The aim of this study was to reveal the current status of forensic practice in Cheju. The range of subjects was limited to deaths autopsied in Cheju National University during the years of 1998 through 1999. All subjects were reviewed with respect to age, sex, cause of death and manner of death. The total number of deaths was 100, of these 85 cases were males and 15 were females. In age distribution, the age group of 30-39 occupied the highest proportion(25.0%). According to the manner of death, the cases of violent deaths were 78, natural deaths 20, and unknown cases 2. For the violent deaths, the percentage of accidental death was 30.8 and homicide 25.6, suicide 18.0, undetermined cases 25.6. According to the cause of death, asphyxia was the most common (35%), followed by injury(31%) and disease(20%). Among 35 deaths of asphyxia, 24(68.8%) were deaths due to drowning. Medicolegal scene investigation was done in 16 cases. Two cases remained as deaths of unknown cause because of severe decomposition
Age Distribution ; Asphyxia ; Autopsy* ; Cause of Death ; Drowning ; Female ; Homicide ; Humans ; Jeju-do* ; Male ; Suicide

An immunohistochemistry for S-100 protein by biotin avidin system technique was done to evaluate the existence and distribution pattern of S-100 protein positive cells in various obtained were as follows. 1) Positive immunostaining for S-100 protein was observed in myoepithelial cell, serous acinar cell and nervous bundle in normal salivary gland. 2) Strong immunoreactivity for S-100 protein was shown in plemorphic adenoma, which was localized not only in myoepithelial cord or sheets of epithelial portion but also in chondrocytes, stellate cells of myxoid stroma and in squamous keratin pearl of mesenchymal metaplastic foci. 3) The S-100 protein was demonstrated in the tumor cells of tubular adenoma, acinic cell tumors and in epidermoid area of mucoepidermoid tumors. 4) Immunoreactivity for S-100 protein, however, was not found in the tumor cells of adenoid cystic carcinoma and adenolymphoma except for stroma reticulum cells. 5) Intensity of positive reaction for S-100 protein varied from cell to cell: Some had intense immunoreactivity, whreas others were only weakly positive or completely negative, even in myoepithelial cell nest of the same pleomorphic adenoma.

Since the book "Final Exit: The Practicalities of Self-Deliverance and Assisted Suicide for the Dying" was published in 1991, there has been a worldwide increase in the number of cases of suicidal asphyxiation using helium gas. However, no domestic reports have been published thus far. Recently, we encountered a case of asphyxial suicide by inhalation of helium from inside a plastic bag. Subsequently, we reviewed the records of the Scientific Crime Analysis System of National Police Agency of Korea. There were 17 cases of helium-associated asphyxial suicides between January 1, 2000 and June 30, 2012. The average age of the deceased was 30.6 years with a male to female ratio of approximately 5:1. Thirteen of 17 such deaths occurred in the victims'houses. In all cases, the method of death involved placing a plastic bag over the head with a hose attached to helium tanks. In 6 of 17 cases, the decedents had psychiatric disorders such as depression. As neither characteristic signs of death nor conventional methods for detecting helium gas exist, a thorough investigation of the death scene and the decedents'environment is extremely vital for confirming death due to helium asphyxiation.
Crime ; Depression ; Female ; Head ; Helium ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Korea ; Male ; Plastics ; Police ; Suicide ; Suicide, Assisted

