No abstract available.
Keratosis, Seborrheic* ; Poroma* ; Scalp*

No abstract available.
Axilla* ; Paget Disease, Extramammary*

No abstract available.
Aneurysm, False*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of phase contrast X-ray microtomography and microradiography, using a polychromatic synchrotron X-ray, for analysis of the mouse lung microstructure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Normal mice were used for experiments. Some of the mouse lungs were prepared by the lung fixation-inflation method. The resulting sponge-like inflated lung samples were used for microtomography. The remaining mouse lungs were cut into 10 um sections and were used for microradiography and optical microscopic correlation. The experiments on mouse lung samples were performed at the 7B2 beamline of the Pohang Light Source in Korea. RESULTS: Phase contrast X-ray microtomography of inflated lung samples showed individual alveolar structure on 3-D reconstruction. Phase contrast microradiographs of thin lung samples showed microstructure of lung, such as alveoli and bronchioles, and were well correlated with optical microscopic images. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the phase contrast X-ray microtomography and microradiography using polychromatic synchrotron X-ray is feasible for evaluation of microstructure of the lung.
Animals ; Lung/*cytology/*radiography ; Mice ; Microscopy/*methods ; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast ; X-Ray Microtomography/*methods

The morphological changes in the anterior horn of the L4 and L5 spinal segments were observed following anterior root avulsion in the adult male Sprague-Dawley rat (300~350 gm) at 5 days, 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks postlesion. The animals were perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde, 0.15% picric acid in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution and cryostat sections were prepared. Immunohistochemistry was used to identify changes of the phenotype in the anterior horn cells. Primary antibodies, goat anti-choline acetyltransferase (ChaT, 1 : 500, Chemicon), mouse antirat ED-1 (1 : 200, Serotec), rabbit anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP, 1 : 200, DAKO) and rabbit anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF, 1 : 500, Santa Cruz Biotechnology) were used. Avidin-Biotin complex method was performed for immunohistochemical reaction and color reaction was developed with DAB-H2O2. Following results were observed in the anterior horn of lumbar spinal cord; 1. The number of ChaT-immunoreactive (ir) cells were reduced 20% level of control animals at 3 weeks after avulsion. 2. ED-1-ir microglia were significantly increased at 1 week and processes of ED-1-ir microglia surrounded around the axotomized neuronal cell bodies. 3. Gliosis defined by extensive GFAP immunoreactivity was observed both ipsilateral and contralateral side of lesion but the VEGF-ir cells were significantly increased in the ipsilateral side of lesion. Therefore, this study suggested that the majority of axotomized motor neurons were degenerated and the cellular proliferation and phenotype changes including glial cell activation were observed in the lumbar spinal cord after anterior root avulsion of adult rats.
Adult* ; Animals ; Anterior Horn Cells* ; Antibodies ; Cell Proliferation ; Choline O-Acetyltransferase ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; Gliosis ; Goats ; Horns ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Microglia ; Motor Neurons ; Neuroglia ; Neurons ; Phenotype ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

To determine whether the PPARalpha agonist fenofibrate regulates obesity and lipid metabolism with sexual dimorphism, we examined the effects of fenofibrate on body weight, white adipose tissue (WAT) mass, circulating lipids, and the expression of PPARalpha target genes in both sexes of high fat diet-fed C57BL/6J mice. Both sexes of mice fed a high-fat diet for 14 weeks exhibited increases in body weight, visceral WAT mass, as well as serum triglycerides and cholesterol, although these effects were more pronounced among males. Feeding a high fat diet supplemented with fenofibrate (0.05% w/w) reduced all of these effects significantly in males except serum cholesterol level. Females on a fenofibrate-enriched high fat diet had reduced serum triglyceride levels, albeit to a smaller extent compared to males, but did not exhibit decreases in body weight, WAT mass, and serum cholesterol. Fenofibrate treatment resulted in hepatic induction of PPAR alpha target genes encoding enzymes for fatty acid beta-oxidation, the magnitudes of which were much higher in males compared to females, as evidenced by results for acyl-CoA oxidase, a first enzyme of the beta-oxidation system. These results suggest that observed sexually dimorphic effects on body weight, WAT mass and serum lipids by fenofibrate may involve sexually related elements in the differential activation of PPARalpha.
Adipose Tissue/drug effects/metabolism ; Animals ; Body Composition/drug effects ; Body Weight/drug effects ; Diet ; Dietary Fats/pharmacology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects ; Lipids/blood/*metabolism ; Liver/drug effects/metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Obesity/*metabolism/pathology ; Organ Weight/drug effects ; Procetofen/*pharmacology ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/*agonists ; *Sex Characteristics ; Time Factors ; Transcription Factors/*agonists

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The effects of estrogen in the myocardium of aged ovariectomized rats, relating to the estrogen replacement onset time following an ovariectomy, and the replacement duration have not yet been established. The object of this study was to investigate the effects of estrogen replacement in the myocardium of aged ovariectomized rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 52 Female Sprague Dawley rats, about 3 months old, were subjected to sham surgery only (Group 1 ; control, n=9) ; a bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) and maintained untreated for a period of 12 weeks following surgery (Group 2 ; OVX only, n=16) ; estrogen conjugate 25 microgram/kg daily for 4weeks from the 8th post ovariectomy week (Group 3 ; OVX+estrogen replacement therapy : ERT 4weeks, n=10) ; estrogen conjugate 25 microgram/kg daily p.o for 12weeks directly post ovariectomy (Group 4 ; OVX+ERT 12weeks, n=17). We measured the left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT), the number of cardiomyocytes and interstitial fibrosis, edema, using light and electron microscopy. RESULTS: The LVWT in group 4 was 2.25 mm, which was significantly decreased compared to groups 2 and 3, which were 2.45 mm (p=0.014) and 2.46 mm (p=0.008), respectively. The LVWT in group 4 was not significantly different to that of group 1. Interstitial edema was significantly decreased in group 4 (41.2%) compared to that of group 3 (62.0%) (p=0.019). The electron microscopic findings showed a decrease of crystae and a loss of matrix, resulting in a whitish discoloration of the mitochondria in groups 2 and 3. A similar finding was not observed in groups 1 and 4. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that early administration and maintenance of estrogen following a bilateral ovariectomy could prevent the myocardial changes caused by estrogen deficiency.
Animals ; Edema ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Infant ; Microscopy, Electron ; Mitochondria ; Myocardium* ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Ovariectomy ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis, especially toenail onychomycosis has become one of the common fungal infection and has historically been regarded as a cosmetic rather than medical problem by many patients, even by physicians. Recently, however, there are several reports that this is a refractory disease which may cause a deleterious effect on patients' quality of life (QOL). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of toenail onychomycosis on QOL in Korea and to assess the changes of QOL after treatment. METHODS: Total 1004 patients with toenail onychomycosis which was confirmed by clinical findings and KOH preparation were enrolled at 47 dermatologic centers in Korea, and interviewed with standardized QOL questionnaire before and after systemic antifungal treatment. Responses to the questionnaire were scored by f-point scale (0~4) and averaged, and were analyzed for 5 dimensions of emotional impact, social impact, symptom and functional impact, patients' views concerning treatment, and relationship with doctor. RESULTS: 1. Before and after treatment, the most serious impact was emotional dimension showing 1.90 and 1.30 in average score (AS), and social (AS: 1.14 and 0.83) and symptom and functional impact (AS: 1.05 and 0.92) was also affected. 2. In female rather than male, statistically more significant impact on patients' QOL was observed in all dimensions. 3. After treatment, 3 of 5 dimensions were improved significantly - emotional dimension (AS: from 1.90 to 1.30), social dimension (AS: from 1.14 to 0.83), patients' view concerning treatment(AS: from 1.34 to 1.02) 4. The degree of patients' satisfaction at the therapeutic effect was very high - 62.4% (immediately after. treatment) and 65.8% (9 months after initiation of treatment) of patients answered excellent or good. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that toenail onychomycosis has significant Impact on the overall QOL of patients. Also the effect of antifungal therapy on patients' QOL were satisfactory. Therefore, both doctor and patient should pay more attention to the treatment of onychomycosis.
Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Nails* ; Onychomycosis* ; Quality of Life* ; Social Change ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Although recent studies have demonstrated that infusion of L-arginine reduces myocardial necrotic area during prolonged ischemia, its effects on transient postischemic myocardial dysfunction(myocardial stunning) and microvascular dyfunction(vascular stunning) are not well known. To investigate whether intravenous administration of L-arginine, physiological nitric oxide(NO) precursor, during reperfusion would attenuate postischemic myocardial dysfunction and microvascular dysfunction, 15 open-chest dogs were studied. METHODS: In 15 pentobarbital anesthesized open-chest dogs, left circumflex coronary artery was occluded for 20 minutes and was followed by a reperfusion for 60 minutes. L-Arginine(30mg/kg)(L-arginine group, n=8) or saline(control group, n=7) was given intravenously by a bolus 1 minute before reperfusion and was followed by a continuous infusion(10mg/kg/min) for 30 minutes during reperfusion. Before coronary occlusion and 60 minutes after reperfusion, coronary blood flow(CBF) and coronary vascular resistance(CVR) wre measured after intracoronary injection of each of acetylcholine(0.01/kg) and adenosine(1.5/kg), and reactive hyperemia with coronary occlusion(RH20) for 20 seconds was measured. Myocardial segment thickening in the area of ischemia-reperfusion was measured using 2D-echocardiography. The echocardiographic images were digitized and analyzed by cardiac image analyzer. RESULTS: The results obtained 60 minutes after reperfusion were as follows. 1) CBF was decreased by 41% in L-arginine group vs 30.1% in control group(p < 0.05) and CVR was increased by 83.9% in L-arginine group vs 19.3% in control group after 60 minutes of reperfusion, compared with pre-occlusion baseline values. 2) Percent change of CBF was decreased in control group(acetylcholine by 25.8%, adenosine by 29.2%, RH20 by 39.8%), while it was increased in L-arginine group(acetylcholine by 60%, adenosine by 22%, RH20 by 26.7%). Percent change of CVR was increased in control group(acetylcholine by 10.5%, adenosine by 6.9%, RH20 by 21%), but it was decreased in L-arginine group(acetylcholine by 10%, adenosine by 6.6%, RH20 by 1.6%). Increase of CBF and decrease of CVR were significant on acetylcholine and RH20 between control group and L-arginine group. 3) Fraction of myocardial segment thickening was significantly decreased in L-arginine group(by 80%) compared with control group(by 61.7%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The finding that L-arginine depressed post-ischemic myocardial contractil function suggests that systemic infusion of L-arginine has unfavorable effect on myocardial stunning. In contrast, the finding that L-arginine improved CBF and CVR with acetylcholine and adenosine and reactive hyperemia indicates that L-arginine may exert a beneficial effect on vascular stunning. These results suggest that L-arginine may have independent effects on myocardial stunning and vascular stunning.
Acetylcholine ; Adenosine ; Administration, Intravenous ; Animals ; Arginine* ; Coronary Occlusion ; Coronary Vessels ; Dogs* ; Echocardiography ; Hyperemia ; Ischemia ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Myocardial Stunning ; Nitric Oxide ; Pentobarbital ; Reperfusion

The present study was carried out to investigate the HHsAg in the normal skin, dis- eased skin and skin specimens of window period of HBsAg positive patients in their serum with normal liver function. This study was done by immunoperoxidase techniques using the monoclonal antibody to hepatitis E3 surface antigen and by electron microscopy. Immunoperoxidase staining was dane on twenty specimeris of normal skin Group .D twenty specimens of diseased skin (15 cases of dermographism, 2 cases of purpura, 1 case of follicuht,is and 1 cases of morbilliform eruption) (Ciroup II ) and three specimens of normal skin af window period (Group III ) of HBsAp positive patients in their serum. Twelve cases of Group I, eleven cases of Group IL (1(J cases of dremographism and 1 rase of purpura) and two cases of Group II were stained positively for HBsAg. Positive sites were keratinocyte of epidermis, sweat gland, blood vessel and hair follicle. Electron microscopy failed to reveal viral particle, The above resuts suggest the possibility of transmission of viral hepatitis B thraugh the skin and skin appendages.
Antigens, Surface ; Blood Vessels ; Epidermis ; Hair Follicle ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Keratinocytes ; Liver ; Microscopy, Electron ; Purpura ; Skin* ; Sweat Glands ; Virion