BACKGROUND: Many mammals normally have a population of dermal melanocytes but these are not found in man, In humans, persistent dermal melanocytes can occur in the Mongolian spot, the nevus of Ota, and the blue nevus. Mongolian spot develops in the fetal or neonatal time and disapperars almost invariably during childhood. In contrast, nevus of Ota and blue nevus are not usually present at birth and persists in adult life. Recently, it was established that apoptosis can be involved in the development of melanocytes. The integrins mediate cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, and apoptosis can be induced by disruption of cell-matrix interactions. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of integrins (a2, a3, ar) and in situ detection of fragmented DNA in Mongolian spot, nevus of Ota, and blue nevus. METHODS: Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues from 8 cases of Monglian spot, 5 cases of nevus of Ota, and 4 cases of blue nevus were immunolabelled with monoclonal antibodies TM directed against az, ay, and av integrin, and stained with ApopTag in situ using an Apoptosis Detection kit. The cases of Mongolian spot were divided into two groups in which group A represented the the cases of more than 45 melanocytes and group B represented the cases of less than 10 melanocytes in a tissue section of 4-mm taken from punch biopsy specimens. RESULTS: Blue nevi showed az and e integrin expressions in dermal melanocytes and weak to negative staining of g v integrin in comparison with all positive expressions of a z, a s, and g y integrin in A group-Mongolian spots and nevi of Ota. The B group-Mongo]ian spots showed the continuous expressions of a z and a y integrin with negative expressions of a v integrin. The ApopTag kit staining was all negative in the Mongolian spots, nevi of Ota, and blue nevi. CONCLUSION: Our results support the view that dermal melanocytic tumors, such as the Mongolian spot, the nevus of Ota, and the blue nevus, might be induced by the disturbance or inhibition of the apoptotic process of the melanocytes, and that the spontaneous disappearance of the Mongolian spot may not be related to the apoptosis.
Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Apoptosis ; Biopsy ; DNA ; Humans ; Integrins ; Mammals ; Melanocytes ; Mongolian Spot ; Negative Staining ; Nevus ; Nevus of Ota ; Nevus, Blue ; Parturition

A case of gouty polyarthropathy accompanied with carpal tunnel syndrom is reporte, in a 70 year old man. The patient was treated by removal of tophaceous materials surgically in both knee and right wrist joints for the relief of pain. There was a relatively good result postoperatively in the aspect of pain free motion of joints, but he was died of the complication of gouty nephropathy 4 months later after discharge.
Arthritis ; Gout ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Wrist ; Wrist Joint

The femur is the largest long bone in the body which is related to weight bearing. As a result of rapid increase in traffic accidents and industrial injuries, the incidence of femoral shaft fractures has risen also. The methods of treatment in children and adults are different, therefore inadequate treatment can cause permanent disability. The authors have reviewed 211 cases of femoral shaft fractures in 204 persons (children and adults) from September 1967 to September 1976 whe were admitted and treated in Orthopedic Department, Severance Hospital. The results were as follows: 1. The fractures occured commonly in the 6–10 yr. age group (41.2%) in children and in the 21–40 yr. group (54.2%) in adults. Males comprised 138 cases (67.6%). 2. Closed fractures were 185 cases (87.7%) and comminuted fractures were the most common type, 94 cases (44.5%) in all. The fracture site was middle third in 116 cases (55%). 3. Causes were mainly car accidents, 146 cases (71.5%) and industrial injuries. Pedestrian injuries are particularly common in Korea. Many industrial accidents occur due to inadequate working facilities in factories. 4. Associated injuries were common in young adults and in order of frequency these were fractures of the tibia and fibula; skulls; pubic bone. 5. In the early and delayed operation groups, primary bony union rate was better (92%) in the early than the late operation group (78.3%). 6 The period of bony union was 13 weeks with compression plate and screw fixation: 16 weeks with Kuntscher nailing; 17. 5 weeks with plate and screw fixation; and 20 weeks with skeletal traction in adults. 7. Knee joint motion was most limited with skeletal traction (33.5%), less with plate and screw fixation (14.7%) and Kuntscher nailing (1.7%), but none with compression plate and screw fixation. 8. Good results were obtained with conservative treatment in children and operative treatment in adults. 9. Complications were much less frequent in children than in adults and were treated well. 10. Post-operative infection rate was 4.4% and infection was treated well with conservative measures. 11. The 90° – 90° skeletal traction in children and compression plate and screw fixation along with cast brace in adults were recommended.
Accidents, Occupational ; Accidents, Traffic ; Adult ; Braces ; Child ; Clinical Study ; Femur ; Fibula ; Fractures, Closed ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Humans ; Incidence ; Knee Joint ; Korea ; Male ; Orthopedics ; Pubic Bone ; Skull ; Tibia ; Traction ; Weight-Bearing ; Young Adult

