To investigate the awareness of medical students about an implementation of peer mentoring program between senior and junior, this research survey was carried out on 341 students of a medical school including 62 students of 1(st) premedical graders, 72 of 2(nd) premdical grade, 74 of 3(rd) medical grade, 73 of 4(th) medical grade, and 60 of 5(th) medical grade. The questionnaire for the survey was composed of items, freely responding styled, about such as ‘conflicts experiencing during school living’, i‘nstances requesting senior's assistance’, ‘needs for a senior-junior mentoring’, ‘intention participating as mentor or mentee in prospective mentoring program’, ‘contents willing to get mentoring’, ‘formality of mentoring program’. As a result, there is strong needs to introduce the peer mentoring programs for graduating the doctors fitting to the outcomes based on institutional framework, and to cultivate the seniors as mentors through proper educations because the senior's advice or assistance may exert considerable reflections and influences on junior's lives.
Humans ; Mentors* ; Prospective Studies ; Schools, Medical* ; Students, Medical

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to determine the risk of malignancy of thyroid nodules with minimal cystic changes. METHODS: A total of consecutive 1,000 thyroid nodules (≥1 cm) with final diagnoses from twoinstitutions were included in this study. The risk of malignancy of thyroid nodules was analyzed according to the internal content, which was categorized as purely solid, minimally cystic (cystic changes ≤10%), and partially cystic (cystic changes >10%). We also assessed the risk of malignancy of nodules with minimal cystic changes depending on echogenicity and presence of any suspicious ultrasonografic (US) features. RESULTS: The overall frequency of purely solid, minimally cystic, and partially cystic noduleswas 730/1,000 (73%), 61/1,000 (6.1%), and 209/1,000 (20.9%), respectively, with risks ofmalignancy of 14.8% (108/730), 3.3% (2/61), and 3.3% (7/209), respectively. The risk ofmalignancy of nodules with minimal cystic changes was significantly lower than that of purelysolid nodules (P=0.013). The risk of malignancy of nodules with minimal cystic changes was also lower than that of purely solid nodules in the group of hypoechoic nodules (P=0.063) and in the group of nodules with suspicious US features (P=0.028), but was not significantly different from that of partially cystic nodules regardless of echogenicity or the presence of suspicious US features (P≥0.652). CONCLUSION: Thyroid nodules with minimal cystic changes have a low risk of malignancy, similar to that of partially cystic nodules regardless of echogenicity or the presence of suspicious US features. The US lexicon could define solid nodules as nodules with purely solid internal content in order to enhance the accuracy of estimated risks of malignancy.
Diagnosis ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule* ; Ultrasonography

It has been reported that the particulate matter under 10 micrometer (PM10) has deleterious effects on respiratory health. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of PM10 upon normal children's lung function. The subjects were 368 middle school students in two areas of Incheon Metropolitan City. One (Incheon) is in the central city and the other (Ganghwa) is in the suburbs. Air pollution data in the vicinities of two participating schools were obtained from monthly report of air quality from Korean Ministry of Environment in 2000. Pulmonary function testing (PFT) was done two times, the first one in March and the second one in December with the same students. We analyzed the relationship between the PM10 levels and pulmonary functions (FEV1, FVC) of the children. The monthly average of the PM10 level between the two areas showed no significant difference (55.3 vs. 52.3 microgram/m3 ). In both regions, the difference of the PM10 level between March and December was statistically significant (64 vs. 56 microgram/m3 in Incheon, 64 vs. 54 g/m 3 in Ganghwa). The findings of the PFT values in March were significantly lower than those values found in December for both regions. In conclusion, we suggest that PM10 has some adverse effect on the pulmonary function of normal children.
*Air Pollutants, Environmental ; Air Pollution ; Child ; Environmental Monitoring ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung/*drug effects/*pathology ; Male ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Schools ; Seasons ; Vehicle Emissions

No abstract available.
Animals ; Nitric Oxide Synthase* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Rats* ; Spermatic Cord Torsion* ; Testis*

Antiphospholipid antibody (APLA) syndrome, which is presented by seizure, is uncommon. Most seizures in APLA syndrome are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or other autoimmune diseases. Its pathophysiology is not clear; however, many authorities suggest that autoantibodies related to APLA syndrome are related to an ischemic change in the brain. We experienced a man with APLA syndrome, who presented with a seizure, but he had no evidence of an ischemic change in the brain. He underwent conservative management for 2 weeks and was discharged. He was admitted twice due to seizure. One year later, he had a cerebrovascular attack and was hospitalized.
Antibodies, Antiphospholipid* ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome* ; Autoantibodies ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Brain ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Seizures

