OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this investigation is to determine the frequency of chromosomal or genetic causes of recurrent spontaneous abortion. METHODS : A cytogenetic study was made in of 921 couples for 13 years from January 1984 to December 1997 in which the woman was ascertained to have had two or more spontaneous abortions at our Cytogenetic Laboratory, Institute of Reproductive Medicine and Population, Seoul National University. RESULTS : The overall incidence of chromosome anomaly was 80 out of 921 (8.7%). There were 34 cases (3.69%) of reciprocal balanced translocation and 13 cases (1.41%) of Robertsonian translocation. Also 17 cases (1.85%) of inversion and 5 cases (0.54%) of X chromosome mosiacism was observed. In the case of reciprocal balanced translocation, chromosome 8,6,7,13 were preferentially involved over others. And in the case of Robertsonian translocation, chromosome 13 was preferentially involved. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that cytogenetic analysis is indicated in couples with 2 or more spontaneous abortion and about half of these disorders are reciprocal balanced or Robertsonian translocations.
Abortion, Spontaneous* ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13 ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Cytogenetics* ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pregnancy ; Reproductive Medicine ; Seoul ; X Chromosome

No abstract available.
Cytomegalovirus* ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Hyalin* ; Hyaline Membrane Disease* ; Infant, Newborn ; Pneumothorax* ; Respiration, Artificial*

PURPOSE: To report a case of cancer-associated retinopathy developed in a patient with small cell lung cancer, which is a kind of paraneoplastic syndrome. METHODS: A 78-year-old woman presented complaining of decreased visual acuity and visual field that had developed about 15 days previously. She was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer 1.5 years ago and underwent 3 cycles of chemotherapy. At presentation, the best-corrected visual acuity was hand motion in both eyes and there was no afferent pupillary defect. Slit-lamp biomicroscopic examination revealed no specific abnormality in the anterior segment of either eye, and intraocular pressure was normal. Posterior segment examination demonstrated remarkable arteriolar narrowing in both eyes, but there was little doubt about the presence of an optic nerve lesion such as optic disc edema or pallor. RESULTS: Fluorescein angiography and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed no significant abnormalities. However, electroretinograms (ERG) demonstrated marked reduction in the a and b waves. Visual evoked response was delayed for the latency period. She was treated with systemic steroid, after which her visual acuity gradually improved.
Aged ; Brain ; Drug Therapy ; Edema ; Evoked Potentials, Visual ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Hand ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Latency Period (Psychology) ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Optic Nerve ; Pallor ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Ocular* ; Pupil Disorders ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma* ; Visual Acuity ; Visual Fields

A 26-year-old Korean man had an erythematous scaly plaque on his right thigh for fifteen years. He was diagnosed with chronic eczema and treated with topical steroid, but no clinical improvement was obtained for 15 years. Laboratory studies including complete blood cell count, urinalysis, liver and renal function test, and peripheral blood smear were normal. A biopsy specimen showed hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, and mononuclear cellular infiltration in the epidermis. These cells had a perinuclear halo and showed a Pautrier's microabscess like configuration. In the dermis, there was a band like infiltration of inflammatory cells. Infiltrates of the epidermis were negative for leukocyte common antigen(CD45) and positive for Pan T cell(CD45RO). He was treated with topical PUVA twice a week for twelve weeks. Clinical and pathological improvements were obtained. We propose PUVA may be a useful therapeutic modality to treat Woringer Kolopp disease.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Blood Cell Count ; Dermis ; Eczema ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Liver ; Pagetoid Reticulosis* ; Thigh ; Urinalysis

We report the clinical evolution of two male patients with generalized granulama annulare(GGA) who were controlled with hydroxychloroquine. In the first case, a 3-year-old boy was treated with systemic steroid, and in the second case, a 68-year-old man was treated with prednisolone, niacin, and retinoic acid. But, remission and recurrence of the skin lesions were repeated. A good clinieal response was achieved in both cases after administration of hydroxychloroquine without side effects or any signs of recurrence. Hydroxychloroquine may be helpful to treat the GGA that have side effects to the systemic corticosteroid or resistence to other therapeutic modalities.
Aged ; Child, Preschool ; Granuloma Annulare* ; Granuloma* ; Humans ; Hydroxychloroquine* ; Male ; Niacin ; Prednisolone ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Tretinoin

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe health problems and psychosocial adaptation in children with cancer and to determine the relationship between these two variables. METHOD: The data were collected from parents of 61 children with cancer, aged 4-11 years at one university hospital in Seoul. The instruments for this study were the Korea Child Behavior Check List (KCBCL) and a physical symptom checklist developed by the researchers. RESULT: The major health problems were coughing, sleeping disturbances, fatigue and weakness. The total behavior problem score for children in the cancer group was higher than the score for those in the norm group. The scores on the scales for withdrawal, somatic complaints, social immaturity, and internalizing problems were higher in the children with cancer compared to normative findings. Scores on social and school competence in the cancer group were lower than the norms for healthy children. The relationship between health problems and psychosocial adaptation was significant in the subscales of withdrawal, anxiety/depression, internalizing problems and social involvement in the off therapy group. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the various areas that need further study in caring for children with cancer.

PURPOSE: To explore the relationship between problem-based learning (PBL) evaluations and clinical performance. METHODS: The study included 117 third-year medical students at Chonnam National University Medical School. The students' first-, second-, and third-year PBL evaluations were compared with their clinical performance examination (CPX) scores in third year. The PBL evaluations were composed of three subscales: tutors' evaluation (students' professional behavior, contribution to group process, and contribution to group content), a report, and a written examination. The CPX assessed four performance categories: history taking, physical examination, information sharing, and patient-physician interaction. RESULTS: No significant correlation was found between the first-year PBL evaluations and CPX scores; however, the second-year PBL evaluations were significantly correlated with history taking (r=0.186, p=0.044) and patient-physician interaction (r=0.213, p=0.021) of CPX. The third-year PBL evaluations were significantly correlated with physical examination (r=0.248, p=0.007), and patient-physician interaction (r=0.283, p=0.002) of CPX. Several significant correlations between the PBL evaluations subscales and CPX scores were revealed. The PBL tutors' evaluation (r=0.343, p=0.000) and report scores (r=0.210, p=0.023) were significantly correlated with patient-physician interaction of CPX. The contribution to group process of tutors' evaluation was significantly correlated with patient-physician interaction (r=0.186, p=0.045), and the contribution to group content of tutors' evaluation was significantly correlated with physical examination (r=0.187, p=0.044). CONCLUSION: We found a significant association between PBL evaluations and CPX scores.
*Clinical Competence ; *Education, Medical, Undergraduate ; *Educational Measurement ; Group Processes ; Humans ; *Problem-Based Learning ; Republic of Korea ; Schools, Medical ; *Students, Medical ; Universities

Multiple endocrine neoplasi~a type 3 is a rare, heritable or sporadic, multiple neoplastic disorder that is charracterized by thyroid medullary careinoma, pheochromocytoma, multiple mucosal neuroma, and marfanoid habitus. The most important disorder of the syndrome is mucosal neuroma that is an early diagnostic sign of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 3. Early diagnosis of MEN type 3 determines prognosis of the disease. We present a case of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 3 of the sporadic pattern in a 27-year-old man who had typical medullary thyroid carcinoma, mucosal neuroma, marfanoid habitus, and megacolon.
Adult ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Megacolon ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia* ; Neuroma* ; Pheochromocytoma ; Prognosis ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: Calcinosis cutis may occur when connective tissue is abnormal (dystrophic), or where calcium or phosphate levels in the blood are high(metastatic); alternatively, there may be no obvious underlying cause(idiopathic). The exact incidence of calcinosis cutis in dermatologic patients is not well-kniown and the pathomechanism of it remains to be elucidated. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to analyze the incidence, clinical and histopathological features of calcinosis cutis. METHODS: We studied 72 patients with calcinosis cutis who visited our department between January 1985 and December 1996. The patients were classified into 3 types (dystrophic, metastatic, and idiopathic) and were analyzed clinically and histopathologically. Results : The results were summerized as follows; 1. There were 60 cases(83.3%) and 12 cases(16.7%) of the dystrophic and idiopathic types, respectively but the metastatic type was not observed. The frequency of dystrophic calcification in individual disorders was 88.2% in pseudoxanthoma elasticum, 66.7% in trichilemmal cyst and dermatomyositis, and 64.6% in pilomatrichoma. 2. In the idiopathic type, it was common in females aged over 50 years and the mean duration of lesions was 2.8+/-2.0 years. The predilection site was the flank(5 cases) and most of the lesions(7 cases) showed skin-colored nodules 3. Histopathologically, calcified material of the idiopathic type was located predominently in the dermis(10 cases) and was present as large masses surrounded by a foreign body reaction. 4. In the dystrophic type, calcified deposits were noted predominently within the shadow cells of pilomatricoma, in the degenerated elastic fibers of pseudoxanthoma elasticum, and in the keratinized area of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, trichilemmal cyst, and epidermal cyst. Foreign body reactions with giant cells and mononuclear cell infiltrations were often found around large deposits of calcium. Conclusion : The incidence of calcinosis cutis in dermatologic patients is relatively low, but a variety of disorders can be associated with cutaneous calcification. Therefore, dermatologists should be familiar with the different forms of cutaneous calcification and the dermatoses that manifest them.
Calcinosis* ; Calcium ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Connective Tissue ; Dermatomyositis ; Elastic Tissue ; Epidermal Cyst ; Female ; Foreign Bodies ; Foreign-Body Reaction ; Giant Cells ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pilomatrixoma ; Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum ; Skin Diseases