The anatomical structure of vermiform appendix was studied for 124 Korean adult cadavers and the articles were reviewed with special reference to its position and length. The results are as follows ; 1. On the frequency of positional types based on Wakeley (1933), postileal type was recorded most frequently (37.7%) and retrocecal type was found in 19.7% of cases, showing the difference from other ethnic groups whose most frequent position was retrocecal or pelvic type. 2. In the direction of appendix in relation to the clock, the direction between 1 and 3 o'clock was most frequently found. 3. Appendix of fixed form was found in 22.1% of cases, that of free form 77.9%. In free form, postileal type was found most frequently, but retrocecal type was met most frequently in fixed form. 4. The length of appendix was 5.95±1.64 cm (male ; 6.14±1.67 cm ; female 5.59±1.51 cm). Neither significant difference between sex nor positional type was noted. 5. Positions of appendix are seemed to be set up during fetal stage. The Ethnic variation in the positions of appendix is thought to be determined by inherited physical anthropological factor, not by postnatal one.
Adult* ; Appendix* ; Cadaver ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Humans

No abstract available.
Animals ; Gene Expression* ; Hypothalamus* ; Immunohistochemistry* ; In Situ Hybridization* ; Rats* ; Vasopressins*

In a jaundiced patient, it is important to ascertain as early as possible whether the bile duct is dilated. Ultrasonography, computed tomography & conventional cholangiography are widely accepted methods of determining the size of the extrahepatic bile ducts. But there is a considerable discrepancy among the size of the bile duct as measured from them. So the author analyzed and compared the respective diameters of the bile ducts in Korean normal adults as measured from cadaver, IV cholangiography, ultrasoud and computed tomography. The materials were 45 cases of cadaver, 38 cases of IV cholangiography, 100 cases of ultrasonography & 55 cases of computed tomography. The results were as follows ; 1. The diameters of the bile ducts were 7.58±2.26mm at CHD & 8.04±2.42mm at CBD from cadaver ; 5.38±1.90mm at CHD & 6.58±2.37mm at CBD from IV cholanglography ; 3.24±1.13mm at CHD & 4.71±1.48mm at CBD from ultrasonography ; and 4.56±1.51mm at CHD & 5.87±1.68mm at CBD from computed tomography. 2. The diameter of the bile duct was greatest in cadaver, and then reduced in IV cholangiography, computed tomography and ultrasonography in this orde.r 3. There were no size discrepancy between the diameter of the common hepatic duct and that of the common bile duct. 4. There were no discrepanry of the diameter of the bile duct by sex.
Adult* ; Bile Ducts* ; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic ; Bile* ; Cadaver ; Cholangiography ; Common Bile Duct ; Hepatic Duct, Common ; Humans ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Umbilical Cord*

We report two very rare cases of postoperative acute spinal subdural hematoma (ASSH) and review the literature. ASSH is usually related to trauma or a previous lumbar puncture, and a review of the literature revealed only a few cases of spinal subdural hematomas occurring secondary to an underlying hematological disorder or to an iatrogenic coagulopathy. However, there have been no reports about the occurrence of ASSH as a complication of uneventful spinal surgery. The authors present two cases of postoperative ASSHs after open lumbar microdiscectomy (OLM) and underline the pitfalls in their diagnosis and treatment modalities. Two patients were treated with surgery, which progressed without sequelae, and their preoperative symptoms were resolved. Postoperative ASSH is an extremely rare complication, but precautions for meticulous hemostasis and careful awareness for minimal manipulation of the dura during lumbar surgery should be considered in all patients, even those who do not require multilevel decompressions and/or who have a preoperative coagulopathy.
Diskectomy ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural, Spinal ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Spinal Puncture

Vascular anomalies are congenital localized abnormalities that result from improper development and maintenance of the vasculature. The lesions of vascular anomalies vary in location, type, and clinical severity of the phenotype, and the current treatment options are often unsatisfactory. Most vascular anomalies are sporadic, but patterns of inheritance have been noted in some cases, making genetic analysis relevant. Developments in the field of genomics, including next-generation sequencing, have provided novel insights into the genetic and molecular pathophysiological mechanisms underlying vascular anomalies. These insights may pave the way for new approaches to molecular diagnosis and potential disease-specific therapies. This article provides an introduction to genetic testing for vascular anomalies and presents a brief summary of the etiology and genetics of vascular anomalies.

This study was performed to described morphology of mitral valve by observing and measuring anatomical structures of mitral valves in Korean which looked normal at autopsy, and to provided basic data the clinical application. The mean circumference of mitral valve annulus was 9.14±1.28cm in males and 8.14±1.18cm in females. The width of anterior cusp was 30.3±0.53cm in males and 2.80±0.53cm in females, and the height was 1.99±0.43cm in males and 1.51±0.39cm in females. The posterior cusp consisted of 3 scallops in 34 hearts and 4 scallops in 4 hearts, and 2 scallops in 2 hearts out of 40 hearts. The middle scallop was largest in 36 hearts out of 40 hearts. The width of posteromedial scallop was 1.18±0.37cm in males and 1.08±0.32cm in females, and the height was 0.97±0.31cm in males and 0.94±0.29cm in females. Thre width of midd1e scallop was 2.08±0.61cm in males and 1.84±0.63cm in feamales, and the height was 1.18±0.32cm in male and 1,11±0.25cm in females. The width of anterolateral scallop was 1.30±0.41cm in males and 1.10±0.43cm in females, and the height was 0.88±0.25cm in males and 0.94±0.33cm in females. In general, the values of male were greater than those of female, although there was no statistical significance. Measurements of this study were generally smaller than those of the Caucasian reported by other investigators. Measurements in male were generally larger than those in female and this result corresponded well to those of other authors.
Adult* ; Autopsy ; Female ; Heart* ; Humans ; Male ; Mitral Valve* ; Pectinidae ; Research Personnel

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was the early diagnosis of ABCB11 spectrum liver disorders, especially those focused on benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis and progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis. METHODS: Fifty patients presenting neonatal cholestasis were evaluated to identify underlying etiologies. Genetic analysis was performed on patients suspected to have syndromic diseases or ABCB11 spectrum liver disorders. Two families with proven ABCB11 spectrum liver disorders were subjected to genetic analyses to confirm the diagnosis and were provided genetic counseling. Whole exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were performed on the patients and the family members. RESULTS: Idiopathic or viral hepatitis was diagnosed in 34%, metabolic disease in 20%, total parenteral nutrition induced cholestasis in 16%, extrahepatic biliary atresia in 14%, genetic disease in 10%, neonatal lupus in 2%, congenital syphilis in 2%, and choledochal cyst in 2% of the patients. The patient with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis had novel heterozygous mutations of ABCB11 c.11C>G (p.Ser4*) and c.1543A>G (p.Asn515Asp). The patient with benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis had homozygous mutations of ABCB11 c.1331T>C (p.Val444Ala) and heterozygous, c.3084A>G (p.Ala1028Ala). Genetic confirmation of ABCB11 spectrum liver disorder led to early liver transplantation in the progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis patient. In addition, the atypically severe benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis patient was able to avoid unnecessary liver transplantation after genetic analysis. CONCLUSION: ABCB11 spectrum liver disorders can be clinically indistinguishable as they share similar characteristics related to acute episodes. A comprehensive genetic analysis will facilitate optimal diagnosis and treatment.
Biliary Atresia ; Choledochal Cyst ; Cholestasis ; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis* ; Exome ; Genetic Counseling ; Hepatitis ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; Jaundice ; Liver Transplantation ; Liver* ; Metabolic Diseases ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total ; Syphilis, Congenital

PURPOSE: To ascertain the factors associated with the proportion of death certificate only (DCO) cases contained in the Kwangju Cancer Registry (KCR) that are not as yet in the good range. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The distribution of DCO cases was analyzed by sex, age, cancer site, histological verification (HV) as well as the physician's death certificate status. RESULTS: All cases (n=4,243) in Kwangju diagnosed as having cancer between 1997 and 1998 were registered with the KCR. Death certificates (n=2,390) reporting cancer as the causes of death were collected from the National Statistics Office and reviewed with hospital data linkage and a total of 590 cases were registered as DCO. DCOs accounted for 12.2% (male 12.8%, female 11.5%) of all registrations in Kwangju, 1997~1998. The proportion of DCO cases was high in subjects under 15 (male13.5%,female 9.4%) as well as those 75 and over (male 20.3%, female 27.2%). For cancer sites, the proportion of DCO cases was high (over 10%) for liver, bronchus-lung, esophagus and pancreas and low (under 3%) for skin, bladder, uteri cervix and breast. The proportion of DCO cases was inversely associated with HV%. When the death certificate was issued by physician, the possibility of DCO decreased. CONCLUSION: The proportion of DCO is positively associated with increasing age and negatively associated with HV% and the issuance of a physician's death certificate. These findings suggest that further socio-cultural efforts are required to reduce the DCO proportion.
Breast ; Cause of Death ; Cervix Uteri ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; Death Certificates* ; Esophagus ; Female ; Gwangju* ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver ; Pancreas ; Skin ; Urinary Bladder ; Uterus

Spinal cysticercosis is a very uncommon manifestation of neurocysticercosis which is caused by the larvae of Taenia solium. However, it can develop as a primary infection through blood stream or direct larval migration. It can result in high recurrence and severe neurologic morbidity if not treated appropriately. We report the case of a 43-year-old woman who presented with severe lower back pain and left leg radiating pain in recent 2 weeks. Magnetic resonance image (MRI) of lumbar spine demonstrated extruded disc at the L5-S1 level combined with intradural extramedullary cystic lesion. We performed the open lumbar microdiscectomy (OLM) at L5-S1 on the left with total excision of cystic mass. After surgery, the patient showed an improvement of previous symptoms. Diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination as intradural extramedullary cysticercosis. We discuss clinical features, diagnostic screening, and treatment options of spinal cysticercosis.
Adult ; Cysticercosis ; Female ; Humans ; Larva ; Leg ; Low Back Pain ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Screening ; Neurocysticercosis ; Recurrence ; Rivers ; Spine ; Taenia solium