OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of body mass composition and cushion type on seat-interface pressure in spinal cord injured (SCI) patients and healthy subjects. METHODS: Twenty SCI patients and control subjects were included and their body mass composition measured. Seat-interface pressure was measured with participants in an upright sitting posture on a wheelchair with three kinds of seat cushion and without a seat cushion. We also measured the pressure with each participant in three kinds of sitting postures on each air-filled cushion. We used repeated measure ANOVA, the Mann-Whitney test, and Spearman correlation coefficient for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The total skeletal muscle mass and body water in the lower extremities were significantly higher in the control group, whilst body fat was significantly higher in the SCI group. However, the seat-interface pressure and body mass composition were not significantly correlated in both groups. Each of the three types of seat cushion resulted in significant reduction in the seat-interface pressure. The SCI group had significantly higher seatinterface pressure than the control group regardless of cushion type or sitting posture. The three kinds of sitting posture did not result in a significant reduction of seat-interface pressure. CONCLUSION: We confirmed that the body mass composition does not have a direct effect on seat-interface pressure. However, a reduction of skeletal muscle mass and body water can influence the occurrence of pressure ulcers. Furthermore, in order to minimize seat-interface pressure, it is necessary to apply a method fitted to each individual rather than a uniform method.
Adipose Tissue ; Body Mass Index ; Body Water ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Posture ; Pressure Ulcer ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Spinal Cord* ; Wheelchairs

The aim of this study was to understand the roles of Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling during tooth root and periodontium formation. In this study, we generated the dental mesenchyme-specific Smoothened (Smo) activated/inactivated mice with the activity of Cre recombinase under the control of osteocalcin promoter.In the Smo activated mutant molar sections at the postnatal 28 days, we found extremely thin root dentin and widened pulp chamber. Picrosirius red staining showed loosely arranged fibers in the periodontal space and decreased cellular cementum with some root resorption. Immunohistochemical staining showed less localization of matrix proteins such as Bsp, Dmp1, Pstn, and Ank in the cementum, periodontal ligament, and/or cementoblast.In the Smo inactivated mutant mouse, there was not any remarkable differences in the localization of these matrix proteins compared with the wild type. These findings suggest that adequate suppressing regulation of SHH signaling is required in the development of tooth root and periodontium.
Animals ; Dental Cementum ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; Dentin ; Hedgehogs ; Mice ; Molar ; Osteocalcin ; Periodontal Ligament ; Periodontium ; Recombinases ; Root Resorption ; Tooth Root ; Tooth

Atopic dermatitis is a common chronic, relapsing skin disorder, and many patients with atopic dermatitis use complementary and alternative medicine instead of consulting a certified dermatologist. Herein, we report the case of a 38-year-old woman with severe eczema herpeticum who had been treated with herbal medicine and acupuncture for her atopic dermatitis. Herbal medicine and acupuncture are the most frequent types of alternative medicine that Korean patients rely on. However, the effectiveness of these treatments in atopic dermatitis remains unclear as there is a great lack of scientific evidence supporting it. As atopic dermatitis can cause potentially fatal secondary infections such as eczema herpeticum, dermatologists should put great effort into communicating with and educating the patients and in guiding them to choose the most appropriate treatment plan for managing their atopic dermatitis.
Acupuncture ; Adult ; Coinfection ; Complementary Therapies ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Eczema ; Female ; Herbal Medicine ; Humans ; Kaposi Varicelliform Eruption ; Skin

Pagetoid Bowen disease is a histological variant of Bowen disease which demonstrates large pale staining cells (pagetoid cells). It requires differential diagnosis from other cutaneous malignancies with similar patterns, such as extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) and Pagetoid melanoma in situ. Herein, we report a case of Pagetoid Bowen disease which was initially misdiagnosed as ectopic EMPD.
Bowen's Disease* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Immunohistochemistry ; Melanoma ; Paget Disease, Extramammary*

