• Applied Microscopy
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.17-31
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• 1996

The venomous apparatus of the black widow spider, Latrodectus mactans, is composed of chelicera and paired venom glands in the cephalothorax. Each glands is surrounded by a thin adventitia and striated muscular bundles resting on a basal membrane. Along the musculature neuromuscular synaptic contacts are formed by a motor axon and the muscle fibers. The secretory epithelium, which made up of simple and long columnar cells with extensive finger-like processes, creates a simple acinar gland. The secretory surfac is increased by a sort of fringes extended from the basal membrane into the gland lumen, and the luminal surface of the epithelium is marked by the presence of closely spaced microvilli. The venoms of the black widow spider are produced from two types of secretory granules within the epithelial cells. During the secretory phase, these granules are transformed into droplets and suffering a condensation. Finally the secretory products are released by the apocrine secretion. After the gland is emptied, the basal epithelial cells present a high proliferative process and regenerate the columnar epithlial cells.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.709-715
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• 2008

Purpose: Axillary osmidrosis is caused by excessive apocrine gland secretion, which causes an unpleasant odor. Axillary osmidrosis causes difficulty in social activities and personal handicap. We studied the long term follow up results of our surgical procedures and sought to find a best surgical treatment methods. Methods: From January 1991 to December 2006, a total of 1864 patients(587 men, 1277 women) had been treated with this procedure for axillary osmidrosis and hyperhidrosis. Follow up periods varied from 10 to 15 years. We used the subdermal excision technique, using two small incisions over the axilary folds and using a Kawata dissector(instrumental shaving) and additional manual subdermal excision(manual shaving). Results: Among the total patients, 782 patients were followed up. Except a pure hyperhidrosis patients, 759 osmidrosis patients was included. 588 patients(77.4%) had a good results, 148 patients(19.5%) had a moderate results and 23 patients(3.1%) had a recurrence. Complication developed in 189 patients(10.1%): hematoma or seroma in 25 patients, wound dehiscence in 86 patients, partial skin necrosis in 45 patients, and infection in 28 patients. Conclusion: We conclude that our method has several advantages such as 1) short operation time, 2) minimal scaring, 3) lower complication rates, 4) high satisfactory rates.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.539-549
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• 1998

The silk glands of the spiders are of several types. Among the several types of spider's silk glands, the principal fibers used in constructing the eggcase are products of the tubuliform glands (TBG), which are present only in females. Development of these glands parallels maturations of the ovaries and fat bodies. In order to understand the mechanism of eggcase-silk production, this paper has examined the fine structural changes of the TBG during the period of egg maturation in the garden spider, Argiope aurentia. Between the two kinds of secretory granules observed in the glandular epithelium of the mature TBG, the electron-dense granules which have paracrystalline structure are revealed to be the precursors of the eggcase silk fibers. During the production of eggcase, rapid release of the secretory product occurs at apical surface by the mechanism of apocrine secretion. Moreover, secondary lysosomes appear due to the rapid disorganization of cellular components during the eggcase formation. Examinations of formed fibers indicate a multicomponent internal structure, and electron micrographs reveal each fiber contains numerous electron lucent fibrils embedded in an amorphous electron dense matrix. The secretory precursors are produced as separated vesicles via well-oriented rER, and no Golgi complex has been found in the glandular epithelial cells.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.565-568
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• 2008

Purpose: Bacterial degeneration of sweat and increased secretion of over developed apocrine sweat gland are known causes of osmidrosis. In addition, genetic inheritance must be another important cause, because there are high incidence rates of osmidrosis in familial members. But the research about genetic inheritance has been overlooked. For this reason we studied genetic inheritance in osmidrosis patients based on pedigree analysis. Methods: We have evaluated pedigree of 52 patients who have diagnosed and treated in our hospital from January 2003 to August 2007. For making pedigrees, we have evaluated 3 generations of affected lineage from osmidrosis patients. Family members having uncertain information or those who are before puberty are excluded. In pedigree analysis, inheritance rate and inheritance pattern from parents, prevalence rate in generations and sexual prevalence are evaluated. Results: In this study, we divided pedigrees into 3 different groups according to inheritance pattern. Group A is genetically unrelated pattern with no prevalence between familial members in 7 families. Group B is weakly expressed pattern with 17 families there are genetically related but no genetic patterns are founded. In group B inheritance rate is 34% and incidence rate is 21% in 2nd generation and 22% in 3rd generation. Group C is autosomal dominant pattern with 31 families. In group C, there are no differences in sexual prevalence. Incidence rate is 43% in 2nd generation and 49% in 3rd generation. Conclusion: In this study, we have studied pedigrees of 52 families of osmidrosis patients. 60% of the pedigrees shows autosomal dominant pattern, 33% shows genetically related but no definite autosomal dominant pattern and 7% shows genetically unrelated pattern. In Conclusion, This study can be basic data for future gene analysis study of osmidrosis.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.354-364
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• 1990

The ultrastructure and silk formational process of the flagelliform glands, one of the capture thread producing organs in the orb web spider (Nephila clavata L. Koch), have been studied with electron microscope. A pair of flagelliform glands consist of three distinct regions: excretory duct, storage sac and convoluted tail. This gland is connected to the large spinning tube (spigot) of the posterior spinnerets with two pairs of aggregate glands, and showed a characteristic spigot structure called "triad". The excretory duct consists of three long segments surrounded by the same sheath of connective tissue. The distal duct near the spinning tube bears the electron lucent subcuticles which have the functions of water removal and orientation of the silk fiber, whereas the proximal duct near the sac contains the cuticule precursor transported through the intercellular space. Cytoplasms of the sac and tail regions have well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and contain the round secretory granules commonly, but the electron densities and internal textures of the granules do not coincided. Adjacent epithelial cells are connected with the specialized septate junctions, and secretory granules accumulated at the apical pole are released to the lumen by the apocrine secretion.secretion.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.695-698
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• 2010

Purpose: Supernumerary nipple or polythelia is one of the developmental anomalies occurring at the embryonic stage and this anomaly usually arises from the milk line. While this atypical feature is determined during early developmental stage, it may not come out obviously or become troublesome until puberty or lactation. Moreover, sometimes it is confused with a pigmented nevus. Methods: Case 1, a 18-year-old woman with intramammary supernumerary breast consisted of another nipple with middle sized areola on the right lower breast was admitted for a $2.8{\times}3.1\;cm$-sized mass on the right breast which was starting appeared 1 year earlier. The preliminary cytological examination of the material obtained by needle aspiration biopsy from the mass was revealed by fibroadenoma with no malignant change. The patient had the surgical excision of the mass and accessory breast. Case 2, a 16 year-old woman admitted for intra-areolar polythelia of the left breast, even she doesn't have any family history of polythelia. Since she wanted surgical correction of her atypical nipple for aesthetic and psychological reasons, we reconstructed the areola using transposition flaps in an S-plasty design. Results: Case 1, the excised supernumerary nipple showed following histological features. In the superficial layer, an acanthotic and hyperpigmented epithelium with elongated rete ridges was found. In the dermis, there were follicles with hairs surrounded by hypertrophic sebaceous glands. In the deepest portion, abundant secretory glomerules and excretory ducts of apocrine gland type were observed. Case 2, follow-up visits 3 months after the procedure showed a satisfactory result with good shape and projection of the nipple. Conclusion: We report two cases of aberrant mammary tissue who underwent surgical correction, including complete breast (with nipple, areola, and glandular tissue) and intra-areolar polythelia according to the Kajava's classification, and the results were satisfactory.