No abstract available.
Myocutaneous Flap* ; Pressure Ulcer*

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*

Background: Triiodothyronine(T3) is a hormone secreted from thyroid gland which exerts a stimulating effect on metabolism. The disorder of thyroid system brings about several serious diseases like hypothymidism or hyperthyroidism. Therefore, the determination of T in blood is very important on monitoring thyroid function. Methods: Rabbit anti-T3 antibody was generated by immunization of T-BSA as an immunogen and purified hom antisera using Affi-gel protein A kit. The titer and specificity of purified antibody were characterized. To detect T3, competitive ELISA was performed using anti-T3 antibody and T3-HRP conjugate which was synthesized by glutaraldehyde method. The sensitivity and precision assay wer~e deterrnined and compared with that of RIA. Results: The titer of purified anti-T3 antibody was about 1:100 and the optimal dilution of T3- HRP conjugate was 1:1000. When the standard curve was constructed by ELISA, its sensitivity was about 0.5ng/ml. The eoefficient variations of intra- and inter-assay were 4.9~9.3% and 7.5~13.8%, respectively. The results obtained by ELISA and RIA correlated well with each other(n =50, r= 0.97), The linear regression equation was y= 1.09*0.08(P<0.01). Conclusion: We successfully developed a method for the measurement of T3 on ELISA which was based on competitive reaction between antigen(T3) and enzyme labeled antigen(T3-HRP). These results demonstrated that competitive ELISA is a convenient, fast, reproducible and aecurate method for the determinstion of T in serum and can be used as practical alternative to RIA.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Glutaral ; Hyperthyroidism ; Immune Sera ; Immunization ; Linear Models ; Metabolism ; Methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Staphylococcal Protein A ; Thyroid Gland ; Triiodothyronine

No abstract available.
Estrogens* ; Fibrosis*

To test the hypothesis that hyperinsulinemia and/or abnormalities of red cell membrane Na^+ transport are concerned in the pathogenesis of hypertension, we investigated the relationship between blood pressure, insulin level and red cell membrane Na^+ transport in patients with acromegaly which is frequently associated with hypertension, hyperinsulinemia and abnormalities of red cell membrane Na^+ transport.The results were as follows;1) BMI and both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher in patients with acromegaly than in control subjects.2) Fasting glucose and insulin levels were higher, and both serum glucose and insulin responses after a 75g glucose load were significantly increased in patients with acromegaly as compared with control subjects.3) Vmax of Na^+-Li^+ countertransport were significantly higher in patients with acromegaly than in control subjects while red cell Na^+ concentration and Vmax of Na^+, K^+ ATPase were similar in the two groups.4) In multiple stepwise regression analysis, age was directly correlated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in acromegaly. On the other hand both insulin level and red cell membrane Na^+ transport showed little correlation with either systolic or diastolic pressure. 5) Prevalence of hypertension in acromegaly was 39%(9 out of 23) and only age except for blood pressure was significantly higher in hypertensive acromegalic patients than in normotensive acromegalic patients while GH level, insulin levels and red cell membrane Na^+ transport were similar in the two groupsThese results suggest that hyperinsulinemia or abnormalities of red cell membrane Na^+ transport are not causally related to hypertension in patients with acromegaly.
Acromegaly ; Adenosine Triphosphatases ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Cell Membrane ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Hand ; Humans ; Hyperinsulinism ; Hypertension ; Insulin ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND: The severity of several chronic inflammatory diseases was reported to be associated with polymorphism of the IL-1 receptor antagonist gene(IL-lrn). OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to study the polymorphism of the IL-1rn in vitiligo and in the normal Korean population. METHODS: Thirty one cases of vitiligo and seventy nine normal Koreans as control were studied for the polymorphism of IL-1 rn. RESULTS: The frequency of allele 2 of the IL- I rn in 31 patients with vitiligo was compared with that of the 79 healthy controls. The frequency of allele 2 was 1.6% in vitiligo patients and 3.8% in the normal controls. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in the frequency of allele 2 between the vitiligo patients and normal controls.
Alleles ; Humans ; Interleukin-1* ; Vitiligo*

Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor or Brenner tumor is a relatively rare ovarian tumor. Other associated elements in the form of epithelial, mesenchymal, and tumor components of each tumor have been reported. The Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor with a Brenner tumor element has not been documented in the literature, so we are reporting on a case of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor coexisting with a Brenner tumor. This 62-year-old woman presented with a 4 year history of lower abdominal mass and vaginal bleeding. Exploratory laparotomy was done. The left ovary showed a multiseptated, cystic, yellow-white solid mass, measuring 17.0x13.0x5.0 cm and weighing 985.0 gm. Microscopic examination revealed a tubular or trabecular arrangement of the Sertoli cells and variable numbers of Leydig cells. There were several tumor nests with cystic spaces composed of ovoid cells showing longitudinal nuclear grooving. Sarcomatoid or heterologous elements were not found.
Female ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a genetic disorder of the melanin pigment system in which melanin synthesis is reduced or absent in the skin, hair, and eyes. OCA is classified into two major types, and tyrosinase-related OCA can be produced by mutations of the structural gene for tyrosinase enzyme (TYR gene). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the segregation of mutant alleles of the TYR gene in tyrosinase-negative and tyrosinase-positive Korean OCA patients and families. METHODS: We amplified exon I, II, and III of the TYR gene of Korean OCA patients and their families by polymerase chain reactions (PCR), and analyzed the mutations by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis in exon I and single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analyses in exon II and exon III. RESULTS: Two tyrosinase-negative cases showed mutations in exon I. Four tyrosinase-nega-tive cases and one tyrosinase-positive case showed mutations in exon II, and one tyrosinase-neg- ative case showed mutations in exon III. In summary, we found three kinds of mutation in four tyrosinase-negative OCA patients and one tyrsinase-positive OCA patient. CONCLUSIONS: RFLP and SSCP analysis can provide a basis for a rapid and sensitive screening system to detect TYR gene mutations of Korean OCA patients and their families.
Albinism, Oculocutaneous* ; Alleles ; Exons ; Hair ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mass Screening ; Melanins ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Skin

Calcific tendinitis of the shoulder joint is common disease causing acute pain, mainly involving the supraspinatus or infraspinatus muscle, and less frequently the teres minor or subscapularis muscle. This study reports on the satisfactory arthroscopic removal of calcium deposits as well as infraspinatus and supraspinatus muscle repair without relapse via minimal incision using suture anchors. This was a case of atypically extensive calcific tendinitis involving the infraspinatus muscle, with a bursal side partial rupture of the supraspinatus muscle in a 61-year-old female whose chief complaint was chronic pain of the right shoulder exacerbated by limited movement.
Acute Pain ; Calcium ; Chronic Pain ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Rupture ; Shoulder Joint ; Shoulder* ; Suture Anchors ; Tendinopathy*

The hyperimmunoglobulinemia E (Jobs) syndrome (HIES) is characterized by marked elevated levels of IgE, recurrent cutaneous and systemic staphylococcal infections, atopic-like dermatitis, and defective neutrophil chemotaxis. Three cases of HIES have been reported in Korea, but not in the dermatology literature. We report a case of HIES with cutaneous infections and MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). A 15-month-old girl presented with intractable pruritic excoriated papular pustular skin lesions and multiple subcutaneous abscesses. Surgical drainage of the abscesses and a course of antibiotic treatment in addition to topical steroids for about 7 weeks resulted in a remarkable improvement.
Abscess ; Chemotaxis ; Dermatitis ; Dermatology ; Drainage ; Female ; Humans ; Hypergammaglobulinemia* ; Immunoglobulin E ; Infant ; Job Syndrome* ; Korea ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Neutrophils ; Skin ; Staphylococcal Infections ; Staphylococcus ; Steroids