No abstract available.
Syndactyly*

The spotted grouped pigmented nevi is one of special forms of non-giant congenital melanocytic nevi. Histologically the nevus cells tend to proliferate around the skin appendages. We have experienced a case of spotted ground pigmented nevi in a 11 year old girl who had a pigmented plaque consisting of grouped brown black regularly distributed papules on the left inguinal region since birth. Histology revealed intradermal nevus. The skin appendages, especially the hair follicles and eccrine sweet ducts were enveloped by the neuvs cells. Electron microscopic study revealed that this nevus cells were mostly of type B cells. We would like to consider that the spotted grouped nevi are closely related pathogenically with the skin appendages.

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Cytomegalovirus Infections* ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Incidence*

BACKGROUND: Although an oxidants and antioxidants imbalane has been considered in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is a paucity of reports focussing on the smoking-induced changes of oxidants and antioxidants in COPD. METHOD: The concentration of antioxidants (ascorbic acid, uric acid, retinol, and α- &γ-tocopherol) was measured in the serum and induced sputum of 30 healthy controls and 34 stable COPD patients using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The inhibition of lipid peroxidation as an index of antioxidant capacity was measured in the serum by a TBA assay. RESULTS: The serum concentration of ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, and retinol were significantly lower in the patients with COPD than in healthy controls (484.8±473.3 vs 1497.8±819.2 pmol/L, p<0.001, 48.38±17.34 vs 73.96±26.29 pmol/L, p<0.001, and 9.51±8.33 vs 15.01±5.88 pmol/L, p<0.05, respectively, mean±SD). However, there were little differences in the ascorbic acid and uric acid concentrations in the induced sputum between the COPD patients and the controls. The induced sputum to serum ratio of ascorbic acid was significantly higher in COPD patients compared with healthy control (0.375 vs 0.085, p<0.05). In the normal controls, the serum ascorbic acid concentration was lower in smokers than in nonsmokers (1073±536 vs 1757±845 pmol/L, p<0.05), but the level was still higher than that of the COPD patients (p<0.05). The serum retinol levels were correlated with FEV1 in COPD patients (r=0.58, p<0.05). The products of lipid peroxidation were increased in normal smokers and COPD compared with normal nonsmokers (115.56±19.93 and 120.02±24.56 vs 91.87±20.71 µmol/µmol Pi of liposome, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Cigarette smoking may induce the depletion of serum antioxidants and this depletion of antioxidants is suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of COPD.
Antioxidants* ; Ascorbic Acid ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liposomes ; Oxidants ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Smoking ; Sputum* ; Uric Acid ; Vitamin A

BACKGROUND: It is well known that excessive thyroid hormone in the body is associated with bone loss. However, the mechanism by which thyroid hormone affects bone cell metabolism remains unclear. It has been shown that thyroid hormones stimulate osteoclastic bone resorption indirectly via some unknown mediators secreted by osteoblasts, This study was undertaken to determine if interleukin-6 (IL-6) or interleukin-11 (IL-l1) could be the mediator (s) of thyroid hormone-induced bone loss. METHODS: We treated primary cultured human bone rnarrow stromal cells with 3,5,3-triiodo-thyronine (T) and measured basal and interleukin-l (IL-1)-stimulated IL-6/IL-ll production. We also investigated the possible modulating effect of 17B-estradiol (17B-E2.) on thyroid hormone action. RESULTS: T3 at 10 (-12) ~ 10 (-8) M concentration, significantly increased the basal IL-6 production in a dose-dependent manner, and also potentiated the stimulatory effect of IL-1 on IL-6 production. However, T failed to elicit a detectable effect on basal or IL-1-stimulated IL-11 production. Treat#ment with l7B-E2. inhibited IL-1-stimulated IL-6 production, but the effects of T3 on IL-6 production were not affected by 17/B-E. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that thyroid hormone may increase bone resorption by increasing basal IL-6 production and potentiating IL-1-induced IL-6 production from osteoblast-lineage cells, and these effects were independent of estrogen status.
Bone Marrow* ; Bone Resorption ; Estradiol ; Estrogens ; Humans* ; Interleukin-1 ; Interleukin-11* ; Interleukin-6* ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Metabolism ; Osteoblasts ; Osteoclasts ; Osteoporosis ; Stromal Cells ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Hormones

No abstract available.
Amyloidosis*

The recent development of microsurgical tissue transfer has enabled any defect in any area to be reconstructed with free flaps. However, the need for a more functional and thinner flap has been raised due to bullkiness of the flap and donorsite morbidity. For better functional and aesthetic results, various perforator flaps excluding muscles or adjacent subcutaneous tissue have been recently reported. We report 44 cases of perforating artery pedicled flaps from April 1995 to August 1998, including 21 cases of anterolateral thigh flap, 12 cases of gluteal artery perforator flap, 4 cases of posterior interosseous flap, and 7 cases of paraumbilical perforator flap for various soft tissue defects. Even though marginal necrosis of flap occurred in 9 cases, complete healing without significant problem was possible. The advantages of perforator flaps are as follows: 1. It is possible to obtain a relatively thin fasciocutaneous flap, but still with sufficient volume 2. Donor site morbidity was reduced without damage of main artery. 3. In spite of diverse vascular pattern of the perforator, the location of perforating arteries can be Detected with relative ease and mapped preoperatively with an ultrasound Doppler. The need of meticulous and tedious dissection could be a sole disadvantage of these flaps. This report describes the clinical experience with a perforator-based flap, anticpating applications of many other types of perforator flap in the future.
Arteries* ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Humans ; Muscles ; Necrosis ; Perforator Flap ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Surgical Flaps* ; Thigh ; Tissue Donors ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Forearm* ; Free Tissue Flaps*

No abstract available.
Ankylosis* ; Facial Asymmetry* ; Temporomandibular Joint*