Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S J Hwang

Publications and source records attributed to S J Hwang.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Kainate receptors in primary afferents to the rat gracile nucleus.

In a previous work, we demonstrated that under weak paraformaldehyde fixation, kainate receptors (KR) (GluR5/6/7) are expressed in primary afferent terminals in superficial dorsal horn. We extended our study to primary afferents to the gracile nucleus; immunostaining for GluR5/6/7 in weakly fixed sections was in puncta of variable size. In double-stained sections, the majority of immunostained puncta colocalized with synaptophysin. Because of their large size and relations with smaller puncta, single-stained for synaptophysin, these terminals were presumed to be of dorsal column primary afferents. This was confirmed by anterograde labeling with cholera toxin B and with electron microscopy, which showed that GluR5/6/7 was present in terminals with morphology of primary afferents. These observations demonstrate that expression of presynaptic KR is a general feature of primary afferents with different functional properties.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed2001

Presynaptic kainate receptors in primary afferents to the superficial laminae of the rat spinal cord.

Subunits of glutamate receptors participate in the regulation of sensory transmission at primary afferent synapses in the superficial laminae of dorsal horn (DH). We report here on the distribution of kainate receptors (GluR5/6/7) in these laminae by using light microscope (LM) and electron microscope (EM) immunocytochemistry. Standard (4%) paraformaldehyde fixation resulted in immunostaining for GluR5/6/7 in perikarya and fine processes in lamina II, especially its inner part (IIi). Preembedding EM revealed immunostaining of dendrites, perikarya, and occasional terminals, presumed to be from primary afferent fibers, at the center of glomerular arrangements. In rats perfused with 0.5% paraformaldehyde, LM showed a more punctate staining, mainly in the ventral part of lamina IIi and lamina III, than in material fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde. Approximately two-thirds of GluR5/6/7 puncta were also immunostained with synaptophysin, suggesting that in material fixed with 0.5% paraformaldehyde, a large fraction of these are synaptic terminals. Double immunostained puncta disappear 4 days after dorsal rhizotomy, suggesting that most of GluR5/6/7-immunopositive terminals are from primary afferent fibers. EM material fixed with 0.5% paraformaldehyde confirmed the expression of GluR5/6/7 in numerous synaptic endings with morphology of primary afferents. To determine the type of primary afferent terminals that express GluR5/6/7, two neuroanatomic tracers were injected in the sciatic nerves. The lectin from Bandeiraea simplicifolia (IB4) is selectively taken up by unmyelinated primary afferent fibers that terminate in the outer part of lamina II (IIo) and dorsal part of lamina IIi, whereas the B subunit of the cholera toxin (CTB) is selectively taken up by a broader class of primary afferents which, in superficial DH, terminate mainly in laminae I, ventral part of IIi, and III. Approximately 20% of GluR5/6/7-immunoreactive puncta colocalized with IB4, whereas approximately 40% of GluR5/6/7-immunoreactive puncta colocalized with CTB. The present study shows that (1) GluR5/6/7 does not have a clear and consistent spatial relation with postsynaptic sites, (2) a large number of primary afferents express GluR5/6/7, and (3) these are not limited to one functional class. Thus, modulation by glutamate of primary afferent terminals by means of kainate receptors in the superficial laminae of DH may predominantly involve presynaptic mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Palladin is expressed preferentially in excitatory terminals in the rat central nervous system.

Palladin is a recently described intracellular protein associated with the actin cytoskeleton and cell adhesion in fibroblasts. In Western and Northern blot analyses, palladin expression is ubiquitous in embryonic mice, but it is down-regulated dramatically in most adult tissues. Significant amounts of palladin persist in the brain of adult rodents, as assessed by Western blot analysis. With this work, we extend preliminary observations and determine the overall distribution and subcellular location of palladin throughout the rat brain. In sagittal and coronal sections of the central nervous system, immunostain for palladin is present throughout the brain and spinal cord, but not uniformly. The densest regions of immunostain include the olfactory bulb, cerebral and cerebellar cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, superior colliculus, and superficial laminae of the spinal dorsal horn. Because immunostain characteristically is punctate, we performed double staining for palladin and the presynaptic marker synaptophysin. Confocal microscopy showed that palladin-immunopositive puncta are also immunopositive for synaptophysin; the proportion of synaptophysin-immunopositive puncta that also stained for palladin ranged from 100% of mossy fiber terminals in field CA3 of the hippocampus and in the cerebellar cortex to 60--70% of terminals in the cerebral cortex, striatum, and spinal dorsal horn. The presence of palladin in synaptic terminals was confirmed by electron microscopy. Because immunostained terminals commonly establish asymmetric synapses, the selectivity of palladin expression in synaptic terminals was tested by double staining for palladin and gamma-aminobutyric acid. The modest level of colocalization in this material at both the light microscopic and electron microscopic levels suggests a selectivity of palladin for terminals that release excitatory neurotransmitters. As concomitant work in cell cultures has shown that palladin participates in axonal development and migration, the present results suggest that palladin persists at excitatory synapses of the adult nervous system.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Vanilloid receptor VR1 is both presynaptic and postsynaptic in the superficial laminae of the rat dorsal horn.

Terminals in the rat spinal cord that express the vanilloid receptor VR1 are from small and medium dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and appear prominent in lamina I and inner lamina II. Because primary afferents from these neurons can be myelinated or unmyelinated and their terminals in these laminae can be of various morphological and functional types, we undertook this study to identify the type(s) of VR1-positive afferent fibers and terminals. In the DRG, many small and medium-sized neurons are immunopositive. Under electron microscopy, dorsal root afferents that are immunopositive for VR1 are predominantly unmyelinated. Large numbers of VR1-positive terminals in lamina I are of the nonglomerular type and may contain dense core vesicles. VR1 immunoreactivity in terminals in lamina I is in good agreement with data on noxious, heat-sensitive neurons in the dorsal horn. Two types of glomerular afferent terminals in lamina II also are immunopositive for VR1. In both laminae, most VR1-positive terminals are distinct from substance P-positive terminals. However, the immunoreactivity in lamina II also is prominent in dendrites that are contacted by primary afferent endings. Because we also observed patchy immunostaining in cell bodies in lamina II, this unexpected result may reflect synthesis of VR1 by neurons in this lamina. However, because dorsal rhizotomy abolishes VR1 staining in both laminae I and II, it is suggested that the expression and intracellular dynamics of VR1 in lamina II neurons are controlled by presynaptic input.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed2001

Studies of the synthesis of SSZ-25 zeolite in a "mixed-template" system.

The synthesis of aluminosilicate zeolite, SSZ-25, is described using a two-component organic guest molecule strategy. This method has been recently described by us and is quite effective in crystallizing a variety of aluminosilicate zeolites with reduction in template cost. In this instance the original organic guest component used in the discovery of SSZ-25, N',N',N'-trimethyl-2-adamantammonium cation, is used in conjunction with a variety of smaller amines. The amine is the major organic component in the synthesis and the quaternary ammonium compound, while a minor component, is essential for structure direction to the desired zeolite product. Studies here show that the adamantyl component is preferentially taken up during crystal growth. Our studies showed that the use of the multi-organic component approach to synthesis resulted in a faster and cheaper route to crystallizing SSZ-25. The SSZ-25 has been described in the literature as having the MWW topology and as such has two different channel systems accessed by 10-ring openings; the channel systems do not intersect. One set of 10-rings open into large cavities. In this study we used NMR spectroscopy to examine the as-made materials and to see if the two organic components are used in different capacities in the synthesis, probing if the admantyl component is only found in these larger cavities. The crystalline products could be affected by solvent extraction with polar solvents like dimethylformamide: the X-ray powder patterns and elemental analyses changed with solvent treatment. The solvent-treated crystals were studied by NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and argon adsorption. The two-component organic guest approach was also found to be quite flexible not only with regard to the amine, but also towards the quaternary ammonium compounds. Non-adamantyl polycyclic templates could be used, and polar but non-quaternized adamantyl derivatives also succeeded in directing towards SSZ-25 formation. On the other hand. in one instance it was shown that the two-component approach favors SSZ-25 as the kinetic product but at longer run times Ostwald ripening was observed, leading to the disappearance of SSZ-25 and formation of ferrierite zeolite and quartz.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

The role of peripheral N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in Freund's complete adjuvant induced mechanical hyperalgesia in rats.

