Characteristics of sleep apnea syndrome in tetraplegic patients.

Objective: To include a larger number of tetraplegics than in previous studies, in order to more reliably characterize the pathogenesis and predisposing factors of sleep apnea in tetraplegia.

Methods: Sleep breathing data and oxymetric values were investigated in 50 randomly selected tetraplegic patients and discussed in context with age, gender, BMI, neck circumference, type and height of lesion, time after injury, spirometric values and medication. A non-validated short questionnaire on daytime complaints was added.

Endogeneously regulated site-specific differentiation of human palmar skin keratinocytes in organotypic cocultures and in nude mouse transplants.

Palmar and plantar epidermis is characterized by specific features such as the development of a striking lucidum, a very thick stratum corneum, prominent rete ridges and the unique expression of keratin K9. Using organotypic cocultures of keratinocytes and fibroblasts, we investigated to which extent the specific phenotype of palmar keratinocytes is maintained in vitro and under systemic host influences after transplantation onto nude mice. In vitro, palmar keratinocytes developed a thick epithelium with a prominent, although parakeratotic stratum corneum showing no significant differences in proliferation and differentiation in coculture with either palmar or nonpalmoplantar fibroblasts.