BACKGROUND: Each kind of human cell has its own characteristic morphological and functional property. In the skin, epidermal cells, including keratinocyte and melanocyte, also have their own functional characteristics. Thus, it is expected that there are some different responses to external stimuli, such as ionizing radiatio,, free radicals, and cytokines between these cells. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: To im estigate whether there are different effects of UV light on the viability of cultured human ker tinocytes and rnelanocytes. Cultured human keratinocytes and melanocytes are irradiated by UVB at 5, 25, 50, and 100mJ/cm, and examined by Methylthiazole tetrazollium assay at 0, 1, 3, 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours after UVB exposure. RESULTS: 1. The effects on viability according to the doses of UVB are as follows: 1) In the keratinocytes, the viability was increased in most of the UVB exposure groups within 24 hours after UVB exposure, and was significantly increased at 25, 50, and 100mJ/cm of UVB at 3 hours after UVB exposur.(p<0.05). However, the viability was significantly decreased at relatively high doses of UVB (50, 100mJ/cm) from 48 hours after UVB exposure (p<0.05). 2) In the melanocytes, the viability was decreased in all of the UVB exposure groups within 3 hours, and was significantly decreased in all of the UVB exposure groups at, 1 hour after UVB exposure (p<0.05). The viability was increased from 6 to 24 hours, which was significantly decreased at 100mJ/cm of UVB from 48 hours after UVB exposure (p<0.05). 2. The effects on viability according to the time after UVB exposure at the same dose of UUB In both cells, the viability was increased as time went by. The slopes of the viability curve gradually decreased according to the increment of UVB doses. CONCLUSION: The viability of keratinocyte was decreased at 50mJ/cm of UVB which melanocyte did not show decrease. Melanocyte was more easily damaged than keratinocyte in relatively earlier time period after UVB exposure. These results suggest that the change of viability in cultured keratinocyte and melanocyte after UVB exposure at the dose of less than 100mJ/cm is related to the time course after UVB exposure as well as to the UVB dose.
Cytokines ; Free Radicals ; Humans* ; Keratinocytes* ; Melanocytes* ; Skin ; Ultraviolet Rays

Vitiligo is an acquired systemic disease of the skin characterized by circumscribed patches of complete pigment loss due to destruction of melanocytes. A 28-year old male patient presented with generalized depigmented patchs. We performed microscopic studies of cultured melanocytes from this patient and compared them with those of normal neonatal foreskin. Phase contrast microscopic findings revealed no difference between the two groups of melanocytes, but transmission electron microscopic findings showed dilated circular rough endoplasmic reticulum in cultured melanocytes from our vitiligo patient. We could observe the innate cellular structural aberration of melanocytes from the vitiligo subject.
Adult ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Foreskin ; Humans* ; Male ; Melanocytes* ; Skin ; Vitiligo*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus* ; Female ; Humans* ; Ovary*

We report a case of mycosis fungoides with small follicular papules and plaques on the trunk. Histopathological findings showed lymphocytic infiltration within and around the follicular epithelium and Pautrier's microabscess in the epidermis. Immunohistochemical studies showed atypical T lymphocytes infiltrating the follicles and electron microscopic examination revealed the presence of lymphocytes with large convoluted nuclei around the follicles. These findings suggest that the follicular lesions were specific for a special variant of mycosis fungoides.
Epidermis ; Epithelium ; Lymphocytes ; Mycosis Fungoides* ; T-Lymphocytes

Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris is a rare, chronic, mildly inflammatory disease characterized by fine acuminate follicular papules with orange-red to salmon-colored scaling of the skin and erythroderma that surround islands of normal, uninvolved skin, particular in the trunk. Most patients also develop palmoplantar hyperkeratosis in the early course of the disease. Focal acantholysis occurring in pityriasis rubra pilaris is an unusual and incidental histologic finding within the spectrum of histologic change of the disease. No case featuring this concomitant histologic finding has been reported in the Korean literatures up to date. We report a case of focal acantholysis occurring in a patient with the clinical features of pityriasis rubra pilaris which may be considered as an incidental finding.
Acantholysis* ; Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Islands ; Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris* ; Pityriasis* ; Skin

