BACKGROUND: Many mammals normally have a population of dermal melanocytes but these are not found in man, In humans, persistent dermal melanocytes can occur in the Mongolian spot, the nevus of Ota, and the blue nevus. Mongolian spot develops in the fetal or neonatal time and disapperars almost invariably during childhood. In contrast, nevus of Ota and blue nevus are not usually present at birth and persists in adult life. Recently, it was established that apoptosis can be involved in the development of melanocytes. The integrins mediate cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, and apoptosis can be induced by disruption of cell-matrix interactions. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of integrins (a2, a3, ar) and in situ detection of fragmented DNA in Mongolian spot, nevus of Ota, and blue nevus. METHODS: Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues from 8 cases of Monglian spot, 5 cases of nevus of Ota, and 4 cases of blue nevus were immunolabelled with monoclonal antibodies TM directed against az, ay, and av integrin, and stained with ApopTag in situ using an Apoptosis Detection kit. The cases of Mongolian spot were divided into two groups in which group A represented the the cases of more than 45 melanocytes and group B represented the cases of less than 10 melanocytes in a tissue section of 4-mm taken from punch biopsy specimens. RESULTS: Blue nevi showed az and e integrin expressions in dermal melanocytes and weak to negative staining of g v integrin in comparison with all positive expressions of a z, a s, and g y integrin in A group-Mongolian spots and nevi of Ota. The B group-Mongo]ian spots showed the continuous expressions of a z and a y integrin with negative expressions of a v integrin. The ApopTag kit staining was all negative in the Mongolian spots, nevi of Ota, and blue nevi. CONCLUSION: Our results support the view that dermal melanocytic tumors, such as the Mongolian spot, the nevus of Ota, and the blue nevus, might be induced by the disturbance or inhibition of the apoptotic process of the melanocytes, and that the spontaneous disappearance of the Mongolian spot may not be related to the apoptosis.
Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Apoptosis ; Biopsy ; DNA ; Humans ; Integrins ; Mammals ; Melanocytes ; Mongolian Spot ; Negative Staining ; Nevus ; Nevus of Ota ; Nevus, Blue ; Parturition

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the basophil histamine releasability in response to IgE- and non- IgE-mediated stimuli in children with atopic asthma. Met: Basophil histamine releasability was measured in Dermatophagoides farinae (D. farinae)-sensitive atopic asthmatics, D.farinae-sensitive healthy atopics, non-atopic asthmatics, and healthy non-atopics. Basophils were stimulated with D.farinae, goat antihuman IgE antibody, formyl-Met-Leu-Phe(fMLP), and Calcium ionophore A23187. Histamine was measured by automated fluorometric technique. RESULTS: Sponianeous histamine release was higher in atopic asthmatics compared to healthy non-atopics. Histamine release by D.farinae and by anti-IgE antibody was higher in atopic asthmatics compared to the other groups. There was no difference in histamine release by fMLP among all groups. Histamine release by Calcium ionophore was higher in healthy atopics and non-atopic asthmatics compared to healthy non-atopics. The atopics showed correlation between histamine release by D.farinae, by anti-IgE antibody and total serum IgE levels. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous and IgE-mediated histamine release were related to the presence of both atopy and asthma, whereas non-IgE mediated histamine release was different depending on the stimuli.
Asthma* ; Basophils* ; Calcimycin ; Calcium ; Child* ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Goats ; Histamine Release ; Histamine* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E

Xeroderma pigmentosum is a hereditary disorder characterized by the early development of pigmentary chnges, atropht, keratoses, and carcinoma, predominantly light exposed area skin.Two cases of xeroderma pigmentosum complicated by basal cell Ca. were presented. The one was 15 years old male who had been suffered from pea to walnut sized multiple tumors and ulcers on the face with scattered brownish macuIes on the eun exposed area since about 9 years old of his age. The other was 22 years old maIe who had been suffered from the same skin lesions as the former on the face, neck and dorsum of hands. In both cases skin lesions aggravated during each summer seasons and there were on history of convulsions and other neurological symptoms Histopathological findings of tumors on both cases revealed typical findings of basal cell Ca.
Adolescent ; Child ; Hand ; Humans ; Ichthyosis* ; Juglans ; Keratosis ; Male ; Neck ; Peas ; Seasons ; Seizures ; Skin ; Ulcer ; Xeroderma Pigmentosum* ; Young Adult

