BACKGROUND: Primary targit injured from the immunologic mechanism of alopecia areata is not definitely confirmed although alopecia areata is regarded as a disease occuring from certain im munologic process. Recently, par ticular interest has been focused on the follicular keratinocytes which show morphologic and anigenic alterations in active lesions. Another important point is the subclinical state hypothesi. It is based upon the observation that the patterns of T lymphocytes infiltration and ultrastructural changes of dermal papilla cells are nearly identical in active lesions and in non-lesional areas of alopecia areata. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine and to compare the aberrant expression of HLA-DR, CD1 and ICAM-1 on the follicular keratinocytes from the active alopecia areata lesion, stationary lesion and non-lesional scalp. METHODS: We performed a n immunohistochemical study, using the streptavidin system to compare the patterns of HLA-DR, CD1 and ICAM-1 immunoreactivity in the follicular keratinocytes in five active alopecia lesions two stationary lesions and non-lesional scalp specimens among four active and two stationary patients, and two normal control scalp specimens. RESULTS: In the active aloecia lesions, the HLA-DR and ICAM-1 immunoreactivity was observed in some patients while CD1 immunoreactivity was observed in all the patients. In the sta tionary alopecia lesions, none of the HLA-DR or CD1 or ICAM-1 immunoreactivity was observed as was the case in the norrial control scalp specimens. In the non-lesional normal scalp specimens, the HLA-DR, CD1 and ICAM-1 immunoreactivity showed nearly the same patterns as those in the acute alopecia leions. CONCLUSION: The aberrant antigenic alterations, especially CD1 expression of follicular keratinocytes are likely to be asociated with the active progress of alopecia areata lesions. These antigenic alterations were also observed in non-lesional scalp as well as alopecia areata lesions in the very similar patterns.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; HLA-DR Antigens ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Keratinocytes* ; Scalp* ; Streptavidin ; T-Lymphocytes

The technique of plssma exchange has been applied to a number of immune disorders in which c4eulating antibodies are present. We observed a patient with bullous pemphigoid and serious side effects of longterm use of steroid therspy. We applied ten times of plasmapheresis to him over six months period. After the plasmapheresis, clinical symptoms have greatly improved and steroid maintenance doses have been decreased. We have not observed any side effect of plasmapheresis such as thrambotopenia or hypogarnrnaglobulinemia during the whole therapeutic period.
Antibodies ; Humans ; Immune System Diseases ; Pemphigoid, Bullous* ; Plasmapheresis*

No abstract available.
Connective Tissue* ; Nevus*

Vitiligo is a disease of unknown cause in which melanocytes are preferentially destroyed by unidentified mechanisms. Vitiligo does respond slowly to psoralens with ultraviolet light and less often to applications of topical steroids. Many investigators have developed therapeutic regimens for autografts of normal melanocyte in treatment for this disfiguring disease. We present herein a case of localized vitiligo in a 26-year-old female, who was successfully repigmented with autologous skin graft and systemic PUVA therapy. The achieved result demonstrate a possible therapeutic approach for vitiligo.
Adult ; Autografts ; Female ; Ficusin ; Humans ; Melanocytes ; Psoralens ; PUVA Therapy* ; Research Personnel ; Skin* ; Steroids ; Transplants* ; Ultraviolet Rays ; Vitiligo*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: N-cadherin is known to be expressed in neuroectodermal tissue such as central nervous system and various mesodermal origin tissues such as kidney and heart. We investigated N-cadherin expression in the endocardial cushion in developing rat heart by immunohistochemical method. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Fetal rat hearts at the 11th, 13th, 15th, 17th, and 19th day of gestation and the 1st day neonatal rat heart were used. Hematoxylin and eosin stain was performed for normal cardiogenesis, and immunohistochemistry was performed for the expression of N-cadherin in interventricular septum(IVS) during cardiogenesis in rat. RESULTS: Ventricular wall and membranous part of the IVS showed positive reaction with anti-N-cadherin at the 11th day of gestation. Membranous part of IVS was begun to show tracely positive reaction at the 15th day of gestation, and thereafter the immunoreactivity was increased with maturation. At the 17th day of gestation mesenchymal cells in membranous muscular part of the IVS showed positive reaction. The similar immunoreactivity of membranous and muscular parts of IVS were shown at the 19th day of gestation. CONCLUSION: As the immunoreaction of mesenchymal cells in the membraneous part of IVS to anti-N-cadherin was increased with time, it is suggested that mesenchymal cells in membranous part of IVS were differentiated into the cardiomyocytes.
Animals ; Cadherins* ; Central Nervous System ; Endocardial Cushions ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Heart* ; Hematoxylin ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney ; Mesoderm ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Neural Plate ; Pregnancy ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Cytokines* ; Macrophages*

No abstract available.
Purpura, Thrombocytopenic* ; Rifampin*

PURPOSE: To analyze the incidence and clinical course of epithelial ingrowth after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using a femtosecond laser. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the results of 1158 eyes of 581 patients who received LASIK with the flap created by a femtosecond laser from February 2006 to March 2009 at our institute. We investigated the incidence and clinical course of LASIK in which the flap was created by a femtosecond laser. RESULTS: Epithelial ingrowth was first detected one week after surgery in 12 (57%) of 21 eyes and within one month in 19 eyes (90%). Epithelial ingrowth was localized most commonly near the temporal and nasal flap edge in 12 eyes (57%). In two eyes (9.5%), an isolated ingrowth mass was located in the pupillary area. The development of more than 2.0 mm of epithelial ingrowth was observed in three eyes (0.25%). Among 28 eyes with loose epithelium or epithelial detachment during surgery, epithelial ingrowth was observed in six eyes (21.4%) compared with 15 (1.32%) of 1130 eyes without loose epithelium or epithelial detachment. Therefore, epithelial detachment during surgery was significantly associated with epithelial ingrowth (p = 0.00). CONCLUSIONS: In LASIK in which the flap is created by a femtosecond laser, damage to the epithelial layer increases the chances of epithelial ingrowth. Therefore, avoiding epithelial defects with a gentle maneuver is needed to reduce the chance of epithelial ingrowth during surgery.
Epithelium ; Eye ; Humans ; Incidence ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ ; Retrospective Studies

We experience coronary artery aneurysm and coronary artery stenosis in an adult as complications of Kawasaki disease. The patient suffered from ischemic heart disease due to coronary artery aneurysm and stenosis, We carried out PTCA and stenting at stenotic coronary artery successfully. A brief review of related literature was made.
Adult* ; Aneurysm ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Aneurysm* ; Coronary Stenosis* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Stents

We present a case of venous hemangioma which is seen beneath a clavus (corn) developed in the interdigital area of the foot. Clinically, a violaceous papule was located on the third and fourth interdigital spaces under an overlying corn. Histopathologic examination showed a non-encapsulated dermal mass composed of thick-walled and thin walled vessels lined by a single layer of endothelial cells. Some thick-walled vessels had protruding endothelial cells into the lumen and through Verhoeff-van Gieson and Masson-trichrome stain of the tissue section, we found that the vascular mass was composed of vein.
Endothelial Cells ; Foot ; Hemangioma* ; Veins ; Zea mays