Experimental findings have suggested that the metabolic activities of articular cartilage can be influenced by mechanical stimuli. Our recent mathematical analysis predicted that cyclic compressive loading may create periods of intermittent negative hydrostatic pressure within the cartilage extracellular matrix. Therefore, we hypothesize that intermittent negative hydrostatic pressure, created in the cartilage extracellular matrix during dynamic compression, has a stimulative effect on the biosynthesis of chondrocytes. In order to test this hypothesis, the present study developed a custom designed negative pressure generator to subject a monolayer culture of chondrocytes to an intermittent negative pressure. It was found that the intermittent negative pressure produced a 40% increase in proteoglycan and a l7% increase in non-collagenous protein synthesis during the pressurization period(p (0.05). The collagenous protein synthesis was not affected by the intermittent negative pressure regimen used in this study. After the intermittent negative pressurization, the metabolic activities of the chondrocytes returned to normal(control level). The intermittent negative pressure also produced an increase in the mRNA signals for aggrecan. Therefore, we conclude that intermittent negative pressure may be one of the major mechanical stimulators of chondrocytes in articular cartilage during dynamic compression.
Aggrecans ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular ; Chondrocytes* ; Collagen ; Extracellular Matrix ; Hydrostatic Pressure* ; Metabolism* ; Proteoglycans ; RNA, Messenger

BACKGROUND: Many physiologic, pharmacologic and immunologic abnormalities were reported in atopic dermatitis but the cause and pathogenesis of the disease remain obscure. OBJECTIVE: This study was done to investigate the systemic immunologic abnormalities in atopic dermatitis. METHOD: To evaluate the cell mediated immunity, me quantified pei ipheral blood T lymphocytes and their subsets, using flow cytometery, and assessed plasma neopteiin levels by means of radioimmunoassay. To evaluate the abnormal humoral immunity, we assessed the serum IgE levels by means of enzyme-immunoassay. RESULTS: Mean proportions of peripheral blood T lymphocytes and, heir subsets in atopic Dermatitis patients were within normal limits. Hut the suppvessor/cytotoxic T lyrphocytes(T8) were significantly decreased in the group of se"ere atopic dermatitis compared with the group of mild atopic dermatitis(P<0.05). Plasma neopterin lervels in the group of atopic dermatitis were found to be significantly elevated as compared vith the control group(P<0.01), but no significant cifference was found between the mild and severe group of atcpic dermatitis(P>0.05). Mean serum IgE levels in the patients with atopic dermatitis were higher than reference value. But there was no significant difference between the mild and severe atopic dermatitis group. Serum IgE levels ivere negatiiely correlated with T8(r=-0.3774, P<0.05) and positively with T4/T8 ratio(r =0.5007, P<0.05). Conclusions : These data;uggest that the atopic der matitis has abr ormalities in cell mediated immunity as well as elevated IgE level.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunoglobulin E ; Neopterin* ; Plasma* ; Radioimmunoassay ; Reference Values ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets* ; T-Lymphocytes

We report a case of cutaneous sarcoidosis which occurred in a 32-year-old female who had, in addition to some cutaneous nodules, recently developed an acute spontaneous erythematous area of induration in old scars on her forehead and lower lip. Histopathologic findings revealed well-demarcated islands of epitheloid cells with a few giant, cells. In addition, slight admixture of lyrnphoid cells with present. at the margins of the epitheloid cell granulomas. Complete regression of the skin lesions was obtained with systemic steroid therapy without recurrence for some 8 months.
Adult ; Cicatrix ; Female ; Forehead ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Islands ; Lip ; Recurrence ; Sarcoidosis* ; Skin

No abstract available.
Granular Cell Tumor*

We report two cases of proliferating trichilemmal cyst in a 61-ear-old woman and a 44-year-old woman who had a solitary tumor, on the left temporal area of the scalp and right flank, respectively. Histologically, the tumors were localized in the dermis and corisised of multilobulated cysts. The cyst walls were composed of liquamous epithelium showing trichilemmhl keratinization. Some of the cells had clear cytoplasm and were positive on PAS staining. Individiial cell keratinization, mild nuclear atypia were also found in the cyst walls. For the treatment, surgical excision was performed with sufficiert margin.
Adult ; Cytoplasm ; Dermis ; Epithelium ; Female ; Humans ; Scalp

We report a case of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Exophiala(E,) jeanselmei in a 66-year-old female, who showed a mild tender, 4.5x3.5cm sized, erythematous cystic mass with satellite lesions on the left forearm for 4 months. Histopathologically, suppurative granulomatous inflammation, brownish conidia in a chain and hyphae were observed. Fungal culture grew out the typical black-gray velvety colonies of E. jeanselmei after 2 weeks. The isolate grow well at 25 C, but very poorly at 37 C. No growth could be observed at 40 C. Sporulation adequate for evaluation was present on the malt extract agar. We confirmed E. jeanselmei by colony and microscopic morphology, temperature tolerance and sugar assimilation tests. The patient had been treated with itraconazole for 6 momths. Complete remission was observed.
Agar ; Aged ; Exophiala* ; Female ; Forearm ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Inflammation ; Itraconazole ; Phaeohyphomycosis* ; Spores, Fungal

