Familial lichen planus is an uncommon disease, and there are 104 cases reported in the English literature. Several theories regarding the etiopathogenesis of lichen planus have been proposed. However, immunological mechanisms and genetic susceptibility have been emphasized the most. Several reports showed HLA analysis in lichen planus patients, and recently 2 cases have revealed an increased frequency of DR1 antigen in patients with lichen planus compared to a control group. We observed two brothers with typical skin lesions of lichen planus of almost simultaneous onset. We confirmed lichen planus by skin biopsies in both brothers and analyzed HLA typing. We also observed the occurrence of DR1 antigen in both of them.
Biopsy ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Histocompatibility Testing ; Humans ; Lichen Planus* ; Lichens* ; Siblings ; Skin

In Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO) including the syndromes of pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) and pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (PPHP), multiple areas of intracutaneous ossification are often encountered. The characteristic features are short stature, round face, short neck, obesity, cutaneous ossifications, and various skeletal anomalies including short metacarpal and metatarsal bones, curve of radius, and brachydactyly. The patient was a 10-month-old male infant. He presented slightly depressed erythematous hard plaques on the left upper chest and left thigh. We had taken biopsies from both skin lesions, confirming cutaneous ossification or bone formation. He also had the characteristic features of AHO. He had a history of admission due to patent ductus arteriosus and atrial septal defect. The laboratory results showed slightly decreased calcium, increased phosphorus and PTH levels. The patient received no specific corrective measures because his calcium and phosphorus levels were not far from normal values until newly developed similar skin lesions appeared.
Biopsy ; Brachydactyly ; Calcium ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Metatarsal Bones ; Neck ; Obesity ; Osteogenesis ; Phosphorus ; Pseudohypoparathyroidism* ; Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism ; Radius ; Reference Values ; Skin ; Thigh ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Alopecia* ; Hair* ; Humans ; Male* ; Tissue Expansion*

No abstract available.
Tretinoin*

Currently several modalities are available for performing intracorporeal lithotripsy including ultrasound, electrohydraulic and laser procedures. We report our initial clinical experience with a new and unique technology for performing intracorporeal lithotripsy, namely the Swiss Lithoclast. 35 patients were performed for removal of ureteral stone. This device successfully fragmented 31 of 35 ureteral calculi (89%). Complications of stone removal were gross hematuria (3 cases), high fever (2 cases). All complications were treated successfully with conservative management. In conclusion, we have found the ability of the Swiss Lithoclast to fragment stones safely and without significant complications.
Fever ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Lithotripsy ; Ultrasonography ; Ureter* ; Ureteral Calculi ; Urinary Calculi

No abstract available.
Humans ; Incidence* ; Radiculopathy* ; Shoulder Pain* ; Shoulder*

Purpose: To evaluate the effects and limitations of lacrimal endoscopy without silicone tube intubation in patients with epiphora. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 64 eyes in 49 patients who underwent lacrimal endoscopy between May 2021 and May 2022. The clinical characteristics, irrigation test results, lacrimal endoscopic findings, and type of surgery were analyzed. Results: The mean duration of symptoms was 31.2 months, and was significantly longer in the failure group than in the success group (p = 0.043). Irrigation tests showed passage, partial obstruction, and complete obstruction in 20 (31.3%), 16 (25.0%), and 28 (43.7%) eyes, respectively. Lacrimal endoscopy showed narrowing, mucus, fibrosis, granulation, and stones in 41 (64.0%), 12 (18.8%), 6 (9.3%), 3 (4.7%), and 2 (3.1%) eyes, respectively. Following lacrimal endoscopy, 32 (50.0%) eyes each were included in the success and failure groups. Preoperative irrigation test results did not affect the success rate (p = 0.203). Silicone tube intubation and dacryocystorhinostomy were performed in 5 (7.8%) and 8 (12.5%) eyes, respectively, because the symptoms did not improve after lacrimal endoscopy. Conclusions Lacrimal endoscopy, performed without silicone tube intubation, was effective in improving symptoms and may guide the choice of surgical technique, if required.

