PURPOSE: To acquire the useful diagnostic information through the analysis of the clinical and radiological characteristics of mandibular unicystic ameloblastoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The researchers compared and analysed the clinical and radiological features of 79 cases of mandibular unicystic ameloblastoma confirmed by histopathlogic examination. RESULTS: The results of our research showed that unicystic ameloblastomas occurred more frequently in males than in females and the incidence is the highest in the 2nd and 3rd decades. These lesions occurred most frequently in angle-ramus area, mandibular molar area, and anterior area in descending order respectively 68.4%, 24%, and 7.6%. These lesions had smooth (54.4%) rather than undulating (45.6%) borders. These lesions showed welldefined borders in 59.5% among all the cases. Root resorption and loss of lamina dura were observed as 55.7% and 58.5% respectively. Displacement of mandibular canal was observed in 55.9% among all the related cases. Internal pattern of lesional radiolucency was observed as even (49.4%) or uneven (50.6%). CONCLUSION: These results would be helpful in diagnosing of mandibular unicystic ameloblastoma.
Ameloblastoma* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Molar ; Radiography ; Root Resorption

Spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage due to liver cirhosis associated with impaired coagulopathy is very rare disease. Spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage has been recorded as having originated from many retroperitoneal organs and blood vessels, and it may be due to local disease and/or systemic factors. In the majority of patients the bleeding arose from the kidney or adrenal gland. Among the systemic causes of spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage are anticoagulation therapy and chronic hemodialysis during the course of which hemorrhagic complications may occur at many site, including the retroperitoneal space. Blood dyscrasias have been a rare cause of spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage. Conditions reported have been included hemophilia, leukemia, polycythemia and sickle cell trait. Virtually every hemostatic function may be impaired in patients with severe hepatic disease as the result of failure of both the biosynthetic and clearence function of the liver, thrombocytopenia, platelet dysfunction, intravascular coagulation and fibrinogenolysis, and the effects of products of fibrinogen catabolism on the coagulation mechanism. We are reporting a case of spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma in a patient with alcoholic liver cirrhosis with brief review of literature.
Adrenal Glands ; Blood Platelets ; Blood Vessels ; Fibrinogen ; Hematoma* ; Hemophilia A ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Kidney ; Leukemia ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic ; Liver* ; Metabolism ; Polycythemia ; Rare Diseases ; Renal Dialysis ; Retroperitoneal Space ; Sickle Cell Trait ; Thrombocytopenia

Hantaan (HTN) virus and Seoul (SEO) virus, two murid rodent-borne hantaviruses harbored by the striped-field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) and the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus), respectively, were known to cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). After inoculation of HTN and SEO viruses into suckling mice intracerebrally, mice became ill and were morbibund by 15 or 16 days postinfection. Viral antigens were present in brain, heart, lung, liver, kidney, spleen, pituitary gland, thymus, lymph nodes, adrenal, pancreas, salivary glands, trigeminal ganglia, adipose tissue, intestine and muscle. Moreover, the time period appearing illness and morbidity were gradually decreased from 15 or 16 days to 8 or 9 days postinfection increasing the passage number. Therefore to evaluate the relationship between these adaptation process and genomic change of HTN and SEO viruses, we sequenced corresponding regions of the 3' G1 and 5' G2 encoding M genomic segments of two HTN and six SEO virus strains, and compared the nucleotide changes between the original stocks and five to nine passed virus strains in suckling mice brains. There was no nucleotide changes in HTN virus strains and zero to four nucleotide changes in SEO virus strains. However, only one base change resulted in amino acid change at the position 1691 (Gln to Glu) of 5' G2 encoding M genomic segment. This amino acid change didn't effect any conformational change in the beta-sheet, hydrophilicity, antigenicity and surface probability of protein structure of G2 glycoprotein. Our present data suggested that the genomic changes in the 3' G1 and 5' G2 encoding M genomic segment was not related with adaptation process of HTN and SEO viruses passed in suckling mice brains.
Adipose Tissue ; Animals ; Antigens, Viral ; Base Sequence* ; Brain* ; Glycoproteins ; Hantavirus ; Heart ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Intestines ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Mice* ; Muridae ; Norway ; Pancreas ; Pituitary Gland ; Rats ; Salivary Glands ; Seoul virus* ; Seoul* ; Spleen ; Thymus Gland ; Trigeminal Ganglion

Heterotopic pregnancy describes the rare coexistence of intrauterine and extrauterine gestations. The commonly accepted incidence is 1:30,000 but the actual number is significantly higher. This condition remains difficult to diagnose and potentially dangerous to both mot- her and fetus. The incidence has risen after wider use of ovulation induction and the adve- nt of techniques of assisted reproduction. We report a case of simultaneous intrauterine pregnancy and tubal pregnancy.
Female ; Fetus ; Incidence ; Ovulation Induction ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Heterotopic* ; Pregnancy, Tubal ; Reproduction

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the results of surgical treatment of Nirschl procedure for intractable lateral epicondylitis of the elbow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the functional records of surgically treated 21 cases from the 196 cases of lateral epicondylitis, which had been followed up at least 12 months from March 2000 to May 2003. Surgery was generally considered to be indicated if six months of conservative treatments since the first diagnosis had led to no improvement of the symptoms. The patients were evaluated by assessing of Pain Analog Scales (PAS) score. The objective outcomes of all patient after surgery were investigated according to the criteria by Roles and Maudsley. RESULTS: The mean PAS score followed up for 12 months postoperatively, had indicated significant improvements (p<0.001): 0.31 points (range, 0-2) at rest, 1.22 points (range, 0-3) at daily activities, and 2.25 points (range, 0-5) at sports and occupational activities. According to the Roles and Maudsley scores, there were 12 excellent, 7 good, 2 fair from the total of 21 cases; therefore, 19 (90%) cases showed the satisfactory results. CONCLUSION: The surgical treatment using the Nirschl procedure for intractable lateral epicondylitis of the elbow is considered as one of recommendable methods for the cases of no response at the conservative treatment.
Diagnosis ; Elbow ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Sports ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: Encephalocraniocutaneous lipomatosis (ECCL) is a rare neurocutaneous syndromes characterized by unilateral scalp and facial lesions and multiple anomalies involving the eye and central nervous system. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported in Korea. METHODS: A 19-month-old girl was referred to our clinic for evaluation of right-sided multiple facial masses and ocular disorders. RESULTS: Physical examination showed large lipomatous masses on the scalp with overlying alopecia. There were also multiple skin tags in the right periocular area and defects of the right lid margin and lateral canthus. Other ocular anomalies included epibulbar lipodermoid, corneal opacity, iris coloboma and localized hypopigmentation of the retinal pigment epithelium. Brain MRI demonstrated multiple abnormalities that were consistent with lipomas and leptomeningeal angiomatosis. We removed the scalp lipoma and the epibulbar lipodermoid and reconstructed the lateral canthus. CONCLUSIONS: In the case of suspected ECCL, it is essential to differentiate from other syndromes which present with epibulbar choristoma. Neuroimaging such as CT or MRI and pathologic study may be helpful.
Abnormalities, Multiple ; Alopecia ; Angiomatosis ; Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Choristoma ; Coloboma ; Corneal Opacity ; Female ; Humans ; Hypopigmentation ; Infant ; Iris ; Korea ; Lipoma ; Lipomatosis* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurocutaneous Syndromes ; Neuroimaging ; Physical Examination ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium ; Scalp ; Skin

PURPOSE: to investigate the effect of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) on corneal epithelial healing. METHODS: A 4-mm epithelial debridement was made in central rabbit cornea. Then, human amniotic membrane was transplanted (AMT group) or a contact lens was applied (contact lens group). The contralateral eyes were unwounded as controls. After surgery 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) was injected via ear vein. Each corneal tissue including the limbus was obtained on postoperative 12, 24 and 48 hours. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in limbal and peripheral corneal epithelium and keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) in limbal stroma were immunolocalized by immunohistochemical method. Incorporation of BrdU in limbal and peripheral corneal epithelium was visualized by indirect immunofluorescent method. RESULTS: AMT group significantly accelerated the expression of PCNA and BrdU at limbal and peripheral corneal epithelial cells. The expression of PCNA and BrdU showed a peak at 24hr in both groups and increased in limbal epithelial cells more than peripheral corneal epithelial cell in AMT group. The expression of KGF on limbal keratocyte increased in AMT group more than contact lens group and coincided wiht the expression pattern of PCNA and BrdU. The number of keratocyte in significantly decreased in contanct lens group compared wiht AMT group. CONCLUSION: AMT enhanced corneal epithelial wound healing in vivo by stimulating limbal epithelial proliferation which is indirectly mediated in part by upregulating the expression of KGF, which is a potent epithelial mitogen secreted by limbal keratocytes.
Amnion* ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; Cornea ; Debridement ; Ear ; Epithelial Cells* ; Epithelium, Corneal ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 7 ; Humans ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Veins ; Wound Healing

Choledochocele is a kind of choledochal cyst and represents a prolapse or herniation of the intramural segment of the distal common bile duct into the duodenal lumen. It is rare congenital anomaly and, easlily overlooked due to non-specific clinical symptoms, signs, and non-characteristic radiologic features. The cause of choledochocele remains uncertain and it was suggested that thete are two distinct types in the pathogenesis of it, i.e., congenital and acquired. Recently, many cases of choledochocele were reported, which diagnosed by ERCP and safely treated with endoscopic unroofing and EST followed by continued observation as well as interval ERCP and/or endoscopic ultrasonography. We present here four cases of symptomaatic choledochoceles that had been managcd by end- oscopic therapy and continucd observation.
Biliary Tract* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Choledochal Cyst* ; Common Bile Duct ; Endosonography ; Pancreas* ; Prolapse

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Needle-knife sphincterotomy (NKS) is an alternative technique to EST when selective bile duct cannulation can not be achieved with a variety of techniques or accessories. The risk of post-procedure pancreatitis is high, however, when papillary edema, sphincter of Oddi spasm, and the resulting restriction of pancreatic juice flow are induced by both mechanical injury associated with repeated cannulation attempts and possible burn injury due to NKS itself. Recently, nasopancreatic drainage and pancreatic stenting were suggested to be effective in preventing pancreatitis in patients with high risk of postprocedure pancreatitis and in patients who underwent NKS, respectively. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of pancreatic stenting on the clinical outcomes in patients with high risks of postprocedure pancreatitis who undergo NKS. METHODS: Of the 119 patients who had undergone NKS, pancreatic stenting with 2-4 cm, 7Fr polyethylene biliary stent was performed prior to NKS in 13 patients (pancreatic stent group), and an incision was begun without pancreatic stenting at the papillary roop avoiding trauma of the papillary orifice and thus, reducing the risks of pancreatitis in 15 patients (control group). Both groups were at high risks of pancreatitis associated with repeated, unsuccessful bile duct cannulation attempts. In the two groups, the success rate of bile duct cannulation and the incidence of pancreatitis were analyzed and compared.
Bile Ducts ; Burns ; Catheterization ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Drainage ; Edema ; Humans ; Incidence ; Needles* ; Pancreatic Juice ; Pancreatitis ; Polyethylene ; Spasm ; Sphincter of Oddi ; Stents*

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the age-dependent response of testicular toxicity and the mechanism of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) induced testicular toxicity. METHODS: DEHP was administered orally in doses of 0, 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg/day, for 7 days, to 3, 6 and 9 week-old Sprague-Dawley rats. Testicular weight and sperm head counts, plasma level of DEHP, mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) and testicular lipid peroxidation were measured. Histopathological changes in the testis were observed. RESULTS: Reductions in weight gains, and relative testis weights, were observed in the 3 week-old rats in a dose-dependent manner, but not in the 6 and 9 week-old rats, compared to those of the control rats. Sperm head counts were decreased in the 6 week-old rats exposed to 2.0 g/kg/day, but not in the 9 week-old rats. Testicular atrophy and significant size reduction of the seminiferous tubule were observed in a dose-dependent manner in the 3 week-old rats. The plasma concentrations of MEHP were higher than those of DEHP, with these levels being most elevated in the younger rats. Lipid peroxidation, following exposed to DEHP, was increased in a dose-dependent manner in the 3 week-old, but with no changes in the 6 and 9 week-old rats. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest the age related difference observed in the testicular response to the oral administration of DEHP may be due to the metabolism, and that oxidative stress may be related to the mechanism of DEHP induced testicular toxicity.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Atrophy ; Diethylhexyl Phthalate ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Metabolism* ; Oxidative Stress ; Plasma ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Sperm Head ; Testis ; Weight Gain ; Weights and Measures