No abstract available.
Pancreatic Pseudocyst*

BACKGROUND: Dermal papilla cells, which are mesenchymal components of the hair bulb are considered to play an important role in the regulation of hair growth by production of diffusible factors that stimulate follicular epithelial cells. Degenerative changes in the dermal papilla cells in the involved scalp of alopecia areata cases indicate that these cells are one of the important targets in this disease. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of serum from alopecia areata patients on the proliferation of dermal papilla cells. METHOD: Dermal papilla cells and fibroblasts from normal human scalp were cultured in DMEM media with 10% or 20% of normal and alopecia areata serum for 48hrs and 96hrs. Cell proliferation was measured by cell counts and [3H]-thymidine incorpoartion. RESULTS: Both 10% and 20% alopecia areata serum had no significant effects on the proliferation of dermal papilla cells and fibroblasts after 48hrs and 96hrs. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that there are no serum factors that inhibit the proliferation of dermal papilla cells.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Cell Count ; Cell Proliferation ; Epithelial Cells ; Fibroblasts ; Hair ; Humans ; Scalp

No abstract available.
Decompression* ; Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament*

BACKGROUND: This study purposed to survey the fit rate of respirators by person and by product through conducting a qualitative fit test of high-efficiency respirators; moreover, this study also tests for differences in the fit rates determined by the qualitative fit tests with an increase in the number of the types of respirators tested. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 30 healthcare personnel who had passed a sensitivity test. The fit test of high-efficiency respirators was conducted using FT10 (3M Co., USA), an experimental tool used for performing the qualitative fit test of high-efficiency respirators, and three types of high-efficiency respirators - 1860, PFR95, and N7000 - were tested. RESULTS: The qualitative fit test was performed for the three types of high-efficiency respirators and the fit rate of the respirators that the subjects had been using previously was 43.3%; however, the probability that one or more of the three types of high-efficiency respirators would fit the subjects increased to 83.3%, and this increase was statistically significant (P<0.05). The difference in the fit rates of the three types of high-efficiency respirator types was not statistically significant; however, the differences in the satisfaction of and preference for the different respirator products were all statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Healthcare personnel are using ill-fitting respirators and a qualitative fit test should be performed to improve the fit of their respirator. In the qualitative fit test performed for the high-efficiency respirators, the fit rate increased with the increase in the variety of respirator types. Thus, a large variety of respirators should be made available to increase the fit rate of high-efficiency respirators for healthcare personnel.
Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Respiratory Protective Devices ; Ventilators, Mechanical

No abstract available.
Histiocytosis, Sinus* ; Lip*

BACKGROUND: It was recognized that the intake of the whole cow's milk(WCM) early (before 1 year old of age) and large amount in early childhood is related to the iron deficiency, sometimes the iron deficiency anemia in advanced state. To verify the relationship between the variables in the WCM intake and the iron status, we carried out this study. METHODS: Thirty subjects(1 year to 3 years old of age) were classified as a WCM large intake group and a WCM small intake group. The relationship between the WCM commencing age and the iron status(serum ferritin, transferrin saturation and hemoglobin) in the WCM large intake group was evaluated and analyzed by the linear regression. Futhermore, the relationship between the value of WCM intake amountxduration/10 and the iron status(serum ferritin, transferrin saturation and hemoglobin) in the WCM large and small intake groups was evaluated and analyzed by the linear regression. RESULTS: As the WCM commencing age was earlier, the values of serum ferritin, transferrin saturation and hemoglobin decreased significantly(P<0.05). The values of serum ferritin and transferrin saturation decreased significantly as the value of WCM intake amountxduration/10 increased(P<0.05). But the value of hemoglobin decreased insignificantly as the value of WCM intake amountxduration/10 increased(P>0.1). CONCLUSION: The variables in the intake of WCM influence upon the iron status in early childhood. The early commencing of the WCM(before 1 year old of age) is the worst variable that influences adversely upon the iron status in early childhood. The amount of WCM intake and the duration influence upon the storage iron(serum ferritin and transferrin saturation), but not hemoglobin. In this regard, it is necessary to inform the parents of the correct WCM intake ways to avoid the irreversible recognition impairment and behavioral change.
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Child, Preschool ; Ferritins ; Humans ; Iron* ; Linear Models ; Milk* ; Parents ; Transferrin

Necrolytic migratory erythema (NME) is a typical cutaneous manifestation of glucagonoma syndrome. The entire syndrome consists of NME, glucose intolerance, weight loss, anemia, glossitis, diarrhea, and increased glucagon levels. We herein report a patient with glucagonoma syndrome who was diagnosed as having NME. A 48-year-old male presented with a 2-month history of painful erythematous, desquamative, erosive papules and plaques on both lower extremities. Histological examination revealed an intraepidermal cleft, the presence of vacuolated, pale epidermal cells, and necrosis in the upper epidermis. His glucagon level was 2650 pg/ml, with the upper limit of a normal range being 250 pg/ml. The patient was treated with octreotide, and showed an improvement of the skin eruption with normalization of the glucagon level within 4 weeks.
Anemia ; Diarrhea ; Epidermis ; Glossitis ; Glucagon ; Glucagonoma* ; Glucose Intolerance ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Necrolytic Migratory Erythema* ; Necrosis ; Octreotide ; Reference Values ; Skin ; Weight Loss

Keratoacanthoma is a rapidly growing cutaneous tumor with a histopathologic pattern often suggestive of a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). It may be viewed as an aborted malignancy which only rarely progresses into an aggressive SCC. It is most likely arising from hair follicle that has the tendency of spontaneous resolution. The diagnosis of keratoacanthoma is based on clinical, histopathologic features and biologic behavior. A 75-year-old woman presented with a 1-month history of a rapidly enlarging exophytic tumor on the lower lip. A biopsy was performed leading to a diagnosis of keratoacanthoma. We report a case of keratoacanthoma on the lower lip, because the mucosal area is an unexpected location.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Keratoacanthoma* ; Lip*

BACKGROUND: The incidence of metastatic skin cancer has been reported to be relatively low. Because the diagnosis is not so difficult, cutaneous metastasis could be an important clue to discover the hidden internal malignancy, if found before recognizing primary cancer, or play a significant role to determine therapeutical plans and prognosis if found after diagnosis of primary cancer. MATERIAL AMD METHODS: This study was made upon the 68 cases of metastatic skin cancer, which had been confirmed histopathologically in the department of dermatology, Kosin University Gospel hospital from January, 1986 to August, 2003. Age and sex distributions, sites of primary cancer, time of detection, localization of the lesions, morphologic and histopathologic findings were examined by the review of medical records, clinical photographs, and pathologic slides. RESULTS: 1. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 56.6 years and most patients were distributed over 5 decades. The male to female ratio was 1: 1.3. 2. Metastasis from breast carcinoma consisted of 19 cases, this was the most common primary cancer, followed by lung cancer, melanoma, and stomach cancer. In men, lung cancer and stomach cancer were the most common primary neoplasm, while breast cancer was the most frequent in women. 3. 50 of the cases were detected after diagnosis of primary cancer and during therapy. The other 18 cases were detected before the internal malignancy was recognized. 4. The localization of metastatic skin cancer was widespread over the whole body. The majority of cutaneous metastasis was predisposed to the surface near primary cancer, but distant metastases such as alopecia neoplastica on the scalp were also observed. 5. The most common morphologic features were single or multiple nodules, while inflammatory and indurated plaques were also found. 6. Histopathologic examination revealed that adenocarcinoma was the most common pathologic type, followed by squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. The histopathologic features of cutaneous metastasis generally mimicked that of primary tumors. CONCLUSION: Generally, metastatic skin cancer is detected after the diagnosis of primary cancer showing subsequent treatment failure and poor prognosis. In some cases, however, cutaneous metastasis can be the earliest sign to recognize internal malignancy. Especially in the cases of metastatic skin cancer originating from the kidney, liver and thyroid gland, cutaneous features are the most significant evidences to presume the site of origin without any other findings. Therefore, it is important to recognize the clinical and histopathologic findings of metastatic skin cancer for the most successful diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic determination.
Adenocarcinoma ; Alopecia ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Dermatology ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Medical Records ; Melanoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Scalp ; Sex Distribution ; Skin Neoplasms* ; Skin* ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Thyroid Gland ; Treatment Failure

No abstract available.