BACKGROUND: The safety of ergonovine provocation for coronary vasospasm (CVS) performed outside the catheterization laboratory has been questioned. We sought to address the issues of safety, feasibility and clinical impact of noninvasive diagnosis of CVS. METHOD AND RESULTS: We retrospectively analyzed the results of bedside ergonovine provocation testing with monitoring of left ventricular regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMAs) by 2-dimensional echocardiography (ergonovine echocardiography, Erg Echo). After confirmation of no significant fixed epicardial coronary artery disease, 1,504 Erg Echo were performed in 1,372 patients from July 1991 to December 1997. Erg Echo was prematurely terminated in 13 patients (0.9%) due to limiting side effects unrelated with myocardial ischemia. Among 1,491 completed tests, 32% (477) showed positive results with development of RWMAs in 467 tests (98%) or ST displacement in ECG in 10 tests (2%). During the test, transient arrhythmias developed in 1.7% (26/1491) including transient ventricular tachycardia (2) and atrioventricular block (4), which were promptly reversed with nitroglycerin. There were no procedure-related death or development of myocardial infarction. On the basis of angiographic criteria in 218 patients, who also underwent invasive spasm provocation test during coronary angiography, the sensitivity and specificity of Erg Echo for the diagnosis of CVS were 93% and 91% respectively. From 1990 to 1997, total 2,073 spasm provocation tests were performed either during invasive coronary angiography in the catheterization or in the echocardiography laboratory. Since 1994, noninvasive Erg Echo became a more popular diagnostic method and comprised more than 95% of all spasm provocation tests in recent 3 years. Erg Echo was also performed safely in outpatient clinic setting without hospital admission in 34% (500/1491). CONCLUSIONS: Erg Echo is highly feasible, accurate and safe for diagnosis of CVS and can replace the invasive spasm provocation test during coronary angiography in the catheterization laboratory.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrioventricular Block ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vasospasm* ; Diagnosis* ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Stress* ; Electrocardiography ; Ergonovine* ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Nitroglycerin ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spasm ; Tachycardia, Ventricular

BACKGROUND: The safety of ergonovine provocation for coronary vasospasm (CVS) performed outside the catheterization laboratory has been questioned. We sought to address the issues of safety, feasibility and clinical impact of noninvasive diagnosis of CVS. METHOD AND RESULTS: We retrospectively analyzed the results of bedside ergonovine provocation testing with monitoring of left ventricular regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMAs) by 2-dimensional echocardiography (ergonovine echocardiography, Erg Echo). After confirmation of no significant fixed epicardial coronary artery disease, 1,504 Erg Echo were performed in 1,372 patients from July 1991 to December 1997. Erg Echo was prematurely terminated in 13 patients (0.9%) due to limiting side effects unrelated with myocardial ischemia. Among 1,491 completed tests, 32% (477) showed positive results with development of RWMAs in 467 tests (98%) or ST displacement in ECG in 10 tests (2%). During the test, transient arrhythmias developed in 1.7% (26/1491) including transient ventricular tachycardia (2) and atrioventricular block (4), which were promptly reversed with nitroglycerin. There were no procedure-related death or development of myocardial infarction. On the basis of angiographic criteria in 218 patients, who also underwent invasive spasm provocation test during coronary angiography, the sensitivity and specificity of Erg Echo for the diagnosis of CVS were 93% and 91% respectively. From 1990 to 1997, total 2,073 spasm provocation tests were performed either during invasive coronary angiography in the catheterization or in the echocardiography laboratory. Since 1994, noninvasive Erg Echo became a more popular diagnostic method and comprised more than 95% of all spasm provocation tests in recent 3 years. Erg Echo was also performed safely in outpatient clinic setting without hospital admission in 34% (500/1491). CONCLUSIONS: Erg Echo is highly feasible, accurate and safe for diagnosis of CVS and can replace the invasive spasm provocation test during coronary angiography in the catheterization laboratory.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrioventricular Block ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vasospasm* ; Diagnosis* ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Stress* ; Electrocardiography ; Ergonovine* ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Nitroglycerin ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spasm ; Tachycardia, Ventricular

Many types of meniscal anomalies were reported. Authors found a double-layered lateral meniscus, with one meniscus overlying another. The 39-year old male patient had torn medial and lateral menisci. We performed partial medial and lateral meniscectomy, and incidentally found that lateral meniscus was double-layered. It was characteristic that the upper small accessory meniscus was firmly connected from the posterior horn to middle segments of the lower main meniscus along its peripheral edge. We left it alone. The symptoms were gone, So, it was thought that this anomaly was not related to the patient's symptoms.
Animals ; Horns ; Humans ; Male ; Menisci, Tibial

The fatty hamartoma of pericardium is characterized by abnormal accumulations of adipose tissue forming a recognizable mass. We reported a case that could best be put into "fatty hamartoma" group. This 66 year old male presented with atrial fibrillation came in for a anterior mediastinal mass. He received an operation for adenocarcinoma of ascending colon several months ago. The chest CT revealed an inhomogeneous mass in the right anterior mediastinal area, which was not clearly demarcated from the right cardiac border. The heart was deviated to the left side due to the mass. Surgical excision was performed under the impression of cardiac teratoma. The large mass was well encapsulated, and was bright yellow and partly pink, and measured 12x8 cm. Microscopically, the mass consisted predominantly of mature fat cells and abundant fibrous tissue with scattered nests of primitive cardiac muscle cells. Reviewing the literature we found the term "fatty hamartoma" could also refer to rhabdomyolipoma or fibrolipoma. Since it contains entrapped cardiac muscle cells, abundant fibrous tissue, multiple blood vessels and fetal fat cells, it could best the categorized into "hamartoma". The term "fatty" represents it's main component. Therefore we propose the term "fatty hamartoma" that could to be used further.
Male ; Humans ; Adenocarcinoma ; Hamartoma

Genes of cancer-associated testis antigens (CTAs) are expressed in various cancer tissues. In order to use CTAs as cancer diagnosis marker, we developed molecular method for detection of CTAs transcripts in tissue. In order to know the applicability of DNA of cancer-associated testis antigens (CTAs) on cancer diagnosis, molecular diagnostic methods for detection of gene expression of melanoma antigen gene (MAGE), GAGE, and B melanoma antigen (BAGE) was studied. After comparing DNA sequences of CTAs, S1/AS1 and S2/AS2, GAGE-S/ GAGE-AS, and BAGE-S/BAGE-AS primers were designed for the detection of MAGEs, GAGEs and BAGEs, respectively. The gene expression of CTAs in cancer cell lines, head and neck cancer tissues, ovary cancer tissue, and peritoneal cells of gastric cancer patients were investigated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using these primers. The MAGEs, GAGEs and BAGE genes were expressed in 8/8 (100%), 5/8 (62.5%) and 1/8 (12.5%) of head and neck cancer tissues, respectively. The gene expression of MAGEs were also detected in 8/10 (80%) of ovary cancer tissues and in 9/10 (90%) of peritoneal cells of gastric cancer patients in RT-PCR test using S1/AS1 primers. The results of this study suggest that molecular diagnosis method using CTAs genes, especially RT-PCR using S1/AS1 primer combination, is useful for diagnosis of cancer and it will be used for the prediction of cancer progression or regression and metastasis in future.
Base Sequence ; Cell Line ; Diagnosis* ; DNA ; Gene Expression ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Melanoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Pathology, Molecular ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Testis*

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is a pleomorphic sarcoma which most frequently arises in the soft tissue. About two-thirds of the tumors are located within skeletal muscle; relatively few cases have been reported arising in the skin. The micromorphology of the tumor is characterized by storiform histiocyte-like cells, malignant giant cells and bizzare mitoses. We report here a case of cutaneous MFH developed in xeroderma pigmentosum occurred in a middle-aged man.
Giant Cells ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous* ; Mitosis ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Sarcoma ; Skin ; Xeroderma Pigmentosum

Encephalocele is a relatively rare congenital anomaly which is classified into occipital, parietal, anterior syncipital and anterior basal type regarding to the protrusion site through the bony defect of the skull. Anterior basal type of encephalocele is important in view of it's pathogenesis as well as diagnostic difficulty because of invisibility on external appearance. We have experienced a case which could be best fit to anterior basal encephalocele. This type of encephalocele is extremely rare. This report deals with a case of deadborn of 34 weeks of gestation with body weight of 2400gm and head circumference of 32 cm. There was no evidence of protrusion of brain on external examination. On autopsy the normal brain structure was compressed by abnormal mass of brain with normal consistency which was found in the petrous portion of the parietal area and covered partly by the dura. In this case, there were another associated anomalies, such as atrophy of the left optic nerve, hemihypoplasia of the left mandible, patent ductus arteriosus, bilateral hydrocele, and Meckel's diverticulum.