BACKGROUND: Acne, one af the commonest dermatological disorders, is a disease of the pilosebaceous unit, and the primarily involved site is the face, where this structure exists in maximal density. Among the many etiologieal factors of acne, changes in the kinetics of sebum secretion in acne patients have been described, but there is no report to compare follicular density and the sebum excretion rate in different facial regions between normal and acne patients. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the sebum output and follicular density in different regions of the face in women with and without acne and to evaluate the differences between the two groups. METHODS: We studied 10 normal and 14 acneic women aged 19-27. Follicular density was determined by light microscopy counting pilosebaceous units on cyanoacrylate follicular biopsy specimens. The sebum excretion rate was calculated by an image analyzer with a sebum print on Sebutape. RESULTS: 1. Follicular density was not significantly different between the normal and acne group. The number of follicles decreased from the central to the lateral aspect of the face with the highest value being on the nose tip and the lowest on the lateral forehead. 2. The total sebum excretion rate and the number of actively secreting follicles showed different patterns in the two groups. There was a decreased value in the acne group in some central regions of face. In addition, central to lateral declining pattems, shown in the normd group, were not apparent in the acne group. 3. The follicular sebum excretion rate showed large variations in both groups, without apparent central to lateral declining patterns. The confluence of adjacent follicles seemed to produce falsely low or high values compared with previous studies. CONCLUSION: Sebum production is influenced both by the number of active follicles and their individual capacity to excrete sebum, and the total sebum excretion rate was lower than normal in low grade acne in this study. Obstruction of the outflow of sebum and regression of sebaceous glands due to comnlones may account for it.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Biopsy ; Cyanoacrylates ; Female ; Forehead ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Microscopy ; Nose ; Sebaceous Glands ; Sebum*

Eosinophilic panniculitis is characterized by a prominent infiltration of numerous eosinophils in subcutaneous fat, and has been identified in patients with a variety of associated clinical conditions. A case of eosinophilic panniculitis in a 20-year-old woman with a history of atopic dermatitis is reported. She later developed superior sagittal sinus thrombosis, and we stress the importance of systemic evaluations in patients with eosinophilic panniculitis.
Dermatitis, Atopic ; Eosinophils* ; Female ; Humans ; Panniculitis* ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Superior Sagittal Sinus* ; Thrombosis* ; Young Adult

Membranous lipodystrophy is a peculiar type of fat necrosis, present in patients with various types of skin diseases. It is charaeterized by the presence of microcysts and macrocysts lined by amorphous eosinophilic material with a crenelated arabesque appearance and microgranules in the subcutis with massive fat necrosis. The eosinophilic lining and microgranules stain positively with periodic acid-Schiff, are resistant to diastase, and also stain with Sudan black B. We report three cases of subcutanous membranous lipodystrophy in patients with erythema induratum, posttraumatic panniculitis and morphea with typical clinical and histopathologic findings.
Amylases ; Eosinophils ; Erythema Induratum ; Fat Necrosis ; Humans ; Lipodystrophy* ; Panniculitis ; Scleroderma, Localized ; Skin Diseases ; Sudan

BACKGROUND: The cornified cell envelope (CE) is a unique structure found in the terminal differentiation of the skin. The precursor proteins of the CE are composed of many candidate structural proteins, among which invalucrin and filaggrin are important ones to participate in the complicated process of forming, the complex structure. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of expression of involucrin and filaggrin as markers of terminal differentiation in various skin disorders including tumors. METHODS: Immunohistochemical studies were performed in the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded skin samples of non-tumors (41 cases) and tumors (43 cases).
Skin*

