Adhesion formed between tendon and its sheath after repair often impairs functional recovery. There have been many attempts to reduce adhesion around a repaired tendon, but most results have been unsatisfactory or impractical in clinical application. Moreover, most attempts were focused on extrinsic tendon healing. whereas studies on the intrinsic tendon healing are sacrce in the literature. We have previously reported that fibrotic tendon adhesion after repair was decreased by decorin, a natural inhibitor of TGF-beta. Accordingly, the serial tensile strength was measured after complete tensection and repair of the tendon severance in order to confirm the effect of decorin inhibition of intrinsic healing capability. Forty White Leghorn chickens were subject to complete transection and repair of the third toe flexor digitorum profundus tendon in Zone II. In the experimental group, 0.5ml of diluted decorin(50microgram/ml) was injected around the repaired site, and the same volume of saline solution in the control group. Tendons were harvested at 1, 3, 5 and 7 weeks. The disrupting force of the repair site was analyzed using tensiometry(LLOYD LR 30K, U.K). The tensile strength of repaired tendon was similar in both groups for all postoperative periods. This indicates that intrinsic healing proceeds normally within the decorin group in spite of the blockade of TGF-betaactivity. Decorin, a natural inhibitor of TGF-beta, showed a significant inhibitory effect on reducing post-repair tendon adhesions, without disruption of intrinsic healing in the chicken flexor tendon injury model. Therefore, decorin is expected to be a useful agent for preventnion on tendon adhesion after the repair in clinical usage.
Chickens ; Decorin* ; Postoperative Period ; Sodium Chloride ; Tendon Injuries ; Tendons* ; Tensile Strength* ; Toes ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

No abstract available.
Facial Asymmetry

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The clinical manifestation of Henoch-Schonlein purpura and existance of renal involvement may influence on its course and prognosis. To verify prevention with early administration of steroid, we studied the efficacy of corticosteroid treatment. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We analysed 65 children under 15 years of age with Henoch-Scho nlein purpura according to their age, sex, and seasonal incidence. Forty children showed typical skin lesions, arthralgia and abdominal pain. We have divided them two groups. Group A consisted of 20 children who received 1 mg/kg of prednisolone/perday for 2 weeks and group B did not. We carried out their physical examination and urinalysis monthly for a year. RESULT: The main clinical manifestations were skin rash(100% ), abdominal symptoms(41.5 %), joint symptoms (49.2%), and renal involvement(34%). As for gastrointestinal symptoms, abdominal pain(66.7% ) was most commonly observed one and others were nausea or vomiting (44.7%) and melena(25.9%). The joint involvement was observed mostly in knee(56.3%) and ankle joint(31.3% ), Hematuria was observed in all cases with renal involvement and proteinuria, in 28% of them. The improvement of renal manifestations were noted in 84.2% of them within 4 months. Mild elevation of IgA was more frequently observed in renal involvement group than non-involved group (p< 0.01). There were no significant differences in immonologic parameters such as IgG, IgM, IgE, duration of the acute phase and severity of cutaneous symptoms between two growps. None of steroid treated growp showed progression of nephropathy. Of the 20 non-steroid treated growp, 2(10%) developed nephropathy. Conclusion We may suggest that existance of renal involvement in Henoch-Schonlein purpura influences its course and prognosis.
Abdominal Pain ; Ankle ; Arthralgia ; Child ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Incidence ; Joints ; Nausea ; Physical Examination ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Purpura* ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch ; Seasons ; Skin ; Urinalysis ; Vomiting

A rostro-caudal topography of the oculomotor nerve fascicles is relatively well known in animal but not in human. We experienced two cases of midbrain infarctions presenting with isolated oculomotor nerve palsies. The MRI of the patient who had monocular elevation palsy with ptosis revealed a lesion in the middle to lower midbrain, whereas that of the other who had monocular depression and adduction palsy with pupillary mydriasis showed a discrete lesion in the upper to middle midbrain. We present the rostro-caudal arrangement of the oculomotor fascicles within midbrain based on MRI findings.
Animals ; Depression ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mesencephalon* ; Mydriasis ; Oculomotor Nerve ; Oculomotor Nerve Diseases ; Paralysis

BACKGROUND: The incidence of Cutaneous malignant tumors has increased recently and they have varied in their developing patterns according to social and environmental influences. However, we have little clinical data about the cutaneous malignant tumors in the Chonnam provinee. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to analyze the clinical characteristics of cutaneous malignant tumors observed in the Chonnam province and to compare them with the data previously reported in Korea. METHOD: We clinically analyzed 427 cases of cutaneous malignant tumors during a 10 year period betwecn January 1987 and Oetober 1996, at the Department of Dermatology, Chonnam Univemity Hospital in Kwangju. RESULTS: 1. The average armual incidence of cutaneous malignant tumors among the total number of outpatients was 1.00+/- 0.25%. The incidence tended to increase with time from 0.90+/-0.29% in the first 5 year-period to 1.15+/-0.09% in the late 5 year-period. The increasing rate was most pronmient in basal cell carcinoma. 2. The most common tumor in the 427 patients with malignant tumor was basal cell carcinoma (52.5%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (19.9%), malignant melanoma (13.3%), metastatic carcinoma (3.7%), malignant lymphoma (2.3%). 3. The mean age of onset was 60.7+/-16.0 years old (male; 59.6+/-15.0, female; 61.9+/-17.1) in the in the group as a whole; 63.9 in BCC, 63.3 in SCC and 55.8 in malignant melanoma. The ratio of men to women was 1.14:l. 4. The most common site of a11 malignant tumors was the head and neck (64.6%), where 89.3% of BCC, 58.8% of SCC, and 15.8% of malignant melanoma developed. The next common site was the lower exlremities and feet (15.7%) followed by the trunk (7,7%), and upper extremities and hands (7.3%).
Age of Onset ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Dermatology ; Female ; Foot ; Gwangju ; Hand ; Head ; Humans ; Incidence ; Jeollanam-do* ; Korea ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Melanoma ; Neck ; Outpatients ; Upper Extremity

This study is based on 155 patients of congenital me colon. For the diagnosis, 93 cases were histologically proven and the remaining 63 cases were diagnosed on clinical basis including barium enema or surgical gross findings. On histologic examination, 80 cases(86%) showed typical features of absence of ganglion cell in the myenteric plexus and the 13 cases(14%) had atypical features which were segmental absence Of ganglion cell in one case. There we 127 males(82%) and 28 females(18%). The age at diagnosis was younger than 30 days in 87 cases(56%), I month to 1 year in 39 cases(25%) and older than I year in 29 cases(18%). The levels of aganglionosis were variable: short segment (rectosigmoid) in 134 cases(86%), intermediate segment (more proximal colon) in 14 cases(100%). and 6 cases(4%) had total aganglionosis. Common clinical presentations were abdominal distention, delayed meconium passage or bilious vomiting in neonate, and chronic constipation in infancy or childhood. Following initial colostomy or ileostomy, a definitive procedure was performed in 151 cases(Duhamel type in 150 cases; Soave type in 2 cases; Swenson type in 3 cases). Frequently associated problems after definitive procedure were persistent constipation(ll%) due to septum formation, fecaloma, remnant aganglionic segment and rectal stenosis. Overall mortality rate was 4%, and increased mortality was associated with enterocolitis(14%) which was the most frequent cause of death. The follow-up study longer than 3 months was available in 138 patients who underwent a definitive procedure(mean 2 year 11 months). Seventy-three cases(53%) had normal bowel function, 38cases(27.5%) had occasionally used enema or stool softners, and 27 cases(19.5%) had severe constipation or soiling. The bowel habit improved with time, and were considered normal in 60% of patients after follow-up more than 3 years. The results of definitive procedures for congenital megacolon including Duhamel operation was satisfactory, and long-term follow-up appeared an important and critical component of patients'care.
Child ; Male ; Female ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Mortality ; Follow-Up Studies

PURPOSE: The aim of this retrospective study is to analyze the relationship between local factors and survival rate of dental implant which had been installed and restored in Seoul Veterans Hospital dental center for past 10 years. And when the relationship is found out, it could be helpful to predict the prognosis of dental implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of patients receiving root-shaped screw-type dental implants placed from January 2000 to December 2009 was conducted. 6385 implants were placed in 3755 patients. The following data were collected from the dental records and radiographs: patient's age, gender, implant type and surface, length, diameter, location of implant placement, bone quality, prosthesis type. The correlations between these data and survival rate were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed with the use of Kaplan-Meier analysis, Chi-square test and odds ratio. RESULTS: In all, 6385 implants were placed in 3755 patients (3120 male, 635 female; mean age 65 +/- 10.58 years). 108 implants failed and the cumulative survival rate was 96.33%. There were significant differences in age, implant type and surface, length, location and prosthesis type (P<.05). No significant differences were found in relation to the following factors: gender, diameter and bone quality (P>.05). CONCLUSION: Related factors such as age, implant type, length, location and prosthesis type had a significant effect on the implant survival.
Dental Implants ; Dental Records ; Hospitals, Veterans ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Prognosis ; Prostheses and Implants ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of sulfhydryl compounds, cysteine and glutathione, on the size of melanosomes and the ratio of melanosormai stages of epidermal melanocytes in UV-irradiated black mice. The results were as follows; 1. Both of cysteine and glutathione showed significant diminution in the short axis of melanosomes and the percentage of stage 4 melanosomes of epidermal melanocytes in C57BL black mice skin. 2. The length of short axis of melanosomes in glutathione-treated group is smaller than those in cysteine-treated group at the end of 3rd week of intraperitoneal injection. The percentage of stage IV melanosomes significantly decreased in glutathione-treated group and cysteine-treated group at the end of 3rd week and 5th week respectively. 3. In glutathione-treated group, the short axis of melanosomes and the percentage of stage 4 melanosomes both decreased in proportional to the period of intraperitoneal in]ection.
Animals ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Cysteine ; Glutathione ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Melanocytes* ; Melanosomes ; Mice* ; Skin ; Sulfhydryl Compounds*

It is desirable to use more safe, objective, non-invasive method than visual scoring for the evaluation of irritation reaction and determine the optimum eoncentration of sodium lauryl sulfate(SLS) as a positive irritant control in routine patch test. In this study, SLS was applied to the volar forearm of ll non-atopic, healthy volunteers in concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 5.0% under occlusion for 24h. The blood flow in test sites exposed to SLS was tecorded by laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV). The test sites were scored visually and the skin blood flow was measured at 24h, 48h, and 72h after the application of FiLS. We obtained the following results,' 1. There was a good correlation between visual scoring and skin blood flow using LDV(p = 0.4547). 2. 5.0% SLS could be used as a positive irritant control in routine patch test (p<0,05).
Forearm ; Healthy Volunteers ; Laser-Doppler Flowmetry* ; Patch Tests ; Skin ; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate* ; Sodium*

POEMS syndrome is an unusual plasma cell dyscrasia with multisystemie manifestations featuring polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopsthy, M protein and skin changes. We have seen a 49-year-old woman presenting with hyperpigmentation, hypertrichosis, hyperhidrosis, and taut thickened skin of the extremities as a skin manifestation of this syndrome. We review the literature and report a case.
Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis ; Hyperpigmentation ; Hypertrichosis ; Middle Aged ; Paraproteinemias ; POEMS Syndrome* ; Polyneuropathies ; Skin ; Skin Manifestations