BACKGROUND: All though the cause of alopecia areata is not known, many studies have recenty focused on the autoimmunity of alopecia areata. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to detect autoantibodies against hair follicular antigens and compare the autoantibody level before and after treatment of alopecia areata. METHODS: We collected serum from: (a) 7 alopecia areata patients with good therapeutic responses, (b) 5 alopecia areata patients with poor therapeutic responses (c) 5 normal control people. First, we detected the antigens of hair follicles with SDS-PAGE. Secondly we reacted the antigens with the patients' and normal control serums by Western blotting. RESULTS: The follicular antigens were seen in the range of 44kD-57kD. Autoantibodies obviously apparent in patients of alopecia areata but not in the normal control. High concentrations of were Autoantibodies against follicular antigens seemed to be present in the patients with good therapeutic responses and as they had been treated well, the level of autoantiboies has decreased. Autoantibodies, however, were present in small amounts and were almost an changed between before and after treatment in the patients with poor therapeutic responses except for one case. CONCLUSION: There are kinds of autoantibodies against hair follicles in the serums of alopecia areata patients, and the titers of antibodies may be correlated with therapeutic responses.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Antibodies ; Autoantibodies* ; Autoimmunity ; Blotting, Western ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Hair Follicle* ; Hair* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: The regular use of soaps and synthetic detergents has been associated with skin dryness and aggravation of dermatological conditions. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the irritancy of 10 hand dishwashing liquids on normal skin. METHODS: The skin changes, responding to repeat patch testing with 10 hand dishwashing liquids, were measured by visual scoring. RESULTS: The results are summarized as follows; 1. Of the 16 healthy volunteers 8 had reactions. 5 women and 3 men, but there was no significant difference in irritancy between men and women. 2. The mean irritancy scores of the 10 hand dishwashing liquids ranged from 0.06 to 0.88. 3. A prominent increase in the degree of erythema in the first 24 hour patch test did not persist beyond exposure day 5, but after day 5, augmented responses of the erythema and scales, even fissuring occurred. 4. The pH of the test solutions of the hand dishwashing liquids ranged from 5.0 to 6.0, but there appeared to be no correlation between pH and irritancy in the dishwashing liquids tested. CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that regular exposure to hand dishwashing liquids may cause disturbances of the skin in a substantial proportion of individuals, and workers should use hand dishwashing liquids in lower concentrations than recommended and only for short periods with protective measures.
Detergents ; Erythema ; Female ; Hand* ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Male ; Patch Tests ; Skin* ; Soaps ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: The keratinocyte growth factor(KGF) is a recently identified mitogen for epithelial cells produced by nomal stromal fibroblasts. ln the skin, KGF has been shown to stimulate keratinocyte proliferation and differentiatian. Dendritic epidermal T cells(DETC) are skin-specific members of the epithelial y 8 T-cell family that reside normally in the murine epidermis. The DETCs recognize antigen expressed by damaged or diseased neighboring keratinoctyes and consequently secrete cytokines sueh as IFN- y, lL-2, IL-4, GM-CSF. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to observe the expression of KGF mRNA in keratinocyte and DETC as well as to investigate the cytokine-mediated intercellular communication between kerati- nocyte and DETC. METHODS: Using a RT-PCR(reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction), we examined the expression of KGF mRNA in keratinocyte and DETC, and compared the level of KGF mRNA between resting and activated DETC with Con-A (concanavalin A).
Cytokines ; Epidermis ; Epithelial Cells ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 7* ; Fibroblasts ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; Keratinocytes* ; RNA, Messenger* ; Skin ; T-Lymphocytes

BACKGROUND: Skin cancers arc the most common malignancies in human. The increasing incidence of skin cancer has been attributed to increasing exposure of the papulation to sunlight and other factors, such as chemicals or. viruses. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate a recent 10 year period(1984-1993) of clinical observation of cutaneous malignant tumors. METHODS: A statistical study was made with 60 cases of malignant tumors that visited the Departrnent of Dermatology, Chung Ang University during a 10 year period(1984-1993). RESULTS: 1. The mean incidence of cutlneous malignant tumors in the total number of outpatients was 0.16%(60/36,416). The incidence of malignant turnors has tended to increase in the last 4 years. 2. The age of onset was quite varied but the majority of cases, 51 cases(85.0%), were over 40 years old. The ratio of rnen to women was 1.3: 1.3. Among the 60 cases of malignant cutaneous tumors, the most frequently observed tumor was basal cell carcinoma, 20 cases(33.3% ). The next most frequent tumors were squamous cell carcinoma, 9 cases(15.0%), metastatic carcinoma, 9 cases(15.0%) and malignant melanoma, 6 cases(10.0%). 4. Among the 20 cases of basal cell carcinoma, 19 cases(95.0%) were over 40 years old. The most frequent age was the 7th decade(30.0%). The most common predilection sites were the nose (30.0%), the cheek(20.0%) and the eyelid(10.0%). 5. Among the 9 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, 8 cases(88.9% ) were over 40 years old. The ratio of men to women was 1: 2. The most frequent age was the 8th decade(44.4% ). The most common predilection sites were the head(55.6%), lower extremity(22.2%), upper extremity (11.1%) and trunk(11.1%). 6. All patients with malignant melanoma were over 40 years old. The most frequent age was the 5th decade(50.0%). The most cornmon predilection sites were the upper and lower extremities (66.7% ). 7. Among the 9 cases of metastatic carcinoma, 7 cases(77.8%) were over 40 years old. The ratio of men to women was 1: 1.25. The most frequent primary tumor was stomach cancer in men and lung cancer in women. 8. Cutaneous malignant tumor. usually had no detectable metastasis but there were 2 cases of extramammary Pagets disease with metastasis in the regional lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS : This study revealed that the incidence of malignant tumors has tended to increase over the last few years, the most frequent age was over 40 years old, the most observed turnor was basal cell carcinoma and any type of cutaneous malignant tumors was rarely metastasis.
Adult ; Age of Onset ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Dermatology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lower Extremity ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Melanoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nose ; Outpatients ; Paget Disease, Extramammary ; Skin Neoplasms ; Statistics as Topic ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Sunlight ; Upper Extremity

