Melanogenesis, or synthesis of melanin has been a focus of intense investigation by pigment cell biologists during the past few decades. Melanogenesis provides pigment in skin, thus serving as a unique, if not only, physiological defense against sun-induced injuries, including photocarcinogenesis. Moreover, skin color plays a major role in visual esthetics of an individual. Therefore, unwanted hyper- or hypo-pigmentation, especially on facial skin, could cause significant psychological stress. Epidermal melanocytes, derived from neural crest cells, are mainly responsible for melanin in skin. In human skin, nearly all normal pigmentation is due to melanin and with the exception of hemoglobin, it is one of the only endogenously synthesized pigments in man. Melanin has numerous functions in mammals, including increasing the optical efficiency of the eye, producing color patterns in various organs, including hair or skin, serving as camouflage, heat exchange, sexual recognition and protection from sunlight. The incidences of malignant melanoma have been increasing dramatically in western countries, at least by a factor of 15 over the past 60 years, and this has caused an intense interest in understanding melanogenesis. More than 40,000 new cases of malignant melanoma have been diagnosed in 1997, and it is one of the most common cancers in young adults. The research in the area of melanogenesis has exploded during the last ten years because model systems to study molecular mechanisms regulating melanogenesis have become available. This review examines currently available in vitro and in vivo model systems to study melanogenesis.
Esthetics ; Hair ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mammals ; Melanins ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma ; Neural Crest ; Pigmentation ; Skin ; Stress, Psychological ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Chronic Pain*

No abstract available.
Dental Porcelain* ; Dentin* ; Dentin-Bonding Agents*

45 cases of proved renal cell carcinoma which were operated on during last 10 years between March 1972 and February 1982 in the department of Urology of Yonsei University College of Medicine were clinically observed with the reference to the operative morbidity due to the surgical incisions of both anterior transperitoneal approach (25 cases or 55%) and modified thoracoabdominal approach which is 11th-rib resection with extrapleural and transperitoneal exposure (20 cases of 45%). According to the experience with modified thoracoabdominal incision for the 17 radical nephrectomies and 3 open biopsies and through the review of the literatures, some results were obtained and summarized as follows. 1. Modified Thoracoabdominal approach is superior to the anterior transperitoneal approach for the operation of renal malignancy because of better exposure for the renal pedicle and upper pole as well as low morbidity rate (1:1.6). 2.We could also be sure by our self experiences of a few advantages of Modified Thoracoabdominal approaches as others reported previously. (1) An undisturbed intrathoracic space avoids a source of complications. (2) Because of adequate exposure of renal pedicle and upper pole even in the large renal tumor, operativemanipulation is easier and safer. (3) As muscle layers to be cut are not heavy, postoperative pain is less complained. The incision is also relatively simple to make and close. (4) Modified Thoracoabdominal approach is worth to apply to any urologic operations for the kidney and upper ureter. 3. In case tumor thrombi were involved in the supradiaphragmatic vena cava and vena caval resection is inevitable, either midline abdominal incision with sternotomy or conventional thoracoabdominal incision should be chosen rather than Modified thoracoabdominal approach.
Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Nephrectomy* ; Pain, Postoperative ; Sternotomy ; Ureter ; Urology

BACKGROUND: Recently, there are so many newly developed equipments to detect blood gas analysis with serum electrolytes. And then, so many important parameters are quickly reported from laboratory department. So, many clinicians use the data to manage the critical patient. We attempted to detemine the correlation coefficient and adjustment equation. METHODS: Total 68 patients results of Na, K that are cheked using arterial whole blood(288 blood gas system) and venous serum electrolytes analyzer(NOVA 6) were evaluated and we detemined the coefficient of two methods from April to September, 1995. RESULTS: The correlations between the results obtained with NOVA 6 and that of 288 blood gas system were excellent for both Sodium and potassium(r>0.95, p<0.001 in both). In this study, we make the regression equation to adjust the differences between the two methods. Na : y=1.004190X+7.656643(r=0.9637, p<0.001) y=venous serum Na, x=arterial whole blood Na K: y=0.994831X+0.489631(r=0.9545, p<0.001) y=venous serum K, x=arterial whole blood K. CONCLUSIONS: Specimen(whole blood, serum), kind and content of heparin also affect the results of electrolytes. And then, the report of the result after adjustment of them using above equation will provide reinforcement of the efficacy of the results using arterial whole blood specmen. We recommend it especially for emergency laboratories for critical test.
Blood Gas Analysis ; Electrolytes* ; Emergencies ; Heparin ; Humans ; Sodium

No abstract available.
Tibial Fractures*

Fracture of capitellum humeri, so called Kocher fracture, was first described by Haln in 1853. It is rare and has been occured 0.5% to 1% of incidence of all elbow fracture. The mechanism of this fracture mostly results when one tries to break a fall and lands on the hand with the elbow in some degree of flexing or falls directly on the elbow in a position of full flexion. This case had been occured in a secondary motion
Accidental Falls ; Athletes ; Elbow ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Methods ; Weight Lifting

