BACKGROUND: Recently, it has been suggested that autoantibodis face of melanocytes are prevent in the sera of vitiligo patients. However, these autoantibodies exist, whether they are specific for vitiligo a vitiligo patients possess them. In addition, the specificity of the iti lecular weight of the antigen are all unsolved areas demanding further. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible role of autoimmune microvitiligo, this study was designed to verify the presence of auto and vitiligo antigen from the surface of melanocytes, the specificity of gene specific antigens on the sunever, it is not known whether ents, and what percentage of goantigen and the exact moier research. anisms in the development of bodies in vitiligo patients, the utoantibodies and vitiligo anti. METHODS: Indirect immuvofluorescent microscopy, flow cytoriiety, and ELISA was done to compare the reactions between melanocytes and sera. SDS-PAC island immunoblotting were used for the identification of vitiligo antigen. RESULTS: Vitiligo sera showed more prominent fluorescence and higher optical density on the surface of melanocytes than normal sera. Forty-four percent of vitiligo sera was directed to melanocytic surface antigen with a molecular weight of 65kDa. The sition assay using rabbit antimelanocytic antibody showed an inhibition of the reaction betw er vitiligo sera and melanocytes in ELISA and immunoblotting. CONCLUSION: A surface antigen of 65kd was identified from melanocytes and 44.4% of the vitiligo sera showed positive reactions to this antigen.
Antigens, Surface ; Autoantibodies* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Melanocytes* ; Microscopy ; Molecular Weight ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Vitiligo*

BACKGROUND: One of the most, probable pathogenesis of vitiliga is autoimmune. Systemic cor tico st,eroids suppress immunity and may arrest the progression of vitiligo and lead to repigmentation. OBJECTIVE: We have assessed the clinical effect of a oral small oral dose of corticosteroid to minimize side effects in vitiligo patients. METHODS: Thirty four patients(9;male, 25;female) with vitiligo were evaluated in this study. The patients took 7.5mg-20mg prednisolone initially for 2 months and then the dosage was tapered to half of the initial dosiat the 3rd month and half of dose of 3rd month for the last 4th month. We compared the effcct of treatment of vitiligo before and aft.er the study by photographs. and side efferts were issessed at. 1, 2, 3 and 4 month. RESULTS: The arrest of the progression of vitiligo was noticed in 79% of patients and repigmentation was noticed in 59% of patients which is statistically significant. The effect, of treatment according to extent, duiation, type, and site of vitiligo were not statistically significant. The side effects of treatment were minimal and did not affect the course of treatment. CONCLUSION: Small doses of iral corticosteroids are effective without any significant side effects in preventing progression and loiiduce repigmentation of active spreading vitiligo and generalized type of vitiligo that is difficult to treat with topical corticosteroids.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones* ; Humans ; Prednisolone ; Vitiligo*

BACKGROUND: Epidermal grafting using cryotherapy for recipient sites is in widespread use. However the peripheral hypopigmented haloes that occur around the recipient sites require prolon gation of the treatment period. OBJECTIVE: We used a CO2 laser to remove the epidermis of the recipient sites for betteri results. METHODS: We treated lie localized vitiligo patients with CO2 laser to remove t.he epidermis and grafted suction blister rooves. We observed repigmentation and complications 1 month later. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS : The superiority of this method is demonstrated by the fact 1) all prodedures can be completed on the day of operation 2) the incidence of hypertrophic scar and peripheral hypopigmented halos can be observed.The problems of this method are 1) uneven repigmentation of recipient. sites 2) hyperpigrnentation of recipient sites
Blister ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; Cryotherapy ; Epidermis* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lasers, Gas* ; Suction ; Transplants* ; Vitiligo*