In the treatment of maxillofacial injuries, proper intermaxillary fixation is very important in improving bone union and restoration of normal occlusion. The traditional methods of intermaxillary fixation consist of interdental wiring and ligating of arch bars to the teeth of each jaw. These methods have their fixation point within the tooth, which may afflict the tooth itself. The tooth ligation method is also unsatisfactory for partially or totally edentulous patients, necessitating adjunctive circumferential wiring and acrylic splint to effect fixation. Furthermore, because of excessive manipulations (about 14-20 wire) during interdental wiring, it increases the possibility of associated gingival and mucosal injuries, and infections acquired during operation due to skin punctures. The authors have devised an improved method of placing miniscrews into the maxilla and mandibular alveolar bone and using these miniscrews for points of intermaxillary fixation. This procedure has been used in 17 patients with variable mandible fracture. In these cases we obtained better results than those with teeth ligating methods. The advantages of author's method include easy placement and removal with minimal wiring, decreased operation time, decreased patient discomfort, reduced risk of tooth, periodontal tissues, and oral mucosa injuries, and reduced risk of delivering blood transmitted diseases (AIDS, hepatitis) by skin puncture. As far as the stabilization and oral hygiene are concerned, fixation method was found to be superior to tooth ligation methods. Moreover, in patients with multiple dental injuries, author's intermaxillary fixation method proved to be simple and safe. With these advantages, new intermaxillary fixation method without tooth ligation is very useful for mandibular fractures and maxillofacial operations.
Humans ; Jaw ; Ligation* ; Mandible ; Mandibular Fractures ; Maxilla ; Maxillofacial Injuries ; Mouth Mucosa ; Oral Hygiene ; Punctures ; Skin ; Splints ; Tooth*

The field of forensic DNA requires not only genetic typing but also social systems. The systems include the establishment of Korean guidelines for DNA typing. There were some publications relating DNA typing guidelines in 2001 and 2002, but the works could not be sustained. Although KOLAS and KIGTE are operating now, we can hardly say that these are optimal for forensic purposes. There also have been foreign publications about the DNA typing guidelines. Considering various differences among nationality, however, we need to establish suitable guidelines for Korean. Therefore, expert members in forensic society should be concern about Korean guidelines for DNA typing and participate in this work.
DNA ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Ethnic Groups ; Humans

In this article, the sixth author's affiliation was misprinted unintentionally.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this experimental study was to evaluate the effect of immediate orthodontic loading on the stability at the bone-implant interface of titanium miniscrews in a rabbit model. METHODS: Forty titanium miniscrews (1.6 mm diameter, 8 mm length) were inserted in the tibiae of 10 rabbits. Twenty test group miniscrews were subjected to continuous orthodontic forces of 200 g immediately after implantation for a period of 6 weeks. The remaining 20 control group miniscrews were left unloaded for the same follow-up interval. Removal torque values were recorded using a digital torque gauge. An independent t-test was performed. RESULTS: All the miniscrews were stable, and exhibited no mobility or displacement throughout the experimental period. Histologically, miniscrews were well-integrated into bone. No statistically significant differences in removal torque data were found between the loaded test and the unloaded control groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that titanium miniscrews can be used as anchoring units for orthodontic tooth movement immediately after insertion.
Follow-Up Studies ; Rabbits ; Tibia ; Titanium ; Tooth Movement ; Torque*

Hemorrhagic cystitis is potentially life-threatening sequellae of chemotherapy using oxazaphosphorine alkylating agents (cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide). Mesna contains a sulfhydryl group that is believed to bind acrolein within the urinary collecting system and reduce the hemorrhagic cystitis without affecting the chemotherapeutic potential. To date, about thirty cases of hypersensitivity or allergic reactions of the delayed and urticarial type associated with mesna have been reported. We reported two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who developed facial rash and flushing associated with mesna which imitate malar rash.
Acrolein ; Alkylating Agents ; Cyclophosphamide ; Cystitis ; Drug Therapy ; Exanthema* ; Flushing ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Mesna*

We report two cases of toxic methemoglobinemia caused by an inert ingredient in pesticide product after intentional ingestion of pesticide. First, 51-year-old male visited to the emergency department (ED) after the ingestion of pesticide in a suicide attempt. Initial methemoglobin (MetHb) level was 25.6%. We did not know the cause of methemoglobinemia at that time. Second, 56-year-old female visited to the ED after the ingestion of the same pesticide in a suicide attempt. MetHb level after 30 minutes was 16.1%. The patients were treated with methylene blue. We contacted to the Korean Rural Development Administration and estimated that magnesium nitrate was more likely to cause methemoglobinemia. This report highlights the importance of considering the possibility of methemoglobinemia caused by inert ingredient in pesticide and early antidotal therapy.
Eating* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Humans ; Magnesium ; Male ; Methemoglobin ; Methemoglobinemia* ; Methylene Blue ; Middle Aged ; Pesticides ; Social Planning ; Suicide