Melanosomes were isolated from the human hair by graded centrifugation and identified by transmission and scanning electron microscopic examination. Melanosomes were separated from the keratinous structures by treating with strong NaOH solution for 15 hours. The keratinous structures were removed by centrifugation ai 2,500xg and 3,500xg for 10 minutes respectively at 0 ℃. The isolated melanosomes were collected by centrifugation at 7,800xg at 0 ℃. Scanning electron microscopic examination made it possible to evaluate the global structure of purified melanosomes.
Centrifugation ; Hair* ; Humans* ; Melanosomes* ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning

PURPOSE: Because cryptorchid testes are known to undergo histopathologic changes affecting development, maturation, and tertility, early surgical correction is usually recommended. However there are differing opinions concerning whether retractile testes are affected by similar changes and also whether there is a need for surgical treatment. We aimed to assess the histopathologic changes in retractile testis by studying the changes in testes artificially placed back in the abdomen after they have descended to scrotum in experimental rat models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups; a control group(controls), prepubertal ascent group (P) in which testis were placed back intraabdominally by bilateral inguinal canal obstruction at 6 weeks, a neonatal group(N) in which intraabdminal testis was induced by bilateral inguinal canal obstruction at birth. The relative weight of the testis, morphology of the seminiferous tubules including Leydig cells, tubular degeneration phase(TDP), spermatogonia per tubules(S/T), and Sertoli cell index (SCI) of these three groups were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: The relative weight of testis was significantly decreased in the group of N(0.0016+/-0.001) and P(0.0015+/-0.0002) compared to controls(0.0037+/-0.0002) (p<0.05). The S/T value was also decreased in P(2.05+/-18.2) and N(73.2+/-32.4) when compared to controls (360.2+/-21.3). Similar changes were observed in SCI of both P(64.5+/-6.4) and N (91.2+/-14.2) when compared to controls (227.9+/-31.1). Only minority of N and P showed higher TDP values. However, although statistically insignificant, TDP was increased in both P and N when compared to controls. The Leydig cells in N and P showed cellular distortion and hypertrophy. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrate that prepubertal ascent, similar to that of innate cryptorchid testis, also can induce histopathologic changes such as changes in testicular seminiferous tubule, decrease in the S/T value and decrease in SCI value. Our findings supports that hypothesis that retractile testis may cause histological damage thus surgical correction may also be warranted similar to in case of genuine cryptorchism.
Abdomen* ; Animals ; Cryptorchidism ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Inguinal Canal ; Leydig Cells ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Models, Theoretical ; Parturition ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Scrotum ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Spermatogonia ; Testis*

Endometrial papillary serous carcinoma (EPSC) is a distinct variant of endometrial adenocarcinoma that histologically resembles ovarian serous papillary adenocarcinoma and has an aggressive clinical course. Usually, the tumor is diagnosed at the advanced stage. The tumor has well confused with metastatic ovarian tumor of identical histology. Dignosis of EPSC should be considered when the cervico-vaginal smear reveals numerous papillary clusters of tumor cells with macronucleoli and psammoma bodies. Recently, we have experienced two cases of EPSC diagnosed on cervico-vaginal smears, which revealed characteristic cytologic features including numerous papillary clusters of tumor cells with macronucleoli. The cytologic diagnoses were confirmed on histologic sections.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenocarcinoma, Papillary ; Diagnosis ; Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Recessive*

The blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome(CRBNS) is a rare disorder characterized by distinctive vascular malformations of the skin and gastrointestinal tract. The syndrome is associated commonly with iron deficiency anemia due to gastrointestinal bleeding. Most cases are sporadic, although a few have been reported with autosomal dominant inheritance. We report a case with clinical characteristics of the blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome. The patient had typical skin manifestations of the BRBNS and chronic iron deficiency anemia. However, we could not find any gastrointestinal vascular malformations radiologically.
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Blister* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Nevus* ; Rubber* ; Skin ; Skin Manifestations ; Vascular Malformations ; Wills

