Distortion and movement of the expander during skin expansion.

Distortion and movement of tissue expanders can cause expansion of the wrong area, such as the naevus or the scar that is to be resected. In 71 rectangular expanders, we examined the incidence of distortion (over 15 degrees) and movement (over 3 cm). We divided the expanders into three anatomical site groups: scalp, body, and extremities, and compared the complication rate between two study groups (distortion or movement, or not). In total, the incidence of distortion was 15/71 (21%) and that of movement 5/71 (7%). Distortion occurred mainly in the extremities (11/33,33%). The implanted expanders tended to move more often in the body part (3/15, 20%). In the extremities, the bigger the angle between the axis of the implanted expander and that of the extremity, the bigger the angle of distortion. Although the incidence of complications between the two groups was not significant, except for alteration in design of the flap, we recommend that these points should be considered when preoperative plans are being made for appropriate patients.     

Pyoderma gangrenosum associated with ulcerative colitis and subcutaneous and splenic abscesses

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare, chronic, inflammatory ulcerative skin disease of unknown etiology and pathogenesis. It is often associated with systemic disease. We describe a patient with pyoderma gangrenosum associated with ulcerative colitis and aseptic abscesses of the subcutis and spleen, which have been rarely reported previously. These manifestations were cleared by combined therapy with minocycline hydrochloride and diaphenylsulfone.     

Studies on fine structure and location of lipids in quick-freeze replicas of atherosclerotic aorta of WHHL rabbits

Summary The fine structure of intracellular and extracellular lipids in the atherosclerotic aorta of Watanabe-heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits was demonstrated by a quick-freeze etching technique. Many lipid droplets, with and without a membrane, were observed in the foam cells. Membrane-free droplets were observed as onionlike structure with a concentric lamellar structure surrounded by 10 nm filaments. Droplets surrounded by a limited membrane probably correspond to lipid-laden lysosomes.In the extracellular connective tissue space, marked accumulation of lipids with a vesicular structure was seen among collagen fibers. The appearance of these lipids was similar to that of lipids in lysosomes of foam cells.     

Mental component of health-related quality of life is an independent predictor of incident functional disability among community-dwelling older people: a prospective cohort study

Quality of Life Research - Previous studies have reported a positive association between poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and disability mainly in relation to the physical component of...     

新型PDE3抑制剂西洛他唑对fMLP诱导的HL-60细胞超氧自由基生成和钙离子浓度升高的影响

目的　研究新型磷酸二酯酶 (PDE) 3抑制剂西洛他唑(cilostazol)对中性粒细胞超氧自由基 (O·2 )和钙离子浓度([Ca2 + ]i)的影响。方法　体外培养急性早幼粒细胞白血病HL 6 0细胞 ,以 1 3%DMSO分化诱导为中性粒细胞样细胞后 ,采用特制新型仪器 ,同时实现化学发光法测定O·2 和荧光法测定 [Ca2 + ]i,观察西洛他唑对趋化肽N 甲酰 甲硫氨酰 亮氨酰苯丙氨酸 (fMLP)刺激引起的中性粒细胞样HL 6 0细胞O·2 生成和 [Ca2 + ]i 升高的影响以及二者变化的时相关系。结果　西洛他唑 (1～ 30 μmol·L-1)明显抑制由fMLP诱导的中性粒细胞O·2 生成和 [Ca2 + ]i 升高 ,其中 10和 30 μmol·L-1浓度的西洛他唑组与对照组相比差异有统计学意义 (P<0 0 1)。在时相关系上 ,fMLP诱导O·2 生成的达峰时间较之 [Ca2 + ]i 的变化略显滞后 ,而 10 μmol·L-1西洛他唑对fMLP诱导O·2 生成和 [Ca2 + ]i 升高的影响表现出一致性 ,几乎同步。结论　西洛他唑对fMLP 诱导的中性粒细胞样细胞内O·2 生成和 [Ca2 + ]i 具有同步的抑制作用 ,提示该药的药理学作用部分是通过影响中性粒细胞功能而实现的     

Suppression of IFN-gamma production in atopic group at the acute phase of RSV infection

Several studies have suggested that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis induced the change of cytokine production profile in childhood. We sought to determine whether the RSV-induced cytokine production was affected by the patient's atopic background. We quantified interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin (IL)-4 in the supernatant of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) cultured for 24 h and in the presence of phytohemaglutinin (PHA), IL-12, or IL-18, from 14 infants who were divided into two groups, those who are non-atopic and an atopic group. In RSV-infected infants with atopic diseases, IFN-gamma production from IL-12- or especially IL-18-stimulated PBMCs was subtotally suppressed in the acute phase, whereas in RSV-infected infants without atopic diseases IFN-gamma production was not suppressed on acute phase. The IFN-gamma suppression observed in the atopic group is not caused by the immaturity of an infant's immune system since reduced IFN-gamma production to RSV is not observed in the infants of non-atopic group. IFN-gamma suppression in regard to RSV infection might be caused by some genetic factor involved in the development of atopic disease such as IL-18 signal cascade.