No abstract available.
Conjunctiva* ; Melanoma*

Reconstruction of a injured digit needs good aesthetic result as well as functional recovery. Since Honda deported the first clinical application in 1984, the venous flap has been used increasingly for skin and soft tissue defects of the fingers and hands. From november 1992 to december 1995, 12 single-pedicled venous island flaps from hand dorsum were used for coverage of soft tissue defects of fingers over exposed bone, tendon, or joint. The pedicle of the flap included one superfitial dorsal vein of hand and its perivenous areolar tissue. Eight of twelve flaps survived completely and four necrosed partially possibly due to excessively long pedicle and poor perivenous areolar tissue. All donor sites were closed directly. Most patients were satisfied with postoperative result cosmetically and functionally. This method has several advantages : easy versatility and operability with superficial location of numerous dorsal vein, making good contour owing to proper thickness of flap, minimal donor site morbidity, and short operation time. We consider that the pedicled venous island flap is another reliable and useful method for reconstruction or finger defects as long as the pedicle length is not long and the perivenous areolar tissue is enough.
Fingers* ; Hand ; Humans ; Joints ; Skin ; Surgical Flaps ; Tendons ; Tissue Donors ; Veins

BACKGROUND: Cyclosporin A (CsA), a potent immunosuppressant, has been reported to be effective in the treatment of severe atopic dermatitis (AD). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and side-effects of CsA in Korean patients with severe AD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 16 patients with recalcitrant AD took CsA for at least 6 weeks. Among them, 11 patients were followed up for more than 16 weeks. Initial dose was 5mg/kg/day (maximum 300 mg/day) and the dose was reduced according to their therapeutic responses. SCORAD (Scoring AD) was used to evaluate clinical efficacy of CsA. During the 1st month of therapy, the therapeutic efficacy and side-effects were evaluated every 2weeks and after 1 month, every month. We checked blood pressure and laboratory abnormalities including liver function test, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr) and urinalysis at each visit in addition to observing clinical adverse effects. RESULTS: Significant reduction of SCORAD was noted in 15 patients after 6 weeks of CsA therapy. Only one patient stopped CsA therapy because of the elevation of blood pressure. Three patients showed albuminuria, which disappeared after CsA dose reduction. CONCLUSION: CsA can be used effectively and safely in severe Korean AD patients. Albuminuria seems to be a peculiar side-effect in Korean patients.
Albuminuria ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Creatinine ; Cyclosporine* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; Liver Function Tests ; Urinalysis

We developed an animal model to recreate the condition of an open fracture in communication with the maxillary sinus. We then studied wound healing of the sinus wall structures following fracture in the presence of autogenous bone and alloplastic implant. This model is designed to simulate the repair of an orbital floor fracture in humans. The New Zealand White rabbit was used as the animal model. Standardized 8mm defects were made bilaterally in the maxillary sinuses to include bone and mucosa in 36 rabbits. Two different implants and autogenous calvarial bone graft were placed in the soft-tissue pockets to obturate the defects, exposing one surface of the implant to the open sinus. Medpor porous polyethylene, silicone and calvarial bone implant were compared. Animals were killed at 1, 2 and 8 weeks after implantation. Gross examination of the specimens for the amount of mucosal closure and implant tissue fixation was performed. Histological sections were evaluated for bone and soft-tissue morphology juxtaposed to the implant. Complete closure of the mucosal defect was demonstrated with each type of implant. Medpor implants showed both vascular and soft-tissue ingrowth into pores by week 1. Bone ingrowth was seen by week 2. Closure of the Medpor obturated defects occurred more rapidly than in the silicone group. The Medpor implants and calvarial bone demonstrated bone and soft-tissue fixation, callus formation and maturation, while mature overlying mucosa was reconstituted over the defects. Silicone implants demonstrated a fibrous tissue reaction within 1 week of implantation and they never became fixed to bone or soft tissue. Maxillary sinus wall regeneration occurred in all defects. This study supports clinical observations of maxillary sinus wall regeneration in humans.
Animals ; Bony Callus ; Fractures, Open ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; Models, Animal ; Mucous Membrane ; New Zealand ; Orbit ; Polyethylene ; Rabbits ; Regeneration ; Silicones ; Tissue Fixation ; Transplants ; Wound Healing