BACKGROUND: Female diffuse hair loss is a common baldness with a multifactorial origin. In recent studies, it has been suggested that reduced or depleted iron stores are a cause of female diffuse hair loss. OBJECTIVE: We performed this study in order to elucidate the pathogenesis of female diffuse hair loss and to evaluate the differences in serurn iron levels between normal females and those with diffuse hair loss in Korea. METHODS: Blood levels of hemoglobin, iron, TIBC, ferritin, testosterone, thyroid function, ANA and Zn were examined in 30 patients with female diffuse hair loss and 20 normal females. RESULTS: 1) Serum Zn, testosterone, T4, TSH of the patient group were not statistically significant compared to those of the control group (p>0.05). 2) TIBC values were significantly increased, but serum ferritin levels were signifieantly decreased in the patient group (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in hemoglobin, serum iron in both groups (p>0.05). 3) No significant differences between clinical severity and the values of serum Zn, testosterone, T4, TSH, TIBC, serum femtin, hemoglobin and serum iron were observed (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggested that the variations of TIBC, serum femtin levels may play a role in the pathogenesis of female diffuse hair loss, but further studies will be needed for evaluation of this condition.
Alopecia ; Female* ; Ferritins ; Hair* ; Humans ; Iron* ; Korea ; Testosterone ; Thyroid Gland

BACKGROUND: Superficial fungal infections are common diseases acid the prevalence of superficial fungal diseases are not static but change under the influence of various forces such as climate, migration of peoples and development in prophylaxis and therapy. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the present status of superficial dermatiphytoses and some changes on the frequency of the diseases, sex distributions and varieties of the casiative organisms. MEHTODS: The clinical and rnycological aspects of superficial fungal diseases of 3,222 patients from July 1989 to June 1992 were analyzed. Results : 1) The incidence of superficial fungal diseases was 25.4% of total out-patients. 2) The superficial fungal diseases showed a higt incidence in the third(26.4%) and the fourth decade(24.3%). 3) The ratio of male to female was 2.11:1(2,188:1,034). 4) The monthly prevalence of super ficial fungal diseases was high inhuly(17.8%), August(15.2%) and June(1.7%). 5) The incidence of superficial fungal diseases in order of frequency were tinea pedis ,28.1%, tinea cruris(19.5%), onychomycosis(15.6%), tinen orporis(11.5%), tinea manus(7.8%), tinea versicolar(7.8%), candidiasis(7.4%) and tinea capitis(2.3%), 6) Coexisting fungal infections were found in 644 patients(19.9%) and the case of tinea pedis with onychomycosis was the most common. 7) The positive rate of KOH scraping was 54.0% and the positive rate of culture on ordinary Salourauds dextrose agar media was 42.7%. 8) Trichophyton rubr,im was the most common causative orantism of superficial dermatophytes(38.4%), and other in decreasing frequency were Candida albicans(36.9%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes(23.6%) Microsporum canis(0.7%), Trichophyton ferrvgiteum(0.3%) and Epidermophyton floccosum(0.1%). CONCLUSION: These results are not significantly different from those iif previous studies. But the incidence rate of the superficial pungal diseases(25.4%) were higher thar, previous studies and showed a high incidence in young male patients and in the summer. The positiv rate of KOH scraping(54.0%) was lower than previous studies. The most common causative organism was Trichophyton rubrum(38.4 %).
Agar ; Candida ; Climate ; Epidermophyton ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Microsporum ; Onychomycosis ; Outpatients ; Prevalence ; Sex Distribution ; Tinea ; Tinea Pedis ; Trichophyton

No abstract available.
Leiomyosarcoma* ; Rectum*

Whiplash injury in low-speed traffic accidents are not objectively verified by medical equipment, thereby creating scope for misuse, which has resulted in huge social losses worldwide. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of low-speed vehicular rear-impact collisions on middle-aged men, and to analyze the head and neck injury criteria for the symptomatic human volunteers. Data was examined from the results of 50 dynamic sled tests, originally performed by Hong et al. (2012). In the previous tests, 50 men aged 30~50 years were exposed to an impulse equivalent to a bumper-to-bumper rear collision under medical supervision, and no resulting whiplash injury was identified. In this study, for 6 subjects who experienced dull aches over their bodies, head injury criteria (HIC15) and neck injury criteria (N(km)) were calculated according to the accelerations, forces, and moments at the occipital condyle measured by motion capture system. Although there were no changes in magnetic resonance imaging findings in all subjects at the pre-/post-test orthopedic examination, 6 subjects revealed mild aches around the shoulder, back, or lumbar area, and their symptoms disappeared within 2 days. The head and neck injury criteria, HIC15 (3.086 +/- 2.942) and N(km) (0.077 +/- 0.064) were obtained, and the maximum HIC15 and N(km) were found to be significantly lower than the critical injury assessment reference values (HIC15: 700, N(km): 0.3). Moreover, even though 2 subjects were exposed to the same level of change of velocity (7.9 km/h), each N(km) was significantly different (0.179, 0.057). One can therefore conclude that N(km) can vary according to voluntary movements in the human subject.
Acceleration ; Accidents, Traffic ; Aged ; Automobiles ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Head ; Human Experimentation ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neck ; Neck Injuries ; Organization and Administration ; Orthopedics ; Reference Values ; Shoulder ; Whiplash Injuries

Cartilage is one of the most commonly manipulated tissue in esthetic and reconstructive surgery. Cartilage has an important role in longitudinal bone growth. Anabolic hormones and locally produced peptide growth factors are known to influence this process Matrix composition changes through proliferation, maturation, and differentiation of chondrocytes, and endochondral ossification thereafter. Defined cartilage matrix is synthesized during the maturation of chondrocytes where the major change is the increment of type II collagen. Variable sulfated mucololysaccharides and hyaluronic acid are also synthesized during this maturation. IGF-I(insulin like growth factor-I), so called somatomedin C, is a prominent growth factor in serum. IGF-I is known to be involved in long growth. IGF-I is affected by pituitary growth hormone. There are few studies done on IGF-I effect in cartilage matrix formation and possible changes of collagen subtypes. This experiment was designed to see the IGF-I effect on the colagen synthesis of cultured chondrocytes. Optimal concentration of IGF-I for the experiment was determined using H3-thymidine incorporation into DNA. The IGF-I effect on collagen synthesis was studied using H3-proline. The IGF-I effect on the synthesis of subtypes of collagen was studied using SDS-PAGE and immunocytochemical staining. Chondrocytes were isolated from the ears of New Zealand white rabbit and cultured in 2 X 10(5) cells/300 microgram density. IGF-I increased DNA synthesis, and optimal concentration of IGF-I was determined by dose-relationship curve as 10ng/ml. Collagen synthesis was increased by IGF-I. Type II collagen was increased on SDS-PAGE with IGF-I and this gel electrophoresis showed type X collagen, also. The increase in type II collagen was confirmed with immunocytochemical staining, the reaction becoming stronger with the addition of IGF-I. Type I collagen was not changed with IGF-I on immunocytochemistry. We conclude that IGE-I is an important modulator influencing not only proliferation and maturation but also terminal different-iation of chondrocytes.
Bone Development ; Cartilage ; Chondrocytes* ; Collagen Type I ; Collagen Type II ; Collagen Type X ; Collagen* ; DNA ; Ear ; Electrophoresis ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Growth Hormone ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Immunohistochemistry ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I* ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; New Zealand

Serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) and prostate acid phosphatase (PAP) were measured in 106 patients including 9 patients with prostate cancer, 63 patients with BPH. and 34 normal control group free of prostate disorders. The mean PSA value was 61.14+/-43.87 ng/ml for prostate cancer, 6.07+/-5.57 ng/ml for BPH and 1.42+/-0.98 ng/ml for normal control group, and the mean PAP value was 9.81+/-10.16 ng/ml for prostate cancer, 1.58+/-2.36ng/ml for BPH and 1.00+/-0.17 ng/ml for normal control group. The positive rates of PSA were 78% for prostate cancer, 22% for BPH and 0% for normal control group, and those of PAP were 67% for prostate cancer, 6% for BPH and 0% for normal control group. The sensitivity and specificity for PSA were 78%, respectively. We conclude that PSA may be a useful tool for detection and therapeutic monitoring of the prostatic cancer.
Acid Phosphatase ; Adenocarcinoma* ; Humans ; Prostate* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen* ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Sensitivity and Specificity