No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Merkel Cell* ; Recurrence*

BACKGROUND: It is well known that ultraviolet light(UVL) may cause skin cancer, decrease immune function and promote skin ageing. It is also known that an increase of chlorofluorocabons as air pollution, which csuses the depletion of ozone of the earth in ihe atmosphere, enables harmful ultraviolet-B(UVB) to reaeh the surface of the earth more easily: The purpose of this study is to determine the harmful effect of UVB on the skin by observing coicurrently the morphologieal snd biochemical changes in the UVB irradiated skin. OBJECTIVE: The animal used was the hairless mouse(Hr+/Kud) which are considered to be the most suitable for a UVB irradiation experiment. The Fluorescent sunlamp(Toshiba FL, 20SE, Toshiba electrie Co., Tokyo, Japan) was used as a source of UVB. METHOD: The skin of the back and ear was irradiated by an increasing doses of UVB. In morphological changes, the slteration in keratinocytes and Langerhans cells in cell number and morphology were observed. In biochemical changes, activities of tte superoxide dismutase and eatalsse, which scsvanges reactive oxygen species(O and H) producec in the skin by UVB irradistion were assayed. RESULT: Sunburn cells appeared st 60mJ/cm of UVB and increased in number in proportion to the UVB irradiation with dose dependent pattern. The Langerhans cell decreased in number in proportion to UVB irrsdiation in dose dependent manner(half maximum dose was 60mJ/cm), and was not found at 1J/cm. The morphological changes of the Langerhans cells, such as a loss of dendrites and granulation, were noticed at 60mJ/cm of UVB irradiation. The enzyme activity of catalase decreased in proportion to UVB irradiation. The enzyme activity of SOD was not changed by UVB irradiation, however, it significantly increased at 1000mJ/cm UVB irradiation. CONCLUSION: This study suggest that UVB irradiation to the skin causes a reduction in the immune funetion and alters the normal biochemical function of the skin.
Air Pollution ; Animals ; Atmosphere ; Catalase ; Cell Count ; Dendrites ; Ear ; Keratinocytes ; Langerhans Cells ; Mice ; Mice, Hairless* ; Oxygen ; Ozone ; Skin ; Skin Neoplasms ; Sunburn ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Ultraviolet Rays

We herein report a 4-year-old boy with infantile digital fibrornatosis developing on the distal & middle phalanx portion of the right index & ring fingers, and the middle phalanx portion of the right middle finger, which started at the age of 5 months after birth. Biopsy specimen taken from the right middle finger showed the proliferating collagen bundles and fibroblasts in the dermis and eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions within the fibroblasts. Although we attempted to treat tbe patient with intralesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide suspension and cryotherapy 5 times biweekly, there was no signifit effect.
Biopsy ; Child, Preschool ; Collagen ; Cryotherapy ; Dermis ; Eosinophils ; Fibroblasts ; Fibroma* ; Fingers ; Humans ; Inclusion Bodies ; Injections, Intralesional ; Male ; Parturition ; Triamcinolone Acetonide

The nail has been considered to be the best human model to evaluate the general body state at all ages. The present study was disigned to measure the nail growth rate and to define the correlation of them with other values of nail size. The subjects were 373 males and 812 females whose ages from R months to 79 years. The results were as follows: 1. The linear elongation of the nails were most rapid in the 14 to 15 year-old age group. It decreased steadily as the subjects got older and olr1er. 2. Sex differences in the nail growth rate were not statistically significant. R. Where were no statistically significant differences in the linear growth rate of nails between right and left hands. 4. The middle finger nail grew more quickly than others, while the thumb and little finger nails grew more slowly. 5. Linear growth of nails were not significantly correlated to the thickness and length of nails and the length of lunulae.
Adolescent ; Female ; Fingers ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Sex Characteristics ; Thumb

It is interesting from a, clinical point of view that nail changes are often signs of dermatological and systemic diseass and rnay even be their leading sign. There is biological and biochemical evidence that studies of nails can serve to gauge the growth and metabolism not only of integumental appendages, but also of other bodily structures. The present study was performed to establish the standard nail sizes of healthy Koreans at successive ages, in addition to nail length, nail width, nail thickness, lunular length, lunular width and analyze of some of the factors which. might conceivably influence it. The correlation among individual nail sizes has been studied also. The subjects for this study were 373 males and 3I2 females from 8 months to 79 years of age. The results of this study were as follows; considerable individual variation in nail size was found. (countinue..)
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolism

BACKGROUND: The histopathological classification of an invasive breast carcinoma in its earliest phases is fraught with pitfalls. We wanted to clarify the biology and the clinicopathological features of a microinvasive carcinoma, which are not fully understood, by comparing then with those of an in-situ cancer. Particular attention was paid to identifying the novel markers which might be representative of a microinvasive carcinoma. METHODS: From January 1986 to December 1996, a total of 72 microinvasive carcinomas, defined as in-situ carcinomas with invasion present in less than 10% of the histological section, were found. Their paraffin blocks were chosen for immunohistochemical staining against four molecules. RESULTS: Microinvasive carcinomas had a greater primary-tumor size (2.66+/-0.17 cm vs 2.21+/-0.19 cm, p=0.045) and a larger number of metastatic axillary nodes (0.21+/-0.25 vs 0.06+/-0.16, p=0.019) than DCIS (Ductal carcinoma in situ). In terms of nuclear grade (p=0.198) and comedo type (p=0.562), there were no statistical significances between microinvasive carcinomas and DCIS. Among three primary- tumor features (size, comedo component, and nuclear grade), a tumor size> or =2.5 cm had a marginal significance affecting the incidence of axillary-node metastasis in microinvasive carcinomas (p=0.081). Of the investigational prognostic factors determined by using immunohistochemical staining, p53 expression was observed more frequently in microinvasive tumors than in DCIS (p=0.031). CONCLUSION: A microinvasive carcinoma is thought to be transitional disease entity between the in-situ to the invasive forms. In spite of the marginal statistical significance of the result a microinvasive carcinoma larger than 2.5 cm could be an indication for axillary-node dissection. In addition, p53 mutation might play an important biological role in the progression from a noninvasive to an invasive form. Also the results provide further evidence that p53 mutation might have potential use as a molecular marker.
Biology ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; Classification ; Incidence ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin

PURPOSE: Histopathological classification of invasive breast carcinoma with its earliest phases is fraught with pitfalls. We were willing to clarify the biology and clinicopathological features of microinvasive carcinoma which is not fully understood in comparison with those of in situ cancer. Particular attention is paid to identifying the novel markers which can be representative of the microinvasive carcinoma. METHODS: From January 1986 to December 1996, a total of 72 microinvasive carcinomas, defined as in situ carcinomas with invasion present in less than 10% of the histological section, were found out. Their paraffin blocks were chosen for immunohistochemical staining against four molecules. RESULTS: Microinvasive carcinoma was greater in primary tumor size (2.66?0.17cm vs 2.21?0.19cm, P=0.045) and metastatic axillary nodes (0.21?0.25 vs 0.06?0.16, P=0.019) than DCIS. In terms of nuclear grade(P=0.198) and comedo type(P=0.562), there was no statistical significance between microinvasive carcinoma and DCIS. Among three primary tumor features(size, comedo component, and nuclear grade), the tumor size> or =2.5cm had marginal significance affecting the incidence of axillary node metastasis in microinvasive carcinoma(P=0.081). Of investigational prognostic factors, determined by immunohistochemical staining, p53 expression was observed more frequently in microinvasive disease entity from in situ to invasive from than DCIS(P=0.031). CONCLUSION: Microinvasive carcinoma is thought to be transitional disease entity from in situ to invasive form. The microinvasive carcinoma of 2.5cm could be indication for axillary node dissection. In addition, p53 mutation might play a important biological role in progression from noninvasive to invasive form and these results provide further evidence that p53 mutation could have potential use as a molecular marker.
Biology ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; Classification ; Incidence ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin

Conventional tests for the identification of mycobacteria may frequently result in erroneous identification and underestimate the diversity within the genus Mycobacterium. However, this problem can be overcome by molecular approach like as 16S rRNA gene (rDNA) or RNA polymerase gene (rpoB) sequence analysis. In this study, a molecular approach analyzing partial sequence of 16S rDNA and rpoB gene was applied to mycobacteria other than M tuberculosis (MOTT) isolates that had not been definitely identified by conventional physical and biochemical tests. Among the eighteen isolates included in this study, twelve isolates could be identified to the species level and six were identified to the complex level. Compared with the results by 16S rDNA analysis, the rpoB analysis could di6erentiate some of the strains into the subspecies level.
DNA, Ribosomal* ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases ; Genes, rRNA ; Mycobacterium ; Sequence Analysis* ; Tuberculosis*

BACKGROUND: Pyrazinamide (PZA) is an effective antitubercular drug that becomes toxic to Mycobacterium tuberculosis when converted to pyrazinoic acid by pyrazinamidase (PZase), encoded by mycobacterial pncA. A strong association was noted between the loss of PZase activity and PZA resistance. The causative organisms in extrapulmonary tuberculosis are rarely cultured and isolated. To detect pncA mutations in specimens from extrapulmonary tuberculosis as confirmative diagnosis of mycobacterial infection and alternative susceptibility test to PZA. METHODS: Specimens were collected from clinically proven extrapulmonary tuberculosis. pncA was sequenced and compared with wild-type pncA. RESULTS: pncA from 30 specimens from 23 donors were successfully amplified (56.6% in specimens, 59% in donors). Six mutations in pncA were detected (20.0% in amplified specimens, 26.1% in specimen donors) at nucleotide positions of 169, 248 and 419. The mutation at position 169 results in substitution of aspartic acid for histidine, a possible allelic variation of M. bovis that have intrinsic PZA resistance. The mutation at position 248 changes proline into arginine and that at position 419, arginine into histidine. CONCLUSION: DNA-based diagnosis using pncA may be simultaneously useful for the early diagnosis of mycobacterial infection and the rapid susceptibility to PZA in extrapulmonary tuberculosis. A potential implication of pncA allelic variation at 169 might be suggested as a rapid diagnostic test for M. bovis infection or Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) reactivation.
Amidohydrolases ; Antitubercular Agents ; Arginine ; Aspartic Acid ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Early Diagnosis ; Histidine ; Humans ; Mycobacterium bovis ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Proline ; Pyrazinamide ; Tissue Donors ; Tuberculosis