Since adult human skin can be grown in chernically defined medium without serum, the skin organ culture has gained a great interest as a method for studies concerning skin biology, pharmacology and toxicology. however, serum supplementation has extensively been used to improve the viahility of tissue culture. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of serum on the histologic changes ohserved during the organ culture of the normal human skin. The general architecture of the skin was well maintained for 6 days with or without seru. After then, fetal calf serum or autologous human serum was found to enhance the viability of the epidermis. A confluent layer of necrotic spinous ceils was ovserved earlier and more widespread without serum. The addition of serum had an impressive effect on epibolization. In the absenee of serum, the formation of the epibolus was not only minimal, but also, susceptible to degeneration, and no epibolus remained at 10 days rif incubation. No difference can be found between fetal calf serm and autologous human serum in the formation of the epibolus. There was no favorable effect of serum on the formation of new stratum corneum. The thickness of new straturn corneum increased in parallel with the number of parakeratatic cells, increasing most rapidly between 6 and 8 days of incubation. Parakeratosis was more prominent in the presence of serurn.
Adult ; Biology ; Epidermis ; Humans* ; Organ Culture Techniques* ; Parakeratosis ; Pharmacology ; Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators ; Skin* ; Toxicology

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate and compare the micro-structural profiles of trabecular bone from different facets at the ankle joint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a fresh cadaver ankle, four cored 10 mm of diameter cylindrical specimens of trabecular bone were harvested from the distal tibia, the talar dome, the medial malleolus, and the lateral malleolus. Using a micro-computed tomography, two-dimensional and three-dimensional micro-structural indices of the trabecular bone were analyzed. RESULTS: Each specimen from the tibia, talus, medial malleolus, and the lateral malleolus showed unique micro-structural pattern. Tibia versus talus, the talus was seen a higher bone volume fraction and a wider supporting zone subchondrally whereas the tibia was seen a relatively lower bone volume fraction and a much narrower supporting zone subchondrally. Lateral malleolus versus medial malleolus, the lateral malleolus was seen the thicker but sparse trabeculae pattern whereas the medial malleolus was seen the thinner but more compact trabecular pattern. CONCLUSION: Each four locations from the different facet at the ankle joint have distinct own micro-structural patterns of the trabecular bone, suggesting different mechanical properties.
Ankle Joint* ; Ankle* ; Cadaver ; Talus ; Tibia

We present our experience with calvarial bone framework insertion through an intraoral approach for a patient who was at risk for columellar necrosis due to a previous open rhinoplasty. A 58-year-old woman exhibited severe columellar contracture, so that the columellar tissue was too fragile to be touched. We could not incise the columella and insert a new nasal implant through the bilateral rim incision. Moreover, the patient had septal cartilage perforation and collapse. The patient needed columellar support as well as nasal dorsum reconstruction. The authors decided to graft an autogenous L-strut bone framework through an intraoral approach. Two pieces of 5-cm × 1-cm sized split calvarial bone were harvested and trimmed to fit the width and length of the nasal dorsum and columella. The right-angle-shaped bone framework was made with an absorbable plate and screws. Through a gingivobuccal incision, the bone framework graft was inserted and the graft was fixed with absorbable screws. The patient did not experience complications such as skin necrosis or inflammation. A bone framework grafted through an intraoral approach can be a good choice for patients who have experienced scar contracture in the columella, septal cartilage perforation, and collapse.
Cartilage ; Cicatrix* ; Contracture* ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Oral Surgical Procedures ; Rhinoplasty ; Skin ; Transplants*

Diabetic nephropathy is a common and serious complication in diabetic patients. Renal diseases other than diabetic nephropathy (non-diabetic nephropathy) can occur in diabetic patients with nephrosis. The presence of non-diabetic nephropathy is noted in type 2 diabetes patients, but no data exists for type 1 diabetes. In this report we describe the case of a 15-year-old girl with type 1 diabetes mellitus, who presented with an acute elevation of urinary microalbumin excretion, general edema, and liver enzyme elevation. She had shown microalbuminuria about 3 years earlier, as well as an uncontrolled hemoglobin A1c level, but she had no diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy. A renal biopsy was conducted, and she was diagnosed with primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. She was treated with corticosteroids and an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor.
Adolescent ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Biopsy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Edema ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Liver ; Nephrosis ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A

PURPOSE: Cri-du-Chat syndrome (CdCs) is a rare but clinically recongnizable condition with an estimated incidence of 1:50,000 live births. The clinical characteristics of the syndrome include severe psychomotor and mental retardation, microcephaly, hypertelorism, hypotonia, and slow growth. Also the size of the chromosome 5p deletion ranges were known from the region 5p13 to the terminal region. In this study, we report the spectrum of 5p deletion in Korean 20 pts. with CdCs and genotype-phenotype associations in CdCs. METHODS: In order to delineate genotype-phenotype correlation, molecular cytogenetic studies including GTG banding and clinical characterization were performed on Korean 20 pts with CdCs including parents. CGH array and Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis were used to confirm a terminal deletion karyotype and map more precisely the location of the deletion breakpoint. RESULTS: Molecular analysis of the spectrum of 5p deletion revealed 9 pts (45%) with a del (5)(p14), 7 pts. (35%) a del (5)(p13), 3 pts. (15%) a del (5)(p15.1) and 1 pt. (5%) a del (5)(p15.2) in 20 pts with CdCs. 4(20%)pts were identified to have additional chromosome abnormalites of deficiency and duplication involving chromosomes of 6, 8, 18, & 22. Parental study identified 3 familial case (2 paternal and 1 maternal origin) showing parents being a balanced translocation carrier. And the comparison study of the deletion break points among these 20 pts. with their phenotype has showed the varying clinical pheno-types in the CdCs critical region. CONCLUSION: The characterization of 5p deletion including parental study may help to delineate the genotypephenotype correlation in CdCs. Also these molecular cytogenetic analyses will be able to offer better information for accurate genetic diagnosis in CdCs and further make possible useful genetic counseling in pts. and family.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Cri-du-Chat Syndrome* ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Cytogenetics ; Diagnosis ; Fluorescence ; Genetic Association Studies ; Genetic Counseling ; Humans ; Hypertelorism ; In Situ Hybridization ; Incidence ; Intellectual Disability ; Karyotype ; Live Birth ; Microcephaly ; Muscle Hypotonia ; Parents ; Phenotype

PURPOSE: Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) plays important roles in tumorigenesis such as proliferation, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, and chemoresistance. We examined the expression of AEG-1 in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Eighty-five samples were collected from patients with HCC who underwent surgery and were histopathologically confirmed to have HCC. Two independent pathologists, experienced in evaluating immunohistochemistry and blinded to the clinical outcomes of the patients, reviewed all samples. They determined AEG-1 expression semiquantitatively by assessing the percentage of positively stained immunoreactive cells and staining intensity. Clinicopathological data were analyzed in association with prognosis. RESULTS: The association was estimated by univariate and multivariate analyses with Cox regression. Tumor size (hazard ratio [HR], 2.285; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.175-4.447; P = 0.015), microvascular invasion (HR, 6.754; 95% CI, 1.631-27.965; P = 0.008), and AEG-1 expression (HR, 4.756; 95% CI, 1.697-13.329; P = 0.003) were independent prognostic factors for overall survival. Those for disease-free survival rate were tumor size (HR, 2.245; 95% CI, 1.282-3.933; P = 0.005) and AEG-1 expression (HR, 1.916; 95% CI, 1.035-3.545; P = 0.038). The cumulative 5-year survival and recurrence rates were 89.2% and 50.0% in the low-expressing group and 24.5% and 82.4% in the high-expressing group, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that AEG-1 overexpression could serve as a valuable prognostic marker in patients with HCC.
Astrocytes* ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence

The majority of patients who was presented as severe mitral regurgitation can be managed with medical treatment. However, some cases of severe and acute mitral regurgitation need to rapid surgical intervention like as primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction. In this case, a patient with acute and severe mitral regurgitation presented as accelerating shortness of breath and impending multi-organ perfusion failure was dramatically recovered by rapid echocardiographic diagnosis and emergency valve replacement operation.
Angioplasty ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Emergencies* ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency* ; Mitral Valve* ; Myocardial Infarction ; Perfusion*

