BACKGROUND: The keratinocyte growth factor(KGF) is a recently identified mitogen for epithelial cells produced by nomal stromal fibroblasts. ln the skin, KGF has been shown to stimulate keratinocyte proliferation and differentiatian. Dendritic epidermal T cells(DETC) are skin-specific members of the epithelial y 8 T-cell family that reside normally in the murine epidermis. The DETCs recognize antigen expressed by damaged or diseased neighboring keratinoctyes and consequently secrete cytokines sueh as IFN- y, lL-2, IL-4, GM-CSF. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to observe the expression of KGF mRNA in keratinocyte and DETC as well as to investigate the cytokine-mediated intercellular communication between kerati- nocyte and DETC. METHODS: Using a RT-PCR(reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction), we examined the expression of KGF mRNA in keratinocyte and DETC, and compared the level of KGF mRNA between resting and activated DETC with Con-A (concanavalin A).
Cytokines ; Epidermis ; Epithelial Cells ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 7* ; Fibroblasts ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; Keratinocytes* ; RNA, Messenger* ; Skin ; T-Lymphocytes

Twenty-nail dystrophy is an idiopathic nail dystrophy in which all twenty nails are uniformly and simultaneously affected with excess longitudinal ridging and loss of lustre. The pathogenesis is controversial, and the treatment is unsuccessful. It is thought to have a self-limiting and reversible nature when it develops in childhood, but in adults, it is unusual and exists persistently. We re-port here two cases of adult patients with dystrophy of all twenty nails, whose ages were 58 and 55. The disease had been present for one year and may be associated with alopecia areata in the 58 year old and an idiopathic condition in the 55 year old. Negative results were obtained on mycological studies. Biopsies taken from the nail bed revealed marked hyperkeratosis consistent with nail dystrophy.
Adult ; Alopecia ; Alopecia Areata ; Biopsy ; Humans

We evaluated the relationship between the surgical success of idiopathic macular hole and sex, age, duration, epiretinal membrane, preoperative visual acuity, size of the hole, and surgical method. Of all 25 eyes in 23 patients, 14 eyes(56%)showed anatomical success(disappearance of the hole), and 17 eyes(68%)functional success(the final visual acuity of 0.15 or more with more than one line improvement). There were statistically significant differences of anatomical(p=0.001)and functional success(p=0.020)between the Group I where its macular hole was less than one-fourth of the optic disc in size and the other group, and anatomical success(p=0.039)between the group with the age of less than 70 years(Group A)and the other group. In Group I, anatomical and functional success were both 92%(11 eyes/12 eyes). In Group A, anatomical and functional success were 72%(13 eyes/18 eyes)and 77%(14 eyes/18 eyes), respectively, and there was statistically significant relationship between size of the hole and anatomical success(p=0.024), and difference of anatomical success between the group with duration of less than 6 months and the other group(p=0.023). Good surgical result may be expected in the idiopathic macular hole of the age of less than 70 years with about 350 micrometer or less in size and duration of less than 6 months.
Epiretinal Membrane ; Humans ; Retinal Perforations* ; Visual Acuity

A case of a 21-year old female with Maffucci's syndrome is presented where the patient developed multiple cutaneous spindle-cell hemangioendotheliomas. She had multiple pea to walnut sized, non-tender, normal skin colored or slight bluish nodules and bony mass-like lesions on the left upper extremity and hand. A histological examination of the lesions showed that they were composed of irregularly dilated, thin walled cavernous blood spaces containing phleboliths and collapsed vascular spaces separated by spindled fibroblastic cells. Radiologically, the bony lesions showed radiolucent densities with calcified spots within the second proximal phalanx and metacarpal bone of the left hand, which were consistent with enchondromas.
Chondroma ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; Hand ; Hemangioendothelioma* ; Humans ; Juglans ; Peas ; Skin Pigmentation ; Upper Extremity

We report a case of infantile digital fibromatosis in a 34 month-old boy, who presented with a painless subcutaneous tumor on the medial aspect of the left third toe. A histological examination showed scattered small, round eosinophilic inclusion bodies in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells, which was consistent with infantile digital fibromatosis. A'immunohistochemical study revealed that desmin, a-smooth muscle actin, and vimentin were clearly positive in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells, but the inclusions themselves showed negative staining, thus indicating a hollow-like staining pattern. Electron microscopy showed either well-defined or ill-demarcated dense bodies in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells. In some areas, small vesicles and intracellular organells were observed' in the inclusions. In the course of conservative treatment, a new lesion developed on the lateral aspect of the left third toe, seven months after the appearance of the initial lesion.
Actins ; Cytoplasm ; Desmin ; Eosinophils ; Fibroma* ; Humans ; Inclusion Bodies ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Negative Staining ; Toes ; Vimentin