Liver tissuses obtained from 5 human fetuses between 11 weeks and 23 weeks of gestation during the high activity of hepatic hemopoiesis were observed with transmission electron microscope using continuous series of thin sections. The objective of present study was to evaluate ultrastructures of megakaryopoietic cells, the migration of extravascular megakaryocyte into the sinusoidal lumen and the relevence between a migrated megakaryocyte and a Kupffer cell. Immature megakaryocytes were usually observed between growing hepatic laminae and within hepatic sinusoids. A megakaryoblast contained numerous polyribosomes, rather large mitochondria, short tubular elements of rough endoplasmic reticulum and small granules. Moreover, demarcation tubules and a few small specific granules were observed in immature megakaryocytes. The nucleus was mononuclear but frequently indented. With maturation, the nuclei were multilobulated. In the cytoplasm, in contrast to the decrease in polyribosomes and rough endoplasmic reticulum, the numerous specific granules and well -developed demarcation membrane system were predominant. Thereafter cytoplasmic zonation was observed clearly in maturing and mature megakaryocytes. Some megakaryocytes passed through the sinusoidal lining epithelium and into the hepatic sinusoids. The cell to cell interaction was often found as adhesion between migrated megakaryocyte and Kupffer cell, and erythroblasts within megakaryocyte (emperipolesis). These results suggest that intravascular megakaryopoiesis in addition to extravascular megakaryopoiesis occurs to produce platelet during the human fetal liver.
Blood Platelets ; Cell Communication ; Cytoplasm ; Emperipolesis ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Epithelium ; Erythroblasts ; Fetus* ; Humans* ; Liver ; Megakaryocyte Progenitor Cells ; Megakaryocytes* ; Membranes ; Mitochondria ; Polyribosomes ; Pregnancy ; Thrombopoiesis

Transient left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome is also known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, and this is characterized by transient wall-motion abnormalities involving the left ventricular apex without significant stenosis on the coronary angiogram. We report here on a new variant of transient left ventricular ballooning in which only the mid-ventricle was affected. The patient initially presented with dyspnea and she had wall-motion abnormalities involving the mid-ventricle with hypercontractility of the apical and basal segments in the absence of a significant coronary artery stenosis. Emotional or physical stress or other preceding triggering factors might play a key role in this cardiomyopathy, but the precise etiology remains unknown. So far, the cases of this syndrome have been reported only among the North America Caucasian population and the Japanese population.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cardiomyopathies ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Stenosis ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; North America ; Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) is an effective treatment without side effects for chronically painful calcifying tendinitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study subjects were 72 patients (17 males and 55 females) aged 37-64 years, with a mean of 48, showing chronic, symptomatic, calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder refractory to other conventional conservative therapies. Calcifications were type I or type II according to the classification of Gartner, and with a minimum diameter of 10 mm. Patients with type 3 calcific tendinitis were excluded, because this type has a strong tendency to spontaneous resolution. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy comprised one or two treatments, each consisting of 800 shocks, with a frequency of 120 impulse per minute and the energy density of 0.14 mJ/mm2. We assessed the presence and size of calcified deposits at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months by conventional radiography. All patients also underwent clinical examination, and the Constant (and Murley) score and pain were calculated. The intensity of pain was measured with the visual analogue scale (VAS) from 0 to 10 points, where 0 represents the absence of pain and 10 unbearable pain. RESULTS: One month after the treatment, complete resorption of the calcium deposits was observed in 19 patients (26%), partial resorption was observed in 26 patients (36%), and no modification in the calcium deposits was observed in 27 patients (38%). At six months the complete disappearance of the calcium deposits was noted in 42 patients (68%), but in the 10 patients (14%), calcium deposit appeared unchanged. This result is remained unvaried after 6 month follow-up. Using the Constant and Murley score, this study showed a significant decrease in pain and a significant increase in shoulder function (p<0.001). At six months, 76% of the patients presented satisfactory functional result. About 15% reported a subjective and objective recovery, and only 6 patients (8%), classified as poor result but in our series no differences were found between results at 6 month and 12 month follow-up. At 12 month follow-up there were differences in the Constant score between treated shoulder and contralateral side, respectively 77.6 (59-91) and 87.2 (74-96), but not significant. There were no side effects. CONCLUSION: ESWT is an effective treatment without side effects and an alternative therapy for chronically painful calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder refractory to conventional therapies.
Calcium ; Classification ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Radiography ; Shock* ; Shoulder* ; Tendinopathy*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the chief complaint addressing seizure in 119 run-sheets and to estimate the frequency of recommended administration of prehospital anti-convulsants. METHODS: A retrospective medical review of the period from 1 January, 2007 to 1 December, 2012 at one university hospital was conducted. Patients who were transported by 119 ambulance and whose chief complaint addressing seizure were enrolled. Medical records were independently reviewed by two emergency physicians. The reliability was analyzed according to the level of prehospital providers. prehospital providers. The operational definition of prehospital status epilepticus was cases with prolonged (lasting five minutes or more) or repetitive generalized convulsive seizures and seizure witnessed by 119 providers or persistent seizure at the time of arrival at the hospital. RESULTS: Among 239 medical records, 188(78.7%) cases with seizure were identified. The reliability was increased when level I emergency medical technicians were staffed(90.6% vs 74.3%). Psychiatric disorders(4.6%) and hyperventilation syndrome(3.8%) were frequently confused with seizure. Prehospital anti-convulsants were recommended in 15 cases(6.3%). CONCLUSION: Chief complaints addressing seizure by 119 prehospital providers were reliable. Not only rarity of prehospital status epilepticus but also other medical and legal barriers should be considered in regard to the possibility of prehospital anti-convulsant administration.
Ambulances ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Services ; Emergency Medical Technicians ; Humans ; Hyperventilation ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures ; Status Epilepticus