BACKGROUND: Pruritus, which is a frequent accompanying symptom of dermatological diseases, is also common during pregnancy, either localized or generalized. It may be related to specific dermatoses of pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: A clinical study was performed to know the exact nature of pruritus in pregnancy. METHODS: Subjects with systemic diseases, or laboratory abnormalities were excluded. People who have had pruritic dermatologic diseases before pregnancy were also excluded. One hundred and fifty five pregnant women were interviewed with physical examinations and followed up to the date of delivery. Pruritus was graded. RESULTS: Pruritus was present in 31.6%. Most affected subjects had mild or moderate severity. The abdomen was the most common site. There was a tendency for the duration of itching to increase with the duration of pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Conclusion: These findings may provide basic and useful data on pruritus during pregnancy.
Abdomen ; Clinical Study* ; Female ; Humans ; Physical Examination ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Pruritus* ; Skin Diseases

BACKGROUND: Hydration, the water content of the stratum corneum, is an important factor in both the appearance and the barrier function of the skin. Many non-invasive methods have been developed in order to assesa the hydration state of the skin and the effect of various moisturizers. The hydrometer and carneometer are commercially available instruments which are widely used in dermatologic research. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare the measuring usefulnes of both instruments on normal subjects with a wide range of hydration states of the hornylayer. METHODS: We measured the conductance with the hydrometer and the capacitance with the corneometer in various hydrating eonditions and compared both insruments. RESULTS: Conductance had a non linear correlation with capacita ice. Capacitance measured with the corneometer had a high sensitivity to moisture in a wide range of hydration levels. On the other hand, conductance guaged with the hydrometer showed a few sensitivity to moisture at a low level. When the hydretion level was measured after a moiturizer was added, 10 % urea cream showed a sharp increase by 256% in terms of conductanae, and H-base by 97.8%. Mineral oil decreased by 41.5% and petrolatum by 62% respectively. On the other hand, when measured in terms of capacitance under the same conditions as above, 38.9 increase in 10% urea cream, 19.3% increase in H-base, 20% decrease in mineral oil, and 43.5 % decrease in petrolatum were reported. Conductance showed a higher hygroscopicity and a lower water holding capacity than capacitance did. When the measurement of the moisture level iri virious parts of the human body is performed, the corneometer provided us with more stable alies than the hydrometer. While the hydrometer can not the available and appropriate under the condition of insulation, the corneometer can measure moisture levels even down at the depth of 250mm. When measured after the oily surface of the forehead was cleansed with soft tissue, conductance and capacitance revealed higher values of moisture levels than before the eleanin. However, there is no statistical significance in these values. CONCLUSION: The hydrometer is a more appropriate tool for the measurement of moisture at a high level, and the corneometer at a low moisture level. The hydrcmeter is a more sensitive method of measuring the increase and the decrease in the moisture level.
Forehead ; Hand ; Human Body ; Ice ; Lasers, Gas ; Mineral Oil ; Petrolatum ; Skin* ; Urea ; Water ; Wettability

