BACKGROUND: Many physiologic, pharmacologic and immunologic abnormalities were reported in atopic dermatitis but the cause and pathogenesis of the disease remain obscure. OBJECTIVE: This study was done to investigate the systemic immunologic abnormalities in atopic dermatitis. METHOD: To evaluate the cell mediated immunity, me quantified pei ipheral blood T lymphocytes and their subsets, using flow cytometery, and assessed plasma neopteiin levels by means of radioimmunoassay. To evaluate the abnormal humoral immunity, we assessed the serum IgE levels by means of enzyme-immunoassay. RESULTS: Mean proportions of peripheral blood T lymphocytes and, heir subsets in atopic Dermatitis patients were within normal limits. Hut the suppvessor/cytotoxic T lyrphocytes(T8) were significantly decreased in the group of se"ere atopic dermatitis compared with the group of mild atopic dermatitis(P<0.05). Plasma neopterin lervels in the group of atopic dermatitis were found to be significantly elevated as compared vith the control group(P<0.01), but no significant cifference was found between the mild and severe group of atcpic dermatitis(P>0.05). Mean serum IgE levels in the patients with atopic dermatitis were higher than reference value. But there was no significant difference between the mild and severe atopic dermatitis group. Serum IgE levels ivere negatiiely correlated with T8(r=-0.3774, P<0.05) and positively with T4/T8 ratio(r =0.5007, P<0.05). Conclusions : These data;uggest that the atopic der matitis has abr ormalities in cell mediated immunity as well as elevated IgE level.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunoglobulin E ; Neopterin* ; Plasma* ; Radioimmunoassay ; Reference Values ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets* ; T-Lymphocytes

The lack of sufficient oral mucosa available for intra-oral reconstruction has been dealt with by the use of skin or oral mucosa grafts harvested from donor sites but grafts requires more than one surgical procedures and could cause donor site morbidity. Many investigators have attempted to increase available soft tissue by tissue engineered skin or oral mucosa replacements for clinical applications. But, reconstructed mucosa by several methods have low physical properties such as rolling and contraction. The aims of this study were to develope an in vitro experimental model that maintains an epithelial-mesenchymal interaction by organotypic raft culture, and to characterize biologic properties of three-dimensionally cultured oral mucosa embedded with Polydioxanone mesh by histological and immunohistochemical analysis. The results were as follows; 1. Oral mucosa reconstructed by three-dimensional organotypic culture revealed similar morphologic characteristics to equvalent normal oral mucosa in the point that they show stratification and differentiation. 2. The expression of cytokeratin 10/13 and involucrin in the cultured tissue showed the same pattern with normal oral mucosa suggesting that organotypic co-culture condition is able to induce cellular differentiation. 3. After insertion of polydioxanone mesh, increased tensile strength were observed. These results suggest that three-dimensional organotypic co-culture of the oral mucosa cell lines with the dermal equvalent consisting type I collagen and fibroblasts reproduce the morphologic and immunohistochemical characteristics similar to those in vivo condition. And increased physical properties by use of polydioxanone mesh will helpful for clinical applications.
Cell Line ; Coculture Techniques ; Collagen Type I ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Keratins ; Models, Theoretical ; Mouth Mucosa* ; Mucous Membrane ; Polydioxanone* ; Research Personnel ; Skin ; Tensile Strength ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

40 cases of bile duct carcinoma gathered over a 6-year period at Kosin Medical College were reviewed and theirclinical and cholangiographic findings were as follows: 1. There were 29 males and 11 females (the ratio of men towomen, 2.6:1) ranging from 37 to 74 years of age. The majority (70% of cases) were in 4th & 5th decades. 2.Clinical symptoms and signs: jaundice in 95%, RUQ or epigastric pain in 75%, pruritus in 52.5%, dark urine in 35%,weight loss in 32.5%, fever and chills in 22.5%, clay colored stool in 12.5%, and palpable mass in 12.5%. 3.Lab,findings: elevated serum total bilirubin(above 20.0mg% in 45%, 10.0-19.0mg% in 22.5%, 5.0-9.9mg% in 20%,1.3-4,9mg% in 5%), elevated alkaline phosphatase in 95%. Clonorchiasis were noted in 17.5%. 4. Histologic findingswere adenocarcinoma in most cases. 5. The location of bile duct carcinoma were common hepatic duct in 35%, commonbile duct in 32.5%, porta hepatis in 12.5%, junction with cystic duct in 10% and diffuse form in 10%. 6. In 33cases, PTC or post-operative cholangiographic examination were done. And the most frequent findings weredilatation of the proximal bile duct and abrupt narrowing or complete obstruction of distal lumen. In 27cases(82%), complete obstruction of bile duct was noted. Attempts were made to analyze the type of obstruction:Constricted type in 39%, Nipple type in 18%, round or flat type (smooth or slightly irregular) in 15%, andserratd type in 9%. Incomplete obstruction were noted in 6 cases(18%). Among them, abrupt narrowing of lumen wasnoted in 9% and diffuse narrowing in 9%. 7. ERCP was done in 7 cases. Findings were constricted type in 42.6%,constricted and slightly irregular type in 14.3%, downward convexity in 14.3%, diffuse irregular narrowing in14.3% and intraluminal filling defect in 14.3%.
Adenocarcinoma ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Bile Ducts ; Bile ; Chills ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Clonorchiasis ; Cystic Duct ; Female ; Fever ; Hepatic Duct, Common ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Male ; Nipples ; Pruritus

Distal hereditary motor neuropathy (dHMN) is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by weakness and wasting of distal limb muscles without overt sensory abnormalities. Recently, autosomal dominant dHMN has been mapped to chromosome 12q24 and 7q11-q21. We present a family with autosomal dominant adult onset dHMN type II consisting of fi ve affected individuals spanning three generations. They developed mild symmetrical distal lower limb weakness, muscle wasting, and severe foot deformity after the third decade. Genetic analysis showed no support for linkage to chromosome 12q24 and 7q11-q21 in our family. These fi ndings further demonstrate a genetic heterogeneity within dHMN type II.

No abstract available.
Blood Flow Velocity* ; Fetus* ; Gases*

The lateral margin of the psoas muscle, contrasted by retroperitoneal fat, is usually visualized o plainabdominal radiography. Failure to visualize all or segment of lateral margin of the psoas muscle, so called psoassing, has been emphasized as reliable finding of retroperitoneal pathology. But the significance of psoas sign hasbeen controversial. The authors reevaluated ‘psoas sign’ by comparing 160 abdominal radiography with CT. Theresults were as follows: 1. In 160 supine radiographys, good visualization was present in 106 cases(66.3%), faintvisualizatin in 24(15.0%), segmental nonvisualization in 18(11.3%), and completer nonvisualization in 12(7.5%). In113 erect radiographs, good visualization was present in only 36 cases(31.9%). 2. Asymmetric visualization waspresent in 84 out of 160 cases. In patient with scoliosis, lateral margin of convex side was seen more clearlythan concave side, and this finding was statistically significant (p<0.005). 3. Ascites did not directly influenceto psoa visualization contrary to common belief. 4. In 54 cases of faint or nonvisualization, normal was16(29.6%), intraperitoneal pathology was 16(29.6%), and retroperitoneal pathology was 22(40.7%). 1) In normalpatient, psoas contact with kidney or intestine and deformed psoas muscle were responsible for poor visualization. 2) The major cause of poor visualization in intraperitoneal pathology were psoas contact with displaced kidney byhepatomegaly, ascites with scanty retroperitoneal fat and derformed psaos muscle. 3) The major cause of poorvisualization in retroperitoneal pathology were psoas invasion by tumor or inflammation, psoas conntact withenlarged kidney or perirenal lesion. 5. In summary, the mechanism of faint or nonvisualization of psoas marginwere: 1) psoas contact with normal or pathologic organs 2) psoas invasion by tumor or inflammation 3) deformedpsoas muscle 4) scanty retroperitoneal fat
Ascites ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intestines ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Kidney ; Pathology ; Psoas Muscles ; Radiography ; Radiography, Abdominal ; Scoliosis

A case of hepatoma presenting as extrahepatic biliary obstruction due to hemobilia is reported. The patient, a 49-year-old woman, developed jaundice of the obstructive type after a history of B-viral hepatitis. On laparotomy, the liver revealed macronodular cirrhosis without any noticeable mass. A 4-cm sized friable tissue and blood clots were identified within the distended left hepatic duct. Pathologic examination of this tissue confirmed the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma extended in the hepatic duct.
Bile Duct Obstruction, Extrahepatic/*etiology/pathology ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*complications/pathology/surgery ; Case Report ; Common Bile Duct/pathology ; Female ; Hemobilia/*complications ; Human ; Liver Cirrhosis/diagnosis ; Liver Neoplasms ; Middle Age

A case of hepatoma presenting as extrahepatic biliary obstruction due to hemobilia is reported. The patient, a 49-year-old woman, developed jaundice of the obstructive type after a history of B-viral hepatitis. On laparotomy, the liver revealed macronodular cirrhosis without any noticeable mass. A 4-cm sized friable tissue and blood clots were identified within the distended left hepatic duct. Pathologic examination of this tissue confirmed the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma extended in the hepatic duct.
Bile Duct Obstruction, Extrahepatic/*etiology/pathology ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*complications/pathology/surgery ; Case Report ; Common Bile Duct/pathology ; Female ; Hemobilia/*complications ; Human ; Liver Cirrhosis/diagnosis ; Liver Neoplasms ; Middle Age

BACKGROUND: Serologic testing is considered a standard method for syphilis diagnosis. We compared Auto RPR Plus and Auto TPIM Plus with previously developed assays. METHODS: The precision around the cut-off, linearity, and recovery rate of Auto RPR Plus and Auto TPIM Plus was evaluated using their positive/negative control materials. The results of these two tests were compared with those of Mediace RPR and Abbott Syphilis TP using 431 remnant serum samples collected from people who underwent medical examinations. RESULTS: The within-run precisions (coefficient of variation, CV values) of negative/positive control materials of Auto RPR Plus, Mediace RPR, Auto TPIM Plus and Abbott Syphilis TP were 15.7/2.3%, 20.4/2.3%, -/2.7%, and 8.5/2.3%, respectively; between-run precisions were 67.7/3.3%, 39.1/3.4%, -/4.0%, and 7.0/1.5%, respectively. Auto RPR Plus showed better precision around the cutoff level (1.0 U) compared to Mediace RPR (7.2–7.3% vs. 12.2–14.3%). The CVs of Auto TPIM Plus around the cutoff (10.0 U) were 13.5% at 10.5 U and 6.6% at 12.5 U. Agreement rates between Auto RPR Plus and Mediace RPR and between Auto TPIM Plus and Abbott Syphilis TP were 97.2% and 98.4%, respectively. However, twelve samples showed discrepant results for Auto RPR Plus (−)/Mediace RPR (+) and false-positive Mediace RPR results could not be excluded around the cutoff of 1.0 U. CONCLUSIONS: Auto RPR Plus showing good precision near the cutoff can be used for syphilis screening in health checkups. However, Auto TPIM Plus needs improvement in precision and adjusting the cutoff to be used for syphilis screening.
Diagnosis* ; Mass Screening ; Methods ; Serologic Tests ; Syphilis*

Background: Although the orofacial-function improvement exercise (OFIE; oral exercise) was first introduced in Korea 10 years prior, it is still not covered by medical insurance, and no detailed survey on the dissemination of related programs has been conducted. Therefore, this study investigated the actual status of the education and practice of OFIE among the elderly and at elderly welfare institutions in the Seoul and Gyeonggi Provinces. Methods: Senior citizens aged more than 65 years old, public health centers (total of 69) and elderly welfare institutions (including nursing homes and elderly welfare centers, total of 56) per administrative area in the Seoul and Gyeonggi Provinces were targeted. We analyzed 200 elderly people and 93 institutions who agreed to participate in the survey. For the elderly, general characteristics, experience and route, current practice, and necessity regarding OFIE were investigated. For institutions, the history and plan of education programs on OFIE were investigated. Results: Regardless of the general characteristics, both the rate of experience and practice for OFIE were low overall; moreover, although they felt it was necessary, they had insufficient motivation for its implementation. Moreover, only a few institutions which were operating the education about OFIE regardless of the COVID-19 situation. Conclusion Although OFIE is necessary for the elderly, its distribution remains insufficient. Therefore, further efforts are needed to expand the education and raise the awareness of oral exercise among elderly individuals and senior welfare institutions.