• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.85-88
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• 2014

To improve the cosmetic results of removing epidermal cysts, minimally invasive methods have been proposed. We proposed a new minimally invasive method that completely removes a cyst through a small hole made by a $CO_2$ laser. Twenty-five patients with epidermal cysts, which were 0.5 to 1.5 cm in diameter, non-inflamed, and freely movable, were treated. All of the patients were satisfied with the cosmetic results. This method is simple and results in minimal scarring and low recurrence rates without complications.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.77-81
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• 1994

The acute toxicity of recombinant human epidermal growth factor, DWP-401 was evaluated in ICR mice of both sexes. Six groups of mice were administered orally or subcutaneously with 0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg of DWP-401. Abnormal clinical signs related to the compound were not observed, and no deaths occurred. Gross findings of necropsy revealed no evidence of specific toxicity related to DWP-401. LD$_{50}$ values for both male and female mice were evaluated to be over 2 mg/kg, which is approximately 2, 000 fold of presumed clinical dose.e.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 1994

The acute toxicity of recombinant human epidermal growth factor, DWP-401 was evaluated in SD rats. Male and female rats aging 6 weeks were administered orally or subcutaneously with 0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg of DWP-401. No deaths and no toxic symptoms related to the DWP-401 were observed. The body weights of treated animals were not significantly different from the controls. The results of necropsy revealed no abnormal gross findings of the organs in treated animals. LD50 values of DWP-401 for male and female rats were estimated to be over 2 mg/kg, which is approximately 2, 000 times of expected clinical dose.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.138-147
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• 1996

DWP401, a recombinant human epidermal growth factor, was subcutaneously administered to ICR mice at the dose levels of 0, 0.04, 0.2 and 1.0 mg/kg/day (15rats/sex/group) in order to evaluate the subchronic toxicity. General observations, examinations for food and water consumption, ophthalmoscopy and urinalysis were carried out during the study. For the complete gross and microscopic examinations, 10 mice/ sex/group were sacrificed at the ends of the dosing period, and the remaining animals were sacrificed with a 5 week recovery period. Examinations for hematology and blood biochemistry were also carried out at the time of recovery period. Based on the results, it was thought that the target tissue or organs were mesothelial cell, injection site, spleen, adrenal gland, ovary and transitional epithelial cell of urinary tract, and no observed toxic level of DWP401 was 0.04 mg/kg while definite toxic dose level might be 0.2 mg/kg.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.22-26
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• 2014

An intraosseous epidermal cyst is a rare benign cystic lesion. It is thought to result from congenital factors or trauma and can lead to bone destruction because the cyst develops at the soft tissue around the bone. Radiological findings of intraosseous epidermal cysts are a well-defined radiolucent lesion, with cortical expansion. It is important to differentiate an intraosseous epidermal cyst with other disease developed at distal phalanx because its clinical and radiological findings are similar. We report two rare cases of intraosseous epidermal cysts that developed at the distal phalanx.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.673-678
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• 2014

Background The depth of graft harvest and the residual dermis available for reepithelization primarily influence the healing of split-skin graft donor sites. When the thigh region is chosen, the authors hypothesize based on thickness measurements that the anterolateral region is the optimal donor site. Methods Full-thickness skin specimens were sampled from the anteromedial, anterior, and anterolateral regions of human cadavers. Skin specimens were cut perpendicularly with a custom-made precision apparatus to avoid the overestimation of thickness measurements. The combined epidermal and dermal thicknesses (overall skin thickness) were measured using a digital calliper. The specimens were histologically stained to visualize their basement membrane, and microscopy images were captured. Since the epidermal thickness varies across the specimen, a stereological method was used to eliminate observer bias. Results Epidermal thickness represented 2.5% to 9.9% of the overall skin thickness. There was a significant difference in epidermal thickness from one region to another (P<0.05). The anterolateral thigh region had the most consistent and highest mean epidermal thickness ($60{\pm}3.2{\mu}m$). We observed that overall skin thickness increased laterally from the anteromedial region to the anterior and anterolateral regions of the thigh. The overall skin thickness measured $1,032{\pm}435{\mu}m$ in the anteromedial region compared to $1,220{\pm}257{\mu}m$ in the anterolateral region. Conclusions Based on skin thickness measurements, the anterolateral thigh had the thickest epidermal and dermal layers. We suggest that the anterolateral thigh region is the optimal donor site for split-skin graft harvests from the thigh.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.398-403
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin disease, is accompanied by disruption of the epidermal lipid barrier, of which ceramide (Cer) is the major component. Recently it was reported that vitamin C is essential for de novo synthesis of Cer in the epidermis and that the level of vitamin C in plasma is decreased in AD. The objective of this study was to determine the associations among clinical severity, vitamin C in either plasma or epidermis, and Cer in the epidermis of patients with AD. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 17 patients (11 male and 6 female) aged 20-42 years were enrolled. The clinical severity of AD was assessed according to the SCORAD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis) system. Levels of vitamin C were determined in plasma and biopsies of lesional epidermis. Levels of epidermal lipids, including Cer, were determined from tape-stripped lesional epidermis. RESULTS: The clinical severity of patients ranged between 0.1 and 45 (mild to severe AD) based on the SCORAD system. As the SCORAD score increased, the level of vitamin C in the plasma, but not in the epidermis, decreased, and levels of total Cer and Cer2, the major Cer species in the epidermis, also decreased. There was also a positive association between level of vitamin C in the plasma and level of total Cer in the epidermis. However, levels of epidermal total lipids including triglyceride, cholesterol, and free fatty acid (FFA) were not associated with either SCORAD score or level of vitamin C in the plasma of all subjects. CONCLUSIONS: As the clinical severity of AD increased, level of vitamin C in the plasma and level of epidermal Cer decreased, and there was a positive association between these two parameters, implying associations among plasma vitamin C, epidermal Cer, and the clinical severity of AD.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.188-193
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• 2006

We induced the activation of melanocytes in the epidermis of C57BL/6 mice by ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation and observed the effect of red ginseng (RG) on the formation, and decrease of UVB-induced epidermal mel-anocytes. C57BL/6 mice were irradiated by UVB $80mJ/cm^2$ (0.5 mW/sec) daily for 7 days, and RG was intraperitoneally or topically applied pre- or post-irradiation. For the estimation of change of epidermal melanocytes, light microscopic observation with dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) stain was performed. Split epidermal sheets prepared from the ear of untreated mice exhibited 11-16 $melanocytes/mm^2$, and one week after UV irradiation, the applied areas show an increased number of strongly DOPA-positive melanocytes with stout dendrites. But intraperitoneal or topical treatment with RG before each irradiation interrupted UVB-induced pigmentation and resulted in a marked reduction in the number of epidermal melanocytes as compared to radiation control skin. The number and size of DOPA-positive epidermal mel-anocytes were also significantly decreased in intraperitoneally injected or topically applicated group after irradiation with RG at 3rd and 6th weeks after irradiation. The present study suggests the RG as inhibitor of UVB-induced pigmentation and depigmenting agent.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1996 no.05
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• pp.335-338
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• 1996

We attempted to reconstruct basement membrane (BM) in between the epidermal compartment and dermal compartment in the artificial skin preparation and examine its effect on the skin architecture as well as on the epidermal differentiation. Laminin, one of the component of BM, stimulate the migration of the basal cells but type IV collagen which is a major component of the mechanical network of BM did not stimulate epidermal migration. However laminin in the presence of type IV collagen at a 1:1 molar ratio did not stimulate epidermal migration but provide nice demarcation between epidermis and dermis. This mixture of laminin and type IV collagen enhanced epidermal differentiation in the artificial skin based on the morphological observation as well as biochemical criteria. The epidermal acquirement of migratory ability on the laminin-rich substrate suggest that this type of unbalance in the expression of the components of BM may prevail in the area of healing tissue and the invasive transition of the tumor. The result in this study provide the technical improvement in the artificial skin preparation and further application of this technique for the reconstruction of other bio-artificial organ.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.84-88
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• 2019

Background: Epidermal cysts are benign, slow growing cysts that often develop on the head, neck, chest, and back of adults. The most common method of surgical excision involves the use of a scalpel and often leaves a scar proportional to the size of the cyst. Therefore, minimally invasive techniques are required. Among these techniques, the $CO_2$ laser-based technique is minimally invasive and has lower complication rate, shorter recovery times, and lesser scarring. This paper aimed to compare the results and postoperative complications associated with a $CO_2$ laser-based excision against conventional surgical excision for epidermal cysts. Methods: We surveyed 120 patients, aged 16 to 65 years, with epidermal cysts on the face measuring 0.5 to 2.2 cm in diameter. Twelve months later, we compared the scar length, recurrence rate, patient satisfaction, and complications between patients treated with $CO_2$ laser excision versus surgical excision. Results: The mean scar length (12 months postoperative) after $CO_2$ laser excision was $0.30{\pm}0.15cm$, and that following surgical excision was $1.23{\pm}0.43cm$ (p= 0.001). The procedure time (time from incision after local anesthesia to the end of repair) was $16.15{\pm}5.96minutes$ for $CO_2$ laser excision versus $22.38{\pm}6.05minutes$ for surgical excision (p= 0.001). The recurrence rates in the surgical excision group and $CO_2$ laser excision group were 3.3% and 8.3%, respectively; this difference was not statistically significant (p= 0.648). Conclusion: The cosmetic outcome of $CO_2$ laser excision is excellent. For epidermal cysts measuring 2.2 cm or smaller, $CO_2$ laser excision is recommended, especially when aesthetic outcome is considered important.