SummaryBackground Melasma is a common acquired symmetrical hypermelanosis characterized by irregular light to dark brown macules and patches on sun-exposed areas of the skin. Its histopathological characteristics are not fully understood. Objectives To characterize the histopathological features of facial melasma skin in comparison with adjacent normal skin. Methods Biopsies were taken from both melasma lesional skin and adjacent perilesional normal skin in 56 Korean women with melasma. The sections were stained using haematoxylin and eosin, Fontana±Masson, diastase-resistant periodic acid-Schiff, Masson trichrome and Verhoeff±van Gieson stains, and immunostaining for melanocytes. Data on the changes in number of melanocytes and melanin contents of the epidermis were analysed by a computer-assisted image analysis program. The ultrastructure of the skin was also examined. Results The amount of melanin was signi®cantly increased in all epidermal layers in melasma skin. The staining intensity and number of epidermal melanocytes increased in melasma lesions. Lesional skin showed more prominent solar elastosis compared with normal skin. Melanosomes increased in number and were more widely dispersed in the keratinocytes of the lesional skin. Lesional melanocytes had many more mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, rough endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes in their cytoplasm. A dihydroxyphenylalanine reaction was apparent in the cisternae and vesicles of the trans-Golgi network in melanocytes from lesional skin. Conclusions Melasma is characterized by epidermal hyperpigmentation, possibly caused both by an increased number of melanocytes and by an increased activity of melanogenic enzymes overlying dermal changes caused by solar radiation.

No abstract

Resonant x-ray scattering experiments at the Gd L3 edge show interference between magnetic and anisotropic tensor susceptibility (ATS) reflections in GdB4. Energy profiles obtained from the magnetic and ATS resonances exhibited approximately 10 eV separation between the maximum resonance energies. The findings show that the Gd 5d band experienced hybridization giving rise to a significant split into isotropic lower energy band and distorted upper band states that account for the magnetic and ATS scattering, respectively.

TAA for moderate and severe varus arthritic deformity showed similar satisfactory clinical and radiographic outcomes as those obtained by patients in the neutral group when post-operative neutral alignment was achieved. Cite this article: 2017;99-B:1335-42.

Summary:Few studies have addressed the incidence of graft-versushost disease (GVHD) or survival after ABO-incompatible allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). We analyzed the clinical outcome of ABO incompatibility after allogeneic PBSCT. A total of 89 consecutive adult patients with hematological diseases including 49 ABO-identical, 20 major, 15 minor, and five bidirectional ABO-incompatible transplants were enrolled from four medical centers in Korea. No significant difference in engraftment times, graft failure, or transfusion requirements between groups was noted. A clinical diagnosis of severe immune hemolysis or pure red cell aplasia was not made for any patient after transplantation. The incidence of acute or chronic GVHD did not statistically differ between groups. With a median followup duration of 13 months (range, 0.5-61 months), the 3-year overall survival estimates for the ABO-identical, major/bidirectional, and minor group were 44.6.079.0, 43.1711.6, and 43.8713.5%, respectively (P ¼ 0.8652), while the 3-year disease-free survival estimates were 33.877.6, 39.9711.4, and 45.7713.1%, respectively (P ¼ 0.8546). We observed that time to neutrophil, platelet, and red blood cell engraftment, transfusion requirements, incidence of acute or chronic GVHD, relapse, and survival were not influenced by ABO incompatibility after allogeneic PBSCT from HLAmatched sibling donors. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2005) 35, 489-495.