To understand the role of Transglutaminase K(TGase K) in skin diseases, the expression of TGase K protein was studied in hyperkeratotic inflammatory skin diseases, and in several different kinds of benign and malignant skin tumors. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the TGase K protein with a new anti-human TGase K polyclonal antibody. This antibody showed the same immuno- histochemical staining pattern as in previously published immunofluorescence data with the exception that the immunohistochemical stain showed a slightly weaker stain in the granular layer. However, the staining intensity was decreased in psoriasis, which is opposite for results obtained with the widely used TGase K monoclonal antibody B.C1. In other hyperkeratotic inflammatory skin diseases, like pityriasis rubra pilaria, lichen planus, and pityriasis rosea, the staining patterns were similar while the staining intensity was decreased, compared to normal epidermis. Squamous cell carcinoma showed a diffuse staining pattern in tumor cells with a small intensity increase in well differentiated tumor cells. However, in actinic keratosis and Bowen's disease, which are thought to be precursors of squamous cell carcinoma, the staining intensity was weak. The tumor cells of basal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and seborrheic keratosis showed a weak staining intensity.
Bowen's Disease ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Epidermis ; External Fixators ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Keratosis, Seborrheic ; Lichen Planus ; Melanoma ; Pityriasis ; Pityriasis Rosea ; Psoriasis ; Skin Diseases* ; Skin*

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood which presents various clinical symptoms depending on the primary and metastatic sites. However, it has been rarely reported that sudden onset of blindness was the chief complaint of neuroblastoma. A four years old boy was admitted to the Yeungnam University Hospital with the chief complaint of a sudden onset of blindness due to a distant metastasis of abdominal neuroblastoma to the sphenoid sinus. On admission, both side pupils were dilated without light reflex, fundoscopy showed pale optic disk, electroretinogram was subnormal and visual evoked potential showed no response. The liver was palpable in 3 ½ finger breadth from the right costal margin and adult fist sized mass was palpable in the right flank. Skull X-ray showed destructed sphenoid bone and clinoid process and brain CT scan showed tumor mass in the sphenoid sinus and left orbit. Ultrasonogram and CT scan of the abdomen showed large tumor masses around the right kidney and para-aortic and retropancreatic lymph node. IVP showed displaced right calyceal system with preserved contour. Left supraclavicular lymph node which appeared after admission was biopsied and it showed poorly differentiated neuroblasts. He was treated according to the multiagent chemotherapy schedule for stage IV neuroblastoma patient of children's cancer study group. Abdominal tumor masses and sphenoid sinus mass were markedly reduced after 2 courses of the combination chemotherapy of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, DTIC, adriamycin and VM-26. Eventhough the blindness was not improved, the patient has been in good clinical codition.
Abdomen ; Adult ; Appointments and Schedules ; Blindness* ; Brain ; Cyclophosphamide ; Dacarbazine ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Evoked Potentials, Visual ; Fingers ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroblastoma* ; Optic Disk ; Orbit ; Pupil ; Reflex ; Skull ; Sphenoid Bone ; Sphenoid Sinus ; Teniposide ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Vincristine

No abstract available.
Daegu* ; Gyeongsangbuk-do* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Collagen* ; Insulin* ; Rats* ; Streptozocin*

During the last two years, 43 cases of various types of glaucomatous eyes recieved trabeculectomy ab externo under the surgical microscope. To increase filtration, edges of the scleral incision were cauterized after suture of the lamellar scleral flap. And successful trabeculectomy was achieved in 10 of 11 eyes (90%) with primary open angle glaucoma and in 15 of 17 eyes (88%) with chronic angle closure glaucoma. But the results of trabeculectomy in patients with congenital glaucoma. aphakic glaucoma and absolute glaucoma were poor. In one of the congenital glaucoma case, trabeculotomy was performed simultaneously with trabeculectomy and a good result was achieved.
Filtration ; Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; Humans ; Sutures ; Trabeculectomy*

This study was designed to investigate the effects of weight control and changes in serum components using a commercial uncooked food diet on 36 obese women over a period of 8 weeks. The subjects had uncooked food (40 g) with milk or soymilk twice a day instead of meals. The mean body weight and height measurements of the subjects at the outset were 69.1 +/- 9.3 kg and 159.5 +/- 4.4 cm, respectively. Initial daily calorie intake was 103.6 % of RDA, but was significantly lower at 4 and 8 weeks. The subjects showed a significant reduction in weight, body fat mass (p<0.05), anthropo-metric value and skinfold thickness during the experimental period. Hip and upper thigh girth were 102.7 +/- 6.4 cm and 61.7 +/- 4.3 cm at the outset, and fell to 99.3 +/- 5.0 cm and 58.8 +/- 4.1 cm after 8 weeks. The most significant reduction was in abdomen skinfold thickness (p<0.05) , which went from 32.4 +/- 8.7 mm at first to 24.2 +/- 8.3 mm in after 8 weeks. Serum albumin levels were higher at 4 and 8 weeks than initially but the figures for all of the subjects were within the normal range. Hemoglobin and blood glucose levels were also within the normal range during the experimental period. Initial serum triglyceride level was 110.5 +/- 49.5 mg/dl but fell to 93.2 +/- 48.5 mg/dl after 8 weeks. Our results show that uncooked foods are effective in the diet therapy of obese women.
Abdomen ; Blood Glucose ; Body Weight ; Edible Grain* ; Diet ; Diet Therapy ; Eating ; Female* ; Hip ; Humans ; Meals ; Milk ; Obesity ; Reference Values ; Serum Albumin ; Skinfold Thickness ; Thigh ; Triglycerides ; Vegetables*

No abstract available.
Follow-Up Studies* ; Korea* ; Rural Population*

Adult ; Animals ; Bone Marrow ; Dogs ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Humans ; Tetracycline ; Transplants

No abstract available.
beta-Thalassemia*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of degenerative changes in the patellofemoral joint on the clinical results of medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January and December 2002, we operated on 180 cases of minimally invasive UKA using the Oxford(R) phase 3. Of the 180 cases, 156 were followed up for a minimum period of 5 years. Based on intraoperative degenerative findings of the patellofemoral joint, we classified cases into 4 groups (Group I-78 cases, Group II-40 cases, Group III-27 cases, Group IV-11 cases), and the clinical data were analyzed prospectively. RESULTS: During follow-up, which averaged 6 years and 2 months, the knee score, the knee function score, the range of knee motion and the tibiofemoral angle were improved significantly (p<0.05) in all groups. The preoperative knee score and the tibiofemoral angle in the mild degeneration group (I, II) were higher than in the severe degeneration group (III, IV) (p<0.05). On the other hand, there were no significant differences between the groups in the postoperative knee score, the knee function score, the range of knee motion and the tibiofemoral angle (p>0.05). To date, no complication or failure involving the patellofemoral joint has been observed. CONCLUSION: Clinical results of UKA are satisfactory for all groups, and the severity of patellofemoral degeneration has no influence on clinical outcome. Symptomless degenerative arthritis of the patellofemoral joint is not a contraindication for medial UKA.
Arthroplasty ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Osteoarthritis ; Patellofemoral Joint ; Prospective Studies