• Medical Lasers
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.246-249
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• 2021

The carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser is one of the treatment options used for xanthelasma palpebrarum. However, even if the full dermal layer is removed, the lesion can recur due to the residual lipid deposits. A 44-year-old male patient with xanthelasma on both upper eyelids was treated with a pulsed dye CO₂ laser. On the right upper eyelid, we carried out a CO₂ laser treatment until the yellowish plaque was almost invisible and the full thickness of the dermal layer was removed. On the left upper eyelid, the dermal layer was partially removed and an additional squeezing out of yellowish particles was done. The lesion treated by the squeezing out of lipid droplets showed better long-term results than the lesion treated up to the deeper dermal layer.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.56-60
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• 2021

In recent decades, tissue engineering advances have led to more skin substitutes becoming available. Acellular dermal matrix, initially developed for use in the treatment of full-thickness burns, is made by removing the cellular components from the dermis collected from donated bodies or animals. This class of scaffold is used to replace skin and soft tissue deficiencies in a variety of fields, including breast reconstruction, abdominal wall reconstruction, and burn treatment. Herein, we provide a detailed review of the clinical applications of acellular dermal matrix.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.248-254
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• 2008

Purpose: Human acellular dermal matrix(ADM) is widely used in the treatment of congenital anomalies and soft tissue deficiencies. But it is rapidly degraded in the body and does not provide satisfactory results. There is a need to improve collagen fiber stability through various methods and ultimately regulate the speed of degradation. Methods: The ADMs were added with various cross-linking agents called glutaraldehyde, dimethyl 3,3'-dithiobispropionimidate to produce cross-linked acellular dermal matrices. 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether solution was applied with a pH of 4.5 and 9.0, respectively. The stability of cross-linked dermal matrix was observed by measuring the shrinkage temperature and the degradation rates. The cross- and non-cross linked dermis were placed in the rat abdomen and obtained after 8, 12 and 16 weeks. Results: The shrinkage temperature significantly increased and the degradation rate significantly decreased, compared to the control(p<0.05). All of cross-linked dermises were observed grossly in 16 weeks, but most of non-cross linked dermis were absorbed in 8 weeks. Histologically, the control group ADM was found to have been infiltrated with fibroblasts and most of dermal stroma were transformed into the host collagen fibers. However, infiltration of fibroblasts in the experiment was insignificant and the original collagen structure was intact. Conclusion: Collagen cross-linking increases the structural stability and decreases degradation of acellular dermis. Therefore, decrease in body absorption and increase in duration can be expected.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 2018

Background: Minimizing scarring has long been a challenge in plastic surgery. Factors affecting scar formation are well known, but the effect of some patient-specific factors such as dermal thickness remains unverified. Management of factors predictive of scarring can improve postoperative patient satisfaction and scar treatment. Methods: For 3 years, we used ultrasonography to measure dermal thickness in female patients who had undergone thyroidectomy for cancer at our hospital. We confirmed the influence of dermal thickness on hypertrophic scar formation and the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale scar score 6 months after surgery. Results: There was a positive correlation between dermal thickness and scar score (p<0.05), and dermal thickness appears to be a cause of hypertrophic scar formation (p<0.05). Conclusion: Thick dermis was found to cause poor scar formation and hypertrophic scarring. Prediction of factors that can influence scar formation can be used to educate patients before surgery and can help in scar management and improvement in patient satisfaction.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2000

To investigate an impact of skin occlusion on the dermal xanthine oxidase (XO) activity, the dorsal part in rats was covered with closed petri dish-shaped chamber, 46 mm in diameter and 10 mm in height, which was made of glass. The crack between top of chamber and skin was sealed by an adhesive agent. After 5 days, the quantity of sweat accumulation was about 400 mg, whereas after 10 days that was decreased about to 21 mg. The 5 days skin occlusion showed the more increased activity of dermal XO compared with the control, and the increased ratio of enzyme activity to the control was higher than that of 10 days skin occlusion, with the increase being associated with sweat accumulation in chamber. Furthermore, the V$_{max}$ of dermal XO in 5 days skin occlusion was higher than that in the control. In conclusion, it may be hypothesized that the XO system may play an role for defence mechanism in dermal tissue.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2008

