The age of puberty represents a very critical time in the life history of every young woman. The menarche stands as primary indicator of the onset of sexual maturation in females. According to several studies, menarcheal age in Korean girls has dropped from about 15 years of age in 1960s to 13.5 years of age in 1980s. This findings show a pronounced secular trend to earlier maturation. The purpose of this study is to determine (1) the average age at menarche in Korea in present time, (2) the secular trend of menarcheal age, and (3) the geographic regional influence on menarche. The data sampling was obtained from the physical examination cards of women students in Yonsei University who entered from 1983 to 1991. The data which was obtained from the number of 7761 was analysed by dBase III plus and SAS program. The results are as follows: 1) The mean menarcheal age of the subjects was 13.7+/-1.2 years. 2) Age at menarche has been getting earlier by some 7.4 months during the period of recent II years. 3) Comparing to the decreasing secular trend of menarcheal age, the height and weight showed increasing trend. 4) There were significant differences in menarcheal age, height, weight among geographic regions. We conclude that the results indicate an accelerating secular trend in age of menarche in Korea.
Adolescent ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Menarche ; Physical Examination ; Puberty ; Sexual Maturation

No abstract available.
Thromboangiitis Obliterans*

Spontaneous perirenal hematoma can occur during the course of a varied group of diseases. It is not a rare disease. The diagnosis is based on either the sudden or insidious onset of abdominal or flank pain, abdominal distention, the symptoms and signs of internal bleeding, and the appearance of a mass in either upper quadrant. The picture of the acute surgical condition of the abdomen is often seen. The treatment is surgery and prognosis depends upon the underlying disease, the degree of hemorrhage and the promptness of treatment. We experienced one case of spontaneous perirenal hematoma due to metastatic choriocarcinoma only to the perirenal fat, not renal parenchyme.
Abdomen ; Choriocarcinoma* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Flank Pain ; Hematoma* ; Hemorrhage ; Pregnancy ; Prognosis ; Rare Diseases

The development of immunosuprressants has had a significant contribution to inhibition of acute allograft rejection. However, long-term graft survival has not been realized by immunosuppressants, probably because of their nonspecific suppression of T cell activity and nonimmune side effects. The ideal way to overcome the limitations of current immunosuppressants is to induce allograft-specific immune tolerance. Transplant immunologists are exerting their efforts in achieving transplantation tolerance using three different approaches; mixed hematopoietic chimerism, costimulatory blockade, and regulation by regulatory T cells. It is expected that transplantation tolerance will soon be established as a standard immunosuppressive regimen with little side effects in preventing and reversing allograft rejection.
Allografts* ; Chimerism ; Graft Survival ; Immune Tolerance* ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Transplantation Tolerance

The authors present a case in which an organized chronic subdural hematoma(CSDH) was incidentally found in a 9-year-old boy with no significant medical history after a pedestrian traffic accident. Preoperative magnetic resonance(MR) imaging showed calcification on the inner membrane and an irregular heterogeneous structure in the hematoma cavity. The findings from the preoperative brain computed tomogram(CT) and MR image were very useful for making the preoperative diagnosis and surgical decision. In choosing the proper surgical strategy for removing the organized CSDH, it was thought that burr hole trephination would present unnecessary difficulties. Thus, craniotomy was selected and the organized CSDH was successfully removed with no complications.
Accidents, Traffic ; Brain ; Child* ; Craniotomy ; Diagnosis ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Membranes ; Trephining

No abstract available.
Antibodies* ; Coxiella burnetii* ; Coxiella* ; Prevalence*

The development of immunosuprressants has had a significant influence on inhibition of acute allograft rejection. However, long-term graft survival has not been achieved by immunosuppressants, probably because of their nonspecific suppression of T cell activity and nonimmune side effects. The ideal way to overcome the limitations of current immunosuppressants is to induce allograft-specific immune tolerance. Transplant immunologists are exerting their efforts in achieving transplantation tolerance using four different approaches; costimulatory blockade, mixed hematopoietic chimerism, T cell depletion, and regulation by regulatory T cells. It is expected that transplantation tolerance will soon be established as a standard immunosuppressive regimen with little side effects in preventing and reversing allograft rejection.
Allografts ; Chimerism ; Graft Survival ; Immune Tolerance ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Transplantation Tolerance*

IL-33 is a multifunctional cytokine that is released in response to a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli. The role of IL-33 in Candida albicans infections is just beginning to be revealed. This cytokine has beneficial effects on host defense against systemic C. albicans infections, and it promotes resistance mechanisms by which the immune system eliminates the invading fungal pathogens; and it also elevates host tolerance by reducing the inflammatory response and thereby, potentially, tissue damage. Thus, IL-33 is classified as a cytokine that has evolved functionally to protect the host from damage by pathogens and immunopathology.
Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Immune System ; Interleukin-33*

No abstract available.
Biliary Tract* ; Cholelithiasis*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Kidney Transplantation*