We investigated the role of excitatory amino acid receptors in mechanical hyperalgesia induced by subcutaneous injection of Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) into the rat hind paw. In normal rats, an intraplantar (i.pl.) injection of L-glutamate, but not of D-glutamate (3 pmol/0.1 ml each) produced a mechanical hyperalgesia in the hind paw with a lowered paw-withdrawal threshold to pressure. In rats that developed mechanical hyperalgesia associated with inflammation in the hind paw following i.pl. injection of FCA (0.15 ml), the injection of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, MK-801 (1 pmol/0.1 ml) into the inflamed paw increased the paw pressure threshold. On the other hand, the injection of non-NMDA receptor antagonist, 6-cyano-7-nitroqiunoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX, 10 pmol/0.1 ml) into the inflamed paw had no effect on FCA-induced lowering of the paw pressure threshold. The results suggest that NMDA, but not non-NMDA receptors play a substantial role in mediating the development of mechanical hyperalgesia induced in the inflamed paw following i.pl. FCA injection.

6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione↗
PubMed2001

Two cases of primary malignant melanoma of the lacrimal sac.

BACKGROUND: Malignancy of the lacrimal sac is rare, and primary malignant melanoma in this region is extremely rare. METHODS: We report two cases of malignant melanoma of the lacrimal sac presented with epiphora and a palpable mass in the medial canthal area. We performed radical surgery and radiation therapy. RESULTS: The light microscopic, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic studies confirmed the diagnosis. One of the patients, a 65-year-old-woman, has no evidence of recurrence or distant metastasis 3 years after surgery and radiotherapy, whereas another patient, a 56-year-old man, died of distant metastasis 6 months after surgery and radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: We present two cases of malignant melanoma of the lacrimal sac that masqueraded as chronic dacryocystitis. Head and neck surgeons should be aware of this disease entity when encountered with patients with epiphora and mass in the medial canthal area.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Plasma and urinary endothelin-1 in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

The kidney is an important site of endothelin-1 (ET-1) production and is particularly susceptible to ET-1 action. Infusion of ET-1 in rats induces both functional and morphological alterations in the kidneys. Increased plasma level of ET-1 has been reported in patients with chronic renal failure. However, there are still no reports on the plasma and urinary ET-1 levels in patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). In the present study, we have measured the plasma concentration and urinary excretion rate of ET-1 in 15 patients with nephrotic syndrome due to FSGS, and observed the serial changes of plasma and urinary ET-1 in nephrotic rats with FSGS, induced by repeated injection with puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN). ET-1 was measured with radioimmunoassay. The results showed that plasma ET-1 concentration in FSGS patients was significantly higher than in normal controls (P < 0.05), and that urinary ET-1 excretion rate was also significantly higher in FSGS patients than in normal controls (P < 0.01). In FSGS patients, the plasma and urinary ET-1 was significantly correlated (P < 0.05), and the urinary ET-1 excretion rate was significantly correlated with the amount of proteinuria (P < 0.05) and the glomerular sclerosing score (P < 0.01). In the ten rats with PAN-induced FSGS, serial examination showed a significant increase in plasma ET-1 after 8 weeks of injections, while the urinary ET-1 excretion rate showed a biphasic increase that showed a peak after 4 to 6 weeks. The same changes in plasma and urinary ET-1 levels were not observed in control rats injected with normal saline at the same frequency. Our results suggest that ET-1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of FSGS in both humans and rats.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Concomitant prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antacids in the outpatient setting of a medical center in taiwan: a prescription database study.

OBJECTIVE: Although antacids were ineffective in preventing serious gastrointestinal complications caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), many physicians in Taiwan still prescribe antacids concomitantly with NSAIDs. A survey of an outpatient prescription database was performed to measure the extent of such a combination and to explore its associated factors. METHODS: One month of the outpatient prescription data in the polyclinic of a medical center in Taiwan served to estimate the frequency of concomitant antacid prescription with NSAIDs. The age of patients, duration of NSAID prescriptions, concomitant prescription of corticosteroid or ulcer-healing drugs, and inter-departmental variations were compared between the NSAID prescriptions with and without antacids. RESULTS: Antacids were present in 87.3% of prescriptions with NSAIDs but only in 34.4% of prescriptions without NSAIDs (P<0.001). The prescription of antacids was significantly associated with the prescription of NSAIDs. The age of patients and duration of NSAID prescriptions did not influence the co-prescription of NSAIDs and antacids. Significant inter-departmental variations were noted in which the surgeons and orthopedic doctors tended to co-prescribe antacids with NSAIDs more often than the internists. CONCLUSION: The physicians in Taiwan tended to prescribe NSAIDs together with antacids. The rationality of this co-prescription deserves further investigation.

Academic Medical Centers↗
PubMed2001

Clinical, virological, and pathological significance of hepatic bile duct injuries in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis C.

PURPOSE: Hepatic bile duct injuries are characteristic histological findings in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, the pathogenesis and clinical significance of this phenomenon remain unclear. The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence and clinical significance of hepatic bile duct injuries in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: One hundred and seventeen Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis C were enrolled. Clinical, biochemical, immunological (serum autoantibodies and cryoglobulinemia), histological, and virological data (serum HCV RNA titer and HCV genotype) were compared between patients with and without hepatic bile duct injuries. RESULTS: Eighty-three (71%) of the 117 patients with chronic hepatitis C had hepatic bile duct injuries. Patients with hepatic bile duct injuries had a significantly higher frequency of HCV genotype 1b; a higher mean serum globulin level; significantly higher mean scores for histological periportal necro-inflammation, portal inflammation, and fibrosis; and more severe portal lymphoid aggregation/follicles when compared with patients without hepatic bile duct injuries (P < 0.05, all). No significant differences in the presence of serum autoantibodies, cryoglobulinemia, mean serum HCV RNA titer, or response to interferon treatment were noted between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that HCV genotype 1b infection, portal inflammation, and lymphoid aggregation/follicles were significant independent predictors associated with hepatic bile duct injuries. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of hepatic bile duct injuries in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis C was significantly correlated with HCV genotype 1b infection, and the patients with these injuries had more severe portal inflammation and formation of lymphoid aggregates/follicles.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

The impact of diabetes on economic costs in dialysis patients: experiences in Taiwan.

Diabetes mellitus carries a great burden on healthcare costs due to its growing population and high co-morbidity. This adverse effect sustains even when patients develop end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We here present data showing the effect of diabetes on economic costs in dialysis therapy in Taiwan. As of the end of 1997, we have 22,027 ESRD patients with a prevalence and incidence rate of 1013 and 253 per million populations, respectively. Diabetic nephropathy is the second most common cause of the underlying renal diseases, but accounts for 24.8% of the prevalent patients and 35.9% of the incident cases. The diabetic patients engendered 11.8% more expense for care of dialysis than the non-diabetic patients (US $26,988 vs. US $24,146 per patient-year). Higher inpatient cost mainly account for the difference. As compared to non-diabetic patients, the diabetic patients had 3.5 times more inpatients costs (US $1325 vs. US $4677 per patient-year), and higher proportion of inpatient-to-annualized cost ratio (5.5 vs. 17.3%) resulting from their more frequent hospitalization (0.59 vs. 1.13 times per patient-year) and longer hospital stay (6.7 vs. 18.9 days per patient-year). The major causes responsible for a more frequent hospitalization were cardiovascular disease, poorly controlled hyperglycemia, sepsis and failure of vascular access. The annualized costs for care of dialysis patients in Taiwan, including inpatient and outpatient costs, averaged US $25,576 per patient-year. This value is approximately half of that in most of the western countries and Japan. Thus, a more cost-effective way to achieve savings is to reduce the high incidence rate of dialysis population and to maximize the quality of dialysis treatment for avoiding hospitalization. Recent studies had shown that tight blood pressure control, intensive glycemic control, and use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in diabetic patients significantly reduced not only the rate of progressive renal failure, but also substantially reduced the cost of complications and led to higher cost effectiveness. Once diabetic patients reach stage of ESRD, an optimized pre-ESRD care and consideration of kidney transplantation are essential in terms of better patient survival and cost savings.

Diabetes Mellitus↗
PubMed2001

Complex interactions between autotrophs in shallow marine and freshwater ecosystems: implications for community responses to nutrient stress.

The relative biomass of autotrophs (vascular plants, macroalgae, microphytobenthos, phytoplankton) in shallow aquatic ecosystems is thought to be controlled by nutrient inputs and underwater irradiance. Widely accepted conceptual models indicate that this is the case both in marine and freshwater systems. In this paper we examine four case studies and test whether these models generally apply. We also identify other complex interactions among the autotrophs that may influence ecosystem response to cultural eutrophication. The marine case studies focus on macroalgae and its interactions with sediments and vascular plants. The freshwater case studies focus on interactions between phytoplankton, epiphyton, and benthic microalgae. In Waquoit Bay, MA (estuary), controlled experiments documented that blooms of macroalgae were responsible for the loss of eelgrass beds at nutrient-enriched locations. Macroalgae covered eelgrass and reduced irradiance to the extent that the plants could not maintain net growth. In Hog Island Bay, VA (estuary), a dense lawn of macroalgae covered the bottom sediments. There was reduced sediment-water nitrogen exchange when the algae were actively growing and high nitrogen release during algal senescence. In Lakes Brobo (West Africa) and Okeechobee (FL), there were dramatic seasonal changes in the biomass and phosphorus content of planktonic versus attached algae, and these changes were coupled with changes in water level and abiotic turbidity. Deeper water and/or greater turbidity favored dominance by phytoplankton. In Lake Brobo there also was evidence that phytoplankton growth was stimulated following a die-off of vascular plants. The case studies from Waquoit Bay and Lake Okeechobee support conceptual models of succession from vascular plants to benthic algae to phytoplankton along gradients of increasing nutrients and decreasing under-water irradiance. The case studies from Hog Island Bay and Lake Brobo illustrate additional effects (modified sediment-water nutrient fluxes, allelopathy or nutrient release during plant senescence) that could play a role in ecosystem response to nutrient stress.

Africa↗
PubMed2001

cDNA sequence and gene expression of storage protein-2--a juvenile hormone-suppressible hexamerin from the fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea Drury.

We isolated and sequenced a cDNA clone corresponding to storage protein-2 (SP-2) from the fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea. The cDNA for SP-2 (2572 bp) codes for a 747-residue protein with a predicted molecular mass of 88.5 kDa. The calculated isoelectric point is 7.6. Multiple alignment analysis of amino acid sequence revealed that SP-2 is most similar to BJHSP2 (74.3% identity). According to both the phylogenetic analyses and criteria for amino acid composition, SP-2 belongs to the subfamily of moderately methionine-rich storage proteins (3.2% methionine, 11.8% aromatic amino acid). Topical application of the JH analog, methoprene, after head ligation of larvae, suppressed transcription of the SP-2 gene, indicating hormonal effects at the transcriptional level. The SP-2 transcript was detected by Northern blot analysis in Malpighian tubules, in addition to the fat body where it was most abundant. The local expression of SP-2 in Malpighian tubules suggests that it may have some function in that organ.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Hepatic steatosis in chronic hepatitis C virus infection: prevalence and clinical correlation.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hepatic steatosis is a histological characteristic in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hepatic steatosis in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis C, and to look for possible correlation with various histopathological changes and to look for possible correlation with various clinical and pathologic variables. METHODS: One hundred and six patients were enrolled, and patients with alcoholism or diabetes mellitus were excluded. Clinical, biochemical and virologic data, including HCV genotype and serum HCV-RNA titer and histological findings, were compared between patients with and without hepatic steatosis. RESULTS: Fifty-five (52%) of the 106 patients with chronic hepatitis C had hepatic steatosis. Patients with hepatic steatosis had significantly higher mean serum levels of triglyceride and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, higher body mass index, and a higher incidence of obesity compared with patients without hepatic steatosis. No significant differences in serum HCV-RNA titer and HCV genotype or the response to interferon therapy were noted between the two groups. Histological analysis showed patients with hepatic steatosis had a significantly higher mean fibrotic score than patients without hepatic steatosis (1.9 +/- 1.2 vs 1.3 +/- 1.0; P = 0.016). There were no significant differences in the severity of necroinflammation, the presence of lymphoid aggregation/follicle or bile duct damage between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that independent predictors associated with hepatic steatosis were obesity or a histology fibrotic score of > or = 2. CONCLUSION: It was found that 52% of Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis C had hepatic steatosis. Patients with hepatic steatosis were more frequently obese and had more severe hepatic fibrosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Comparison of clinical, virologic and pathologic features in patients with acute hepatitis B and C.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The clinical outcomes of adult-acquired acute infection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are quite different. In order to compare the clinical, biochemical, virologic and pathologic pictures in these two groups of patients, we enrolled 22 adult patients with acute hepatitis C and 16 adult patients with acute hepatitis B, on whom liver biopsies were performed within 3 months of acute onset of the illness. RESULTS: The results showed that a significantly younger age, a higher ratio of the clinical symptoms of jaundice, nausea, vomiting, and poor appetite, a higher mean serum level of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and total bilirubin were present in patients with acute hepatitis B patients than in those with acute hepatitis C (P < 0.05). There was a significantly higher degree of periportal inflammation and total necro-inflammatory activity in the acute hepatitis B patients (P = 0.002 and 0.049, respectively). Fifteen (68.2%) of the 22 patients with acute hepatitis C had detectable serum HCV-RNA, but only two (14.3%) of the 14 tested patients with acute hepatitis B had detectable serum HBV-DNA, detected by using the branched DNA signal amplification assay. Eighteen (82%) of the 22 acute hepatitis C patients and none of the 16 acute hepatitis B patients progressed into a chronic hepatitis stage (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The manifestations of mild clinical symptoms, lower mean serum transaminases and bilirubin levels, a lesser degree of histological periportal necroinflammation, and more patients with a high circulatory viral load among the acute hepatitis C patients, may lead to more of that group developing chronicity than patients with acute hepatitis B.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2001

Evaluation of survival rate after follicular unit transplantation using the KNU implanter.

BACKGROUND: Many hair transplant surgeons have advocated the use of micrograft megasessions for the purpose of a more natural looking end result, especially in the Oriental with higher skin/hair color contrast and darker, coarse, straight hairs. But it also has some fundamental limitations. Most important are a low graft yield and a low density after transplantation. There are several reports about the survival rate of micrografts in Caucasians, though the results are variable, but few reports about the survival rate and fate of micrografts in Orientals. OBJECTIVE: To compare the survival rate of one-hair follicular units with that of two-hair follicular units using the KNU implanter, to ascertain the average survival rate of micrografts (one- and two-hair follicular units), and to evaluate the fate of grafted hair according to time. METHODS: Two templates of 1.5 cm2 were made by tattooing on both sides of the frontoparietal recess areas in 11 patients with male pattern baldness (beyond Norwood type IIIa). The authors planted one-hair unit micrografts in the left template and two-hair unit micrografts in the right template, which were prepared by the concept of follicular unit, and counted the surviving number of follicular units at 1 and 3 months and total hairs at 6 and 12 months after transplantation. RESULTS: The mean survival rate by the number of follicular units was 47.3 and 57.4% at 1 and 3 months after transplantation, respectively. The mean survival rate by the total number of hairs was 92.0 and 90.4% at 6 and 12 months after transplantation, respectively. CONCLUSION: About 50% of the transplanted hairs fell out in 1 month, but at 6 months the survival rate of follicular unit transplantation using the KNU implanter showed a good result (92%), and there were no significant differences in the mean survival rate of follicular unit and total hairs between one-hair and two-hair units at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after transplantation.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Expression of human beta-defensin 1 mRNA in human palatine tonsil.

Defensins are a newly delineated family of effector molecules whose contribution to host defense, inflammation and cytotoxicity may be considerable for humans. Beta-defensins are cationic peptides with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity that are produced by epithelia at the mucosal surface. Tonsillar epithelium, which is constantly exposed to microorganisms, may express these natural antibiotic peptides as part of its protective function. In this study we searched for the expression of hBD-1 mRNA in palatine tonsillar epithelium without signs of infection, using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization. Total RNA was isolated from non-infected tonsil and hBD-1 mRNA was identified in these tissues. From in situ hybridization, the expression of hBD-1 mRNA was seen to be localized in the surface epithelia of palatine tonsil. These data suggest that hBD-1 of the palatine tonsil may also play an important role in innate defense against microorganisms.

Adolescent↗