Laminins, a subset of glycoproteins, are main components of the basement membrane along with fibronectin, type IV collagen, and heparan sulfate proteoglycan and influence the biologic features, such as growth and polarization, of all tissues attached on the basement membrane. Although evidence has been suggested that laminins are involved in the process of hair follicle formation in mammalian skin tissues, the significance of laminin on the physiology of hair follicles remains to be fully understood. In this study, we assessed whether the distribution of laminin is associated with the growth of hair follicles and whether all-trans retinoic acid (RA), a stimulus of hair follicle growth, affects the expression profile of laminins. To observe the distribution of laminin varied depending on the developmental stages, fetuses(at day 20 of gestation) and pups(at day 1 and 3 after birth) of Sprague- Dawley rats were used. To examine the effect of RA, 5 days-old pups were administered with RA and their skin tissues were removed post mortem 2, 4, or 7 days later. Skin specimens were sectioned and observed using the immunohistochemical staining, immunogold staining for electron microscopy, and in situ RT-PCR assays. In fetuses at day 20 of gestation and 1 and 3-days-old pups, the distribution of laminin within hair follicles was restricted in the cytoplasm of fibroblasts located in hair papilla and dermal root sheath, basement membrane, and glassy membrane. Following RA treatment for 2 and 4 days, laminin expression was increased in the basement membrane, glassy membrane, outer root sheath, and dermal root sheath in hair follicles. Following RA treatment for 2 and 4 days, the level of laminin was increased in fibroblasts and matrix cells present in hair follicles, as shown in immunogold staining. The expression of laminin at day 7 post administration with RA was decreased at the level comparable with that of untreated controls. In in situ RT-PCR assays, matrix cells in hair follicles exhibited an increase in the levels of laminin alpha1 and beta1 transcripts following RA administration. Thus, these results suggest that matrix cells play a role in the growth of hair by enhancing laminin gene expression and all-trans retinoic acid promotes this induction.
Animals ; Basement Membrane ; Collagen Type IV ; Cytoplasm ; Fetus ; Fibroblasts ; Fibronectins ; Gene Expression ; Glycoproteins ; Hair Follicle* ; Hair* ; Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans ; Laminin* ; Membranes ; Microscopy, Electron ; Physiology ; Pregnancy ; Rats* ; Skin ; Tretinoin*

The purpose of this study is to propose a new fracture classification of lateral orbital wall, to emphasize the clinical significance of lateral orbital wall fractures, and to suggest appropriate surgical approach according to our classification. This study is based on a treatment of forty-seven patients with lateral orbital wall fractures, and medical records and radiologic studies were reviewed retrospectively. A clinical classification was based on radiographs obtained. Grade I fracture is a fracture of the frontal process of the zygoma at the zygomatico-sphenoidal suture line. Grade I fractures are further divided into 2 subgroups: Grade IA-compressed; Grade IBa-laterally displaced fracture; Grade IBb-medially displaced fracture. Grade II fractures are fractures that extend to the orbital plate of the greater wing of the sphenoid. These fractures are further divided: Grade IIA-compressed; and Grade IIB-displaced fracture. In Grade III fractures, the entire greater wing of the sphenoid is impacted toward the orbital apex with possible intrusion into the middle cranial fossa. The most common type of fracture was Grade IBa (51%) and the least common type was Grade IIA (4%). All Grade II and Grade III fractures had major ophthalmic problems. Nineteen of 47cases (40%) developed ophthalmic problems such as proptosis (23%), diplopia (21%), restricted extraocular muscle movement (15%), displacement of eye globe (15%), optic nerve injury (4%), and globe rupture(4%). Postsurgical sequelae included proptosis (4%), diplopia (4%), restricted extraocular muscle movement (6%) and blindness (6%). Our classification can be applied to all types of lateral orbital wall fractures. Our data and analysis demonstrate that Grade II/III fractures have a significant of major and sometimes devastating ophthalmic injuries. These findings, we believe, mandate that all patients with clinically suspected lateral wall fractures obtain a thorough ophthalmologic examination and complete facial CT scans. This classification may be helpful for the diagnosis and treatment of lateral orbital wall fracture.
Blindness ; Classification* ; Cranial Fossa, Middle ; Diagnosis ; Diplopia ; Exophthalmos ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Optic Nerve Injuries ; Orbit* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sutures ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Zygoma

No Abstract Available.
Forehead*

No Abstract Available.
Mandible* ; Osteotomy*

The importance of dressing in the territory of plastic surgery has been greatly emphasized. Especially the tie-over dressing method is very effective method which has been widely used in the areas of skin graft, and after subcutaneous shaving for osmidrosis. However, the present tie-over dressing method, using cotton balls or gauze, is poses several problems. The damp areas produced by insufficient absorption of exudate, inappropriate and uneven pressure, and excessive pressure become susceptible to infection, conclusively leading to the decreased success rate. For the last three years, we have been using the sponge, replacing the cotton balls or gauze, in total 248 cases for compressive dressing of skin graft, conchal cartilage graft, dermofat graft and subcutaneous shaving of the osmidrosis. We conclude this new method has many benefits as well as the solutions to the problems of using cotton balls or gauze.
Absorption ; Bandages* ; Cartilage ; Exudates and Transudates ; Porifera* ; Skin ; Surgery, Plastic ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Forehead*

There are several factors to be considered while performing reduction mammoplasty in patients having giant breast with severe breast ptosis. These are degrees of breast ptosis, location of newly created nipple areolar complex, preservation of sensation, symmetry of both breasts, amount of breast tissues to be resected, and finally the postoperative scar. Among the above factors, postoperative scar seems to be the major problem that patients complain about. So several methods have been investigated in time to minimize the scar. Authors have performed 3cases of reduction mammoplasty in patients with severe ptotic large breast by applying the method of umbilicus creation in abdominoplasty, so that only periareolar and submammary scars remained without a vertical scar. The age were between 33 and 43 years old. Mean follow up period was about 6.5 months. Amount of the resected mammary tissues was about 750-1350g. Periareolar deepithelialization was made about 8cm diameter for better cirulation to the nipple areolar complex and wider contact area thus enhancing the stabilization and survival of the nipple areolar complex. Only 1 case with partial deepithelialization of the areola occurred but completely healed within 1 month. Patients were pleased with natural shape and size of the breast and the sensation of the nipple areolar complex was restored completely in all cases after surgery. Authors have performed reduction mammoplasty without leaving the vertical scar which considered to be the major problems of the classical methods. Other problems such as insufficient reduction, flattening of the breast and severe wrinkles around the nipple were also solved. This method not only improve the aesthetic importance but also minimize the functional complications such as sensory loss and difficulty in lactation.
Abdominoplasty ; Adult ; Breast ; Cicatrix* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lactation ; Mammaplasty* ; Nipples ; Sensation ; Umbilicus

Primary treatment of cleft palate should result in an intact palate with separation of the oral and nasal cavities. However, the published reports of large series indicate that palatal fistula present in operated cleft palate of a small but significant groups of patients. Even in the best hands, a palatal fistula of the operated cleft palate may reoccur postoperatively. Various methods of repair including local mucosal flaps have been employed to date, but fistula repair is extremely difficult because the operative field is limited by scar formation around the palatal fistula, making wound healing unsatisfactory. In such cases, a tongue flap is commonly indicated. From May of 1991 to May of 1996, among 19 patients with palatal fistula in operated cleft palate, 11 patients were operated by anteriorly-based tongue flap. All patients were followed up for at least 6 months, with mean follow up of 18 months. Among 12 cases of 11 patients included in this study, 11 flaps survived and did not recur during follow up periods. One complication was seen in the first case. In this case, there was a flap detachment from the recipient site on the 3rd postoperative day, but he was treated successfully at a subsequent operation. There have been no problems with feeding and communication until the pedicle is cut, and no patient experienced problems either with alteration in speech or with disturbance of taste sensation following surgery. In conclusion, this study shows that the anteriorly-based tongue flap is a safe and reliable technique for closure of large palatal fistula.
Cicatrix ; Cleft Palate ; Fistula* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Nasal Cavity ; Palate ; Sensation ; Tongue* ; Wound Healing

No abstract available.
Female ; Mammaplasty*

The purpose of this study si to introduce a new method to reduce the postoperative complication of augmentation mammoplasty, and to evaluate its usefulness and results. Twenty five patients underwent endoscopically assisted transumbilical subpectoral augmentation mammoplasty designed by authors from November 1995 to May 1997, for 1 1/2 years and were followed up from 6 months to 2 years. We made subpectoral pocket for saline filled mammary implant via umbilical incision, under the endoscopic guidance and could get successful results except 1 complication. One complication was breast asymmetry, recently. We could not found any article about transumbilical augmentation mammoplasty, recently. We could not found any article about transumbilical augmentation advantages of endoscopically assisted transumbilical subpectoral augmentation mammoplasty. (1) inconspicuous scar. (2) low capsular contracture rate. (3) preservation of nerve innervation of upper arm and breast. (4) reducing of hematoma occurrence rate due to the possibility of natural drainage into the tract of abdomen and umbilicus. We concluded that endoscopically assisted transumbilical subpectoral augmentation mammoplasty was a new excellent method to take the advantages of transumbilical approach and subpectoral implantation, and to reduce the postoperative complication rate. Furthermore we think that it overcome the disadvantages of the transumbilical submammary augmentation mammoplasty.
Abdomen ; Arm ; Breast ; Cicatrix ; Contracture ; Drainage ; Female ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Mammaplasty* ; Postoperative Complications ; Umbilicus