CTLA-4 (=CD152), a T cell activation antigen, has been known to be homologous to CD28 in its molecular and genomic structure. Both of these two molecules are sharing their counterreceptors, B7 (CDSO) and B7-2 (CD86) and are known to play a crucial role in T cell activation. In previous our study it was reported that there are 2 forms of CTLA-4 antigen in activated human T cells, 30 kD membrane-bound form and 34 kD cytosolic-sequestered form and the former was less than 5 % of total of this antigen induced. Aims of this study are to confirm previous finding by using flow cytometry and to characterize the cytoplasmic form of human CTLA-4 by using ultrafiltration and immunoprecipitation techniques. In PHA stimulated peripheral blood lymphocyte surface expression of CTLA-4 was less than 2.1% of any of CD4+, CD8+ and CD56+ subsets. And the 34 kD form of CTLA-4 was detected in CDS+ subset only. This discrepancy confirms that 34 kD antigen is the cytoplasmic form of human CTLA-4. In ultrafiltration and subsequent Western blot analysis study this 34 kD antigen was detected in >100 kD fraction only. And in non-reducing condition this antigen formed high molecular weght complex (MW > 350 kD). In immunoprecipitation study using anti-peptide A antibody it was found that this high molecular weight complex consists of the 34 kD cytoplasmic form of CTLA-4 and previously unknown 54 kD antigen and 46 kD antigen at 1:1:8-10 ratio. And none of these 3 molecules were identified in membrane fraction of activated human T cell. The result of this study implies that CTLA-4 molecule induced upon T cell activation mainly sequestered in cytoplasrn and another signal is necessary to target this antigen on the activated T cell surface.
Antigens, CD27 ; Blotting, Western ; CTLA-4 Antigen ; Cytoplasm* ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans* ; Immunoprecipitation ; Lymphocytes ; Membranes ; Molecular Weight ; T-Lymphocytes ; Ultrafiltration

We report a case of subclavian artery laceration caused by the removal of a pigtail pleural drainage catheter in a patient with a pneumothorax. The patient was successfully resuscitated through diagnostic angiography with subsequent balloon occlusion and primary repair of the injured subclavian artery. Although pigtail drainage of a pneumothorax is known to be safe and effective, proper insertion and removal techniques should be emphasized to reduce the risk of complications.
Angiography ; Balloon Occlusion ; Catheters* ; Drainage ; Hemothorax ; Humans ; Lacerations* ; Pneumothorax* ; Subclavian Artery* ; Thoracostomy

BACKGROUND: Dermal papilla cells, which are mesenchymal components of the hair bulb are considered to play an important role in the regulation of hair growth by production of diffusible factors that stimulate follicular epithelial cells. Degenerative changes in the dermal papilla cells in the involved scalp of alopecia areata cases indicate that these cells are one of the important targets in this disease. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of serum from alopecia areata patients on the proliferation of dermal papilla cells. METHOD: Dermal papilla cells and fibroblasts from normal human scalp were cultured in DMEM media with 10% or 20% of normal and alopecia areata serum for 48hrs and 96hrs. Cell proliferation was measured by cell counts and [3H]-thymidine incorpoartion. RESULTS: Both 10% and 20% alopecia areata serum had no significant effects on the proliferation of dermal papilla cells and fibroblasts after 48hrs and 96hrs. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that there are no serum factors that inhibit the proliferation of dermal papilla cells.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Cell Count ; Cell Proliferation ; Epithelial Cells ; Fibroblasts ; Hair ; Humans ; Scalp

Addison's disease is a rare disorder resulted from a chronic deficiency of the adreanl cortical hormone. The clinical manifestations are general weakness, weight loss, hyperpigmentation, hypovolemia with hyponatremia and hyperkalemia. We report a case of Addison's disease in a 60-year-old woman who has experienced slowly progressive weakness, weight loss and generalized cutaneous pigmentation, especially sun exposed area, extensor surface and nail bed for the last, 2 years. On a hormonal assay of the adrenal glands, basal plasma cortisol level was decreased and basal plasma ACTH level was markedly elevated. A chest X-ray showed streaky tuberculous infiltration in left, upper lobe field and adrenal CT scan showed calcific densities of both adrenal glands with nodular enlargement of right adrenal gland. There was a clinical improvement with steroid replacement therapy and anti-tuber- culosis chemotherapy. A nearly normal appearance was obtained after 5 months' treatment.
Addison Disease ; Adrenal Glands ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hyperkalemia ; Hyperpigmentation ; Hyponatremia ; Hypovolemia ; Middle Aged ; Pigmentation ; Plasma ; Solar System ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Weight Loss

A case of clear cell adenocarcinoma arising in the female urinary bladder, which is accompanied by endometriosis of the urinary bladder and the uterus, is reported. The carcinoma protruded into the vesical lumen as a fungating mass, and had a tubulocyotic pattern. The tumor cell had intracytoplasmic glycogen and electron microscopically short microvilli on their surface, resembling clear cell acenocarcinoma of the female genital tract including ovary. This is the fourth case report of clear cell adenocarcinoma complicating vesical endometriosis, and may support the view that clear cell carcinome arises from endometriosis which, in turn, from the Mullerian remnant.
Female ; Humans ; Adenocarcinoma