No abstract available.
Bowen's Disease ; Fingers

We report a case of disseminated cutaneous metastatic carcinoma from stomach carcinoma in a 66-year-old male who complained chiefly of widespread cutaneous nodules. He had been admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine for stomach carcinoma. A radiological examination revealed a diffuse stomach wall thickening from the fundus to the antrum, and enlargement of paraaortic and pericaval lymph nodes during an abodominal CT scan. The clinical findings manifested above may suggest cutaneous metastasis from stomach carcinoma. A histological examination of the skin and stomach biopsies showed atypical cells with pleomorphic, hyperchromatic nuclei and bubble-like cytoplasm, which are consistent with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical stainings showed that these cells were positive for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and low molecular weight cytokeratin.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Cytoplasm ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Keratins ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Molecular Weight ; Mucin-1 ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Skin ; Stomach* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: The regular use of soaps and synthetic detergents has been associated with skin dryness and aggravation of dermatological conditions. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the irritancy of 10 hand dishwashing liquids on normal skin. METHODS: The skin changes, responding to repeat patch testing with 10 hand dishwashing liquids, were measured by visual scoring. RESULTS: The results are summarized as follows; 1. Of the 16 healthy volunteers 8 had reactions. 5 women and 3 men, but there was no significant difference in irritancy between men and women. 2. The mean irritancy scores of the 10 hand dishwashing liquids ranged from 0.06 to 0.88. 3. A prominent increase in the degree of erythema in the first 24 hour patch test did not persist beyond exposure day 5, but after day 5, augmented responses of the erythema and scales, even fissuring occurred. 4. The pH of the test solutions of the hand dishwashing liquids ranged from 5.0 to 6.0, but there appeared to be no correlation between pH and irritancy in the dishwashing liquids tested. CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that regular exposure to hand dishwashing liquids may cause disturbances of the skin in a substantial proportion of individuals, and workers should use hand dishwashing liquids in lower concentrations than recommended and only for short periods with protective measures.
Detergents ; Erythema ; Female ; Hand* ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Male ; Patch Tests ; Skin* ; Soaps ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the basal serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in the presence of normal serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) are useful as a prognostic indicator of ovarian response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). METHODS: From January 1997 to January 1999, 91 infertile women with tubal factor who had undergone in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were enrolled in the present study. COH was performed using long protocol of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist. All patients included in this study had blood samples drawn on cycle day 2 or 3 prior to COH for measurement of basal FSH and LH. Women who had other infertility factors or high basal FSH levels (> or = 8.5 mIU/ml) were excluded from this study. The results of COH and IVF-ET were compared between two groups according to the level of basal LH (low LH group [< 3mIU/ml] vs. control group [> or = 3mIU/ml]). RESULTS: Patient's characteristics were comparable in both groups except basal LH level. The number of ampules and duration of exogenous gonadotropins required were significantly higher in the low LH group than those in the control group (p<0.001; p<0.005, respectively). The number of follicles > or = 14mm diameter on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection was significantly less in the low LH group than that in the control group (p<0.001). The serum estradiol level on the day of hCG injection was also significantly lower in the low LH group, with 1115.5 +/- 380.9 pg/ml compared with 1340.6 +/- 403.0 pg/ml in the control group (p<0.005). There were significantly lower numbers in oocytes retrieved, oocytes fertilized and embryos frozen in the low LH group than those in the control group (< 0.001; < 0.001; <0.005, respectively). However, there was no difference in the fertilization rate between the two groups. The clinical pregnancy rate per cycle seemed to be lower in the low LH group, but the difference did not achieve significance (26.2% vs 39.7%). There were no differences in the miscarriage rate and multiple pregnancy rate between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the low basal LH levels ( < 3 mIU/ml) could be predictive of low ovarian response to COH and poor IVF results.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Embryo Transfer ; Embryonic Structures ; Estradiol ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Infertility ; Lutein* ; Luteinizing Hormone* ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pregnancy, Multiple

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare CO2 DSA and nonionic contrast media angiography in respect to the quality of the opacification of collaterals and incidence of side-effects in peripheral occlusive arterial disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients who were suspected to have peripheral occlusive arterial disease were performed angiography with nonionic contrast media and CO2 at the same location with the same catheter. The causes of the lesions were atherosclerosis(n=7) and Buerger's disease(n:9). CO2 DSA was compared with nonionic contrast media angiography in respect to the quality of image in the diagnosis of the lesions, opacifications of collaterals and side-effects. RESULTS: In atherosclerosis;quality of the images of CO2 DSA was same as that of nonionic contrast media angiography in 6 patients and was poor in 1 patient;opacifications of collaterals of CO2 DSA were same as that of nonionic contrast media angiography in 5 patients and was poor in 2 patients. In Buerger's disease;quality of the images of CO2 DSA was same as that of nonionic contrast media angiography in 2 patients and was poor in 7 patients;opacifications of collaterals of CO2 DSA were same as that of nonionic contrast media angiography in 1 patient and was poor in 8 patients. Leg pain was the only side-effect after CO2 injection occuring in 4 out of 16 patients. CONCLUSION: CO2 could be used as safe contrast media in patient with risk factors for nonionic contrast media and for diagnosis of the atherosclerosis in lower extremity. For the procedures such as vascular intervention reguiring large amount of contrast media CO2 could effectively replace nonionic contrast media.
Angiography* ; Atherosclerosis ; Catheters ; Contrast Media ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leg ; Lower Extremity* ; Risk Factors