BACKGROUND: The stratum corneum presents a significant barrier to transdermal drug delivery. Approaches to improve percutaneous absorption of drugs have included iontophoresis and skin penetration enhancers. Oleic acid has been studied as a skin penetration enhancer for drugs, primarily via its action mainly on the stratum corneum lipid structure. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the interaction between oleic acid and stratum corneum lipids in vivo. METHODS: Male hairless mice were treated topically with oleic acid. Barrier function was assessed by transepidermal water loss measurement and ultrastructural observation with ruthenium tetroxide (RuO₄) staining. RESULTS: Oleic acid in propylene glycol had a profound effect on epidermal barrier function and was found to be concentration dependent. Moreover, ultrastructural examination with RuO4 post-fixation demonstrated that there were marked alterations in the stratum corneum lipid structure. CONCLUSION: This study provides direct evidence that oleic acid increases the epidermal permeability through a mechanism involving the stratum corneum lipid membrane perturbation via the lacunae formation within the stratum corneum.
Animals ; Humans ; Iontophoresis ; Male ; Membranes ; Mice ; Mice, Hairless ; Oleic Acid* ; Permeability ; Propylene Glycol* ; Ruthenium ; Skin ; Skin Absorption ; Water

Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome is a condition in which, as a result of pelvic inflammatory disease, the liver capsule becomes involved with inflammatory exudate that later leaves violin string adhesions. Although in the past Neisseria gonorrhea was thought to be the only etiological agent, recent data indicate that Chlamydia trachomatis may play an important role in perihepatitis. Perihepatic adhesions may be an aftereffect of the acute hepatic episode, and because the cause of ectopic pregnancy is thought to be salpingitis, women with an ectopic pregnancy may have a higher prevalence of coexisting perihepatic adhesion. The incidence of this conditon in ectopic gestation was reported to be 14-34 %. Direct observation of the liver and pelvis through laparoscope is the most definitive method of diagnosing salpingitis and perihepatitis. Standard treatement regimens recommended for salpingitis are adequate also for treatement of perihepatitis. We have experienced two cases of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome associated with ectopic pregnancy, and report with the brief review of the literatures.
Chlamydia trachomatis ; Exudates and Transudates ; Female ; Gonorrhea ; Humans ; Incidence ; Laparoscopes ; Liver ; Neisseria ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; Pelvis ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Prevalence ; Salpingitis

Bone cells produce multiple growth factors and cytokines that have effects on bone metabolism and can be incorporated into the bone matrix. The present study was designed to extend these observations by examining the interactions between transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) or interleukin-1beta (rhIL-1beta) and bone cells in a rat long bone culture model. IL-1beta regulates several activities of the osteoblast cells derived from rat long bone explants in vitro. IL-1beta stimulated cellular proliferation as well as the synthesis of prostaglandin E2 and plasminogen activator activity in the cultured cells in a dose-dependent manner. TGF-beta is present in the bone matrix and potentially released during bone resorption. TGF-beta reduced basal bone resorption and inhibited vitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3]-induced bone resorption in rat long bone cells. These results support the role of IL-1beta in the pathological modulation of bone cell metabolism, with regard to implication in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis by IL-1beta, and that TGF-beta positively inhibits the bone resorption.
Animals ; Bone Matrix ; Bone Resorption* ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cholecalciferol ; Cytokines ; Dinoprostone* ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Interleukin-1beta ; Metabolism ; Osteoblasts ; Osteoclasts ; Osteoporosis ; Plasminogen Activators* ; Plasminogen* ; Rats* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta*

BACKGROUND: Various kinds of pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi have been isolated from the house dust, the closest environment of human beings. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose is to investigate the distribution of yeasts in house dust. METHODS: House dust was sampled from 22 families in Taegu and 56 in a rural town in Kyungpook province for 2 months from May to June, 1992. It was cultivated for years on the media containing cycloheximide (500mg/L) RESULTS: Among 78 families, 56 (71.8%) showed positive culture for yeasts in house dut;1 species in 24 (30.8%), 2 species in 19 (24.3%), 3 species in 12 (15.4%) and 4 species in 1(1.3%). Rhodotorula(Rh). Ruora was the most frequently isolated one from 36(46.2%) out of 78 families, followed by Tricosporn(T.) cutaneum 25(32.1%). Candida (C.) albicans 16 (20.5%), Pityrosporum pachydermatis 4 (5.1%) and Torulopsis candida, Cryptococcus laurentii, C. rugosa and C. guillermondii 1 (1.3%), each. CONCLUSION: Rh. rubra, T. cutaneum and C. albicans were the most important yeast species in the houst dust of both rural and raban areas.
Candida ; Cryptococcus ; Cycloheximide ; Daegu ; Dust* ; Fungi ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Malassezia ; Sweat ; Yeasts*

No abstract available.

