Unlike the United States, cases of firearm suicides in Korea are rare and are usually limited to military soldiers and policemen. In addition, there is no case report of a suicide by a homemade handgun in Korea. The present victim was a 24-year-old soldier with a fascination for firearms. He had a history of depression and social phobia during his military service. He constructed a homemade handgun from a plastic model gun, also known as a BB gun. During the vacations, he committed suicide with the homemade gun, which caused a penetrating gunshot wound to his chest. The structure and ammunition of the homemade handgun is demonstrated in this report. We have also discussed a few details of the forensic investigation and evaluation of the homemade handgun fatality.
Depression ; Firearms ; Humans ; Korea ; Military Personnel ; Plastics ; Phobic Disorders ; Suicide ; Thorax ; United States ; Wounds, Gunshot ; Young Adult

Craniopharyngioma is a benign, slow-growing tumor that constitues 3-9% of all intracranial tumors, and arises from epithelial remnants of the Rathke's pouch. We analized MR (2.0T) findings of ten cases with surgically proved craniopharyngioma retrospectively. CT was avilable in five cases, and Gd-DTPA was used in six cases. Characteristic findings of craniopharyngioma in MRI included multilocularity and variable signal intensities within each loculus that were more prominent in T1WI. Detection rate of calcification in MR was 60%. Six cases with Gd-DTPA enhancement revealed irregular or rim-like enhancement. MRI provides useful informations regarding the location, extent and biochemical characteristics of the oraniopharyngioma as well as its relationship to the neighboring structures which will be valuable in planning surgical resection.
Craniopharyngioma* ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pheniramine ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

The object of this study was to determine the physiological range of talar tilt angle of the Korean and to establish the basis for diagnosis and treatment of the lateral instability of the ankle. The anteroposterior inversion stress view of both ankles was taken in the 108 healthy Korean who had no history of ankle injury or disease. The sagittal stress films were also performed on 96 ankles (48 cases) of these to further define the physiological limits of the sagittal mobility of the normal talus. We compared these two values of normai mobility of talus to deterrnine the significance and relationship of the rwo. The results obtained were as follows: 1) Talar tilt over 10 degrees was seen in only 6 ankles (1.9%) and most of the ankles (279 ankles, 88.4%) showed a tilt less than 5 degrees. 2) Normal talar tilt angle was increased in 30 degrees plantarflexed position than in 90 degrees neutral position of ankle. In 12 cases the value was different between the right and the left; but there was no significant difference between the sexes. 3) The anterior displacement index over 200 was seen in only 5 ankles (5.2%). 4) There was gross positive inter-relationship between physiological. range of talar tilt angle and talar sagittal mobility.
Ankle ; Ankle Injuries ; Diagnosis ; Talus

Flexor tendon grafting is a well-proved procedure for the restoration of tendon defects in the hand. The results are not entirely predictable, it offers a good expectation of successful outcome. Authors have performed the tendon graft in thirteen cases of flexor tendon injury of the hand during the period from September '79 to January '82 and evaluated the results. The followings were the results obtained. 1. Male was eleven, female was two. Age distribution is from 4 to 38 years. 2. Injured fingers were thumb 6, index 2, middle finger 4 and little finger 1 cases. The site of the primary injury was on area of Bunnell's Zone II in all cases. 3. Time interval from tendon injury to flexor tendon graft was 6 weeks to 19 months (average 5.6 months). 4. The results of tendon grafts rated as excellent 2 cases and good 3 cases in preoperative Good group; excellent 1, good 3 and fair 1 in “Scar” group; fair 1 and 1 poor in “Joint” group; fair 1 in “Salvage” group. In the thumbs, the results were better than in the fingers. 5. Degrading the postoperative results were flexion contracture in 3 cases, lack of flexion ROM in 2 cases and bowstringing in 2 cases. 6. Pinch power of the finger where tendon graft was performed was 52% of that of the opposite healthy finger. 7. As complication, bowstringing was observed in 2 cases and recurvatum deformity of the PIP joint in one case.
Age Distribution ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; Female ; Fingers ; Hand ; Humans ; Joints ; Male ; Tendon Injuries ; Tendons ; Thumb ; Transplants

Fractures involving joints and about the joints provide complex problems with small comminuted fractures, surrounding soft tissue injuries and articular cartilage damage. Various problems are also encountered on the weight bearing surface, especially on the convex side of the distal Femur. Even though many auther had recommended kinds of management upto now, operative methods are more suggested in order to get good results regarding with the accurate anatomical reduction, rigid internal fixation and early joint motion. The clinical analysis of rnanagements of 20 cases of distai femoral fracture demonstrate that seperate dual incision-bilateral or right angle plane-to originate fracture site, and anatomical reduction & rigid internal fixation, early non-weight bearing ROM exercise of joint were sometimes mandatory to treat the displaced, comminuted fracture.
Cartilage, Articular ; Femoral Fractures ; Femur ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Joints ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Weight-Bearing

Objective: To establish reference values for the computerized cognitive test and evaluate cognitive function improvements across different age groups, we introduce the computerized Cognitive Function Test program (eCFT), specifically designed for children. We aimed to establish eCFT reference values and assess cognitive function improvements across different age groups. Methods: We included children aged 3–6 years with confirmed normal cognition based on the Korean Developmental Screening Test for Infants and Children and Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children-II. The eCFT consists of 8 subtests for visual perception, attention, memory, and executive function. Results: A total of 66 participants (36 males and 30 females) with an average age of 4.4 years participated. The age 6 group consistently outperformed both age group 3 and 4 in terms of correct responses. With regard to the completed stage, the “selective auditory stimulus” test findings were 2.0 and 3.9 for the age 3 and age 6 groups, respectively (p<0.05). The “trail-making” test findings were 1.7, 2.1, 2.6, and 2.8, respectively (between ages 3 and 6, p<0.01; between ages 4 and 6, p<0.05); moreover, the age 5 group surpassed the age 3 group (2.6 and 1.7, respectively, p<0.05). Conclusion The eCFT is an easily accessible tool to evaluate cognitive function in young children. We introduce reference values with a cutoff range for preschool-aged children, enabling early intervention for those with cognitive impairment. Given its accessibility and relatively short evaluation time, the eCFT has potential for clinical use.

Thermography shows skin temperature changes in various conditions of body. Skin temperature changes according to the subcutaneous blood flow which is regulated by the autonomic nervous system. Peripheral neuropathic pain can be influenced by the sympathetic activities which also can change the skin temperature of affected sites. To evaluate the usefulness of thermography in the detection of peripheral neuropathic pain, authors analyzed thermographic images of 47 cases with peripheral nerve injuries of upper extremities. The peripheral nerve injuries were confirmed by Electromyographic studies in all of the cases. The peripheral neuropathic pain was present in twenty three cases. The results show that 97.5% of nerve injury patients with pain and 45.8% of nerve injury patients without pain had abnormal thermograms with a mean temperature changes of delta T=0.99oC deltaT=0.13oC respectively. Authors conclude that thermography can be an usefal tool for the detection of peripheral neuropathic pain.
Autonomic Nervous System ; Humans ; Neuralgia* ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries* ; Peripheral Nerves* ; Skin Temperature ; Thermography* ; Upper Extremity

No abstract available.
Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction* ; Urinary Bladder*

No abstract available.
Candidiasis* ; Fluconazole*