OBJECTIVE: The biological rhythm is closely related to mood symptoms. The purpose of this study was to assess the differences in biological rhythms among subjects with mood disorder [bipolar I disorder (BD I), bipolar II disorder (BD II), major depressive disorder (MDD)] and healthy control subjects.METHODS: A total of 462 early-onset mood disorder subjects were recruited from nine hospitals. The controls subjects were recruited from the general population of South Korea. Subject groups and control subject were evaluated for the Korean language version of Biological Rhythms Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (K-BRIAN) at the initial evaluation.RESULTS: The mean K-BRIAN scores were 35.59 [standard deviation (SD)=13.37] for BD I, 43.05 (SD=11.85) for BD II, 43.55 (SD=12.22) for MDD, and 29.1 (SD=8.15) for the control group. In the case of mood disorders, biological rhythm disturbances were greater than that in the control group (p<0.05). A significant difference existed between BD I and BD II (BD I Bipolar Disorder ; Cohort Studies ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Korea ; Mood Disorders ; Neuropsychiatry ; Periodicity

The objective of this study was to investigate clinical and radiographic features and gender differences in Korean patients with adult-onset ankylosing spondylitis. Multicenter cross-sectional studies were conducted in the rheumatology clinics of 13 Korean tertiary referral hospitals. All patients had a confirmed diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis according to the modified New York criteria. Clinical, laboratory, and radiographic features were evaluated and disease activities were assessed using the Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index. Five hundred and five patients were recruited. The male to female ratio was 6.1:1. Average age at symptom onset was 25.4+/-8.9 yr and average disease duration was 9.6+/-6.8 yr. Males manifested symptoms at a significantly earlier age. HLA-B27 was more frequently positive in males. Hips were more commonly affected in males, and knees in females. When spinal mobility was measured using tragus-to-wall distance and the modified Schober's test, females had significantly better results. Radiographic spinal changes, including bamboo spine and syndesmophytes, were more common in males after adjustment of confounding factors. In conclusion, we observed significant gender differences in radiographic spinal involvement as well as other clinical manifestations among Korea patients with adult-onset ankylosing spondylitis. These findings may influence the timing of the diagnosis and the choice of treatment.
Adult ; Age of Onset ; *Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; HLA-B27 Antigen/diagnostic use ; Humans ; Joints/pathology ; Male ; Severity of Illness Index ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing/diagnosis/*pathology/*physiopathology/*radiography

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of lacidipine in reducing blood pressure (BP) and to determine its effect on endothelial function in mild-to-moderate hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective, multicenter, open-label, single-arm study, enrolling 290 patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension and type 2 DM. Patients were initially treated with 2 mg lacidipine orally once daily for 4 weeks, which was then increased as necessary every 4 weeks to a maximal dose of 6 mg daily. The primary endpoint was the mean change in systolic blood pressure (SBP) from baseline after 12 weeks of treatment. Secondary endpoints included mean changes in diastolic blood pressure (DBP), flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD), and serum concentrations of biochemical markers such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), monocyte chemo-attractant protein-1 (MCP-1), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). RESULTS: Lacidipine treatment significantly reduced SBP by -13.4+/-13.0 mmHg (p<0.001) and DBP by -6.2+/-9.3 mmHg (p<0.001). Lacidipine treatment did not improve endothelial-dependent vasodilatation, despite significantly improved nitroglycerin-induced, endothelial-independent vasodilatation. MCP-1 levels significantly decreased from 283.66+/-110.08 pg/mL to 257.83+/-100.23 pg/mL (p<0.001); whereas there were no significant changes in the levels of hs-CRP, MMP-9, or PAI-1. CONCLUSION: Twelve weeks of treatment with lacidipine was effective and well tolerated in mild-to-moderate hypertensive patients with type 2 DM. In spite of inducing a significant reduction in MCP-1 levels, lacidipine did not improve endothelial function.
Biomarkers ; Blood Pressure ; C-Reactive Protein ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Dihydropyridines ; Endothelium ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; Monocytes ; Plasminogen Activators ; Prospective Studies ; Vasodilation