We report a case of congenital candidiasis confined to the rail plates in a 57-day-old girl whose infected nails exhibited the rough, yellow-white, thickened, opaque distal ends and pink-colored, normal healthy plates at their proximal bases. Numerous pseudohyphae and spores were demonstrated by KOH microscopic examination. Candida albicans was identified by culture on Sabourauds glucose agar and API 20C Aux system. Histopathologic findings of nail crippings also showed mutiple hyphae beneath the hyperkeratot,ic nail plate on PAS stain. Shedding of the infected distal portion of the ungual plates ws caused by growing out of the healthy nails, resulting in spontaneous healing of the disease rithin 2 months.
Agar ; Candida albicans ; Candidiasis* ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Spores

When an ankle lateral malleolar fracture is accompanied by a deltoid ligament rupture without a medial malleolar fracture, such an injury is called a bimalleolar equivalent fracture. This means that even if there is no bony injury on the medial side, there may be functional instability of the ankle joint due to damage to the deltoid ligament. Manual or gravity external rotational stress radiography is used to differentiate an ankle bimalleolar equivalent fracture from an isolated lateral malleolar fracture. If the medial joint gap is widened on the stress radiography, the deltoid ligament injury can be diagnosed, and surgical treatment for fibula fractures is recommended. After open reduction of the fibula fracture (with syndesmotic fixation if needed), a decision on the repair of the deltoid ligament is taken depending on the surgeons’ preference and intraoperative findings. The deltoid ligament repair is performed by inserting a suture anchor (or anchors) in the medial malleolus and fixing the deep and superficial deltoid ligaments to the medial malleolus. The only randomized study to evaluate the utility of deltoid ligament sutures in ankle fractures did not support the deltoid ligament suture, but the study itself had many limitations. An appropriately powered, randomized, controlled trial of the deltoid ligament repair with both patient-reported outcome and radiographic outcome evaluation is needed in the future.

The influence of clonidine on the analgesic effect of epidural fentanyl was investigated in 45 patients who underwent total abdominsl hysterectomy by epidural admistration of fentanyl 100 g alone, clonidine 150ug alone, or in combination of the two drugs. Changes in the mean arteral pressure and pulse rate were observed after drug administration, and the analgesic effects was assessed by measuring analgesic duration, pain score, sedation score, and side effects. Analgesic duration was prolonged with improved quality by adding 150 ug of clonidine to 100 ug of epidural fentanyl. Mean arteral pressure and pulse rate were decreased more in fentanyl plus clonidine group than each drug alone group. But these changes were restored rapidly by injection of small dose of vasopressor. The clonidine alone group showed the least analgesic effect among three groups indicatings that clonidine would not be a sole analgesic agent and would be used as an adjunct to other opiate such as fentanyl.
Clonidine* ; Fentanyl* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hysterectomy

There have been many trials to decrease the scar formation followed by wound treatment. TGF-beta plays a important role on wound healing in adult. Therefore the repression of TGF-beta expression will be helpful to decrease scar formation. Decorin is known to competitively inhibit TGF-beta expression. Decorin were subcutaneously administered in surgical wounds in rabbits to investgate the preventing effect of scar formation for clinical application. Histologic findings of wound healing progresses is similar with control and experimental group at 2week. 2.5 microgram decorin of administrated group was similar to those of control group at 4 and 8week. In wound healing process 10 microgram decorin of administrated groupsat showed that thickness of immature collagen fibers(scar) was decreased as compared with control group at 4, 8 weeks. 20 microgram decorin of administrated group showed similar histologic features to 10 microgram administrated group. The wounds of 8week experimental group(10, 20 microgram) were completely recovered to the normal surrounding skin tissue including sweat gland and hair follicle. These results suggested that decorin can be of help to the prevention of local scar formation.
Adult ; Cicatrix ; Collagen ; Decorin* ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Rabbits* ; Repression, Psychology ; Skin ; Sweat Glands ; Transforming Growth Factor beta* ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

Analgesics ; Gastric Bypass ; Humans ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Orthopedics ; Pain, Postoperative ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; Vomiting