OBJECTS: The purpose of this study was to present a model of inpatient group psychotherapy led by a doctor in charge, to evaluate this model in practice, and to give a effective inpatient treatment by application of this model. METHODS: The subject composed of 25 psychiatric inpatient. The authors performed this model of group psychotherapy for 6 months and evaluate this model by objective data. Also we analyzed this model globally to get comprehensive understandings. RESULTS: The results of the objective data were as follows: 1) This model was effective to subside patients' symptoms. And the patients estimated this model to be important and helpful to them. 2) Identification with therapist' among therapeutic factors was high rank. This meant that therapist him- or her-self is a important tool for therapy. 3) Therapeutic factors in upper level group was much different from those in lower level group. And various therapeutic factors was used complementarily between two groups. 4) To check '13 therapeutic factors' repeatedly made the patients acquire therapeutic factors spontaneously. And to check 'the most important event' repeatedly gave the opportunity of self-reflection. The results of global analysis to this model were as follows: 1) This group psychotherapy gave a field in which a therapist met patients as human being. 2) This model was easy to perform, and helpful to a comprehensive therapeutic approach. 3) This model was able to make the basis of continuous outpatient and day hospital treatment, and the basis of outpatient group psychotherapy or individual psychotherapy. 4) In this model, social workers, nurses, or students in practice played a role of the healthy ego. Therefore they were able to activate group psychotherapy. 5) This model was a practical and useful tool of the education for psychiatric residents, medical students, social works, and other students. CONCLUSION: This model of group psychotherapy was useful f3r inpatient treatment and easy to perform in general.
Education ; Ego ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Outpatients ; Psychiatry* ; Psychotherapy ; Psychotherapy, Group* ; Social Workers ; Students, Medical

PURPOSE: In patients with traumatic hyphema, we investigated the changes of corneal endothelium and the associated ocular complications that might attribute to endothelial damage. MATERIALS & METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 67 patients(67 eyes) who had been admitted and treated for blunt ocular trauma with hyphema between February 1997 and June 2000. One month after injury, endothelial photographs of both eyes of each patient were taken with specular microscope to compare the endothelium of the injured eyes with that of the normal fellow eyes. The endothelial parameters were studied in relationship to various complications to see the relationship between the complications and the endothelial damage. RESULTS: Compared with the fellow uninjured eyes, the injured eyes had a mean decrease in endothelial cell density (ECD) of 5.6% (P=0.015). Nine patients had significant corneal edema with epithelial defect on initial admission, which was defined as corneal impact lesion. In the group with the corneal impact lesion, the mean ECD decrease was 23.1% (P=0.016) and the mean coefficient of variation (COV) increase was 24.8% (P=0.01). With other variables such as the amount of hyphema and the degree of angle recession, statistically significant results could not be obtained. In 20 patients on long-term follow-up examination (mean 36.7 months after the injury), the injured eyes had a mean increase in ECD of 2.5% compared to the result on initial examination. This change was minimal and statistically not significant. CONCLUSION: In patients with traumatic hyphema, this study showed reduced endothelial cell densities in the injured eyes compared to the normal fellow eyes. In particular, statistically significant decrease in ECD was noted to be associated with corneal impact lesion.
Corneal Edema ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium ; Endothelium, Corneal ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyphema* ; Medical Records