BACKGROUND: Hydration, the water content of the stratum corneum, is an important factor in both the appearance and the barrier function of the skin. Many non-invasive methods have been developed in order to assesa the hydration state of the skin and the effect of various moisturizers. The hydrometer and carneometer are commercially available instruments which are widely used in dermatologic research. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare the measuring usefulnes of both instruments on normal subjects with a wide range of hydration states of the hornylayer. METHODS: We measured the conductance with the hydrometer and the capacitance with the corneometer in various hydrating eonditions and compared both insruments. RESULTS: Conductance had a non linear correlation with capacita ice. Capacitance measured with the corneometer had a high sensitivity to moisture in a wide range of hydration levels. On the other hand, conductance guaged with the hydrometer showed a few sensitivity to moisture at a low level. When the hydretion level was measured after a moiturizer was added, 10 % urea cream showed a sharp increase by 256% in terms of conductanae, and H-base by 97.8%. Mineral oil decreased by 41.5% and petrolatum by 62% respectively. On the other hand, when measured in terms of capacitance under the same conditions as above, 38.9 increase in 10% urea cream, 19.3% increase in H-base, 20% decrease in mineral oil, and 43.5 % decrease in petrolatum were reported. Conductance showed a higher hygroscopicity and a lower water holding capacity than capacitance did. When the measurement of the moisture level iri virious parts of the human body is performed, the corneometer provided us with more stable alies than the hydrometer. While the hydrometer can not the available and appropriate under the condition of insulation, the corneometer can measure moisture levels even down at the depth of 250mm. When measured after the oily surface of the forehead was cleansed with soft tissue, conductance and capacitance revealed higher values of moisture levels than before the eleanin. However, there is no statistical significance in these values. CONCLUSION: The hydrometer is a more appropriate tool for the measurement of moisture at a high level, and the corneometer at a low moisture level. The hydrcmeter is a more sensitive method of measuring the increase and the decrease in the moisture level.
Forehead ; Hand ; Human Body ; Ice ; Lasers, Gas ; Mineral Oil ; Petrolatum ; Skin* ; Urea ; Water ; Wettability

No abstract available.
Ear* ; Replantation*

This experiment was aimed to investigate the contractile responses of the fermoral artery to the electrical stimulation and the inhibitory effects of verapamil and papaverine on the electrical stimulation of the fermoral artery in the control (n=46) and the diabetic rabbits(n=40). Diabetic rabbits were made by and administration of alloxan (100 mg/kg) intravenously and sacrified 8 weeks later. Femoral arterial rings 3 mm in length were taken and mounted on the force-displacement transducer for the measurements of isometric tension. All experiments were done in the aerated (95% O2 with 5% CO2)biological chamber filled with Kreb's solution and the initial tension of 1.5g was applied to the rings. After 1 hour of equilibrium of the rings, the contractile responses of the electrical stimulation on the femoral arterial rings were taken without vasoactive drugs and then, under verapamil and papaverine solution. And we compared the morphologic findings of the vessels in the two groups in relation to the functional changes by transmission electron miroscopy. The results are as follows: 1. The contractile responses in the presence of verapamil or papaverine solutions to the electrical stimulation were lowed significantly in the fermoral arterial rings of the diabetic rabbits compared with that of the control rabbits (verapamil; 10M~10M: p<0.01, papaverine; 10M & 10M: p<0.01). 2. Transmission electron microphotographs showed many morphological differences of the femoral arteries between the control and the diabetic rabbits. These were irregularities of the internal elastic lamina and the hypertrophy of the cytoplasms of the smooth muscle cells. And also, there were many vacuoles in the cytoplasm of the endothelial cells, lateral to the internal elastic laminaes, and between the smooth muscle cells in the diabetic rabbit femoral artery. By this study, we found that the contractile responses of the femoral arterial rings to the electrical stimulation were decreased in the diabetic rabbits, and the vasodiatory effects of verapamil and papaverine on the electrically stimulated femoral arterial rings were also lowered in the diabetic rabbits compared with the control rabbits. These changes of the vasular responses of the diabetic vessel may be associated with morphological changes manifested by transmission electron microscopy or any other functional derangement of the vessels.
Alloxan ; Arteries ; Cytoplasm ; Electric Stimulation* ; Endothelial Cells ; Femoral Artery ; Hypertrophy ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Papaverine ; Rabbits ; Transducers ; Vacuoles ; Vasodilator Agents* ; Verapamil

No abstract available.
Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule*