BACKGROUND: During the last few years, the in vivo study of the physiological parameters of the skin by non-invasive methods has been considerably developed. So far, there have been some reports on the skin characteristics only in parts, but there has not been any criteria to classify those of normal subjects. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the skin characteristics of healthy Korean subjects according to sex and sites using non-invasive methods. METHODS: To determine normal levels of sebum, skin hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin elasticity and skin color according to sex, 163 subjects (male; 124, female; 39) were used to investigate 5 different anatomical sites. 6 different instruments were used: The Sebummeter SM 410, Corneometer CM 820, Evaporimeter EP1, Cutometer SEM 474, Chromameter CR-121, and Mexameter MX 16, for evaluating sebum excretion rate, capacitance, TEWL, mechanical property and skin color respectively. RESULTS: Differences were noticed depending on the anatomical sites and sex. Most of the measuring parameters were significantly different according to sites and sex. The values of sebum levels, capacitance and TEWL were higher in the males on the cheek, forehead and crows foot, whereas in the females, higher values were observed on the dorsum of the hand. The skin elasticity varied considerably among the nine-parameters but, for the elastic ratio (R2, R5), the females showed significantly higher values than the males in all sites except the forehead. Skin lightness (L* value) was higher in the females, whereas the males showed lugher values in the category of redness (a* value) and yellowness (b* value). The values of the eqrthema index (EI) and melanin index (MI) were also higher in the males on all sites. Correlations between the skin parameters mentioned above were calculated. A negative, correlation between capacitance and TEWL was observed only on the cheek (male/female, r =-0.2/ r =-0.4, p<0.05). The L* value correlated negatively with MI. Mioreover the values between a* and El also showed sipificant correlations in the male (cheek and dorsum of hand, y =0.2, forehead and crows foot, r =0.3, p<0.05). There were considerably significant correlations between the visual pigmentation score and instrumental skin parameters in the males (visual pigmentation score vs. L* value measured by Chromameter ; cheek/crows foot, r = -0.3/y =-0.4, visual pigmentation score vs. MI by Mexameter ; cheek/crows foot, r =0.2/ r =0.4, viisual winkle score vs. sebum excretion rate measured by Sebumeter ; cheek, r=0.2, visual winkle score vs. elasticity parameters measured by Cutometer ; cheek, R2/R5/R7, r =-0.3/ r =-0.2/ r =-0.3, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Skin physiological parameters can be evaluated by non-invasive skin bioengineering methods which show quantitative modifications in physiological conditions in relation to sites and sex.
Bioengineering* ; Cheek ; Crows ; Elasticity ; Female ; Foot ; Forehead ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Melanins ; Pigmentation ; Sebum ; Skin*

We performed 70 proceudres of transarterial chemoembolization (TAE) through extrahepatic collateral vessels (n=27) or parasitic feeders (n=18) in 45 hepatocellular carcinoma patients. The collaterals developed after interruption of the hapatic artery due to repeated TAE(n=17), surgical ligation(n=7) and primary celiac occlusion (n=3). Radiologic findings suggesting the existence of parasitic or collateral supply for hepatocellular carcinoma were 1) a focal defect of Lipiodol retention on CT or plain film after TAE via the hepatic artery, 2) dilated and tortuous vessels around the mass on angiography, 3) persistent elevation of the level of serum alpha fetoprotein or continuous clinical symptoms in spite of sufficient devascularization of the tumor via the hepatic artery, and 4) radiological findings of direct invasion into adjacent organ. The sites of the catheter placement were the inferior phrenic artery (n=19), omental branches (n=16), periportal collaterals (n=6), pancreaticodenal arcade (n=3), gastroduodenal artery (n=3), internal mammary artery (n=2), intercostal artery (n=2), lateral thoracic artery (n=1), bronchial artery(n=1), and colic branches(n=1). Masses feeded by the inferior phrenic and chest wall collaterals were usually located at the dome area of the liver, and the omental and gastroduodenal collaterals developed in the masses located at the inferior tip of the liver. After TAE via collateral vessels, 37 patients underwent follow-up study. In 18 cases(48%), the tumor favorably responded to TAE. Specific complications of collateral TAE were epigastric soreness (n=10), severe shoulder pain (n=4), and embolization of the spinal artery during embolization through the intercostal artey (n=1). In conclusion, various extrahepatic collaterals are important alternative or additional routes for effective chemoembolization in patients with advanced hepatoma, and early recognition of the parasitic supply and the effort to perform TAE via collaterals is very important for effective management of the patients with the hepatoma.
alpha-Fetoproteins ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Catheters ; Colic ; Ethiodized Oil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatic Artery ; Humans ; Liver ; Mammary Arteries ; Shoulder Pain ; Thoracic Arteries ; Thoracic Wall

