PURPOSE: TGF-beta is a key regulator of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Among the TGF-beta responses, cell migration is closely associated with the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Therefore, we determined which MMPs are regulated by TGF-beta and examined the TGF-beta signaling involved in this event, focusing on Src family tyrosine kinases (SFKs) METHODS: First we examined the expression of MMPs in rat lens explant culture treated with TGF-beta and LECs attached to the anterior capsules of patients with nuclear (N), anterior polar (AP) cataracts using RT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining. It was examined whether the expression of MMPs is regulated by SFKs. RESULTS: The study using RT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining showed the expression of MMP-2 and -14 in explants and the expression of MMP-14 LECs of AP cataracts. The expression of MMP-2 and -14 was blocked by PP2 in explants. Furthermore, the activated form of SFKs was observed in LECs of AP cataracts by immunofluorescence staining. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest a novel role of SFKs signaling in the expression of MMP-14 induced by TGF-beta.
Animals ; Capsules ; Cataract ; Cell Movement ; Epithelial Cells* ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Rats ; src-Family Kinases ; Transforming Growth Factor beta*

Injuries and pains of musculoskeletal joint in human body is common onset in industrialized world. However, muscle fatigue plays a very significant role in contributing causes of many pains associated with musculoskeletal joints. Based on this hypothesis, degree of muscle fatigue was investigated using electromyography measurement technique during isometric and concentric/eccentric muscle contractions. Different response of the muscle fatigue between two different muscle contractions (isometric and concentric/eccentric contractions) was examined by comparison of parameters which were median frequency, median power and RMS value. Healthy 16 young persons without previous musculoskeletal diesease history were tested with Noraxon Myosystem 2000 EMG measurement system. In this study, two different exercises were performed. First exercise was concentric/eccentric exercise. Second exercise was isometric muscle contraction. In the case of the isometric exercise, median frequency was decreased, but median power and RMS were increased. However, during the concentric/eccentric exercse, median frequency was increased, but median power and RMS were decreased. Both of those revealed that the pattern of the median frequency was W type, but median power and RMS were M type as time passed. In this study, the patterns of the muscle fatigue during concentric/eccentric exercise as well as isometric exercise were identified. It will be helpful to prevent musculoskeletal injury from over-working andexercising.
Electromyography* ; Exercise ; Human Body ; Humans ; Joints ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle Fatigue*

Actinic reticuloid as a manifestation of chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD) is a rare dermatosis whose clinical and histologic features resemble other types of pseudolymphomas including mycosis fungoides and Jessner's lymphocytic infiltration, and it is regarded as an eventual stage of various photodermatoses like photosensitive eczema or persistent light reaction or chronic photoallergic contact dermatitis and so on. Phototests in the patients with actinic reticuloid usually reveal hypersensitivity to UVB, UVA, and sometimes to visible light. We present a case of actinic reticuloid in a 65-year-old male, whose skin lesions developed as erythematous lichenified infiltrating plaques on the face at first, and then spread themselves onto the upper trunk later. Histologically those skin lesions showed the aggregation of atypical lymphocytes and photobiologically the results of phototests revealed photosensitivity to UVB and UVA.
Actins* ; Aged ; Dermatitis, Photoallergic ; Eczema ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Light ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Mycosis Fungoides ; Photosensitivity Disorders ; Pseudolymphoma ; Skin ; Skin Diseases

No abstract available.
Tibia*

No abstract available.
DNA* ; Plasmids* ; Restriction Mapping* ; Yersinia enterocolitica* ; Yersinia*

Excess hair growth in unwanted areas may result from heredity, endocrine disease, or drug therapy. Conventional methods of hair removal include shaving, wax epilation and chemical depilatories that frequently cause side effects such as contact dermatitis and that also have temporary effects. Electrolysis is a well-established medical method for permanent destruction of terminal hair follicles. However, this method is tedious and efficacy has been reported to range from 15-to-50% permanent hair loss. The evolution of the laser use for hair removal continues a year after Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the first laser for these applications. The authors have experienced hair removal utilizing a long-pulsed alexandrite laser. This laser system employs the principle of thermokinetic selectivity, a revolutionary concept. The principle of thermokinetic selectivity involves the use of lasers with pulse durations below the thermal relaxation on a the large target such as the hair folllicle (40-100 msec), and significantly longer than the thermal relaxation time of smaller structures of the same chromophore (melanin) in epidermis (3-10 msec). The study was based on 76 patients treated with 20 msec pulse duration laser set to energy densities of 17-21 J/cm2. Treated areas included arms, legs, beard-chin, upper lips and bikini lines. Gross observation showed leaching of hair color, decresed size of the skin pores, easily broken hair shafts, and elimination of hair. Therefore, it can be assumed that the majority of hair follicles were destroyed by this procedure, Side effects included intermediary risk of hyperpigmentation and blister. Over 80% of treated patients were satisfied with the results. As the process of research and clinical application continues, we need the long-term results of this laser system to ensure its efficacy.
Arm ; Blister ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Drug Therapy ; Electrolysis ; Endocrine System Diseases ; Epidermis ; Hair Color ; Hair Follicle ; Hair Removal ; Hair* ; Heredity ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Lasers, Solid-State* ; Leg ; Lip ; Relaxation ; Skin ; United States Food and Drug Administration

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency, epidemiology and the clinical manifestation of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection in Korean children. METHODS: From February 2010 to January 2012, we collected nasopharyngeal aspiration from 1,554 children who were hospitalized for acute lower respiratory tract infections at the Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital. hMPV was detected by performing reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The medical records of the patients with positive results were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: We detected hMPV in 99 of the 1,554 hospitalized children. The mean age of the hMPV infected children was 25 months, and 87% of the illnesses occurred between April and June. The most common diagnoses were pneumonia (73%) and bronchiolitis (16%). The clinical manifestations included cough, fever, respiratory distress, hoarseness, tachypnea, and wheezing. Coinfection with other respiratory viruses was found in 43 children (43%). CONCLUSION: hMPV is one of the major virus causing acute respiratory tract infection in the age between 13 months and 48 months old with peaks during April to June. Reports of hMPV in Korea has been increasing but additional studies are required to define the epidemiology and the extent of disease caused by hMPV to determine future development of this illness in Korean children.
Bronchiolitis ; Child ; Child, Hospitalized ; Coinfection ; Cough ; Fever ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Metapneumovirus ; Pediatrics ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory Sounds ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Retrospective Studies ; Tachypnea ; Viruses

No abstract available.
Hyperoxaluria, Primary* ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Kidney*

No abstract available.
Multiple Organ Failure* ; Sepsis*

No abstract available.
Spinal Fractures*