BACKGOUND: Because heterogeneity of the human tyrosinase gene has been reported, it is of vital significance to know the correct nucleotide sequence of tyrosinase in Koreans in order to study the molecular basis of oculocutaneous albinism. OBJECTIVE: This study was done to analyze the nucleotide sequence of tyrosinase gene in Koreans. METHODS: All exons were amplified from genomic DNAs and sequenced directly from three healthy Koreans. RESULTS: The nucleotide sequence of the tyrosinase gene in Koreans encode 511 amino acids with a molecular weight of 58,000. CONCLUSION: The nucleotide sequence of coding region is the same with that of pHTrl(Shibahara et al. Tohoku J Exp Med 156: 403-414, 1988). As we couldn't observe any polymorphisms in Koreans these results suggested the homogeneity of Korean people.
Albinism, Oculocutaneous ; Amino Acids ; Base Sequence ; Clinical Coding ; DNA ; Exons ; Humans* ; Molecular Weight ; Monophenol Monooxygenase* ; Population Characteristics ; Sequence Analysis*

BACKGROUND: Clinical features of atopic dermatitis(AD) have been well described according to age in the English literature. In Korea there have been some reports about clinical analyses of AD. However, there is no report about the clinical characteristics of adult AD. OBJECTIVE: We tried to characterize the clinical features of adult AD by comparing them with the childhood/infantile type. In addition we aimed to study the prognostic factors that may be related to the persistence of dermatitis into adult life. METHODS: Patients with AD were divided into the adult and childhood/infantile types according to the patient's age. Sixty three adult patients were compared with 107 childhood/infantile patients. Various clinical characteristics of AD were compared between these groups. RESULTS: Orbital darkening, foot eczema, and extensor involvement were more frequently observed in the childhood/infantile type, whereas flexural lichenification, especially in the antecubital fossa, prurigo papules in the extensor part of the extremities, cheilitis, forehead lichenification, Hertoghe's sign, nipple eczema, and anterior neck fold involvement were more frequent in the adult type. Light sensitivity was more prominent in the adult type. Later age at onset of AD was observed in adult patients. The incidence of respiratory atopy (asthma and allergic rhinitis) was higher in the adult group. CONCLUSION: In the adult type flexural involvement with lichenification became more prominent and prurigo papules were more frequently observed in the extensor part of the extremities. Later onset of AD and association with respiratory atopy were considered to be bad prognostic factors.
Adult* ; Age of Onset ; Cheilitis ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Eczema ; Extremities ; Foot ; Forehead ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Neck ; Nipples ; Orbit ; Photophobia ; Prurigo

BACKGROUND: Recently the sensitive measurement of radiation damage to DNA using flowcytometric analysis of nucleoid preparations was reported which allows an analysis of damage within the DNA of single cells. We applied flowcytometric analysis of the nucleoids for the detection of DNA damage by UVB. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to establish the method of detecting UVB-induced damage of DNA by flowcytometry and to elucidate the usefulness of this method to detect cell damage. METHODS: Human melanoma cells were cultured and were irradiated with various of UVB. Immediately after UVB irradiation nucleoid suspensions were prepared and flowcytometric analysis was done. RESULTS: The changes in fluorescence, forward scatter, and side scatter reflected damage of DNA induced by UVB quite well especially at lower UVB doses. CONCLUSION: Flowcytometric analysis of nucleoid will be a useful methosd to detect DNA damage by UVB.
DNA ; DNA Damage ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Melanoma ; Methods ; Suspensions ; Ultraviolet Rays*

BACKGROUND: UVB is responsible for most of the carcinogenic effects of sun exposure. OBJECTIVE: Aim of this study was to investigate the regulation and intracellular redistribution of p53 protein after UVB irradiation. METHODS: Cultured normal human melanocytes and G361 melanoma cells were used for west-ern blotting and confocal microscopic examination for determining expression and distribution of p53. RESULTS: UVB irradiation increased p53 expression in cultured normal human melanocytes and G361 malignant melanoma cells according to increasing doses of UVB. Furthermore, p53 moved from cytosol to nucleus after UVB irradiation. CONCLUSIONS: UVB irradiation induced overexpression and redistribution of p53 in cultured normal human melanocytes and G361 malignant melanoma cells.
Cytosol ; Humans ; Melanocytes* ; Melanoma* ; Solar System

BACKGROUND: Gamma linoleic acid (GLA, Epogam) is considered a safe and effective modality in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) in which impaired function of the enzyme, delta-6-desaturase, has been reported to result in reduced levels of GLA, desaturated fatty acids. OBJECTIVE: We performed this study to observe the changes of skin surface conditions measured objectively by bioengineering methods in relation to clinical improvement after treatment with GLA (Epogam®) in children with AD. METHODS: Thirty-four children with AD were treated with GLA (Epogam®) and evaluated with clinical parameters.The changes of skin surface conditions were monitored by non-invasive experimental instruments. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and gradual improvements in clinical severity after 12 weeks of GLA (Epogam®) treatment. The change of skin surface pH was statistically significant on the antecubital fossa and abdomen except the popliteal fossa. The other parameters including skin surface hydration and skin surface lipid did not show consistent changes. CONCLUSION: Clinical improvement of AD with GLA (Epogam) seemed to be achieved by the reduction of TEWL.
Abdomen ; Bioengineering ; Child ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Fatty Acids ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Linoleic Acid* ; Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase ; Skin* ; Water