PURPOSE: To investigate the levels of radiation exposure of an operator which may be influenced by the wearing an apron, type of procedure, duration of fluoroscopy and operator's skill during various interventional procedures MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radiation doses were measured both inside and outside the apron(0.5mm lead equivalent) of the operator by a film badge monitoring method and the duration of fluoroscopy was measured in 96 procedures prospectively. The procedures were 30 transcatheter arterial embolizations (TAE), 25 percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainages (PTBD), 16 stone removals (SR), 15 percutaneous needle aspirations (PCNA) and 10 percutaneous nephrostomies(PCN). To assess the difference of exposure by the operator's skill, the procedures of TAE and PTBD were done separately by groups of staffs and residents. RESULTS: Average protective effect of the apron was 72.8%. Average radiation exposure(unit:micro Sv/procedure) was 23.3 in PTBD by residents, 10.0 in PTBD by staffs, 10.0 in SR, 8.7 in TAE by residents, 7.3 in TAE by staffs, 9.0 in PCN and 6.0 in PCNA. Average radiation exposure of residents were 1.9 times greater than those of staffs. CONCLUSION: Radiation exposure was not proportionally related to the duration of fiuoroscopy, but influenced by wearing an apron, various types o[procedure and operator's skills.
Aspirations (Psychology) ; Film Dosimetry ; Fluoroscopy ; Needles ; Pregnenolone Carbonitrile ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Prospective Studies

To evaluate the effectiveness of superselective transcatheter arterial embolization (STAE) for hepatocelluar carcinoma (HCC) with a mixture of ethanol and Lipiodol, STAE was done in 12 male patients with HCC. Three were diagnosed clinically with angiographic findings and elevated alphafetprotein levels and three were recurrent tumors after surgery. Sono-guided aspiration biopsy proved the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in another six patients. The tumor was a small single nodule (2-5cm in diameter) in 11 patients. In one patient, two nodules were found. Superselective catheterization was done using 3F Tracker catheter(Target Therapeutics USA) coaxially through 6F catheter into the feeding hepatic artery, usually the third order branch. One to four cc of 75% ethanol mixed with Lipiodol was infused under fluoroscopy immediately after imjection of 2% lidocaine. Immediate angiography and CT after 2 weeks were undertaken. Complete segmental or subsegmental devascularization including feeding arteries and tumor vascularities occurred in all patients. Follow-up angiography after 6 to 15 months revealed the tumor opacified by Lipiodol. The tumor decreased in 5 cases and recurrence was found in three patients. CT taken 2 weeks after STAE showed low density halo around the tumor in 5 cases. Subsequest segmentectomy in four patients revealed total or near total necrosis of the tumor and no evidence of damage in surrounding parenchyme. STAE for HCC with a mixture of ethanol and Lipiodol is an effective and safe measure for small HCC.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Biopsy, Needle ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Diagnosis ; Ethanol* ; Ethiodized Oil* ; Fluoroscopy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatic Artery ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Male ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Necrosis ; Recurrence

As a new interventional procedure for the control of variceal bleeding, a portosystemic shunt can be established with the installment of metallic stent through the transjugular approach. In order to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the procedure, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic chunt procedure were performed in 5 patients with variceal bleeding due to liver cirrhosis. The metallic stents were mainly a self expandable Wallstent(Schneider, Switzerland). An 8 to 10 mm shunt was formed by the insertion of the stent and balloon dilatation after puncture of the proximal portal vein from the right or middle hepatic vein. The patency of the shunt was proven by portography after the procedure. The portal pressure measured in 3 patients before and after the procedure improved with decrease from 31 mmHg to 25 mmHg. The procedure failed in 1 patient due to preexsisting portal vein thrombosis. During the follow-up period from 1 month to 4 months, shunts were patent in all 4 patients. However, hepatic encephalopathy occured in one patient one week following the procedure. Though the follow-up period was not long enough for full evaluation. We found the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt was a safe and effective procedure for the control of variceal bleeding by lowering the portal pressure. For the appropriate application for this procedure, the optimal size of the shunt and optimal degree of the resultant decompression are yet to be determined in the future.
Decompression ; Dilatation ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Portal Pressure ; Portal Vein ; Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical ; Portography ; Punctures ; Stents ; Venous Thrombosis