No abstract available.
Adult ; Axilla* ; Hair ; Humans

No abstract available.
Cell Lineage* ; Dendritic Cells*

Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy is one of the promising anticancer treatments. It shows a high overall response rate with complete response to blood cancer. However, there is a limitation to solid tumor treatment. Additionally, this currently approved therapy exhibits side effects such as cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity. Alternatively, bispecific antibody is an innovative therapeutic tool that simultaneously engages specific immune cells to disease-related target cells. Since programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is an immune checkpoint molecule highly expressed in some cancer cells, in the current study, we generated αCD3xαPD-L1 bispecific antibody (BiTE) which can engage T cells to PD-L1+ cancer cells. We observed that the BiTE-bound OT-1 T cells effectively killed cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. They substantially increased the recruitment of effector memory CD8+ T cells having CD8+CD44+CD62Llow phenotype in tumor. Interestingly, we also observed that BiTE-bound polyclonal T cells showed highly efficacious tumor killing activity in vivo in comparison with the direct intravenous treatment of bispecific antibody, suggesting that PD-L1-directed migration and engagement of activated T cells might increase cancer cell killing. Additionally, BiTE-bound CAR-T cells which targets human Her-2eu exhibited enhanced killing effect on Her-2-expressing cancer cells in vivo, suggesting that this could be a novel therapeutic regimen. Collectively, our results suggested that engaging activated T cells with cancer cells using αCD3xαPD-L1 BiTE could be an innovative next generation anticancer therapy which exerts simultaneous inhibitory functions on PD-L1 as well as increasing the infiltration of activated T cells having effector memory phenotype in tumor site.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the electrophysiological effects of focal vibration on the tendon and muscle belly in healthy people. METHODS: The miniaturized focal vibrator consisted of an unbalanced mass rotating offset and wireless controller. The parameters of vibratory stimulation were adjusted on a flat rigid surface as 65 microm at 70 Hz. Two consecutive tests on the different vibration sites were conducted in 10 healthy volunteers (test 1, the Achilles tendon; test 2, the muscle belly on the medial head of the gastrocnemius). The Hoffman (H)-reflex was measured 7 times during each test. The minimal H-reflex latency, maximal amplitude of H-reflex (Hmax), and maximal amplitude of the M-response (Mmax) were acquired. The ratio of Hmax and Mmax (HMR) and the vibratory inhibition index (VII: the ratio of the Hmax after vibration and Hmax before vibration) were calculated. The changes in parameters according to the time and site of stimulation were analyzed using the generalized estimating equation methods. RESULTS: All subjects completed the two tests without serious adverse effects. The minimal H-reflex latency did not show significant changes over time (Wald test: chi2=11.62, p=0.07), and between the two sites (chi2=0.42, p=0.52). The changes in Hmax (chi2=53.74, p<0.01), HMR (chi2=20.49, p<0.01), and VII (chi2=13.16, p=0.02) were significant over time with the adjustment of sites. These parameters were reduced at all time points compared to the baseline, but the decrements reverted instantly after the cessation of stimulation. When adjusted over time, a 1.99-mV decrease in the Hmax (chi2=4.02, p=0.04) and a 9.02% decrease in the VII (chi2=4.54, p=0.03) were observed when the muscle belly was vibrated compared to the tendon. CONCLUSION: The differential electrophysiological effects of focal vibration were verified. The muscle belly may be the more effective site for reducing the H-reflex compared to the tendon. This study provides the neurophysiological basis for a selective and safe rehabilitation program for spasticity management with focal vibration.
Achilles Tendon ; Electrophysiology ; H-Reflex ; Head ; Healthy Volunteers ; Muscle Spasticity ; Reflex, Monosynaptic ; Rehabilitation ; Tendons* ; Vibration

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the analgesic effect of intrathecal gabapentin therapy on secondary hyperalgesia in a rat model of persistent muscle pain. METHODS: Intrathecal catheters were implanted into rats. Mechanical secondary hyperalgesia was induced by repeated intramuscular injections of acidic solution into the gastrocnemius muscle. Gabapentin was administrated intrathecally. Rats were allocated to control and experimental (gabapentin 30, 100, 300, and 1,000 microg) group. After gabapentin administration, mechanical withdrawal threshold was measured every 15 minutes and the motor function was measured 30 minutes later. RESULTS: Mechanical hyperalgesia was evoked after the second acidic buffer injection. There was a significant improvement on the mechanical threshold after administration of 100, 300, and 1,000 microg gabapentin compared to pre-injection and the control group. The analgesic effect continued for 105, 135, and 210 minutes, respectively. To discern side effects, motor function was measured. Motor function was preserved in both groups after gabapentin administration, except for rats who received 1,000 microg gabapentin. CONCLUSION: Intrathecal gabapentin administration produces dose-dependent improvements in mechanical hyperalgesia in a persistent muscle pain rat model. This implicates the central nervous system as having a strong influence on the development of persistent mechanical hyperalgesia. These results are helpful in understanding the pathophysiology of secondary hyperalgesia and in the treatment of patients with chronic muscle pain.
Animals ; Catheters ; Central Nervous System ; Humans ; Hyperalgesia ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Models, Animal* ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Myalgia* ; Rats