BACKGROUND: Congenital hypotrichosis is a non-specific, descriptive term for structural abnormalities of hairs showing variable clinical features. We recently have encountered a group of eleven patients exhibiting abnormal hairs showing similar patterns. OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to clarify the entity of this structural hair disorder. METHODS: Dermatologic examination with routine histopathology, trichograms along with scanning electron-microscopic examination and laboratory studies were undertaken. RESULTS: All cases except one were female, and hair abnormalities had developed at birth or within a year. Diffuse distribution of thin, sparse, soft and hypopigmented hairs were noticed. On hair mounts, four patients showed tapering of roots. The majority of the patients exhibited cuticular changes, as well as pitting and longitudinal axial twisting by scanning electron-microscopic examination; one case demonstrated trichorrhexis nodosa, and another, trans-verse fracture. CONCLUSION: Although our cases bear some similar points with woolly hair, some differences were noted between this type of congenital hypotrichosis and other previously described syndromes.
Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Hypotrichosis* ; Parturition

No abstract available.

The purpose of this study was to compare the fitness of the IPS Empress ceramic crowns according to margin type such as bevel, shoulder, rounded shoulder, shoulder with bevel, rounded shoulder with bevel and grooved bevel. After 10 experimental dies were constructed for each group, the IPS Empress ceramic crowns were fabricated on the dies, cemented with resin cement(Bistite resin cement, Tokuyama Soda Co. Ltd., Japan) and embeded in clear epoxy resin. Each specimen was sectioned with a low speed diamond saw in both the faciopalatal and the mesiodistal direction. The cement film thickness was measured with a measuring microscope. The obtained results were as follows : 1. The fitness at the external margin was good in the following order: rounded shoulder(28.99), shoulder with bevel(31.33), grooved bevel(31.79), rounded shoulder with bevel(34.65), bevel(35.02) and shoulder(35.08). However there is no significant statistical difference. 2. The fitness at the internal margin of bevel(25.75), rounded shoulder(31.24), shoulder with bevel(32.07) and rounded shoulder with bevel(34.45) was better than that of shoulder(47.98). 3. The fitness at the axial surface of bevel(26.58) was better than that of shoulder(49.59). 4. The fitness at the central fossa was good in the following order: shoulder with bevel(38.88), grooved bevel(40.46) rounded shoulder with shoulder(46.29), shoulder(48.91), bevel(49.47) and rounded bevel(52.07). However there is no significant statistical difference. 5. Overall fitness of bevel(29.71), rounded shoulder(32.49) and shoulder with bevel(34.47) was better than that of shoulder(44.73).
Ceramics* ; Crowns* ; Diamond ; Resin Cements ; Shoulder

Five medical students in the fourth-year took anatomy as their elective courses for 1 month. They dissected one cadaver, and investigated Digital Report, under the course subjects as follows; (1) the shape of thyroid gland and the location of its isthmus, (2) the branches of left and right coronary arteries, (3) the number of blood vessels and bronchi on the hilum of lung, (4) topographical relationship of the renal vessels and ureter, and the shape of the renal pelvis, (5) the location and attachment of the appendix, (6) the penetration of median nerve through the pronator teres, (7) the sensory nerves and the extensor tendons on the dorsum of hand, (8) the branches of deep femoral artery. The pancreatic and live samples were processed and stained with H&E, for LM observation, since the individual had suffered from pancreatic cancer and got a Pylorus preserving pancreatico-duodenectomy (PPPD). At the last step of the elective course, students wrote small articles following the conventional method for writing manuscript. From the viewpoint of professor, the anatomy course for the fourth-year students were definitely different from that for first-year students, and had many positive effects in terms of anatomy education.
Appendix ; Blood Vessels ; Bronchi ; Cadaver ; Coronary Vessels ; Education ; Femoral Artery ; Hand ; Humans ; Kidney Pelvis ; Lung ; Median Nerve ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Pylorus ; Students, Medical* ; Tendons ; Thyroid Gland ; Ureter ; Writing

Miliary osteoma cutis of the face is a form of primary osteoma cutis. We report a case of miliary osteoma cutis on the jaw of a 55-year-old female. She presented with several 2~3 mm sized, skin-colored firm papules over both lower jaws for 5 years. Skin biopsy was performed and the specimen showed numerous osteocytes and osteoblasts in the bony tissue which was located in the deep dermis.
Biopsy ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Female ; Humans ; Jaw ; Middle Aged ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; Osteoblasts ; Osteocytes ; Osteoma ; Skin ; Skin Diseases, Genetic

Bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation (Nora's lesion) is a rare benign tumor and known to be primarily occur in the small tubular bone of the hands and feet. However, it is very unusual to be reported that it occurs in metatarsal bone in Korea. Thus, we report this tumor of metatarsal bone including the literature review because we have experienced this example.
Foot ; Hand ; Korea ; Metatarsal Bones*

PURPOSE: Taxol, an anticancer drug, blocks cell division by stabilizing microtubules. However, taxol has distinct cell-cycle-independent effects. For example, taxol and interferon gamma(IFN-gamma) induce tumoricidal activity of murine peritoneal macrophages. This study was designed to know whether taxol has indirect tumoricidal effect on murine bladder tumor-2(MBT-2) cells besides its direct cytotoxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The original stock of C57BL/6 mice were used at 8 to 12 weeks of age. Macrophages were obtained by peritoneal lavage from the mice which had been treated with thioglycollate. The tumor target cells were MBT-2 cell line. MBT-2 cells were cultivated in different concentration of taxol for various times and the growth of MBT-2 cells were tested. Tumoricidal activitiy was measured by indirect methylthiazol-2-yl-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay after co-cultures of stimulated macrophage and MBT-2 cells with taxol, INF-gamma, lipopolysaccharide(LPS) or with combination of taxol and INF-gamma or LPS and INF-gamma. Nitric oxide(NO) formation was measured by Griess method under the same conditions. Effect of NG -monomethyl-L-arginine(NGMMA) on nitrite formation and cytotoxicity toward MBT-2 cells were also evaluated. RESULTS: Significant retardation of cell growth was observed after treatment of tumor cells with taxol in a dose dependent manner but does not affect cell viability. Taxol(19+/-2%) or LPS(19+/-4%) alone weakly activated macrophages to kill MBT-2 cell lines, whereas combinations of taxol(77+/-3%) or LPS(75+/-4%) with IFN-gamma(control: 2%, IFN-gamma:18+/-3%) synergized to activate macrophages to kill tumor cells in a dose dependent manner. Taxol(20+/-5microM), LPS(15+/-5microM) or IFN-gamma(25+/-3microM) alone induced small amounts of NO secretion but the combinations of either taxol and INF-gamma(73+/-5microM) or LPS and IFN-gamma(77+/-5microM) synergistically induced large amounts of NO secretion. The production of NO(control:<5, IFN-gamma+ taxol: 73+/-5microM, IFN-gamma+ taxol + NGMMA: 15+/-3microM) and tumor cell killing(control: 2%, IFN-gamma+ taxol: 77+/-3%, IFN-gamma+ taxol + NGMMA: 20+/-3%) were blocked in the presence of NGMMA, a competitive inhibitor of NO synthase. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, the data indicate that taxol is directly non-cytotoxic for MBT-2 cells via its effect on micrtubules but indirectly activates macrophages to kill MBT-2 cells probably via NO secertion.
Animals ; Cell Division ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Coculture Techniques ; Interferons ; Macrophages ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; Mice ; Microtubules ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide* ; Paclitaxel* ; Peritoneal Lavage ; Urinary Bladder*

PURPOSE: Taxol, an anticancer drug, blocks cell division by stabilizing microtubules. However, taxol has distinct cell-cycle-independent effects. For example, taxol and interferon gamma(IFN-gamma) induce tumoricidal activity of murine peritoneal macrophages. This study was designed to know whether taxol has indirect tumoricidal effect on murine bladder tumor-2(MBT-2) cells besides its direct cytotoxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The original stock of C57BL/6 mice were used at 8 to 12 weeks of age. Macrophages were obtained by peritoneal lavage from the mice which had been treated with thioglycollate. The tumor target cells were MBT-2 cell line. MBT-2 cells were cultivated in different concentration of taxol for various times and the growth of MBT-2 cells were tested. Tumoricidal activitiy was measured by indirect methylthiazol-2-yl-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay after co-cultures of stimulated macrophage and MBT-2 cells with taxol, INF-gamma, lipopolysaccharide(LPS) or with combination of taxol and INF-gamma or LPS and INF-gamma. Nitric oxide(NO) formation was measured by Griess method under the same conditions. Effect of NG -monomethyl-L-arginine(NGMMA) on nitrite formation and cytotoxicity toward MBT-2 cells were also evaluated. RESULTS: Significant retardation of cell growth was observed after treatment of tumor cells with taxol in a dose dependent manner but does not affect cell viability. Taxol(19+/-2%) or LPS(19+/-4%) alone weakly activated macrophages to kill MBT-2 cell lines, whereas combinations of taxol(77+/-3%) or LPS(75+/-4%) with IFN-gamma(control: 2%, IFN-gamma:18+/-3%) synergized to activate macrophages to kill tumor cells in a dose dependent manner. Taxol(20+/-5microM), LPS(15+/-5microM) or IFN-gamma(25+/-3microM) alone induced small amounts of NO secretion but the combinations of either taxol and INF-gamma(73+/-5microM) or LPS and IFN-gamma(77+/-5microM) synergistically induced large amounts of NO secretion. The production of NO(control:<5, IFN-gamma+ taxol: 73+/-5microM, IFN-gamma+ taxol + NGMMA: 15+/-3microM) and tumor cell killing(control: 2%, IFN-gamma+ taxol: 77+/-3%, IFN-gamma+ taxol + NGMMA: 20+/-3%) were blocked in the presence of NGMMA, a competitive inhibitor of NO synthase. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, the data indicate that taxol is directly non-cytotoxic for MBT-2 cells via its effect on micrtubules but indirectly activates macrophages to kill MBT-2 cells probably via NO secertion.
Animals ; Cell Division ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Coculture Techniques ; Interferons ; Macrophages ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; Mice ; Microtubules ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide* ; Paclitaxel* ; Peritoneal Lavage ; Urinary Bladder*

An induced hypotension is employed as a useful technique for operations on intracranial aneurysms, brain tumors and other intracranial lesions to diminish operative bleeding and to decrease brain tension. In aneurysm surgery under induced hypotension, the sac becomes softer and thus diminishes the risk of rupture when clips are applid. In 1946 Gardner used arteriotomy to lower blood pressure by decreasing the blood volume during brain tumor surgery, then gradually improved. Pharmacologically-induced hypotension soon became the cominant method of producing hypotension. Halothane and trimethaphan are the most popular drugs for this purpose. On the other hand, the risks of hypotension are obvious. These include decreased cardiac output, decreased cerebral blood flow, and low perfusion pressure exposing brain tissue to the risk of hypoxia thereby aggravating the effects of the circulatory disturbance present in the brain lesion. In this situation the blood oxygen tension in jugular-bulb and lactate content in brain tissue have been found to be reliable indices of degrees of cerebral oxygenation. Consequently, several investigators have studied the critical level of arterial blood pressure during hypotensive anesthesia and have accepted 60 mmHg of systolic pressure(40~50 mmHg of mean arterial pressure) as a clinically applicable level free from the danger of cerebral hypoxia. Furthermore, Griffiths and Gillies(1948) postulated that systolic pressure over 30 mmHg would provide adequate tissue oxygenation. However, there are only a few reports concerning the adequacy of cerebral oxygenation under such low levels of arterial blood pressure. The purpose of this study is to investigate cereral hemodynamics and metabolism during halothane-induced hypotensive anesthesia and to find any evidence of cerebral hypoxia at the levels of 60 mmHg and 30 mmHg, of systolic blood pressure. 15 adult mongrel dogs, weighing 10~13kg, were anesthetized with intravenous pentobarbital sodium. Endotracheal intubation was performed. One femoral artery was cannulated with a polyethylene tube for arterial blood sampling. The tube was connected to a Statham pressure transducer for continuous arterial blood pressure recording. The common carotid artery was exposed and a probe of square-wave electromagnetic flowmeter was placed on the vessel to record the carotid blood flow. An electrocardiogram and above two parameters were recorded simultaneously on a 4-channel polygraph. The internal jugular vein was cannulated and a catheter threaded up to the jugular-bulb for sampling of venous blood draining from the brain. The cisterna magna was punctured with an 18 gauge spinal needle to sample the cerebrospinal fluid. The experiments were divided into control phase, induction phase, hypotensive phase I, hypotensive phase II, and recovery phase. Each phase was maintained for 30 minutes. Cerebrospinal fluid, arterial venous blood were sampled at the end of each phase for analysis of gas tension and lactate content. 100% oxygen was inhaled during the induction phase. During the hypotensive phases, halothane/O2 was administered to lower the arterial blood pressure. In the hypotensive phase I and hypotensive phase II systolic pressure was maintained at 60 mmHg and 30 mmHg, respectively. In the recovery phase, halothane was discontinued and 100% oxygen only was inhaled. The results obtained are summarized as follows; 1. The carotid artery blood flow, which represents the cerebral blood flow, decreased linearly during the decline of the arterial blood pressure. At the end of each phase there was no difference in the carotid blood flow between hypotensive phase I and phase II. Cerebral vascular resistance was markedly reduced in the hypotensive phase II, which suggests cereral vasodilation. 2. Cerebral venous pO2 decreased significantly in the hypotensive phases, but the values till remained within normal limits. A marked reduction of arterial pCO2 was noted in the hypotensive phases. The values approach the lower limits of safety. 3. The most outstanding difference between hypotensive phase I and II is in the lactate content of cerebral venous blood and cerebrospinal fluid. There was a moderate increase of lactate content, and a slight reduction of cereral venous pH in hypotensive phase II, however, a significant degree of cerebral hypoxia and metabolic acidosis could be excluded. 4. Most of the changes in the cerebral metabolism and hemodynamics including arterial blood pressure, tent to return to return to normal at the end of the recovery phase. From the result of this study, it is concluded; Halothane-induced hypotensive anesthesia at 60 mmHg of systolic blood pressure(45 mmHg of possibility of mild metabolic acidosis 30 mmHg of systolic blood pressure(23 mmHg of mean arterial pressure), adequate cerebral oxygenation is maintained without difficulty.
Acidosis ; Adult ; Anesthesia* ; Aneurysm ; Animals ; Anoxia ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Volume ; Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Cardiac Output ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Catheters ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Cisterna Magna ; Dogs ; Electrocardiography ; Femoral Artery ; Flowmeters ; Halothane ; Hand ; Hemodynamics ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hypotension ; Hypoxia, Brain ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Jugular Veins ; Lactic Acid ; Magnets ; Metabolism ; Needles ; Oxygen ; Pentobarbital ; Perfusion ; Polyethylene ; Research Personnel ; Rupture ; Transducers, Pressure ; Trimethaphan ; Vascular Resistance ; Vasodilation

The purpose of this study was to compare the fracture strength of the IPS-Empress ceramic crown according to margin types such as bevel, shoulder, ronuded shoulder, schouler with bevel, rounded shoulder with bevel and bevel with groove. After 10 metal dies were constructed for each group, the IPS-Empress ceramic crown were fabricated and each crown was cemented on each metal die with Bistite resin cement. The cemented each crown was cemented on each metal die with Bistirte resin cement. The cemented crowns mounted in the resting jig were inclined 30 degree and universal testing machine (Zwick 1456 41, Zwick Co., Germany) was used to measure the fracture strength. The obtained result were as follows : 1. The fracture strenght of the crown with reounded shoulder was the hightest of all. The mean fracture strength was 484N in rounded shoulder, 357N in bebel, 341N in rounded shoulder with bevel, 300N in shoulder with bevel, 280N in shoulder and 275N in bevel with groove. 2. The fracture strength of rounded shoulder was statistcally different from those of shoulder with bevel, shoulder and bevel with groove. 3. In the strain at fracture, there was no significant difference among each group. 4. The fracture mode of the crown was simila and most of fracture line began at the loading area and extended throught proximal surface perpendicularly to the margin, irrespective of margin type.
Ceramics* ; Crowns* ; Resin Cements ; Shoulder