Basement membrane zone gene expression by fibroblast cultures was examined by molecular hybridizations with human sequence specific cDNAs corresponding to type 1V procollagen and laminin subunit polypeptides. Northern transfer analysis with total RNA revealed the presence of specific mRNA transcripts for al (IV) and a2 (1V) chains of type 1V procollagen as well as Bl and B2 chains of laminin. Laminin A chain mRNAs were not detected using the same RNA preparations. The molecular size of al (1V) and a2 (1V) procollagen mRNA revealed 6.8kb and 6.7kb, respectively. The molecular size of Bl chain of laminin revealed 5.6kb, and B2 chain revealed 8.2 and 5.5kb polymorphic transcripts. In slotblot analysis using densitometer, steady-state levels of type IV procollagen and laminin mRNAs indicated that they were in relatively low abunclance, as compaired with type I procollagen mRNA. Quantitative levels of al (IV) and laminin Bl chaii mRNAs were more abundant than those of a2 (IV) and laminin B2 mRNAs. The mRNA ratio of al (IV)/a2 (lV) and laminin Bl/B2 were 1.9 and 1.5, respectively. These results demonstrate evidence for differential regulation of the expression of different basement membrane zone molecules during the formation of basement membrane.
Basement Membrane ; Collagen Type I ; Collagen Type IV* ; DNA, Complementary ; Fibroblasts* ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Laminin* ; Peptides ; Procollagen ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin*

No abstract available.
Administration, Oral* ; Animals ; Intestine, Large* ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Administration, Oral* ; Animals ; Intestine, Large* ; Rats*

BACKGROUND: Pityriasis versicolor(PV) is a superficial mycosis, theoretically unusual in children. Epidemiologic and clinical data for children with PV under 14 years were collected. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical features of PV in the young. METHOD: We included all cases of PV in patients under 14 years of age observed in our department from 1981 to 1995. All cases were diagnosed on the basis of clinical criteria and were confirmed by microscopic examination. RESULTS: From 1981 to 1995 we encountered 32 cases of PV in children, compared with 637 cases in adults; thus children represented 4.7% of all cases. The ratio of male to female was l. 7:1. Among the age groups, the incidence was the highest in the 10-14 years(43%). The monthly prevalence was the highest in August. Distribution of the lesions were the face(40.9%), neck (25%), chest(13.6%), back(11.3%), extremities(6.8%) and abdomen(2.2%). The incidence of hypopigmented lesions was 70.4% and that of hyperpigmented lesions was 29.6%. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that the face is a predilectionl site for PV in children and all facial lesions are hypopigmented. Other clinical features are variable and similar to those of adults.
Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Neck ; Pityriasis* ; Prevalence ; Tinea Versicolor*

We report a case of primary cutaneous cryptococcosis on Rt. forehead and perioral area of 57 year old woman with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and Lt. cerebral infarction. She had large ulcers with yellowish purulent exudates on Rt. forehead and perioral area for 2months. A histopathological examination from the lesion showed numerous encapsulated, round spores and the organisms were identified as Cryptococcus neoformans in a series of fun-gal studies. The patient received a 5-week course of IV and oral fluconazole with resolution of her skin lesion. The patient is free of any lesion several months after completing therapy. This experience supports the use of fluconazole as initial and single therapy in primary cutaneous cryptococcosis.
Cerebral Infarction ; Cryptococcosis* ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Exudates and Transudates ; Female ; Fluconazole* ; Forehead ; Humans ; Skin ; Spores ; Ulcer

No abstract available.
Arthritis*

No abstract available.
Hematocrit* ; Humans ; Renal Dialysis*

We report two cases of vulvar syringorna in a 40-year-old women and a 28-year-old woman who had 2-3mm sized, brownish papules on both valvar areas an l-3rnm sized, yellow-brownish papules on both vulvar ares with yellowish milia-like lesion the surface, respectively. Microscopically the lesions revealed characteristic findings of syrinzoiza However the second case showed a small cystic duct in the papillary dermis, which is lineilly a stratified epithelium and filled with concenteric lamellae of keratin.
Adult ; Cystic Duct ; Dermis ; Epithelium ; Female ; Humans ; Syringoma* ; Vulva

No abstract available.
Histiocytosis*

BACKGROUND: Tourniquet pain is probably mediated by C-fiber. The ability of fentanyl to interrupt this nociceptive conduction was studied by administering either fentanyl or saline intrathecally along with hyperbaric bupivacaine for spinal anesthesia. METHOD: The incidence of tourniquet pain was evaluated in 60 patients having orthopedic surgery of the lower extremities during spinal anesthesia by administering either 30 mcg fentanyl (group 2) or saline (group 1) along with 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 10 mg. We measured the maximal sensory spread of analgesia to pinprick, the incidence of tourniquet pain, and the sensory anesthesia to pinprick at the onset of tourniquet pain. RESULTS: The average maximal sensory spread of analgesia was the same in both groups (T9). The incidence of tourniquet pain was significantly greater in group 1 (33%) than in group 2 (10%). The sensory levels of anesthesia at the onset of tourniquet pain were not different in two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Intrathecal fentanyl was effective against tourniquet pain for 2 hours of the orthopedic surgery of the lower extremities.
Analgesia ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Bupivacaine* ; Fentanyl* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lower Extremity ; Orthopedics ; Tourniquets*