BACKGROUND: The wound healing process is impaired or delayed in aged patients. The development of a new wound healing model is needed. Nerve growth factor (NGF) plays a special role in wound healing because NGF is expressed only in proliferating tissues such as wounds. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to develop a wound healing model using a 3-dimensional culture system, raft culture, by comparing the level of NGF expression according to the wound stage after an artificial wound was made to the raft samples. We tried to specifically localize the site of NGF expression both in mRNA and protein level. METHODS: Raft culture using normal human keratinocytes was done and a 2 mm slit wound was made in the center of the raft samples. Raft samples of no wound, 4 d, 7 d, and 9 d after wounding were prepared. In situ RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were performed to detect and localize NGF expression after making wounds and the addition of substance P (SP). RESULTS: We failed to localize NGF mRNA expression in raft samples by in situ RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry showed NGF staining throughout the epidermis although a little more dense staining was found in the basal layer. NGF(+) cells tended to increase until 7 d after wounding, but there were no significant differences according to the wounding days. There was `a tendency that the SP(+) group showed more NGF(+) cells than the SP(-) group, but there were no statistical differences. CONCLUSION: We think that our in vitro raft wound model using NGF expression could be used, at least in part, as an objective indicator for wound healing. In our raft model lacking nerve, NGF may not be suitable for representing wound healing process because this model can not reflect the interaction between the skin and the nervous system. Expression of growth factors or cytokines other than NGF need to be applied to our raft culture system.
Cytokines ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Keratinocytes ; Nerve Growth Factor ; Nervous System ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin ; Substance P ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

We experienced a case of purpura pigmentosa chronica in a 9-year-old girl whose skin lesions are widespread, so that face is also involved in addition to the lower extremi ties, trunk, and upper extremities.
Child ; Female ; Humans ; Purpura* ; Skin ; Upper Extremity

BACKGROUND: Laminin, which is present in all basement membrane, is a multifunctional glycoprotein with diverse biological activities. Like fibronectin, it can influence cell adhesion, growth, morphology, differentiation, and migration as well as the assembly of the extracellular matrix. Laminin primarily affects cells of epithelial origin, and response varies depending on the cells. OBJECTIVE: Studies about the relationship of laminin and the pathogenesis or metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma(SCC). MEHTODS: In this study, we have examined the laminin B1 mRNA expression and localizing pattern of laminin in SCC, using Northern and slot-blot hybridization, in situ hybridization and immunoperoxidase stain. RESULTS: In Northern blot hybridization, 5.6Kb mRNA transcript was detected in control and SCC specimens. Slot-blot hybridization indicated theat amounts of laminin B1 mRNA expression in SCC was 677.0+/-268.5 densitometer absorbance unit, in control was 228.0+/-16.37 unit respectively. There is a 3-fold increase in SCC compared to control. In in situ hybridization, 35S-labeled laminin B1 cDNA-mRNA hybrid granules were detected along the basement membrane and adjacent cells of SCC. In immunoperoxidase stain, laminin has stained strongly and continuously along the basement membrane of the tumor nest in well differentiated SCC, and weakly and interrupted in poorly differentiated SCC. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that laminin might be related to the pathogenesisand metastasis of squamous cell carcinomas.
Basement Membrane ; Blotting, Northern ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cell Adhesion ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibronectins ; Glycoproteins ; In Situ Hybridization ; Laminin* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; RNA, Messenger* ; Skin*

Sixty cutaneous tumors of different types were investigated by means of immunoperoxidase technique(avidin-biotm-peroxidase complex method) with the use of antikeratin antibody. The results were as follows: 1. Squamous cell carcinomas, keratoacanthomas, and Bowen's disease exhibited strong reactivity with antikeratin antibody. 2. In squamous cell carcinomas and keratoacanthomas, the most heaviest staining patterns were detected in areas of keratinization and horn pearl formation. 3. Basal cell carcinomas and seborrheic keratosis were moderately stained, whereas Paget'a disease and metastatic carcinoma(oat cell carcinoma) did not contain keratin. 4. In some cases of basal cell carcinomas, the tumor cells were partially positive. 5. Malignant melanomas, nevi, malignant.lymphomas, neural tumors, hemangiomas, and dermatofibromas were uniformly negative.
Animals ; Bowen's Disease ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Hemangioma ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous ; Horns ; Keratoacanthoma ; Keratosis, Seborrheic ; Melanoma ; Nevus