BACKGROUND : DHEAS, the major circulating adrenal hormone, has been suggested to have a role in many aging related diseases and perhaps in aging itself. But, there is no epidemiologic data of DHEAS in normal adults in Korea. We studied age changes and sex differences in serum DHEAS & its related factors throughout adulthood. METHODS : We administ structured questionnaires to the study subjects. We measured serum DHEAS levels and several biochemical markers (total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, glucose etc) in 1.710 healthy men(857) and women (853), aged 17-76 years. We also measured their height, weight, waist & hip circumference and body fat contents with bioimpedance method. We analyzed various variables relating to serum DHEAS levels by using SPSS. Reference data of serum DHEAS level in normal adults were also suggested. RESULTS : The DHEAS concentration peaked at age group blow age of 30 years in man(260.9 microgram/dL). Then mean values declined steadily in both sexes (r=-0.38, p<0.001 in men and r=-0.46, p<0.001 in women). At age group above 70 years, only 30.9% in men & 30.4% in women, when compared with age group below 30 years, was remained. DHEAS concentration were significantly higher in men than women at all age group except age group above 70 years. Average 1.5 times higher concentration in men than in women (at least 1.28 times at age<30 and max 2.00 times at age 60-64). In men, DHEAS had higher mean value in smokers (218.1 vs 199.1 microgram/dL, p<0.05), drinkers (>or=2 times/week, 219.1 vs 185.3 microgram/dL, p<0.01), android type fat distribution group (waist/hip>0.85, 227.1 vs 197.4 microgram/dL) after adjusting age. DHEAS was positively correlated with body mass index (r=0.12, p<0.01). But in women, drinkers (154.3 vs 131.7 microgram/dL, p<0.05) and regular exercise group (146.1 vs 131.6 microgram/dL, p=0.05) had higher mean DHEAS value. There were no significant association between DHEAS and lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol) & fasting glucose level in both sex. CONCLUSION : Our data suggest that DHEAS levels may influenced by several sociodemographic factors (e.g. smoking, alcohol, exercise etc) and body mass index. DHEAS level was inversely correlated by age in both sex and men had 1.5 times higher DHEAS values than women. We could not find any association between DHEAS level and lipid profile & fasting blood sugar.
Adipose Tissue ; Adult ; Aging ; Biomarkers ; Blood Glucose ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate* ; Dehydroepiandrosterone* ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose ; Hip ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sex Characteristics* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides ; Waist-Hip Ratio

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to assess the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the menopausal symptoms of Korean women by comparing the postmenopausal symptoms before and after HRT in women who continued therapy and those who stopped. METHODS: The subjects were 40 menopausal women(24 women on continuous medication, 16 women who discontinued medication) who received HRT and were alde follow of at least 2 months later in the Department of Family Practice. The menopausal symptoms were evaluated by two doctors according to the modified Kupperman Index. RESULTS: The basic values of Kupperman Index were not significantly different between women who had received the HRT continuously and those who discontinued HRT. In women with continued HRT improved symptoms after HRT were hot flushes, sweating, fatigue, headache, tachycardia and total score of Kupperman Index. However, only vertigo and headache were improved in women who discontinued HRT. Treatment period was the single most predictor of total score of Kupperman Index after therapy. And it could explain the 44.1% of variance of total score in the direction of improvement proportional to the treatment period. CONCLUSIONS: The HRT is helpful to relieve the menopausal symptoms. And the treatment period is more important than the severity of basic symptoms to improve menopausal symptoms after therapy.
Family Practice ; Fatigue ; Female ; Headache ; Hormone Replacement Therapy* ; Humans ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Tachycardia ; Vertigo

BACKGROUND: Trauma is a major cause of death for individuals under the age of 45 years and the third leading cause of death for all ages. So, it has been recognized as an important socioeconomic problem. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of surgical care of traumatized parients. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data of patients who had undergone surgical operation on head, abdomen, or chest trauma from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 1995. TRISS method and W- and Z- statistics were used to evaluate the trauma outcome and the quality assurance of surgical treatment. RESULTS: Two hundred and sixty eight patients were enrolled in this study. Traffic accident in injury mechanisms was the most common(n=185, 69.2%), and severely injured patients with over ISS 16 were 205 of total 268 patients(76.5%). Crude mortality rate was 11.6% (non-survivors/number of patients : 31/268). By TRISS method, predicted mortality rate was 10.1%, excess mortality rate was 14.2%, and W value was - 1.43 indicating less actual survivors than predicted, but absolute Z score was 0.91 and it was statistically not significant. CONCLUSION: These data show that trauma outcome and quality of surgical care in our hospital is adequate. We also suggest that it will provide a valuable data for further studies.
Abdomen ; Accidents, Traffic ; Cause of Death ; Head ; Humans ; Injury Severity Score* ; Mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Survivors ; Thorax