Structure and Function of a Minimal Receptor Activation Domain of Parathyroid Hormone

The structure and function of short-length amino terminal PTH analogues were studied. The substitution of Leu7 with Phe in [Ala3, 10Leu7Arg11]rPTH (1-11) NH2 analogue peptides did not show any reduction in cAMP formation. Replacement of the 1st, 7th and 8th residues revealed different activities, depending upon the residue type. The substitution of Ala1 by Ser in [Ala3, 10Leu7Arg11]rPTH (1-11) NH2 caused nearly a complete loss of cAMP formation. Meanwhile, NMR analysis of [ (Ala1/ Ser1) Ala3, 10 (Leu7/Phe7) Arg11]rPTH (1-11) NH2 revealed an alpha- helical backbone structure with a flexible conformation at the carboxyl-terminus. The overall results suggest that 11-residue short oligopeptide analogues of PTH tend to form an alpha-helical structure and the different activities of those analogues could be associated with residue specificity rather than the secondary conformational structure.

A Study on Plasma Levels of Testosterone, Dihydrotestosterone, Estradiol and Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate in Patients with Acne Vulgaris / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Although it is evident that androgens have an important role in pathogenesis of acne, the results of current studies on the relationship between serum androgens and acne are inconsistent. Additionally there has been sparse clinical datas about hormonal derangcment with regard to acne in Korea. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to elucidate hormonal abnormalities by detecting the quantitative difference between the acne patients and normal persons with respect to the levels of plasma free/total Testosterone(T), Dihydrotestosterone(DHT), Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate(DHEA-S) and Estradiol(E2) in acne patients. METHODS: In this study, we measured serum levels of free T, total T, DHT, DHEA-S and E2 in 25 women and in 15 men with acne and in 40 healthy control subjects. RESULTS: 1. The levels of free T and E2 in the male patient group were significantly higher than those in the control groups. In the female patient group the levels of DHT were more elevated than those in the control groups. 2. The levels of free T and E2 in all the male subgroups classified by Burke & Cunliffe were significantly elevated compared to those in the male control groups. The plasma levels of DHT in all the female clinical subgroups were significantly higher than those in the female control groups. However, we could not find any correlative relationship between hormonal parameters and the clinical severity in all the patient groups. 3. There was a positive relationship between free T levels and E2 levels in the male patient gfOUp. 4. The patients with menstrual cyclic irregularity had higher mean free T and acne grading scores when compared with those who had regular periods. Also they were younger than the patients with regular menstrual cyclicity. CONCLUSION: The levels of free T and E2 in male patients were higber than in normal control subjects. In the female patients the levels of DHT were higher than in the control subjects. However, there was no correlative relationship between hormonal parameters and the clinical severity of acne. Also the patients with irregular menstrual cyclicity had a higher free T and showed severe acne clinically.

A Clinical Observation of Cutaneous Manifestations in Patients with Viral Hepatitis according to Serotype / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Specified clinical observations regarding skin changes in viral hepatitis have not yet been accomplished in Korea, especially in view of serotypes. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to identify various cutaneous manifestations of viral hepatitis according to viral serotypes and the stages of the disease. METHODS: We performed a clinical observation of cutaneous manifestations in 450 patients who were diagnosed with viral hepatitis. RESULTS: 1. Cutaneous manifestations were found in 383(85.1%) patients. Patients with a longer duration seemed to have skin lesions more frequently. 2. The frequency of cutaneous manifestations was highest in HAV(94.4%) and HBV(84.9%) serotypes. The most common cutaneous manifestation was pruritus(32.4%) in all studied subjects. In HBV hepatitic patients, the most common cutaneous manifestation was pruritus(35.4%), in HCV hepatitic patients, vasculitic purpura(74.5%), in HAV hepatitic patients, urticaria(88.8%), in the hepatitic patients with the mixed form, spider angioma(30.2%) and vasculitic purpura(30.2%). 3. Urticarial lesions in non-HCV hepatitis were of the lymphocytic vasculitis type but HCV hepatitis was associated with neutrophilic vasculitis. The purpuric lesions with HCV hepatitis were of the neutrophilic vasculitis type while lymphocytic vasculitis was present in non-HCV hepatitis. 4. The most severe pruritus was present in HBV hepatitic patients. CONCLUSION: The cutaneous manifestations in viral hepatitis have different clinical features depending on the viral types.

A Case of Silicone Granuloma After Liquid Silicone Injection / 대한피부과학회지

We report a case of silicone granuloma of the breast in a 38-year-old female patient who had been injected with liquid silicone by an unauthorized practitioner for augmentation of her breast. On histopathological examination, we could observe numerous variable sized ovoid or round cavities that gave the section a ""Swiss cheese"" appearance in the dermis and subcutaneous fat. She was treated initially with oral antibiotics and corticosteroids with no significant improvement, and she was referred to the Plastic Surgery Department for surgical removal of the silicone granuloma.

A Case of Kimura's Disease / 대한피부과학회지

Kimuras disease is a chronc inflamrnatory disorder of unknown cause, endemic in Orientals, which has until recently been confused in Western literature with angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia. We report herein a case of Kimura's disease in 31-year old male. He visited with 24 years history of painless flesh colored tumor-like swelling on his left preauricular area. Marked peripheral eosinophilia(25.2%) was noted in differential leukocyte count. Histopathologically, lymphoid follicular structure composed of lymphocytes, hist,iocytes and numerous eosinophils with proliferation of blood vessels were seen in the subcutaneous tissue.

A Case of Cutaneous Metastasis from Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder / 대한피부과학회지

We report herein a case of cutaneous metastasis from carcinoma of the urinary bladder in a 73-year-old male. He visited our department with a 3 month history of erythematous to dark brown colored, hard, non-tender, non-movable subcutaneous nodules on the anterior chest and neck. Skin biopsy specimens from the chest and the neck lesions revealed variable sized polygonal cells with hyperchromatic nuclei, and these histopathological findings were compatible with the metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder.