No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a frequently occurring viral infection, which affects children and adults. Although spontaneous clearance occurs in months to years, many patients are bothered by its prolonged course. Though various treatment trials, including topical treatments are reported, and curettage technique is most commonly used. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to evaluate the outcome and efficacy of curettage treatment, and to find out the risk factors that are associated with treatment failure of MC removal by surgical curettage. METHODS: A total of 39 patients with MC were treated by surgical curettage, under topical anesthesia. Follow up evaluation and treatment was performed in week 4 and in week 8, after the initial visit. RESULTS: After first curettage treatment, 25 out of 39 patients (64.1%) were cured. The recurrence rate of the MC lesion was 35.9% (14 out of 39), 35.71% (5 out of 14) in week 4 and in week 8, respectively. No severe adverse reaction was reported. Risk factors for treatment failure were the number of lesions at day 0 (p=0.036 and p=0.031, at week 4 and 8 respectively). CONCLUSION: Successive scheduled curettage was found to be an effective treatment for MC. Numbers of initial lesions came out to be a major risk factor for the treatment failure.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Child ; Curettage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Molluscum Contagiosum ; Porphyrins ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Failure

BACKGROUND: Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a transcription factor that regulates a diverse array of cellular processes, including development, differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. Although its function in keratinocytes has been widely studied, its exact role in psoriasis has not been elucidated. OBJECTIVE: We designed this study to investigate epidermal expression levels of KLF4 and the change in KLF4 expression after treatment in patients with psoriasis. METHODS: We compared the expression levels of KLF4 in the basal, suprabasal, and superficial epidermal layers, in psoriatic lesional, non-lesional, and normal skin, using an immunoreactivity intensity distribution index (IRIDI). In addition, we measured the change in KLF4 expression on the basis of the IRIDI and by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis after treatment. RESULTS: The combined IRIDI scores in psoriatic lesional skin were significantly higher than the scores in both non-lesional and normal skin. The psoriatic epidermis, particularly the suprabasal layer, showed a significantly increased IRIDI score compared to that of non-lesional and normal skin, which was significantly decreased after treatment. RT-PCR analysis exhibited a slight increase in KLF4 mRNA expression level after treatment; however, this increase was not significant. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that KLF4 could regulate epidermal proliferation and differentiation. Moreover, we believe that KLF4 may play an important role in the physiological reaction to counteract abnormal differentiation and proliferation of keratinocytes.
Apoptosis ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Psoriasis* ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin ; Transcription Factors

The aim of this project was to use 3D scanning data collected at incident scenes and various evidence to 1) develop surveying methods based on 3D data consisting of overall and detailed scene evidence, captured by long-range and micros-canner, which can be shared by personnel working in different fields such as forensic medicine, video analysis, physical analysis, traffic engineering, and fire investigation; 2) create digital storage for human skeletons and set the foundation for virtual anthropology; and 3) improve the credibility of 3D evidence by virtual remodeling and simulation of incident scenes and evidence to provide a basis for advanced and high-tech scientific investigation. Two complete skeletons of male and female were scanned using 3D micro-scanner. Each bone was successfully reproduced and assembled in virtual space. In addition, recreating evidence scheduled for invasive examination by creating RP (rapid prototype) was possible. These outcomes could play an important role in setting up the new field of virtual anthropology. Case-specific surveying methods were developed through analysis of 3D scanning data collected by long-range surface scanners at the scenes of vehicular accidents, falls, shootings, and violent crimes. A technique and recording method was also developed for detecting forged seals by micro-scanning the pressure exerted on the seal. Appraisal methods developed in this project could be utilized to secure 3D data of human skeletal remains and incident scenes, create a standard for application, and increase objectivity, reproducibility, and accuracy of scanning methods. We plan to develop case-specific 3D data analysis techniques to improve the credibility of analysis at the NFS and to establish a 3D data collection and analysis team.
Crime ; Data Collection ; Female ; Fires ; Forensic Medicine ; Forensic Sciences ; Humans ; Male ; Skeleton ; Statistics as Topic