchis sinensis. Lipid extraction was done by the methods of Folch et a1. (l957) and Kenny (1952), and then the extracted lipid fractions of the worm were separated by thin layer chromatography. Those fractions were also subjected to perform the quantitative analyses of glycerides, cholesterols and phospholipids. The results obtained were summarized as follows: Total amount of glyceride was 37.56 mg per gram of worm tissue and the amount of monoglyceride was 8.34 mg per gm; diglyceride, 15.46 mg per gm; and triglyceride, 12.86 mg per gm. Total amount of cholesterol was 3.30 mg per gm of worm tissue, and the esterified cholesterol (1.72 mg/gm) was a little more than that of free cholesterol (1.26 mg/gm). The following 8 phospholipids were detected in the worm tissue of C. sinensis, i.e., lysophosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylcholine, phophatidylinositol, sphingomyelin, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unknown phospholipid.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; Clonorchis sinensis ; biochemistry ; glyceride ; cholesterol ; phospholipid ; lipid ; lysophosphatidylcholine ; phosphatidylcholine ; phophatidylinositol ; sphingomyelin ; phosphatidylglycerol ; phosphatidylserine ; phosphatidylethanolamine

The present experimental study was undertaken to observe the chronological change of the worm structure of Clonorchis sinensis and the pathological findings of the liver when this fluke was inoculated to the mouse intraperitoneally. The recovery rate, survival rate, location and size of the inoculated worms as well as the pathological changes of the liver were investigated for the comparison among the groups of mice, classified by number of worms and the duration of experiment. The results obtained were summarized as follows: The recovery and survival rates of the worms decreased especially 28 days after the inoculation. Most of worms (90.l percent) were collected from the peritoneal cavity and some of worms were found tightly adherent to the capsules of the liver, spleen, stomach, intestine and diaphragm. There were no worms recovered penetrated in the parenchymes of these organs. The mean worm size after inoculation was smaller than that before inoculation. At the 10th day after the inoculation, the shrinkage of posterior portion of the worm body was observed. Remarkable atrophy in the reproductive organs of the worm, such as spermatheca, testes, vitelline glands and ovary was frequently observed at the 10th day of inoculation. Histopathologically the liver failed to show any parasitic worm inside the intrahepatic biliary system. However, multiple well formed egg-containing granulomas were present along the liver capsule. These necrotic granulomas were occasionally found under the fibrotic liver capsule. Focal necrosis and focal phlebitis together with vascular dilatation were prominent features seen in the liver. The bile duct in the liver showed mild dilation of the lumen, flattening of epithelial cells and periductal small round cell infiltration. Neither adenomatous hyperplasia nor portal fibrosis was seen in the whole experimental groups. Foci of intralobular micro-granulomas were found in some experimental animals. The worms recovered in the capsule of the liver were degenerated and necrotized. Usually, there were remarkable capsulitis and granuloma formation around the eggs.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; Clonorchis sinensis ; pathology ; liver ; spleen ; stomach ; intestine ; diaphragm ; granuoma ; peritoneal cavity

No abstract available.
Skin, Artificial*

Regardless of the any cause leg ulcers are painful and inconvenient to patients and present clinical and economic problems due to their chronicity. Conventional skin grafts, cultured allogenic epidermis, and cultured autologous epidermis have been used for the treatment of leg ulcers. In a twenty-year-old woman with leg ulcers, autologous pure epidermal sheets were obtained from the lower chest by means of suction blisters and grafted to the leg ulcers. All lesions were healed completely in 20 days after grafting. The donor sites showed slight postinflammatory hyperpigmentations without scars. The autologous epidermal graft using suction blisters appears to be a useful method for the treatment of leg ulcers, with no immunologic rejection, no need for cultivation and anesthesia, no desiccation, and no scars on the donor sites.
Anesthesia ; Blister* ; Cicatrix ; Desiccation ; Epidermis ; Female ; Humans ; Leg Ulcer* ; Leg* ; Methods ; Skin ; Suction* ; Thorax ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants*

Primary pericardial tumors are rare than those originating within the myocardium or endocardium and, moreover, primary benign pericardial tumors are much rare in occurrence. Fine(1986) was able to collect only 43 cases of lipoma. Most cases are diagnosed only at autopsy. One fourth of the cardiac lipoma arise subepicardially, where they suggest the presence of pericardial effusion with compression or displacement of the heart. A case of primary intrapericardial lipoma simulating pericardial effusion is presented. This tumor originated in left anterior aspect of pericardium. The tumor was measured 30x30x5cm in size and 2,200mg in weight. Total excision of the mass was accomplished by posterior lateral thoracotomy incision, resulting in complete cure. This is the first case of primary benign lipoma of the pericardium in literatures in our knowledge.
Autopsy ; Endocardium ; Heart ; Lipoma* ; Myocardium ; Pericardial Effusion* ; Pericardium ; Thoracotomy

No abstract available.
Down Syndrome*