No abstract available.
Nevus, Pigmented*

To determine effects of the direction of the rotational work shifting on the circadian rhythm and adaptation of physiological and psychological components were investigated with nursing students. Two groups of seven volunteers participated as experimental subjects, and eight nursing students participated as a control group. The directions of rotation work shift were as follows : CW(clockwise)-shift system rotation in the direction of day shift(3 lays), evening shift(3days), off duty(1day) and night shift(5days). and CCW(counterclockwise)-shift system rotation in the reverse direction. Urinary free cortisol and 17-hydroxycorticoster oids in the urine were measured by the solid-phase radioimmunoassay and the colorimetry methods, re spectively. Plasma melatonin was measured by radioimmunoassay. The urinary free cotisol rhythm changed to ir-regular on the evening and night shift in the CCW shift system, whereas the rhythm seems to adapt on night shift in the CW shift system. The daily rhythms of urinary 17-OHCS indicate that they are well synchronized to shift work. These results show that the rotation of shift in the CW direction is more acceptable in terms of the adaptation of hormonal rhythms. These results indicate that the CCW rotation of shift work makes it more difficult for the workers to adapt on a physiological level, and has many more negative effects on nurses when compared with the CW rotation. Thus, a clockwise rotating shift systern seems to be more desirable for the optimal health and performance of nurses.
Circadian Rhythm* ; Colorimetry ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone* ; Melatonin ; Plasma ; Radioimmunoassay ; Students, Nursing ; Volunteers

Recently, alteration on chemical treatment on the root and removal of pathologic bacteria, which is the main reason for periodontal disease, by complete removal of infected cementum layer was been emphasied In this study, teeth extracted due to periodontal disease were root planed using periodontal curette and roto bur. Then they were treated with different concentration of Tetracycline HCl at different time. The state of root surface and change in the pre and post treatment was observed. The results were as follows. 1. The group treatment with periodontal curette and saline showed remaining plaque, debris and irregular surface and no dentianl tubule orifice could be seen. 2. The group treatment with periodontal curette and tetracycline HCl showed process compoed with decacified material and there was concanity seemed to be a lacunae of cementocyte. 3. The group treatment with roto bur and saline, there was no remaning plaque and partial dentinal tubule orifice could be seen but smear layer covering them. 4. The group treatment with roto bur and tetracycline HCl showed various shape and size dentinal tubule orifice could be seen. From the results, roto bur showed cleaner surfaces than treatment with periodontal curette. But still smear layer existed. Thus for regeneration of periodontal tissue, chemical treatment using tetracycline HCl should follow roto bur treatment. And it is considered that the treatment time is more important than the concentration of tetracycline HCl.
Bacteria ; Dental Cementum ; Dentin ; Periodontal Diseases ; Regeneration ; Root Planing* ; Smear Layer ; Tetracycline* ; Tooth

We experienced a case of transient right-sided heart failure after angioplasty of membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava confirmed by sonography and an inferior vena cavogram. Angioplasty involved the use of a self-expandable metallic stent, but after successful recanalization of the obstruction , the patient became dyspneic. Chest radiography revealed mild cardiomegaly with pulmonary congestion, but this was resolved spontaneously. For the prevention of serious heart failure, we recommend preprocedural evaluation of cardiac function.
Angioplasty* ; Cardiomegaly ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Heart Failure* ; Humans ; Radiography ; Stents ; Thorax ; Vena Cava, Inferior*

Dieulafoys lesion consists of abnormally large gastric submucosal artery which ruptures into the stomach causing massive or recurrent intragikstric bleeding. The lesion is very small and easily overlooked even at laparatomy and aan only be correctly diagnosed by endoscopy or arteriography if the patient is actively bleeding. Three patients who were admitted with bleeding of upper gastrointestinal tract and eventually diagnosed as having Dieulafoys lesions were analysed. All were men with age range of 44 to 55 years. All patient were asymptomatic before presenting with hematemesis. Two of the three patients had had history of upper Gl bleeding. One patient used analgesics daily for ureteral colic and two patient drank alcohol excessively. Gastroscopy was performed during the bleeding episode in all three patients. Dieulafoy's lesion was seen in all three cases and in the second case, there was concomittent diffuse petechia in the whole stomach. The lesion was situated on the posterior wall of upper body in one, on anterior wall of upper body in another, lesser curvature side of gastric fundus in the other case. All three patient underwent laparotomy for persistent bleeding and the lesion was suture ligated only in two patients while in one patient vagotomy and pyloroplasty was added. Resection biopsy was performed in two cases and both revealed only normal gastric mucosa. All patients discharged after complete recover.
Analgesics ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Biopsy ; Endoscopy ; Gastric Fundus ; Gastric Mucosa ; Gastroscopy ; Hematemesis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Male ; Renal Colic ; Rupture ; Stomach ; Sutures ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract ; Vagotomy

