There have been published manuscripts which fully suggest that there may be a topographic variance of contact sensitivity in experimental animals such as guinea pigs, hamsters and mice, probably due to a large extent to the topographic difference of Langerhans cell population and to a little extent to impact on the induction site. This assay was done to establish the possibility of involvement of a certain topographic variance in contact sensitivity reaction. Three different anatomical sites were chosen for the induction in three groups of five guinea pigs: the conventional site of the nuchal region, and the sacral aod. ahdominal skin regions. For the elicitation, two different concentrations of DNCB were applied on three sites along both sides of the spine in the back. The contact sensitivity reaction elicited by DNCB in the group of the nuchal abdominal skin induction was definitely stronger at the site closer to the nuchal region than that found at sites closer to the sacral regior. but all animals of the group sensitized on the sacral region showed comparatively uniform reaction. Zvidently, contact sensitivity reaction is influenced mainly by topographic variance hut shows a litte difference depending upon induction sites.
Animals ; Cricetinae ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Dinitrochlorobenzene ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Mice ; Sacrococcygeal Region ; Skin ; Spine

BACKGROUND: Desmosomes are adhesive intercellular junctions that form an important component of the junction complexes of epithelial cells. They provide intercellular links between the intermediate filament cytoskeletons of adjacent cells and are thus involved in maintaining the structural integrity of tissues. OBJECTIVE: Calcium and retinoids are major regulators of epidermal differentiation and their role on keratin proteins are well known. However, their effects on desmosome moleucles are unknown. To address this question we initiated a study of the effects of these epidermal differentiation regulators on desmosomal components, i.e., desmoplakin, desmoglein, and pemphigus antigens. METHODS: We used monoclonal antibodies against desmoplakin(DP) and desmoglein(DG), and sera from patients with pemphigus vulgaris(PV), pemphigus foliaceus(PF) and paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) to study the effects of calcium and retinoic acids, which are major regulators of epidermal differentation, on desmosomal protein formation in human cultured deratinocytes. We performed immunofluorescence, immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation study using human keratinocytes cultured in high calcium media with or without retinoic acid and in low calcium media with or without retinoic acid. RESULTS: 1. In low calcium (0.15mM) media, PV antigen and DG were produced in a small amount and it appeared that these desmosomal proteins were located in cytosol. Whereas in high calcium (1.8mM) media, production of these desmosomal proteins was increased not they were assembled at the desmosomal structures located in cell-cell contact margins. 2. PF antigen, which was identical to the DG, were not produced or expressed in cultured keratinocytes even when cultured in high calcium media. 3. PNP antigen and DP were produced in cultured keratinocytes grown in both high low calcium media but their production was increased in high calcium media and only in high calcium media they were assembled at the desmosomal structures. 4. Retinoic acids induced loosening of cell-cell contacts of cultured keratinocytes and decreased the production of desmosomal proteins. CONCLUSION: Our results suggests calcium is a major regulator of the production and assembly of desmosomal proteins including pemphigus antigens, but PF sera and monoclonal antibodies against DG show different antigen binding characteristics. It appears that retinoic acids inhibit production of desmosomal proteins.
Adhesives ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Calcium* ; Cytoskeleton ; Cytosol ; Desmogleins ; Desmoplakins ; Desmosomes* ; Epithelial Cells ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoprecipitation ; Intercellular Junctions ; Intermediate Filaments ; Keratinocytes ; Pemphigus ; Retinoids ; Tretinoin*

No abstract available.
Classification*

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Knee* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

In case of the large bone defect due to severe varus or valgus deformity in total knee replacement, there are many different methods for reconstruction of the bone defect for insertion of the tibial component after resection of the proximal tibia. Total knee replacement using the autogenous bone graft were performed in 27 knees (18 patients) with tibial bone defect. Authors report the methods and results with an average 23 months follow-up. We used the bone removed from distal femur and calculated the size of the proximal tibia. We used the screws, if necessary, for rigid fixation of the grafted bone. l. According to the type of bone defect, central defect type were 3 knees, peripheral defect type were 13 knees and combined type were 11 knees. 2. In A-P view of x-ray, the size of bone defect of the tibial plateau ranged 5mm to 25mm (average 11.1mm) in height. 3. Screws were used for fixation of grafted bone in 14 knees and the average size of the screws was 27.8mm. 4. Bony union of the grafted bone achieved from 3 months to 12 months (average 5.7months). 5. Average knee ROM was 105 degrees and improved post-operatively 121 degrees, and average flexion contracture was 22.4 degrees and improved post-operatively 7.5 degrees. 6. Post-operative tibiofemoral angle was average 7.5 degrees valgus. 7. Average knee rating score was 54.5 and improved post-operatively 89.2. 8. The comlication of bone graft was partial resorption in 1 case and the loosening or displacement due to screw were abscent.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Knee ; Tibia ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Palate, Hard* ; Salivary Ducts* ; Salivary Glands, Minor*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Mothers*

Quality control survey was done on the plasma triglyceride determination of six laboratories and following results were obtained. 1) Coefficients of variation were less than 5% in 3 laboratories and over 10% in one laboratory. 2) High interlaboratory variation was inferred from the mean values ranging from 104.0~136. 4mg% (sample A) with enzyme method and 44.7~65.3 (Sample B) with acetylaceton method. 3) Establishment of normal plasma triglyceride level in Koreans and supervised quality control by the authority seemed to be urgent.
Plasma ; Quality Control ; Triglycerides*

BACKGROUND: Institutionalized subjects were assumedly suggested to be a high-risk for the infectious source of syphilis. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to study the syphilis prevalence institutionalized subjects who were admitted in Taegu Hope Village for the poor or crippled and to evaluate the presence of neurosyphilis among them. MEHTODS: We conducted the serologic tests for syphilis with the qalitative and quantative VDRL and TPHA tests in 1558 subjects(M:936, F:622). The trend of the rcactive rate was compared with those of the two studies dong, in the same institute in 1983-1985 and 1988. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination was perfarmed among the reactive subjects. RESULTS: There were 97(6.2%) reactive subjects. There were 80(82.5%) reactive subjects with titers of 1:4 or below and 17(17.5%) with titers of 1:8 or over The biologic false positive rate of VDRL test was 12.6%, showing 92.3% with the titer below 1:4. The reatest number of the subjects were in their 40s and 50s in both sexes. The rate in subjects in their 40s or over was 3 times higher than in the younger groups. The CSF examination showed 5(5.2%) with significant neurosyphili;ic findings. There were 1 male and 4 females, with an avechge age of 47.8 years. Four had asymplomatic and 1 meningovascular forms. The CSF findings revealed an increased number of white cells in 4 and an increased total protein level in 3. The CSF-VE)RL titers were trended lower than seum titers. From the comparison of the results since 1983, i.e., 11,6% in 1983-1985, 7.5% in 1988 and 6.2 % in 1992, the reactive rate of syphilis was gradually decreasing, but still remained high. CONCLUSION: The drastic control in the sociomedical aspect is needed n institutionalized subjects who are at high-risk for syphilis was well as the CSF examination for the presence of neurosyphilis among the reactive subjects.
Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Daegu ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Female ; Hope ; Humans ; Male ; Neurosyphilis ; Prevalence* ; Serologic Tests ; Syphilis*

No abstract available.
Humans