We performed anthralin comparative study(0.01% vs 0.1%) to assess the effectiveness of low-strengh anthralin therapy in 34 psoriatic patients and the resu1ts can be summarized as follows. 1. In the case of 13 patients using Burdick UVB larnp, in 1 patient the effect of 0.1% anthralin was superior to that of 0.01% anthralin from the start to the end of treatment, in 5 patients(38.5%) initially the effect of 0.1% anthralin was superior but in time became equal to that of 0.01% anthralin, and in 7 patients (53.8%) the effect of either side was same throughout the courae of the treatment. In the case of 21 patients using Waldmann UVB cabinet, there were 2(9.5 %), 3(14.3%) and 16 patients(76.2%) in the order named above. 2. The side effect of 0.1% anthralin was more severe than or at least the same as that of 0.01% anthralin in every patient who complained about side effects. So low-strengh anthalin-UVB phototherapy was thought to be the effective and alternative method of treatment particularly for the purpose of lessening the side effects.
Anthralin* ; Humans ; Phototherapy ; Psoriasis*

The study was undertaken to clarify any quantitative abnormalities in peripheral blood T lymphocytes and T subsets, mediating cell meliated immunity, and the presence of any relation between the degree of quantitative abnormalities and extent of skin lesions and activity of disease in patients with psoriasis by monoclonal antibodies. The results were as follows. 1. Mean percentages of total and suppressor T lymphocytes in 39 patients with psoriasis are significantly decreased as compared with those in 32 controls. Mean ratio of percentage of helper T lymphocytes to that of suppressor Tlymphocytes in 39 patients with psoriasis are significantly increased as compared with that in 32 controls. 2, As classified into three groups according to extent of skin lesions (E: less than 5% E,: 5-30%, and E,: more than 30%), mean pereentages of total T lymphocytes in E, and E, psoriasis group and those of suppressor T lymphocytes in all three psoriasi., groups are significantly decreased as compared with those in controIs. Mean percentages of helper T lymphor,ytes in L psoriasis group and mean ratios of percentage of helper T lymphocytes to that of suppressor T lymphocytes in E, and E, psoriasis groups are significantly increased as compared with those in controls. 3. Cis classified into three groups according to activity of disease (A,: stationary, A,: active, peripherally spreading and A,: active, small papules spreading), mean percentage of total T lymphocytes in peripheral blood lymphocytes in A, psoriasis group and those of suppressor T lymphocytes in all three psoriasis group are significantly decreased as compared with those in controls. Mean percentages of helper T lymphocytes and mean ratios of percentage if helper T lymphocytes to that of suppressor T lymphocytes in A, and A, psorixsis groups are significantly increased as compared with those in controls. These results clarified that there are quantitative abnormalities in peripheral blood I' lymphocytes and T subsets in patients with psoriasis and the degrees of abnorrnalities are related to extent of skin lesions and activity of disease. The aanorrnalities in peri.pheral blood T lymphocytes and T subsets in patients with psoriasis seem to be attributed to primary defect of suppressor T lymphoytes.
Antibodies* ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Negotiating ; Psoriasis* ; Skin ; T-Lymphocytes*

Our study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of anthralin-UVB therapy on patients with psoriasis. We studied twenty two patients suffering from plaque-type psoriasis of varying degrees of severity. The results can be summarized as follows. l. 2p patients(90.9%) out of the total 22 patients showed grade 4 improvement. The rernaining 2 patients failed to respond to treatment, 2. Arnong the improved 2Q patients, 2 patients who were treated more than 3p times for grade 4 improvement were excluded, so cleared patients were 18(81.8%). 3. Arnong the 18 cleared patients, the mean nurnber of therapy wasg. 6 for grade 3 and 12. 5 for grade 4 in the cases of trunk lesiona, and 13. 2 for grade 3 and 17. 8 for grade 4 in the cases of extrernities lesions. With above results, anth-ralin-UVB therapy was rnore effective in lesions of the trunk than in those of extremi.ties. 4. Notable side effects were pruritus in 6 patients(27.3pg), staining in 4 patients (18,2%), and 1ITltatioB in 2 patients(9.1%)
Anthralin* ; Humans ; Phototherapy* ; Pruritus ; Psoriasis*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Myocutaneous Flap* ; Pressure Ulcer*

No abstract available.
Hyperlipidemias* ; Obesity* ; Risk Factors* ; Urolithiasis*