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical and radiological outcomes of hook plate fixation for lateral end fracture of the clavicle and acromioclavicular dislocation. METHODS: There were a total of 20 cases with lateral end fracture of the clavicle and 16 cases with acromioclavicular dislocation. All patients were evaluated for range of motion, functional score by using Constant score, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons shoulder index at just before implant removal and at final follow-up. Coracoclavicular distance was measured in acromioclavicular dislocation and bony union was evaluated in the lateral end fracture of the clavicle. RESULTS: The clinical outcomes and range of motion were increased at the final follow-up compared with just before implant removal in both the lateral end fracture of the clavicle and acromioclavicular dislocation. In acromioclavicular dislocation, all cases—except one—showed maintenance of reduction after implant removal. Moreover, in the lateral end fracture of the clavicle, all cases—except one—showed bony union. CONCLUSIONS: Hook plate fixation in the lateral end fracture of the clavicle and acromioclavicular dislocation resulted in good clinical and radiological results.
Clavicle* ; Dislocations* ; Elbow ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Shoulder ; Surgeons

Although wound healing is a natural biologic process by which the homeostasis is preserved, the resultant hypertrophic scar or scar contracture may produce undesirable morphologic and functional sequelae. To overcome these problems, a number of attempts to produce skin substitute have been made in recent years, but none have proved to be entirely satisfactory. We compared the wound healing of full-thickness dorsal skin defects between ADM(acelluar dermal matrix)-applied wound and ADM non-applied wound group in 20 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats. The wound area was serially evaluated at 1,2,3 weeks and the difference in the mean area ratios between the two groups was then statistically analyzed using Wilcoxon rank sums test. We also performed histological evaluation of the wounds at 1,2,3 weeks. Results were as follows: 1. Experimentally produced ADM was easy to handle. Histologic findings showed no epithelium, no appendages, no cells dermal and subcutaneous layer and pure bundles of collagen. 2. The wound area ratio of ADM applied wound group was statistically larger than that of ADM non-applied(control) wound group. That is, ADM was able to inhibit the wound contraction compared with the ADM non-applied wound group. 3. In the ADM-applied group, we observed low grade exudates, no infection, fine take-up of ADM on full-thickness skin defect, gross and histologic findings of neovascularization, and progressive epithelization on ADM. These findings of biologic attachment implies the function of the ADM as a dermal substitute. These can be basis of the study on the development of artificial skin.
Acellular Dermis* ; Adult ; Animals ; Cicatrix ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; Collagen ; Contracture ; Epithelium ; Exudates and Transudates ; Female ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin* ; Skin, Artificial ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries*

BACKGROUND: Respiratory atopy (RA) is frequently associated with atopic dermatitis (AD) and the age of onset is usually later than that of the dermatitis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, the onset, and the duration of RA associated with AD in Korea. We also tried to correlate the existence of RA with the severity and prognosis of AD. METHODS: One hundred and eighty one patients with AD were studied. Information about the age at onset and the duration of RA were obtained from the medical history of patients or from the medical records. The severity of AD was graded. RESULTS: RA was found in 66 cases of AD (36.5%). The average age at onset of asthma was 6 years and the average duration of asthma was 6 years. The average age at onset of allergic rhinitis (AR) was 12.4 years and the average duration of AR was 6.8 years. The prevalence of asthma with AD was the most common in the age group between 8 and 11 years while the prevalence of AR was the most common in the age group between 20 and 23 years. The higher occurrence of RA in the older age group was considered to represent persistence of AD in-to adult life. We could not find any difference in the severity of AD between pure AD patients and AD patients with RA. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of RA in AD in Korea was considered to be similar to that of other reports. The average onset of asthma in Korea was a little later, whereas the average on-set of AR was a little earlier than that in the other reports. The duration of RA, which has hardly been mentioned in the literature, was considered to be about 6 years in Korea. It is likely that RA is a poor prognostic factor for AD, but does not affect severity of dermatitis.
Adult ; Age of Onset ; Asthma ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Rhinitis, Allergic

BACKGROUND: Recently doubts have been raised regarding the diagnostic significance of some of the minor clinical features of atopic dermatitis (AD) proposed by Hanifin and Rajka. Some of them may be nonspecific and racial difference was suggested. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic significance of 14 minor clinical features out of Hanifin and Rajka's 23 minor features of AD in the Korean pediatric population. The significance of 5 more items was evaluated as additional minor features. METHODS: The difference in frequency of the total 19 features of AD was compared between 100 patients with AD and 76 controls. RESULTS: Fourteen of these were shown to be significantly more frequent in patients than in controls including our 5 additional clues such as scalp scaling, postauricular fissure, infraauricular fissure, forehead lichenification, and infragluteal eczema. CONCLUSION: Our study about the minor features may be a valuable guideline for the diagnosis of AD in the Korean pediatric population.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Diagnosis ; Eczema ; Forehead ; Humans ; Scalp

BACKGROUND: Recently doubts have been raised regarding the diagnostic significance of some of the minor clinical features of atopic dermatitis (AD) proposed by Hanifin and Rajka. Some of them may be nonspecific and racial difference was suggested. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic significance of 14 minor clinical features out of Hanifin and Rajka's 23 minor features of AD in the Korean pediatric population. The significance of 5 more items was evaluated as additional minor features. METHODS: The difference in frequency of the total 19 features of AD was compared between 100 patients with AD and 76 controls. RESULTS: Fourteen of these were shown to be significantly more frequent in patients than in controls including our 5 additional clues such as scalp scaling, postauricular fissure, infraauricular fissure, forehead lichenification, and infragluteal eczema. CONCLUSION: Our study about the minor features may be a valuable guideline for the diagnosis of AD in the Korean pediatric population.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Diagnosis ; Eczema ; Forehead ; Humans ; Scalp