This article discusses the development of early acupuncture needles as demonstrated by the artifacts excavated from the Northern part of the Yanji district, Jilin, China, during the Japanese colonial era (reported in 1941). Numerous bone needles, stone needles, and other medical devices were found in the Xiaoyingzi excavation. The stone needles from Xiaoyingzi can be categorized into three grades, based on length, of 8cm, 12–15cm, and 18cm. A set of round stones for massage were also discovered, along with obsidian blades. These relics were carefully stored in the middle of the body in the stone coffin. In addition to Xiaoyingzi, stone needles were also excavated along the lower valley region of the Tuman (Tumen, 豆滿) River. These facts indicate that the owner was involved in medical practice, and that medical procedures using stone needles were quite popular at the time. This article carefully investigates that the relics have nothing to do with weaving textile or military use. Current research on the origin of acupuncture has been confined either to stone needles from the prehistoric age or to bronze needles, as well as to literature from the Warring States period to the Han China, during which acupuncture technology was considerably expanded. However, substantial knowledge on the “gap” between stone needles and metal needles has been procured through the analysis of Xiaoyingzi, Yanji. The findings of Xiaoyingzi are also significant in providing a more detailed reconstruction of the development of acupuncture in East Asia and emergence of acupuncture throughout history. A large amount of medical items (stone and bone needles, cases for needles, massage stone type bianshi, and etc.), have been excavated from Xiaoyingzi and other neighbouring sites, Along with geographic and ecological factors, this archeological data strongly suggests the medical tradition of using acupuncture needles was practiced around Tumen River basin in the Bronze Age (10th century B.C.).
Acupuncture* ; Artifacts ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Far East ; Humans ; Massage ; Military Personnel ; Needles ; Rivers ; Textiles

BACKGROUND: The distribution of Malassezia yeasts on normal human skin was varied according to the age and race of the volunteers and the methodologies used. In Korea, most reports of Malassezia yeast distribution have relied on direct skin smears rather than culture methods. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work was to perform a comprehensive survey of the distribution of Malassezia yeasts on normal human skin to provide a base line for a companion study of Malassezia yeasts in patients with various dermatoses. METHODS: Malassezia yeasts were cultured using the swabbing technique from the scalp, forehead, chest, upper back, upper arm and upper thigh in 137 subjects, infancy to 80 years of age. RESULTS: Malassezia yeasts were present in the lowest incidence(0-30%) on six sites of infants and present in 60.0-66.7% on the sebum-rich sites (scalp, forehead, chest, upper back) of children aged 1-9. Malassezia yeasts were present in 80.0-86.7% on the sebum-rich sites of the elderly group(over 60 years of age), about the same frequency as in the middle-aged groups. The population density of these organisms was significantly higher on the upper back than on the forehead, chest, upper arm and upper thigh in all age groups except the infant group and the group aged 1 to 9 (p<0.05). There were no regular quantitative variations in the distribution of Malassezia yeasts on a given site between age groups. On Leeming and Notman media, besides three morphotypes of Malassezia yeasts reported by Cunningham et al(1990), one additional type was identified. CONCLUSION: The results showed regional variations in the distribution of Malassezia yeasts in all ages except infancy and no regular age variations on a given site. Additionally, four colony types of Malassezia yeasts were found. The findings of our study coold help to investigate the role of Malassezia yeasts in related disorders.
Aged ; Arm ; Child ; Continental Population Groups ; Forehead ; Friends ; Humans* ; Infant ; Korea ; Malassezia* ; Population Density ; Scalp ; Skin Diseases ; Skin* ; Thigh ; Thorax ; Volunteers ; Yeasts*

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous vasculitis associated with viral hepatitis seems to occur as a hypersensitivity reaction against the circulating viral antigens. Hepatitis B virus(HBV)-encoded X antigen(HBxAg) is known to participate in the carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) by the inactivation of p53. However, HBxAg has been found in chronic infiammatory lesions without the overexpression of p53. Accordingly, not only EBsAg and HBcAg but also HBxAg may be involved in HCC-associated cutaneous vasculitis, regardless of the alteration of p53. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to investigate the expression of HBV-encoded antigens in cutaneous vasculitis accompanied by HBV hepatopathy. Additionally, we have compared the expression of 3 HBV antigens and p53 between vasculitic patients with HCC and in others showing HCC-non-associated vasculitis. METHODS: Immunohistochemically, we examined the expression of HBsAg, HBcAg, and HBxAg in the tissue specimens taken from the vasculitic lesions of the 33 HBsAg-positive enrolled patients with cutaneous vasculitis proven by skin biopsy. RESULTS: 1. The immunohistochemical positivity rate to HBsAg in vasculitic patients with HBV hepatopathy was 66.7% overall. It was 90% in HCC-associated vasculitic subjects and 56.5% in the vasculitic subjects without HCC, respectively. 2. We found the expression of HBxAg in 80% of the vasculitic subjects showing HCC. The vasculitic patients without HCC showed 17,3% of the positivity rate to HBxAg. 3. We could not find the overexpression of p53 in the vasculitic tissue specimens of the HCC patients without the cutaneous metastasis from primary HCC. CONCLUSION: HBsAg, HBcAg and HBxAg may participate in the pathogenesis of cutaneous vasculitis with HBV hepatopathy, regardless of tumorigenesis.
Antigens, Viral ; Biopsy ; Carcinogenesis ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Humans* ; Hypersensitivity ; Malassezia* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Skin* ; Vasculitis ; Yeasts*