Immunosuppressive therapy based on the use of antilymphocyte globulin (ALG) has become standard therapy for patients with splastic anemia who are not eligible for bone marrow transplantation. In this study, T cell subsets before and after ALG therapy, hematologic responses, complications and prognostic factors were analysed. Eleven (42%) out of twenty-six patients treated with ALG showed response, but two patients showed relapse. Most of the response (9 cases) was noticed within 6 months after the initiation of ALG therapy (median: 3 months). The main complications of ALG therapy were fever (91%), thrombocytopenia (86%), neutropenia (63%), and serum sickness (56%). Four patients were died just ALG therapy because of serum sickness (2 cases), intracranial hemorrhage (1 case), and shock (1 case). Short interval from diagnosis to treatment suggested to show good response (P=0.0575), but it was not significant statistically. Lymphocyte subsets were measured in the blood of 23 patients. Helper T/suppressor T cell ratio (T4/T8 ratio) at the initiation of ALG therapy (day 0) was higher significantly in patients who were responded (P=0.0299). The patients who showed above 1.0 of T4/T8 ratio on day 0 might be speculated good response (P=0.032). More difference of T4/T8 ratio between day 14 after ALG therapy and day 0 might show good response (P=0.0673). Then the actuarial probability of survival at 3 years in patients treated with ALG was 77%. Our data suggest that ALG therapy may be used as an alternative treatment to bone marrow transplantation, and T4/T8 ration of peripheral blood at the initiation of therapy may be used as one of the prognostic factors.
Anemia ; Anemia, Aplastic* ; Antilymphocyte Serum* ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Fever ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; Neutropenia ; Recurrence ; Serum Sickness ; Shock ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; Thrombocytopenia

A case of herpes simplex autoinoculated on the 1st interdigital web of right hand was reported, Herpes labialis characterized by confluent rice sized vesicular eruptions had developed on the midportion of upper lip. After 3 days, typical herpetic lesion occurred on the 1st interdigital web of right hand. We reviewed briefly the recent literatures.
Hand ; Herpes Labialis ; Herpes Simplex* ; Lip

No abstract available.
Female* ; Humans ; Urinary Incontinence*

Congenital coronary artery fistula(CCAF) is communication of a coronary artery or its main branch with one ofthe atria or ventricles, the coronary sinus, the superior vena cave, or the pulmoanry artery. In Korean peoples,only 4 cases of the CCAF were reported as rare as worldwide and authors want to report another case of CCAF,confirmed by operation. 10-years-old girl shows a fistula between sinus node artery of the right coronary arteryand right atrium on root aortogram with left-to-right shunt and Qp/Qs=1.58, in which simple ligation of the originof the sinus node atery from right coronary artery was performed. All of the 5 Korean CCAF(4 were previouslyreported and 1 of authors) were originated from right coronary artery, and of which 4 weee opening into rightventricle and 1 of authors were into right atrium. Associated cardiac anomaly was noted in only 1 case as singlecoronary artery, Ages were from 9 months of age to 10 years old and no adult left case were found. 3 were femaleand 2 were male patients.
Adult ; Arteries ; Coronary Sinus ; Coronary Vessels ; Female ; Fistula ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Ligation ; Male ; Sinoatrial Node

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy in human and rodents is associated with dramatic matemal metabolic changes. Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are mitogenic peptides that are essential for fetal and maternal tissue growth during pregnancy. They circulate complexed primarily with a serum IGF-binding protein (IGFBP-3) which regulates the availability of the IGFs to their specific target tissues. METHODS: To examine the changes of IGFs and IGFB-3 during pregnancy, we measured serum total IGF-I, free IGF-I, IGF-II and IGFBP-3 by using specific radioimmunoassay, immunoradio-metric assay, western ligand blot and western immunoblot. Blood samples were obtained from 88 pregnant women between 6-40 weeks gestation. RESULTS: While serum IGF-I levels increased up to 50% in late pregnancy, serum IGF-II levels remained unchanged. However, serum free IGF-I levels were significantly higher during pregnancy than in nonpregnancy. Western ligand blot analysis revealed that IGFBP-3 in pregnancy serum was significantly decreased at 6 weeks of gestation, continued decreased level until term, and returned to a nonpregnant level by postpartum 10 day. Serum IGFBP-3 profiles in Western immunoblot analysis revealed that 30 kDa fragments of IGFBP-3 were detectable in pregnancy serum but not in nonpregnancy serum. In contrast, serum IGFBP-3 levels using radioimmunoassay was significantly increased in late pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: 1) serum IGF-I was significantly elevated in late pregnancy 2) serum IGF-II was not significantly changed 3) free IGF-I significantly elevated throughout gestation 4) intact IGFBP-3 was markedly reduced after 6 weeks of gestation.
Blotting, Western ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II ; Peptides ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rodentia ; Somatomedins

No abstract available in English.
Stents*

MELAS (mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes) is one of the mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, A rare disease caused by a disturbance of the mitochondrial chain of respiration. MELAS is confirmed by typical light and electron microscopic findings : "ragged red fibers" by modified Gomori trichrome stain on light microscope and numerous abormal mitochondria on electron microscope. We experienced a boy with the characteristic clinical and pathologic findings of MELAS. Our patient demonstrated bilateral basal ganglia calcifications and infarction at right parieto-occipital and thalamic areas on CT and MR We found that MRI was more sensitive and represented the infarcted lesions better than CT. Detection of cerebral insults of MELAS by MRI is important in making decision on patient treatment and also in predicion of the patient prognosis.
Acidosis, Lactic ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain Diseases ; Child* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; MELAS Syndrome* ; Mitochondria ; Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies ; Muscular Diseases ; Rare Diseases ; Respiration