BACKGROUND: The present study is undertaken to acquire normative data of health-related physical fitness(HRPF) of Republic of Korea Air Force(ROKAF) aircrews and to provide norm-referenced standard of HRPF. METHODS: From 15 May 1998 through 14 December 1999, 1284 KAF pilots are checked muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body fat percentage. RESULTS: The grip strength was relatively maintained, but flexibility, back strength, and muscular endurance were declined according to promotion and aging. And the incidence of obesity determined by bioelectrical impedence analysis was higher than that assessed on the basis of height and weight. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that many pilots who were normal in BMI have abdominal or visceral obesity. Further studies must be made on the health promotion program for the pilots, on the changes in physical fitness, and on the criterion-referenced standard of HRPF of the pilots.
Adipose Tissue ; Aging ; Hand Strength ; Health Promotion ; Incidence ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Physical Fitness* ; Pliability ; Republic of Korea

PURPOSE: We performed experiments to investigate the change in cellular signaling that occurs during the transformation of a normal cell to a cell capable of cancerous growth, and we did so by using the NIH 3T3 cells that were transformed by transfection with the v-Ha-ras oncogene. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Parental and v-Ha-ras transfected NIH 3T3 cells were chosen as test systems. The siRNA transfections were performed using Lipofectamine 2000. The cell proliferation reagent WST-1 was used for the quantitative determination of cellular proliferation. Immunoblot analysis was performed using the ECL-Plus chemiluminescent system and a KODAK Image Station 4000R. RESULTS: The v-Ha-ras-transformed cells were found to be significantly more resistant to PP2 treatment, which is a potent inhibitor of the Src family tyrosine kinases, than were the parental cells at earlier times after treatment. However, PP2 induced growth arrest and the senescence-like phenotypes in both cell lines after longer treatment. Furthermore, the Raf-1 kinase of the v-Ha-ras-transformed cells was not affected by the expressed level of Sprouty proteins, which are negative regulators of the MAPK pathway, as evidenced by the failure of siRNA-mediated knockdown of Spry4 to activate Raf-1 kinase. Dephostatin (a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor) effectively inhibited the proliferation of the v-Ha-ras transformed cells, whereas dephostatin had only a small effect on the parental cells' proliferation. This implied an inhibitory role for tyrosine phosphatase that is specific to the signaling pathway in the v-Ha-ras transformed cells. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our results show that the sustained activation of the oncogenic pathways through their resistance to negative feedback regulation might contribute to the transformation of NIH 3T3 cells.
Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Genes, ras ; Humans ; Hydroquinones ; Lipids ; NIH 3T3 Cells ; Parents ; Phenotype ; Proteins ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf ; RNA, Small Interfering ; src-Family Kinases ; Transfection ; Tyrosine

BACKGROUND: Transforming growth factor (TGF)- has a large variety of biological functions, including the modulation of inflammation and the immune system, and is presumed to play important roles in repairing wounds and reducing scarring. The objective of this study is to examine the effects of TGF-1 on healing wounds and reducing scarring. We have also analysed the ability of the hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ) liposome mediated antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) to specifically inhibit wound-induced expressions of TGF-1 proteins and mRNA in the rat skin. METHODS: Skin wounds were created on the backs of 80 anesthetized rats. The first group of wounds, as the controls, was unmanipulated. The second group of wounds, as positive controls or an excessive scarring model, was injected with TGF-1 subcutaneously. The third group of wounds was injected with anti-TGF-1 antibody subcutaneously. The fourth group of wounds was injected with HVJ liposome mediated antisense ODNs for TGF-1 subcutaneously. The wounds of all groups were bisected and analysed histologically 5, 10, 15, 30, and 50 days after the wounds were made. RESULTS: All control wounds (TGF-1 or no injection) healed with scarring, whereas the wounds treated with the antibody or antisense ODNs healed with less scar formation compared to the control group. The wounds treated with the antibody or antisense ODNs had fewer macrophages, less collagen and fibronectin contents than the other wounds. Northern blotting and in situ hybridization analysis showed that wound sites treated with HVJ liposome mediated antisense ODNs for TGF-1 exhibited decreased levels of TGF-1 mRNA after injury. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest an important new approach to controlling scarring in normal wound healing, complementing the practice of adding exogenous growth factors to chronic wounds in the attempt to inhibit collagen deposition.
Animals ; Blotting, Northern ; Cicatrix* ; Collagen ; Complement System Proteins ; Fibronectins ; Genetic Therapy* ; Immune System ; In Situ Hybridization ; Inflammation ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Liposomes ; Macrophages ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides ; Oligoribonucleotides ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger ; Sendai virus ; Skin ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transforming Growth Factors ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries