The Effect of Rhus verniciflua Stokes Extracts on Photo-Aged Mouse Skin

BACKGROUND: Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RV) has traditionally been used in Korea as an indigenous food (Rhus chicken soup) and as an herbal medicinal plant. While the anticancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties of RV have been actively studied in the medical field, its antioxidant effects in the skin that resist the reactive oxygen species in keratinocytes and fibroblasts is less understood. OBJECTIVE: We designed to evaluate the effects of R. verniciflua Stokes extract (RVE) on the photo-aged skin by an in vitro experiment using human fibroblasts and an in vivo experiment using a photo-aged murine model. METHODS: For the in vitro experiments, human fibroblasts irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) B were treated with RVE or vehicle, and the growth levels and the expression level of type 1 procollagen were compared. For the in vivo experiment, photo-aged mice irradiated with UVB and UVA were administered drinking water with or without RVE, and histological changes and the expression level of type 1 procollagen and matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-13 were compared. RESULTS: In vitro experiments using fibroblasts irradiated with UVB showed that RVE promoted growth and significantly increased the expression of type 1 procollagen as compared to the control group. In the photo-aged mice, RVE increased collagen content in the dermis and promoted the synthesis of type 1 procollagen without any visible decrease in MMP-13 as compared to control group. CONCLUSION: In addition to the previously reported antioxidant effects of RVE, oral intake of RVE effectively inhibited photo-aging in hairless mice by enhancing collagen synthesis.

Dermis Graft for Wound Coverage: A Preliminary Report

The two major concerns in skin grafting are poor color match at the recipient site and donor site morbidity. To overcome the limitations of the classic skin graft, we have used dermis graft-deepithelialized split thickness skin graft-for coverage of small to medium sized wounds. The important aspects of this methods involve the immediate return of epidermis to the donor site to overcome donor site morbidity and restoration of the epidermis at the recipient site by neo epithelization from the adjacent skin. From April of 2001 to July of 2003, the dermis graft was applied to 32 patients. Simultaneously, the regular split thickness skin graft procedure was performed in 33 patients. We compared the healing time in all patients. The scar condition was also evaluated at 2 to 12 months after operation. The entire dermis grafts were reepithelialized in 15.5 days. The skin grafted wounds were healed by 11.8 days. Regarding the donor sites, donor sites of dermis graft healed within 7.5 days. On the contrary those of regular skin graft required 12.8 days. The donor sites of the dermis graft were also superior to those of skin graft in scar quality and patient satisfaction. The dermis graft technique for wound coverage compares favorably to regular skin graft technique in both recipient and donor sites aesthetically and functionally.

Clinical Analysis of Traumatized Auricular Laceration / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Contusions and lacerations of the auricle are common, but reconstructive procedures are difficult because the auricle has an intricate cartilage framework covered with delicate skin. The purpose of this study was to present therapeutic principles of traumatized auricular laceration. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The study was performed retrospectively and included 35 traumatized auricular laceration patients. Their wound state, degree of laceration, whether or not had exposure of cartilage, methods of reconstruction used and postoperative complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Multiple laceration was found in 11 patients. Eight of 19 patients who had cartilage exposed had been performed cartilage suture method for alignment. Primary reconstruction was performed for two avulsed subtotal injury patients. Pocket principle technique was used for one patient whose auricle was contaminated and amputated. Postoperative complications were noted as paresthesia, color change, delayed healing, deformity and partial loss of auricle. CONCLUSION: Rapid and active management of traumatized auricular lacerations is important to prevent infection and postoperative complications.

Tester to Measure the Hardness of the Nasal Tip: A New Device

The nasal tip occupies important position in Asian rhinoplasty because Asian has a nasal tip featuring of round or bulbous shape, lower height and wider base compared with that of Caucasian. The hardness of the nasal tip may be increased during the course of a routine rhinoplasty by maneuvers such as incision or excision of the lower lateral cartilage, suturing, and grafting of the cartilages. Changes of the hardness may be a component of postoperative dissatisfaction. However there is no device to measure the hardness of the nasal tip. We developed a "nasal tip durometer" using Teclock Durometer GS series 701 G. The spring rate of Teclock Durometer was converted from 0.223 kgf/mm to 0.036 kgf/mm to apply to the human body. After the remote air switch was fixed to apply with the same speed in a patient's nose, we manufactured the frame attachable to the surgical operation table. The reliability, validity, and responsiveness to clinical change of our durometer were evaluated in a clinical study of 20 patients. Our durometer was highly reliable (Spearman correlation coefficient, r=0.95), valid (Spearman correlation coefficient, r= 0.85), and responsible (effect size=11.37). We concluded that nasal tip durometer was useful to measure the hardness of the nasal tip objectively.

