Reconstruction of the auricle is one of the most fastidious fields in plastic and reconstructive facial surgery, because the ear is made up of complex cartilage framework arid its thin skin envelope. Insertion of carved rib cartilage is the most popular method for framework fabrication. But it has some disadvantages such as donor site morbidity, lesser flexibility of rib cartilage, difficulty in carving structure and distortion of cartilage after calving. Furthermore surgeon's talent and sufficient practice are necessary for a satisfactory result. So we introduced the concept of perichondral graft to improve the framework fabrication. In 1972 Skoog and associates reported that free perichondral grafts could be used to produce new cartilage. And several other reports supported the chondrogenesis of free perichondral graft. We molded the human ear using silicone rubbed impression material. And the eat mold was wrapped up in perichodrium of rabbit ear and placed in a subcutaneous pocket in formes of graft and flap. Six and eight weeks later, rabbits were sacrified and the newly formed cartilage framework was harvested. Grossly it showed the same appearance as the human eat and elastic property of normal cartilage. In histologic examination, it showed mature structure of normal cartilage; large lacunae containing spherical chondrocytes surrounded by well defined capsule.
Aptitude ; Cartilage ; Chondrocytes ; Chondrogenesis ; Ear ; Ear Cartilage* ; Fungi ; Humans ; Plastics ; Pliability ; Rabbits ; Ribs ; Silicones ; Skin ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants*

Human parvovirus B19 is a single-strand DNA virus which causes erythema infectlosum, arthralgia, aplastic crisis in patients with red cell defect, chronic anemia in immunocompromised patients, and fetal hydrops in pregnant women . A 16-year-old women was referred to our hospital with pancytopenia and splenomegaly. In peripheral blood, spherocytosis and reitculocytopenia were observed. Many giant pronormoblasts with prominent inclusion bodies and deeply blue cytoplasm were observed but late erythroblasts were not observed in bone marrow smear. Osmotic fragility of patient's red cells was significantly increased. Human parvovirus Bl9 DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction. Only with supportive therapy, pancytopenia was spontaneously resolved.
Adolescent ; Anemia ; Arthralgia ; Bone Marrow ; Cytoplasm ; DNA ; DNA Viruses ; Erythema ; Erythroblasts ; Female ; Humans* ; Hydrops Fetalis ; Immunocompromised Host ; Inclusion Bodies ; Osmotic Fragility ; Pancytopenia ; Parvovirus B19, Human ; Parvovirus* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnant Women ; Splenomegaly

Exogenoue exposurea to pathogenic fungi have been suggested as causes of acute atta.eks of tinea pedis. Psthogenic fungi is rarely present on the skin aurfaces without cauaing definite and characteristic reactions. However, it was suspected by eome observers that pathogenic fungi might be more or liesa normal inhabitant of the human skin. Alterations in host susceptibility and loss, of local immunity are more to blame than new exposure to exogenous micro-ganisms. To determine this point, fungal culture was done from the fourth toe web of 824 high school students. The results of the study were summarized as follows,' l. Among 824 cases, 780 cases(94.7%) had grossly normal appearing toe web and 44 cases(5,3%) were suspected superficial fungal infection. 2. Positive rate of KOH examination was 4.6%(36,'780) in normal toe web and 45.4%(20/44) in dermatophytic lesion. 3, The positive rate of fungal culture from normal and infected toe web are 7.9 %(62/780) a.nd 40.9%(18/44), respectively. In the normal toe web, Trichophyton rubrum(66.1%), T, entagrophytea(include T. interdigitaLe) and Epidermophyton, floccosum(3.2%) were isolated. In the dermatophytic lesion, T. rubrurn(88.8%) and T. me ntagrophytes(11.2% ) w ere isolated. Although toe webs do not present clinical symptoms and signs, pathogenic fungi as a normal inhabitant can be isolated from clinically normal toe webs. Some of these cases, therefore, will develope to tinea pedis in time.
Epidermophyton ; Fungi ; Humans ; Skin ; Tinea Pedis ; Toes* ; Trichophyton

PURPOSE: To evaluate the severity of tissue necrosis of liver according to various kinds of contrast materials used in percutaneous transhepatic procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four kinds of commercially available contrast material were used in the this study :meglumine ioxithalamate (ionic monomer, Telebrix 30, Guerbet, France), meglumine ioglicinate (ionic dimer, Rayvist 300, Schering, Germany), iopromide (nonionic monomer, Ultravist 300, Schering, Germany), and iotrolan (nonionic dimer, Isovist 300, Schering, Germany). The same amount(0.1 ml) of each contrast material was directly injected into the liver of Sprongue-Dawley rats. After two days and four weeks, the histopathologic findings of resected liver were assessed and analysed with special emphasis on the difference in the area of tissue necrosis between each group. RESULTS: In the liver resected 48 hours later, the area of necrosis was related to the osmolality and ionicity of contrast material used :the higher the osmolality, the wider the area of necrosis and ionic contrast material exhibited wider area of necrosis than nonionic contrast material. In the liver resected four weeks later, almost complete recovery was seen at the site of necrosis in all groups. CONCLUSION: Nonionic contrast materials caused less tissue necrosis than ionic contrast materials in percutaneous transhepatic procedure because of their lower osmolality.
Animals ; Contrast Media* ; Liver* ; Meglumine ; Necrosis ; Osmolar Concentration ; Rats*

Changing trends in anticancer research have altered the treatment paradigm to the extent that it is difficult to investigate any anticancer drugs without mentioning immunotherapy. Thus, we are finally contemplating tumour regression using magic bullets known as immunotherapy drugs. This review explores the possible options and pitfalls in tumour regression by first elucidating the features of cancer and the importance of tumour microenvironments. Next, we evaluated the trends of anticancer therapeutics regulating tumour microenvironment. Finally, we introduced the concept of tumour regression and various targets of tumour microenvironment, which can be used in combination with current immunotherapy for tumour regression. In particular, we emphasize the importance of regulating the neurological manifestations of tumour microenvironment (N) in addition to inflammation (I) and hypoxia (H) in cancer.