Purpose: In tissue engineering, it is important that the scaffolds have high affinity with cells for making efficient use of cells. The authors studied the binding affinity of human adipose stem cells(ASCs) to micronized acellular dermal matrix(alloderm) using biotin and avidin linkages.Methods: Human ASCs were harvested from adipose tissue obtained by abdominoplasty. ASCs($1{\times}10^4$, $5{\times}10^4$, $1{\times}10^5$, $5{\times}10^5$, $1{\times}10^6$, $5{\times}10^6$ cells) were attached to micronized alloderm(1mg) in three groups; 1) control group in which no ASCs and alloderm was treated; 2) serum group in which alloderm was exposed to fetal bovine serum; and 3) biotin group in which biotinylated cells were attached to biotinylated alloderm. The binding affinities were determined 1 day after making ASC-alloderm complexes. The proliferation rates were determined by XTT assays in 4, 7, 14, and 21 days and scanning electron microscopic examination was performed in 7 and 21 days after culture of ASC-alloderm complexes.Results: The binding affinities of the biotin group were significantly increased in all cell concentrations. Maximum binding affinity was observed at $5{\times}10^4/mg$ of micronized dermal matrix in biotin group. The viabilities were lowest in biotin group in contrast to binding affinity, but the difference was not significant. SEM showed well attachment of cells to micronized dermal matrix in all groups. Conclusion: The use of avidin/biotin facilitated human ASCs attaching to micronized acellular dermal matrix. This attachment would not disturb adipose stem cells viabilities. The present study suggests that avidin/ biotin can be used as making efficient use of cells in adipose tissue engineering.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2008

Purpose: Since the report of artificial dermis manufacturing method using collagen by Yannas in 1980, collagen has been effectively used as dermal substitute with its merits such as, lower antigeneicity, controllable biodegradation rate, and minimal inflammatory cytotoxic properties in the dermal tissue engineering field. However, weak mechanical durability was the main drawback of collagen dermal substitute. To improve its stability, mechanical or chemical cross-linking was used. Despite of such process, its clinical use was restricted due to weak durability. To improve the durability of collagen matrix, we designed elastin-incorporated collagen matrix and compared its durability with conventional collagen matrix. Methods: 15mm diameter with 4mm thick collagen dermal matrix was made according to Yannas protocol by mixing 0.5% bovine collagen and chondroitin-6-sulfate followed by degassing, freeze drying, dehydrodermal cross-linking and chemical cross-linking procedure. In elastin incorporated collagen matrix, same procedure was performed by mixing elastin to previous collagen matrix in 4:1 ratio(collagen 80% elastin 20%). In comparison of the two dermal matrix in vitro tests, matrix contracture rate, strain, tensile strength, was measured and stiffness was calculated from comparative analysis. Results: In terms of matrix contracture, the elastin-incorperated added collagen dermis matrix showed 1.2 times more contraction compared to conventional collagen matrix. However, tensile strength showed 1.6 times and stiffness showed 1.6 times increase in elastin-incorporated matrix. Conclusion: Elastin incorperated collagen matrix manufactured by our team showed increased durability due to improvement in tensile strength and stiffness compared to previous collagen matrix($Integra^{(R)}$).

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2014

Background: There are several options for replacement of the dermal layer in fullthickness skin defects. In this study, we present the surgical outcomes of reconstruction using acellular dermal substitutes by means of objective and subjective scar assessment tools. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 78 patients who had undergone autologous split-thickness skin graft with or without concomitant acellular dermal matrix (CGDerm or AlloDerm) graft. We examined graft survival rate and evaluated postoperative functional skin values. Individual comparisons were performed between the area of skin graft and the surrounding normal skin. Nine months after surgery, we compared the skin qualities of CGDerm graft group (n=25), AlloDerm graft group (n=8) with skin graft only group (n=23) each other using the objective and subjective measurements. Results: The average of graft survival rate was 93% for CGDerm group, 92% for AlloDerm group and 86% for skin graft only group. Comparing CGDerm grafted skin to the surrounding normal skin, mean elasticity, hydration, and skin barrier values were 87%, 86%, and 82%, respectively. AlloDerm grafted skin values were 84%, 85%, and 84%, respectively. There were no statistical differences between the CGDerm and AlloDerm groups with regard to graft survival rate and skin functional analysis values. However, both groups showed more improvement of skin quality than skin graft only group. Conclusion: The new dermal substitute (CGDerm) demonstrated comparable results with regard to elasticity, humidification, and skin barrier effect when compared with conventional dermal substitute (AlloDerm).

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.68-77
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• 2012

In this study, we investigated the protective effects of processed Panax ginseng, sun ginseng (SG) against the UVB-irradiation on epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts. Pretreatment of SG in HaCaT keratinocytes and human dermal fibroblasts reduced UVB-induced cell damage as seen by reduced lactate dehydrogenase release. We also found that SG restored the UVB-induced decrease in anti-apoptotic gene expression (bcl-2 and bcl-xL) in these cells, indicating that SG has an anti-apoptotic effect and thus can protect cells from cell death caused by strong UVB radiation. In addition, SG inhibited the excessive expression of c-jun and c-fos gene by the UVB in HeCaT cells and human dermal fibroblasts. We also demonstrated that SG may exert an anti-inflammatory activity by reducing the nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA synthesis in HaCaT keratinocytes and human dermal fibroblasts. This was further supported by its inhibitory effects on the elevated cyclooxygenase-2 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ transcription which was induced by UVB-irradiation in HaCaT cells. In addition, SG may have anti-aging property in terms of induction of procollagen gene expression and inhibition of the matrix metalloprotease-1 gene expression caused by UVB-exposure. These findings suggest that SG can be a potential agent that may protect against the dermal cell damage caused by UVB.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.59-75
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• 1999

Skin is continuously exposed to external stimuli including ultraviolet radiation, which is a major cause of skin photoaging. According to recent discoveries, UVA with a lower energy but deep-penetrating properties, compared to UVB, is likely to play a major part in causing skin photoaging. The clinical and histochemical changes of photoaging are well characterized, but the biochemical mechanisms are poorly understood partly due to the lack of suitable experimental systems. In this work, three-dimensional, reconstituted skin culture models were prepared. After certain period of maturation, the equivalent models were shown to be similar in structure and biochemical characteristics to normal skin. Mature dermal and skin equivalent models were exposed to sub-lethal doses of UVA, and the effects of UVA relevant to dermal photoaging were monitored, including the production of elastin, collagen, collagenase(MMP-1), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1). Interestingly, dermal and skin equivalents reacted differently to acute and chronic exposure to UVA. Elastin production was increased as soon as one week after commencing UVA irradiation by chronic exposure, although a single exposure failed to do so. This early response could be an important advantage of equivalent models in studying elastosis in photoaged skin. Collagenase activity was increased by acute UVA irradiation, but returned to control levels after repeated exposure. On the other hand, collagen biosynthesis, which was increased by a single exposure, decreased slightly during 5 weeks of prolonged UVA exposure. Collagenase has been thought to be responsible for collagen degeneration in dermal photoaging. However, according to the results obtained in this study, elevated collagenase activity is not likely to be responsible for the degeneration of collagen in dermal photoagig, while reduced production of collagen may be the main reason. It can be concluded that reconstituted skin culture models can serve as useful experimental tools for the study of skin photoaging. These culture models are relatively simple to construct, easy to handle, and are reproducible Moreover the changes of dermal photoaging can be observed within 1-4 weeks of exposure to ultraviolet light compared to 4 months to 2 years for human or animal studies. These models will be useful for biochemical and mechanistic studies in a large number of fields including dermatology, toxicology, and pharmacology.