No abstract available.
Korea* ; Orientia tsutsugamushi* ; Rickettsia*

14-3-3 proteins are cytoplasmic proteins of about 29 kDa and have a minimum of seven isoforms. This protein is important in signal transduction with the ability of binding with phosphoserine of many signalling proteins. We expressed 14-3-3 protein tagged with 6 histidine residues in E. coli and purified the protein by nickel affinity chromatography. Using this purified protein as an antigen, we made rabbit antisera and mouse monoclonal antibodies to 14-3-3 zeta isoform. We subcloned cDNA of 14-3-3 zeta isoform derived from HeLa cell lamda gt 11 library into an E. coli expression vector which is designed to express heterologous protein with N- terminal 6 hidtidine tag. BALB/c mice were immunized with purified 14-3-3 protein and the hybridoma clones which produce monoclonal antibodies angainst 14-3-3 protein were selected. These monoclonal antibodies reacted with the recombinant protein expressed in E. coli as well as the 29-kDa native protein in various cell lines. However, they did not immunoprecipitate 14-3-3 protein. The monoclonal antibodies produced in this study can be valuable tools for the identification of the 14-3-3 in signal transduction study.
14-3-3 Proteins ; Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Cell Line ; Chromatography, Affinity ; Clone Cells ; Cytoplasm ; DNA, Complementary ; Escherichia coli* ; Escherichia* ; HeLa Cells ; Histidine ; Humans* ; Hybridomas ; Immune Sera ; Mice ; Nickel ; Phosphoserine ; Protein Isoforms ; Signal Transduction ; Staphylococcal Protein A

BACKGROUND: Both Malassezia yeast and Propionibacterium acnes form part of the normal flora of the human skin and hair follicles. The former is the etiological agent of Malassezia(Pityrosporum) folliculitis and the latter is one of the major factors in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris. These two follicular diseases can coexist on a certain area of the skin, but there have been few reports about their coexistence in the literature. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work was to investigate the distribution of Malassezia yeasts in the comedones of patients clinically diagnosed as acne vulgaris for elucidation of the coexistence of the two diseases, and for information on the predominance of the colonized Malassezia species and on relationship between certain species and Malassezia folliculitis. METHODS: The spore load in the comedonal plugs of 32 patients with acne vulgaris was graded using direct microscopy of KOH/Parker ink mounts. The comedonal specimens were cultured on Looming & Notman's media and the isolated Malassezia yeasts were identified to species level by their colony morphologies, microscopic morphologies and physiological characteristics. RESULTS: On direct microscopy, 8 of 32 patients (25%) showed a 4+ spore load, which is considered as a diagnostic grading index of Malassezia folliculitis. The predominant Malassezia(M.) species from 32 patients with acne vulgaris were M. restricta, M. globosa, M. furfur in descending order. Three strains of M. restricta, 4 strains of M, globosa, 2 strains of M. furfur and 1 strain of M. obtusa were isolated from the comedones of the 8 patients with 4+ spore load. CONCLUSION: This study shows that Malassezia folliculitis might coexist with acne vulgaris on the face, but there was no relationship between certain species and Malassezia folliculitis. The results suggest that antibiotic resistant acne vulgaris should be examined by direct microscopy of KOH/Parker ink mounts to confirm the coexistence of Malassezia folliculitis and acne vulgaris.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Colon ; Folliculitis ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Ink ; Malassezia* ; Microscopy ; Propionibacterium acnes ; Skin ; Spores ; Yeasts*

Microsporum canis is known to be the main causative agent of tines capitis and tinea corporis in children. Contrary to Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale, it very rarely infects the nail. In the reported cases of tinea unguium due to Microsporum canis, fingernails were usually affected. We report a patient with tinea unguium of thumb and big toe nails caused by Microsporum canis.
Child ; Humans ; Microsporum* ; Nails ; Onychomycosis* ; Thumb ; Tinea* ; Toes ; Trichophyton

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we propose effective policies for preventing transmission in the closed ward of psychiatry department at the subject hospital. METHODS: 15 patients (9 in 2010, 3 in 2012, and 3 in 2013) infected by 2009 H1N1 Influenza A were treated with Tamiflu® (Roche), and preventive Tamiflu® was administered to patients without symptoms as well as healthcare workers. Infected patients were placed in cohorts or isolation rooms with droplet and contact precautions. The ward was cleaned daily with chloride. Influenza vaccinations were administered to immunosuppressed patients and long-term patients. In addition, respiratory etiquette posters were posted on the closed ward during the latter half of 2012. The 2013 outbreak involved the same controls as 2012. RESULTS: The incidence of outbreak among patients during the three outbreaks was 53%, 18%, and 19%. The incidence of infection among healthcare workers was 0% throughout the three periods, and there was no additional infection. CONCLUSION: In a closed ward of the psychiatry department, there is constant contact between healthcare workers and patients. Therefore, the possibility of influenza transmission is expected to be high. It is important to maintain constant inspection to detect outbreaks. Effective infection control should be applied to block the virus.
Cohort Studies ; Delivery of Health Care ; Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infection Control* ; Influenza, Human* ; Vaccination

The authors performed frontalis suspension using palmaris longus tendon in 3 patients, 2 with congenital blepharoptosis and 1 with acquired blepharoptosis. Good results without any complication as undercorrection, overcorrection, irregular lid magin, ectropion were obtained for 5 to 11 months of follow up check.
Blepharoptosis* ; Ectropion ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Tendons*

The authors performed frontalis suspension using palmaris longus tendon in 3 patients, 2 with congenital blepharoptosis and 1 with acquired blepharoptosis. Good results without any complication as undercorrection, overcorrection, irregular lid magin, ectropion were obtained for 5 to 11 months of follow up check.
Blepharoptosis* ; Ectropion ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Tendons*