Effect of Glycolic Acid on Collagen Gene Expression in Cultured Human Skin Fibroblasts

BACKGROUND: Glycolic acid is currently reported to have beneficial effects on the photoaged skin. These effects may be through the modulatory action of glycolic acid in the production of dermal extracellular matrix proteins of fibroblast. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the specific effect of glycolic acid on the collagen and elastic fiber gene expression in vitro. METHODS: Human skin fibroblasts were cultured from normal skins of excised specimens and glycolic acid (75 µg/ml) was treated. After 24 hours of treatment, six each cell lines were processed for extraction of RNA and subjected to Northern analysis. RESULTS: Type I collagen mRNA expression was significantly increased in the glycolic acid-treated fibroblasts. Elastin mRNA expression did not show any significant change. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that glycolic acid induced the increase of type I collagen mRNA expression and had the specific biologic effect on fibroblast.

Development and Clinical Application of the Biofeedback Anal Sphincter Control System for the Treatment of Patients with Functional Defecation Disorders Author Ung-Chae

Biofeedback is the treatment of choice for functional defecation disorders such as idiopathic chronic constipation and neurogenic fecal incontinence. The pre-existing biofeedback systems have many disadvantages. The aims of current project are, first, to develop the biofeedback system into the application software in the Windows environment, and, second, to assess the possibility of clinical usage for patients with functional defecation disorders. The hardware and software of the BASCO (Biofeedback Anal Sphincter Control) system were based on the signal measurement and signal processing of anal sphincter EMG (Electromyography). BASCO system was applied to 5 normal healthy controls and 20 patients with functional defecation disorders. Patients group was categorized as constipation group (N1=15) and incontinence group (N2=5). With use of current system, EMG-based biofeedback therapy was performed, and the outcome was analysed. Anal EMG signal data was processed by the software, and displayed in the monitor of personal computer. The software of EMG-display and database management were adequately operated. In N1 group, a paradoxical elevation or equalized activity of anal EMG pattern was shown in the simulated defecation. In N2 group, low electrical activity was shown. These findings were used for the EMG-based biofeedback therapy as a pilot study. The clinical symptoms were improved in 12 of N1 group and 3 of N2 group in the period of 3.7 (range, 1~12) months follow-up. In Conclusion, newly-developed BASCO system was adequately operated in the volunteer and patients groups. The multi-tasking and multi-processing functions were adequately shown in the real time. Current results could be used for clinical appraisal. Specifically, this system could be used for the practical application of biofeedback therapy in the patients with chronic constipation or fecal incontinence.

Expressions of the cell proliferation Ag Ki-67, p53 and p21wa f1/cip1 in uterine cervical squamous tumor / 대한부인종양콜포스코피학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the expressions of Ki-67, p53 and p21 waf1/cip1 according to the age and the histologic type of preinvasive and invasive cervical lesions. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Microwave-oven-processed formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded, cervical biopsy specimens and hysterectomy specimens were obtained from 1997 to 1998 at the Soonchunhyang university Chunan hospital. These included 55 cervical intraepithelial neoplasm(CIN I-III), 14 invasive squamous cell carcinoma and 3 adenocarcinoma, and immunohistochemically evaluated by monoclonal MIB-1 antibody, monoclonal p53 antibody, and monoclonal p21 antibody. Positive index was expressed as a percentage of strong staining cells per 300 counted cells in evenly strong staining area. RESULT: Ki-67, p53 and p21 protein were expressed in the nuclei. Ki-67 was specifically expressed in all phases of cell cycles in proliferating cells. p21 expression was not seen in CIN I and CIN II, but was increased with increasing histologic grade. According to the age, Ki-67 expression was significantly higher in 30 > or =aged group than 30 or =aged group. CONCLUSION: Conclusions of this study indicate that cell proliferating rate is higher in young age groups than old age groups. p53 expression was not significantly different according to age and histologic grade. These indicates that mutation of the p53 gene may be associated with the development of cervical cancer, but not associated with the progression of cervical cancer. Besides, p21 expression was increased in increasing histologic grade, but decreased in old aged women. Further study of this paradoxical increase in p21 expression in cervical carcinoma is necessary to clarify the mechanisms of p53 indepent pathway.