As Kirchheimer (1973) has pointed out, the unsatisfactory state of knowledge of the transmission of Hansen's disease is apparent from the disagreements about the portal of entry of Mycobacterium leprae into the human body. Weddell and his associates (1963) have cast doubt upon the bel ief in the preval ence of the dermal route of infection subscribed to by most leprologists. Furthermore, it is ...

spinal dysraphism that is attributed to incomplete neural tube closure during fetal development. Dermal sinus tracts are found along the midline neuroaxis from the nasion to the coccyx, but they most commonly appear in the lumbar region.1 Dermal sinus tracts are more commonly associated with other developmental abnormalities such as skin tags, naevi, spinal dermoid cysts, meningocoele, lipomas ...

PURPOSE We sought to identify the anti-angiogenic molecule expressed in corneal keratocytes that is responsible for maintaining the avascularity of the cornea. METHODS Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured with either human dermal fibroblasts or with human corneal keratocytes under serum-free conditions. The areas that exhibited blood vessel formation were estimated by...

Antiretroviral restriction factors may play an essential role in the safety of xenotransplantation. Therefore, the present study focused on investigation of the changes in the tripartite motif-containing family (TRIM) gene expression in normal human dermal fibroblasts with and without lipopolysaccharide stimulation in response to porcine endogenous retrovirus infection. Analysis of the expressi...

Resident tissue myeloid cells play a role in many aspects of physiology including development of the vascular systems. In the blood vasculature, myeloid cells use VEGFC to promote angiogenesis and can use Wnt ligands to control vascular branching and to promote vascular regression. Here we show that myeloid cells also regulate development of the dermal lymphatic vasculature using Wnt ligands. U...

PurPoSe: Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) has gained popularity to enhance lower pole coverage in immediate implant or expander reconstruction. Advantages of ADM include improved rapid reconstruction, postoperative expander filling and lower capsular contracture. Potential trade-offs include higher seroma, infection and cost. Alternatives for implant coverage include local fascial flaps and inferi...