We report herein two cases of pachyonychia congenita in 19-month-old and 7-year-old girls. In addition to severely deformed nails, both had white plaques on the tongue and keratotic papules on the elbows and knees. In the 19-month-old girl, her father showed deformity of the nails and severe hyperkeratosis of the palms and soles, The family history was normal in other case.
Child ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Elbow ; Fathers ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Knee ; Nails, Malformed* ; Pachyonychia Congenita* ; Tongue

Long-term treatment with antipsychotics can lead to a sometimes irreversible motor disorder, tardive dyskinesia(TD). Although TD is a serious side effect, the pathophysiology of it remains unclear. This article reviews recent experiments designed to determine the pathophysiology of TD. The review is divided into three parts; the first part describes the existing hypotheses on the pathophysiology of TD, the second part consists of the animal models of TD, and the third part consists of the other descriptions of the exerimental researches on TD. The challenge for the future is to integrate these data into a more complete understanding of the pathophysiology of TD.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Models, Animal ; Movement Disorders*

Long-term treatment with antipsychotics can lead to a sometimes irreversible motor disorder, tardive dyskinesia(TD). Although TD is a serious side effect, the pathophysiology of it remains unclear. This article reviews recent experiments designed to determine the pathophysiology of TD. The review is divided into three parts; the first part describes the existing hypotheses on the pathophysiology of TD, the second part consists of the animal models of TD, and the third part consists of the other descriptions of the exerimental researches on TD. The challenge for the future is to integrate these data into a more complete understanding of the pathophysiology of TD.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Models, Animal ; Movement Disorders*

BACKGROUND: Heparin salts induce negative proportional bias according to anticoagulant concentration for analysis of ionized calcium (iCa) However, D-phenylalanyl -L-prolyl- L-arginine chloromethyl ketone (PPACK), a selective thrombin inhibitor, do not bind to ionized calcium. Therefore, we evaluated PPACK as an alternative anticoagulant to lithium heparin (Li-Hep) for analysis of ira, blood gases and electrolytes. METHODS: The concentration of iCa in whole blood anticoagulated with heparin was compared with that in serum of patients admitted to Chungbuk National University Hospital (n=27). The blood gases, electrolytes and iCa according to each anticoagulant concentration (Ll-Hep or PFACK) were analyzed. The concentrations of anticoagulated whole blood (Li-Hep; 50 kIU/L, PPACK ; 75 mumol/L) were compared with those of nonanticoagulated whole blood for blood gases, electrolytes and iCa (n=17), RESULTS: The results were as follows; whole blood anticoagulated with Li-Hep demonstrated -0.28+/-0.15 mmol/L (26.6%) bias for ira compared with serum. No bias according to each anticoagulated concentrations were observed in analysis of blood gases, potassium and chloride. Negative proportional bias for iCa and sodium in serum anticoagulated with Li-HeP was observed. In comparison, no bias for ira and sodium was observed with PPACK. No bias was observed in analysis of blood gas or electrolytes with each anticoagulated whole blood except for sodium and chloride that had clinically nonsignificant bias. Whole blood anticoagulated with Li-Hep demonstrated a consistent -0.08+/-0.02 mmol/L (6.3%) bias for ira compared with nonanticoagulated whole blood. In comparison, no bias was observed with PPACK-anticoagulated whole blood for iCa. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that PPACK is an ideal anticoagulant without bias for analysis of iCa, blood gases and electrolytes.
Arginine ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Calcium* ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Electrolytes* ; Gases ; Heparin* ; Humans ; Lithium ; Potassium ; Salts* ; Sodium ; Thrombin

At the beginning, researches on the biology of depression or affective illness have focused mainly on the receptor functions and neuroendocrine activities. And the studies of the past years did not break new theoretical background, but the recent advances in the research on the molecular mechanisms underlying neural communication and signal transduction do add some insights to many established ideas. This article will overview some of the more recent advances in the clinical researches of depression. Our major concerns to be presented here include the following : (1) alterations in the post-synaptic neural transduction ; (2) changes in the neurons of hypothalamic neuropeptides ; (3) decreased peptidase enzyme activities : (4) associations of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis abnormalities with serotonin neurotransmission ; (5) role of serotonin transporter ; (6) changes in the responsiveness of intracellular calcium ion levels ; (7) the inositol deficiency theory of lithium and depression ; (8) the transcription factors including immediate early genes ; (9) recent genetic studies in some families. This brief overview will suggest that changes in DNA occur during antidepressant therapy. These changes at the DNA level initiating a cascade of events underlying antidepressant modality will give us the insight on the molecular biological basis of the pathogenesis of depression and cues for a new class of antidepressants.
Antidepressive Agents ; Axis ; Biology ; Calcium ; Cues ; Depression* ; DNA ; Genes, Immediate-Early ; Humans ; Inositol ; Lithium ; Neurobiology* ; Neurons ; Neuropeptides ; Serotonin ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; Signal Transduction ; Synaptic Transmission ; Transcription Factors