Post-Operative Morphometric Analysis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome using High Resolution Ultrasonography

We evaluated the morphologic changes that follow division of transverse carpal ligament in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome using high resolution sonography. Twenty hands of 10 patients underwent high- resolution ultrasonographic studies before the operation and 8 months after the operation. They were all diagnosed as bilateral idiopathic CTS. We evaluated the configuration of the median nerve and carpal tunnel at different three levels of the wrist; the distal radiocarpal joint level, the pisiform level, and the hook of hamate level. The median nerve remarkably gained its thickness at distal two levels after the operation. The morphology of carpal tunnel has also changed at distal levels. Increase in the anteroposterior diameter at distal two levels was obvious, but the cross sectional area of the carpal tunnel was increased significantly only at the hook of hamate level. The transverse diameters of the carpal tunnel were not significantly changed. As above, we found that the median nerve gained its volume significantly at distal part of carpal tunnel postoperatively, and the volumetric increase of carpal tunnel would have resulted from an anterior displacement of newly formed transverse carpal ligament and not from a widening of the bony carpal arch.

An Anatomical Study of Nasal Tip Supporting Structures

Although there has not yet been a clear determination of the structures responsible for nasal tip support, it is generally agreed that for Caucasians the components of nasal tip support include the attachment between the upper and lower lateral cartilage, the attachment between the lateral crus and the pyriform aperture, the attachment between the paired domes of the lower lateral cartilages, and the medial crural attachments of the caudal septum. To our knowledge, there has been no anatomical study of the nasal tip supporting structures for Asian patients. The purpose of this study is to determine these structures and how they differ from those of Caucasian patients. Ten noses of fresh cadavers were investigated. Dissection was performed and the above-mentioned nasal tip supporting structures were observed and excised. Histological examination was done with hematoxylin and eosin stains and Van Gieson elastin stains. Based on our results, we propose that the structures between upper and lower lateral cartilages, between lateral crus and pyriform aperture, between the paired domes of lower lateral cartilages should referred to as an intercartilaginous ligament, sesamoid fibromuscular tissure, and interdomal loose connective tissue, respectively. There is no identified specific tissue between medial crus and caudal septum. We consider that the loose connection between the domes of the middle crura and the lack of a specific structure between the medial crus and caudal septum might be the reasons why the nasal tips of Asian patients tend to be broad and unprojected with a wide base.

The Effect of Hyaluronic Acid on Fibroblast Proliferation in Vitro and Skin Wound Healing in Vivo

It is not determined yet whether hyaluronic acid up- regulates or down-regulates wound healing. This study was designed to define the effect of hyaluronic acid on proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts in vitro and on skin wound closing in vivo. Fibroblasts were isolated from the dermis of adults and cultivated in the presence of either one of 6 concentrations of hyaluronic acid(0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mg/ml). The fibroblasts were seeded at 2.0 x 10(4) cells/well in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium/Ham's F-12 nutrient including 10% fetal bovine serum with either one of 6 different concentrations of hyaluronic acid in 24-well plates. The cells were incubated for 6 days. All concentrations of hyaluronic acid stimulated the proliferation of fibroblasts. The best proliferation was seen at 0.2 mg/ml of hyaluronic acid concentration(p = 0.01). For in vivo study, 10 white rats were used. A 5 mm round punch was employed to excise skin and subcutaneous tissue at eight sites on the back. After creating 8 open wounds, 8 concentrations(0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, 10.0 mg/ml) of hyaluronic acid were applied. The degrees of wound closing were compared the 6th day under light microscope. Low concentration of hyaluronic acid(0 - 2.0 mg/ml) stimulated the wound closing. However, high concentration of hyaluronic acid(5.0 -10.0 mg/ml) delayed the wound closing. The best wound closing was seen at 0.5 mg/ml of hyaluronic acid (p = 0.032). These results demonstrated that hyaluronic acid influenced human dermal fibroblast proliferation and the skin wound closing in rats, and its concentration was critically important factor.

Antibacterial Activity of an Antibiotic (K-681) from Streptomyces sp. 681 against Staphylococcus aureus

The antimicrobial agents reduced infectious diseases significantly. However, antibiotic resistance has followed for almost every antimicrobial agent. Especially, Staphylococcus aureus was one of the most notorious for the multidrug resistance. Streptomyces sp. 681 has been selected for antibiotic-producing strain against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from 1,000 strains of Actinomycetales which had been isolated from soil. In antimicrobial susceptibility test, all of the test strains were susceptible to vancomycin. However, most strains of Staphylococcus aureus were found to be resistant to methicillin. Ninety eight (75%) strains out of 129 strains showed multiple resistance pattern to more than 5 antimicrobial agents. The MIC values of the purified antibiotic (K-681) were 1-32 ug/ml against Gram-positive bacteria compared to >128 ug/ml against Grarn-negative bacteria or fungi. The MIC was 8 ug/ml for 90% of the 129 clinical isolates of S. aureus. The antibiotic showed no cytotoxicity against P 388, HeLa, and S180 at the concentration of 500 ug/ml.