Twenty-two cases of idiopathic myocardiopathy were observed during the period of 1962 to 1971 and follow up clinical study was made in 5 cases. The criteria of diagnosis was based mainly on exclusive diagnosis in etiology unknown marked cardiomegaly. 1) Male and female ratio of idiopathic myocardiopathy was 1.1:1 and age of onset were distributed from first decade to fifth decade with similar number of cases. 2) Cardinal symptoms were dyspnea, palpitation, chest pain and cough. Common physical findings were protodiastolic gallop (in 2 cases), moist rales (in 3 cases) and hepatomegaly(in 3 cases). 3) Laboratory findings were normal except elevated T.T.T. in one case. 4) Electrocardiogram were abnormal in all cases. There were 3 cases of left ventricular hypertrophy, 3 cases of non-specific ST-T changes and one case of first degree A-V block, intraventricular conduction defect, abnormal Q wave and low valtage, respectively. 5) After medical treatment, symptoms were improved in 4 cases but heart size was reduced in only one case and E.C.G. abnormalities were unchanged in all cases.
Age of Onset ; Cardiomegaly ; Cardiomyopathies* ; Chest Pain ; Cough ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Male ; Respiratory Sounds

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the basophil histamine releasability in response to IgE- and non- IgE-mediated stimuli in children with atopic asthma. Met: Basophil histamine releasability was measured in Dermatophagoides farinae (D. farinae)-sensitive atopic asthmatics, D.farinae-sensitive healthy atopics, non-atopic asthmatics, and healthy non-atopics. Basophils were stimulated with D.farinae, goat antihuman IgE antibody, formyl-Met-Leu-Phe(fMLP), and Calcium ionophore A23187. Histamine was measured by automated fluorometric technique. RESULTS: Sponianeous histamine release was higher in atopic asthmatics compared to healthy non-atopics. Histamine release by D.farinae and by anti-IgE antibody was higher in atopic asthmatics compared to the other groups. There was no difference in histamine release by fMLP among all groups. Histamine release by Calcium ionophore was higher in healthy atopics and non-atopic asthmatics compared to healthy non-atopics. The atopics showed correlation between histamine release by D.farinae, by anti-IgE antibody and total serum IgE levels. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous and IgE-mediated histamine release were related to the presence of both atopy and asthma, whereas non-IgE mediated histamine release was different depending on the stimuli.
Asthma* ; Basophils* ; Calcimycin ; Calcium ; Child* ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Goats ; Histamine Release ; Histamine* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E

Bone marrow transplantation has become an accepted treatment for malignancy(particulary leukemia and lymphoma), aplastic anemia, and certain inborn errors of metabolism. In addition to the problem of severe, prolonged myelosuppression, bone marrow transplantation is associated with several unusual complications. Among the complications such as GVHD, graft rejection, interstitial pneumonia and veno-occlusive disease, involvement of the gastrointestinal tract by GVHD is associated with high graft failure and mortality. Intestinal GVHD is usually manifest clinically as voluminous secretory diarrhea accompanied by abdominal cramping, ileus, nutritional depletion, and, at times, hemorrhage. We experienced a case of severe intestinal GVHD after allogeneic marrow transplantation for treatment of severe aplastic anemia. He received bone marrow from his elder sister, HLA-matched multiparous woman and suffered from large amount of watery diarrhea with skin rash 34 days after transplantation. 1n spite of prednisolone therapy the symptom was progressed. After sigmoidoscopic mucosal biopsy, intestinal GVHD was confirmed and we tried methylprednisolone pulse therapy. Skin lesion was improved but the amount of diarrhea was increased with intermittent abdominal cramping. We tried ALG(anti-lymphocyte globulin) and conservative management but the patient did not respond the therapy. He succumbed to pneumonia and acute respiratory insufficiency complicated with GVHD, 70days after transplantation.
Anemia, Aplastic* ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow Transplantation* ; Bone Marrow* ; Colic ; Diarrhea ; Exanthema ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Graft Rejection ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ileus ; Leukemia ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; Methylprednisolone ; Mortality ; Pneumonia ; Prednisolone ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Siblings ; Skin ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Colorectal Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

To examine the expressed gene profile during encystation of Acanthamoeba castellanii Castellani, we used differentially expressed gene (DGE) screening by RT-PCR with 20 sets of random primers. From this analysis, we found that approximately 16 genes showed upregulation during encystation. We chose 6 genes, which had relatively higher expression levels, for further investigation. Based on homology search in database, DEG2 showed 55% of similarity with xylose isomerase, DEG9 showed 37% of similarity with Na P-type ATPase, and DEG14 showed 77% of similarity with subtilisin-like serine proteinase. DEG3 and DEG26 were identified as hypothetical proteins and DEG25 exhibited no significant similarity to any known protein. Encystation of Acanthamoeba has been suggested to be a process to resist adverse environmental or nutritional conditions. Further characterization studies of these genes may provide us with more information on the encystation mechanism of Acanthamoeba.
Acanthamoeba castellanii/*genetics/*growth & development ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; *Life Cycle Stages ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protozoan Proteins/*genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Up-Regulation

Forty-four patients with brain astrocytoma and glioblastoma were treated with surgical resection and postoperative radiation from January 1980 through May 1987. Four patients were lost to follow up, and in 40 patients sruvival time was evaluable. Three year actuarial sruvival rate was 66.7% in Grade I and II astrocytoma, 30% in Grade III, and 20.4% in glioblastoma multiforme patients. The prognostic factors affecting survival rate were histologic grade in all cases, age, and total radiation dose in Grade III and glioblastoma.
Astrocytoma* ; Brain ; Glioblastoma* ; Humans ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Survival Rate