The surgical technique for removal of ruptured lumbar intervertebral disc has changed very little since it was introduced by Mixter and Barr in 1934. The technique of the interlaminar operation used by most neurosurgeons was used successfully in early cases to relieve the sciatica, but many patients were unable to return to heavy work because of low back pain. Cloward described a different surgical technique for removal of a ruptured lumbar intervertebral disc. The operation utilizes a transverse skin incision and a wide bilateral stlipping and retraction of fascia and muscles. The ligamentum flavum is not removed but detached and reflected medially in a flap. Only the bone margins of the adjacent facets are removed. A complete laminectomy is never done except for spondylolisthesis when the separate neural arch is disarticulated and removed. Using a "Vertebral Spreader", and interlaminar exposure is developed two to three times larger than that obtained y the "standard" technique. The advantages are obvious: 1. Both operations were done through a single transverse incision. A wider lateral exposure for the skin wound, being made parallel to the lumbar operation was possible and the normal skin lines, heals better with less scar. 2. The entire ligament is preserved, by separating its attachments from the lamina and reflecting in a flap, a larger opening into the spinal canal is obtained and the replaced flap protects the dura and prevents scarring. 3. Cloward recommends the use of a narrow, sharp chisel and hammer, but we used the spinal rongeurs including the Kerrison punch to remove part of the laminal edge. We leave the articular facets of the lumbar disc surgery because the articular facets are considered important major elements in the articulation of the vertebral joints, and as an essential bony surface to be used in posterior spinal fusion operation. 4. The routine use of intrathecal cortisone after lumbar disc operation has not been used in our cases because of increased pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid in modified prone position of the patient.
Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Cicatrix ; Cortisone ; Fascia ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Joints ; Laminectomy ; Ligaments ; Ligamentum Flavum ; Low Back Pain ; Muscles ; Prone Position ; Sciatica ; Skin ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Fusion ; Spondylolisthesis ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND: The importance of the determination of cell viability has prompted the development of several assays of viability that utilize the exclusion of certain dyes by viable cell membranes. Recently, flow cytometry has been adapted to estimate cell viability by using fluorescent dye which is excluded by living cells on the basis of altered dead cell properties. OBJECTIVE: We have developed a flow Cytometric method for measuring cell viability after staining with propidium iodide (PI) and have compared it with the classical colorimetric method, MTT assay, which is currently widely used in cytotoxicity assays in the research field. METHODS: We performed flow cytometry and MTT assay for the comparison of the sensitivity of the assessment of cell viability. RESULTS: Decrease of cell viability was measured by flow cytometry with the addition of as little as 0.002% Triton-X 100 in comparison to MTT assay which could only reveal a similar decrease of cell viability with the new method to 0.008% Triton-X 100. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate this new method to be more sensitive and simple for the assessment of cell viability.
Cell Membrane ; Cell Survival* ; Coloring Agents ; Flow Cytometry ; Methods* ; Propidium*

BACKGROUND: The severity of several chronic inflammatory diseases was reported to be associated with polymorphism of the IL-1 receptor antagonist gene(IL-lrn). OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to study the polymorphism of the IL-1rn in vitiligo and in the normal Korean population. METHODS: Thirty one cases of vitiligo and seventy nine normal Koreans as control were studied for the polymorphism of IL-1 rn. RESULTS: The frequency of allele 2 of the IL- I rn in 31 patients with vitiligo was compared with that of the 79 healthy controls. The frequency of allele 2 was 1.6% in vitiligo patients and 3.8% in the normal controls. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in the frequency of allele 2 between the vitiligo patients and normal controls.
Alleles ; Humans ; Interleukin-1* ; Vitiligo*

BACKGROUND: Pravastatin, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, has been known to be the most effective drug in patients with hypercholesterolemia. We studied the effectiveness and side effects of this drug. METHODS: We studied twenty four patients(8 males, 16 females), with pravastatin 5mg bid for 8 weeks, whose fasting serum total cholesterol levels were higher than 240mg/dl on the first visit. Lipid profiles were checked at 2 weeks interval for 8 weeks and compared with baseline level individually. RESULTS: Among lipid profiles, pravastatin significantly decreased the total cholesterol from 282.8mg/dL to 224.5mg/dL(reduction rate, 21%), the LDL cholesterol from 197.2mg/dL to 143.8mg/dL(27%), the total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio from 6.2 to 4.6(25%), and the LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio from 4.1 to 2.7 (34%). These changes were statistically significant(p<0.05). Triglyceride and HDL cholesterol showed no significant changes compared to baseline levels during treatment. The clinical and laboratory findings after treatment did not show serious abnormalities except two patients who dropped out due to side effect such as constipation and skin eruption. CONCLUSION: Results from the present study show that short-term pravastatin therapy seems to be effective and safe in patients with hypercholesterolemia.
Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Constipation ; Fasting ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hyperlipidemias* ; Male ; Oxidoreductases ; Pravastatin* ; Skin ; Triglycerides