PURPOSE: Ganglioglioma is a rare primary brain tumor usually found in the temporal lobe. The purpose of thisstudy is to describe the characteristic MR findings of temporal lobe ganglioglioma. MATERILA AND METHODS: Over aseven-year period, ten patients with cerebral ganglioglioma were evaluated at our institution. Seven cases oftemporal lobe ganglioma were found ; six of these involved men, and one, a woman ; their mean age was 29.6 years.In three patients, Gd-DTPA-enhanced T1 weighted images were also obtained. We retrospectively analysed the MRIfindings with respect to location, size, cortical involvement, margin, cystic change, degree of enhancement, MRsignal intensity, calcification and peritumoral change. RESULTS: In five cases, tumors were located within thetemporal lobe. In one, a tumor extended from the temporal lobe to the thalamus, and in one from the temporal lobeto the thalamus and cerebral peduncle. All temporal gangliogliomas measured 1.6-3.8cm in their greatestdiameter(mean diameter, 2.7cm). In all cases, the cortices were involved with the maintenance of gyriform. Thetumor margin was ill defined in five cases and well defined in two. Tumors showed multiple small cystic changes infour cases, a large cyst in two, and a solid nodule in one. In three cases in which contrast media wasadministered, no lesions were enhanced. On T1-weighted images, iso-signal intensities were seen in five cases andhigh signal intensities in two. On T2-weighted images, the corresponding figures were five and two. On MRI, tumorcalcification and calvarial erosion were each detected in two cases. CONCLUSION: In patients with temporal lobeepilepsy in whom cortical solid or cystic and poorly enhanced lesions were seen on brain MRI, and in whomaccociated findings such as calcification and or adjacent bony erosion were noted, ganglioglioma must beconsidered.
Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Contrast Media ; Female ; Ganglioglioma* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Tegmentum Mesencephali ; Temporal Lobe* ; Thalamus

No abstract available.
Adrenal Glands* ; Ganglioneuroma* ; Hyperplasia*

BACKGROUND: We performed a prospective, randomized, and controlled trial to evaluate the effect of an intravenous fentanyl and propofol on the variation in BIS level associated tracheal suction. METHODS: Thirty ICU patients intubated or tracheostomized were randomly allocated to control and experimental groups. Control group was received saline and experimental groups were received propofol with or without fentanyl intravenously prior to tracheal suction. And then we monitored BIS index, blood pressure, heart rate and SpO2 before, during and after tracheal suction. RESULTS: BIS index was significantly lower in propofol plus fentanyl group than others during experiment (P < 0.05). Heart rate and blood pressure in propofol plus fentanyl group also less increased than those in control or propofol group during tracheal suction (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that co-administration of propofol and fentanyl has more effective than propofol alone in sedation and analgesia of ICU patients during tracheal suction.
Analgesia ; Blood Pressure ; Fentanyl* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Propofol* ; Prospective Studies ; Suction*

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the urodynamic characteristics of refractory enuresis and explored whether those characteristics can be managed through differential endoscopic injections with botulinum toxin. Methods: In total, 27 patients with nonmonosymptomatic enuresis who showed no response after conservative treatment for more than 12 months were included. The patients then underwent a videourodynamic study and received a differential endoscopic injection of botulinum toxin on the same day. Reduced capacity, detrusor overactivity, and bladder neck widening were the 3 major abnormal findings assessed during the filling phase, while sphincter hyperactivity was the only abnormality assessed during the emptying phase. An intravesical or intrasphincteric injection of botulinum toxin was attempted according to the videourodynamic study findings. Follow-up was conducted at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. Results: The median age was 10 years (range, 7–31 years). Although 19 and 8 patients had a preoperative diagnosis of overactive bladder or dysfunctional voiding, respectively, the urodynamic diagnosis was different in more than half of the patients. Those showing detrusor overactivity benefited from intravesical botulinum toxin injection, whereas those with only sphincter hyperactivity benefited from both intravesical and intrasphincteric injections. Treatment resistance to botulinum toxin seemed to be attributable to bladder neck widening. Time had no apparent effect on efficacy, which persisted 6 months after the injection. More than 80% of the patients maintained the benefits of the injection after 1 year. Conclusions Videourodynamic studies were useful for identifying the reasons underlying refractory nonmonosymptomatic enuresis and helpful for determining the appropriate site of botulinum toxin injection.