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ABSTRACT: Sensory neuropeptides such as neurokinin A or substance P modulate skin and immune cells the functions of neurokinin receptor activation during neurogenic inflammation. Zinc metalloproteases, such as neutral endopeptidase (NEP) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), effectively control the bioavailability of these neuropeptide mediators, which are released from sensory nerves, immune and skin cells during cutaneous responses to endogenous or exogenous noxious stimuli. Recently, studies have suggested that neuropeptides are one of the major pathogenetic fact in many dermatoses, such as allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.
To investigate the expression of major neuropeptides, SP and its degrading enzymes such as NEP and ACE, in the lesions of ACD.
A skin biopsy was obtained from 10 patients with ACD. We analysed the expression of these molecules by immunohistochemical staining, confocal laser scanning microscopy, western blotting and reverse transcription PCR.
There was a significant increase in expression of SP in keratinocytes from ACD lesions compared with those in control skin. There was also increased expression of ACE but not NEP in ACD.
Neuropeptides and their degrading enzymes, particularly SP and ACE, have a significant role in the pathogenesis of ACD.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology 04/2010; 35(3):318-23. · 1.20 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Various laser and light therapy have been increasingly used for the treatment of acne vulgaris.
Twenty patients with facial acne were treated using intense pulsed light (IPL) on one side of the face and pulsed dye laser (PDL) on the other to compare the efficacy and safety of IPL and PDL. Treatment was performed 4 times at 2-week intervals. Treatment effectiveness was determined using lesion counts, acne severity, patient subjective self-assessments of improvement, and histopathological examinations, which included immunohistochemical staining for transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta).
Numbers of total acne lesions decreased following both treatments. For inflammatory lesions such as papules, pustules and nodules, IPL-treated sides showed an earlier and more profound improvement than PDL-treated sides. However, at 8 weeks after the 4th treatment, a rebound aggravation of acne was observed on IPL-treated sides. On the contrary, PDL produced gradual improvements during the treatment sessions and these improvements lasted 8 weeks after the 4th treatment. Non-inflammatory lesions as open and closed comedones also showed improvement following both treatments and PDL-treated sides showed better improvement as the study proceeded. Histopathological examinations showed amelioration in inflammatory reactions and an increase in TGF-beta expression after both treatments, which were more prominent for PDL-treated sides.
Both PDL and IPL were found to treat acne effectively, but PDL showed a more sustained effect. TGF-beta might play a key role in the resolution of inflammatory acne lesions.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 12/2009; 24(7):773-80. · 2.98 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In this letter, we propose a discretely tunable optical frequency synthesizer (DTOFS) based on distributed-feedback (DFB) lasers that can be selectively injection locked to a desired single mode of the femtosecond fiber laser comb. The methods for the injection locking, the monitoring of the lock status, and the selection of the desired comb mode are given. We demonstrate the discrete tunability of the DTOFS by constructing two frequency-stabilized DFB lasers, both of which are injection locked to a respective single mode of the fiber laser comb with the frequency difference, which is an exact multiple of the comb repetition frequency.
IEEE Photonics Technology Letters 11/2009; · 2.19 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We demonstrate an ultra-stable visible laser source that can be generated from injection locked infrared DFB based on optical comb. The optical comb was used as injection source and locked to an acetylene stabilization laser as a reference source of optical communication region. The DFB laser was selectively injection locked from only one among the comb mode with 25 GHz spacing. The ultra-stable visible source can be generated after wavelength conversion (2 th harmonic) of injection locked DFB laser in the PPLN (periodically poled LiNbO3) crystal. This source has a frequency stability of acetylene stabilized laser with 1.1 × 10 -12 at 1 s of averaging time.
01/2009;
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ABSTRACT: We propose ultra stable coherent laser sources based on optical injection locked single mode of the femtosecond fiber laser comb. The source is discretely tunable coherent optical sources by two DFB lasers, which are injection-locked to a respective single mode of the fiber laser comb with the frequency difference of 500 MHz, that is exactly twice of the comb repetition frequency.
01/2009;
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Clinical and Experimental Dermatology 12/2005; 30(6):721-2. · 1.20 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Vascular endothelial dysfunction (VED) plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and is associated with insulin resistance and visceral obesity. We examined the predicting factors of VED in uncomplicated premenopausal obese women using analysis of endothelium-dependent vasodilation by radial artery pulse wave obtained through applanation tonometry.
The subjects included a group of 33 obese women body mass index ((BMI) > or = 25) and another age-matched control group of 25 nonobese women (BMI: 18.5-22.9) of Asian origin. All uncomplicated premenopausal (20-45 y) obese women were sedentary (<1 h/week of physical activity). Anthropometric measurements were performed, and regional distributions of adipose tissue and metabolic variables were measured. Endothelial function was measured by pulse wave analysis after salbutamol administration, which reflects endothelium-mediated vasodilation, contributed partially by nitric oxide release from beta2-adrenergic stimulation. Radial artery wave forms were recorded and from a derived aortic wave forms augmentation index (AIx, defined as the pressure difference between the first and second peaks of the central arterial wave form, expressed as a percentage of the pulse pressure) was calculated. The subjects received sublingual nitroglycerine (NTG) (0.6 mg), followed by nebulized salbutamol (2.5 mg).
AIx fell significantly after the administration of salbutamol, which causes endothelium-dependent vasodilatation. This value was significantly reduced in obese women compared with the controls (10.3+/-6.7 vs 17.2+/-6.8%, P=0.0003). NTG, which causes endothelium-independent vasodilatation, did not produce significant changes (P=0.917). As for our obese subjects, the visceral adipose tissue area was a significant predictor of VED independent of BMI, percent body fat, and other metabolic variables including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (beta = -0.141, P=0.002, Adj-R(2)=0.41).
Increased abdominal adiposity is a powerful independent predictor of VED in uncomplicated obese women. Further studies are warranted to determine the pathophysiological link between visceral adipose tissue and VED.
International Journal of Obesity 02/2005; 29(2):217-22. · 4.69 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We report the fabrication of a discretely tunable erbium-doped fiber ring laser with a novel scheme that can select ITU-T grids of 50-GHz spacing in both C and L bands. Wavelength selections of 273 channels are demonstrated with a signal to source spontaneous emission ratio of 60dB/nm and excellent power flatness over 111-nm bandwidth. This was realized by incorporating both a solid Fabry–Prot interferometer and a fiber Fabry–Prot tunable filter into the ring laser. To our knowledge, our experimental result has the widest tuning range ever reported for a discretely tunable fiber laser with 50-GHz channel spacing that matches the ITU-T grids and is the first equipment that can operate in both C and L bands.
Applied Physics B 08/2004; 79(5):583-586. · 2.19 Impact Factor
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Clinical and Experimental Dermatology 08/2003; 28(4):450-2. · 1.20 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This study was designed to prospectively investigate the efficacy and cognitive adverse effects of stereotactic bilateral anterior cingulotomy as a treatment for refractory obsessive-compulsive (OCD) patients for 12 months.
Patients were eligible if they had severe OCD and rigorous treatments had been unsuccessful. Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI) and neuropsychological tests were used to assess the efficacy and cognitive changes of cingulotomy before and 12 months after operation.
The mean improvement rate of the Y-BOCS scores achieved from baseline was 36.0%. Out of 14 patients six met responder criteria; 35% or higher improvement rate on Y-BOCS and CGI improvement of very much or much better at 12-month follow-up. There was no significant cognitive dysfunction after cingulotomy.
Anterior cingulotomy shows few cognitive adverse effects, with about half of the OCD patients demonstrating significant symptomatic improvement.
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 05/2003; 107(4):283-90. · 4.22 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We report here two environmental genic male-sterilities (EGMS) in rice. These two EGMS rice lines, thermo-sensitive genic male-sterility (TGMS) and photoperiod-sensitive genic male-sterility (PGMS), are controlled by temperature and photoperiod, respectively, in determining their male-sterility. Male-sterility of the TGMS and PGMS was found to be induced when they were grown at 32 degrees C/26 degrees C (day/night) with 14 h daylight, while they were fertile at 26 degrees C/20 degrees C (day/night) with 10 h daylight in a growth chamber. We also examined their anther structures under a light microscope. The light microscopic observation revealed that the EGMS lines showed a complete pollen abortion at the sterile growth condition while they produced normal fertile pollens at the fertile growth condition.
Molecules and Cells 01/2002; 12(3):403-6. · 2.18 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Mad1 protein is known to repress Myc target genes and antagonize Myc function. The authors undertook this study to investigate the clinical implication of Mad1 expression in human breast carcinoma.
The authors performed immunohistochemical assays for Mad1 and Myc proteins in human breast carcinoma, along with tissues from normal breast and benign diseases. The data from protein assays were analyzed in terms of the clinical and biologic characteristics of the patients.
Of 66 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma, Mad1 expression was detected in 22 (33. 3%). Intensity and area of Mad1 expression significantly decreased in DCIS and invasive cancers, whereas high levels of Mad1 expression were persistent in benign breast lesions. Mad1 expression was significantly reduced in poorly differentiated tumors (P < 0.001). Expression of Mad1 was not associated with tumor size, lymph node status, or stage of disease. The authors did not observe any correlation between S-phase and expression status of Myc or Mad1. Mad1 expression was closely linked to differentiation of the cancer cells and inversely correlated with Myc expression (P = 0.042). In survival analysis, Mad1 was a significant factor in predicting recurrence of the disease, but not overall survival after CMF chemotherapy.
In human breast carcinoma cells, expression of Mad1 seems to be down-regulated, whereas expression of Myc is amplified. Altered expression of Mad1 may play a role in the malignant transformation of human mammary epithelial cells and represent an aggressive phenotype in human breast carcinoma.
Cancer 04/2000; 88(7):1623-32. · 4.77 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: There are many conditions characterized by nests of cells within the epidermis. One of them, hidroacanthoma simplex, has been regarded as an epidermal tumor differentiating to intraepidermal eccrine duct cell. We report a case of hidroacanthoma simplex with the results of immunohistochemical study. Staining for 35 beta H11 (reacting with keratin No. 8), 35 beta E12 (reacting with keratin No. 1, 5, 10, 11), S-100 protein, and CEA was negative in the tumor cell nests; these monoclonal antibodies stained the nests of eccrine poroma.
The Journal of Dermatology 11/1997; 24(10):678-81. · 1.49 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Fas is a well-known cell surface receptor whose main function is the induction of apoptosis in many cell types including human keratinocytes. Several reports indicate that anti-Fas antibody can induce apoptosis in cultured keratinocytes after interferon gamma (IFN gamma) pretreatment. Because IFN gamma is synthesized by activated T cells, but not by keratinocytes, these results suggest that Fas may only be effective in apoptosis occurring in T-cell mediated inflammatory skin diseases. We hypothesized that Fas alone might mediate apoptosis in normal human keratinocytes without any other help and thus play a role in normal epidermal homeostasis. By using Cell Death Detection ELISA, we observed keratinocyte apoptosis 24 hours after anti-Fas antibody stimulation not only in IFN gamma-pretreated conditions but also in non-pretreated conditions. Even though the percentage of cultured keratinocytes stained by anti-Fas antibody increased from 7.8 to 25.8% 24 hours after IFN gamma stimulation, the apoptotic rate of the anti-Fas only group was the same as that of the anti-Fas plus IFN gamma treated group. In both conditions, we have verified apoptotic phenomena in cultured keratinocytes in situ by TUNEL staining. Some apoptotic bodies were phagocytosed by neighboring keratinocytes. Fas-mediated apoptosis was not inhibited by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide and was enhanced by inhibitors of several protein kinases, including PKC and staurosporine. These results suggest that Fas-mediated apoptosis may play a role in both T cell-mediated skin diseases and normal epidermal homeostasis.
The Journal of Dermatology 08/1997; 24(7):427-34. · 1.49 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To assess the benefits of radiotherapy for patients with recurrent Kimura's disease and to document the role of radiation treatment as a successful mode of therapy.
From 1985 to 1991, a total of 26 patients with Kimura's disease were treated by local excision and/or systemic steroids at Yonsei University, Yonsei Cancer Center Hospital. Seventeen patients among them eventually had local recurrence after surgical excision. The 17 patients with recurrent Kimura's disease were divided into two groups on the basis of those who received radiation treatment and those who did not. Eight patients in the nonradiation group were treated by systemic steroids alone with individualized doses and schedules. The remaining nine patients in the radiation group were treated by external beam irradiation. The prescribed radiation doses varied from 21.6 to 45 Gy. A comparative analysis on treatment results between both groups was undertaken retrospectively.
The majority of the recurrent cases in the nonradiation group treated by steroids alone experienced rapid rerecurrence of the disease. In contrast, all of the patients except one case in the radiation group achieved excellent local control with moderate doses of radiation. There was a significant difference in the rerecurrence rate between the patients of the radiation group (11%) and the nonradiation group (75%). No clear dose-response relationship could be derived from the patients of the radiation group. No secondary malignancies in the irradiated areas have been observed.
Our results suggest that radiation treatment is preferable as an alternative option for patients with recurrent Kimura's disease who have failed to achieve local control by other modalities.
International Journal of Radiation OncologyBiologyPhysics 07/1997; 38(3):607-12. · 4.11 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: An ultra-stable visible laser source (VLS) was generated by the second harmonic of a selectively injection-locked distributed feedback (DFB) laser from an optical frequency comb with acetylene-stabilized laser seeding. For the second-harmonic generation (SHG) of the injection-locked DFB laser, we used periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal and generated the VLS at a region of 771 nm, which was discretely locked to a spacing of 25 GHz within the PPLN bandwidth (180 GHz). The frequency stability of this source was estimated to be 1.1 × 10− 12 with an average time of 1 s.
Optics Communications 283(19):3743-3746. · 1.49 Impact Factor