PURPOSE: If significantly influenced by chronic otomastoiditis(COM), mastoid pneumatization and the position of the sigmoid sinus affect the operative procedure and postoperative complications in middle ear surgery. We evaluated mastoid pneumatization and sigmoid sinus position, and their relationship in COM, especially its during onset. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using temporal bone CT and referring to any relevant medical records, we retrospect+tively analyzed 107 cases of COM and 49 cases of normal ear. The total case load comprised an adult group, aged above 16 years [100 cases of COM (M:F=46:54, mean age = 45 years), and 42 cases of normal ear,(M:F=20:22, mean age = 44 years)], and a childhood group, aged less than 16 years [7 cases of COM (M:F=4:3, mean age = 8.4 years), and 7 cases of normal ear (M:F=4:3, mean age = 7 years)]. We determined the thickness of the mastoid bone by measuring the shortest distance between the outer cortex of this bone and the deepest border of the sigmoid sinus; the depth of the sigmoid sinus; and the degree of mastoid pneumatization and sclerosis. Fifty-three patients whose medical history clearly included the onset of otomas-toiditis were divided into a child-onset group and an adult-onset group, and the relationship between the onset of otomastoiditis and the thickness of the mastoid bone was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The mean axial thickness of the mastoid bone was 9.672 <+/-2.745 mm in COM and 12.430 +/-3.027 mm in normal ear. The difference was statisfically significant (p < 0.0001). The mean depth of the sigmoid sinus was 7.557 +/-1.868 mm in COM and 7.591 +/-2.315 mm in normal ear, with no statistically significant difference. In the childhood group, the mean axial thickness of the mastoid bone was 8.672 +/-2.978 mm in COM and 11.778 +/-3.087 mm in normal ear. This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). In the adult group, the corresponding figures were 9.742 +/-2.731 mm in COM and 12.538 +/-3.041 mm in normal ear, a dif-ference which was also statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Among patients with an obvious history of COM, child-onset cases totalled 24 (mean axial thickness of the mastoid bone, 9.2.0 +/-2.158 mm), while there were 29 adult-onset cases (mean axial thickness, 10.08 +/-2.99 mm). This difference in thickness between child-onset and adult-onset COM was statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In COM, the degree of mastoid pneumatization is proportional to the axial thickness of the mastoid bone, and inversely proportional to the degree of sclerosis, anterior location of the sigmoid sinus and the onset of COM. If the sigmoid sinus is properly located, COM may inhibit mastoid pneumatization.
Adult ; Colon, Sigmoid* ; Ear ; Ear, Middle ; Humans ; Mastoid* ; Medical Records ; Postoperative Complications ; Sclerosis ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Temporal Bone

An isolated avulsion fracture of the subscapularis from the lesser tuberosity of the proximal humerus is rare in the pediatric population and only a couple of cases have been described in literature. A 12-yearold right-handed boy, was admitted to the hospital with left shoulder pain after falling down the previ-ous day. Physical examination revealed tenderness on the lesser tuberosity and intertubercular groove of the humerus and a limited range of motion. Ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging showed an isolated avulsion fracture of the subscapularis tendon from the lesser tuberosity of the humerus, accompanied by medial subluxation of the long head of the biceps tendon.In this case, a subscapularis avulsion fracture which is rare in this age group was detected at an early stage, and surgical treatment resulted in positive outcomes. Subscapularis avulsion fractures in children are difficult to diagnose in the early stages, and if not treated on time, the symptomatic improvement may be delayed. Timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment can help faster return to normal activi-ties. We would therefore like to report this case with a literature review.