No abstract available.
Pulmonary Artery* ; Takayasu Arteritis*

No abstract available.
Stents*

Digital subtraction angiography(DSA) was made in 72 patients at department of radiology, Seoul National University hospital from February 1982 to January 1983 with our system, SRM-II, developed by cooperation of department of medical engineering, Seoul National University Hospital. The results were as follows; 1. In the total 72 cases, vascular disease was 28 cases in which aortic disease including Takayasu's aortitis was 18 cases. Others were vascular tumors in 32 cases and various conditions such as renal donor and artificial arteriovenous shunt. 2. Extent of the lesion was well delineated especially in aortic disease in cluding 8 cases of Takayasu's aortitis, 6 cases of aortic aneurysm and 2 cases of Behcet's syndrome. 3. DSA can be done to outpatient without admission because of its simplicity and non-invasiveness. DSA is useful especially in the evaluation and follow-up of vascular disease and the diagnostic value is expected to grow continuously according to the renewal of system.
Angiography, Digital Subtraction* ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Diseases ; Aortitis ; Behcet Syndrome ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Outpatients ; Seoul ; Tissue Donors ; Vascular Diseases

Bex1 protein is upregulated in regenerating muscle and interacts with calmodulin, a Ca2+-binding protein involved in cell cycle regulation. Following cardiotoxin-induced injury the regenerating muscle of Bex1 knock-out mice exhibits prolonged cell proliferation and delayed cell differentiation compared to wild-type mice. To gain insight into this process, we compared the regenerating myogenic morphologies of Bex1 knock-out and wild-type mice at several time points. Bex1-positive cells were identified by double immunofluorescence staining. These studies demonstrated that a population of cells that are Bex1-positive after injury are c-Met/basal lamina-positive and Mac-1-negative indicating that they are derived from at least a subset of myogenic progenitor/satellite cells but not invading immune cells. In addition, in regenerating muscle, Bex1 co-localizes with calmodulin in the cytoplasm of the late myoblast or early myotube stage of myogenesis. These results suggest that Bex1 participates in muscle regeneration through the regulation of satellite cell proliferation and differentiation by its interaction with calmodulin. Current studies of Bex1 may provide a new molecular tool for the identification of activated satellite cell and open the way to new or improved therapeutic regimens against progressive muscular atrophy.
Animals ; Calmodulin ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cytoplasm ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Muscle Development ; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal ; Muscles ; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal ; Myoblasts ; Regeneration ; Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle

Bex1 protein is upregulated in regenerating muscle and interacts with calmodulin, a Ca2+-binding protein involved in cell cycle regulation. Following cardiotoxin-induced injury the regenerating muscle of Bex1 knock-out mice exhibits prolonged cell proliferation and delayed cell differentiation compared to wild-type mice. To gain insight into this process, we compared the regenerating myogenic morphologies of Bex1 knock-out and wild-type mice at several time points. Bex1-positive cells were identified by double immunofluorescence staining. These studies demonstrated that a population of cells that are Bex1-positive after injury are c-Met/basal lamina-positive and Mac-1-negative indicating that they are derived from at least a subset of myogenic progenitor/satellite cells but not invading immune cells. In addition, in regenerating muscle, Bex1 co-localizes with calmodulin in the cytoplasm of the late myoblast or early myotube stage of myogenesis. These results suggest that Bex1 participates in muscle regeneration through the regulation of satellite cell proliferation and differentiation by its interaction with calmodulin. Current studies of Bex1 may provide a new molecular tool for the identification of activated satellite cell and open the way to new or improved therapeutic regimens against progressive muscular atrophy.
Animals ; Calmodulin ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cytoplasm ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Muscle Development ; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal ; Muscles ; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal ; Myoblasts ; Regeneration ; Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle