BACKGROUND: The immunological characteristics of human hair follicles with the hair growth cycle have not yet been fully elucidated. It is suggested that expressional changes of the immunological markers in the hair cycle may play a role in catagen induction of the hair follicles. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the immunological features in human hair follicles according to the hair growth cycle. METHODS: An immunohistochemical study was performed on frozen sections of human hair follicles using major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I & II, CD1a, Fas, Fas ligand, and ACTH antibodies. We then compared the hair cycle-associated expressional changes of these markers. RESULTS: Human anagen hair bulbs showed very low level of the MHC class I expression. In catagen transition, enhanced expression of the MHC class I was observed in the proximal hair follicles. This change may correspond to regressing morphological change of hair follicles in the catagen transition. Some changes in the expression of MHC class II and Fas/FasL in hair follicles were also observed in catagen transition. CONCLUSION: Downregulation of MHC class I expression in the proximal epithelium of the anagen hair bulb may contribute to so-called 'immune privilege'. In catagen transition, the expression of MHC class II and Fas/FasL, together with upregulation of MHC class I, might be related to morphologic changes of the hair follicle.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Antibodies ; Down-Regulation ; Epithelium ; Fas Ligand Protein ; Frozen Sections ; Hair Follicle* ; Hair* ; Humans* ; Major Histocompatibility Complex ; Up-Regulation

BACKGROUND: During ophthalmologic surgery, various intravenous anesthetic induction agents are used to prevent an intraocular pressure (IOP) increase. This study was designed to compare the effects of vecuronium and rocuronium on IOP in patients who were intubated. METHODS: Thirty-two patients undergoing elective strabismus surgery, aged 4 to 12 years, were randomized to receive rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg (Group 1, n = 16), or vecuronium 1.0 mg/kg (Group 2, n = 16).IOP, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR) were measured at the following time points: prior to induction (B); after the administration of the induction agents; before intubation (T0); and at 1, 3 and 5 mins after intubation (T1, T3 and T5). RESULTS: The IOP after T0 in Group 1 was significantly lower than B (P < 0.05) in Group 2.The IOP at T1 in the Group 1 and 2 was not different from B, respectively.The IOP, MAP, and HR at T1 in the Groups 1 and 2 were significantly higher than at T0 (P < 0.05).No significant differences were observed between the groups in term of IOP. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that vecuronium and rocuronium are both useful as muscle relaxants for use in general anesthesia in ophthalmologic surgery, because both agents caused similar decreases in intraocular pressure.
Aged ; Androstanols ; Anesthesia, General ; Arterial Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Intubation ; Muscles ; Strabismus ; Vecuronium Bromide

Proton therapy facility, which is recently installed at National Cancer Center in Korea, generally produces a large amount of radiation near cyclotron due to the secondary particles and radioisotopes caused by collision between proton and nearby materials during the acceleration. Although the level of radiation by radioisotope decreases in length of time, radiation exposure problem still exists since workers are easily exposed by a low level of radiation for a long time due to their job assignment for maintenance or repair of the proton facility. In this paper, the working environment near cyclotron, where the highest radiation exposure is expected, was studied by measuring the degree of radiation and its duration for an appropriate level of protective action guide. To do this, we measured the radiation change in the graphite based energy degrader, the efficiency of transmitted beam and relative activation degree of the transmission beam line. The results showed that while the level of radiation exposure around cyclotron and beam line during the operation is much higher than the other radiation therapy facilities, the radiation exposure rate per year is under the limit recommended by the law showing 1~3 mSv/year.
Acceleration ; Cyclotrons ; Gamma Rays ; Graphite ; Jurisprudence ; Korea ; Proton Therapy ; Protons ; Radioisotopes

OBJECTIVES: This study, as a preliminary one attempting to develop the Korean version of Integrated Therapy for the rehabilitation of schizophrenic patients, was designed to investigate the results of Integrated Psychological Therapy(IPT) and review the problems during the program application. METHODS: Cognitive Differentiation Scale, Problem-Solving Scale, and PANSS(Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale) were administered to schizophrenic inpatients before and after IPT incorporating cognitive differentiation, social perception, verbal communication, social skill and interpersonal problem-solving skill subprograms. The therapy groups were offered activities three times per week during the 12-week program. The control groups were attention-placebo groups for control ling factors such as group interaction and social attention, and were offered psychoeducation. RESULTS: The 12-week IPT groups, compared with the control groups, demonstrated significant improvements in the general psychopathology and the total symptoms of PANSS, but did not in cognitive functions and problem-solving skill. Significant improvements in cognitive functions were found only after cognitive differentiation subprogram and social skill subprogram had limited effects on social skills. But within 12-week IPT groups significant improvements in the positive symptoms, negative symptoms and general psychopathology were found. CONCLUSION: These findings support some effectiveness of IPT, but do not address the unique contribution by cognitive components. Applied to schizophrenic patients in this country, this modality had the problems such as differences in sociocultural and lingual background, duration of treatment, homogeneity in the level of the functioning among group members, management of emotions in activities, and the therapists' skill in the training of cognitive components. So the modification of this modality will be required.
Humans ; Inpatients ; Psychopathology ; Rehabilitation ; Schizophrenia ; Social Perception

Among the bronchogenic carcinomas, especially squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma frequently present with cavitation, which may result from tumor necrosis. Cavitary lesions of the tumor are occasionally associated with infection and misdiagnosed as benign lung abscess owing to the partial responsiveness to antibiotics. It is very difficult to distinguish the carcinomatous abscess from the benign lung abscess, because of their similar clinical and radiologic features. Delay in diagnosis of underlying lung cancer may result in poor outcome. Therefore, clinicians should remember that the patients with highly suspicious carcinoma of the lung should undergo further precise examinations to find out malignant cells.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic ; Carcinoma, Large Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Humans ; Liver Abscess ; Lung ; Lung Abscess ; Lung Neoplasms ; Necrosis

For treatment of Total Skin Electron beam Therapy (TSET), measurement of dose at various conditions is need on the contrary to usual radiotherapy. When treating TSET with modified Stanford technique based on linear accelerator, the energy of treatment electron beam, the spatial dose distribution and the actual doses deposited on the surface of the patient were measured by using EBT2. The measured energy of the electron beam was agreed with the value that measured by ionization chamber, and the spatial dose distribution at the patient position and the doses at several point on the patient's skin could be easily measured by EBT2 film. The dose on the patient that was measured by EBT2 film showed good agreement with the data measured simultaneously by TLD. With the results of this study, it was proven that the EBT2 film can be one of the useful dosimeter for TSET.
Electrons ; Humans ; Particle Accelerators ; Skin

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Melanins*

Minoxidil induces hair growth in male pattern baldness and prolongs the anagen phase. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has been reported to act synergistically with minoxidil in vivo: they can enhance more dense hair regrowth than either compound alone. We evaluated the effect of minoxidil combined with ATRA on hair growth in vitro. The effect of co-treatment of minoxidil and ATRA on hair growth was studied in hair follicle organ culture. In cultured human dermal papilla cells (DPCs) and normal human epidermal keratinocytes, the expressions of Erk, Akt, Bcl-2, Bax, P53 and P21 were evaluated by immunoblot analysis. Minoxidil plus ATRA additively promoted hair growth in vitro, compared with minoxidil alone. In addition, minoxidil plus ATRA elevated phosphorylated Erk, phosphorylated Akt and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax, but decreased the expressions of P53 and P21 more effectively than by minoxidil alone. Our results suggest that minoxidil plus ATRA would additively enhance hair growth by mediating dual functions: 1) the prolongation of cell survival by activating the Erk and Akt signaling pathways, and 2) the prevention of apoptosis of DPCs and epithelial cells by increasing the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and downregulating the expressions of P53 and P21.
Tretinoin/*administration & dosage ; Minoxidil/*administration & dosage ; Keratolytic Agents/administration & dosage ; Humans ; Hair/cytology/*drug effects/*growth & development ; Drug Combinations ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Cells, Cultured ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects

Absorbed dose to water based protocols recommended that plane-parallel chambers be calibrated against calibrated cylindrical chambers in a high energy electron beam with R50>7 g/cm2 (E> or =16 MeV). However, such high-energy electron beams are not available at all radiotherapy centers. In this study, we are compared the absorbed dose to water determined according to cross-calibration method in a high energy electron beam of 16 MeV and in electron beam energies of 12 MeV below the cross-calibration quality remark. Absorbed dose were performed for PTW 30013, Wellhofer FC65G Farmer type cylindrical chamber and for PTW 34001, Wellhofer PPC40 Roos type plane-parallel chamber. The cylindrical and the plane-parallel chamber to be calibrated are compared by alternately positioning each at reference depth, zref=0.6R50-0.1 in water phantom. The DW of plane-parallel chamber are derived using across-calibration method at high-energy electron beams of 16, 20 MeV. Then a good agreement is obtained the DW of plane-parallel chamber in 12 MeV. The agreement between 20 MeV and 12 MeV are within 0.2% for IAEA TRS-398.
Electrons ; Water

"Clinical Practice Guideline for Stroke Rehabilitation in Korea 2012" is a 2nd edition of clinical practice guideline (CPG) for stroke rehabilitation in Korea, which updates the 1st edition published in 2009. After 1st stroke rehabilitation CPG, many studies concerning stroke rehabilitation have been published and the necessity for update has been raised. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention supported the project "Development of Clinical Practice Guideline for Stroke Rehabilitation" in 2012. Thirty-two specialists in stroke rehabilitation from 18 universities and 3 rehabilitation hospitals and 10 consultants participated in this project. The scope of this CPG included both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke from the acute to chronic stages. The purpose of this CPG is to provide guidelines for doctors and therapists to make a decision when they manage stroke patients and ultimately, to help stroke patients obtain maximal functional recovery and return to the society. "Clinical Practice Guideline for Stroke Rehabilitation in Korea 2012" consists of 'Chapter 1; Introduction of Stroke Rehabilitation', 'Chapter 2; Rehabilitation for Stroke Syndrome, 'Chapter 3; Rehabilitation for Return to the Society', and 'Chapter 4; Advanced Technique for Stroke Rehabilitation'. Both the adaptation and de novo development methods were used to develop this 2nd edition of CPG. The appraisal of foreign CPGs was performed using 'Korean appraisal of guidelines for research and evaluation II' (K-AGREE II); moreover, four CPGs from Scotland (2010), Austrailia (2010), USA (2010), Canada (2010) were chosen for adaptation. For de novo development, articles that were published following the latest foreign CPGs were searched from the database system, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library. Literatures were assessed in the aspect of subjects, study design, study results' consistency, language and application possibility in the Korean society. The chosen articles' level of evidence and grade of recommendation were decided by the criteria of Scotland (2010) and the formal consensus was derived by the nominal group technique. The levels of evidence range from 1++ to 4 and the grades of recommendation range from A to D. GPP (Good Practice Point) was recommended as best practice based on the clinical experience of the guideline developmental group. The draft of the developed CPG was reviewed by the experts group in the public hearings and then revised.
Canada ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Consensus ; Consultants ; Humans ; Korea* ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Rehabilitation* ; Scotland ; Specialization ; Stroke*